I would like to hear from people who are currently living and working in Mexico city please (particularly if you are teaching adults english).
Is it easy to field work in this field there once you are in the city? When is the start of the academic year? What qualifications do the institutes look for? What about work permits?
I have worked as an english teacher in Santiago, Buenos Aires and a bit in Quito, but I heard Mexico City feels a lot more "foreign" to a european than those 3. What are the pros and cons of living and working in Mexico City as an expat? Do you feel safe to walk alone at night? (I felt safe in both Santiago and Buenos Aires at all times of the night to walk in many areas but not in Quito)
Also...is the spanish more difficult there? I heard they use a lot of slang.
This is such a country specific set of questions I am unclear why you aren't posting on the branch about Mexico.
Ruth
Mexicans use a lot of slang. But it helps to make the language more fun.
There is danger in Mexico City. I was robbed and beaten up in a taxi once. Just follow the "rules" and you will be fine. Rules include, don't take a taxi off the street at night, rather call one and have it come for you. Don't take any cabs between 11 to 12 at night. If they kidnap you then, they can hold you for an hour to get the ATM max out twice.
I have lived in Quito and Mexico City, I would say that generally Mexico City feels safer than Quito. In the Zona Rosa you can walk around at night and feel safe, in the Mariscal I remember sometimes feeling pretty unsafe if I was even one street off the main drag. Of course there are very unsafe, and safe areas of any city.
It is very easy to find ESL jobs all year long, there is a big need for teachers here, especially if you have experience. Your school will most likely help you get a visa after you havef been there for a while, if you have a degree you can get a visa very easily, without one you can as well, just takes a bit of time. It is very common for teachers to work without a degree for the first few months (if the school gets busted they get fined, you get off scot free) When the school knows that you really will stick around then they will get you a visa.
Mexico City has a lot more available than Quito in way of foreign foods, shops, etc, and I would say the only thing that is different is that there is no Mariscal type are that is full of foreigners at all times.
The Spanish here has differnt slang than in south america, but not necesarily more, just different. And some day to day vocab can be different. I remember hearing before I went that Ecuadorians don't use slang, that is totally untrue, they just use different slang.
I loved Mexico City. It was the first place I had gone abroad as soon as I finished high school. Learned my Spanish there, so it is the "default" Spanish for me. There is a lot of slang, but yeah, it is so much fun, and it is just different to the slang in other countries. Besides, most of the people you talk to for work will be speaking a more formal Spanish anyway. You will get used the to other stuff really quickly.
As for safety. I only got mugged once, at knifepoint. Was in a really sketchy area and took a wrong turn. Basically, had I stayed on the main drag I would have been ok, just dealing with the pickpockets. The little streets next to that market were rife with poor, bored young guys who know an outsider when they see one.
Basically, though, the rest of my time there was fine, but I was safe. I really never took taxis, except to airports or bus stations sometimes (the 'express kidnappings' are very real). I learned the bus routes, so I used the peseros mostly, although they are sometimes pretty uncomfortable. Always remember your wallet...pickpockets are everywhere. No one every picked my pocket, but I saw it happen to someone next to me.
As for walking at night, we used to walk around all over the place at all hours. Of course, there were neighborhoods where you couldn't, so you have to ask people before you do (even during the day). Once you are there a while, you will know where those places are. Also, if you happen to have darker skin and brown hair and eyes, you are a bit less conspicuous. I fit this, but my brother is blond and tall...he got a lot more attention than I did. You may have to take that into consideration when you go as well.
I went back several times, but only worked the last one. Worked without a visa teaching adults in big companies. Was ok, but had to travel a lot during the day. You might try the universities. They have language centers. UNAM has a little language center for students, and a friend of minbe worked there and had a great time. Try it. Maybe a little less money, but laid back.
Well, have fun. It is a really fun city with tons of stuff to do. Wish I could go this year!!!
trusted partner
