The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico: The Expatriate's Guide to Moving, Retiring, or Just Hanging Out

As someone who has visited Mexico several times as I struggle with my study of Spanish, and who is thinking of moving there, I found this book to be far superior to the general run of guides on the expatriate life or retiring in Mexico. Some of the others of this genre just lack the ring of authenticity, or seemed to be aimed at people with a lot of bucks who are headed for a gated community or an expensive house in Cabo San Lucas. But the Bowers' book has that ring of authenticity and is squarely aimed at the (for lack of a better cliche) "average Joe" who is looking for a life that is different and/or better and needs down-to-earth practical advice on how an American can make this transition. To date myself, the Bowers' reporting reminds me of the usefulness of a Travel Forum I used to frequent on one of the pioneer online services, CompuServe, where I got the best travel ideas and advice ever from the many participants who gave their firsthand reports, and to whom you could pose the kinds of questions that you don't see answered in newspaper travel sections or guidebooks. The Bowers live in Guanjauato which is not far from where I always visit, which is a too-Americanized well known town that they don't quite approve of, San Miguel de Allende. [...] [...] So, if this is the kind of information you are looking for, buy this book as well as the Bowers' book on Guanajuato.

This book was packed with important information. We will take the Bower's advice and make several, short trips in order to pinpoint our new home. We want to live among the Mexican population and plan to brush up our rusty Spanish. I was glad to see that we possess the traits necessary to become "successful expatriates." Were the Bowers "preachy?" No, I don't think so - they were simply taking the opportunity to remind us that things will indeed be different and that Mexico is neither America nor Canada! Some parts were funny (especially his section on noise) and I really appreciated the reprinted sections in the back by other authors. We feel as if we are on the right path.

After coming to the conclusion that I need to make some serious changes in my life, and after reading other books on expatriating, I have finally found THE book that made sense to me. Although I want to move to another country, I was hesitant to set up house in areas with large American communities due to the shame and embarrassment I have experienced when confronted with the behavior of fellow Americans in other countries where I have lived. I agree wholeheartedly with Doug and Cindi's suggestions about preparing for the move to Mexico by developing language skills IN SPANISH and making every effort to befriend the locals and honor their culture. I will be planning a trip to Guanajuato to attend a Spanish language school and investigate this seemingly charming city in the near future. Thank you Doug and Cindi for an inspiring book!

I moved to Mexico some years ago based largely on what I read in the most popular "how-to" guides. "Choose Mexico" and Luboff's "Adapter Kit" were really the only books on the market when I came to this country. On a lark, I ran across "The Plain Truth About Living in Mexico" and decided to buy it. First, I want to say that I wish I had this book when I moved to Mexico. "Choose Mexico" and Luboff's book are really clones of one another. But, that's ok. Just how many ways can the mechanics of expatriation be disseminated? What is different about The Plain Truth About Living in Mexico is that the mechanics of expatriation is not the theme of this book. The story that these authors attempt to tell is how different life is in this country, why learning the language is crucial, and how that if you are going to survive here, you have got to get it into your head that "Mexico is not America"...I love that! The shock I received in coming to live in Mexico was along the same lines as the authors of this book. It was not how different Mexico was that shocked me but how American tourists, and what I have to say, in my expat experience how the vast majority of American and Canadian expatriates, act in Mexico. I was not prepared for this shocker. And I agree with the authors that perhaps if most planning on coming to this country to visit or live, knew what to expect that maybe they would not act out like they do when they arrive. The chapter on "The Ugly American Syndrome" is an eye opener that every American and Canadian should read. Perhaps the authors should have put Canadian in the title of that chapter. I do have to agree with one of the critics of the book that this is not a "stand alone" guide. But I must stress, with all due diligence, that this book is a NECESSARY supplement to "Choose Mexico" and Ken Luboff's book. It is the content and not the copy editing errors (something so fixable in the next edition that it is not worthy of even mentioning) in this book that makes it such a good buy!

Good things about this book that others do not offer: 1. Has a chapter about how-to learn Spanish. 2. Has a chapter on customs and culture. 3. Makes you think about your motives for moving to Mexico. 4. Makes you think twice about what you will encounter. Bad things about this book: NOTHING! It was a good book. It was different from all the other "other there"!