The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

-An update on my recently completed Expat Insider, “boots on the ground” Seminar. -The nitpicky details about Latin American bank accounts that no one mentions, but you’d better know!  -Latin credit and debit card tips: It’s a good idea to have one or two. Nearly all Latins do use them indiscriminately. Don’t fall into that perilous trap. Use them very sparingly and only for larger purchases and cash withdrawals.   -Things to know about the poor Indigenous Latin populations and notes on the unchanging, perpetual class system. Latin middle-classes and wealthier Latin upper classes have boxed them in. -A bit about the love/hate relationship Latins have with their own inglorious history and melting pot heritage. -What green gringos and Expats who might be are hiring bilingual Latins should expect. -Today Expat Eddie, a formerly clueless and now infamously successful restaurateur, shows us the lighter side of his own clever job interviewing tactics.   -Visit me Johnny (and Expat super-blogger John Galt) at our new joint website www.TheNewExpat.com . Its where you’ll get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and reports. It’s a work in progress so please be patient. We’re continually improving and expanding the format.  -Be sure to check out my "Expat Files" YouTube channel -and become a subscriber  -NEWS FLASH!At www.TheNewExpat.com we have a new feature: a blog written by a very trusted Latin lawyer friend and colleague (with great credentials). He will be blogging regularly from Central America touching on everything you want to know about Latin Legal issues such as residency, passports, contracts, S.A. corporations, banking, Trusts, courts, lawsuits, and much more. He’ll stress all manner of Latin Legal issues as they pertain to Expats. Better yet, you’ll be able to contact our Lawyer and email him your own legal questions too…   CONSULT WITH JOHNNY- SCHEDULE A CELL OR SKYPE CALL: Would you like a 1 on 1 personal Skype or phone consult with me? Set up a time when we can talk and sort out your own specific Latin American plans. Just put the word “CONSULT” in the subject line and send a short list of your questions and talking points to: [email protected]

-The “Gringo Advantage” strikes again... sparking yet another simple, inexpensive business idea. (one you’d never expect). -Fresh gringos and new Expats can get awfully steamed up when they find they have to wait an interminable amount of time just to get waited on by a cashier or bank teller. Today we have a gringo “drive up AutoBanco” story that will get you thinking about how and why “manana” time is a part of Latin culture and why it will probably never change no matter how much Gringos and Expats kick and scream about it.    -Today we have a strange (but not for Latin America) car parking-lot story that takes place at a modern Latin Airport -What does ”Off the Gringo Tourist Trail” really mean? -A visit to a typically decrepit, “free” Nation Health Care Latin Hospital.There are 101 reasons why public hospitals are NEVER recommended for Expats and Gringos. -We also have an email defending Mexico as a top place for Expat living -An analysis of how the two-faced Latin media, and criminal Latin celebrity hypocrites, portray Donald Trump as the evil one.    -Visit me Johnny (and Expat super-blogger John Galt) at our new joint website www.TheNewExpat.com . Its where you’ll get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and reports. It’s a work in progress so please be patient. We’re continually improving and expanding the format.  -Be sure to check out my "Expat Files" YouTube channel -and become a subscriber  -NEWS FLASH!At www.TheNewExpat.com we have a new feature: a blog written by a very trusted Latin lawyer friend and colleague (with great credentials). He will be blogging regularly from Central America touching on everything you want to know about Latin Legal issues such as residency, passports, contracts, S.A. corporations, banking, Trusts, courts, lawsuits, and much more. He’ll stress all manner of Latin Legal issues as they pertain to Expats. Better yet, you’ll be able to contact our Lawyer and email him your own legal questions too…   CONSULT WITH JOHNNY- SCHEDULE A CELL OR SKYPE CALL: Would you like a 1 on 1 personal Skype or phone consult with me? Set up a time when we can talk and sort out your own specific Latin American plans. Just put the word “CONSULT” in the subject line and send a short list of your questions and talking points to: [email protected]

-A seasoned gringo Expat (with a Brazilian wife) living in Brazil tells us some horrifying personal stories of the general insecurity and rampant crime taking place in the country. It seems even the so-called nice, upscale residential and shopping areas are not exempt from frequent robberies, assaults, general crime and lawlessness. Beside the crime problem, there are many reasons why Brazil does not make my list of Expat destinations.   -Today we have more good reasons not to drive a late model car of distinction or SUV in Latin America. If you do, you’ll be a target. -To Tint or not to Tint: the truth about those ubiquitous Latin American dark-tinted (extremely dark) car windows. Should you do it to your own car? What if no cars had tinting? Is it a good or bad thing? -What’s Latin America like for supersized and very tall gringos and Expats? For example: is it easy (or hard) for a six foot five inch guy to get around in a mostly down-sized Latin America? Yes, some buildings really are architecturally unfriendly to tall people. In older buildings, even six-footer’s occasionally bump their noggins     -Visit me Johnny (and Expat super-blogger John Galt) at our new joint website www.TheNewExpat.com . Its where you’ll get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and reports. It’s a work in progress so please be patient. We’re continually improving and expanding the format.  -Be sure to check out my "Expat Files" YouTube channel -and become a subscriber  -NEWS FLASH!At www.TheNewExpat.com we have a new feature: a blog written by a very trusted Latin lawyer friend and colleague (with great credentials). He will be blogging regularly from Central America touching on everything you want to know about Latin Legal issues such as residency, passports, contracts, S.A. corporations, banking, Trusts, courts, lawsuits, and much more. He’ll stress all manner of Latin Legal issues as they pertain to Expats. Better yet, you’ll be able to contact our Lawyer and email him your own legal questions too…   CONSULT WITH JOHNNY- SCHEDULE A CELL OR SKYPE CALL: Would you like a 1 on 1 personal Skype or phone consult with me? Set up a time when we can talk and sort out your own specific Latin American plans. Just put the word “CONSULT” in the subject line and send a short list of your questions and talking points to: [email protected]

 -Some Expat auto owners weigh in with amusing stories describing what happens when Latin cops tried to shake them down for dough.

BTW: the car/vehicle paperwork shakedown situation is common around Christmas time (when most Latins are beyond dead broke).     

 

 -Some tips on the least expensive ways to get your residency in a Latin country. It’s likely, if you get boots on the ground yourself and find your own Latin lawyer to hold your hand and process your paperwork, you’ll generally save around $5000 or more over the so-called internet legal facilitator “agencies” that promise to do the same.    

 

-Examples how the USA has been forcing Latin [...]

 -More stories of failed charitable freebee attempts by first-world “do gooders” to save the poor…

 

-How “do gooders” team up with corporate monsters like Mcdonalds to use so-called acts of charity. The secondary effect is simply to program poor kids into becoming future “Happy Meals” consumers.