The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

#1- Getting off the grid and off the radar: You can do it to a significant degree in Latin America and here’s how..

#2 House swapping: is that a viable option for gringos and expats who go back an forth between the US and Latin America? Maybe so but look out. There are many pitfalls, especially if you are a picky gringo with first-world standards. Yet it could could be a successful enterprise if the trade was done with only upscale Latin families in mind- though not likely if you are targeting just gringos and Expats. In any event, I wouldn’t recommended swapping your primary residence with someone you don’t personally know.

#3-Even wealthy supposedly well-educated Latins are quite gullible when it comes to cons and scams. They are especially vulnerable when on their never ending quest to emulate everything and anything that’s first-world and gringo. So just how gullible are Latins in general? Today we discuss a few prime examples.

#4- What is the legal status of Marijuana and hemp oil in Latin America? Are they decriminalized or not? Are they legal for medical use? Well, yes and no. It’s complicated and today we have the skinny on the subject.

#5- What to do when an electrical or mechanical household item or appliance breaks down? In Latin America there are usually two ways to approach the repair process. First there’s the gringo way (more expensive) and then the Latin way (much less costly). Today’s “boots on the ground” story describes the hows and whys.

#6- MY NEXT EXPAT “INSIDER” SEMINAR will be Saturday July 8th thru Thursday July 13th 2017 in and around Guatemala, Central America.  Go to www.TheNewExpat.com and click on the seminar link.

#6- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course now at www.ExpatPlanB.com

#7- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

#8- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by downloading the “Plan B” consult/questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

#1- Volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters. What? Me Worry?

#2 Some wild and crazy drivers license stories: today Expat Eddie chimes in and tells us how in the past so many gringos and expats would just bypass the driver’s tests and the lines and just outright buy a Latin Driver’s license on the grey market . But recently- when Eddie himself figured it was about time to get a legit one- his Gringo advantage allowed him to achieve that goal even though he was colorblind and failed the eye exam multiple times.

#3-Today our friend Captain Mango checks in with an odd “lost in translation” story and much more

#4- Just how polluted are the lakes and rivers in Latin America? Are they getting worse or better? Today we have the dirt on that sad problem..

#5- MY NEXT EXPAT “INSIDER” SEMINAR will be Saturday July 8th thru Thursday July 13th 2017 in and around Guatemala, Central America.  Go to www.TheNewExpat.com and click on the seminar link.

#6- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course now at www.ExpatPlanB.com

# 7-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

#8- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

#9- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

#1- A zero cost “secret stash” security tip for people traveling in and around Latin

America(or anywhere for that matter)

#2 Oh for the good old days when “Cash was King”. Have you

heard cash is on the way out and will soon be dead in the first world? It’s now

being phased out in certain sheeple infested European countries like

Switzerland. So how’s that trend coming along in Latin America? Well it ain’t

going well… cash is king still and here’s the latest scoop.

#3-A warning about using those public space “free battery charge” USB hubs. Yes, topping off smart

devices batteries in public locations is all the rage and seemingly  innocuous but in reality a dangerous practice and here’s why...

#4- A Latina-USA based listener sounds off about the many things she disagrees with concerning Johnny’s

facts and opinions ...and of course Johnny bites back

#5- MY NEXT EXPAT “INSIDER” SEMINAR will be Saturday July 8th thru Thursday July 13th

2017 in and around Guatemala, Central America.  Go to www.TheNewExpat.com and click on the seminar link.

#6- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a

blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting

boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat

Essentials” course now at www.ExpatPlanB.com 

# 7-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to

the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

 #8- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all

the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than

150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

 #9- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult

questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

Descriptions: for THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #667, 06-11-2017 (SUN):

#1- Tips on owning dogs and other animals in Latin America: a few words about Latin veterinarians, pharmacies, prescriptions and drugs

#2-More Mexico stories: why is it that no matter how many awful news stories air about crime and lawlessness in Mexico and gringo- and as Expat bad experiences pile up- still so many gringos and expats still think Mexico might be a good “Plan B” destination. I dunno, it’s a strange mindset, so you tell me.

#3 We all have heard startling stories and news reports about Gringas and European Ladies traveling in Latin America. We hear they sometimes get abducted, raped even killed. Today we talk facts figures, myths and realities.

#4- More on various Latin Country residency programs

#5- MY NEXT EXPAT “INSIDER” SEMINAR will be Saturday July 8th thru Thursday July 13th 2017 in and around Guatemala, Central America.  Go to www.TheNewExpat.com and click on the seminar link.

#6- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course now at www.ExpatPlanB.com

# 7-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

#8- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

#9- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

#1- Top 10 mistakes green gringos and expats make when first arriving at their so-called “ideal”Latin American paradise.

#2-Today some examples why you can’t believe half of what you read on the many Expat blogs and websites(except maybe on The Expat Files… just maybe).

#3 EXPAT RULE #1-By the time the media and rags like International Living have announce the Latin American expat gringo retirement destination flavor of the month, you can be dead sure that Elvis has long since left the building.

#4- Many many gringo Expats in Latin America work off the books at brick and mortar establishments. Technically its illegal but thousands do it. Today we discuss those cash jobs- the how, where and when.

#5-Meet the new boss- same as the old boss: today a few kind, Christian words about those repugnant, megalomaniac Latin American government bureaucrats, politicians, dictators and other dyed-in-the-wool sociopaths. Simply put, they’re bad copies of our own malignant stateside political scum, though with noticeably lower IQ’s. Therefore Latin politicos are more careless and tend to get caught early in their crimes. However they rarely do the time and in fact often become infamous folk heroes (kinda like Bill Clinton)

#6- MY NEXT EXPAT “INSIDER” SEMINAR will be Saturday July 8th thru Thursday July 13th 2017 in and around Guatemala, Central America.  Go to www.TheNewExpat.com and click on the seminar link.

#7- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course now at www.ExpatPlanB.com

# 8-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

#9- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

#10- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

#1- Are Caribbean Islands a possibility in your Plan B? Yes, there are a handful of Latin Caribbean Island countries, like the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico to think about, but some people are also thinking about certain non-Latin island countries too, like Jamaica, where there’s the added attraction that the natives speak English. My opinion? Forget it. It’s a bad idea and here’s why...   

 

#2- A look at local Latin American produce markets and the local food supply. How much have mega chemical giants like Monsanto penetrated the Latin food chain? What about fertilizers, pesticides and GMOs? Where and what should we be eating once we arrive? 

 

#3- In today’s “boots on the ground” adventure story, a surprising encounter with another Chicagoland Expat in a big Latin Hardware store. Unfortunately, he too proved to be quite clueless.

 

#4- MY NEXT EXPAT “INSIDER” SEMINAR will be Saturday July 8th thru Thursday July 13th 2017 in and around Guatemala, Central America.  Go towww.TheNewExpat.com and click on the seminar link.

 

#5- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course now at www.ExpatPlanB.com 

 

# 6-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

 

#7- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

 

#8- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

#1- The Secret Life of a Latin Maid (muchacha): what do they talk about when they get together. Do they talk about you, her employer? Of course they do but what can they be saying behind your back?

#2- Those ridiculously low Latin American wages: yes they vary a bit from country to country but are by our standards beyond ridiculously low. Even so, would you believe most cleaning ladies (muchachas) and domestic workers earn even less than the Latin minimum wage($250 to $350 per month)… often less than HALF of that!

#3- LATIN LABOR UNIONS: Yes they are here and as corrupt and as weak as they can possibly be. As usual, they always start out with very good intentions but and as soon as the leaders gain some power, just like politicians, they become accustomed to the good life at the expense of the workers they are supposed to represent.

#4- MY NEXT EXPAT “INSIDER” SEMINAR will be Saturday July 8th thru Thursday July 13th 2017 in and around Guatemala, Central America.  Go to www.TheNewExpat.com and click on the seminar link.

#5- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course now at www.ExpatPlanB.com

#6-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

#7- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

#8- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

#1- How to shift some of your assets to Latin America and plan ahead for that eventuality. Expat gonnabees and wannabees want to know what Latin assets they should consider buying and/or investing in that might assure a nice stable, low stress “Plan B” life when they finally arrive.

 

#2- LATIN BANKS: you’ll certainly need an account in one or more banks but its confusing for Expats since every Latin country has at least a dozen of them. Though all the bank buildings look nice many are in poor financial shape, while others have been rock solid inside and out for decades. Today we discuss how Expats can get help determining the good and the solid from the weak and the crappy?

 

#3- LATIN LAWYERS: Today we discuss the percentage of Latin lawyer crooks and gougers versus the honest, loyal, reasonable and trustworthy types. You’ll be shocked at the guesstimates. Not surprisingly, there’s a huge difference in the percentages of good, bad and ugly lawyers depending whether one dealing with one on or off the tourist trail 

 

#4-BITCOINS for EXPATS: I’ve been talking about BC for over 3 years now and its about time I tell you my own amazing” boots on the ground” bitcoin story. It could only have happened in Latin America…

 

#5- MY NEXT EXPAT “INSIDER” SEMINAR will be Saturday July 8th thru Thursday July 13th 2017 in and around Guatemala, Central America.  The Earlybird Discount ends on June 1. Sign up now and save $500 by going to www.thenewexpat.com and clicking on the seminar link.

 

#6- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course at www.ExpatPlanB.com 

 

#7-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

 

#8- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

 

#9- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

#1- When new green Expats encounter Narco chieftains and their entourages: that's the subject of today’s “boots on the ground” real-life Expat story that happened recently in an upscale Latin restaurant

#2- Can you guess the TWO favorite vehicle models overwhelmingly chosen by Narco capos and crooked Latin politicians for their day to day on the road travel? Hint?.. they both are American brands.

#3- Bulletproofing (armor plating) of vehicles is big business in Latin America. Every large Latin city has a dozen such “Blindado” shops. Its an expensive car upgrade that’s completely unnecessary for normal Latins and Expats and the shops generally have only three classes of customers: upscale Narcos, thieving government types and the lawyer’s that aid and abet the dirty deeds of said criminals and scumbags.

#4-Today's Question: If American businessmen are known for making deals on the golf course, and very, very, few Latins golf, then where do you think many Latin business deals are consummated? If you guessed at the strip clubs, (called nightclubs here), you’d be right.

#5- Yes, I do hammer on politicians all the time and people email me about it, but  are all of them really that corrupt? Well yes, and they're even much worse then you think. Today we have a perfect example: the new President of Brazil recently caught on audio doing a deal in order to keep someone from blabbing about a payoff.

#6-More reasons Belize is not a good long term choice for your “Plan B”

#7- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course at www.ExpatPlanB.com

#8-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

#9- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so do have a look.

#10- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com

#1- What expats need to know about air travel to and from Central and South America from the states

#2- What about internal air travel using local Latin carriers?

#3- Tips on Tips and Tipping: find out what’s proper and what’s not. How well-meaning gringos tend to dislocate and distort prevailing wage and social systems throughout Latin America to the detriment of everyone. When that begins to happen it usually too late to reverse the trend.

#4- Why Latin University grads are finding they have little chance for employment or advancement in their chosen careers (sound familiar?)

#5- Just like in the states, Latin college grads can’t find decent jobs in their chosen fields so they often do the next best stupid thing-they go for an MBA, believing that an extra framed piece of toilet paper on the wall will be their ticket to the good life

#6- Johnny’s new “Expat Essentials Course” is a blueprint for your “Plan B” and the best way kick-start your own plan before getting boots on the ground in Latin America. See the three video intros to the “Expat Essentials” course at www.ExpatPlanB.com

#7-Try the “Podcast by Phone” feature. Listen to the last FIVE Expat Files programs over the phone by dialing: 1-701-719-0893

#8- Check out my “The Expat Files” You Tube channel to see all the fun slides and photos that go along with each show. There are now more than 150 shows posted on my You Tube channel so have a look.

#9- Set up a one-on-one personal Phone/SKYPE consult with Johnny by completing the “Plan B” consult questionnaire at www.TheNewExpat.com