I grew up in Texas. My middle school years were spent on a campus where almost all the students identified as Black or Mexican. I am a Black educator who has worked in schools where almost all the students are BIPOC. It’s important you know this because who I am impacts how I view the world. Below are 4 things I think Americans do wrong when moving to Mexico based on my conversations with locals and what I see now that I live in Merida, Mexico.

1. Trying To Replicate Your Home Country

Even though some of my childhood and the majority of my career was spent in Latin communities, when my plane landed in Mexico the first day I moved here, I felt my heart pounding once I realized the depth of the decision I made. While there are many similarities between Mexico and the United States (like McDonald’s, Burger King, Costco, and Petco), there are just as many differences.

“Familiar does not equal better.”

When I went to the local grocery store, I had to remind myself familiar doesn’t equal better. I had to stop looking for brands that don’t exist here and be open to trying new products. Doing so helps me discover more about myself, my likes and dislikes.

2. Staying In American Communities

In America, people segregate themselves racially AND are impacted by structural racism that creates environments of forced segregation. When some Americans move abroad, they carry their colonial mindset with them. It’s this idea that who you are and where you come from (the USA) is infinitely better than where you’re going (Mexico).

“There are Americans who move to Mexico and stay in American communities. Any immigrant is going to want to find people who have the same background, and you don’t want to give that up. But at the same time, you want to meet people from the country you are settling in and become part of the texture of the community you are living in.” Andrew Selee, President of the Migration Policy Institute | Quote from Mexico News Daily

When you look for comfort, you tend to lean into what’s familiar. And for Americans moving to Mexico that looks like finding other Americans. But doing so takes away from the entire point of moving to another country. Sure, meet up with and make new American friends. But don’t restrict yourself to such a small group in a new place. It will limit your entire experience.

3. Avoiding The Language

As someone who is here and learning Spanish, I can’t comprehend why anyone would want to live in Mexico and not at least try to pick up some basic vocabulary. Every time I order ride share, I practice speaking in Spanish with the driver. Often they’ll share how much they appreciate me learning their language and tell me how many times they encounter an expat or immigrant who doesn’t do the same.

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If you’re going to be here more than a week, saying, “¿Como?” and, '“No entiendo” won’t cut it. While cities like Cancun and Tulum cater heavily to tourists and English speakers, that isn’t the case in every city in Mexico. When I go shopping, even the made-in-the-USA products have stickers on the back that cover the English to provide instructions in Spanish. You may not realize it, but going to another country and not even attempting to appreciate and learn the language is how you show your colonized mindset. Americans tend to want everyone else to learn English but not honor the cultures and languages around them.

4. Comparing Dollars to Pesos

Not going to lie, I am guilty of this every, single day. But because I want to be truthful with this list, I am lifting it up. It’s so easy to come to Mexico and feel on top of the world because the cost of living is significantly different. Between the $3 USD Uber rides and the $5 USD healthy meals I eat during the week, I have some extra spring in my step because I am not financially struggling the ways I did in Texas where I felt like I was always robbing Peter to pay Paul. When people describe Mexico, they very wrongly say it’s cheap here— to mean things are cheaply made. I have not seen that to be the case. What is true is that if you still earn a USD salary, you will see living here is less expensive.

But what if you didn’t? What if you had a job earning in pesos at the daily rate locals get paid? You’d be financially struggling. You might even lose your home because foreigners are coming in willing to pay way above the typical price for housing, vehicles, and services.

There is no way around it. When Americans come to Mexico, we contribute to gentrification here. And I hate it because I don’t want to do to others what was done to my people. It’s a complex emotion I think of often. I am very aware it is a privilege that I’m able to leave one country and live in another. And though I’ve only been here a few months and still learning my way, I’m thinking about ways I can contribute to the country where I now reside.

Mexico Is A Great Place For An American To Live

I love my life in Merida, Mexico. The relaxed pace of every day life, the kindness of every person I encounter, and the space to just exist without feeling like I have to perform; these are things that keep me here. And I’m aware of the unintended impact of my choice to live abroad. I’ve still got a lot to learn. I just hope if you decide to move abroad, you consider your impact, too.

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