Latin America Expat Blogger Series: Joy and Journey (Stephanie)

Introduce yourself and why you decided to start your blog.

I’m Stephanie, a girl from Michigan living in Mexico with my husband and dog. I started my blog when I first moved abroad (to Thailand), and through a few iterations have arrived at my current blog, Joy and Journey. I started my blog to share my experiences living and traveling abroad, and to show Americans especially how easy and fun it can be to experience different places around the world. Currently, my blog focuses on “expatriation and exploration” in Latin America, the region I’ve lived in for about 4 years now.

How long have you been in Mexico and in Puebla? How long do you plan on living there?

I’ve been living in Mexico for two and a half years, Puebla specifically for a year and a half. We actually JUST moved to Puerto Vallarta.

Where did you live at before coming to Puebla and Mexico?

Mexico City, Mexico for 1 year, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for nearly 2 years, Bangkok, Thailand for 2 years (which is where I met my husband). Before that, I’d lived in Michigan for my whole life.

What made you decide to move to Mexico?

We had moved to Rio de Janeiro (sight unseen – neither my husband or I had ever even stepped foot in South America) from Thailand so that my husband could provide security consulting for the Olympics. I had a very hard time in Rio with the intense sexual harassment – groping, obscene comments, being followed or chased – to the point I didn’t want to leave the house alone and was having anxiety attacks. My husband received an offer to work in Mexico, and we jumped at the opportunity, even though I’d only ever spent a week there (in Cancun) and my husband had never been.

Do you have temporary residency? If so, what was the visa process like?

I’m in the middle of the process! Lucky for me, my husband’s company’s lawyer is doing it all for me. I just provide the documents.

How do you make a living?

I’m a copyeditor for Matador Network.

What is the average cost of living in Puebla, Mexico?

That’s so hard to say! Local wages are very low, around a few hundred dollars a month (for 50 hour weeks!).

Most expats I know, though, live in houses that cost around 16,000 pesos/month (sadly, more than most local workers make in a month), and meals at nicer restaurants run around 100 pesos, while a ticket to the “VIP” movie theatre is around 100 pesos. If I had to take a shot in the dark, I’d say to live “American style” costs around $2000USD for the average couple here.

What have you learned since becoming an expat in Mexico?

That Mexico is way safer than everyone thinks it is and way more diverse.

What is your favorite thing about being an expat in Puebla, Mexico?

I have so many! The food and the relative inexpensiveness of living, the feeling of safety and friendliness. The weather!

What’s the worst thing about being an expat in Mexico?

Traditional expectations for women. A lot of the women I know, especially here in Puebla, who are my age are married with kids. Most people think it’s weird that I travel all over the continent (and world) by myself, without my husband, and I have no interest in having kids any time soon.

What do you miss most about home?

Protections for customers against companies. I think people in Mexico are exceptionally trustworthy, but companies are not. We’ve been ripped off so many times because we’re generally trusting people. You need to get everything in writing, including repercussions for breaking agreements (for example, that a landlord needs to give a discount on rent if there’s no water due to pipe issues he’s put off fixing), otherwise good luck getting your paid-in-advance furniture delivered within a month of your agreed-upon date, having running water in your house, or having your paid-in-advance moving company show up to do your cross-country move. There’s no BBB here to protect you.

I also miss Panera Bread, the food chain, and Target and Whole Foods, the stores. And Taco Bell, though I know that is TOTAL blasphemy!

Do you speak Spanish fluently? What has the language learning process been like?

I understand fluently but I have a hard time speaking due to anxiety and nervousness. I worry constantly about saying the wrong thing.

What did you do to meet people and integrate into your new country?

I joined expat groups, especially Facebook groups, and also relied on connections. I told friends that I’m moving to Puebla, and asked if they could connect me with anybody. I met a few of my new friends that way.

What customs/habits have you found to be the most different from your own culture or have found to be the most difficult to adjust to?

Lateness. I’m very much a “if you’re not 5 minutes early, you’re late”. In Mexico, you’ll hear ahorita a lot, which should mean right now, but really means hours or days from now. Making a meeting with someone at 12pm and not have them show up until 1 or later can be frustrating, but you just have to realize that’s the way it is and go with the flow.

How do you feel that the local people see you? Are you treated any differently?

In Mexico, tourists (and expats) are treated SO nicely. I’ve had so many cashiers, servers, etc apologize to me for not speaking better English! It’s sort of the opposite to the US in that regard (where I think a lot of people are quite mean to foreigners, especially about language).

I’ve had strangers come up to me at restaurants and offer to help me with ordering (not knowing I speak Spanish). There’s a definite outgoing welcome and friendliness that I really appreciate.

What is a myth about your adopted country?

That it’s unsafe. It is SO not. I travel alone throughout the country most of the time (my husband has a job that keeps him in the office), and I’ve never had anything even borderline sketchy happen. I feel WAY safer in Mexico than I do pretty much anywhere in the US. I remain aware of my surroundings, don’t go in dark alleys, don’t wander around sketchy streets at night, common sense stuff.

Or that you’ll get kidnapped by the cartel. If you’re not involved in drugs, it’s not gonna happen.

What is your favorite dish in Puebla, Mexico?

Again total blasphemy, but I don’t like mole (a popular sauce that Puebla is famous for) at ALL. I can’t eat it. I love chilaquiles, though they aren’t Puebla-specific and you can find them pretty much anywhere in Mexico.

What advice would you give someone when traveling to Puebla or Mexico in general?

Keep an open mind. Mexico is big and beautiful and diverse. Know how to properly communicate your dietary restrictions (I’m a vegetarian, for example). Puebla and Central Mexico are chillier at night than most people expect.

Any fun facts about culture or life in Puebla, Mexico?

Puebla is home to Cinco de Mayo (which is NOT Mexican independence day).

What are your travel plans for 2018?

Merida in April, Phoenix AZ in May, Texas and New Orleans in October, Puebla and Chiapas in November, Sayulita (for my 30th birthday in December)… aside from that, I’m wide open!

Learn more about Stephanie’s life as an expat in Mexico on her blog Joy and Journey and follow her on social media on Facebook, and Instagram.

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