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11 Things No One Will Tell You about Expat Life

  Many bloggers spend time talking about the differences between short-term and long-term travel, but many skirt over the longest and most challenging type of travel - expat life. "What is an expat?" you may ask. Well, the word expat is a contraction of expatriate, which derives from the Latin word expatriatus. In medieval times, an expatriatus was someone who had left his or her home country to live somewhere else. In today’s culture an, expatriate has the same meaning; someone…

39 Things You Should Know Before Moving (or Traveling) to Mexico

I'm quickly approaching my one year anniversary of living in Mexico and I thought now would be an appropriate time, to sum up, some of the things that I have learned since B and I moved our life here. So if you are moving or traveling to Mexico, or just curious about life down here, feel free to check it out!   Daily Life 1. Almost all bills can be paid at the Oxxo The Oxxo is like your neighborhood…

What Does Gringo Mean Anyways?

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the word gringo /a. If you are curious about the meaning or the origin of the word gringo/a this post is for you! Definition Before we get into the myths and origins of gringo/a let's visit some current definitions. Our first definition is coming from Urban Dictionary a more up to date dictionary when referring to slang or cultural words. ... and now a definition from Merriam-Webster. From my knowledge and my…

Why I Don’t Mind Always Being a Gringa

My blog often comes up in conversation with locals here in Mexico since my husband works ungodly hours and people are wondering if I’m just hanging out at home sitting on my ass all day. I tell them I teach both online and here in Mexico, as well as blog which in turn brings up the question "What is the name of your blog? I smile and say “Always a Gringa” and watch as their face displays a mix of emotions,…

6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be an ESL Teacher

  I’ve taught English Language Learners (ELL) in the USA, South Africa, China, and now in Mexico. I have learned a few things in my short career as an ESL teacher and I thought I would write this article to inform you on the inevitable circumstances you will find yourself in if you decide to pursue a career in teaching ESL students. READ: Advocating for the Neglected in the United States School System by Always A Gringa 1. Terrible pay You are…

Ubuntu: A Philosophy to Adopt during a Trump Presidency

How an African Philosophy found it's way to an American Expat living in Mexico My husband and I were driving around our new city in an effort to gain a better understanding of our location. Driving near a plaza we passed a small shop, one of them made my heart skip a beat; Ubuntu. A few months ago I encountered this term three times in one day, once at the end of yoga class, a second on Facebook and a third in conversation with my hair dresser. Today…

How Being an Expatriate Taught Me About Minimalism

Packing our things At the end of June we waved goodbye to all our belongings as they were neatly packed into cardboard boxes and driven away. The only belongings we had to our name were in a trusty suitcase and a pack on my back. Days later we left Michigan with the expectation that our things would be meeting us in Mexico in 6-8 weeks. I would be in Asia for the next 7 weeks and B would be in Mexico. READ: 6 Tips on How to Land an Expat Assignment…