When people ask me where I am from I proudly tell them “Mexico!” The puzzled looks on their faces always amuses me. With just one glance, you can tell that I am clearly not Mexican. I now answer to “Oye Güera!” more than I do to my own name. I am originally from a small town in Southern Ontario, Canada, but after almost ten years of living in this beautiful country, I now identify as Mexican – proud to be part of this culture that I have come to dearly love and respect. The key to a successful experience living as an expat is completely dependent on your attitude. If you are positive, maintain an open mind, and most importantly an open heart, your life will be enriched in ways beyond your wildest dreams. I jumped in with both feet, eager to learn Spanish and learn about this new culture…..and I have never looked back.
Don’t get me wrong. It wasn´t easy in the beginning. The differences between Canadian and Mexican culture are vast and at times, infuriating. I arrived in this country as an “Ama de Casa” (housewife) with limited knowledge of Spanish and what Mexican daily life is really like. My experience of Mexico had been informed by week-long stays in all-inclusive resorts in various beach towns. My Spanish was limited and “más cerveza” was not going to get me very far. My learning curve was steep and there were days filled with many tears. The inability to communicate even just basic needs was overwhelming and exasperating.
My daughter was four years old when we arrived in Atlixco, Puebla. Our journey to becoming permanent residents of Mexico has been complicated to say the least. My husband was employed by a Canadian auto-parts provider. Ours was the common expat experience – moving to Mexico for work. He was busy in his new role in the plant, and I was in charge of acclimatizing myself and my daughter to our new culture and our new lifestyle.
I was committed to giving her an authentic experience so I enrolled her in a small private school in the middle of downtown Atlixco. She was the tallest child in her grade, with fair skin, white-blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Her classmates loved her. But Barbie (as they affectionately called her) was not so happy. She took most of her classes in Spanish, with very limited English (it seemed like a good idea at the time). Here we were, living in paradise, Atlixco, “Pueblo Mágico” but our experience was turning out to be less than magical.
The difference in culture affected us in ways I never could have predicted.
We were in shock. The difference in culture and inability to speak the language affected us in ways I never could have predicted. I couldn’t understand why no one seemed to respect punctuality and why they were constantly telling me things like “Sí,sí,sí” and “Mañana…”. I would frequently burst into tears and sobs after failing to express myself through an unsuccessful game of charades.
We breathed a collective sigh of relief when, after a year and a half, my husband was given a new opportunity working in the States. We moved back to Canada for a short stay, then on to the Southern States. Fast-forward seven years, and yes, you guessed it. We found ourselves on our way back to Puebla. But this time, things would be different. Our first experience living as expats in Mexico had taught us valuable lessons.
Moving to another country as a family unit poses its own unique challenges. The person working has his or her own support system at work. The company’s human resource department can only spend limited time and resources helping the rest of the family adjust to their new culture. The responsibility lies within the other family members – it is imperative that they maintain an open mind, have a positive attitude and a willingness to experience new adventures. And of course, commit to learning the language.
My daughter was enrolled in a bilingual school and she spent her teenage years in Secundaria and Prepa forming friendships that will last a lifetime. She is now studying nursing at university in Canada and, because she is fluent in Spanish, her job opportunities are endless.
As a family unit, we worked very hard at understanding and breaking down the cultural barriers that separated us.
Living and experiencing life in Mexico has helped shape her into a mature, beautiful, independent young woman who respects diversity and doesn´t believe in cultural stereotypes.
Over the past ten years in Mexico, I have experienced many significant life changes. My daughter left home to study in Canada. We moved from Puebla to San Luis Potosi. And most recently, a divorce…..
One of the cultural traits that I admire most about Mexicans is the ability to live day to day with such vigor, warmth and positivity while enduring adversity. Extremely low wages, little to no protection for the average worker, political corruption, bribery, cartel activity, and increased violence against women and children are unfortunately part of the reality of daily life.
Incorporating this positive way of living into my own life has helped me get through very difficult times. I was faced with reinventing myself. I was a million miles away from my family and support system. And I needed a job.
So, I turned to my network of friends and acquaintances. Networking is an essential expat survival skill. Not only do you need to keep in touch with your own expat community but you need to expand your contacts into the local social and professional scenes.
A friend put me in touch with Laura Segovia, Recruitment and Career Coach. She helped me define my skills and promote myself based on my experience in human resources, customer service and social work. She found the perfect fit for me. In January of last year I began working in Berlitz Plaza Sendero.
My role in corporate sales and customer service is both challenging and very fulfilling. I can empathize with our students who are trying very hard to learn a second language and overcome their fears and nervousness and yes, even embarrassment.
The economic landscape of San Luis Potosi is changing at an exponential rate. With all the different foreign companies settling here, the now common language of business is English. Our students are very motivated to improve their ability to communicate in English so that they can achieve their professional goals and perhaps even secure a better position.
From the corporate perspective, and because recruitment has become increasingly competitive, providing their employees with English classes either given at the company’s premises or in our Berlitz Sendero and Carranza locations, has become a popular method of employee retention.
When asked what I like most about living in Mexico I say the warmth – of the people, the climate, the food, the colors and the language. Every fall the monarch butterfly migrates from Canada to Mexico to escape the cold. This monarch butterfly has decided to stay, indefinitely. Viva la Vida! Viva Mexico!
Article written by:
Felicity Henderson
Corporate Sales and Customer Service at Berlitz San Luis
Canadian expat in San Luis Potosí
