3 Tips for living in Mexico in 2021
In the summer of 2019, I planned my first trip to Mexico to connect with a longtime friend. Soon after my initial visit, we decided to take on a long-distance relationship with the plan I would frequently visit. I’m from The Bahamas for context purposes, and he is a professional soccer player with limited vacation days. Since the back and forth eventually became costly and inconvenient for me, I now spend most of my year wherever my boyfriend’s team is. When I started visiting, he was in Cuernavaca, about a 1.5-hour drive from Mexico City. Since then, we have lived in or frequented the following cities: Acapulco, Morelia, Guadalajara, and San Miguel de Allende.
Considering the amount of time I have spent in this country as a foreigner, I am confident in the following tips for anyone who might be moving to Mexico or benefit from the following consejos:
1.Use Waze as your primary GPS app.
Although it took me a while to become comfortable driving here, I have to thank Waze for making the transition seamless. Coming from a country where the maximum speed limit is 45MPH and highways don’t exist, I was very anxious to take on the Mexican roadways. In the beginning, I primarily used Maps, being a typical iPhone user; however, it did not give me the little tips while driving that Waze provides. Waze notifies you if police are expected on your route, of rough road conditions to avoid (potholes, for example), construction and hazardous conditions (and on what side of the road they’re on), speed limits, and traffic status updates. While all of this may seem simple, the real-time stream of information made me more confident, and I avoided many problems that could have occurred.
2. Brush up on your Spanish. Learn Mexican Slang!
While I am grateful for my Spanish-speaking background, I was in dire need to expand my vocabulary and familiarize myself with it to appropriately interact with my in-laws and meet new friends. While there is a range of schools to choose from, I used Universidad Internacional. Considering the global pandemic, they provide classes via zoom at a great price. All you have to do is provide your contact information and the goals you would like to achieve, and a representative will be in contact with you to assess your Spanish level. My professor is Carlos, and he integrates Mexican history and current news into our lessons. I highly recommend them!
3. We’re in a pandemic. Get your food delivered.
With Mexico having one of the highest numbers of Covid-19 cases in the world, it might be best to call off your dinner plans and order-in. While this may not be an extensive list of apps available, here are the most popular: UberEats, Rappi, Devy, and DiDi Food. If you are in doubt, Google: ‘pide comida a domicilio Mexico’ to see what options are available in your area!
Should you decide to explore in-person dining, pay attention to the Covid-19 guidelines in your state, as they are frequently updating.
While I plan to expand this list of tips for you all in the near future, I hope it provides you with some relief on your move for now. Mexico has become my favorite country to travel and get to know mainly because of its rich culture, friendly people, and AMAZING food. ¡Disfruta!
Follow me on Instagram @caitlinbahamas and explore my highlights of Mexico :).
