L.A. girl thinking about making the move to GTO :)

[Barbara]

Hi Jamie,
There's lots of good advice in Jacquie's reply. Here's my story and advice.

I was in your situation, I followed my heart when I moved here at the age of 35 and don't regret it. But I didn't come for the love of a man although there have been a few since then. I moved because of a growing dissatisfaction with the U.S. lifestyle and a love of Mexico. I left a good paying job at the University of Pennsylvania and came here with this plan: to learn Spanish, live here for a year, and then travel more in Latin America. To make a long story short, I have been living here and teaching English full-time at the Universidad de Guanajuato since 1992. My degree and work experience were in business administration, but this mid-life change was the best decision I ever made. I love teaching and I manage to get by on my salary, although in dollars it's ridiculous. I live comfortably here with no outside income or help from anybody. I can travel easily within Mexico and Central America, but airfares to other countries can break the budget. I don't have a car; I don't want one and I don't need one. Food is cheap, there's lots to do, the weather is good, and the people are amazing. Life is simple, and great.

Some questions for you to ask yourself and a few suggestions. If you're not sure about taking the jump 100% could you take a leave of absence from your job for a few months or a year? If you decide to live here, could you arrange a plan with lower monthly payments for your student loans? Have you thought about what kind of job and salary you would have here? Have you talked with local artists to get an idea about how much extra income you could make here? I assume your novio has an income, so some of your fixed expenses would be lower than mine. Are you prepared to give up the conveniences you have now?

I'm sure you've already considered all of the above, so I guess that all that's left for you to do is follow your heart. You can change your mind, but not your heart.

Saludos, y suerte!
Barbara