Notice to new members intending to register - from January 9th 2012

flilly13 · #26 01-05-2011, 09:43 PM

update:
I got our 11 yr old enrolled today in a public school here in TJ just a couple blocks away from the house! And I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised.... the school was very organized, welcoming and the best thing was that her class consist of only 14 other children=) The only downside for here is they put her in fifth grade instead of sixth but after reviewing the academics they where doing here in fifth grade they are way far more advanced then even her sixth grade class in the states..... I guess it is true when they say how far behind the united states are academically. So tomorrow is her first day of school. Woo Hooo and thank you ALL so very much for all the feed back it truly made a difference.

lost14 · #27 01-07-2011, 12:30 PM

don't they go a different number of years in Mexico too? Like they start school there at 4 or something I think. There structure is a tad different. They do PreK and K which I think PreK is equal to our K and there K is equal to our 1st...mybe explain that to your daughter so she doesnt feel so bad...

flilly13 · #28 01-07-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost14

don't they go a different number of years in Mexico too? Like they start school there at 4 or something I think. There structure is a tad different. They do PreK and K which I think PreK is equal to our K and there K is equal to our 1st...mybe explain that to your daughter so she doesnt feel so bad...

Lost14 you hit it right on..., i explained it to her and shes not even worried about it... woohoo for me! lol

She had a wonderful day yesterday and she cant wait to go back. We are all sooo very relieved!

lost14 · #29 01-07-2011, 01:37 PM

Do they go to 12th grade or isnt it different like 11 or 13?

flilly13 · #30 01-07-2011, 02:33 PM

i think it is only 11th but dont quote me because I am not sure... lol

gringa · #31 01-09-2011, 09:56 AM

Sorry for your family, been there done that. My husband deported in 2002. I felt unsafe in TJ so we moved to Mexicali, alittle less crime but hotter border town. We stayed there 4 years but the border crossing daily takes a toll on you every day waiting two hours to cross to go to work. And had 4 children as well. Justice Department said he could re enter in 5 years, he was not illegal, never in trouble for 20 years in CA. But one day picked up sister who crossed illegal, deported for smuggling. We fought all the way to 9th circuit court lost alot of money and changed nothing. As far as re-entering you can apply in 5 years but denied. We could keep applying but they will not approve especially nowadays. We moved farther into Mexico and I love it here. Kind of a Mexican Mayberry. My point is don't waste your years and your childrens childhood, waiting and hoping for a day to go back. Move on make a new life while you wait. We wasted so much time waiting we could have had a better life for my kids than a border town. My kids love it here. They go to school, we have medical coverage which id never had in USA, Cost of living way down. However there is chance for papers hubby was victim of a crime so he got a temp visa however law enforcement has to file paper work. We decided to stay here in Mexico we have a life here and would have to start all over again there and we are not as young now. so please to all of those who are waiting for a piece of paper please don't waste your life, live and enjoy it!

flilly13 · #32 01-09-2011, 11:16 PM

Gringa,
Thank you for your advice... You seem to be very happy so too I am living in this border town. I am sure the border crossing will talke a toll on my sooner or later but really its no difference then me living in Los Angeles and sitting in traffic on the fwy for an hr to hr 1/2 every day. lol Border living is what works for us and we are very happy as for now=) My children all love it. It is @ our convenience staying here being ALL of our family are a hop, skip and a jump away in California, I am able to work, which is very important because i am not very good at the domestic stay @ home mom job!

We have talked about moving further down south after the oldest three graduate but I still have about 6 more years. My main goal is to work our butts off, save money and buy something=) In regards to waiting for papers, we have lost all faith in the immigration part of the government and we are not holding our breath for any chance at all to go back. If god does grant us with that it will be great but if not we are find where we are. Living here gives me the best of both worlds!!!

Thank you again and you are a very BRAVE, STRONG woman!!!

gringa · #33 01-10-2011, 02:56 PM

Good Plan, Save money and easier to do here in Mexico. Next year take a vacation and look all over Mexico some beautiful places here. You can buy a piece of land cheap and built your home little by little, we built ours during my husbands appeal process (3 1/2 years) but we lived like you by the border for work and school. However public school wanted to charge us $6000 dollars a year per child because we lived in Mexico. My oldest daughter ended up getting High School Diploma online and now is in College in California. My younger kids go to school here but later will do high school online as well so they can go to college in USA if they want. And a bonus they can read and write in both languages. We live in a farming town no stop lights here so I am finally free of Los Angeles traffic. I do laugh everytime I see a man talking on a cell while riding a horse though.

You sound very smart and above all our families being together is more important than any border.

flilly13 · #34 01-10-2011, 07:05 PM

My husband being deported is not the end of our road it is the beginning of our life long journey and the least of my worries is him getting approved to go back to the states! The states actually did me a favor by showing me that the world is such a bigger, greater place and its all out their for us to learn about=)

donnal · #35 01-10-2011, 07:08 PM

Hi I saw this post and wanted to pipe in.

I am a US citizen that lived in Mexico for 10 years while married, by choice. My ex-husband was Mexican and he felt he had better business opportunities in Mexico than he did in US. Both my children were born in Mexico and are US citizens due to my citizenship.

We lived very well there. My children are now both grown and both speak, read and write both English and Spanish fluently. They were able to go to private schools and medical care was very good. I lived there back when there was no internet or barely any cell phones, so imagine, it was quite a change for me, being born and raised in Maine and basically pretty cut off from my family, etc. but other than that I enjoyed it VERY much.

I have to say, families were more united, spent time together and enjoyed it, young to old, and neighbors were friendlier and got to know you, food was more natural and fresh, I went to the open market daily when we lived in Cholula, Puebla, southeast of Mexico City. Over all it seemed in many ways like the way it used to be in US and still could be if we weren't all so on the fast track.

Cholula and Puebla were awesome, it was the nicest climate I have EVER lived in, and there is a very large university in Cholula. I also lived in Monterrey and Acapulco.

I agree with the poster that said if you are there, embrace it. Don't spent time on looking back or forwards too much, because there is plenty good and positive about much of what you can have for a life, living in Mexico.

Good luck!
Donna

flilly13 · #36 01-10-2011, 08:10 PM

[quote=donnal;5884607]Hi I saw this post and wanted to pipe in.

I am a US citizen that lived in Mexico for 10 years while married, by choice. My ex-husband was Mexican and he felt he had better business opportunities in Mexico than he did in US. Both my children were born in Mexico and are US citizens due to my citizenship.

We lived very well there. My children are now both grown and both speak, read and write both English and Spanish fluently. They were able to go to private schools and medical care was very good. I lived there back when there was no internet or barely any cell phones, so imagine, it was quite a change for me, being born and raised in Maine and basically pretty cut off from my family, etc. but other than that I enjoyed it VERY much.

I have to say, families were more united, spent time together and enjoyed it, young to old, and neighbors were friendlier and got to know you, food was more natural and fresh, I went to the open market daily when we lived in Cholula, Puebla, southeast of Mexico City. Over all it seemed in many ways like the way it used to be in US and still could be if we weren't all so on the fast track.

Cholula and Puebla were awesome, it was the nicest climate I have EVER lived in, and there is a very large university in Cholula. I also lived in Monterrey and Acapulco.

I agree with the poster that said if you are there, embrace it. Don't spent time on looking back or forwards too much, because there is plenty good and positive about much of what you can have for a life, living in Mexico.

Good luck!
Donna

Thank you Donna! It is great to hear from people that have or are having good experiences in Mexico. Especially for those of us that are here long term.. I would love to hear more experiences...

only1love · #37 01-10-2011, 09:16 PM

My ex lived in Mexico for about 5 years. TJ is not very nice, but further south along the coase was very nice. It was beautiful where he was. Most of the people spoke English and Spanish. After I moved to the west coast, I spent more time in Mexico.

The biggest down side was driving back over the border on Monday mornings to go to work. The line was very long! I did not like that part at all.

I did have to learn alot about the culture since being a gringa, and very independent, I found many things to be different! Having water delivered to the house was very new to me, and standing in long lines to pay bills because there is no postal service took some getting used to.

tearfallzbreak · #38 01-10-2011, 09:36 PM

Hugs sometimes I wish life could make some sense in form of boundaries and countries I find it all so interesting. I hope to see you all stay close across the border and even make some friends before you go.

flilly13 · #39 01-11-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by only1love

My ex lived in Mexico for about 5 years. TJ is not very nice, but further south along the coase was very nice. It was beautiful where he was. Most of the people spoke English and Spanish. After I moved to the west coast, I spent more time in Mexico.

The biggest down side was driving back over the border on Monday mornings to go to work. The line was very long! I did not like that part at all.

I did have to learn alot about the culture since being a gringa, and very independent, I found many things to be different! Having water delivered to the house was very new to me, and standing in long lines to pay bills because there is no postal service took some getting used to.

Like I said the life that is lived in TJ is all based on personal preference. And yes I do have to agree that crossing the border everyday is a pain in the butt.... We live in TJ and I guess we are very lucky that we have running water (no deliveries) and just about all bill paying can be done @ any store, atm machine, online or over the phone now with debit cards. TJ is really starting to catch up with times=)

casd619 · #40 01-12-2011, 09:48 AM

Hello ladies...
Im glad I stopped by. Unless between now and the time my fiance gets out, we can prove his innocence, he will most likely be deported to El Salvador. His parents got their citizenship, his sister was born here, and he has a 16 year old daughter in another state. Unfortunately when he was young he didn't realize or care about what his status was.
He told me from the beginning that it was a possibility...and I am OK with it. His family has land and a house there. I told him that if he is my husband I go where he goes. I am in my 40's...he will be 40 in May. I have a grown son so I don't have to worry about that. I actually look forward to the adventure...silly me! I have traveled alot in the military so not being in California or in the states doesn't bother me cuz I know I can come back and visit. I also tell him that we could check out a place with more Americans like Costa Rica or ? Learning my Spanish...love his parents to death. Wouldn't trade him or the path I have chosen for anything...except his freedom ;-)...maybe.

I will continue to check in and see how everyone is doing. Best wishes and many blessings to you all.

rodvane · #41 01-12-2011, 12:29 PM

Well Ladies, I myself will also be relocating to Mexico, But we are going to live in San Luis Potosi, once my hubby finishes his 10 yr sentence so we still have plenty of time to plan and build a future for us in Mexico, I will start the construction hopefully within the next couple of years, since I couldnt afford my dream home here in America which is my home, I will be making it in Mexico, unlike alot of people well the hubby and I come from the same town in Mexico, we talked about living in the boarder, but it just seems so dangerous I hate the fact that I will be moving away from my family i hate the fact that Im leaving my country. I think relocating to Mexico will be a good thing since my hubby and I always wanted to retire back in Mexico but not any time soon. But oh I guess all I can do is prepare make the best of it, and enjoy what life gives me.

flilly13 · #42 01-12-2011, 04:59 PM

I love hearing from all of you that are looking @ the positive, flip side of the whole being deported thing..... This is not the end. Yes there is A LOT of struggle, sacrifice, needed patience, pain and tears but all of that will makes us ALL stronger!!!!

God Bless ALL of you and keep in touch. I love hearing your stories=)

donnal · #43 01-12-2011, 06:01 PM

San Luis Potosi is awesome! I would much rather be there than any border town I am familiar with. Unfortunately, it seems the border towns on BOTH sides, generally speaking, don't offer the best of what both nations have to offer. Let's face it, Laredo, Texas, for example, has never been known to be a beautiful and enjoyable US city. The borders have always been bothersome for passing back and forth with long lines, no fun! But the benefit is to earn dollars and live on pesos, of course.

One poster said they weren't used to buying water at the house. I wasn't either! But how awesome is that! In Puebla we had the Bolillo (bread) guy come by, the Lechero (fresh milk, cheese and butter), the Tamalero (hot tamales), El Palatero (fresh fruit popsicles) and the water guy too. Holy cow, just on hot bread and fresh butter and cheese I could sit at home and stay happy. LOL!

I found the trick was to not constantly say "it's not this way in US" any more than a person here in US from another country will be happy if they constantly compare here to their homeland. I DID do that at first, I complained about not finding things in stores and all kinds of things that seemed alien to me. But finally I realized - Nope, it's not the same. One lifestyle isn't necessarily better or worse, it's just "different", and different can be just fine.

rodvane · #44 01-12-2011, 07:38 PM

Thank You for great advice, luckly even though my hubby and i will be relocating to a small town in San Luis Im happy because I can easily become use to the small life country life i dont worry about not having a fst food resturant near by, cause were i live now has a population of 300 we are about 25 miles from a small big city! But yes it will be a big change for us, but I am glad i have enough time to prepare for our move! One thing is for sure my house will be very Americanize. Well once again thank you for your advice and thoughts. Believe me I to miss too the paleteros, eleoteros, etc.

lovin_banks · #45 01-12-2011, 08:50 PM

WoW YEH!! Mexicans are like way worse then americans..i am mexican american but the Guatemalans that are caught in mexico are deported back..they will be lucky if the mexicans deport them back to guatemala because some of those mexican border patrols will send them back to a whole other country.. they people that come from el salvador and other countries that cross like 3 borders have a lot of courage to do so.. I was born here raised here and am very lucky..I really dont like to get into all that mexican legal stuff..but i hope the best for everyone..

flilly13 · #46 01-12-2011, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovin_banks

WoW YEH!! Mexicans are like way worse then americans..i am mexican american but the Guatemalans that are caught in mexico are deported back..they will be lucky if the mexicans deport them back to guatemala because some of those mexican border patrols will send them back to a whole other country.. they people that come from el salvador and other countries that cross like 3 borders have a lot of courage to do so.. I was born here raised here and am very lucky..I really dont like to get into all that mexican legal stuff..but i hope the best for everyone..

lovin banks: you lost me there.... what do u mean Mexicans are worse than americans, borders, "mexican legal stuff"???? Please help me understand or anyone else that understands the above please chime in and "help a sister out"!!!

M.NAVA · #47 01-12-2011, 11:31 PM

when mine gets out we are planning to live in mexico. i do have a question how is it right now u know the whole violence and stuff is it around there?? his mom wants us to live in rosarito ive never been there but like i read it looks like it might be a lil expensive. we still have more time to go, but it never hurts planning early, like one said buying land and building a home takes time so we are thinking of doing that

flilly13 · #48 01-12-2011, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariX3

when mine gets out we are planning to live in mexico. i do have a question how is it right now u know the whole violence and stuff is it around there?? his mom wants us to live in rosarito ive never been there but like i read it looks like it might be a lil expensive. we still have more time to go, but it never hurts planning early, like one said buying land and building a home takes time so we are thinking of doing that

I have posted quite a few times in regards to how it is to live in TJ.... You are more then welcome to p.m. me with anymore you may have.. Good Luck to you=)

M.NAVA · #49 01-12-2011, 11:52 PM

ok thanks ill go back to read them. and i will pm if i got more questions thank u

Diane93635 · #50 01-13-2011, 03:29 AM

Thanks for giving me hope everyone...life does go on down there in tijuana...my hunny and I will be joining you all very soon. He got his order for removal from the immigration judge yesterday. How long after that will he actually be moved over there? Anyone have any idea??