Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “Skype”
The Secret World of Scars with Leigh Ankrum With over 30 years in private practice, Leigh Ankrum is a nationally-known bodyworker who focuses on assisting the body in its own natural healing mechanisms, walking with clients on their journey back to health. Leigh studied at the Canadian College of Osteopathy and has deep education in Cranial Sacral therapy, Rolfing, Lymphatic …
#1- Stealing electric power has always been a Latin pastime, especially in chaotic big city neighborhoods and smaller towns in the countryside. How do they do it? How do they get away with it? Yes, some Gringos and Expats do it too. Here’s the skinny and a true “boots on the ground” story that tells all about it.. #2- Latin …
– Today we have a “Gringo’s eye view” up front and personal: a boots on the ground walk through not one but two dirty, filthy, amazingly chaotic, Latin government immigration offices: one in a huge city of 2 million plus people and one in a very small town of about 10,000 population.
Note: There are huge differences (you’ll see).
You’ll see just how average Latin people manage to maneuver their way through the amazingly inefficient and mind-numbing maze of a bureaucracy without the aid of lawyers or outside support. That’s why even simple procedures can take days and repeated return trips.
You’ll see how it seems an almost impossible task for even a Spanish speaking native to get anything accomplished yet they somehow eventually slog on through and get it done. Why? Simply because 95% of Latins have much, much, much more time than money.
As for me, every time I see a long stagnant line outside of a government building it makes me think of that room full of monkeys on typewriters, who- given an infinite amount of time- can eventually type out the bible.
– More new evidence the Panama commercial real estate bubble is imploding
-Yes, there are large, overripe residential and commercial real estate bubbles throughout Latin America. Even if that wasn’t so, there are so many mindless government bureaucratic hurdles that it’s just not wise to attempt to build any commercial construction project from scratch- not in any large Latin city. However, many of those same hurdles somehow do not exist in when attempting such projects in smaller towns and just outside the big cites (go figure). In short, buy what you like when the bubble pops, but for now, RENT!
-According to experts, 15-20% of Latins have 24/7 internet in the home. Did you know that more than 95% of those connected use the net exclusively for social media and moronic entertainment purposes? Yes, it’s a sad state of affairs, but are percentages any different foe users in the states?
-Getting permanent residency in a Latin country is highly recommended, in fact essential. Just a year or so ago the process used to be fairly easy and straightforward- but Latin manana time slow. However, US agencies are now actively throwing up their own mindless barriers for gringos trying to obtain the necessary documents to begin that process. Why? Uncle Sam doesn’t want his sheep to leave the barn.
– What climate changes are we now seeing in Latin America if any. What about those much-favored “perennial spring-like” Alti-Plano regions?
-What will happen to the food and water supplies in Latin America if climate changes (in whatever form) become more apparent?
-What will happen to Latin big city bad boy gangs as economies slip into the crapper and implode (along with the rest of the world)? Will they move to target the nearby smaller, safer, nicer, cites and neighborhoods?
-Comments on the Latin macho society’s supreme infatuation with “Mujeres de Clima”- sexy TV weather ladies who famously appear on every TV news program.
Note: there are no TV weathermen in Latin America.
– Today we have some more personal stores concerning the failed attempts of Latin governments trying to copy the Big Brother state apparatus in Latin America. It’s NOT working.
Talk about “lag time”! When discussing places “off the Gringo tourist trail”, Latin culture is just not remotely ready for anything resembling what we know as intrusive first-world Big Brother culture. So as far as personal freedoms are concerned, the somewhat predictable Latin “chaos” can be a very good thing (wait…that’s an oxymoron, right?)
-How safe are Latin infrastructure projects? Considering the general Latin lack of detail and proper maintenance, especially with government projects, should Gringos and Expats be overly worried about driving the roads, bridges and overpasses?
-More details concerning Latin bank issued credit cards (VISA /MC).
– Examples how a corrupt congress and O’vomit are making it harder and harder for us citizens to become Expats. Examples how the US State Department is also making it more and more difficult for Expats to get residency in a foreign country. Time is running out on the options, the doors are slowly closing so you must get your plan B in motion now.
-Do you need a work permit to get a grunt service job in Latin America? Technically and officially yes. Today we discuss the “real’ Latin work permit situation (for gringos) as well and some workplace tips if when working for the man (off the books of course).
-Expats in Latin America can live nicely on a measly SS check- but only when they’re off the gringo tourist trail. That system works fine for now. But what will happen to those same Expats when the US dollar is finally taken down (as it must be) on the international economic stage? What will happen to Expats in Latin America who depend on a govt check? What happens to their dollar purchasing power?
– Today we visit to a massive Latin lumberyard where once again the “gringo advantage” comes in very, very handy.
-After settling in Latin America you will have a lot of extra time on your hands, maybe it should be used for your unrealized dreams and hobbies. That said, if your hobbies involve woodworking, making custom gifts and/or arts and crafts you really need to pay attention to this segment.
-An email from a very sane regular listener who lists some good reasons why he has decided never to move to Latin America… followed by my somewhat sane rebuttal.
-More advice to Gringos bringing down their school age kids as well as to Expats who plan on having families in the future. Some parents might be wondering what will become of their expat kids as they grow to become adults in Latin America. What of them and their future generations? Surrounded by all that Latin mediocrity and superficiality, will those Expat kid’s brains eventually get watered down? Well, my crystal ball has a nice crack in it, but I’ll give that teaser question a shot……
-Answers to many questions that Expat Gringa gonnabees and wannabees have been asking over the years regarding beauty treatments, beauty salons, first world cosmetics, pricing and cosmetology in general as well as possible business opportunities for Expats in the field. YOU’LL SEE THAT THIS IS NOT FLUFF!!
-How “lag time” affects the Latin fashion and beauty industry.
-More lies and misinformation coming out of yet another Costa Rican government agency. Did you know that the Costa Rican public is now poised to pay the highest electric (kwh) rates of all the 20 Latin American countries? How is that possible when the CR government’s been bragging in the last year the country is totally energy self-sufficient and now operating 100% on “clean” renewable energy? Yes, you’ll find it’s the same old thing again… government corruption, nepotism, cronyism and extreme mismanagement.
-Visit me Johnny (and Expat super-blogger John Galt) at our new joint website www.TheNewExpat.com . Its where you’ll get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and reports. It’s a work in progress so please be patient. We’re continually improving and expanding the format.
-In your quest in becoming an Expat, are you searching for a Latin country with a very low-level of perceived government corruption- like maybe Ecuador? Is that detail on your wish list?
Today you’ll hear a few top level corruption stories from Ecuador that will truly surprise you (or not). So does all that mean Ecuador’s not a good choice for Expats? Not necessarily, and here’s why…
-Which Latin countries have the best and worst human rights records? Which countries have the most race and class discrimination?
Sure, they all have sub-par, rickety social safety nets of one kind or another, but most are corrupt horribly underfunded and terribly administered. That said, are there any social plans/programs for the sweaty masses that are half way decent? You’ll be surprised…
-More on the Arab and Muslim contingent in Latin America and why it would be very rare for an expat to even see a Muslim down here. (You’ll never hearthis stuff in the main stream media!!)
