Interview With Jim -- Cancun

Prologue:
Born: Dec.19,1946--Ft. Wayne, Indiana--studied two years to be a priest--moved to Ft. Worth, Texas in 1972--worked as carpenter's apprentise--got a job with Tandy Corp. (Radio Shack)--managed a factory for them for about 10 years and did some corporate training. Left Tandy and didn't work for about 2 years--had done well in their stock purchase/retirement plan. "Retired" a little--went to Europe for a few months--mostly Paris. NB: I used to drink--in all the time I drank I only forgot 2 things---the 70's and the 80's!!! So some of this is a little
fuzzy! LOL :]

1.- Arrived in Cancun April 28/29, 1987 for two weeks vacation--stayed for a month in a downtown hotel. Met a family of locals and made friends. Returned home decided to return and live in Cancun. Gave away/sold/stored all but 2 suitcases worth of "stuff."
2.- July 25, 1997: returned to Cancun with 1 1/2 suitcases full of kitchen/cooking equipment/books and half a suitcase full of clothes. Stayed 2 weeks in a downtown hotel while looking for an apartment--found one. Moved in--2-bedroom/$400 usd per month.
3.- The family I had met on the first trip kept insisting I live with them--the idea of spending that kind of money didn't compute with them. After a couple months, I moved in with them--palapa house of sticks and cardboard/no bathroom or running water. Lived with them about 11 months.
(They didn't speak English.)"Payed rent" by buying food and material to build a bathroom. Moved into a concrete block room (shared bathroom with shower curtain door) closer to downtown--moved in 1 week before hurricane Gilbert came and tore Cancun (and the palapa) apart.
4.- In the meantime in 1987, I got a job teaching English after about 6 months. Worked there until 1989.
5.- Tandy Corp. tracked me down and asked me to help them with a new factory (maquiladora) that they had opened up in Chihuahua--I went there for a few months (5) as General Manager but returned to Cancun around Nov. 1, 1989.
6.- Got a job as a translator for a local magazine--taught English some more--got a part-time job in a print shop where I learned a little graphic design as well as how to use a computer-- continuted teaching English.
7.- Holy Week, 1993--took temporary leave to try out selling timeshare. Had lots of friends who worked in timeshare and made much more money than an English teacher but did not ask them to help me get a job. Got a job on my own as a "Liner"--worked a couple of months--not really my forte (rejection and sales, I mean) and quit.
8.- One of my friends called and offered me a job as VLO (handles vouchers and contracts in the timeshare sales room) in what turned out to be HIS hotel. In the last 6 years I have worked with him in the areas of hotel reservations, hotel construction, Executive committee of the hotel operation, public relations, planning and new projects both in Mexico and the U.S., financing and blah blah, blah.

Q>
Did you have any legal troubles immigrating or working??

A>
1.- Not nearly as many as a Mexican would have in the U.S.
2.- After about 6 months, I went to work at an English language school. They could not get me my papaers because they already had their "quota" of foreigners on the payroll.
3.- For about 2 years I worked on a tourist visa that I had to go out of the country to get--Belize--Miami. Coming back they would give me a tourist visa which had to be extended through local immigration office up to the 180 day limit. They get to know what you're doing after a while and they don't like it. Up to one time when they refused so I had to leave the country and get another one.
4.- Then there is the "fear" of getting caught and then I went to work 2 jobs which is also illegal and then taxes!!
5.- Doing things right is so difficult (there are, of course, ways to make it "easier.") Took years to get an RFC. I wanted to pay taxes long before I was able to!
6.- Then the "factura" deal--when you work for honorarios you need facturas but they are no good without an RFC!
7.- Lots of "catch 22's" in getting things done.
8.- "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (just about everything) courage to change the things I can (almost nothing except maybe my own attitudes by referring to the first part about accepting!) and the wisdom to know the difference. (Takes time but you
a.- learn to accept
b.- go back to the States or
c.- live unhappy.
9. Everything is a trade-off--nothing is perfect! At this point I have no desire or plans to ever go back to live in the U.S.--it would be really difficult--but "Never say never."
10.- Oh, yeh and I bought a house--traspaso of a fideicomiso. Hired a Mexican law firm (why do I want all the aggravation of dealing with bureaucrats and then do something stupidly wrong trying to save money?) went off without a hitch. Nowadays I have a secretary that goes to get my license out of hock when the cops take it while giving me a ticket (I always accept tickets now.) He also helped with all the paperwork for the house, insurance, etc. Some of the impatient American still lives in me so I get someone else to do things that aggravate me.
11.- Accept and adapt. To each his own. Live and let live.