The Expat Files - 06/14/13

-When expats and gringos size up Latins by their first impressions, often times our ideas and judgements about them can be way off base. In many ways Latins can’t be profiled in the ways we generalize about first world folks. And here are some examples and reasons why …

-Soon enough expats learn that all 20 Latin countries have their own distinct Spanish accents, and native Latins can distinguish perhaps ten or more of the most common said accents blindfolded. But us long-term expats with decent Spanish skills can only begin to distinguish maybe four or five Spanish accents even after many many years of actual "boots on the ground”.

-Some 80 to 90% Latins grow up with nice, straight, beautiful white teeth without the aid of dentists or orthodontics, while 50% of north American kids need braces and professional help to achieve similar results (often to the tune of five grand or more). How can that be explained?

-A true story that can only happen in Latin America. Three brothers, fresh from the coffee plantation, strolled into a Toyota dealership and asked to test drive a brand new HI-LUX pickup truck. These guys, with their three-foot long, razor-sharp machetes, muddy cowboy boots and all, were not going to leave the place until they had their way. And man, did they have their way!

-Here’s a strange dilemma. Very recently another expat friend of mine, a former Illinois EMT, was sitting next to a macho Latin cowboy machete-wielding type and my friend spotted an obvious (to him) cancerous growth on the guy's nose. Yet the expat never said a thing to the guy…. he had his reasons. What would you have done in a situation like that- had you known a bit about medicine yourself?

-The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its 3/4 filled now so be be sure to go to www..ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details.

-Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one