Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller explores the multifaceted experiences of expats in Latin America, focusing on the challenges faced by expat women, the cultural and economic differences between Latin and first-world countries, and practical advice for navigating daily life in the region.
Johnny begins by discussing the issue of sexual harassment faced by expat women in Latin America, noting that it is often more intense than what local women experience. He references a case where a woman was sexually harassed during a job interview at a bank, with the interviewer making inappropriate advances. Johnny emphasizes that while expat women may have more privileges, such as being self-employed or working for gringo-owned companies, they still encounter a significant amount of harassment, often more intense than what is experienced by local women. He also touches on the broader issue of women's rights in Latin America, suggesting that the region is still in the 1970s in terms of gender equality.
The conversation then shifts to the cultural and economic differences between Latin and first-world countries. Johnny notes that Latin men often view first-world women as 'unobtainable forbidden fruit' and may use weak pickup lines. He provides statistics on educational attainment, noting that only about 2% of Latin American adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 30-40% in first-world countries. Johnny emphasizes that expat women are often oogled and harassed, and many use dogs to navigate the streets safely. He also discusses the ease of renting apartments with pets by offering upfront cash, which is uncommon in Latin America. Additionally, he highlights the financial struggles of many Latin Americans, including high credit card debt and low credit limits.
Next, Johnny delves into the cultural differences in pet ownership between Latin America and the first world. He highlights that Latins are more tolerant of dogs, even noisy ones, unlike first-world people who often have strict no-dog policies. He warns about the challenges of evicting stowaway pets in apartments due to the reluctance of Latin residents to sign petitions. He also provides practical advice for shipping pets to Latin America, including using a specific website for paperwork and finding a Spanish-speaking veterinarian. Additionally, he touches on the difficulties of bringing elderly pets to Latin America due to environmental and infrastructural challenges, such as the lack of fire hydrants.
The segment then shifts to discussing the water supply situation in Latin America. Johnny explains that the apparent constant water pressure is an illusion created by cisterns and pumps. He notes that only 10-20% of the population can afford such systems, while 80% live without 24/7 water access. He advises expats to have their own water systems or live in areas with their own wells. He also touches on the presence of fire hydrants, which often don't work, and attributes this to political corruption. The segment then shifts to discussing the dog market in Latin America, highlighting the availability of cheap, unregistered purebred dogs and the risks of buying them. Johnny warns expats about long-haired dogs due to the high maintenance and health risks, such as ticks and Lyme disease, which are more common in rural areas and affect poorer populations.
Finally, Johnny discusses the realities of dog ownership in Latin America, highlighting the challenges faced by both dogs and their owners. He notes that poor people often have multiple dogs, which are typically neglected and rarely receive proper care such as vet visits or baths. Johnny also comments on the lack of hygiene practices, like using pooper scoopers, and shares a humorous anecdote about an American expat who was a notable sight in a park for picking up dog waste. He further explains that while some American expats may think of starting a business with products like pooper scoopers or doggy doors, these are unlikely to succeed in Latin America due to economic and cultural factors. Johnny also mentions that many dogs in the region are not fed proper dog food and instead scavenge for food, which is a common way for poor families to manage their pets.
Topics
Sexual harassment in Latin America, Cultural differences in gender equality, Expat women's experiences in Latin America, Gringo advantage and its impact on harassment, Cultural differences between Latin and first-world countries, Expat experiences in Latin America, Economic and financial conditions in Latin America, Social interactions and harassment of expat women, Pet ownership and housing in Latin America, Cultural differences in pet ownership, Challenges of evicting stowaway pets, Shipping pets to Latin America
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:01:14 The Harassment Women Face in Latin America 00:01:58 The Cultural Context of Sexual Harassment 00:04:30 The Gringo Advantage and Its Implications 00:06:21 Latin Men's Perception of First-World Women 00:06:51 Educational Attainment in Latin America 00:12:34 Flexibility in 'No Dog' Policies 00:12:45 Cultural Differences in Pet Ownership in Latin America 00:13:37 Challenges of Evicting Stowaway Pets 00:15:41 Practical Advice for Shipping Pets to Latin America 00:17:16 Environmental and Infrastructural Challenges in Latin America 00:19:02 The Illusion of Constant Water Pressure in Latin America 00:19:43 Why Expats Need Their Own Water Systems in Latin America 00:20:40 The Dog Market in Latin America: Cheap and Unregistered Purebreds 00:22:02 Why Long-Haired Dogs Are a Problem for Expats in Latin America 00:23:24 Lyme Disease in Latin America: A Disease of the Poor 00:24:02 The State of Dogs in Latin America 00:24:18 Advice on Dog Ownership 00:24:42 The Pooper Scooper Anecdote
Transcript
Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.
[00:00] South of the border, down Mexico way That's where I fell in love when the stars above came up to play and now as I wander Hello there all you expat wannabes I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to the expat files living in Latin America The show that tells you just what it's like to live work play and or retire down here in Latin America It's a mix of the good the bad the ugly and the great and it's all right here So let's get started now since I did that show about six months ago about owning and caring for dogs here in Latin America I have been getting a never-ending trickle of emails on the subject especially from women who to thunk huh now Just to refresh your memory a bit
[00:46] I happen to mention way back when that more than one gringo expat lady has said to me that her dog Was not only a good companion and provided a measure of security She said there was the great added effect that when walking around town with your dog it seemed to be one of the only sure ways to really cut down on the Advances and the hoots and the calls and the whistles that every single girl over 12 here in Latin America is Bombarded with when she's walking alone practically anywhere that men are to be found in Latin America And once again, all you expect lady gonna bees and wannabes getting harassed like that It's just an occupational hazard you have to get used to now up north We all have a very good idea what sexual harassment is and guilty parties get fired for it and often have to take
[01:36] Counseling too, but down here in Latin America things are completely different if you think there's some kind of agency you can report a sexual harassment incident to or even some lawyer that'll take up your Cause and try to sue just remember as far as women's rights and women's live and all that Latin America is somewhere back in the I'd say 1970s and that's why you still hear stories from young women down here about young women going to Interviews for office jobs secretaries and the like where the prospective boss actually tries to put the make on her before she even gets The job in fact, I think I mentioned a long time ago Maybe three years ago a case where a woman told me that she went for an office job at a bank And as she was sitting in the auntie room with around six or seven other girls waiting for their interviews
[02:26] Then the door suddenly opened to the bosses room where he was given the interview and a young girl walked out rather briskly Red in the face and her hair tussled and as it turned out behind closed doors as soon as the guy started the interview He started telling her how beautiful and sexy she was and you know That's par for the course young ladies are used to that even in job interviews No less all nice-looking Latin women are used to that and no one down here thinks of that as sexual harassment Why because repeatedly over and over their own married bosses tell them that all the time And they rarely say it in a casual way either There's always that slight undertone of lechery and naughtiness if you know what I mean You know a kind of power play sexual pressure that goes on between boss and underling and don't think it's just bosses talking to their would-be
[03:19] Secretaries either it's guys on the street continuously verbally harassing women, too in fact. I've seen it myself I've seen it happen in elevators at lunch counters and lines at the grocery store you name it anytime any place Latin guys are Always ready to put the moves on and you know by first world standards most of that stuff would be called Verbal sexual harassment, and you know all women like to hear compliments But when a girl goes for a job interview expecting a nice professional approach Then the would-be boss starts the interview out by telling you how sexy and good-looking you are and then he spends the rest of the Interview with his hand on your leg well now I think you've got a little bit of an idea what it's like to be a young woman in Latin America I know it's pretty pathetic
[04:05] But that's the way it is and that's why so many latin women learn early on in their search for a job that if at all possible they should either try for a job at a first world franchise like subway or McDonald's or Burger King as pathetic as that might sound too or Try for a job interview at a transnational company or any company owned and operated by guess who? gringos Because you know gringos and first world franchises and transnational companies have their employee rules that are fairly rigid And the word is out throughout Latin America that rarely do they mistreat women employees Which is yet another unintended consequence of what I call the gringo advantage So let me once again state that for all you gringo women coming down as expats
[04:57] you're gonna be facing a lot of subtle and not so subtle sexual harassment and because you are first world gringos you can just bet that The attention you get from men down here will be on steroids now of course I know you're not coming down here looking for secretary jobs or jobs at banks or at McDonald's or Walmart the fact is about 80% of the expat women that come down come down with their expat husbands and Generally, they're either retired or they're Entrepreneurial and have their own businesses or are starting their own businesses and are therefore self-employed and their own boss So they won't have to deal with the often humiliating process of going through an interview with a lecherous prospective Latin boss
[05:43] But note all you gringo expat gonna bees and wannabes when you're out doing your chores and errands and shopping and out on the Street by your lonesome doing whatever you've got to do unless you're a retired gray-haired old gringo You must expect a certain amount of what you might call with your American sensibilities sexual harassment and believe me Many times it'll be on steroids and by the way if you think you're gonna be saved by going in pairs That is two women out shopping and doing your errands and stuff forget about it You'll still get the looks and the stairs and the hoots and the whistles and the cat calls Because remember Latin American guys Absolutely. Love first world gringas to Latin guys. You first world ladies are their all-time fantasy to them
[06:29] You're the unobtainable forbidden fruit So get used to being hit on and hard and get ready to hear some very weak lame uncreative pickup lines to of course the more educated and cultured a Latin guy is The less likely he is to be an out-and-out wolf in other words You won't hear the hisses and the cat calls from guys like that however Only about 2% of Latin American adults have a bachelor's degree or better that breaks down to only about one out of 50 Latin adults who you might call educated which of course is debatable But that's supposedly one way to measure it Whereas anywhere from 30 to 40 percent of all first world adults have a bachelor's degree or better
[07:15] That's about one in three North American and first world adults that are so called educated In other words people with quote culture unquote which we can also debate till the cows come home But that's another story and by the way, if you live in Latin America, you will see the cows come home I do almost every night So anyway as far as ladies being hassled what that means to you first world gringas coming down as expats When you're out alone, you're just gonna be oogled and hiss that endlessly Those are the irrefutable facts of life for gringas here And don't think if you look like Oprah or Rosie O'Donnell, you'll get a pass Yep, you'll still get hit on but maybe that's a good thing, right? Anyway, ladies unless you're in a high-end mall or upscale business district where the upscale first world hotels and conference centers are
[08:10] Just being a gringa on your own. You're gonna draw a lot of attention to yourself Which is why so many long-term expat ladies have a nice good-sized dog that Accompanies them on their single journeys in and out of the big city, etc In fact some gringa expats. I know take their dogs everywhere Well almost everywhere and luckily Latin American businesses and malls and restaurants, etc Are very dog friendly just like so many European countries in fact down here you'll often see a dog and his or her owner in a hotel lobby or a restaurant even in a shopping mall and You'll find many apartments will take dogs too though. They won't advertise it In fact, even if you happen to be in an apartment lobby and you see there's a sign that says no dogs or pets
[09:01] You really shouldn't let that stop you from trying to cut a deal because you see in Latin America things aren't that strict Especially now that there's this big real estate bubble down here in Latin America and it's a renters market That means if you were to offer cash money upfront, let's say three to six months in advance Well that changes everything which I have to admit is kind of a gringo thing because when I've done that down here Landlords often can't believe their eyes. They've never seen that kind of cash money up front before Let's just say it's highly unusual Latins just never offer up front cash like that because they're not savers and even the most apparently wealthy ones with their big SUVs and bodyguards They're living from week to week to sometimes from day to day
[09:47] Just ask anyone that works in the credit card department at one of the big banks down here I've made a few inquiries myself I know a person in the credit card department of a big bank and he shocked me with some astounding figures He said a good 40% of Latin Americans with credit cards are maxed out Which means 40% of card holders are just paying that minimum payment every month and get this He says that another 30% of credit card holders are behind in other words They're paying penalties and interest every month on top of that minimum payment bottom line 70% of Latin American credit card holders are just treading water and living from paycheck to paycheck But it's worse than that according to my friend at the big bank. He says that only the top
[10:36] 15% of Latin American earners can qualify for a real credit card That is a bona fide credit card not a debit card and here's something you like Did you know that the average credit limit for Latin Americans who have credit cards is? 500 bucks. Yep, that's it Actually for Latins a low limit like that is a pretty good idea I mean face it high limits have ruined a lot of first-world people, you know, everyone's got one of those in the family, right? Anyway, that means that 70% of the upper 15% of Latin American earners are living from paycheck to paycheck or worse Otherwise, of course, they wouldn't be paying just the minimum payment every month, right? Confused yet. Well, maybe this will help just note that
[11:25] 85% of all credit card holders in Latin America are holding debit cards because they can't qualify for a real credit card with a dollar or other funny money limit and like I said the upper 15% of Latins who do qualify for a real credit card 70% of those are basically on the edge of default that is treading water and living from paycheck to paycheck Sound familiar? Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah I was talking about the ease of renting an apartment if you're a gringo and a dog cat or other pet owner here in Latin Anyway, if you offer to pay three or even six months in advance and even better wave the cash in the landlord's face as you make The offer I can tell you there's a very good chance. The no dog rule will be waived
[12:14] I've seen it happen and on that subject I even know of a case or two where a gringo made an offer to a landlord in a strictly no dogs allowed residential apartment building where the landlord actually made a counteroffer He said the dog could stay for an extra 25 bucks a month. Yep That's how ironclad the rules are down here in Latin America. What's not to love about that, huh? But wait a minute. So then you might ask what about the other residents in the building? They all came in and signed on knowing that there was a no dogs allowed policy, didn't they? So then aren't they gonna be truly pissed off about you having a dog when they can't well The truth is Latins are quite different than first world people in that respect surprisingly enough
[13:01] They're very very tolerant of dogs even yapping barking dogs that drive us cringles crazy me included now Don't get me wrong. I like dogs, but not the small ones the bigger ones are fine with me But not the yap being yapping little lap dogs. In fact, I actually know a lot of Latin Apartment renters who've snuck their dogs in and as long as they don't make a lot of noise No one ever complains so many Latins get away with it too only under the table Meaning most of them bypass mentioning the dog thing completely when they make the deal only to sneak a dog or a cat in later So then what if you really do want to live in an apartment complex? That's pet free only to find out a couple of weeks or months later that the guy or gal down the hall is breaking the rules
[13:48] Well, I can tell you this if you've only seen said stowaway pet in the hall a couple of times And it doesn't make much noise at all You're gonna have a hell of a time getting the landlord to evict it And I understand the only way to get some real action on it unless of course the dog's a barker or pooping on the hallway Carpet etc is to go from door to door with a petition and get the other residents to sign it in Spanish of course and that's where you're gonna have the problem because Latins as a rule are not big on signing petitions of any kind now surprisingly enough They'll give up every bit of information. They know about themselves on Facebook Including compromised photos and such Undereducated dupes that they are Hmm sound familiar that said aside from giving it all up on Facebook
[14:38] They're very loathe to sign petitions They just don't like to get their name out there in writing and piss off anyone because you know Latin America has had various revolutions and dictators and coup d'etats and such and well Let's just say Latins have a certain memory about that kind of stuff and naturally are very gun-shy about signing their name and ID numbers And such on any kind of list that might end up in a file somewhere permanently Oh and speaking of personal files that just might get used against you later Did you know that up in the states the FBI has 52 million people in their facial recognition system? So thank you for that Facebook, huh? But where was I? Oh, yeah
[15:23] What I'm saying is if you're not a pet lover and you want to evict a stowaway dog or cat in the apartment down the way Good luck trying to get the residents to sign a petition You'll find sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands. No upset about that Now in regards to shipping your own dog or cat down Here's some good advice You might already know that you have to have a certain amount of paperwork all filled out and you have to have vaccinations and stuff And the paperwork has got to be in Spanish not to mention at least some of that paperwork is time Sensitive and has to be certified by the consulate of the Latin country. You're gonna end up in so if you're thinking about bringing your pet down Here's a simple and easy way to get through that process. Go to
[16:12] www.pettravel.com and for about ten bucks or so you can download all the paperwork necessary For whatever Latin country that you want to ship your pet to Just select the Latin country from the drop-down list and order the paperwork Then after you download the paperwork search the internet for a veterinarian in the city or town that you're in up in the States that is or the closest decent-sized city to you that has a Latin section and Then select a veterinarian in the Latin section that has a Spanish name, of course Make an appointment bring your pet in and bring all the paperwork and he or she will be able to do 90 to 100 percent of your work for you because Latin vets who deal with owners and pets of a Latin persuasion
[16:59] Know all about the pet shipping details and paperwork regarding Latin America They do it all the time for Latin people in the neighborhood And of course, they'll fill out all the proper paperwork in English and Spanish, which is the way you're gonna need it What could be easier than that, huh? now if you are a dog or cat lover and you're coming down to Latin America and your pet is a geezer with some Difficulties like arthritis or bad eyesight or whatever You might consider avoiding the stress of bringing that pet down and instead give it to your ex mother-in-law in Cleveland or something Because you know a pet that's a geezer and on its last legs is definitely a creature of habit and that means Unfortunately, there's a pretty good chance that old spot spike or Obama is not gonna adapt well to a totally new environment
[17:50] You know different climate different humidity different altitude strange and new bugs plants and animals But most psychologically unsettling of all is the fact that there's a huge shortage of fire hydrants No joke now that I bet you never knew Come down to Latin America and see for yourself go to any big city and you could drive around for hours and only see one Or two fire hydrants at most and some cities have none So why is that you might ask it's because of the terribly undersized pipes and the horribly designed Municipal water systems in Latin America There's just not enough pressure or water flow to support fire hydrants as we know them So they're basically useless for putting out fires now
[18:35] If you remember me speaking about this on a past show most municipal water supplies in Latin America Only have water flow about 12 hours a day. That's the way things are here in Latin America Remember and that's why everyone needs a cistern to collect their own water and then use their own pump As an assist to have proper pressure And that's why when you're in Latin America and you see that the water is flowing all the time and you've got good pressure It's really kind of an illusion because the place you're at is using a cistern and a pump So even though water might only be dribbling in about 12 hours a day That is from the main pipe on the street coming from the city supply Well, the fact is when you're not using the water when the tap is off The excess is always dumping into that cistern as a reservoir
[19:24] And that's what you use the water you've collected in your cistern during that 12 hours or whatever When that city water is not forthcoming Meanwhile only about 10 to 20% of the Latin American population can afford to do that So 80% of the population is used to the fact that they don't have water 24 hours a day Which is why you as a gringo expat must have a cistern in a pump Or live in a subdivision or high-rise residential tower with its own well So then why would Latin American cities put in fire hydrants if the pressure is low And half the time there is no pressure at all Well it's a mystery to me and expats that know about it But we're all thinking the usual That someone's brother-in-law in congress got the contract Water or not
[20:09] So some cities have a few fire hydrants but they don't work Well I take that back they work for dogs Anyway if you are a dog lover you can always get one down here In fact in all classified sections of the newspapers There's an animal section and you can get dogs of all breeds Now if you want a purebred dog and you don't mind getting it without the paperwork You can get them very cheap sometimes even free In fact looking at Managua Nicaragua's biggest newspaper today I see you can get a baby Rottweiler for around 30 to 40 bucks US And a Doberman puppy around 60 bucks And they've got terriers and schnauzers and bulldogs etc All for around 50 to 100 bucks
[20:56] All without papers of course Now if you want to get certified papers I talked about that on a previous show Your best bet is to go to one of the frequent dog shows Down here in Latin America And every big city has them once in a while So you can meet the owners of the purebreds And spend way too much money on papers that might not be real And how much might you overpay for a dog with supposed papers Well let's look in the Managua classifieds now There's a purebred Pomeranian for 400 bucks And there's an English bulldog here too 250 bucks And they've got Labradors and Poodles and German Shepherds All with papers so they say Anyway no they've got just about every purebred down here too
[21:42] But don't forget that Latin America is the land of the pirates So if you by Latin standards pay relatively big money And buy yourself a registered purebred dog I wouldn't take that paperwork to the bank if you know what I mean But why not get a mutt? Your choice Oh and here's something I always warn Gringos about Don't get a long-haired dog if you can avoid it Even if you're in the Alti Plano and think you can get away with it Don't think because it's constant spring like weather Your dog's going to be comfortable Because let's face it He's not on the beach sweating it out all the time Remember even in the comfort of the Alti Plano there's no snow or frost There's nothing to knock down the bug population for the year So those year-round bugs are going to end up
[22:29] Where? In your dog's hair Then eventually in your house Just know if you like dogs like that and just have to have one You're going to have some heavy grooming bills And your dog's going to be high maintenance Though I've seen some Gringos give up on their long-haired dogs And let them revert into greasy dog rastas Not a happy sight, believe me And yes, since there are pine trees and pine forests here in Latin America They do have ticks So if you have a long-haired dog Be prepared to be a tick removal expert yourself Or Obama will spend a lot of his time and your money at the vet But oddly enough, expats with short-haired dogs will tell you they rarely pick up ticks So then with ticks, what about Lyme disease? Now since there are a lot of doctors specializing in tropical disease down here
[23:17] In speaking to one of these guys a couple months ago He confirmed that Lyme disease exists through Latin America But mostly, believe it or not, in Brazil He said it's quite isolated and he's never seen a case yet And he's practicing in Panama So yes, it's here because, well, there are ticks here But he says almost all of the cases that have occurred Are out in heavily forested areas of the boonies So once again, it's a disease of the poor And it mostly shows up with the people who don't have glass in their windows And have many direct openings from the outside into their houses And yes, if you notice down here in Latin America Poor folks usually have a dog or three or five Always mangy and scraggly looking They never get to the vet because, well, poor folks don't have any money
[24:06] And then what about the occasional bath? Well, I don't think so Which probably means you could rule out those little doggy booties and sweaters too But I digress Again, my strong advice is not to have a dog with long hair Oh, and here's something that always makes me laugh As you know, most dog owners up in the States, ones in the cities anyway Have been trained to pick up their dog's poop You know, pooper scoopers and all that Well, just know that you better bring your pooper scooper down Because no one sells them down here Why? Because no one uses them They wouldn't know how In fact, I'll never forget the apartment complex I lived in in Columbia a few years back Where the only gringos in the building I think there was 40 units were me, yours truly
[24:52] And an older retired American embassy couple from Michigan Now, they had a small dog and they'd take it out for a walk In the park across the street every day She would have her plastic gloves on And follow her little dog around with the pooper scooper As all diligent gringos and gringos would do Because up in the States, if you don't, you get fined, right? I remember every day about 4, 30, 5 o'clock in the afternoon People walking on the perimeter of the park would just stop and stare and wonder What the hell she was doing In fact, I'd see cars pull over and roll their windows down Just to have a peek at the crazy old gringo lady picking up poo But that's not all One day I saw a college-aged kid sitting on the stoop of the apartment complex Across the street
[25:38] And when she came by with her dog and her scooper The kid started taking pictures And I'm sure they ended up somewhere on Latin Facebook Anyway, of course there were other dogs and dog owners in that park And none of them were picking up their poo But this lady, true to good old-fashioned American hygiene habits Decided to do her part for the park and mother nature Even though everyone could see it was like bailing out the Titanic with a lunch bucket Because I'll tell you, in Latin America, you really gotta watch where you walk Because there are landmines everywhere Especially in the big city Now, for all you entrepreneurial gringos up in Boston and Cleveland Don't be thinking that pooper scoopers could be a good business That they could be the next big thing down here And that you should start manufacturing them
[26:23] Believe me, it's not a Latin lag time first world thing That's just waiting to explode Neither are knitted doggy booties and sweaters, I might add And forget about doggy doors too You know, those $50 little doors with a plastic flap Where your dog can leave and enter the house at will Sure, they're gringo in first world But they'll never catch on down here Why? Not because they're not a good idea And people wouldn't want them It's just they're too damn expensive The fact is, 90% of people who own dogs in Latin America Never even take them to the vet They can't afford it Oh, and as it turns out, about 90% of the dogs in Latin America Do not eat dog food either Sure, they're not strays They have owners with houses and yards Most just go out and scrounge the neighborhood for food
[27:10] And that's how they get by And the fact is, some poor folks will buy a bit of dog food for the dog For special occasions like Christmas We're near the end So don't forget to go to expatwisdom.com And click on the Latin seminar link And find out about my January expat wisdom seminar When the sh** hits the fan in the states You'll need a plan B And this could be the best one yet South of the border, down Mexico way You've been listening to The Expat Files Living in Latin America Coming to you twice a week from somewhere south of the border Email me, theexpatfiles at gmail.com And don't forget to check out expatwisdom.com To sign up for your free reports on Latin America See you next time, nos vemos