Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller discusses the safety and crime issues faced by expats living in Latin America. He emphasizes that while crime is a concern, it's often a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or being careless. He shares his personal experience of being robbed twice, including once 18 years ago, and notes that most expats he knows have not experienced similar issues. He also addresses the issue of cleaning ladies and their tendency to steal, attributing this behavior to learned habits rather than inherent traits. Johnny suggests that expats should avoid high-crime areas and focus on living in safe, well-maintained neighborhoods. He concludes by advising expats to keep a low profile and be cautious in their interactions with locals.
Johnny Mueller discusses the experiences of expats in Latin America, emphasizing that the majority of expats are not the primary targets for crime. He attributes this to their lack of expensive possessions and tendency to avoid high-risk areas. Johnny also highlights the importance of avoiding certain behaviors, such as frequenting expat bars and displaying wealth, which can make expats more vulnerable to crime. He warns against owning late-model SUVs, as they are seen as symbols of status and are therefore targets for theft and extortion.
In this segment, Johnny Mueller discusses the risks of living a high-profile life in Latin America, using anecdotes from his friend 'Exped Eddie' and another friend who has become wealthy through mining. Johnny highlights how even small displays of wealth can lead to a loss of anonymity and a permanent shift in social status. He also shares a story about a friend who, despite achieving financial success, now feels trapped by the expectations and complications that come with a high-profile life. The segment serves as a cautionary tale for expats about the consequences of flaunting wealth in a region where class and status are highly visible.
The podcast segment discusses the challenges of maintaining a low profile and anonymity in Latin America, particularly for expats. It features a story about an expat who is struggling with his current lifestyle and is considering moving to another Latin country to regain his anonymity. The expat has a large, well-maintained house with a staff, but his wife's relatives have access to the property, causing complications. The segment also touches on the broader topic of expat life, the importance of maintaining a low profile, and the challenges of living in rural areas, including issues with property security and squatters.
In this segment, Johnny Mueller discusses the challenges of dealing with squatters on property in Latin America. He explains that squatters often lack the resources to move, such as gas for vehicles, and that removing them can lead to resentment from their friends and family. He suggests that legal methods may not always be the best option and that paying squatters off is often the most effective and peaceful solution. Johnny provides examples of the economic conditions that drive people to squat, including low wages and lack of basic amenities, and estimates the cost of paying them off based on average salaries in the region.
Johnny Mueller discusses the challenges of living in rural or remote areas, particularly in Latin America, and the importance of securing property. He draws parallels between the situation of squatters and seasonal migrant labor in the U.S., highlighting the informal and often cash-based nature of such arrangements. He shares a story about a lawyer who bought a farm in Honduras and had to deal with squatters, ultimately offering them a payout to relocate. The squatters then moved to the U.S., specifically Texas, where they became part of the social safety net. Johnny emphasizes the need for physical barriers, such as fences and natural deterrents like borgon via plants, to secure property. He also discusses the role of dogs as a deterrent, noting that many Latin Americans are afraid of large dogs due to the prevalence of stray dogs in the region.
In this segment, Johnny Mueller contrasts the behavior of people in the United States with those in Latin America, particularly regarding interactions with dogs. He notes that in the U.S., people often approach and pet unfamiliar dogs, while in Latin America, there is a cultural fear of dogs that leads to less interaction. Johnny suggests that carrying a large dog can be a practical way for women to feel safer and more mobile in Latin countries, as businesses are generally accommodating to pets. He also mentions that having a dog can help avoid unwanted attention from criminals.
Topics
Crime and safety in Latin America, Expat experiences with crime, Behavior of cleaning ladies in expat households, Choosing safe neighborhoods for expats, Maintaining a low profile as an expat, Expats in Latin America, Crime and safety, Cultural differences, Avoiding crime, Expatriate experiences, High-profile life in Latin America, Expatriate experiences and social status
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:01:13 Introduction to the Segment and Announcement of Seminar 00:01:51 Discussion on Crime and Safety for Expats 00:02:28 Analysis of Cleaning Lady Behavior and Theft 00:04:18 Recommendations for Safe Neighborhoods for Expats 00:05:43 Expats in the Worst Sections of Latin American Cities 00:05:52 Why Expats Are Not Typically Targeted 00:06:32 The Role of Displaying Wealth in Being Targeted 00:07:23 The Risk of Being a Regular at Expat Bars 00:08:56 The Dangers of Owning a Late-Model SUV 00:10:30 The Inevitability of Accidents with High-Profile Living 00:13:15 The Permanence of a High Profile 00:14:30 The Loss of Low Profile Once Wealth is Displayed 00:14:37 The Need for Anonymity and a New Life 00:15:39 The Cost of a Lavish Lifestyle 00:16:02 The Life of a Hollywood Mogul in Latin America 00:16:26 Security and Safety in Rural Latin America 00:16:53 Tips for Property Security in Rural Areas 00:18:33 The Cost of Gas and the Inaction of Squatters 00:19:59 The Best Way to Resolve a Squatter Problem 00:21:42 The Economic Realities of Agricultural Work in Latin America 00:22:26 Squatters and Informal Labor Arrangements in Latin America 00:22:43 The Lawyer's Experience with Squatters in Honduras 00:23:40 Natural Deterrents for Property Security 00:24:39 Dogs as a Deterrent in Rural Areas 00:26:37 Contrasting Dog Interactions in the U.S. and Latin America 00:26:59 Using a Dog for Safety and Mobility in Latin America 00:27:20 Pet-Friendly Environments in Latin America
Transcript
Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.
[00:14] 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. Okay just one announcement, last call for my July 2014 expat wisdom seminar taking place in Central America in and about Guatemala and it starts this Saturday night the 12th so all you expat, wannabes and wannabes sitting on the fence up there in Cleveland and Boston and parts north you still have time to sign on just go to www.expatwisdom.com look for the seminar link at the top of the page and dive on in there's still time.
[01:00] Enough said about that, now a few weeks ago I did a couple of shows on crime violence and safety in Latin America and I gave a lot of very good pointers and tips regarding gringos and expats living down here. Now let me just point this out, regarding crimes and violence against gringos, the fact is like I've said a few times before, I've been robbed twice as a matter of fact and the last time I was robbed, get this, 18 years ago. Now that's not to say that my cleaning lady hasn't lifted a few things over the years, some shampoo a few cents worth of detergent, fruit and vegetables and stuff but that'll happen with everyone who's got a cleaning lady here. The fact is I only hear of robbery cases involving gringos when they're in the wrong place
[01:46] at the wrong time or when they get lax and let their guard down. Now as far as expats that I've known a long time and who I actually hear from now and again, the fact is, on very short notice I could easily round up 20 or so who've never had a bit of trouble, again except for maybe the cleaning lady stealing some spare change or a can of tuna from the pantry, believe me every gringo has a cleaning lady story like that. And by the way here's something you probably haven't heard, in talking now and again to long term expats and hearing their cleaning lady stories like that, all of us have pretty much come to the conclusion that cleaning ladies aren't necessarily born petty thieves or born with sticky fingers but it's a learned habit. Because as it turns out, if you hire a cleaning lady and it's her first job working for
[02:37] you a gringo, that is it's her very first job as a maid, normally she'll be very honest and you won't have any trouble. It's just when you inherit or hire a cleaning lady that's used to working with Latin families, Latin bosses, that's when they pick up those bad habits. Because you see it relates to the fact that Latins who have cleaning ladies treat their help quite chabbily. And of course these ladies working around the house feel that, they know they're looked down on as second class citizens and naturally harbor some resentment. And one way to get over on a classist boss like that is to take the opportunity now and again to palm a few things, which you could look at as a small bit of sweet revenge. So as you can imagine, if you've got a cleaning lady who's got that attitude already, she's
[03:26] gonna carry those bad habits with her when she works for you too. However, like I said, if you're her first boss, things generally work out fine and she becomes part of the family. But the question is how to break a good cleaning lady of that sticky fingers habit when it's already built into her mentality. But I digress as usual, where was I? Oh yeah, talking about gringos and crime and the long succession of expats that I know that have never had problems with robberies or assaults. Now you tell me, could it be an extraordinary concentration of dumb luck? Or is it that we all just stay out of those bad zones and let those ghetto bad boys prey on themselves and their own neighbors? So then what about gringos living in Latin cities where most of the crime occurs?
[04:13] As for gringos living and doing business in Latin cities, we absolutely want to live and do business in the safe zones, the zones and neighborhoods that people know are safe day and night. And you know, contrary to what first world news media projects, even in the biggest of Latin cities, there are always safe and nice areas and those places are pretty obvious. All you have to do is drive through and you can see that the lawns are nicely manicured. There's no garbage on the streets. The cars are nicer. There are just a lot of places in every Latin city that look like subdivisions and neighborhoods in middle America. And note this as a general rule, where there are a lot of pedestrians, a lot of street hawkers and a lot of chicken buses. Those are places you do not want to live or do business.
[05:00] Why? Because that's where poor folks congregate. And you know, poor folks have poor habits. Those are the folks that are just barely scratching by living from day to day and they're packed into those poor neighborhoods like sardines. And if you think the gangs and the bad boys and the extortionists live in nice upper middle class and wealthy areas, then you're living on a different planet than I am. As a general observation, you just want to keep a low profile. And it's true, you're a gringo, so you're probably going to stick out anywhere you go. But just remember, there's a lot of scruffy looking backpackers in Latin America, too, that are sleeping in five dollar a night hotels and look like they don't have two nickels to rub together. And these first world guys and gals can be found in the worst sections
[05:46] of the biggest cities in Latin America. That's where so many of these cheap fleabag hotels are found. And surprisingly enough, you'll find they have very few problems. Why? Because they don't have five hundred dollars sunglasses, carry a thousand dollar smartphones, wear bling bling and rent new SUVs. So as a result, they're just a tiny little blip on the radar and people leave them alone. Meaning, sure, you're going to be taller and probably a lot lighter skin color than the average Latin person. But like I've said a thousand times, being a victim, whether it's a robbery or whatever, is not only about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, it's partly due to that, of course. But most of all, it's about appearing to be the guy or gal
[06:32] with the most amount of bling or money in a given situation. So as far as number one, being in the wrong place. Well, it's your own damn fault if you are in the wrong place, because you should know better when you're in a big Latin city, especially before you even get your boots on the ground and start exploring. You should have a nice little city map marked out with the good and bad zones and know which ones to keep out of. And number two, about being in one of those places at the wrong time, well, if you, being a gringo, are in the habit of closing down the bars at two in the morning in the disco district, those nighttime partying sections of town draw all kinds of people late into the night. And if you're a regular in a place like that, even if it's in a decent neighborhood, there's a chance that some bad guys will pick up on your unchangeable stupid patterns.
[07:21] In fact, as bad boys know all over the world, the easiest folks to assault and rob are the ones who are creatures of habit. So it's easy enough to change your habits, or not, right? The fact is, new arrival gringos and expats can and do getting into a rut sometimes. If you're one of those gringos who comes down to Latin America and ends up hanging around at one of those expat bars, because you see, what happens all too often with new arrival, clueless expat gringos? And I ought to know, I was once one too. Anyway, you become a regular at one of those expat bars, and it's an easy thing to do. Soon enough, you will be one of those guys and gals closing down the bars at two in the morning, and truthfully, I've seen that happen to way too many gringos.
[08:08] And you know, if you're a regular listener to this program, then I do not recommend anyone hang at the gringo expat bars, but that seems to be a phase almost all gringo males, anyway, end up going through. Because you know, when gringo males come down here as expats to live, most often they come down single, without knowing too many people at all, so they easily fall into that gringo expat bar scene, mostly just because their Spanish sucks, and they crave the camaraderie of other gringo expats who are in the same boat, or so they think. Another thing about keeping a low profile. Now, I don't mean you have to dress totally neutral and slink around and hide in the shadows, nor do I mean you have to hole yourself up in your house or your office. All I mean, and you know this, is to dress comfortably and casually
[08:53] with no bling or designer sunglasses, and of course, no new late model SUV. Buying and driving around one of those things is the worst thing you can do. First of all, you're a target for the bad boys. Second of all, you gotta carry heavy insurance on it. They're often stolen, even in so-called secure parking lots. Not to mention, they're actually too big for the average Latin parking place, so they get dinged to hell in no time from other people opening and closing their doors. Then there's the fact that cops at roadblocks love to stop people in SUVs because they know the driver has money, so they're an easy touch for a bribe. And on and on. Yet, as you'll find out when you get down here, a late model SUV is exactly what every single Latin person aspires to.
[09:42] Because like I've said so many times before, for Latins, it's all about the show. It has nothing to do with economy, convenience, or reality. It's a macho society, so it's all about impressing your friends and your relatives and, well, everyone, if you can. I mean, to any Latin person, a guy or gal driving one of those big SUVs has really somehow hit the jackpot. And of course, that's in the mind of every bad boy, extortionist, and gang member down here, too. So if you do have the inclination to show off like that, be prepared for some trouble because eventually you're gonna get it. It's like Exped Eddie says. Down here, having a late model high-end SUV is like driving a motorcycle. It's not a question of are you gonna get into an accident
[10:28] if you drive a motorcycle. It's just a question of when and how bad it's gonna be. Ask any motorcyclist. And by the way, Exped Eddie's speaking from experience because he recently threw caution to the wind himself and bought his girlfriend a brand new SUV. Not that he wanted to, but Eddie's a soft touch and he ran out of excuses. And like Eddie says, she's beautiful, sexy, and a really good whiner. And she kept pestering him about it a little at a time like the Chinese water torture. And that's another story I might tell later, so stay tuned. Now, about that low-profile thing. One of my very good Exped gringle friends who's been down here at least 15 years now, he's another guy that came down with virtually nothing, maybe 10 grand to his name, and now he's worth millions. Starting out first in the gold mining business in Costa Rica
[11:18] and continuing on in the mining business in Colombia, where he's been for the last 10 years or so. And by the way, I bet you didn't know they had gold mining in Costa Rica, did ya? Well, you know what? About 14 or 15 years ago, he took me to a river on the Costa Rican side of the border with Panama, where we met some local Costa Rican guys who were panning for gold the old-fashioned way in a river. And when I asked one of these guys how they were doing, he dug in his pocket and pulled out a handful of gold nuggets. And I'll tell you what, it made me wanna get down on my hands and knees and give it a try. Anyway, like I said, my buddy settled in Colombia. And some years ago, he ended up marrying a beautiful Latin girl from the middle class. In fact, she was his secretary. Now, because we were in different countries
[12:04] for the last five years, I haven't really seen him too much at all. Not in the past few years anyway, but I happened to run into him a couple months ago. And you know what he said to me? He said, Johnny, I made a big mistake. I love my wife and all, he said, but my problem was when she asked me for something, I just said, go ahead and buy it. And then he admitted that included the jewelry and the designer stuff and all the electronic toys and the trips to Miami, culminating, of course, in a couple of luxury SUVs in the family. And of course, that goes with the bodyguards and the drivers too. And of course, his kids go to the best schools. And at those schools, his kids were thrown in with other Latin rich kids, with bodyguards and SUVs, even helicopters, et cetera, et cetera.
[12:52] And now, the last time I ran into my old buddy, he said, Johnny, you know what? I really don't like my life much. What I really want now is my old life back and guess what, I can't have it. Because if I've learned one hard-ass lesson living down here in Latin America, is that once you've lost your anonymity, once you've got a high profile, you just can't turn the clock back. You can't all of a sudden wake up one day and say, I guess it's time to have a low profile again. I think I'll take out my old college backpack and clothes and take a hike through the woods. Well, like he said, that will never happen. Because once your neighbors and friends and acquaintances and the people at your kids' school have pegged you as a guy with money and position,
[13:38] you're stuck forever with that label. Basically, you're permanently tagged in the high levels of the Latin American class system. And of course, you've also been tagged by the bodyguards, the maids, the mechanics, the gardeners, and everybody you come in contact with that helps you run your massive household because that's what happens. So my friend was complaining about a lot of things, how his life's become more complicated and how way too many people knew his personal business. The fact is he came a long, long way in 15 years, but he sure wasn't enjoying it much anymore. He was no longer just one of those handsome gringo expats in Latin America. And between you and me, he's really only a five, but the gringo advantage pushes him up to around an eight. So anyway, there's a lesson in all this.
[14:24] If a gringo comes down here with any kind of money at all, once he starts flashing it and throwing it around a bit, there goes that low profile that we all started out with when we first came down here. Then he said, you know what, Johnny? Unfortunately, the only way to get my low profile back, my old life, is to move to another Latin country. You know, build or buy a nice house, but not a five or 6,000 square foot monstrosity on five acres that needs two full-time gardeners like I've got now. And then he said, you know what, Johnny? I have a big, beautiful beach house that I spend two weeks a year at. And I pay a maid, a gardener, and a maintenance man to live in it, just to get this, keep it in shape for my wife's relatives who unfortunately have the key to the place,
[15:10] because in a moment of good-hearted gringo weakness, I once mentioned they could use it any time. Boy, was that a mistake. Anyway, here I am talking to my old, formerly happy, funny, easy-going gringo buddy, whining to me about how he's in a rut that he can't get out of. He said he really is perfectly willing to pick up stakes and move to another Latin country and get his anonymity back, but when he broached the subject to his wife, she threw a fit, because after all, like he said, half the people maintaining his households, the maids, the gardeners, the drivers, the guards, et cetera, and I think he's got at least a dozen of them, are his wife's shoestring relatives. Now, admittedly, a lot of you expat wannabes and goneabes
[15:56] up in Boston, Milwaukee, and Cleveland would love to be in this guy's position. I mean, really, this guy's got the life of a Hollywood mogul, but like he said, he'd give it all up, or almost all anyway, to get his old, anonymous life back. So, for all you guys and gals up there in the first world, if you have ideas of coming down here and making a big splash, sure, go ahead and be a success. But remember, it's important to keep that low profile, because once you lose it, you can't get it back. Now, in recent past shows, I covered the security issue for people living in the bigger cities in Latin America. Now, for those of you expat wannabes and goneabes who prefer to live the simple life in a smaller town or out in the boonies, a lot of you have emailed me mentioning you'd like to have a plot of land
[16:43] or a homestead or whatever. So anyway, in regards to safety, security, crime, et cetera, when you're living outside of the big cities, here's a few good tips. Number one, always have your property fenced in somehow, and not so much because criminals are gonna invade and hassle your family and all that, but because down here in Latin America, cows and livestock roam pretty much freely. And if they're used to roaming on your property, you're gonna have a hell of a time getting them off. And secondly, if you have a big piece of land and you don't have the perimeter fenced in, you could have trouble with squatters. Because you see, in Latin America, there are a lot of very poor folks that'll see a piece of land that hasn't been attended to in a long, long time, seemingly abandoned. And suddenly, in a week's time, a tin shack will go up
[17:31] and some laundry hanging out to dry on a tree in the back. And sure, if that happens, you could go down to the municipality and complain, but this is Latin America, you know, and anything that goes through court moves like a wounded snail. Which is why personal lawsuits are rare down here, and almost everyone who's got a gripe settles out of court. And by the way, if you do end up buying some farm property out in the county, and it's a big enough property that there may be a squatter or two on it already, it's the responsibility of the seller to have those people removed. So don't sign the papers before that happens. And by the way, if you're down here long enough, you'll realize there are three ways to get rid of squatters. One, you could go through the courts and eventually, six months to a year later, the local authorities will come out with the paperwork and give the interlopers a time period,
[18:17] like a month, to get off. And generally, after a month goes by, nothing will happen. They'll still be there. Then you'll go down to the municipality again, and this time you'll be pissed off, and you might even hand a 20 or a 50 to the guy in charge down there. Then tell them here, this is for gas. Then they'll get off their dead asses and do something. Because generally, the reason why they don't get out there in the first place is because they don't have enough gas in the tank to get there. Anyway, after you've gone through that business three or four times, and finally, you get the squatters off your property, then you've got people pissed off at you. Because squatters almost always have friends and family nearby. And naturally, they'll resent the fact that they've been dislocated, again. And believe me, out in the boonies and in small towns like that,
[19:03] you wanna make friends, not enemies. So in the end, doing it the legal way is not always your best choice. Now, another way to get squatters off your land is to talk to your lawyer about it. He'll usually have some great suggestions, then make a few phone calls, but it might cost you 100 or two. Now, what that might involve is some unofficial enforcers, if you know what I mean. Now, I'm not suggesting you do that, but sometimes that's the way it's done here. However, in situations like that, I've been told you don't wanna know any more about it. In other words, ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies. Now, of course, that method could end up ruffling a lot of feathers, too. You're not gonna make any friends that way. But as one Latin lawyer told me, it does put the fear of the Lord
[19:49] into any other squatters that might have the same idea of relocating there. However, the best method all around for getting rid of squatters, a solution that makes everyone happy, is just to pay them off. Now, remember, the reason why they're squatting is because they got absolutely nothing. They're cooking with wood, they're getting water from a stream because they don't have a well, and they certainly don't have electricity, unless they're stealing it from a power pole nearby. And believe me, out in the county, that goes on all the time down here. In fact, a few times I've seen it myself. A young adolescent kid shimmying up a pole to hook into the power. That's what Expat Eddie calls balls of steel and brains of mush. But I just call it Darwinism. In fact, at my Expat Wisdom seminar, I show a photo of a young guy doing just that.
[20:37] But anyway, the best way to resolve a squatter problem is to pay them off. And then you might ask, what would it cost ya? Well, let me put it this way. Since they're there illegally in the first place and really haven't got a leg to stand on, according to a couple of lawyers I've spoken with, a very nice offer for them would be the cash payment of a year's salary for an average Latin guy. For example, in Central America, excluding Panama and Costa Rica because they've been so gringo-wise that their average salaries are double, you're looking at a payout of about 3,500 to 4,000 bucks. But believe me, like one liar told me, wait a minute, did I say liar? I meant lawyer, or did I? Talk about a Freudian slip. Anyway, he said you don't start there at 3,500 to 4,000 bucks,
[21:26] you start at half that. And normally, they take it. Because you see, out in the boonies, poor folks don't even make near that. In fact, the average wage for a female agricultural worker in Latin America, excluding, again, Costa Rica and Panama, is only about $3 a day, or about 1,000 bucks a year. Which is why so many young females and adolescent boys hoof it to the big city. Because there, they figure, they'll be making at least minimum wage, which is about three to four times what they're earning in their agricultural job out in the boonies. Now, you might ask, why is it only three bucks a day when minimum wage in these countries is at least 10 or 12 bucks a day? Well, that's because the legal minimum wage
[22:11] is only enforced for people working on the books. Meaning, folks who are working for a company, paid by check, and who are on the tax rolls. Whereas, at least 90% of agricultural jobs in Latin America are off the books. It's like seasonal migrant work in the US. Most of that is so temporary, it's cash and off the books too. It's always been that way. So anyway, if you're gonna live out in the boonies and you wanna stay friends with the poor people living in the area and keep it that way, if you do have squatters, make them an offer and buy them out. Now get this, one lawyer told me he had a gringle client who bought a big farm in Honduras and he had two sets of squatters to get rid of. Two families. And he ended up offering him a payout of 3,000 bucks a family and they took it.
[22:57] So the question is, after they picked up all their stuff, where'd they go? One guess, where do you think they went? He legally threw Mexico and finally onto the promised land, the bad old US of A, Texas to be precise. And now all you guys and gals up there in the States are supporting them with your safety net. That is if they made it. Wow, how did I get from fencing your property in Latin America to illegal aliens in Texas? So anyway, the point is, if you're out in the boonies, you have to put a fence around your property. Now if you have a big spread, I'm not saying you have to have an expensive cyclone fence or a brick wall, but your boundaries have to be delineated. And large animal proof. And by the way, here's another tip. A lot of rural folks and farmers
[23:44] put up a skimpy barbed wire fence or one of those rustic wooden plank fences and they transplant a baby borgon via about every 10 feet. And then in about two or three years, after that borgon via takes off and engulfs the fence, you got yourself one hell of a terrific barrier because if you know anything about borgon vias, not only are they bushy and dense and have tremendously beautiful flowers, they also have the biggest, most penetrating thorns you've ever seen. Think rose bushes on steroids with thorns three times as big and five times as nasty. So believe me, a nice long stretch of borgon via as an adjunct to a flimsy wood or wire fence, will definitely keep away man and beast.
[24:31] Oh, and here's another very important thing. If you live out in the boonies or you have a farm or just a nice little homestead out in the middle of nowhere, your number one deterrent's gonna be a dog and not just a yipee, chihuahua, or schnauzer. You should have something more substantial than that, preferably two good sized dogs, but one is actually fine. Now, if you have a nice orderly house and you don't want big dogs messing up things, you can do what a lot of smart gringos and expats do, let the dogs have free run of your place outside within that fenced in area and then at night or when the weather's bad, like in the rainy season, they have their own little protected space in the garage or in your laundry room or in the breezeway or back hallway. Though, of course, some gringos and expats let their dogs romp everywhere.
[25:18] That's okay too, except if you're the visitor. Oh, and by the way, as a strict rule, Latins are afraid of big dogs. In fact, I know gringos with dogs who've had the same cleaning lady for years and years, yet that cleaning lady will not enter the house at all unless those dogs are in their cages. That's even though the dogs are absolutely used to having her around and wouldn't do her any harm at all. Seems like being afraid of dogs is a very Latin thing and I don't mean giant dogs either. Any dog over 50 pounds will do the trick. And I've come to the conclusion that it's because there's a lot of stray, hungry dogs in Latin America. These are stray dogs roaming the streets, sifting through garbage, mostly in the bad sections of big Latin cities.
[26:05] And when you approach these guys, they start growling and get pretty irritable. And that's why the average Latin is perpetually cautious and afraid of every dog they run into. And think about this for a second. If you're down here long enough and keep your eyes open, you'll notice Latins will never walk up to a stray or a dog they don't know and start petting it. Unless, of course, it's a tail-wagging, lightweight, happy five-pound ball of fur. But if a Latin person comes across an unknown dog bigger than that, they'll always keep their distance. However, when you're up in the States, you'll notice a lot of people will walk right up to a dog they see on the sidewalk and start petting it and hugging it like they're the best of friends. Down here, you'll never see a Latin person
[26:50] do that to a strange dog. And by the way, because of that Latin fear of dogs, one of the best ways for a young gringa lady down here to go pretty much anywhere she pleases is with her dog on a leash. And again, I don't mean a chihuahua or a terrier. I mean a nice, substantial dog of 50 pounds or more. The fact is, over the years, I have known some gringo ladies who travel everywhere with their dogs. The dogs in the car everywhere they drive around and, believe it or not, businesses are quite liberal down here when it comes to pets. Dogs are pretty much allowed anywhere, even in restaurants. And you know what? All the gringo ladies I know who've had dogs have not been hassled or accosted by bad guys. Stay tuned for more on that next time. South of the border, down Mexico way.
[27:36] 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. No spamos. Ah, she was a picture.