Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller explores the multifaceted experiences of expats in Latin America, from cultural perceptions to real estate trends. He outlines three distinct tourist trails in the region: the gringo tourist trail (e.g., Costa Rica, Cancun), the upscale Latino tourist trail (e.g., Monte Rico in Guatemala), and the middle and lower-middle-class Latino tourist trail (e.g., weekend hot spots). He highlights the differences in prices, amenities, and cultural attitudes between these areas, noting that while gringos are often stereotyped as loud and rude, they are not always the dominant presence in all parts of Latin America. Johnny also touches on the cultural significance of American flag clothing and its reception in both Latin America and Europe.
In a separate segment, Johnny discusses the perception of Americans in Europe as loud, rude, and lacking culture. He references a research project conducted by the University of Cuenca in Ecuador, which explores how local Latinos view gringos and expats. The study reveals that the primary complaint from locals is that gringos and expats don't make an effort to learn Spanish. Johnny notes that this is a common issue, as many Latinos who migrate to the U.S. also don't learn English. He highlights that while gringos and expats may be seen as lazy in language learning, they often excel in business, starting and operating ventures. Johnny also touches on the perception that gringos are more likely to follow health and safety rules during the pandemic, which locals view as a sign of being more obedient to authority.
In another segment, Johnny comments on the dietary habits of gringos and expats, noting their preference for unhealthy food. He observes that Latinos are also becoming increasingly overweight, attributing this to the proliferation of fast food chains and junk food in Latin America. Johnny humorously references the cultural shift where gringos now wear traditional Latino clothing, unlike in the past. He also discusses the complaints from Latinos about gringos who are unhappy with their lives in the region, referencing the tendency of gringos to complain about minor inconveniences and their over-reliance on cars, even in walkable areas.
Johnny also critiques a survey conducted by university students in Ecuador that highlights complaints about gringos and expats, particularly their age and the impact on local real estate. He notes that most expats who can afford to move to Latin countries are older, as younger people often lack the financial resources. There is a stereotype that expats, especially retirees, live in tourist enclaves and contribute to rising real estate prices, making it unaffordable for locals. Johnny shares personal anecdotes, including a comment about a gringa wearing multiple masks and a taxi driver's complaint about heavy expats.
In a final segment, Johnny discusses the attitudes of locals toward gringos and expats in Latin America, particularly in places like Boquete, Panama. He highlights a comment from a local named Mr. Wanty, who describes the behavior of gringos in these areas, noting their perceived superiority, alcoholism, and poor relations with locals. Johnny also references rising rents in New York City and the appeal of moving to Latin America, where one could afford a nicer property for a fraction of the cost. He shares positive feedback from seminar attendees, including Mr. D and Mr. C, who praise the value of the podcast and the experience of attending seminars. Johnny reflects on the challenges of organizing seminars and the importance of experiencing Latin America firsthand rather than through virtual means.
The episode concludes with Johnny providing contact information for scheduling consultations and signing up for his upcoming expat seminar, emphasizing the benefits of the seminar, such as gaining a head start on plan B for expats.
Episode Notes
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller discusses the cultural perceptions of gringos in Latin America, the impact of expats on local communities, and the differences in expat experiences across the region. He also touches on topics like American flag clothing, language learning, and the growing obesity rates among Latinos.
For more episodes, seminar information, resources, and the full archive, visit ExpatPlanB.com.
Keep exploring
Related guides: Moving to Guatemala · Healthcare in Latin America · Cost of Living in Latin America · Renting and Buying Property · Safety and Scams
Related episodes
Search the full episode archiveBrowse practical guidesExplore the Expat Insider SeminarAsk about a consultation
Topics
Expat life in Latin America, Cultural perceptions of gringos, Tourist trails in Latin America, American flag clothing and its cultural significance, Differences in expat experiences across Latin America, Perception of Americans in Europe, Language learning by expats, Business success of expats, Pandemic health compliance, Political corruption in Latin countries, Dietary habits of gringos and expats, Obesity rates among Latinos
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:00:14 Introduction to The Expat Files 00:00:26 Overview of the podcast's content 00:00:33 Exploring local perceptions of gringos 00:01:10 Introduction to the three tourist trails 00:01:53 The upscale Latino tourist trail 00:02:52 Summary of the three tourist trails 00:03:39 Cultural perceptions of American flag clothing 00:05:25 Cultural differences in Europe and Latin America 00:05:40 Perception of Americans in Europe 00:06:18 Research on Local Perceptions of Gringos and Expats 00:09:08 Critique of Political Systems in Latin Countries 00:10:41 Suggestion for a Reality Show on Politicians 00:11:20 Gringos and Expats' Dietary Habits and Obesity Rates Among Latinos 00:12:28 Obesity Rates and the Influence of Fast Food in Latin America 00:14:04 Gringo Complaints and Cultural Shifts 00:16:23 Pandemic Behavior and Gringo Expats 00:16:57 The Stereotype of Expats as Old and Wealthy 00:17:37 Ecuador as a Retirement Destination 00:18:02 Personal Stories and Negative Perceptions 00:21:59 Local Perceptions of Gringos in Panama 00:22:23 Johnny's Summary of Local Attitudes Toward Gringos 00:22:37 Rising Rents in New York and the Appeal of Latin America 00:23:43 Positive Feedback on Seminars and Property Investment 00:25:12 Johnny's Reflection on Virtual vs. In-Person Experiences 00:27:38 Contact for Consultations 00:27:44 Seminar Waiting List 00:27:50 Benefits of the Seminar
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 I wonder Hello there all you ex-pat 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 All right back in the saddle again Hey, wouldn't you really like to know what Latinos who live in Latin America think about all the gringos piling in? No, not what they're thinking about when they're smiling and talking to you
[00:45] But what are they saying behind your back behind closed doors to each other? Sure, we'll always have that gringo advantage going for us except on the major tourist trails that disappeared a long time ago Now we're just dollar signs, but in the rest of Latin America That's 95% of everywhere else where most gringos and expats on vacation fear to tread In a way we should be thankful for that because that's where your gringo advantage is alive and well, by the way Did you know there are really three tourist trails in Latin America? There is the gringo tourist trail We don't know that one Costa Rica Cancun and the rest of my in Riviera being prime examples And of course any city or town where a cruise ship stops Then there's the upscale Latino tourist trail where Latinos with some money go on their vacation weekends, etc
[01:30] It's often the case that rich and upper-middle-class Latinos have a beach house on the tourist trail, but not the gringo tourist trail It's the Latino tourist trail as mentioned good example being the beach town of Monte Rico in Guatemala It's a Pacific Ocean beach town with a long strip of vacation homes and beach houses almost exclusively owned by upper-middle-class and wealthy Latinos and Megadeth's political scumbags, of course, I mean that in the most kind and Christian sort of way the odd thing though is in places like that Monte Rico since there are very few zoning laws and That goes for most all of Latin America, especially on the boonies. And if they do have they don't enforce them much That means you can visit a place like Monte Rico and see many beautiful beach houses with pools and the works
[02:19] Some worth big bucks too. They'd be five hundred thousand a million even more up in the states You'll see row after row of houses like that But interspersed between those houses you'll often see a dilapidated beach house even a tin shack With ocean frontage when you're walking up and down the beach You can't help but notice that and think how'd that happen? By the way, those dilapidated properties can often be golden Opportunities for gringos and expats who want to own beach houses themselves you buy a piece of crap like that Just for the beachfront tear the shack down and build which elect So anyway, as I mentioned, there are three distinct tourist trails in Latin America Number one the completely gringo eyes tourist trail like Costa Rica where you pay first world prices all the way Number two, you've got the upscale Latino tourist trail where you'll find upscale Latinos
[03:08] But practically no gringos because they haven't found the place yet Which I kind of like myself because the prices are nowhere first world But the amenities are good to excellent and you rarely run into knucklehead gringo tourists and their whiny and titled kids at all And finally number three, you've got the middle and lower middle class Latino tourist trail Those would be weekend hot spots mostly beaches too That are very inexpensive and kind of rough around the edges where you almost never see a gringo or expat I confess most of those places are just a little too rustic for me I'm a fan of hot running water in the shower myself Oh and one more thing about tourist trails in places that are a hundred percent on the gringo tourist trail like Cancun Costa Rica And so many places in Mexico, etc There is some overlap between gringo tourists and upscale Latinos with though
[03:55] So if you happen to be on the gringo tourist trail, you'll find it's not all gringos on that trail There are many many upscale gringo wannabe Latinos to and from a distance. They're easy to spot too They usually are wearing some kind of t-shirt that says I love New Yorker has a Disney character on it Oh and Chicago Bulls and other sports t-shirt logos are big too. Oh and another thing Here's something you'll notice if you live down here long enough You'll see almost no gringos and expats with any kind of clothing that has the American flag on it But man all you got to do is plop yourself down whether on or off the gringo tourist trail in any place where there are lots Of people lots of traffic and you'll see all kinds of people exclusively Latinos wearing clothes or other accessories With American flags on them are the red white and blue and a lot of newbie gringos and expats when they see that they think oh
[04:43] Man, that's so gaudy and excessive. What the hell they trying to prove. In fact, not so long ago I was in Cartagena, Colombia I was at my hotel sitting in an outdoor cafe by the pool and there were two ladies in lounge chairs Next to the pool wearing matching red white and blue American flag bikinis They were very attractive girls too. So it kind of worked but still it was a real excessive statement What were they thinking extreme gringo wannabes? Maybe you think Look at it this way all you American girls out there Would you wear a bikini that was entirely made out of a Mexican or Bolivian or Colombian flag? I don't think so. Even if it was high quality and you got it for free. I risk my case Meanwhile back at the ranch. I mean back in Europe. Yep. I said Europe
[05:30] I know it's a leap but bear with me. Have you been to Europe lately or even in the past five or ten years? Well, I have a number of times that I've never ever seen a person wear anything with the American flag on it Why well, you know the story Americans are not so well respected in Europe. They say we're too loud. We're rude have no culture Hmm to which my dad would always say if it wasn't for us rude cultureless loud-mouthed Americans All of Europe would be speaking German right now But I digress man. Did I digress? Anyway, we started the show today trying to figure out what Latinos really think about us gringos and expats what they're thinking behind Those doors what they're saying behind our backs Well, one thing's for sure the farther you are from the gringo tourist trail The more s gringos and expats shine in the eyes of the locals now as far as what the locals are actually saying and thinking about
[06:16] Us there's some real data on this In fact, the University of Cuenca in Ecuador have a research project going about how local Latinos feel about gringos and gringas Who've been piling into their country? Turns out they've sampled opinions of hundreds of Cuenca locals And here are some of the candid comments of the locals translated into English now remember Ecuador is one of the countries considered on the gringo tourist trail ever since few years back the rag International living listed Ecuador specifically Cuenca Ecuador as the number one US foreign retirement destination And you longtime listeners know how I feel about international living and their recommendations as far as I'm concerned And there are many ways to prove this the fastest way to drop a truckload of turds and Paradise is to have that international living endorsement
[07:02] anyway According to that university study the number one complaint locals have about gringos and expats is that they don't make much effort to learn Spanish No surprise there what the local Latinos don't know is that that's the same complaint Americans up in the states make about Latinos who migrate north you hear it all the time Latinos arrive up in the states And even after five or ten years, they don't bother to learn any English So it seems to be a universal problem when Latinos make it to the states They find barrios in which they don't have to speak any English They take the easy way out and when gringos come to let America they find gringo tourist spots where they don't have to speak Any Spanish we take the easy way out, too So then our gringos and expats just lazy and unmotivated well Maybe when it comes to learning the language, but definitely not when it comes to owning operating and starting up a business
[07:49] That's where us gringos and expats excel oddly enough even gringos and expats who come down knowing nothing of business Maybe they were a teacher in a past life Doesn't seem to matter much they find a niche start a business and it takes off All right next on a list of complaints that Latinos have about gringos and expats living in their country Get this comment. It says a lot foreigners That is gringos and expats are much better about following the pandemic health rules than us local Latinos are I Guess we all know the hidden message there gringos and expats are more sheep-like than the locals That is more likely to follow government and authoritarian orders than the locals You long-time listeners have heard me say this many times before but local Latinos have absolutely zero faith and trust in their government zero
[08:36] Why because they've never done anything to improve their lives and everything they touch turns to shit Being from Chicago that certainly sounds familiar And why wouldn't Latinos think that way since in most Latin countries a high percentage of their presidents vice presidents cabinet members End up in prison or fugitives on the run. I know I know it sounds bad But at least they put them in prison in the states Most politicians start out in office middle or upper middle class and walk out multi millionaires even billionaires and no one goes to jail So then whose systems you prefer the one whose sociopathic scumbag leaving politicians go to jail or? The u.s. Political system where once a magnetist thieving politicians out of office He ends up a hero often a Nobel Prize recipient. He ends up on multiple defense contractors boards of directors
[09:26] He gets a 10 million dollar advance for a ghost written book that nobody reads and gets a million bucks for every boring half-hour speech He gives oh, and let's not forget all those secret invites to Epstein Island There I go digressing again. Sorry about that But if you'll allow me just one more digression On that same note about corrupt postulate politicians Hmm. Are there any other kind comes this little email from a Harvey? He says Johnny I love that idea you spoke about in a previous show about term limits When you said there should be just two terms one term in office and one term in prison Harvey says yep, put those politicians in jail Just the sound of that cell door slamming would be music to my ears I'd personally pay the expenses to house one politician in prison if I got to choose the politician and the length of his sentence
[10:17] Of course he says for certain types of a crime a length of rope would be much more cost effective and satisfying too and in this era of bankrupt government finances How about this idea Johnny a reality show called celebrity politician lack up? We could make a deal with HBO and pay-per-view. What do you think Johnny longtime listener Harvey? All right, our celebrity politician lockup I like it and there could be three rotating hosts Bill Cosby Harvey Weinstein and OJ Simpson Good idea when it hits pay-per-view sign me up All right next on the list of Latino complaints about gringos and expats This one says what us Latinos can't help but notice about gringos Is that one of their most important activities is drinking and eating out which explains why so many of them are fat?
[11:05] The answer to that is that should buy their food at the Big Mercado Buy some healthy food and eat at home instead of eating out at restaurants all the time though It seems gringos and expats mostly prefer unhealthy food All right me Johnny here with a little comment, you know I can see why they say that about gringos and expats, but it seems to me Latinos are getting extremely fat, too Yep, it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Is that racist? Well, if it isn't some pinheaded woke stir will call me out on it shortly and for you I've got not one but two middle fingers Now, where were we? Oh, yeah Latinos getting way too fat and it's not necessarily because they want to follow the gringo example it's just that in the last 10 years so many gringo fast food joints have opened down here and
[11:52] Us junk food companies like Frito a J's potato chips and all the others have opened up factories here Not to mention all the other local no-name junk food cheap clone brands that have popped up down here The fact is for the locals anyway junk food used to be really expensive and just a treat for weekends and special occasions It was just five or so years ago where you'd go to Kentucky Fried or McDonald's and it was date night And during the week those places weren't even a quarter full often a tiny trickle of people walking in and now just like up In the States McDonald's Kentucky Fried and all the rest are packed every day Not just date night weekends and now just like up in the states 60 to 70 percent of Latinos are overweight or obese Satter yet even up to five or ten years ago
[12:39] I'd never see a young kid who is fat or obese or overweight and now you see little kids everywhere that look like pint-sized Thanksgiving Day Macy's balloons Hmm. I wonder now how much hate mail I get from mothers with fat kids. I know I know it's glands, right? Not nice to make fun a little Georgie. He's got glands. I Remember that's what boomer mothers used to say in defense of their own fat kids back in the 60s and 70s And there were very few back then I remember in my grade school class there was only one fat kid and as I understand it these days in grade schools up In the States anyway, there's only one skinny kid. God. I'm offending everyone today, aren't I? All right, the next on this list of local comments about gringles the next pass. This isn't exactly a complaint In fact, it's just a comment. It says back in the 60s 70s 80s even 90s
[13:26] Most Latino adult mature men wore a Panama hat and or a splash or a touch of indigenous clothing Today, it's the gringos and expats who wear Panama hats and a touch of indigenous colorful clothing Then it goes on to say except for our clothing and styles gringos rarely adopt our other cultural ways Alright next on the list of Latino comments about gringos and expats is a complaint funny enough This complaint is about gringos who complain. We wonder why they want to live here if they are so unhappy It's true It says that many things don't work as they should in Latin America But there are many great things about Latin America that are underappreciated by gringos and expats Alright me Johnny here again. I think that most chronic gringo complainers were the same way when they lived up in the States It's true
[14:12] There are some gringos that complain about everything some expect you dread meeting up with because you know They're just gonna talk your ear off about some minor tragedy or inconvenience that happened at the bakery or the hardware store I mean really how many times have you been walking down the hardware store or grocery aisles and you saw someone They didn't see you you ducked into another aisle because you just didn't feel like talking with them And you knew if they did they'd bring a negative vibe I've done that of you and back in the States. I'd do that when I spotted an old girlfriend I don't know about you, but me and my old girlfriends never ended up as friends. Is that normal? Probably not Oh and here's an interesting one off that list It says it's hard to understand why gringos and expats love their cars so much Even if they live in a town or an area where you could walk everywhere They'll buy an es car keep it in the garage most all the time and take it out
[14:58] Just to drive to the hardware store or food market three blocks away. Alright, here's another from the list It says the thing that bothers many Latinos about some of the gringos and expats is they think they know everything They don't know Spanish or the history of our country, but they have all the answers to our problems Anyway, that makes us wonder if they're so smart why they're down here and why they didn't fix things in the countries They came from oh and here's another one on the list. That's about the pandemic It says during the pandemic. Most of the gringo foreigners seemed scared to death My neighbor from California never came out of her apartment and ran away or backed off whenever I got nearer Alright Johnny here again. That reminds me of a year or so ago Remember I told that story about when I was walking along a busy pedestrian area with lots of outdoor cafes and such
[15:47] I had no mask on of course, and I saw my friend former corrupt Boston policeman Bob now I'm not judging him as corrupt. It's something he admits himself Anyway, he was sitting with three other expats at an outdoor cafe All of them wearing masks and as I approached one of the guys but not Bob held up his hands and said get away Unless you put your mask on well, I called him a lemon and told him in so many words He needed a brain transplant and I kept walking. Well about a year later Three or four months ago. I'm walking past the very same place. I walked up to the same table It's Bob's usual table with Bob and the same three guys sitting there Hey, that's what a lot of retired gringo expats do they hang out and have their little coffee clutches at their favorite outdoor cafes This time none of them had a mask on and of course, I don't either
[16:34] I never wear one unless absolutely forced to well I stood there for a second and gave those guys a good hired look just so they'd recall the last time we met That's when I said to the guy who waved his hands at me last time I said I see that brain transplant worked out for you. He didn't say anything, but I noticed he turned a slight shade of pink But let's get back to this list. How about this one? It says Unfortunately, most of the gringos and expats who come down here to live are old. I wish more young gringos were living here It goes on to say Ecuador is just filled with gringos and expats who are sometimes referred to as old farts in the States Alright me Johnny with the comment. Just remember this survey was given by university students So I imagine they asked a lot of adolescents in 20 something Latinos to give their responses
[17:20] And the truth is the vast majority of gringos and expats who can afford to move to a Latin country are going to be quote old farts because young people even if they have the desire don't have the capital and resources All right. Here's a telling comment on that list. It says in National Geographic Magazine Cuenca Ecuador is rated as a number one spot for gringo retirees Ecuador is on the map now as an international retirement destination It says it's good that some people come but hopefully not too many of them as the gringos keep coming It says it's made it impossible for local people to buy real estate. The prices are skyrocketing They are making property unaffordable for the locals Alright, let's continue with this list and this time let's read a couple of short personal stories personal encounters
[18:08] Latinos have had with gringos that elicited certain comments mostly negative this lady Alexa says I saw a gringa at Supermax That's a big super Mercado here. She was wearing three face masks and a plastic helmet with a visor I wanted to ask her if she was signed up for one of Elon's moonshots All right Meet Johnny here again And that once again speaks to the fact that so many gringos and expanse will come down especially the ones that end up on a tourist Trail because they want to speak English are nothing but sheep Yet another reason why I won't live on the gringo tourist trail though as mentioned in many previous shows I don't mind living close to a very low-key gringo tourist trail half an hour or an hour away Because there are some advantages to being able to pop in and out when you feel like it because on the tourist trail
[18:55] There are many many things to do, but you heard my qualifier very low-key gringo tourist trail like Antigua Guatemala For example, or the Lake District in Guatemala or the small town of Copan on the border of Guatemala and Honduras So besides the gigantic Mayan ruins of Patan Those are considered three major tourism areas in Guatemala and their echo tourism spots Oh and just a comment about El Salvador's tourist trail Well, there really isn't one yet except in that little area called Bitcoin Beach And that's pretty much always been a stop on the international surfing circuit But that's a tiny sliver of a die-hard community that ever gets to check that out however, the adoption of Bitcoin in El Salvador has brought a lot of Crypto tourism if there is such a thing and there is man talk about being on the ground floor of an explosion
[19:43] Already real estate and land prices in and around Bitcoin Beach are taken off But still if you've got cash or Bitcoin, you could still get some great deals But they won't last not with those huge crypto tax incentives the country's offering That means it won't be mostly common guys coming in to settle but mostly people with big money crypto money But where were we? Oh, yeah back to the Latino complaint list complaints about gringos and their spats Remember, this is from a study done by graduate students at the University of Cuenca Here's a little comment from that survey It says I saw two large gringas get in my taxi last week and each one of them must have weighed 100 kilos. That's 220 pounds. I thought aye aye my poor shock absorbers between the potholes and El Centro on the heavy foreigners I know I will pay more on repair of my suspension this year
[20:29] I'm only half serious when I say this because I like foreigners and appreciate their business However, I do know there are some taxi drivers who overcharge them, too And then this comment from Maria She says I notice that old expats go to the bars and restaurants early in the evening They rarely mix with younger expats the old and gray ones go home by night Then the young gringo expats come out and start partying with the locals My point is she says you don't see young and old gringos mixing together. They stay apart. They seem to be two separate entities Alright me Johnny here with a comment on that I think that sort of negative comment comes from the fact that most Latino families have grandma grandpa mom dad the kids and the Grandkids all living in the same house. There is really no age gap separation cuz they're all under one roof
[21:16] Although that doesn't mean 18 year old Verna is gonna bring grandma on a date with her But you often see whole Latino families having fun on weekends hanging together from the grandkids to the great grandparents Weekend barbecues afternoon picnics they love getting together And if they had to go take the whole gang out to McDonald's or Pollo Competto It's just so common to see whole families hanging out all together up in the States It seems the only time whole families get together is if there's a wedding funeral or some kind of special event When's the last time your extended family had to get together and it wasn't something like Thanksgiving and Latinos notice those kind of cultural differences amongst us gringos and expats Anyway, I could read more of these little items off this list, but I'll end with this one Which says a lot about gringos and expats living exclusively amongst gringos and expats in gringo tourist enclaves like boquete Panama
[22:08] This is a comment from mr. Wanty He says I live for three years in the mountains of Panama Boquete and the gringo is there acted superior to the local people because they had more money Most of the gringos seem to be alcoholics there and had bad or poor relations with the locals Hmm. All right me Johnny here There you have it a little taste of what local Latinos think about gringos who are moving into their country And what they're thinking and saying about us behind our backs in some cases not so complementary, huh? By the way, speaking about gringos and expats jackup prices on the gringo tourist trail I just got to see mail from a New Yorker Who is well along on this plan B? That is he's liquidating everything and ready to come down. This is from Zeb Zeb He says Johnny rents are strangling me here in New York City
[22:56] The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is now $3,250 a month a 30% increase from last year that according to the online rental platform Zumpers UMP ER Meanwhile I understand I could get a nice one or two bedroom apartment in a gated garden community for around five or six hundred dollars a Month in a very nice area down by you where I might add the weather is perfect Then he says it makes me sick to think of how much money I spent in rent in the last eight years living in New York I could about one or two or even three properties free and clear in Latin America for what I've dumped on rent I try not to think about that and when I do it makes my resolve even stronger to get the hell out of Dodge Signed Zeb PS T minus six months and counting
[23:43] All right, Zeb speaking of real estate here in Latin America. Here's an email from repeat offender. Mr. D Who just finished off the seminar with me? He writes. Hey Johnny, this is mr. D I'm a new property owner now an Antigua reclosed on Thursday night Other repeat offender miss s and I split the property Maybe you can do a show on how to buy property in less than a week in Antigua It's a pretty amazing property to everything just fell into place Perfectly, in fact, we could build two houses on it. It's been an incredible journey and it seems like it's just begun And now I'm sitting in San Salvador and I fly out tomorrow at 7 a.m. To the states I plan on coming back down in June perhaps we can meet then then he says Seminar coordinator Rita is simply amazing. I could not have done it without her. You truly have an amazing crew
[24:33] I can't thank you enough. So I thank you again. Peace and love mr. D. Thanks for that. Mr. D Nice to see it's all working out for you. And now an email from another seminar attendee mr. C He says Johnny I've heard every expat file show and it occurred to me a person who get a Bachelor's or master's degree in Latin American Studies if such a thing exists and it wouldn't be as good as listening to all your shows You've got hundreds of hours of information touching every topic What's a typical college class like 30 hours in a semester? Your show would be like 35 separate courses Just food for thought signed mr. C Well, mr. C. Thanks for the kudos there But you know, I get emails and suggestions all the time that I should put up a zoom course for living in Latin America
[25:19] Well, you know that could be good for some subjects But I tell you the only way to really see and feel and smell and breathe Latin America is to come down and get boots On the ground. That's why I haven't resorted to doing any of those zoom classes Even though I have people prodding me to do so all the time and I've resisted and when I don't want to do something man I just don't do it. For example, take my resistance to being on anti social media I'm not on fake book twaddle Instagram or trick cock and still the show has been downloaded millions of times Though that's not to say people don't attack me on anti social media Hell, there are lots of low IQ woke people out there who diss me all the time on anti social media I know that there are haters listeners. Send me those snippets all the time
[26:05] The trick is to ignore those fools like that panicky masked woke guy at that little outdoor cafe with corrupted Boston cop Pop all the haters really need is a brain transplant like that masked guy one lastly. Here's an email from mr. T No, no, not the black guy with a mohawk and the 50 pounds of gold chains. If you remember him, you're definitely a boomer Anyway, this is from seminar attendee. Mr. T. He says Johnny Excellent information. Thank you. It was a real pleasure to meet you and I'm definitely glad I attended the seminar This was my fifth trip to Guatemala in 15 months And I thought you were just making up that garbage about the clear eyes That is blue eyes or oh hoes claddles because I never heard it once in all my trips down Well, Johnny, not sure what was different this time But I had three different women approached me and comment in their words on my beautiful blue eyes
[26:54] I got to say I was loving that Then he says listen Johnny. I know that this seminar must have been an absolute logistical nightmare But you guys really pulled it off I did hear one or two of the gringos grumbling and kaboching But those are the ones who probably should stay in the US and maybe move to Mexico If you can't deal with a few two mollows in your life AKA speed bumps, then maybe Central America isn't your best option Anyway, Johnny, please give my sincere thanks to Jose, Rita, Captain Mango, Nacho and Chase They all did such a fantastic job and I'll see you again soon Nos vemos for now. Mr. T You've been listening to the expat files living in Latin America If you need some help with your own plan B We can schedule a one-on-one phone or Skype consult
[27:41] Just send me an email the expat files at gmail.com And if you want to get on the waiting list for my next week-long expat insider seminar in Central America Where you're guaranteed to get a two to five year head start on your plan B Send me an email the expat files at gmail.com Nos vemos