Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller dives into the complexities of life in Latin America, from the challenges of daily living to the cultural and health differences between expats and locals. He discusses everything from the lack of hot water and hygiene habits to the surprising longevity of Latin people despite environmental challenges. Johnny also touches on food consumption, smoking habits, and the importance of combining first-world business standards with a relaxed Latin lifestyle.
Johnny begins by introducing the podcast's focus on life in Latin America, emphasizing the mix of good, bad, ugly, and great experiences. He highlights the unique perspectives of expats, noting the contrast between first-world and third-world experiences, particularly in business and lifestyle. Johnny argues that Latin businessmen are generally happier, healthier, and less stressed than their first-world counterparts, suggesting that expats should aim to combine first-world business standards with a relaxed Latin attitude for the best of both worlds. He also touches on the paradox of life expectancy in Latin America, despite apparent lack of cleanliness and hygiene, and notes the minimal water usage and short showers common among locals.
The discussion then shifts to the challenges of living in Latin America, particularly the lack of hot water and the differing attitudes toward hygiene and physical labor between Latins and expats. Johnny highlights the physical labor involved in construction and daily life, which contributes to the health and longevity of Latin people despite poor water and air quality. He also touches on the lack of modern amenities like bathtubs and the cultural differences in personal hygiene.
Johnny continues by discussing the physical activity and lifestyle factors contributing to the long lifespan of Latin Americans. He highlights the amount of daily exercise people in Latin countries get through manual labor, the low stress levels compared to expats, and the dietary differences, particularly in red meat and chicken consumption. He also touches on the environmental and agricultural practices in Latin America that influence these dietary habits.
The episode then moves to the cultural and economic differences in food consumption and pet care in Latin America compared to the United States. Johnny highlights the importance of finishing food at a middle-class Latin home, the use of dogs as part of the family, and the lack of expensive dog food in middle-class households. He also provides statistics on fruit and vegetable consumption, milk consumption, and the prevalence of small-scale farming in the region. Johnny critiques the American dairy industry and discusses the health implications of cow's milk consumption.
In the final segment, Johnny discusses the health and lifestyle differences between Latin Americans and first-world individuals, highlighting how despite facing environmental challenges, Latin Americans often have similar longevity statistics. He attributes this to factors like less stress, more physical activity, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and a lower consumption of red meat and processed foods. Johnny also notes that Latin Americans tend to be happier, which he believes contributes positively to their health. The segment then shifts to discussing the social and cultural aspects of drinking in Latin America, including the prevalence of cantinas and the different drinking habits across social classes. Johnny mentions that while there is a stereotype of Latin Americans drinking heavily, the World Health Organization data shows that their per capita alcohol consumption is actually lower than that of the United States. He also touches on smoking habits, noting that they are similar to those in the first world, with youth being the primary demographic.
The episode concludes with Johnny discussing the prevalence of smoking in Latin America, particularly among students and the wealthy. He highlights the lack of enforcement of anti-smoking laws due to police being preoccupied with other duties. He also notes that many bars are open-air or garden-style, allowing smoking. Johnny points out that smoking is common among both high school and college students, as well as wealthy kids who mimic first-world behaviors. He contrasts the high cost of cigarettes in the first world with the low prices in Latin America, suggesting that expats could save money by switching to local brands. He ends by promoting his seminar on expatwisdom.com.
Topics
Life in Latin America, Expatriate experiences, Cultural differences, Business practices, Health and lifestyle, Hygiene and water access, Cultural differences in lifestyle and health, Physical labor and its impact on health, Longevity in Latin America despite environmental challenges, Physical activity and lifestyle, Stress levels and mental health, Dietary habits and food sources
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:00:33 Addressing Questions and Emails 00:01:12 Contrast Between First and Third World Experiences 00:02:17 Health and Stress Levels of Latin Businessmen 00:04:08 Life Expectancy Paradox in Latin America 00:05:19 No Hot Water in Latin America 00:08:35 Four Factors That Keep Latins Healthy 00:10:10 Physical Activity and Exercise Levels in Latin America 00:10:42 Stress Levels and Mental Health in Latin America 00:12:19 Red Meat Consumption and Agricultural Practices 00:14:18 Chicken Consumption and Dietary Differences 00:15:31 The Importance of Finishing Food in Latin America 00:15:54 Economic Differences in Food Spending 00:17:46 Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Latin America 00:18:23 Milk Consumption and Farming Practices 00:20:02 Critique of the American Dairy Industry 00:20:37 Comparing Health and Lifestyle Between Latin Americans and First-World Individuals 00:21:25 The Role of Happiness in Latin American Health 00:24:17 Alcohol Consumption and Stereotypes in Latin America 00:25:36 Smoking Habits and Cultural Norms in Latin America 00:26:06 The Common Practice of Smoking in Latin America 00:26:36 The Cost Difference Between Cigarettes in the First World and 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. Today I'd like to tie up a lot of little loose ends from people who've been sending me emails and asking me questions and doing phone consults. Now first of all, any first world person who's ever come down here to Latin America for a decent period of time, not just a quick vacation or two, well what happens is that eventually you begin to notice things that almost never strike you when you're in that vacation state of mind. The fact is when we expats get together we talk about the strangest things.
[01:00] And naturally we make a lot of comparisons about the first and third world that most people up in the states don't know about, don't concern themselves with or don't even care about, though they really should because if we paid more attention we just might live longer. Like for example the things we think are normal up in the first world might not be viewed as normal at all if you are down in Latin America. And sometimes, on occasion, we might all be better off if we paid more attention to the way things are done down here. And I know I talk a lot about the gringo advantage and the fact that gringos can excel in a variety of ways, simply because Latin people in general lack so many of the traits necessary to survive in a really competitive business atmosphere. But you know contrary to what a lot of North Americans might think, being a crack businessman
[01:45] is in everything. I mean, what good is it to come down to Latin America, start a business and make a great success out of it, if you remain a stressed out first world over medicated basket case? Which is kind of the status quo for a lot of first world business people that I know. In fact, where I come from that's considered kind of a norm. But down here in the third world, finding a wired stressed out local businessman would not be so easy. So sure, the average Latin business guy does not run a tight ship. In fact, in many cases you wonder how his business stays afloat at all. But I can tell you with absolute certainty that Latin businessmen as a rule are happier, healthier and infinitely less stressed than their first world counterparts. So what you might want to have as your goal is to create a business down here with first
[02:33] world standards, and yet adapt a Latin business owner's attitude about life in general. Now that would be the best of both worlds. So how do you do that? Well I'll tell you this, it doesn't happen overnight. Well what I mean is phase one starts out that way. Starting that business and maintaining first world standards, that's the easy part. But phase two, trying to de-stress, lower your blood pressure and just basically fall into a really relaxed state of mind, well that's the hardest part of all because you know, us first worlders are programmed for just the opposite. Now tell me if you haven't experienced this. I'd have to say that every highly successful businessman I've ever known up in the States was always overworked, stressed out and basically on the edge of collapse.
[03:19] I've known quite a few who've lived on junk food, coffee and diet coke, not to mention those assorted beta blockers, statin drugs, anti-depressants and vodka chasers. And I'll tell you down here, even those upscale rich Latin businessmen who are gringo wannabes in the worst way, they don't hold a candle to first world business guys in the stress and mental fatigue department. I mean sure, they're starting to get into the habit of becoming addicted to big pharma mass marketing, why wouldn't they get started on that too? I mean gringos are popping pills in record numbers so it must be the right thing to do. Hmmm? But even when you look into a rich Latin family's medicine cabinet, you'll see they're vastly underserved by big pharma, at least up till now. Yet a wealthy Latin person's life expectancy as well as a poor or middle class Latin person's
[04:08] life expectancy is into the 80s and beyond, about the same as it is for people up in the first world. But how can that be? That is a conundrum. It just doesn't seem logical, especially when expats notice things that should by rights fly in the face of longevity. Like for example, that Latin America is in no way the cleanest or most sanitary place to be, and that Latins aren't nearly as concerned about things like that as first world people are. Yet they still have a life expectancy very close to ours. And remember, they also use about a quarter of the amount of water per capita that a first world person does too. So that means many less showers and baths than you and I would take. But actually I should rephrase that.
[04:55] The majority of middle class and wealthier Latins do take a shower every day. It's just that for them it only lasts about a minute and a half, with the water coming out of the shower head at about a quarter of the pressure you're used to. And by the way, on that note, if you're ever invited to stay overnight at a Latin person's house, and if you're traveling around and meeting new friends, that'll happen quite a bit. Anyway, don't be surprised if you get up in the morning to take a shower and there's no hot water. And there will be no big announcement about it, no one will advise you ahead of time, and there's no use complaining about it, you just have to tough it out. And as for the Latins living in the household, they're not toughing it out at all because they're used to it. In fact, many Latins I know who have constant hot water in their shower, take a cold shower instead and love it. I don't get it myself, but they prefer it that way.
[05:43] They were used to that as they were growing up. But us Gringos were just not tough like that, except of course for backpackers, who if you ask me sometimes look a bit tortured. Don't tell me they don't suffer, I mean, hauling around those big ass backpacks everywhere they go. Sleep in six or ten to a room on saggy mattresses loaded with bed bugs, and don't tell me that isn't true. I've seen guys like that walking around with Bermuda shorts with a thousand little pin-prick bug bites up and down their legs. So hey sport, we having fun yet? And speaking of hygiene and showers, now this might ring a bell for you, I remember that my sister up in Chicago in the summertime would often take three showers a day. And sure my mother would get on her a little bit about it, but it was really no big deal
[06:30] and it was just her thing and what she liked to do. And I bet a lot of you folks up there in Boston or Denver or Milwaukee know somebody like that. Well, I can tell you down here in Latin America, if you could locate someone that took three showers a day, well you'd probably spend the rest of your life looking. And don't forget, down here we're in the tropics. And when you're at sea level you've got a constant coating of sweat, which is why I always prefer to live in the Altiplano. But I digress, as usual. And by the way, about 90% of Latin families don't even have a bathtub. It's an expensive luxury only upper middle class and wealthy people enjoy. And it's not that the middle classes wouldn't like to have one, even if they could afford it. But it's just that since almost every middle class family is on a municipal water supply, that means in most cases it would take about six hours to fill one.
[07:18] So even if you could draw a bath it would be ice cold. So think about this for a second. That means that at least half of all the people in Latin America have never even had a real bath before. So with water in such short supply, I guarantee you Latins aren't washing their hands ten times a day like first world people do. Yet for Latins it doesn't seem to matter much. Still most of them live well into their 70s and 80s. And you've heard me say before that 90 to 90% of all their rivers and lakes are polluted, and the air quality in most big cities is, well, horrible. Yet they still have just about the same lifespan that we do. So why are all classes of Latins living so damn long when their water is polluted, their air is polluted, and they're not, as a rule, nearly as hygienic in any way, shape, or form
[08:06] as first world people are? But us expats are not stumped about this. We've talked about this so much at parties and get-togethers that we think we've got it figured out. From what those of us who've put in a lot of thought on this subject, it looks to us like there are four basic factors that allow Latins to stay healthy enough to live well into their 80s, even with bad air and bad water, lousy personal hygiene, and plenty of access, but no desire or money to pay for big pharma drugs. And that, of course, is in their favor. So let's talk a bit about those four very positive factors that keep these guys going. Well, for one, since 80% of the population doesn't own a car, that means everybody's walking everywhere. Plus, when you look at the road crews, you'll see 9 out of 10 guys are wheeled in a pick and a shovel.
[08:51] They're not driving case backhoes and caterpillar tractors. The same goes for your neighborhood construction crew. Four out of five of these construction guys and helpers don't even have a power drill or skill saw in their toolkit. In fact, you can't help but notice that when you pull up to a construction site on a small project like a single-family home, the first couple of months, there won't even be electricity on the job. Why? Because the workers don't need it. Everything's done by hand. The fact is, about 80 to 90% of all the single-family homes have their foundations and footings dug out by hand. Not machine. And more than half the time, lots are not level. So they build houses on slopes and big inclines. And still, they don't bring in the big machinery. Workers with picks and shovels dig out the sides of mountains and hills to make the terrain
[09:41] level so they can start a house project. You'll never get a house contractor in the States to bust his ass with a pick and shovel all day like that. But down here, that's just the way it's done. And that's why these young guys are in such great shape. Let me ask you a question. When's the last time you were driving around the outskirts of the suburbs of Cleveland and you saw some kids or adults hauling bundles of bricks or tiles or wood on their backs, shoulders or head? You'd never see that. But for half the people down here, it's a way of life. So bottom line, without even trying, the vast majority of Latin people get more exercise in one day than the average American does in a week. And I'd put money on it. Not to mention the Compasinos out in the boonies are doing all that and hauling rocks and wood
[10:26] around to boot. So what else besides all that outdoor exercise could be responsible for that long Latin lifespan? Part of it is the fact that even the poorest of the poor are so damn happy. They've got great attitudes and that's gotta help. From what I can tell, the average Latin American's stress levels are about a 2 on a 10 scale, while most expats I know land down here with a 7, 8 or even a 9. Which proves a life less complicated is a life less stressed. And I'll tell you, if you really want to stress out a normally very laid back Latin person, all you have to do is load them down with all the first world toys and gadgets that you had or have. I'm talking about the things we take for granted. Like a car, computer, smart phone, ab cruncher, hair dryer, garbage disposal, trash compactor,
[11:17] weed whacker, video games, etc. Then get him an email and a Twitter account and put him on Facebook and in no time he'll be just as stressed out as I was before I came down here. Then our poor little Latin guy who wanted all those things in the first place will really be ready for Big Pharma. And by the way, my level of stress way back when 22 years ago has got to be a couple of notches down from the stress levels up in the first world these days. What you guys are experiencing. Because back when I left, some people would say those were the good old days. There was no real estate bubble then bust, no derivatives in trillion dollar bank bailouts, no drones, Prozac, Kardashians, 20% real unemployment or dancing with the stars. You knew that already right? But did you know this?
[12:04] Excluding those Latin countries on the gringle fast track, the ones I don't recommend like Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, Chile and Mexico, regarding the other 15 Latin American countries that truly aren't first world wannabes, did you know that the average red meat consumption in those countries is 9 pounds a year? That's 9 pounds. Whereas in the United States, the average red meat consumption is 10 times as much. 90 pounds a year per person. And nearly all of that red meat consumption in the states is coming from factory farms where the cows are not grass grazers but they're eating mostly GMO corn and other processed meal. And they get monthly doses of chemicals, vaccines, antibiotics, growth hormones and metabolism
[12:52] altering drugs. Ok now let me translate this from a big Latin newspaper. It says 80% of all cows and beef cattle in Latin America are products of small and medium sized farms. Only 20% of Latin American farms have over 100 head of cattle. And even the very large cattle farms, the ones with 500 head of cattle are over, are almost exclusively grass fed. It explains that down here in Latin America, it's just not cost effective to grow corn and feed it to the animals. Not when you have 3 to 4 growing seasons like you have in most of Latin America. In fact, in most of Latin America, the vegetation is virtually out of control. It grows tall and thick everywhere, except in populated areas and cities of course, without
[13:40] the need of human intervention at all. In fact, without animals around to take advantage of it, it could take over any piece of land in a hurry and be quite a problem. Why do you think every campesino with a cowboy hat has a 3 foot machete strapped to his leg? And here's something else I'm sure a lot of you didn't know. Maybe you've heard that Latin Americans eat a lot of chicken. Well, it would appear that way because when you go to someone's house for dinner, they almost always have a chicken on the table. However, here are the real facts. Again, when talking about those 15 Latin countries that aren't on the gringo fast track, the average per capita consumption of chicken in those countries is only about 30 pounds a year. Whereas up in the United States, it's more than triple that at 100 pounds of chicken a year per capita. And again, up in the States, almost no one's eating free range driveway chickens, mostly
[14:29] because they're three times as expensive. In fact, I believe the law in the United States says you cannot raise chickens in the city limits, even if you wanted to. Well, I can tell you down here, no such law exists. Even if you live in one of the nicest guarded gated communities, I guarantee you that somewhere nearby someone's chickens are going to piss you off at 4 in the morning. And I can also tell you when you're having a chicken dinner at a Latin person's house, by the end of that meal, there will be nothing left of that chicken except a few dry bones. There will be no skin or fat or cartilage, feet, beak or even claws left. And let me tell you, the first few times you're sitting in a Latin household and you realize the person next to you is chomping away on a big piece of cartilage, well that takes some getting used to for a gringo.
[15:15] And a chicken foot, claws and all floating around in your soup? Well, be prepared for that too. And please, try not to gasp or make a face. Just do what most gringos do and confront it with that situation. Just eat around it and then find a stealthy way to slip it to the dog. Because let me tell you, when you're invited for dinner at a middle class Latin person's house, mama or grandma or the girls that cooked your meal are going to be awful hurt if you don't finish everything on your plate. It's not like when you're eating dinner at someone's house in the States. We're used to wasting food with abandon. Now down here in Latin America, you'll notice soon enough that the only people who leave food on their plates are the upper middle classes and the rich who, like first world gringos, only spend a small percentage of their income on food, maybe 5 or 6 percent. Whereas the average middle class Latin making 300 to 500 bucks a month, he's probably spending
[16:05] more like 20 to 30 percent of his income on food. And in those families, food never gets wasted. And here is another thing you'll notice for the Latin family. Latins love their dogs. Most families have one. But only the upper middle class and the wealthy classes actually buy real dog food. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing real dog food at any middle class Latin home that I've been to. Though I've seen a great many stinky mangy dogs in houses like that. And I have to add, untrained stinky mangy dogs. And I don't care if I go into a Latin's house that's worth a million US bucks. They'll still have an untrained mangy dog or two hanging around. And when you're there and you sit down on that dog stained expensive sofa, I guarantee that the mutts gonna jump right up on your lap or at least snuggle up alongside of you.
[16:54] And in fact, a dog obedience training school in any city in Latin America would be a great business for an expat. But I digress again. Now I know for a fact that if you go to Costco down here and buy a 50 pound bag of brand name dog food, like Purina dog chow or prime cuts or Kirkland or any of the medium to high end brands, you'll pay about 35 to 50 bucks a bag of 50 pounds. And if you have a pretty good size dog, a 50 to 75 pounder, he could probably polish that off in a month. So do the math. Let's say a middle class Latin family makes 500 bucks a month and he's got to pay 50 bucks a month for dog food. Well, that's 10% of his income or about twice the average percentage expenditure that first world people dish out on human food for the whole family.
[17:41] So you can see the average middle class Latin family is not gonna splurge on the dog chow. And here's another statistic from an article in the Economist magazine, which says that Latin Americans eat five times as many fruits and vegetables by weight than people in the United States and Canada. And at least 80 to 90% of all those fruits and vegetables come from small local farms, the majority of which do not even have a motorized vehicle like a car or a tractor. And in Latin America, more than 95% of all the fruits and vegetables are non-GMO. But there's more. Throughout all 20 countries in Latin America, the average per capita consumption of milk is 50 liters a year. And the average in the United States, 250 liters per year per person, five times as
[18:31] much. And once again, the positive thing about milk consumption in Latin America is that there are almost no factory style farms producing milk. And though milk cows down here are pumped up with a certain amount of vaccines and antibiotics and stuff, they only receive about 10 to 15% of the drugs and pharmaceuticals that first world cows get. And by the way, nowhere in Latin America is raw or unpasteurized milk illegal. In fact, if you ever were to hit on that subject with a dairy farmer, he wouldn't even know what the hell you were talking about. And another thing you'll notice down here in Latin America that you don't notice at all up in the first world, there are small herds of goats, maybe five to 10 at a time, and they're goat herders meandering their way down the streets and the alleys of every city in Latin America, big and small.
[19:18] So in fact, if you're into goat's milk, yuck, you can hook up with one of these goat herders and get on his route and become a daily stop for ultra-fresh goat milk every morning. And of course, because there are so many little goat herders around, you can have fresh goat cheese any time you want to have that too, double yuck. And just one more thing about milk in general, I hope you realize that more human allergies are caused by a reaction to the antigens in cow's milk than any other food substance known. Any allergist these days will tell you, cow's milk is very good for baby cows, but contrary to what the American Dairy Association's been pumping down our throats for all these years, milk is nowhere near the perfect food.
[20:05] In fact, the human body tends to reject it. Do you ever stop and ask yourself why three quarters of the world is lactose intolerant? Hmm, could it be our bodies trying to tell us something? And did you also know that another third of the world's population has subclinical lactose intolerance, which means when you drink cow's milk, you don't exactly get cramps and stomach upset and diarrhea, typical symptoms of lactose intolerance, but it's not 100% compatible with your digestive process. So let's review what I've talked about. Latin Americans with all their pollution problems and shortage of water and lack of hygiene and first world medicine still have about the same longevity statistics as first world folks. And what else is different about their environment and the way they live compared to us?
[20:51] Well, they have much less stress, they get much more physical exercise, they eat five times as many fruits and vegetables by weight, they eat only 10 to 15% as much red meat, and yours is GMO corn fed and theirs is purely grass fed. And they drink only about 20% of the milk that gringos drink, and their cows are not chemically pumped up factory cows. Also, and latins only eat about a third as much poultry as first world people. And finally, the thing that might have the most positive effect of all is the fact that latins are so damn happy. So where do we go with all that info? Well, when you come down as an expat, I think you'll know just what to do. And to close out this discussion, let's talk about the cantinas and bars down here.
[21:40] So many gringos and expats have commented that cantinas are everywhere, and they do seem to do alright during the week, but on weekends they get jam packed, mostly with middle and lower middle class guys drinking the local beer, or cheap, rot-gut, high alcohol rum that some locals call guaro. And that's how middle and lower middle class latin males like to party. And the upper middle classes and the wealthier classes, well, they have their bars too but they're not called cantinas, and they don't drink cheap, rot-gut, rum either. They drink the local beer and whiskey, that's the universal male drink of choice with upper middle and wealthy classes. And that's even though latin america is the land of very good rum. They do have world class rum that sells for a lot of money in the states, but down here the wealthier folks prefer whiskey, johnny walker whiskey.
[22:29] In fact, johnny walker outsells every other whiskey in latin america by about 5 to 1. And of course because this is latin america and it's all about the show, whiskey drinkers almost always pick johnny walker black. Just because johnny walker red is, well, johnny walker red. And why johnny walker? That's because they were smart and came down latin america some years ago with the slick marketing campaign. And of course they use what works so well down here in latin america, women in skimpy clothes. In fact, every liquor distributorship that handles johnny walker hires beautiful latin models to dress up in tight leotards and wear a johnny walker top hat and tails. You know, the johnny walker logo? And a few of these girls will go to selected bars in the medium in big cities and they're
[23:18] all white johnny walker outfits, top hat, tails, leotards and of course a cane and they'll give out free shots of johnny walker for an hour or two. And then they'll take off and move on to another bar. Now I don't know if they do that in the states, but it's one of the greatest marketing gimmicks you'll ever see. And of course the local beer companies try to do some of that too. They hire these female models and put them in skin tight outfits and send them around to the upper middle class bars and discos to hand out beer samples. Of course they'd never send these models with the free drinks to cantinas, middle and lower middle class bars because those taverns loaded with a lower class of latin male, pun intended. And guys like that will definitely try to grope and disrespect the models.
[24:04] Models like that only go to upscale bars and discos where there's a decent mix of both sexes so they won't get a rest. Now once again you might be under the impression that latin americans drink a hell of a lot of booze. I mean let's face it, every time you see a Hollywood movie where they show a latin neighborhood where the common folk are hanging out, there's always a bunch of sloppy drunks spilling out of one cantina or another. Well get this, the world health organization has a list of countries by per capita alcohol consumption and they did the calculations on beer, wine and hard liquor and they give their results on the amount of pure alcohol consumed per capita per year and in the United States it's about 10 liters of pure alcohol a year per person, which is about 2.5 gallons of 100% alcohol.
[24:51] And the average for latin america, believe it or not it's only half of that, 5 liters of pure alcohol per person per year, about a gallon and a quarter of alcohol. So never again should you have that idea that latins are a bunch of drunks, but you can say that many many latin men of all classes and social brackets are weekend alcoholics while very few latin women are habitual drinkers. So it's the latin men that are downing all the booze, whereas in the United States it's true that men drink more than women but men don't out drink women by a massive amount. And about smoking cigarettes, well you know it's a funny thing, down here in latin america just like up in the first world, it's high school and college kids that think it's cool to smoke and drink.
[25:37] And yes when you do go to the bars and cantinas, places are engulfed in smoke. And yes in many cities in latin america you're not allowed to smoke inside of a business but only the owner can enforce that law because the cops, they're too busy trying to figure out where the next gallon of gas is coming from for their police cruiser. And the other thing is that maybe 50% of the bars in latin america are basically open air or garden style bars. Half the bar inside and enclosed and the rest outside. So obviously people can smoke and they do. So like I said for college and high school kids it's the cool thing to do. And it's much worse with the upper middle class and wealthy kids who go to expensive private schools. And you can tell that's happening right away when you go to a decent upscale restaurant and you see a bunch of young college kids.
[26:23] Sometimes more girls and guys puffing away like fiends. These are the wealthy entitled kids who copy everything they see that first world college kids do. And actually you'd think a lot more people would be smoking cigarettes down here since they're just ridiculously cheap compared to what you'd pay up in the first world. For example I've heard that in certain parts of the states in canada they could be from 5 to 10 bucks a pack. And in latin america 2 bucks a pack. And even cheaper if you buy any of the local off brands. In fact just like beer brands every country down here in latin america seems to have one or two brands of local cigarettes. Which are always about a half buck cheaper than the known international brands like marburros or cools. So all you expat wannabes up there who smoke a pack a day which at 10 bucks a pack would
[27:10] work out to 3600 bucks a year come on. You come down here and smoke a local brand and in a year or two you'll save enough money to pay for that cancer operation. And before I sign off today don't forget to go to expatwisdom.com and click on my seminar link for my June adventure. I still have a few spots left so by all means sign up you won't regret it. gmail.com See you next time on expamels.