Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller dives into the unique challenges and experiences of expats living in Latin America. The episode covers a range of topics, including the role of dogs as security measures, the realities of home break-ins, cultural attitudes toward pet ownership, and the importance of water filtration systems for expats. Johnny also touches on entrepreneurship opportunities and the need for expats to plan for potential crises.
Johnny begins by discussing the role of dogs in expat life, particularly in Latin America. He explains that small dogs are generally not effective as security measures, while larger breeds like Rottweilers and Dobermans are more feared and respected. He also touches on the likelihood of home break-ins, noting that they are rare when someone is home and often involve trusted individuals like gardeners or cleaners who may inadvertently provide information to thieves.
He then moves on to discuss the cultural dynamics of dog ownership and fear in Latin America, particularly among lower and middle-class populations. Johnny explains that the fear stems from encounters with wild dogs and the prevalence of stories about dog attacks and poisoning. He shares personal anecdotes about how he handles his own dogs to avoid scaring his housekeepers and gardeners, emphasizing the need for gradual socialization and the importance of maintaining an air of danger around his dogs to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
The episode also covers the pet care landscape in Latin America, highlighting the presence of vets in small towns and rural areas who often provide more affordable services compared to city vets. Johnny notes the class divide, where the upper 2-5% of wealthy Latin Americans, often referred to as 'gringo wannabes,' seek first-world-style veterinary services in upscale areas, which are expensive and cater to their preferences. He also points out the opportunity for gringo entrepreneurs to create products that can be sold in local stores like Walmart and Costco, which prefer locally produced goods to avoid import hassles.
Johnny then discusses the lack of enforcement of pet ordinances in Latin America, noting that while laws exist, they are often ignored due to lack of resources. He contrasts this with the strict enforcement in the first world, where pet owners face fines, lawsuits, and potential loss of property if their dogs bite someone. He then shifts to discussing home security, emphasizing the importance of fences, especially in Latin America, where security is a major concern. Johnny outlines the cost differences between concrete block walls and cyclone fences, suggesting the latter as a more affordable and effective option when combined with thorny plants. He also mentions the availability of first-world home security services at a low cost, highlighting their reliability despite the region's reputation for delays.
Finally, Johnny concludes the episode by discussing the issue of kidney stones in Latin America, attributing them to high soda consumption rather than hard water. He explains that the minerals in hard water are referred to as 'sado,' which sounds like 'sorrow' in English. He also provides advice on water filtration systems to address both chlorine and fluoride, and mentions the importance of drinking more water and cutting out soft drinks to prevent kidney stones. Johnny concludes by noting that while hard water may be beneficial for health, it can damage household fixtures.
Topics
Dogs as a security measure in Latin America, Home break-ins and security in Latin America, Cultural dynamics of dog ownership in Latin America, Fear of dogs among lower and middle-class populations, Socialization of dogs and housekeepers, Stories and rumors about dog attacks and poisoning, Pet care in Latin America, Class divide and consumer behavior, Entrepreneurship opportunities, Local business and marketing strategies, Pet ordinances in Latin America, Home security and fencing
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:00:26 Overview of the show's content and the topic of dogs as a security measure 00:01:41 Discussion on the effectiveness of small dogs as a deterrent and the role of larger breeds 00:03:19 Johnny's opinion on the effectiveness of having a large dog as a deterrent and the response from neighbors 00:03:58 Discussion on the rarity of home break-ins in Latin America and the role of trusted individuals 00:05:51 The Quinceañeros and the Gardener's Bragging 00:06:17 The Fear of Dogs in Latin America 00:06:59 The Impact of Dogs on Cleaning Ladies 00:09:58 Criminals and Their Fear of Dogs 00:10:47 The Only Substantiated Case of Dog Poisoning 00:12:03 Introduction to Pet Care in Latin America 00:13:07 Class System and Pet Care in Latin America 00:14:18 Opportunities for Gringo Entrepreneurs in Pet Products 00:16:21 Business Opportunities for Expats in Latin America 00:18:04 Lack of Enforcement of Pet Ordinances in Latin America 00:19:04 Fencing in Latin America: A Sign of Wealth 00:20:01 Cost-Effective Fencing Options in Latin America 00:21:38 Home Security Services in Latin America 00:22:26 Expat Wisdom Seminar Promotion 00:24:18 The Problem of Hard Water in Latin America and Its Effects on Household Fixtures 00:24:58 The Link Between Soda Consumption and Kidney Stones in Latin America 00:27:22 The Health Benefits of Hard Water and Its Impact on Household Fixtures
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 expat wannabes. I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to the expat files living in Latin America The show that tells you just what it's like to live work play and or retire down here in Latin America It's a mix of the good the bad the ugly and the great and it's all right here. So let's get started now I'm the last show I didn't quite finish up my bit about dogs here in Latin America And speaking of which for you expats living a bit out in the county or way on the boonies a dog or two can be your Best defense against petty robberies and break-ins and in that respect any dog is better than no dog
[00:49] Except don't think your little six pound poodle or chow chow is gonna be much of a deterrent bad boys Looking to break into your house or your garage Anywhere in Latin America or otherwise really have no fear of small yiping dogs They and everybody knows that small dogs will yipe and holler anytime a day for whatever reason and basically Nobody pays attention and nobody cares In fact just drive through any middle-class Latin American neighborhood and you'll hear dogs barking all the time Does that mean there's robberies going on? Nope But the fact is people down here are so used to small dogs yiping that nobody goes on high alert when dogs are barking Even if it's 3 in the morning, you know, it's like car burglar alarms going off Nobody gives a damn now 30 years ago when a car burglar alarm was something special
[01:36] Everybody stopped when they heard one, but these days they don't even rate a yawn Well, that's how folks down here view small yiping dogs if bad boys have a mind to they're liable to break in anyhow However, if you've got a dog, that's 50 pounds or so There isn't a Latin person I've ever met who wouldn't go across the street or farther to avoid it Now as I mentioned in the past show I think there are two kinds of dog breeds that Latins are particularly terrified of and that's Rottweilers and Dobermans Especially Dobermans who've had their ears fixed and pointed and yes every vet down here We'll do that little bit of cosmetic surgery for your Doberman if you've got the dough There's a lot of lag time in the poo-pooing of that procedure. This is Latin America You know now
[02:21] I know some of you wannabes and gunna bees living up there in a big city in Cleveland or Cincinnati You too just might be scared to death of Dobermans and Rottweilers since up in the states They're too big to be city dogs Most first-world people who say they're terrified of them have only heard the bad rumors and have seen bad press on TV In fact, very few people in the first world have ever even petted a Doberman or a Rottweiler So let me set you straight here I've had no less than four Dobermans and three Rottweilers All of them down here in Latin America in various countries and I'll tell you this if you get them as puppies They'll be the best nicest and most gentle dogs in the world I mean to you your friends and your family that is but Everyone else going by or in the neighborhood will be terrified or at least leery and on the alert
[03:10] And when the word gets out in the neighborhood that you've got one of those you will not have Casual visitors at your front door, which is a good thing In fact an excellent thing exactly the kind of response you want people to have I mean, that's the point, isn't it? Now, of course if you live in a gated community or a residential tower You won't need a dog at all unless you're into pets But like I said, if you have a lone standing house ways out of the city or in the boonies You'll find that people out there the ones that have larger sized dogs don't get picked on for robberies Oh and while we're talking about it, you'll find out in Latin America Since you're a gringo and you're probably living in an upper-middle-class neighborhood Anyway, you'll find that when there are home robberies and break-ins They almost never occur when someone's home
[03:57] in fact the only cases I've ever heard in my 20 something years of being down here is when a Stupid cleaning lady or gardener answers the door and lets somebody in who is purporting to be a UPS delivery man Or flower delivery service or whatever even so that's rare and the cases that I know of it's always been Upper-class Latins who've been hit with that scam I don't know a single gringo or expat that's ever happened to now I do personally know of a case where it's happened to a pretentious upscaled know-it-all show-off asswipe Classist bigot Latin who owned a radio station that I worked at but in his case everyone agrees that it was just karma And even after that he continued his pretentious asswipe caustic ways So once again, that makes a strong case for having a low profile and not being a dick
[04:47] But do remember one thing with most of the break-ins that occur in Latin American houses It's usually because the gardener or the cleaning lady had loose lips not that it's an inside job Unless of course you have bodyguards then it's almost always an inside job another reason to skip the pretentious bodyguard bit anyway Like I've mentioned before cleaning ladies and gardeners and such come from families where there's always a couple of bad boys And for example if they're having a Sunday family get-together for a quinceaños party or whatever if the topic of the gringo they work for comes up that's you by the way and The cleaning lady happens to mention that the lady of the house has a lot of nice jewelry laying around the good stuff And by the way junk jewelry gold-plated stuff down here is called
[05:35] Chapiada, which means plated? Chapiada or Fantasia as in fantasy Spelled just about like the same word in English. So when somebody says hoya Ria, which is jewelry Fantasia They're talking about Julie that just ain't worth stealing Anyway, if at that quinceaños get-together party your gardener happens to brag that he works for a gringo That is you who has a big shed just chock-full of all kinds of expensive first-world tools Well, just know there's gonna be a few bad boys sitting around that party could be that a nephew or two or even your good Old gardener's kid are making mental notes of those things But also note that when you're cleaning lady or gardener mentions that you've got a Rottweiler or a Doberman or both
[06:25] That'll quickly terminate any bright ideas amongst those bad boys Now, like I said, I've had dogs like that in the past and when I hire a new cleaning lady or maintenance guy They're always deathly afraid and terribly nervous at least at first, which by the way is good which is why for the first couple of days I put my dogs in their cages and Because there's someone new around the house and the dogs are suddenly locked up inevitably the dogs get rambunctious and bark quite a bit And to show you just how much fear a Doberman or a Rottweiler instills in the average Latin population I've actually had cleaning ladies that never came back after that very first time seeing the dogs even though they were in their cages Not to mention I've had cleaning ladies who would not enter the laundry room even with the dogs locked securely there in their cages
[07:15] So then you might ask well, isn't it cruel then to keep your dogs caged up all day? Just so they have no contact with your cleaning lady and gardener. Yes, that's true that's why you have to get your cleaning lady and gardener accustomed to but always just slightly wary of your dog or dogs and To do that first. Let your cleaning lady or maintenance guy feed your dog or dogs Doggy treats or cookies through the screen while he's still in the cage then the next day more the same and then a bit later you take your dog out and hold them tightly by the collar and You give the cleaning lady or gardener a handful of doggy treats then from a distance Let him toss a few treats at the dog Eventually petting the dog while handing him a treat now
[08:03] You might know that your hundred pound dog is just a big baby and wouldn't harm anyone But you can't show that in front of your help It has to appear as if they can only make friends with it quite slowly so you're kind of putting on a show for your help making them think that the dog doesn't make friends easily a Little psychological game, you know always tell your cleaning lady or maintenance guy that your dogs Absolutely do not like strangers then tell him this story that actually happened to me Tell them that a guy you know with the very same breed of dog was driving down the road with the dog in his Car and at a stop sign a pedestrian walk just a little too close to the car and the dog Broke the window of the car with his head and lunged for the guy. I'm serious
[08:51] It actually happened and as for the dog the Rottweiler no damage done But the guy who was walking with his bike dropped the bike and ran like hell Which means it's definitely a good story to spread around the neighborhood Now I think it's worth mentioning again why latins aren't so afraid of dogs, especially the bigger ones That's because in the big cities, especially in the lower middle class and middle class areas of town There are wild dogs running around not everywhere, of course, but you see him once in a while now These are street dogs that rarely bother people. However, since they are street dogs They live by scavenging and if you see one of these guys on the street he's usually hanging around a discarded bag or a garbage pile and I can tell you this if you get within 10 or 20 feet of
[09:42] That guy he's gonna think you're honing in on his scavenging ground on his eating territory And he's gonna give you such a look and show you such teeth. You'll think twice about getting any closer That's it. Nearly all the bad boys in Latin America Criminals and such live in lower middle class areas where dogs like that run free Which means all of those bad boys have had encounters with dogs like that in their own neighborhoods and they know better So that's why middle and lower middle class latins have an inbred fear of dogs Especially the bigger ones because they know they can do a lot of damage The fact is in every middle and lower middle class Latin neighborhood Everyone knows of a dog attack and someone who's got the scars from it and about those rumors and stories you hear about bad boys
[10:32] Poisoning dogs and then robbing your house. By the way, I still occasionally get email questions about that Anyway, I have heard all the stories and the rumors about that stuff, too But do note that in my 20 something years down here and all the countries I've been in all the people I've known I've only heard of one case that can be substantiated It's the only case I know of that isn't hearsay In fact a gringo English teacher teaching at a rich private school down here told me that a kid in his class A kid whose dad was filthy rich and owned a lot of big plantations had his dogs on the farm poisoned one day But later the English gringo teacher confessed that the kid said his father was always having labor problems Turns out the poor folks that worked this guy's
[11:18] Plantation had no love lost for the boss and I don't mean Springsteen either So bottom line his employees hated him because he treated him like crap So they got even and popped his dogs So all you guys and gals up north when you come down here on your first trip You'll probably go to Cancun or Costa Rica. Most people I know hit the tourist trail first I did so anyway When you first get there and do get to talking to some gringos that you meet at the expat bar bad idea By the way and the subject turns to crimes and misdemeanors and you hear about dogs getting poisoned Do ask who's ever spouting that crap if they know of the person it happened to or it's just hearsay Those are the questions I ask and so far except for the case that I mentioned It's all been hearsay to no one's been able to give me a first-hand report enough said about that and just a note about vets
[12:10] You got them down here all over the place including many large animal doctors, you know horse doctors farm vets and of course those guys are always out in small towns and in The boonies and believe me those guys have seen everything So don't be afraid to take your dog to a horse vet And by the way, they only charge about a third of what city vets might charge and about city vets You know if you go to a middle-class neighborhood and find a vet He's gonna be about half the price of a vet in a high-end mall or a vet in a first world style Business district because you see a strange thing has happened down here in Latin America in that tiny upper 2 to 4 5% of wealthy Latin Americans They usually have purebreds and don't mind spending a lot of money on their dogs as long as they can take their dog to a vet
[13:00] Who's expensive enough so that no short brown common people will ever be sitting in the office with their pets Mighty classist and racist, huh? Such is the not so subtle rigid class system here in Latin America Of course, nobody will actually come out and say that but it's obvious if you ever go to one of these vets offices And you'll find those guys in upscale business districts and high-end shopping malls But here's the kicker of course they sell their own pet products all vets do right So what you'll see on their shelves are first world gringo pet products That's what their upscale clients want and of course their brand names imported from the States So you'll actually pay more for that stuff than you will at a vet up in the first world now remember
[13:45] It's that upper five percent of the gringo wannabe Latins that are bringing their dogs and cats and Gila monsters to these so-called First-world style vets and because of that gringo advantage and in this case Disadvantaged for them upscale Latins come to believe that everything gringo is better for their pet Which is why you'll notice here in Latin America a lot of vets aren't driving vets So to speak or something equally pretentious and unsuitable for the roads here in Latin America So what I'm saying is vets who are practicing in upscale malls down here They're the ones making the real money down here in fact a lot of them make much more than regular MDs do and it's all because These idiot upscale copycat Latins just have to buy everything gringo now
[14:31] That's not to say you can't buy a certain small selection of gringo pet products at places like Walmart and Costco You can't and at much cheaper prices than the vets office and remember Walmart is the biggest single employer in Latin America, so there's stores everywhere at last count They've got close to 2,500 stores, but still and here's another kicker if you want to buy organic Unadulterated non-gmo food for your pet. Oh, yes, the high-end vets have it in small packages at hugely inflated prices Because it's being shipped in from the states, of course, which means guess what? There's a huge opportunity for a gringo entrepreneur to come up with his own organic dog food
[15:17] I'm sure the first one who does it in a big way and gets some nice packaging going We'll actually be able to get it into these Walmart's and shopcos and make a killing and as a matter of fact you Often see in the big newspapers down here that Walmart and Costco are actually having local trade shows Looking for products produced locally. The fact is they'd rather buy stuff Whatever it is produce nearby then deal with the hassles of customs and shipping coming in from the states Europe and China So you should always have that in the back of your mind if you're thinking about Starting a business down here in marketing an actual product that could be stocked in stores and think about it with your gringo advantage You can just take a walk through Costco and Walmart and look at the products
[16:02] They've got and if you see something that you might be able to do yourself locally Just remember with your gringo advantage and know-how and the very cheap labor down here You should be able to beat the pants off of any product that's imported from the first world So for all you expat wannabes and gone a bees looking for a possible business opportunity just come on down and take a walk through a Walmart or a Costco and I guarantee you the wheels will be spinning and you Know you can start small very small if you like and being a gringo, you'll probably get distribution rather easily In fact, I know a local Latin guy who produces honey. He's got beehives He started with I think 25 and now he's got close to 200 and guess what he's selling to Walmart He got his honey placed in the boutique section of Walmart
[16:50] You know down here every Walmart has a little specialty section like that and what makes his honey so special Well, it actually isn't so special He'll tell you that it's just because he's got a really fancy package with get this a little net and a silk ribbon and bow Around it that's fake silk actually, but it looks festive around the holidays, you know So then you might ask how do you happen to think of that? Well, this guy's parents are rich Latins and he went to college up in the States The guy has a business and marketing degree from some University in Pennsylvania. In other words. He's sort of gringo by osmosis So yeah, you might say he's a rare case, but if he could do it you could oh and by the way This guy does none of the dirty work He never touches the honey or comes in contact with the bees or does any dirty work at all
[17:38] He has two full-time employees who really know bees and they get about 300 bucks a month each Oh, and by the way, the startup cost for this guy's venture. He told me it was a whopping 5,000 bucks and best of all he didn't even have to buy or rent the land He's got to deal with a farmer who has fruit trees that benefit greatly from his bees So anyway, there's a few ideas for you, but where was I? Oh, yeah talking about dogs Now believe it or not down here in Latin America. There is no enforcement of any kind of pet ordinances at all Yes ordinances do exist Latin governments copy everything first world You know, but they often forget or just simply avoid to a lot money for personnel office space vehicles and inventory That's why even though there are leash laws
[18:25] You'll practically never see a dog on a leash except maybe at the vet or in a high-end First-world like area, but you'll have yours on a leash, right? Gringles aren't like that You know, we have guilt about such things Especially when we've had it pounded in our heads up north that you get fined for such things And if your dog bites someone you get sued and they take your house away Well, not so down here that would never happen In fact down here, for example, if the president was jogging by your house and your dog took a chunk out of his leg Probably nothing would happen. So I do encourage that by the way now changing gears just a tiny bit Note in Latin America you rarely see a freestanding house or housing development without a fence around the perimeter or a wall only the lower classes and the
[19:12] Poor folks the ones with tin roof shacks generally have unfenced yards for two reasons one They can't afford to put up a fence and two they've got nothing worth stealing So all you expect gonna bees and wannabes know this if your plan B is to buy some land down here and build a house Just remember you'll have to put a tall fence around it at least eight foot and that'll keep your dogs in and trespassers out Now note a lot of people put up concrete block wall fences, which can run into some real money I mean the cost of labor is dirt cheap down here But the materials for the cement and the blocks etc. Could still take a big chunk out of your wallet Depending of course how much land you've got Anyway, just figure if you're gonna make a cement block wall down here in Latin America
[19:58] It'll cost you about half of what it would up in the states But still a lot of money another alternative is to have a cyclone fence Which can be a good option if you have a nice view through the fence But if you're looking right into a neighbor's front yard or at a row at dumpsters well, you know what I mean and About security with either type of fence if it's a solid concrete block fence You won't know if someone's sneaking up on you right unless of course you've got cameras all over the place And of course with the cyclone fence someone could just snip right through it if they've got some heavy-duty snippers However, what a lot of people do who have cyclone fences is to plant fast-growing thorny Creeping bushes an excellent choice being Borgen via called
[20:44] Bugan via down here which has very sharp thorns and beautiful flowers, too And since things grow so fast down here after a while those vines and thorns Penetrate a cyclone fence almost completely, which is a good thing Eventually the growth gets so dense not only can't you see through it? But soon enough your skinny little cyclone fence gets between four and six foot wide all Dense plants and vines of course now that's quite a deterrent to anyone that gets near it So in the end like everything else both the block wall and the cyclone fence have their advantages and disadvantages But a big consideration is the fact that a cyclone fence costs less than half the price of a concrete and block fence Now while we're talking about dogs fences and home security note that almost anywhere in Latin America these days
[21:35] Except way out in the boonies You can hire a complete home security service with cameras and sensors and direct internet connection for about 25 bucks a month So you can watch your house getting pillaged in real time on your smartphone while lounging at Starbucks or hooters But all joking aside most of these services claim They'll be at your house in less than 10 minutes after an alarm goes off So do they do what they claim these services really work? Yep I know quite a few people who have them and they are quite responsive and do what they say But how can that be you might ask? I mean, this is Latin America meaning everyone's on manana time, right? Well, not in this case many of these services are first world franchises and some even owned and operated by
[22:22] Israelis in the security business. You can't do much better than that All right. Now, let me remind you once again that I'm having an expat wisdom seminar in January 2015 It's a six-day long hand-holding fast-track seminar designed to give you a two to five year Headstart on becoming an expat. So the question is what are you gonna do when the snot hits the windshield up north? Are you ready? In fact, many people in the know are sure it's gonna happen within the next 12 to 24 months What's your plan B? Hold up in the basement with pallets of water food and ammo your best bet is to have a way out where you can still live a first world lifestyle and How do you do that? Well make a plan and come on down to my boots on the ground event in January go to
[23:09] Www expat wisdom calm and click on the seminar link for full information And remember this when the next crisis comes and it will there'll be no seminars like this because even if you're ready to get out Uncle Sam won't let you everyone knows you can't let the cows out of the gate if you're gonna continue milking them You know the clocks ticking so don't get caught in the squeeze again Just go to expat wisdom calm click on the seminar link and do the right thing for yourself And now let's take an email and this one's from Ron He says Johnny could you send us the plans for your water? Filtration system that you talked about on one of your last shows and here's a question will this system filter out hard minerals We're reading that kidney stones are a problem in Nicaragua because of all the minerals in the hard water
[23:59] Love your podcast Ron. Well Ron Let's start with talking about that kidney stone problem Now you see that all over the place down here in Latin America because it's true that most water is quite hard You can see that by just looking at anybody's sink or toilet bowl or shower stall The mineral buildup really is tremendous, and it's called Sado down here That build ups called Sado sounds almost exactly like the English word sorrow Yep, it's true all sinks showers tubs and toilets look pretty darn awful except when they're brand new So does that mean those minerals are clogging up your pipes, too? Well, I personally know many Latins and some expats who've had kidney stones here now get this nearly all people
[24:46] Who've had them removed and analyzed find out they're made out of phosphoric acid Phosphate stones and you'll find that urologists and nephrologists down here in Latin America will tell you that those kidney stones are not from the Hard water but from the huge increase in soda consumption Mainly colas like Pepsi and coke now you see in Latin America most people live in a tropical or Semi-tropical climate and they drink a hell of a lot of soda the average Latin drinks three times as many prepared soft drinks and sodas Then people living in temperate climates and so the first thing a nephrologist or urologist tells a person who's had kidney stones Is that he or she better drink more water and cut completely the soft drinks
[25:33] Which of course most Latins will never do but then what about that very hard water you find in so many places down here? Now that under counter filter system that I use the plans I'll give you for free if you send me an email that whole system by the way will only set you back about a hundred bucks Anyway, it'll completely eliminate chlorine and as for fluoride Well, you don't have to worry about it at all down here in Latin America because water is not Fluorinated and if that hardness factor really bothers you you can't really taste it by the way You can add another standard canister in series to the system right at the end of the line That would be the last stage before it comes out of your spout. Just go down to your local pool supply place They're all over down here in Latin America
[26:18] Naturally, it's tropical and people have pools right or get on the internet and look up a pen tech P-e-n-t-e-k and buy a WS dash 10 and use that in the added canister I'm talking about it's a water softening resin filter cartridge a small version of a collagen water softener You'll see it's filled with little crystal like beads And you'll pay about 20 or 25 bucks for that thing and I understand that last up to two even three years And you know you can buy a little litmus paper testing kit at any pool supply to test the hardness of your water To see when the filters depleted so add that filter and you'll be drinking softened water But note it won't do anything for the rest of your house for that
[27:05] You need a whole house water softening system with a big tank remember those collagen units Looks like a big welding or scuba tank sitting in your garage or in your basement Remember those anyway note that as far as the kidney stone thing goes you really don't need to soften your water In fact many many natural health specialists are saying that hard water is actually good for you Though not good for your sink toilet or hookah 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 the expat files at gmail.com and don't forget to check out expat wisdom.com to sign up for your free
[27:51] Reports on Latin America. See you next time. Nos vemos