Episode Summary
In this episode, Johnny Mueller dives into the complexities of health care for expats in Latin America, comparing it to the United States and highlighting the impact of the Affordable Care Act. He also shares insights on travel, including flight deals, bathroom etiquette, and environmental efforts in the region.
Johnny begins by discussing the challenges expats face with health care in Latin America, particularly in the context of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in the United States. He highlights the mixed experiences of expats, including a case where a man in the U.S. manipulates his income to qualify for Obamacare benefits, which Johnny critiques as a system that subsidizes unhealthy lifestyles. He also notes the lack of recent news about Obamacare under Trump and mentions an email from Kelsey, an expat, who provides examples of how the Affordable Care Act has negatively impacted medical insurance in the U.S., including the cancellation of his old health plan and the introduction of a more expensive alternative.
Johnny then discusses a letter from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina informing members that their grandfathered health insurance plans will no longer be offered starting in 2018. The letter outlines a significant increase in premiums and deductibles for the new plans, which are compliant with the Affordable Care Act. Johnny expresses frustration and disbelief at the cost, comparing it to the relatively affordable health care options available to expats in Latin America. He highlights the drastic increase in costs and the poor value of the new plans, suggesting that expats can access high-quality first-world health care in Latin America for a fraction of the cost.
Next, Johnny discusses the cost and quality of health care in Latin America, comparing it to the United States. He mentions that while health care costs are rising, they are still significantly lower than in the U.S., with some plans costing as little as $55 a month. He also highlights the importance of understanding pre-existing condition clauses and exclusions in insurance plans, as well as the need to secure medical records for expats moving to Latin America. Johnny emphasizes the benefits of private health insurance in Latin America, noting that it offers first-world quality at 1970s and 1980s prices, and warns against relying on national health care systems, which he describes as inadequate.
Johnny then discusses the cost-effectiveness of health care insurance for expats in Latin America, emphasizing that it's a better deal than waiting for first-world-style coverage. He promotes his expat seminar, highlighting that it provides valuable connections and guidance for expats. He also shares insights on flight prices to Latin America, noting that they can be significantly cheaper than commonly perceived, and encourages listeners to wait a few weeks before booking flights to get the best deals. He contrasts the travel experience in Central America with that of South America, highlighting the latter's more expensive and uncomfortable flights. Johnny also shares anecdotes about bathroom etiquette in Latin America, noting that it's more accommodating for expats compared to the U.S.
Finally, Johnny discusses the differences in bathroom etiquette and toilet paper availability between the United States and Latin America. He highlights how in the U.S., people are often given toilet paper for free, while in Latin America, especially in public restrooms, you may be charged for it or given pre-measured stacks. He also shares his experience at a polluted but beautiful lake in Guatemala, where efforts to clean it are led by expats and NGOs, while locals are less involved. Johnny notes the irony of seeing plastic waste in the same areas where efforts are made to reduce plastic use, and he ends with a humorous anecdote about a modified tuk tuk designed for larger expats.
Topics
Health care in Latin America, Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Expat experiences with health insurance, Criticism of the Affordable Care Act, Impact of Obamacare on expats, Health insurance, Expatriate health care, Health care costs, Insurance premiums, Health care costs in Latin America, Insurance plans and exclusions, Securing medical records for expats
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:00:32 Health Care Concerns Among Expats 00:01:47 The Unintended Consequences of Obamacare 00:03:40 Kelsey's Experience with Obamacare 00:06:01 Kelsey's Letter and the Setup for the Sucker Punch 00:07:14 The Sucker Punch and the Shocking Premium Increase 00:10:35 The Bottom Line: Affordable Health Care in Latin America 00:12:04 Health Care Costs in Latin America vs. the U.S. 00:12:10 Personal Experience with Health Insurance Costs 00:12:58 Understanding Exclusions in Health Insurance Plans 00:13:58 Importance of Securing Medical Records for Expats 00:15:27 Private vs. National Health Care in Latin America 00:17:40 Cost-Effectiveness of Health Care Insurance for Expats in Latin America 00:18:03 Promotion of Expat Seminar and Flight Deals 00:19:09 Personal Anecdote About Cheap Flights to Guatemala City 00:20:08 Encouragement to Wait Before Booking Flights for Better Deals 00:20:53 Comparison of Flight Costs and Comfort Between Central and South America 00:22:42 Anecdotes About Bathroom Etiquette in Latin America 00:23:06 Bathroom Etiquette in the U.S. vs. Latin America 00:23:40 Toilet Paper Availability and Cultural Differences 00:24:08 Environmental Efforts and Plastic Waste in Latin America 00:27:29 Humorous Anecdote About Modified Tuk Tuk for Expats
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 out to play and now as 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 Hey, you know, it's been a while since we talked about health care Even though I'd say about a third of all the emails I get get a lot of emails are from people like you up in the states Expat gonna be some wannabes lamenting that they have fewer and fewer options and nearly every one of them dissing the so-called
[00:47] Affordable Care Act the Obamacare crap. In fact, you know when I think what five years it's been in existence now I've only heard one person one gringo. Tell me that the Affordable Care Act actually helped him out and get this He's a guy up in the Chicagoland area a house contractor and remodeler who works mostly for cash Just to keep his reported taxable income to $24,000 a year or less or else he just won't qualify for certain benefits under the Unaffordable Care Act now the history on this guy is he's a reformed alcoholic 100 pounds overweight and needs heart surgery or stents Which he says would cost him out of his pocket if he didn't have the Affordable Care Act around a hundred thousand bucks or more So he dicks with the system as he says to make sure his income never pops over
[01:37] 24,000 a year at least until he gets all that hard work done now again He's the only gringo who's ever told me the Obamacare system is working for him but actually when you think about it, it's not working for him because he's got a screw around with the numbers to make it fit his Lifestyle a lifestyle as you probably figured out by now caused all his problems in the first place So who gets to subsidize his expensive lifelong treatments you the taxpayer, of course Did you expect it to be otherwise? Oh, what a multi-technical malignant thing that Oh vomit care turned out to be huh? Which is why I get so many people asking me questions about health and health care here in Latin America And you know since Trump's been in office. It's been a year now, right? People don't talk much about Obamacare anymore They assume he's gutted the plan at least that's what the mental media midgets are saying
[02:28] In fact the other day I heard maybe the only big news about Obama to care under Trump is that yeah No longer get fined or penalized if you don't sign up for Obamacare Which was always a kind of a concern for expats living abroad Because for the last few years anyway in order for them to skip that penalty you're fine for not signing up for Obamacare They'd had to prove they were temporary or permanent residents in a foreign country or that they'd been out of the country for more than 330 days a year So as mentioned since Trump people have been kind of mum in the email department about the Affordable Care Act or Unaffordable Care Act whatever you want to call it waiting to see what's gonna happen with that monster what the fallout's gonna be now It's not that I don't get a lot of emails about health care. Yeah, I do
[03:13] But they're not specifically about Obama to care like they'd been in the past It's as if people just prefer not to think about it Well the driveway chickens are coming home to roost for one hear from people all the time that their premiums instead of going down As promised are going up substantially and that big insurance companies and insurance plans are being phased out Or just dropping out all together because it's not financially feasible But so far I've only heard talk and gossip about it No facts until now just got this email from a new friend of mine Kelsey an expat insider seminar Repeat offender a real outstanding guy in a lot of ways especially down here He's got what you might call the long distance gringo advantage Why well because you can see him coming from a long ways away a thin guy
[03:59] But very tall six foot five or more meaning he's about twice as tall as your average Latin person He's the very definition of outstanding Anyway in his email. He says Johnny. Here's an example for you of how Unaffordable the so-called affordable care act has made medical insurance in the US with this email Johnny I'm enclosing the scans of two letters the first letters from Blue Cross Blue Shield telling me Metaphorically that my grandfather had died in other words. They'll no longer be grandfathering in my Somewhat affordable old health care plan and the second letter contains the comparison of the new quote improved Affordable Health Care Act plan they're offering me to replace my old plan that they've canceled and will no longer be
[04:46] grandfathering even though up till now that was always what they guaranteed Thank God for our saver Obama and his apostles Nancy and Harry and all the other government minions and slugs that were looking out for my best interest Especially that turgid turd in the toilet bowl Nancy. We have to pass that health care plan to find out what the plan is Pelosi well now that we know what it's all about Nancy F you and that's Also, what was in the plan a great big F you to the working American public I guess everyone receiving government aid in subsidies will make it out Okay, though, but us working stiffs well. I'm not just angry to be angry I'm gonna give you a little proof here anyway So much for you can keep your current health plan if you want to quote and if you like your current doctor
[05:36] You can keep him to quote check out this new out of network Deductible amount you might be able to keep your doctor But you'll have to pay four times as much to see him than the in network doctor who for all we know has his medical degree from Zimbabwe University and goat milking Institute. So Johnny check out the proof in these letters. I've scanned see in a couple weeks Signed Kelsey. All right so Kelsey sent me these scan copies and I want to read you some choice little tidbits from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Man going through these letters. I didn't realize how bad it really is up by you Well as for the first letter which has to be a shocker for people who've been grandfathered in for years and years with their
[06:21] Blue Cross insurance it says open enrollment for new plans is in effect now to help you prepare Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is reaching out early to share these important changes coming in 2018. So what's changing? Unfortunately Blue Cross will no longer offer your health insurance plan To make sure you remain covered However, we are going to move you into a new Blue Cross plan that meets the Affordable Care Act requirements This will be your new health player. All right, here comes the whiny false crocodile cheer part It says we're making this change and it was a tough decision Boo-hoo. I added that it's not in the letter Then it says Blue Cross of North Carolina Chose to offer these grandfathered plans for as long as we possibly could to serve our loyal members like you
[07:11] Unfortunately, we cannot maintain them for another year Alright, so that letter was the setup for the sucker punch now Here comes the punch the second letter starts by saying here is the important information about your 2018 health care plan options in order to Continue to provide affordable high quality care your current Blue Cross and Blue Shield North Carolina plan will not be offered But you will have a new health care plan to avoid the gap in coverage. We have placed you in a new plan This plan is offered through the Affordable Care Act and then there's a line that says your new premium You're ready for the sucker punch. It says your current monthly premium is $791.80 a month. That's your current monthly premium. Wow, so that's what he's been paying monthly Wow, that's a shocker. I know plans here in Latin America with excellent facilities first-world doctors clinics
[08:04] The works where you pay about that much for a whole year All right, we'll get into that later, but then it says starting in January 2018 your new monthly premium will be $2,408 What? Man, I had to take a couple of deep breaths before I said that Do you realize that the average person can live like a king or queen here in Latin America on that amount of money a month? For you retired people that's almost two average Social Security payouts a month just for health care insurance with gigantic deductibles too and we'll get into that now, but it is worth noting that you can get on a very high-end family plan here in Latin America for $2,400 a year not a month. Oh and by the way, where do those idiot postulate scumbag politicians get off saying?
[08:57] It's affordable health care. Well, I guess it is to them because Congress and their lackeys are exempt from Obama care They've got their own private free the IP health care plan. Oh, but they deserve it, right? It's a reward for all that great service. They provide the country, but I digress as usual Where was I? Oh, yeah reading parts of the Blue Cross kiss-off letter So it goes on to say it doesn't reflect any changes to your enrollment such as adding additional members to your coverage You'll see your exact new monthly payment amount when you get your January bill. Oh So they're saying that's not even a firm quote. Hmm It sounds to me like they're trying to cushion the blow in case it's even more than 2400 bucks a month. Oh
[09:42] But it gets worse Listen to this the old plan it turns out at 700 some bucks a month had an individual deductible if you used in-house doctors and facilities of 5,000 bucks per person and a $10,000 a year individual deductible if you use doctor or medical facilities that weren't in-house however with the new 2018 premium of what is that over 300% increase right the individual deductible for in-house doctors is 6,650 bucks and if you're using people outside the plan a deductible of $26,600 Now I could go on and make even more sick about this But I'm sure I don't have to rub it in you all know exactly what I'm talking about Man when I hear that stuff, I know
[10:28] You're living in a different world than I am so bottom line as soon as you get down here to Latin America unless you're a Really old codger in your 80s or 90s you're gonna get a very nice first world insurance plan for around a hundred bucks a month Sometimes more sometimes less depending on what you're looking for on top of that get this the highest yearly deductible I've ever seen was around $2,500 nope not 25,000 $2,500 and that's a maximum figure most of the plans I've seen have smaller deductibles than that in fact Not so long ago. I accompanied a gringo to his first world hospital emergency room and with his plan I think he was paying something like 75 bucks a month He spent an entire day at the emergency room cat scans tomograms blood workups
[11:18] radioactive iodine and barium workups for kidney stones and such Spent at least 12 hours in the emergency room and his deductible or co-pay whatever you want to call it 50 bucks That was it you get the idea and during the boots on the ground portion of my ex-pet insider seminar We'll be visiting a first world hospital and you'll be shocked That would be the good kind of a shot now because so many gringos and expats are Interested in first world health care here in Latin America. You can see why that's why I spend almost an entire day Talking about health care and going to hospitals visiting doctors and such even going through some of the actual health care plans Cuz you know they are in Spanish though I've had a few of the plans translated myself because well really comes in handy, right?
[12:04] Now that's not to say health care costs aren't going up here in Latin America, too They are for example the gringo I went to the emergency room with think he's paying like 75 bucks a month now for his plan by the way at the seminar I'll show you the printout of the bill for that day Just a few years back that very same health care plan was around $55 a month, but who's gonna balk at that same benefits by the way No reductions or cuts at all now, of course all the plans here in Latin America have pre-existing Condition clauses some of them are six months. Some of them are a year just like insurance plans up in the states However, some plans have exclusions and you have to know about those which is why we talk a lot about this at seminar For example, they might exclude something like psychiatric treatment aids
[12:52] heart operations even cancer and of course the cheaper the policy the more exclusion However, almost all policies you pay more than a hundred bucks a month for will not have any of those exclusions at all Though they will have the six months or a year pre-existing Conditions classes which by the way, you're on your honor that tell them about they'll never check up on them because well Everyone speaks Spanish and no one's gonna make a long-distance phone call to your doctor's office up in Des Moines, Iowa Asking for your records, which will be in English and they can't read those either besides What hospital or doctor's office up in the states is gonna send the records down to someplace in Central or South America? Unlikely to be sure to clarify things when I say they won't be able to read those English files
[13:38] I don't mean the doctor. He'll be able to read them But the office staff the nurses the assistants forget about it However, when you're putting together your own plan B It's a very good idea to get your dental and medical records for yourself in case you need them So don't forget about that be very difficult for you to get them once you've moved to a Latin country In fact, I always recommend you scan them put them on a flash drive then encrypt them And don't forget your password lots of good free encryption programs out there including PGP Which is the old standard and sometimes the best that's what I use by the way PGP Encryption stands for pretty good privacy and that's an understatement. It's much better than that Oh, and by the way PGP and a lot of encryption programs have private and public keys
[14:23] Well, you know, what's cool about PGP you can do what they call a self-encrypting archive meaning you can encrypt with a nice strong password and you don't have to give anybody the keys only the file and Somehow you'll have to get them the password Oh and you probably heard me mention before most of the basic insurance plans don't even require you to take a physical or get A blood test man, that's amazing. I still can't figure out why most of them don't do that But I'm sure they will eventually that is as more and more people sign up for those plans and use the hell out of them Yep, the same problems that happened up in the states are gonna happen here in Latin America, too But thank God for lag time. In fact in the health insurance business is a huge lag time Probably 20 or 30 years The fact is because private insurance has only been around for a short time
[15:12] People aren't out to use and abuse the system They don't even know how to work the system yet But it's sure to come all bad first world habits land here eventually in the meantime only people with some wherewithal with some extra spending cash and intelligence and awareness by private medical insurance here in Latin America and that believe it or not is under three percent of the Latin American population the other 97% well, they've got pathetic demeaning disgusting demoralizing national health care That's how we see it anyway, but they don't see it that way. It's free You know or nearly so and you know it reminds me of the time I was looking for a national health care hospital in Managua Nicaragua Oh, no, it wasn't for an appointment or to go there myself No, it was just selected as a central meeting place like a McDonald's would be hey
[16:03] You know just because you meet at a McDonald's doesn't mean you have to eat the pre digested chicken McNuggets And you know this was before smartphones GPS locators and ways and such I said, you know where the national health care hospital is, but I don't he said it's a couple of blocks past this central park You're faced East close your eyes and follow your nose. You can smell it from there Which reminds me of the very first time I visited Mexico must have been 21 or 22 years old When my buddy and I hit the last small town on the US side of the border I remember asking a guy at a Sinclair gas station. Remember those with the big dinosaur as a mascot outside I asked which way to Tijuana. He said head down the road about 10 or 15 miles and you'll smell it from there I know I know not a very good first impression of Latin America is it but man
[16:51] I'll tell if you want the absolute worst impression of Latin America you could possibly have well soon as you get there head to a National health care hospital not recommended but a hell of an eye-opener So bottom line about all this Latin American first world health care stuff You'll find if you come down to Latin America, you've been given a wonderful gift absolute first world health care at 1970s and 80s prices and you know, it's still cheap Even if you get sucked in by one of the many insurance brokers on the gringo tourist rail, you know Since you don't speak Spanish or most gringos don't just in the last few years A nice little niche has popped up for insurance brokers who can speak English They found they have a nice flush captive audience in all the gringos that are starting to pile into Latin America
[17:37] Which is why almost every gringo and expat I know who lives on the gringo tourist rail and has first world style health care insurance is paying probably Twice as much as he or she has to wait when you look at the numbers is still a fantastic deal But you don't and you won't have to if you come down to my expat instead of seminar because we go through all Of this stuff and give you all the right connections. That's what we're here for and since this show goes out on December 29th 2017 this is kind of the last plug for my seminar Starts in just a couple of days on the 6th of January That means there's still time if you want to jump on board I've got a couple of spots left and I really only mention it now because I Usually get a couple of people who come in at the very very last minute sometimes 24 hours before we get under way
[18:24] In fact, Captain Mango was one of those guys So you've still got a chance to drink from the fire hose get that plan B going in a big way Just go to the new expat comm website click on the seminar link or shoot me an email The expat files at gmail.com. Oh, and here's something that's kind of amazing You know people are always shopping around for flights trying to get the best deal Of course coming from wherever they are in the states, New York, Chicago Tooks on to whatever Latin destination they have in mind in this case will be landing in Guatemala City So people send me emails saying Johnny, you know, the prices are six seven eight hundred dollars round trip I say maybe now but they're fluctuating all the time In fact, I always point out that my brother who came last April from Chicago paid 404 dollars round trip had one layover a couple hours in Houston and ended up in Guatemala City
[19:16] No problems. He said flight was great. The only thing was he had to pay 25 bucks for each stowed piece of luggage But I guess that's usual these days, right? Yep, 404 bucks Wow, and all he did was check the flight consolidators like Expedia and fly comm There's a lot of but still I get emails saying Johnny at six seven eight hundred dollars for a round trip from wherever But like I said, the prices are shifting around all the time. So I decided to do a check yesterday Now remember as I'm doing this show today. We're about two weeks from seminar time So once again, I checked the flights from Chicago or herfield to Guatemala And guess what the very first four airlines that popped up had prices under 500 bucks I'm looking at one right now copa airlines with one layover in panama
[20:05] 440 bucks So it does look like in some cases It's better to wait a couple of weeks before an event before you book your flights or every couple of days Just keep checking one of the reasons I do my seminars in central america is because often the flights can be so very cheap Not only a fact that you can get to your latin american destination We're just maybe three four five hours in the air at most If you look around and keep checking you can almost always get a round trip flight for four five or 600 bucks That's why a lot of retired gringles and expats pick central america because they can pop back and forth to the states It's an easy jaunt cheap, too No uncomfortable overnight stays in airport hotels Which is almost always the case when you take a flight from the states to south america unless of course You want to pay the big bucks and go first class or business class?
[20:53] Then you can find direct flights, but it's going to cost you way over 2 000 bucks to do that Meanwhile, you'll find most flights coming from the states to south american destinations to be a thousand bucks or more often 1500 That's flying so-called economy class and usually you'll be having three or more layovers And an uncomfortable night at an airport hotel So if it's a round trip you're automatically losing two nights out of your trip one on the front end one on the back But who am I to judge? Some people might just like airport hotels And then there's those people young people mostly who Prefer not to spend the dough and they sleep off a six eight or twelve hour layover in those oh so comfortable and ergonomic Airport lounge seats. Hey, what's not to like about breathing jet engine fumes sleeping in rumpled clothes taking sponge baths in the airport
[21:44] John and often bubbling in your own spit Yep, an excellent start to a south american adventure. Don't you think hey i've done it and it ain't pretty Meanwhile if you travel to central america, you almost never have to shave brush your teeth or wash your skivvies in the airport. John Hey, that's not to say airport travel isn't tough. It's always uncomfortable You know that but unless you've got a lot of dough It's hard to minimize that if you're going to south america. All right, moving on now some observations From a few little towns way out in the boonies just gotten back from a little trip and here are a few of the things I noticed Now while up in the states You may have stumbled on a public establishment or restaurant or two that when you went to the bathroom There was a sign that says for clients or patrons only keeps out the riffraff and the freeloaders. I guess
[22:32] Now down here in latin america, that would be a little bit too impolite for latin culture They have other ways of discouraging you from using the bathroom or they'll let you use it just because you're a gringo You know that gringo advantage thing or they might say there is no bathroom in this establishment Now there's always a bathroom in the establishment. It's just not for you Which is why when that happens to me, I always say well, then where do you pee? Which generally elicits that aw shucks kind of look, you know Or if you're not a client patron or gringo with the gringo advantage They might say the bathroom is out of order and you know according to our standards most of them are But here's one bathroom situation. I don't think you're ever going to find up in the states At least I never did you'll go to use the bathroom and when you ask someone who works there Where's the bathroom they'll dig under the counter and hand you a roll of toilet paper or in some cases a metered little stack
[23:21] Of square bits of toilet paper, you know They're all pleated and perforated in little squares that none of us pay attention to of course But here in latin america, especially when you go to a public bathroom where you have to pay 10 or 20 cents to go they'll hand you a little pre-measured stack of little tp squares It's a tradition. We never give a second thought to or care about but down here it means something So anyway In a lot of these little restaurants tandas and stores off the gringo tourist trail When you go to the bathroom if they see your client they'll hand you a roll of toilet paper or some measured squares Meaning of course the bathroom is without tp until you want to use it And if you're not a customer or client, you're just a walk-in They might let you use the bathroom, but from there on in you're on your own Which is why it's always prudent to carry a little stash
[24:08] Which reminds me just recently I visited the most beautiful lake in the world That would be like at that line in guatemala You heard me mention that place a few times and that'll be your destination if you're on one of those famous john gulp trips, too Anyway, you might remember me saying that there are 12 or 13 little towns around that like most of them only Accessible by boat little 20-seater lunches or lunches as they call them that leave about every half hour Hitting every one of those little piers all day long and you long-time listeners Remember me saying that almost all lakes and rivers in central and south america probably in the whole world are polluted If not dead in that you shouldn't eat anything out of the lakes or rivers in central south america Although the same is true up in the states, too Remember all my childhood years hearing never eat any of the fish out of lake michigan
[24:57] But most people ate the stuff. Anyway, as do people here in latin america Anyway magnificent lake atit land the most beautiful lake in the world You have to see it to believe it three magnificent volcanoes that create the entire basin for the lake Difficult to explain you have to see it. Anyway, that lake's polluted, too Though not dead and thankfully since it's such a tremendous natural resource There are efforts all over the place to clean it up and stop it from being damaged any more than it already is Who do you think is organizing all those efforts? Well, it's not the locals It's gringos and expats and NGOs the locals could give a damn So anyway, I was at the lake just recently and I saw signs all over the place saying that there was a law pass That you can no longer use plastic bags or plastic straws a good start, right?
[25:47] In fact, I saw banners everywhere stating such in little signs and banks and cashier windows everywhere In fact in some of the restaurants owned by gringos and expats, of course, I noticed they use all glass bottles No plastic no plastic straws very cool to see that in action But again, it's only the gringos and expats because right down the street They've got tiendas and little stores everywhere selling everything plastic Which is why if you're watching this on youtube right now You'll see a big banner that crosses an entire street and a coca-cola truck right under it With a guy unloading dozens of plastic bottles of this stuff talk about irony, huh? Meanwhile the gringos and expats and foreigners are doing their damnedest to keep the lake clean and pure Or at least minimize the damage caused by guess who the locals
[26:33] Oh, and you'll find little bins for separating your trash But who you think put those there why the gringos and expats, of course? Yep, that's the way of the world and you can't cure stupid, huh? And why I sometimes quote expat eddie when he says there may not be a god, but there certainly is a devil Oh and one final thing a couple of times this last week. I rode in a tuk tuk taxi Yep, those little towns have tuk tucks everywhere And you know how these little latin guys love to trick those things out with neon and rims and well You know all kinds of useless adolescent motorhead stuff. I mean look we're talking about a vehicle with a lawnmower engine here Anyway, I just happened to be in a tuk tuk that was kind of modified stretched like I guess it would be a stretch tuk tuk And I said to the driver man. This is different. It's roomy
[27:20] He said yeah, I had it worked on at a tuk tuk chop shop, especially designed to handle get this big gringos Now doesn't that say it all South of the border This is the expat files living in latin america If you want me to help you out with your own plan b just schedule a one-on-one consult Send me an email the expat files at gmail.com And if you want to learn how to move forward with your own plan b from right up there in the states Go to www.expatplanb.com and check out my three videos. See ya nos vemos