Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller discusses his upcoming expat insiders seminar in Central America, specifically Guatemala and El Salvador, running from January 10th to January 16th, 2020. He highlights the benefits of attending, including early bird discounts, repeat attendee discounts, and the value of networking with other expats. Johnny also addresses skepticism about the value of seminars by emphasizing the high number of repeat attendees, suggesting that the seminars are worth the investment. Additionally, he mentions the practical aspects of the seminar, such as included hotel stays and meals, and briefly touches on the use of VPNs for privacy.
Johnny Mueller then discusses the importance of using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect online privacy. He explains that when you use services like Amazon or search the internet, your real IP address and location are often hidden by the service providers, who can tag your activity with your IP address, GPS location, and time. Johnny emphasizes that even if you use other search engines like Yahoo, your data is still being collected by companies like Google, which sell this information to third parties. He also shares a personal anecdote about his experience with music and how he uses a VPN to avoid being tracked, especially when accessing content from countries like Brazil or Greece. Johnny highlights that while using a VPN is not always necessary, it's a safer option, especially in first-world countries where data collection is more advanced. He concludes by comparing the current state of online privacy to the days of snail mail, where people had more control over their personal information, and warns that modern internet users are not protected unless they actively use encryption and tools like VPNs.
Johnny Mueller continues the discussion on the increasing lack of privacy in the digital age, emphasizing that everything users do is now time and location-stamped, making it more invasive than traditional mail. He explains that users often give permission for data collection by agreeing to terms and conditions without reading them, and suggests using a paid VPN, encrypted email services, and privacy-focused search engines like StartPage or DuckDuckGo to protect personal information. He also highlights that data collection is more focused on first-world countries due to higher spending power, and less on third-world regions. The segment transitions to a listener email from Marty, a French expat, who asks about Johnny's travel coffee maker and grinder, prompting Johnny to share his personal experience with coffee and his preference for fresh, locally sourced coffee.
Johnny Mueller discusses the nuances of ordering coffee in places where espresso machines are used, emphasizing the importance of specifying 'cafe Americano in la machina' to ensure a quality cup of coffee. He contrasts the espresso machine's ability to produce a regular cup of coffee with the inferior quality of percolator coffee often found in restaurants. He also shares his personal travel coffee setup, including a hand grinder, a French press, and a portable water filter, highlighting his preference for bringing his own coffee and equipment. Johnny also addresses the issue of companies trying to partner with him for promotion, emphasizing his independence and lack of need for financial gain.
In this segment, Martin, an expat, shares his experiences and plans regarding expat life in Latin America. He mentions that he and his wife are fully committed to Plan B and are actively working on it. They fell in love with Costa Rica during their visits but are disappointed with its current state. They plan to visit Costa Rica for vacation but are unlikely to pursue permanent residency there. Martin and his wife are interested in attending Johnny's seminar but can't do it until next summer. They also mention that they have taken some of Johnny's online courses but haven't completed them yet, noting that some information may have changed. They have started a Spanish class in their basement with other interested expats, and they are making progress, with Martin now able to read and understand Spanish. They plan to go to Colombia with their teacher for immersion. Martin also mentions his appreciation for Johnny's shows and his ongoing efforts to learn Spanish, despite occasional grammar issues. He also makes some humorous remarks about French expats in Latin America and the differences in police behavior between countries, particularly regarding drinking and driving. He highlights the recent situation in Cuenca, Ecuador, where a significant number of drivers were arrested for drunk driving, which is unusual in Latin America, indicating that the presence of expats is changing local enforcement practices.
In this segment, Johnny Mueller discusses the implications of a new policy in Ecuador, suggesting it is a way for a financially struggling government to generate revenue. He contrasts the general public's view that sending drunk drivers to jail is a positive development with his own opinion that they should face fines and potential jail time. Johnny also highlights Ecuador's financial situation, noting its heavy debt and reliance on international lenders like the IMF and China. He further comments on the country's recent actions, such as targeting Julian Assange and seeking favor from Washington DC through grants, which he views as opportunistic.
Topics
Expat seminars, Networking with expats, Repeat attendees, Early bird discounts, Seminar value, Privacy and VPNs, Online privacy, Data collection by tech companies, Digital surveillance, Comparison of privacy in the digital age to the past, Digital privacy, Data collection and privacy tools
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:00:14 Introduction to The Expat Files and the Seminar Announcement 00:01:01 Seminar Details and Early Bird Discounts 00:01:22 Addressing Skepticism About Seminar Value 00:05:41 How IP Addresses Conceal Your Real Location Online 00:06:31 Google's Role in Data Collection and Profiling 00:08:31 Why First-World Countries Are More Vulnerable to Data Tracking 00:11:26 The Invasive Nature of Modern Data Collection 00:11:59 Recommendations for Protecting Digital Privacy 00:13:54 Data Collection Focus on First-World Countries 00:15:08 Listener Inquiry About Travel Coffee Gear 00:16:54 Identifying Espresso Machine Coffee by Froth and Texture 00:17:38 Specifying 'Cafe Americano in La Machina' for Quality Coffee 00:18:14 Johnny's Preference for Bringing His Own Coffee 00:20:14 Johnny's Credibility as an Electrical Engineer 00:20:59 Johnny's Rejection of Commercial Partnerships 00:21:31 Commitment to Plan B and Disappointment with Costa Rica 00:21:53 Interest in Attending Johnny's Seminar and Online Courses 00:22:49 Spanish Learning and Immersion Plans in Colombia 00:23:48 Drinking and Driving in Latin America 00:25:02 Recent Changes in Police Behavior in Cuenca, Ecuador 00:26:47 Introduction to the Policy Change in Ecuador 00:27:00 Ecuador's Financial Struggles and the Policy as a Revenue Strategy 00:27:20 Political Shifts and International Influence
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 I wonder Hello there all you ex-pat wannabes. I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to the expat files living in Latin America The show that tells you just what it's like to live work play and or retire down here in Latin America It's a mix of the good the bad the ugly and the great and it's all right here. So let's get started. All right today I'm happy to announce my latest expat insiders seminar will be taking place in Central America once again Guatemala and El Salvador and it'll start Friday night January 10th Go all the way through till Thursday night, January 16th
[00:48] And so as to not bore you too much with the details here on the show I invite you to send me an email the expat files at gmail.com Put the words seminar or expat seminar in the subject box and I'll send you the complete details in the price breakdown Oh and we're talking about early bird signups and early bird discounts here You'll save 500 bucks off the regular price if you sign up before November 30th Oh and just a couple more details all you past expat insider seminar attendees If you come back as repeat offenders you get a thousand dollar discount off the regular price and you know There's one real important thing about my seminars I get emails from people all the time saying Johnny is your seminar really worth it? And the thing is how they supposed to know if they've never been to one And of course, I could send you reams of text and audio testimonials saying how good it is
[01:33] And you know, it seems anyone who puts on a seminar about anything They do just that they put talking heads up on their website saying how great the seminar was and why you should attend and man Take it from me. You could get anyone to do that for you. You can stage it all you like But here's one thing that's very different about my seminars people keep coming back You've heard me talk about repeat offenders. I'll tell you this will be my 18th seminar And the fact is every single seminar except the very first one. We've had a number of repeat offenders now, of course You can't have repeat offenders at the first seminar because it's the first one and therefore no one could be a repeater But that's the only reason and who'd have thunk I'd had so many people wanting to repeat not just once but twice and even People repeating three different times. So then do you think the seminars worth it?
[02:21] Would you have any doubts when people keep coming and paying over and over again? Yep, they go through all that trouble just to drink from the fire hose once again Well, it's all about that Plus when you come to a seminar you bond with all the great expats who have moved down here and hang around with us And of course, there's all those great professional connections. We hook you up with too. Well, here's the point You know those big international living seminars lots of people who come to mind have been to one of those and the fact is From what I hear they never have repeat offenders. In fact, I sort of think I coined that term for my particular seminars only So for all you listeners out there who are wondering in the back of your mind, is it really worth it? Well, I'm not gonna give you a link to some audio or text testimonials because everyone who puts on any kind of seminar Whether it's stocks bonds finance options travel real estate, whatever kind of seminar
[03:10] They can come up with all kinds of testimonials. They can pay to have them done if they like But you never ever hear a mention repeat offenders. Do you I wonder why I Rest my case Anyway, if you want to get a two to five year head start on your plan B and drink from that fire hose Starting January 10th 2020 just pop off an email the expat files at gmail.com Oh and just two more things if you're coming down as a single and want to save some money I can generally hook you up with a roommate same-sex, of course, and you know down here We don't have 56 different labels for 56 different gender Identifications and no one I mean no one here in Latin America's fussy about pronouns either. No way that said if you're male And you need a roommate We'll try to hook you up with a male roommate with a real X Y chromosome and females looking for a roommate
[04:01] We'll hook you up with a lady who's got two solid X chromosomes guaranteed and man, you know what in some ways I wish I didn't speak Spanish because you see what educated Latins find out there's a gringo in the house Who speaks Spanish just lately a few of them have been giving me the hundred question routine, especially about the crazy pronoun Designations and the gender bending thing and don't none of that craziness has yet to diminish their love for the u.s I don't get it. They certainly see the cracks in the pavement up by you guys So then you might ask what do I say to them about it? Well, it's sort of an hour-long conversation, isn't it? And still it's difficult trying to turn someone who loves all things Mickey Mouse and Hollywood and my jammy if you know what I mean Look, how do you educate a person even if they're pretty smart about the multiple reasons the u.s
[04:49] Is imploding from within but I digress as usual. Where were we? Oh, yeah a few last words about the seminar and finally the cost of the seminar is complete includes all the hotel nights from Friday On through Thursday night, that's seven nights So the only thing you really have to pay for is lunch and dinner breakfasts are included. All right now said about that Hey, here's a question for you. Do you use a VPN, you know, it's one of those services you pay for sometimes sometimes They're free whose purpose is to hide your IP address In other words when you're searching the net or whatever you do it on the net every time you send a message or receive a message Your tracks that is your GPS location wherever you are with your computer or smartphone is logged in in multiple places all over the net However, if you use a VPN that stands for virtual private network
[05:37] Once you start surfing or ordering from Amazon or anything the real IP address That is your real location is concealed because they tack on another IP address wherever their servers are Or if you have one of those paid services and sometimes they're only 15 to 30 bucks a year You can actually select a country or even the cities you want that IP address of yours to appear to be originating from In other words if you're sitting on the couch in Cleveland watching Netflix second down beer and Cheetos in your underwear While searching the net looking for offshore betting sites and midget porn Well, all those sites you visited will be logged in and tagged with your IP address and your GPS location and time and date Too you're probably doing all that with Google too And that's not good because Google, you know is the great universal compiler of information
[06:24] That's how they make their dough on Google ads and selling every little bit of information they can get on you to third parties Yep, Google has you fine-tuned and knows every one of your surfing preferences, too Even if you're using some other search engine one of the usual suspects like Yahoo or any of the others same thing Let me give you a little example here. I'm a B grade musician I've been playing music since I was six years old, you know various instruments and such But you know B grade is plenty good enough to play it professionally as long as you're playing bass Most people don't know this but from third to 12th grade. I hacked away at the cello Yes, the cello actually got pretty good at it. So I do have an appreciation for classical music So what was my downfall? well When I hit 12 and got a paper out and had some spending money
[07:11] I bought a guitar started rocking and rolling and that was the end of my classical period much to my educated mother's disdain But I did have a good long run playing music professionally and the classical part of it got my foot into the recording industry door Lots of very cool stories there. And of course, I'll be spilling a few of them here and there You know that so naturally when I'm on the Internet I'm drawn to many different kinds of music sites including lots of sites that sell guitars and amplifiers Keyboards recording and sound reinforcement equipment the works also being an engineer and very interested in solar stuff and renewable energy I'm always checking out the latest and greatest in that field too. But now here's the thing. I also have a VPN I use it all the time though. Technically, I really don't have to because I am in Latin America, but I'd rather be safe than sorry
[07:58] So why am I not very worried? Well fat chance people want to track me and my preferences not when my location and IP address are always coming out of a third world country But get this I've got one of those VPNs you pay for one that you could select your country and even cities within Countries where it appears you're situated though. You're really not So anyway when I fire up my computer in the morning I click on the VPN before I load up any websites or do any surfing and right there on the screen I can pick my country and city. The thing is you should never pick a first world country We're for sure they've got a lot better and more sophisticated ways of nabbing your data and trying to sell you stuff now lately I've been routing my VPN out of Brazil and surprise surprise Suddenly all the pop-up windows I get on the right-hand side are showing guitars and solar equipment on websites and stores in
[08:49] Brazil in Portuguese, of course Even crazier when I'm watching a YouTube and those ads pop in every once in a while, right where it says skip this ad in five Seconds, they're all products and ads coming from places in Brazil also in Portuguese Really you have to see some of these Honda and Mitsubishi ads in Portuguese You won't understand a thing, but you'll laugh your ass off And then when I switch over to a country like Greece or Romania Within a couple of hours to pop up windows come up in Romania in Greek Which definitely means those VPNs to work It also means every single thing you say and do on the net or with your cell phone is being tagged cataloged and filed and sold to third parties Constantly now if you're old enough to remember the days when people actually wrote letters through the US Postal Service
[09:36] You know snail mail if you remember there was always a big sign in every post office that said There's a $10,000 fine and or five years in prison if you're caught stealing or tampering with the US mail It was and still is a federal crime a felony and man They really enforced that law in other words if you walked over to your neighbor went into his mailbox pulled his mail Took your little letter opener and started reading it and you got caught you'd be in big trouble Many people have been put in jail for that But you see once you're on the net whether you're on the computer or your smartphone What you're doing is giving anyone and everyone permission to look at everything you've written and done now Of course back in the snail mail days, you'd have never agreed to that You'd have been outraged if the US Postal Service made you sign a waiver saying they could look at your stuff or even
[10:22] Catalog it and sell it to third parties, but somehow in this generation this last 20 years Nobody seems to remember what privacy really is and if they think they have it on the Internet They're nuts unless of course you use VPNs and encrypted mail to which and I just saw the statistics less than 1% of people on the net use encrypted mail and even though you see all these services Advertising that they encrypt this or that the thing is 95% of the time when things are encrypted They're encrypted at the server and that's often miles even countries away from where you are That means anything you send that eventually gets to the server can be intercepted along the way and it is So just keep that in mind. Everyone who remembers snail mail and actually wrote letters We're not living in the same world or under the same rules
[11:08] So don't expect anything you do to be private and now of course It's even worse because with GPS and photos and video calls Everything you do now is time and location stamped to at least back in the snail mail days If someone got a hold your mail, they wouldn't have pictures nor time date or location information So all this cataloging of everything you do should piss you off, right? Well, of course it does but not so fast It's your fault because what you do when you sign up for one of these services even when you buy a smart device Anything that says smart by the way is gonna collect that on you The problem is these days when you buy a product or a service in a 20-page agreement You never read but you check the box at the end It always always says in the fine print that we can selectively keep monitor and sell Your data and other acquired information to third parties
[11:55] So they're not doing anything illegal because you gave them permission by clicking the box So really the least you should do is get yourself a VPN that you buy that you pay for because the free ones also collect That on you and get yourself an encrypted email service one that's encrypted end-to-end like proton mail or start mail Of course, not many people like to use those services because they cost some dough at least to get the decent plans Although they offer a basic free service the basic free ones always have their limitations because they want you to move on up But also you're really selling yourself short If you don't use one of the search engines that completely blocks your IP address, too And those by the way are free like start page dot com and duck duck go But then you hear people say oh, man, I love Google. It searches millions of sites with billions of results
[12:41] I just plugs up in the box and man, it's like a miracle. I can find anything Yeah, that's right. But what you don't know is services like duck duck go and start page dot com They too are using Google. They just put a layer between you and the bad guys So Google does not see your IP address Therefore you're not tracked at all when you do your searches and there's zero pop-up windows, too So don't think you're selling yourself short by using duck duck go or start page dot com They are using the Google search engine to they're just putting a layer between you and the mark sucka turds of the world So really to cut these jerks off at the balls You got to get yourself a VPN a private encrypted email service that you pay for but still you want to use the basics of the Google Search engine which you can do you run all your searches first through start page dot com or duck duck go
[13:29] And if you don't your entire life will be open to the world and all third parties Just as if back in the old snail mail days You handed a copy of every single piece of snail mail that you sent to all your neighbors and friends In fact to all of greater Cleveland in the whole world now the cool thing about having a plan being moving to Latin America Well, there's a ton of cool things But here's one of them anyway in Latin America when you're on the net your IP address Which is tagged to the Latin country that you're in is of little or no concern to first world data collectors and third parties Because they figure well the third world's the third world Whereas the real money and data collection is with first world people in first world countries They've got tremendous spending power, etcetera, etcetera and third world people man They've got very little discretionary income and mostly very bad creditor. No credit at all
[14:18] I mean look we're talking about countries where the basic minimum wage is like three or four hundred bucks a month Whereas in the states, it's well over two grand a month So let me ask you this who would you spend your marketing and advertising dough on the guy down in El Salvador Who doesn't even have a car though? We might have a debit card or two or the guy up in Cleveland making 50 or 60 grand a year Who's got two cars and a half a dozen credit cards not debit cards Alright, let's switch gears a second now I'd like to read a kind of a general email But it has some things in it that people are always asking me about so let's have at it This one comes from Marty. Obviously a French guy. He says Johnny I must say that I'm enjoying your podcast tremendously and always look forward to the next one each week Thank you for taking the time to give us a hand with our plan B
[15:03] I would be very interested however and several things you've talked about on your show You have a particular travel coffee maker and grinder you carry with you, correct? Let's hear about it Alright, let me stop for a second to address that. Yes. I'm spoiled one of my vices is I like coffee good coffee Now I remember back in college used to drink coffee from the machine all the time and from one of those bun coffee makers You know those ubiquitous things in every truck stop diner slash greasy spoon restaurant Well, sorry folks that ain't coffee. In fact, I really did not find out about good coffee till I came down about 30 years ago Oh sure back in the day in Chicago before I left they had a few Starbucks But only in the ritzy titzy areas and the coffee was just like it is now Way overpriced for what it is and really when people go to Starbucks
[15:50] They always get the lattes and the crema de mocha de Java Specialties loaded with all kinds of extraneous crap and really that ain't coffee either. So then what do I know about coffee? Well, let's just say when it's growing right outside your front door and people are harvesting at it all around you and there's something like 200 little family owned indigenous coffee plantations within spittin distance You get to learn about really really good and really bad coffee fast So being that coffee is one of my vices and I have to have it fresh ground in the morning And that means even if I'm in a restaurant and I say cafe Americano, which is basically American style coffee You know nothing extra added straight black Anyway, when you say cafe Americano if you want it fresh ground you have to say in la machina Espresso or simply in la machina, which means in the machine the espresso machine now
[16:40] We're not talking about espresso coffee here though. The machine of course makes espresso We're talking about a regular cup of coffee that's made in the espresso machine In other words, there's a lot more water at it And how do you know it's from the machine when you get it handed to you? It's always got a little brown foamy froth on top If it doesn't have that it could have come out of a restaurant percolator, you know of the bun type Which you know from the states is nothing but bad truck stop coffee So even when you walk into a little restaurant or coffee shop and you see a nice big espresso machine That's in use and you don't want espresso, but really good coffee. You can't just say give me a cafe Americano Even though most times you will get the right thing which is black coffee coming out of the espresso machine Problem is most of those coffee shops that serve food
[17:26] They'll also have some kind of giant percolator behind the counter making that generic truck stop coffee That's just what people are used to because espresso machines are very very expensive though even here in Latin America You're starting to see them everywhere So if you want the best cup of coffee, you can get in a particular place always say cafe Americano in la machina in the machine Not just cafe Americano unless the joint specializes in coffee, then they'll know exactly what you're talking about It'll be right up there on the menu Like for example when you're in Colombia, there'll be those Juan Valdez coffee shops all over the place They know exactly what a good cup of cafe Americano is But beware if you're in any other kind of restaurant you have to specify in la machina machina means machine And because I travel an awful lot and when you stay in a pretty decent hotel Sometimes you'll have a little percolator right in the room and some coffee in a little pre sealed pack
[18:14] You see that all the time in three and four-star hotels. Well, you know what? I don't drink the stuff I usually bring my own normally I pack about a quarter pound of coffee That should last me a few weeks at two cups a day. That's what they call cafe and terro That means whole bean coffee cafe and terro, but then of course you have to grind it, right? Well, did I find a grinder man? I've been using it for the last couple years now It's very famous and popular in Korea and Japan, but it's expensive. It's a little hand grinder But wow, is it a precision instrument man? It's as if a team at Mercedes-Benz or Porsche put the thing together It's a real work of art and it only produces enough for one cup every time you grind it and it's small too No bigger than a small pepper grinder and guess what you never have to clean it At least I haven't had two in two years now and it's not gunked up at all
[19:02] Oh and that coffee grinder is infinitely adjustable for whatever grind you want next step ruin the coffee man Did I find the coolest solution to that too? It's a little tiny pure stainless steel double insulated like a thermos bottle French press that side of I believe Austria and that ain't cheap either, but man It's indestructible and because it's double insulated and vacuum sealed. It'll keep a coffee warm for an hour It does one cup and it's smaller than the grinder if you want to know exactly what I take with me Just send me an email and I'll send all the links and stuff off to you. I don't make anything off this You're not clicking through my website. I don't have one bottom line. You won't be disappointed All right, then our emailer Martin goes on to say Johnny along with your travel coffee maker slash grinder setup You also have portable water filter
[19:49] portable solar power sources And I'd like to know if you have something together that you send people about various solar setups You can install on your house and pretty much as many details as you have on where and how to get that stuff All right me Johnny again. Yes. I've got all that information for you If you're looking for the solar companies and solar setups that I'm using now and I recommend remember I'm a real electrical engineer. At least there wasn't a past life actually a double major electrical and Biomedical engineering so that kind of qualifies me when it comes to buying and evaluating most stuff That's electrical or electronic at least you could say I'm one up on the next guy and remember whatever info I give you I don't make any money on and the companies don't even give me any free stuff What a bunch of jerks, huh? It's all stuff that I found out for myself and that I use no one's got their hooks in me
[20:36] So if a product is good, it's good And if it sucks it sucks and I tell it like it is Let me tell you there isn't a single day that goes by where I don't get an email or two or ten Coming from somebody some company organization that wants to hook up with me to promote and sell their stuff And you know what I never fall for it In fact, I wish they'd quit trying quit bugging me that goes for those exiled Nigerian princes, too Seems everyone wants to partner with me. That would just give me a credibility problem and a conflict of interest problem, too Wouldn't it? Hey, I don't need the money when I came down here 30 years ago. I didn't need the money I was never one of those guys who had a plan B who needed to work when he got down here And here's why me and my brother both electrical engineers and another guy an electrical engineer and mathematician PhD
[21:23] We have or had 13 electronics patents and all that came before I was 30 years old That's why I don't need the money All right Then Martin says Johnny my wife and I are sold all the way on the plan B and are working on it actively The unfortunate thing is that we fell in love with Costa Rica the three times who went there and now I'm very disappointed on how the place turned out. We will probably go back there on vacation But most likely not to get permanent residency However, we're very interested in attending your seminar, but can't do it till next summer We're hoping to keep our fingers crossed that you will still continue to do them for at least a little while longer I also got your online courses a while back with your videos, but I haven't sat down to go through all of them yet
[22:08] I'm assuming some of the information may have changed But we'll still give me a great start judging on what your shows are all about For the past year my wife and I are so interested We put together our own Spanish class in our basement and we found some other interested people who want to learn the language and To join us and share the cost of a teacher. We never expected it But we're having a blast learning Spanish and getting together with our new friends the ones we found doing the Spanish thing Though I must say that it is a slow process But very worth it as for me I can read and understand Spanish quite well now And I'm starting to structure some of my own phrases in Spanish and in a few months for our next trip We're heading to Colombia with our teacher to get ourselves immersed and challenged Now we can get serious and put it to the test ha ha then he says Johnny
[22:58] I'm learning so much, and I'm so entertained each week from your shows, please to keep them coming my friend I think I've listened to all of them in the last two years Oh, and please forgive me if my grammar sucks in this email I'm getting a bit mixed up once in a while between French English and Spanish, but it is so much fun You know, thanks for everything Johnny. Merci beaucoup et au placer d'etre rencontrer Bien taut, whatever that means. Yeah, I know what it means. Even if I can't pronounce it Thanks, and it's a pleasure to have made your acquaintance or something like that. All right. Thanks for that Martin Though I have to say you probably heard me say this a few times before I almost never run into tourists or expats from France I run to French speakers, but they're always from Montreal. Someone once told me France is to Montreal What Great Britain is to Australia? Whatever that means make your own conclusion
[23:48] All right. Now it's time to talk a little bit about getting pulled over by the cops and drinking and driving here in Latin America Now you've heard me say so many times in past shows that people have open booze in their cars They get pulled over at one of the routine stops and the cops normally don't do a thing Though you might have to share your booze with them though It is true in Costa Rica where they prey on gringo as in tourists If you have booze in the car or they put the breathalyzer on you and some of them actually have breathalyzers that work You will pay a major fine, but it will probably be in the order of more Dita or a bribe In other words, you won't get written up. They'll threaten to write you up But instead you'll hand over the dough right there pretty big dough too like 500 bucks Talking about Costa Rica have some first-hand knowledge of some gringos That's already happened to even when they weren't drinking and just had booze in the car and in Colombia in the big cities
[24:38] Anyway, the cops are pretty well organized And if you're drinking and driving or have booze in the car They'll most likely write you up, but they don't have a point system and you'll probably end up paying a fine Though in Colombia it seems the cops are a little bit more professional than the rest of Latin American cops And are thus less inclined to come right out and ask you for a bribe though. You can always make the suggestion on your end Let's put it this way. They won't hold it against you However today I'd like to report that now that the gringos are piling into Cuenca, Ecuador The cops there vis-a-vis the police department. I found it's a lucrative way to sting gringos Listen to this and it really is something brand new this from an article in an Ecuador publication that just came out this week It says just for the weekend of September 21st and 22nd
[25:24] There were 37 vehicle drivers arrested and put in jail which believe me It's virtually unheard of in other Latin countries because you see in other Latin cities of that size There could be 37 drunk drivers or whatever, but they're not going to jail unless they actually got involved in an accident Someone was hurt instead. They may end up getting a ticket or pay a bribe, but they don't go to jail But now Cuenca Ecuador seems to be leading the charge all because the gringos are piling in and making things more first world Listen to this of the 37 drivers arrested 36 of them were arrested for drunken driving and one was arrested for not having a driver's license That's another thing that almost never happens in other Latin countries you get a fine if you don't have your license In fact if you have a driver's license, that's expired they don't even do anything to you except once in a while slap on a $50 fine and
[26:13] Crazier yet according to us regs Anyway, if your license is expired they might give you a ticket or make you pay a fine or a bribe right there But they'll let you keep driving on Anyway, it says in that past weekend in Cuenca There were six drivers checkpoints set up and it went down like the usual police stops in Latin America They don't cruise around looking for drivers that are weaving because they're drunk and driving all over the place that would use too much gas And the cops here in Latin America only get two or three gallons a day So starting that weekend the cops just set up the control checkpoints and waited for the drunk to come to them So again, just a little heads up on what happens when the gringo start piling in now Of course a lot of you first world people out there might think that's a good thing that is sending drunk drivers to jail As for me, I think drunk drivers should get a big fine and maybe the second time they go to jail
[27:00] But this whole new thing in Ecuador it smacks of just a way for a broke bankrupt government to collect dough Remember, it's a country that's highly leveraged totally in debt and under the thumb of the IMF and the Chinese who've lent them massive amounts Of dough with nothing to show for it And now I'm sure you've heard in the last month or two after fingering Julian Assange They've been kissing up to the Washington DC corruptocrats, too Because they came bearing gifts and grant money immediately after Assange got kicked out What a coincidence, huh? But you knew that already, right? You've been listening to the expat files living in Latin America If you need some help with your own plan B We can schedule a one-on-one phone or Skype consult Just send me an email the expat files at Gmail dot com And if you want to get on the waiting list for my next week-long expat insider seminar in Central America
[27:50] Where you're guaranteed to get a two to five year head start on your plan B Send me an email the expat files at Gmail dot com. No spamos Please