Thanks for your comment on safety. It’s important for readers right now, with the terrible media coverage Mexico is receiving. Of course, every shooting in every US city doesn’t get blasted all over U.S. and Canadian television — and there are plenty of them! It’s good to hear that you still feel safe there. At the same time, are you sure that it’s the media that has scared your husband? Husbands don’t always come home and report tidbits from conversations that they had during the day. When I was in Mexico (I live in Canada now), I felt safe in my house, on my street, but I didn’t feel safe about letting my child out of my sight for a millisecond. I heard so many, many stories about kidnapping, and they did not all have happy endings. I suggest that you have some open-ended dialog with your husband and also with other trusted friends who know your town and state well, just to be sure that you have a grasp of the whole situation.

Kindest Regards,

Julia C Taylor

I find that i have posted a lot on your site in the past hour, maybe it’s just that i’m relieved that someone out there feels like i do!

I have now lived in 3 mexican states; Michoacan (cotija), Veracruz (Poza Rica) and now Nuevo Leon (Santiago). Cotija is one of the towns that houses the michoacana family, Poza Rica is a battle ground for 2 mafias fighting for the territory and Santiagos mayor and 20 police officers were killed a few months ago because they opposed the Mafia, also it’s only a 2 hour drive to the border (laredo Tx). Knowing this I should feel terrified to live here but it’s just the opposite. I find this country very safe, the mafia rarely kill/attack civilians and unless you walk around waving dollars and screaming “I’M AMERICAN!!!!” people won’t kidnap you. I’m a 27 year old white female who speaks little spanish and I have travelled around the country by myself extensivly and i have NEVER had a problem.

I don’t lock my doors, my back door is always unlocked. My husband, who is mexican, on the other hand locks and double locks everything and told me once to not open the door when he’s not home.. i laughed at him. I also asked him why he is so paranoid, has he been robbed, has his house ever been broken into? no and no. he has never had anyone jump him on the street, he has never had a break in, yet he is paranoid, the media has done a great job scaring people. everyone needs to relax.

I do agree that the police are very corrupt but my new husband explained something to me that I find helpful.

Policia municpal are the lowest paid officers, they are the most corrupt, their average salary is 5000 pesos a month, if you were making that and knew that you could more than triple your income wouldn’t you take bribes too?

policia estado are rarely seen but these are next on the ladder.

Policia Federal make a decent salary so you can trust these guys more

Army, these guys are paid wel land their training is superb, it is actually in their contract that if they betray the government, the government can execute them. they mean business and more often then not they’re really nice guys, i always smile and wave at them

i also agree that you should know your neighbours because they will be the ones to help you in an emergency. Mexicans are much friendlier and more willing to help a stranger than an american or canadian (i’m canadian) I actually dropped 20pesos while i was walking one day and a man ran up to me to return it, honestly if a 20$ had fallen out of a bag in canada i would have pocketed it.

I love the people here, and as corrupt as the cops are, I have found them helpful, esspecially with directions!