Mexico for Kids

Surprisingly - at least to me - Mexico City is a very kid friendly city. There are lots of things to do with children and people don't look funny at you on nice restaurants if your kids are being loud.


There is a Zoo in Chapultepec park that's very nice and the park is also a great place for the kids. It has two lakes and a very nice restaurant. The park seemed very safe. And also dog friendly. There is also a Zoo Safari about an hour and a half drive from Mexico City, near the ruins that's nice.


Closer to the city there is a Six Flags with some sea animals where you can swim with the dolphins. We did it as a family and it was a great experience. The trainers spoke english and were extremely nice. The kids wanted to go back there everyday.


In Santa Fe there is a mall called "Centro Comercial" that has movie theaters, and arcade and Ciudad de Los Ninos. Ciudad the Los Ninos is amazing! The kids had a great time there playing and learning. They even made me a burger at McDonalds!


The food is also excellent there and you can find food from all over the world. Mexican food was, of course, delicious. We also went to restaurants with food from the following countries: Italy, France, Argentina, China and Japan. There are also lots of american chains there - TGI Friday's, Rainforest Cafe,
California Pizza Kitchen, Pizza Hut, Strbucks, Coldstone Creamery and more. Oh, and the cereal isle at the supermarket!! What an improvement from Sao Paulo!! I felt like I was back in the US.


Did I mention there's also a Saks Fifth Avenue?? For those of us who have been living abroad for a while This is great!!


I know there is a lot more to do with kids in Mexico City and we can not wait to have more time to explore.

Things the Relocation Company won't tell you

I did manage to take my dog to Mexico in-cabin and he arrived safe and sound! He was the big attraction at the plane for the flight attendants who told me he behaved much better than most passengers. And it's true, he was extremely well behaved. Never barked and never bothered! The kids were also very well behaved during the long flight. Once again I can't thank AA and it's crew enough!!


Well, we got to Mexico. And now the adventure starts. And this are the things the relocation company people haven't told me:

• The kids NEED to be tested at school;
• Renting a house here is not easy.

When I went on my Look-and-See trip I did not take my kids thinking it was not necessary. BIG MISTAKE! The school has a mandatory test for all the kids who are applying for a spot there. For ALL the kids! I didn't know it so I had to take my kids this time to make sure they'll have a place in their grades. And no one told me about this! But this time they took the test and we'll see if they'll be accepted.

And renting a house is a big ordeal! Anywhere else in the world you go with the relocation company and a realtor to search for houses, you find one within your budget, the landlords are happy they are renting the house to a multinational company, they negotiate the deal and it's done! In mexico, not that easy!!

First you find a house, then you negotiate in which currency the lease will be in, US Dollars or Mexican Pesos. Then there is the inflation index that need to be used every year. Anyone would think that if your contract is in US Dollars you will use the CPI US and if it is in Mexican Pesos then CPI Mexico it is, right? No, you're wrong. They want the rent in dollars and the CPI Mexico. They make a lot more money this way.

And how about getting a receipt for the payments with the SSN equivalent so the company can justify how they're spending this money? The landlords will NOT provide a receipt! Absolutely not! And what if your company, like mine, doesn't work this way? Then good luck finding a house! I'm back on the market looking for one right now.

The reason why they don't provide receipts is because under mexican laws if you buy a house to live on it you get tax benefits. If you rent the house and the government finds out about it they will tax the owner big time when they sell the house. So the landlords refuse to write receipts. No matter what your budget is this is the situation. You're not even allowed to change the utilities bills to your name. The landlords need to keep the house as if he's leaving there.

Bad news is that most multinational companies won't cheat on their taxes.  Now I have to try to figure this out and find a new place to live.

My Dog is flying with me!

Yesterday was a very stressful day. I had to wait until 8 O'clock at night for the confirmation from the airline for my dog to fly in-cabin. Thank you American Airlines!! They were supposed to have an answer by 5 p.m. so the wait was nerve wrecking. But we got the special permit and we couldn't be happier!

So what's next? Getting all the documents ready for The dog to leave Brazil and enter Mexico without more problems.

So, from Brazil I'll need:

• International Health Certificate (CZI) issued 3 days before traveling;
• A certificate of vaccination against rabies;
• A certificate issued by the pet veterinary stating that the dog is in good health within 7 days from traveling.

And the documents required for him to enter Mexico are:

• A certificate issued by the pet veterinary stating that the dog is in good health within 7 days from traveling;
• Proof of vaccines against rabies and distemper administered at least 15 days before the pet's arrival.

I have all the documents thanks to the moving company and my wonderful vet who made sure everything was done right. The CZI is issued at the airport and the moving company had to send a person there to take care of it. It takes a whole day for this document to be ready. In two months I'll have to go thru all this again to take the cats to Mexico with me.

Now I have to worry about the kids. My husband is already working in Mexico so I'll be traveling with our kids by myself. But leaving Brazil with the kids by myself is not an easy task.

Brazilian Laws don't allow a person to board a plane with minors without a notarized letter from both parents/legal guardians of this children. So I will need a letter from my husband authorizing me to take the kids out of the country. Luckily we were aware of it and he already sent me this letter. But it took a week for the consulate to notarize the letter. He had to overnight it. But overnighting in Mexico means it takes 3 days to get here. Just saying...

So we're good to go! Wish us luck!

Geting Ready to Leave

I've been meeting with realtors. They take some pictures of the apartment, ask a few questions and that's it! The only thing they care about is their commission. They don't really add value giving advices like in the US. Actually, the realtors here are nothing like the ones in the US. But, they may bring in the tenants, so we have to go thru them.

I'm also with the handyman at home. He's touching up the paint, changing some lightbulbs and fixing small things to make sure the apartment will be ready for our tenants.

And the relocation company from Mexico hasn't contacted me in 2 weeks. It seems like time goes by much slower over there.

The Checklist

I almost have the pets situation figured out!!

In two days we will have an answer. On the mean time I need to get all the permits for my 4 legged baby to leave Brazil and enter Mexico. So it's one problem solved and one more to go...

Next on the list:

• Put our apartment in Brazil for rent;
• Sell our car;
• Rent the house in Mexico;
• Hire a driver in Mexico;
• Schedule an interview with the schools in Mexico.

So, today I was contacting realtors to rent our apartment. I also here in Brazil we need more than one realtor. They don't work with an unified listing. You need to list your apartment or house with lots of brokers if you want it to rent quickly. You will also need to use different brokers if your looking to rent something.

To sell the car I'm talking to people at my husband's company, advertising on the school newspaper and in our development.

And now the fun part: Renting the new house!

Well, at least I have an idea of where I want to live in Mexico. I talked to some friends who lived there and got some ideas. On my "look-and-see" trip I also visited some nice houses in gated neighborhoods where some other expats live. Now it is time to make a decision.

Hiring the driver is a necessity. I don't know my way around the city and traffic there is beyond crazy. And coming from someone who lives in Sao Paulo, that says a lot!

The interview will be interesting because I can not speak spanish! I'll need help to translate everything. maybe I'll get lucky and one of the candidates will be able to speak some english.

I will only interview people who have been recommended by someone trustworthy - co-workers, friends, Newcomers' Club, school, etc... I was advised against hiring someone thru an agency or without recommendations.

And time for the kids to visit the schools. I really hope they like it and meet some nice kids. They will have to take a test and I hope they do well. Wish us luck!