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(Version in Espanol Abajo!) There is, I concede with a sigh and a slightly sarcastic salute, one fluorescent, fully stocked arena in which the United States still reigns supreme. Yes, I reluctantly concede that the USA conquers Mexico with respect to one quality. It's not healthcare, where a minor ailment can cost a mortgage. It's obviously not government, where a feral felon freaks out and taps texted tantrums at 2am every morning. Not safety, where the phrase “another qui

(Version en Espanol abajo) My Home Office in the USA   Today, Facebook Memories contained a pic of my old home office – which was considerably more luxurious than our current one. The loft is smaller but it's nice and offers a better view! In any case, this reminded me of the 5,437 times people when from the states and here in Mexico have chanted “You’re only living that way because you couldn’t afford to in the USA!” There’s a special tone people use when they say that. I

(Versión en español abajo.)   I know this may come as a seismic shock to the marble floor and martini crowd who frequent my blog - The Expat Executive , but not all of Mexico is manicured malls, curated country clubs, and penthouse palaces polished to a Prada sheen. Yes my expats-to-be (btw, DON’T call yourself an “expat” here or a certain obsessive / compulsive crowd with eerie anger issues will lose their shit!), beyond the blessed bubble of bougie bliss lies a completely d

We absolutely love living in San Luis Potosí. Not “Oh this is nice” love. Not “we’ll try it for a year” love. I mean full blown, THIS IS THE BEST PLACE EVER!!! kinda love. And one of the best parts? SLP is not some expat echo chamber where Chad from Cincinnati is hosting taco night with Pace picante sauce while explaining why Mexico is a “third world country” to Mexicans who have made more money than he’ll ever dream of. No. This is real Mexico. Upscale Mexico. Middle class M

As I’ve mentioned before, Mexico is a magical land of culture, cuisine, charm which will never compete with the USA when it comes to consumerism. You want the latest iPhone in Rose Gold? Congratulations, señor, here are your three thrilling options: Black, Blacker, and “Maybe This Is Also Black.” You want 18th century French furniture? How about something handcrafted in 1997 that Senora Rosa at the Muebles Mercado swears is “French-ish”. So naturally, when I decided I wanted

One of the more charming mistakes foreigners make when moving to Mexico is assuming that house hunting here works the same way it does in the United States. You know the drill. You tour the house, admire the countertops, imagine your furniture in the living room, nod approvingly at the closet space, and fifteen minutes later you’re emotionally committed to the property and mentally furnishing your man cave. In Mexico, that approach is adorable. It is also the residential equi

(Desliza hacia abajo para ver la versión en español de esta publicación del blog.) Here in Mexico there is a pandemic spreading with astonishing speed, permeating the population and outsiders alike. I call it “Mexico Disease”. The symptoms are unmistakable. They include maladies such as “Simpatia”, “Familismo” and the compulsion for unnecessary sensory input in the form of touch.   Outbreaks Among Expats – Including Germans A few days ago my wife and I attended a brunch with

This was a truly wonderful performance at a historic and beautiful venue! (Desliza hacia abajo para ver la versión en español de esta publicación del blog.) Let’s Stifle the Stereotype, Shall We? The Divided States of ‘Murica likes to paint a persistent myth that Mexico is a monochromatic montage of tacos, tequila, and troubadours in sombreros, as though an entire civilization of 130 million people decided centuries ago that nothing new would ever be introduced to their socie

(Versión en español a continuación – Nuestra noche en una “construcción” del crimen organizado en México) Last night, we did the unthinkable. Again. We abandoned the relative safety of our cartel adjacent penthouse and ventured out into the drug drenched dystopian death spiral known as San Luis Potosí. A place which, according to AON and FOX News, is essentially Mad Max with margaritas. Our tactical mistakes were immediate and numerous. Instead of disguising ourselves as impo

I’ve lived and traveled all over the world. South America. Europe. I even spent a few months in Ukraine with an old friend I served with in the NIS, under Reagan. Which means two things. 1.        I’ve lived in places US cable news use as highlight reels for “See! Every Other Country Sucks!” 2.       I’ve learned that most danger is not mysterious, cinematic or because of an encounter with organized crime. It’s behavioral. People do stupid shit.   Here’s the truth that people

English Version: HERE Las 3 Mentiras Las personas cercanas a mí saben que vivo mi vida creyendo tres mentiras. 1.         A todo el mundo le voy a caer bien  2.         Voy a ser excelente en todo  3.         Voy a ganar siempre    Estas son, por supuesto, mentiras.   A Todo el Mundo Le Caigo Bien Esto puede sorprender, pero ¡(gasp!) hay personas allá afuera a las que no les caigo bien! Claramente tienen un criterio cuestionable, pero así de cruel es la vida. Además, la sangr

Por primera vez en su historia, Estados Unidos está siendo incluido en listas de advertencia de viaje por otros países, debido al peligro que el régimen de Trump representa para personas que no son ciudadanas estadounidenses.   Normalmente escribo contenido ligero sobre mis aventuras en mi nuevo país, pero recientemente, mientras jugaba tenis en nuestro club, una joven me preguntó esto: “Trump no es realmente tan malo como algunos estadounidenses dicen que es, ¿verdad?” En es

Tenemos teorías sobre por qué hay ovejas en el parque! Ayer fue nuestra primera Navidad en México. A esta etapa de la vida, ya tenemos todas las cosas materiales que queremos o al menos todas las cosas que queremos desempolvar, asegurar y eventualmente regalar.Así que los regalos no fueron el tema del día. El tiempo juntos sí lo fue. Empezamos yendo al Parque Tangamanga (que todavía me encanta decir porque suena como si un villano de Marvel pudiera echarte algo en la bebida).

Jo, Luci = "Tennis Barbie", Jonathan & Fabi El famoso autor Ernest Hemingway  dijo una vez: “Si quieres conocer la cultura de un país, pasa una noche en sus bares.”Hay mucha verdad en eso.Pero si de verdad quieres entender un país, pasa tiempo jugando un deporte recreativo y competitivo con su gente. El deporte profesional trata de dinero y de ganar. Eso es normal.El deporte recreativo, donde no hay contratos ni patrocinios en juego, revela quién es la gente en realidad. Y en

Hace poco fuimos a una fiesta de cumpleaños mexicana y, como ya lo he dicho antes, si el cumpleaños es de un adulto en México, primero hay comida. Luego tragos. Luego canto, baile y un fiestón bien prendido que ignora conceptos como la hora de dormir, el mañana y la moderación. Si el cumpleaños es de un niño de tres años, hay piñata, regalos, pastel y luego tragos. Seguidos de canto, baile y un fiestón bien prendido que ignora conceptos como la hora de dormir, el mañana y la

Acabamos de regresar de Cancún y fue una de esas escapadas gloriosamente tontas donde todo salió bien, nada salió mal y los cárteles estuvieron tan desaparecidos que parecía que andaban de vacaciones en otro estado. Ni un sicario, ni una sombra, ni un chisme. Si los gringos paranoicos de Fox News nos hubieran seguido, habrían terminado tristes, tostados y tomando suero en la banqueta. Como buen triple Tipo A, más de cinco días de vacaciones me provoca crisis existencial, así

Farmacia del Ahorro's are like Oxxo's (Mexican 7-11). They're EVERYWHERE! Health Care That's Better Than the USA - If You Have Private Insurance Health Care is one of the greatest contradictions you will ever experience. It is astonishingly affordable, consistently competent and refreshingly human. Yet it also manages to exist right next door to a country where medical bills routinely destroy lives, and where doctors prescribe pills and procedures with all the restraint of a

Mexico woke up one Monday morning to find itself suddenly, spectacularly enraged. Videos flooded TikTok. Facebook feeds burst into flames. News anchors panted and panicked    over “historic mobilization.” And for a moment, it looked as if the entire republic had collectively marched into the streets to declare a nationwide “¡Ya basta!” (basically – We’ve Had Enough!) Then came Tuesday.And the whole thing evaporated faster than a promise proffered by Trump. A protest this inte

Todas las edades cantan juntas (I'm doing the Spanish Version first this time! The English Version is below) La fiesta mexicana: pura convivencia de la buena  Un Contraste de CulturasNuestra ceremonia de premiación de la liga de tenis estaba programada para la una de la tarde. En Estados Unidos, ese tipo de evento convoca a un ejército de “atletas” adinerados fingiendo estar en “condición óptima” mientras se meten la panza y esconden las venas varicosas con calcetas. Las es

Why Are Standards are Ludicrous.   We are from Las Vegas. The land of slot machines, Sizzling steaks on a skillet and did I mention the huge, live olive trees growing in the restaurant??? Cirque contortionists, and tourists teetering around in high heels despite being three margaritas past good judgment and sidewalk temps that will melt the red soles of their Christian Louboutins. What most people do not realize is that beneath all that neon and nonsense sits the culinary ca