Illegal Border Crossing

[Traviesa 0]

I think Icey and I both know the money thing as Morocco and Algeria are also poor countries and people barely get paid there... but it's all somewhat relative since the cost of living is much less.

Cost of living in Mexico, despite what everyone seems to think, is not much less than it costs to live here. I found myself paying more down there to eat, money disappeared much quicker, and for the "luxury" places like KFC, McD's, etc. we ended up paying more than what I pay here in the US for the same thing. The only places I found any cost difference were at the movie theatre, and in the price of housing.

[almaty 19]

If rich people are willing to spend money to be entertained, why shouldn't someone provide the service? Not everyone can help the world, the least you can do is recognize an opp'ty and help yourself.

you capitalist swine

[Jenn! 918]

If rich people are willing to spend money to be entertained, why shouldn't someone provide the service? Not everyone can help the world, the least you can do is recognize an opp'ty and help yourself.

you capitalist swine

I bet some people would be willing to pay a pretty penny to see a gladiator fight...

[sarah and hicham 3]

I think Icey and I both know the money thing as Morocco and Algeria are also poor countries and people barely get paid there... but it's all somewhat relative since the cost of living is much less.

Cost of living in Mexico, despite what everyone seems to think, is not much less than it costs to live here. I found myself paying more down there to eat, money disappeared much quicker, and for the "luxury" places like KFC, McD's, etc. we ended up paying more than what I pay here in the US for the same thing. The only places I found any cost difference were at the movie theatre, and in the price of housing.

Same goes for Morocco. In Morocco there are not very many McDonalds, they are mostly in the cities where people can afford to eat there... but it is also more of a special occasion restaurant there so people don't go everyday or even more than once a week if that... most people don't go at all. Food is cheap in the markets and most families eat home cooked meals. Moroccans don't really go out to eat much. Being a tourist in a county and being from that country is very different.

[iceyspots 0]

Yup... cost of living is definitely cheaper... As a perk to yacine's fathers teaching job, they get a 4 bedroom flat, with a kitchen, full bathroom and living room, for the price of $50 every 3 months. Electricity is the only bill other than internet they have at their house, and they pay that monthly, it's about $14.

[Traviesa 0]

I think Icey and I both know the money thing as Morocco and Algeria are also poor countries and people barely get paid there... but it's all somewhat relative since the cost of living is much less.

Cost of living in Mexico, despite what everyone seems to think, is not much less than it costs to live here. I found myself paying more down there to eat, money disappeared much quicker, and for the "luxury" places like KFC, McD's, etc. we ended up paying more than what I pay here in the US for the same thing. The only places I found any cost difference were at the movie theatre, and in the price of housing.

Same goes for Morocco. In Morocco there are not very many McDonalds, they are mostly in the cities where people can afford to eat there... but it is also more of a special occasion restaurant there so people don't go everyday or even more than once a week if that... most people don't go at all. Food is cheap in the markets and most families eat home cooked meals. Moroccans don't really go out to eat much. Being a tourist in a county and being from that country is very different.

Pretty much the same in Mexico. The couple times we went to the KFC we were the only ones there. It's different in the big cities though, where more people are rich, there are lots more people in those kinds of places (and the Outback, which we splurged on one time for dinner-which has valet parking and is where I saw the guy with the BMW). For us, that was a major expenditure, and I can imagine for the average Mexican it would be out of the question, but the rich class live just like we live here, and sometimes pay even more to do so.

Yup... cost of living is definitely cheaper... As a perk to yacine's fathers teaching job, they get a 4 bedroom flat, with a kitchen, full bathroom and living room, for the price of $50 every 3 months. Electricity is the only bill other than internet they have at their house, and they pay that monthly, it's about $14.

Because Javier's family works on the farm, they get to live on the farm free of charge. But the house is pretty much a dilapidated shack. It has one entrance room, and an upstairs bedroom. The floors are concrete, uncovered. The bathroom doesn't even have a door-it consists of the shower and I would imagine a toilet behind a curtain, you have to walk across the way to get to the kitchen. There's no AC and they can't even get a phone line to run out there. It's roughing it for sure, and one of the reasons I could never live with him there.

[iceyspots 0]

No yacine's family's flat is really nice. everything is solid, stable, clean and sanitary. And they add their own little touch to it

[Traviesa 0]

No yacine's family's flat is really nice. everything is solid, stable, clean and sanitary. And they add their own little touch to it

That sounds really nice. Are you able to stay there during visits? That's why my trips to Mexico are so expensive because we have no choice but to stay in a hotel.

[iceyspots 0]

No yacine's family's flat is really nice. everything is solid, stable, clean and sanitary. And they add their own little touch to it

That sounds really nice. Are you able to stay there during visits? That's why my trips to Mexico are so expensive because we have no choice but to stay in a hotel.

yes... I stayed there 3 weeks in Dec/January and I spent a lot of time up there when I was there for 2 months (me and yacine had our own apartment downstairs, the bedroom was nice because yacine fixed it up) but that apartment was free of cost.

[Traviesa 0]

No yacine's family's flat is really nice. everything is solid, stable, clean and sanitary. And they add their own little touch to it

That sounds really nice. Are you able to stay there during visits? That's why my trips to Mexico are so expensive because we have no choice but to stay in a hotel.

yes... I stayed there 3 weeks in Dec/January and I spent a lot of time up there when I was there for 2 months (me and yacine had our own apartment downstairs, the bedroom was nice because yacine fixed it up) but that apartment was free of cost.

That's exactly the reason I want Javier to buy a house! So I can stay for longer...but he always just drags his feet!