Expats in Guadalajara

[synthia]

It depends on what you mean by the 'San Francisco of Mexico' description. My understanding is that it refers to the large gay community in the city.

[otown]

I am learning Spanish (3 lessons a week), but with the little I know, I'm seriously stunted. I know almost no other gringos and, although many people here know English, they are hesitant to use it. I do not blame them, as I am the one responsible for learning the host country's language. But after two months of serious immersion, I am quite lonely and ready to go home. Also do not like my living arrangement, which was so difficult for me to find, I cannot imagine trying to find another. I knew I'd have a hard time without Spanish, but I'm making a serious effort, yet not finding many people willing to meet me halfway.

Love to get together with anyone out there...be able to understand the conversation for a bit....maybe talk a little...

[RVGRINGO]

Welcome to the forum. Perhaps typing in English and reading other posts will help. If not, hop on the bus and visit Ajijic and Chapala on a weekend; you'll bump into a lot of expats there.
On the other hand, the very purpose of 'total immersion' is to prevent you from speaking your mother tongue and to force you to think and speak in Spanish. It isn't easy, but it does work. Frequently, when one feels they are really frustrated and at the breaking point, they are really just about to reach another plateau. Yes, languages are learned in 'plateaus' and not in a long gradual process. As you have probably already discovered, there are many times that 'the light just comes on' solving a certain problem which opens up a whole new part of the language. First, you learn some nouns, then some verbs and are still talking like Tarzan's monkey. Then, after learning to conjugate some common nouns, you begin to sound like Tarzan himself. Then, making sentences suddenly becomes possible and you can feel comfortable in restaurants and stores. Conversational ability is beginning to arise and, before long, you'll even be able to use the phone in Spanish. From there on, it is more conjugations, more vocabulary and more practice. Don't give up.

[otown]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Welcome to the forum. Perhaps typing in English and reading other posts will help. If not, hop on the bus and visit Ajijic and Chapala on a weekend; you'll bump into a lot of expats there.
On the other hand, the very purpose of 'total immersion' is to prevent you from speaking your mother tongue and to force you to think and speak in Spanish. It isn't easy, but it does work. Frequently, when one feels they are really frustrated and at the breaking point, they are really just about to reach another plateau. Yes, languages are learned in 'plateaus' and not in a long gradual process. As you have probably already discovered, there are many times that 'the light just comes on' solving a certain problem which opens up a whole new part of the language. First, you learn some nouns, then some verbs and are still talking like Tarzan's monkey. Then, after learning to conjugate some common nouns, you begin to sound like Tarzan himself. Then, making sentences suddenly becomes possible and you can feel comfortable in restaurants and stores. Conversational ability is beginning to arise and, before long, you'll even be able to use the phone in Spanish. From there on, it is more conjugations, more vocabulary and more practice. Don't give up.

Thanks for the welcome. I highly appreciate the purpose of immersion living; however, friends are important, too! Maybe a lingual breakthrough is coming, and I am considering other places in Mx, but this loneliness is difficult. Miss having friends. This would be much easier were I in a more conducive environment. I live in a house w/many others (nobody speaks English), but I'm pretty sick of em, and not sure where to meet more people. As well, I feel they've tried hard to connect with me, but this language barrier prevents us from getting off the ground. Yes, I know I cannot expect the world in a day, but anybody's in a better mood (and generally a more tolerable person) when they have *some* social contact with people they can understand and who can understand them. Right??

I know, I know....keeping my head up....just hard.

[Steve & Wheezy]

Otown, sounds like your head is hurting running into that brick wall, RV is right, once in a while you need a little break. Try taking the weekend off, jump on a bus and try out Chapala & Ajijic, nice break and the folks down there sound pretty friendly and the scenery, just seen pictures, but can't wait to come down. Find a bar, football season is starting, watch NFL even if it is exhibition, it's still american football, while we've screwed up about everything else, we still know how football is supposed to be played. No Futbal, football. Wife and I are taking 2 Spanish classes a week and it gets tough, I wasn't that good at it when I went through school 40 years ago, can't imagine trying to do it on site, total immersion. I'd probably starve to death. No, second thought, that wouldn't happen, but probably be frantic looking for real toilet paper and a greasy cheeseburger. Relax, have some fun, kinda ugly NOB right now too. Go meet RV and some of the rest on this website. Buy em all a beer, they deserve it for answering all our dumb questions from non residents who just wish we were down there bothering them in person. If anything from up here NOB would help just let me know, I'll box it up and send it to you.
Mucho gusto, me amigo, hasta luego. Steve & Wheezy

[otown]

Yes, banging my head against the wall, I am.

I will check out those places, indeed.
Also more than happy to buy some beers.
Where and when?!

Thx for the kind words.


best,
o

[RVGRINGO]

An excellent start might be to attend Open Circle, at the Lake Chapala Society, Ajijic, side entrance, 10 AM every Sunday morning. There will be coffee, tea, sandwiches, a speaker and then most folks head off in groups for brunch at various area restaurants. You'll meet lots of old expats and there are always a few new ones, as well as visitors. We are usually there and when you introduce yourself, you'll probably find us. If you want to spend the whole weekend, come on Saturday, find a room and go to the casino, Tom's Bar, or the Music Box, or disco in Ajijic. You will find both young and old there. During the day, wander the malecon in Chapala and eat seafood at the restaurants on the pier at the east end or sip a beer at the Beer Garden in the center. There will probably be entertainment on the malecon.

[Toblerone]

I have been living and working in Guadalajara area for a short time. So far not met any other expats. Glad to catch up with someone to have a beer and exchange our experiences.

[RVGRINGO]

Welcome, Toblerone. They are there but they are spread out within a population of many millions. If you get desperate for expats, visit Ajijic or Chapala and tour the restaurants.

[eriver90]

Otown I will be moving down to GDL from San Francisco and I do not know anyone there, so definitely looking to make friends.