On The Cusp
As one's who have already chosen to move to Lakeside in Jan, we also looked over the FOM program. We nixed it as too costly (there are more comments on it if you use the search feature). We will, however go to the Thursday Morning "Judy"seminar - at $40USD per head, and four hours, that seems worth it, when we return the first week of April. (Can't wait!!!)
As pointed out, everybody is different. We've always just dropped in and spoke with people. This is especially easy at the Lake Chapala Society as we discovered last year. We had contacted a real esate agent over the internet (I'd recommend them if you want) and they showed us around, no pressure. A couple of days we were on our own, and we went to the Plaza to have a meal or coffee, went the the LCS and everywhere we went, people would talk with us.
This Forum is the non-verbal form of that. Those of us here who open up and ask questions will find answers and not have to pay for them. Sometimes the problem is not knowing what questions to ask, and for that you may need some guidance.
As an example: the Forum has convinced us that our plan of action needed changes. We were all prepared to buy a beautiful house in Ajijic after we left last year - it was not because or real estate people pressured us, it was just because we loved it. It took 8 months of discussion here to change our minds in that when we come down in April, we are now looking for a long term rental - for at least two years - maybe forever - and it was all because we listened and asked.
(In Lakeside there is an MLS for buying houses, it is easy. But for renting, while you can find some listings on the web, you must visit each listing agent, as there appears to be no MLS-type shared listings...there is no profit in it, so it makes it more difficult)
If you do not like exploring on your own, may not have the patience, if you are apprehensive to ask questions, to open yourself up so that people will help you, FOM, like a guided tour, may be the way to go - smooths the informational bumps. If you have the time then you can do it yourself, it just takes a lot of effort, bandwidth and patience. We enjoy guided tours, they are easy, but this decision is not a tour, it is a life passage...we do not want to delude ourselves that it will all be easy.
To be an expat, you have chosen an adventure, which means you can never, ever be sure that every step you take will be the correct one, that you will never make a mistake and you will always have that one person to guide you. I may be judegmental here, so excuse me, but if you are going down this path, FOM will not be there every step of your re-settlement. You are going to have to learn how to ask questions from perfect strangers, put your self "out there" and be prepared and get absorbed in, rather than padded from, the community you are moving to. Overcoming shyness (not introversy - they are two different things) is a large factor when moving. I am the type, as is my wife, who will smile and strike up a conversation on line in the supermarket, the theater, a reatuarant, with perfect strangers. That is us, that may not be you. But I feel that this adventure requires more of that, expecially in a foreign culture.
If you plan to make the rest of your life in a new place, in a new way, then you need individual courage. Having a support group, like FOM, is great, it is an instant network of information and that is great...if you can afford it.
Me, the ROI is not worth it - I am sure we will find the answers, as soon as we know the questions, and the only way to know the questions is experieinces, good and bad - and time is not a factor it may take us longer but, so what? Of course if it is life threatening, then that cavalier attitude does not apply. BUt we have a little saying on our refrigerator that reads:
RELAX-EXCEPT FOR A FEW LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS, NOTHING IS AS IMPORTANT AS IT FIRST APPEARS.
Peace out, let the discussion carry on.