Figuring out the norms

No matter how long you might be living in another country, you will always, at your core, be a native of wherever you’re coming from, which means that there are plenty of unrealized cultural norms that are waiting to be discovered.

Being an immigrant is a hard lesson in humility and, oftentimes, even embarrassment. It can be linked to all the little things, such as shopping etiquette, how much you should tip, where to park, or many other significant things that could ultimately cause offense and additional problems.

Probably the best example is trash pick-up. In the majority of Mexican cities, garbage is piled on street corners in plastic bags or boxes.

Mail is also something you shouldn’t trust, as utilities and other companies generally hire their own couriers to deliver monthly bills.

Property taxes could often be paid in person, either at a bank or city office. As bewildering and frustrating as it might be to Americans, this is normal life for the locals.

The language thing

Unless you’re fluent in Spanish, communication is probably going to be a bit challenging. In some cities with expat populations or plenty of tourism, locals speak English.

However, you won’t be able to avoid learning Spanish altogether, especially if you make sure you blend into your new community.

Luckily, you will be able to learn and understand Spanish quite quickly. It’s not the most complicated language in the world.