|
|
The American Society of Jalisco |
• Home
Photos and videos |
|
Avenida San
Francisco 3332, Guadalajara, Mexico |
|
|
The American Society of Jalisco |
• Home
Photos and videos |
|
Avenida San
Francisco 3332, Guadalajara, Mexico |
Some Useful InformationRight click on underlined items and open in a new page or tab to go to that site. |
||
|
Coming to Mexico:
Money:
Food and water: Wash your hands often. Tap water is safe for bathing and brushing your teeth. Use bottled water for drinking. There is home delivery of drinkable 20 liter (about 4.4 gallon) plastic water bottles from a variety of companies. Ask your friends or neighbors what they recommend. Restaurants: Good safe food at all price ranges. Stands: Generally OK. It's better to avoid seafood from the street stands. At home: We soak our vegetables in water and an anti-bacterial solution (available at all supermarkets and corner stores) so we never get E-Coli, salmonella, etc. from the vegetables. We wash our fruit and solid vegetables with soap and water before we eat them. Meats:
Great chicken and pork (pigs do not cause the so-called swine influenza,
people do), avoid pork products if you are allergic to sulfa drugs because
they are used to enhance pig growth and the meat may have residuals
(also the case in the US). The beef is not as good as the US and is
generally cut very thin but the "arrachera" is excellent.
Consulates in Guadalajara: For US visa information (non-US citizens) go to http://usembassy-mexico.gov/smxvisitar.html (this page is in Spanish but you can click on the upper right for English). Absentee ballots for US citizens: The US State Department recommends registering on an annual basis. Visit the web site at http://www.fvap.gov or visit the US Consulate to get the "Registration and Absentee Ballet Request" and "Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot". The form is the same for all US states and territories but the data required may be different for each state -- specific information needed is available in the fvap site for each state and territory. Remember, some states require a defined party affiliation for voting in primary elections. The US State Department recommends re-filing the absentee ballot request annually and sending in both the federal write-in absentee ballot and any state absentee ballot that you receive. Some states are now allowing registration and voting by E-Mail and/ or FAX. If paper forms are required, you may leave them with the guard at the US Consulate and they will send in the forms. Forms are also available at AMSOC. Always include contact information in case there is an error in the information that you provide so that it may be corrected in time to vote. Things to do: All About Guadalajara is a good source for activities, things to see and shopping plazas but is limited to their advertisers for commercial stuff like hotels, specific stores and restaurants. Getting around:
"Third age" discounts: If you have an FM-3, FM-2 or Mexican citizenship and have reached 60 years of age, you can go to your city DIF (social services agency) with copies of the photo and identification pages of your FM-3/FM2 which should also serve as proof of your birth date, 4 photos "tamaño infantil" (baby size), a "comprobante de domicilio" (a receipt in your name from your residence - telephone, electricity or property tax) and, to be safe, a copy of another photo to obtain an INAPAM card (for more information, call 3834-5520, Mon. - Fri. 8 AM to 2 PM) -- these cards provide for a 50% discount on long distance and local buses (you need to pre-purchase the local bus tickets), a 50% discount on annual water bills if paid by February 28 with no usage of more than 25 cubic meters per month the year before and smaller discounts at some stores and pharmacies and, starting in 2010, a 50% discount on property tax (impuesto predial) in Zapopan. Churches and Temples
Internet: Two of the three principal providers are megacable and telecable, depending on the city where you live, which also provide cable television and VOIP telephone services. TELMEX, Mexico's biggest telephone service provider, also manages Prodigy, the third principal provider, which is universally available. All provide cable and wireless Internet service. AMSOC provides wireless Internet for 10 pesos per hour (so come have breakfast during the week or lunch on Thursdays and take advantage of this service). Telephones: TELMEX is the country's biggest provider of standard phone service and their subsidiary Telcel is the biggest provider of cellular phones but there are a variety of other services available for both home or business phones and mobile phones (ask around to find people's preferences).
Personal vehicles: You need Mexican insurance, vehicle registration and a valid driver's license. The company Lloyd is a good bet because they are local, speak English, have group rates and will cover legal services. If you are involved in an accident, do not move the vehicle until the "Transito" (traffic police) tell you to do so and immediately call your insurance agent. If the other driver does not have insurance, he needs to pay your insurance agent or you on the spot or both vehicles will be towed and you must appear at the state traffic office to get everything settled. If the other driver offers to pay you later or take you to his body shop and pay -- he probably won't pay up. If you are drunk or hit a person, bicycle or motorcycle your vehicle is towed and you go to jail, regardless of who is at fault. Caution: Stealing mirrors, headlights, tail lights, etc. is common here just like stealing catalytic converters for their precious metals is common in the US. Park in secure places or paid parking lots. You can get "protections" installed: Auto Sports charges in the neighborhood of US $110 to US $140 for complete protections, depending on the vehicle. Emergency telephone numbers (see page 4 in the White Pages):
|
||
