Welcome to Latin American Life! My name is Joe, and I’m the founder of this website. Let me tell you a little bit about myself and how I fell in love with Latin America.
I’ll admit it: I used to be nervous about even taking an all-inclusive package tour to Mexico, where you are escorted from the airport to the resort and spend all the time “cocooned” there until you go home.
All I knew about the country was what I saw on TV, and 30 years ago, it wasn’t exactly flattering. But as I started to do more research, I realized that maybe I was missing out on an incredible part of the world. So, I took the plunge and booked a vacation to Puerto Vallarta.
And boy, am I glad I did! From the moment I actually decided to “risk it all” and step outside the walls of my resort and venture into town, I was hooked. The culture, the food, the people – everything was so vibrant and alive. I knew I had to come back and explore more.
I also realized how much easier things were if I learned the language, so that is what I did.
Fast forward a few years, and I found myself living and working in both the Dominican Republic and later, Mexico. On top of that I had the privilege of visiting various Latin American countries. These were all incredible experiences, and these have taught me so much about myself and the world around me.
One of the things I loved most about my time in Latin America was getting to know the local families. Family is such an important part of the culture, and it was amazing to see how close-knit and supportive everyone was. I also fell in love (literally!) with a wonderful lady, which just goes to show that you never know where life will take you.
Of course, working in Latin America wasn’t always easy. I quickly learned that the business culture was quite different from what I was used to in Canada and the US. Dealing with corruption at both the commerce and government levels was a challenge, but it also gave me a deeper understanding of how things work in these countries.
For now, I’m still based in Canada, and lucky enough to visit mainly Mexico and Cuba frequently. My love for Latin America hasn’t faded one bit and I intend to move there permanently in the next couple of years.
I started this website as a way to share my experiences and insights with others who are interested in exploring this amazing part of the world. Whether you’re planning a trip, considering a move, or just want to learn more about the culture, I hope you’ll find something here that inspires you.
Thanks for stopping by – ¡bienvenidos a Latin American Life!
