mexico city- safety

[Anonymous]

DS just graduated college as an IR major and is considering a job offer in Mexico City (for a consulting firm). We are American, with no family or friends in Mexico.

I’m nervous about his safety living and working in Mexico City. I’d appreciate thoughts from anyone living there or who travels there for work, as an American.

[Anonymous]

It's a lovely city with great weather and amazing food, but it's enormous, and it's got its safety issues, similar to living in the DC area. Tell your kid to be street smart, and they can easily google safety tips or read the US State department safety warnings. My personal tips are: 1) always take authorized/registered taxis (rather than grabbing one off of the street) and 2) don't carry large bags or anything that would mark you as a foreigner/tourist while on public transportation.

[Anonymous]

If he's working for a large consulting firm, have him ask what they provide in terms of safety. I worked for a MC media company and they gave us rides home if we worked late. The drivers were also bodyguards. At orientation, wr had self defense classes and an expert who taught us the right way to gift police. We also had a fixer we could call 24/7.

Also -- if he's fluent in Spanish that will go a long way for his safety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's working for a large consulting firm, have him ask what they provide in terms of safety. I worked for a MC media company and they gave us rides home if we worked late. The drivers were also bodyguards. At orientation, wr had self defense classes and an expert who taught us the right way to gift police. We also had a fixer we could call 24/7.

Also -- if he's fluent in Spanish that will go a long way for his safety

Okay Olivia Pope!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he's working for a large consulting firm, have him ask what they provide in terms of safety. I worked for a MC media company and they gave us rides home if we worked late. The drivers were also bodyguards. At orientation, wr had self defense classes and an expert who taught us the right way to gift police. We also had a fixer we could call 24/7.

Also -- if he's fluent in Spanish that will go a long way for his safety

Okay Olivia Pope!

Haha no i only wrote policies and procedures. But we had the Mexican Olivia Pope to help us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a lovely city with great weather and amazing food, but it's enormous, and it's got its safety issues, similar to living in the DC area. Tell your kid to be street smart, and they can easily google safety tips or read the US State department safety warnings. My personal tips are: 1) always take authorized/registered taxis (rather than grabbing one off of the street) and 2) don't carry large bags or anything that would mark you as a foreigner/tourist while on public transportation.

I echo this. Always use a 'sitio' taxi, dont just call one off the street. Uber is fine too now. He will want to get some general awareness of good and bad neighborhoods and avoid the tougher ones like you would anywhere, but that's not specific to Mexico City. Does he speak Spanish?

I lived there several years in my 20s as a young female and it was fine as long as you knew and played by the rules. It's gotten SIGNIFICANTLY safer since those days, I'm shocked by how much safer it feels, I am sure he will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's working for a large consulting firm, have him ask what they provide in terms of safety. I worked for a MC media company and they gave us rides home if we worked late. The drivers were also bodyguards. At orientation, wr had self defense classes and an expert who taught us the right way to gift police. We also had a fixer we could call 24/7.

Also -- if he's fluent in Spanish that will go a long way for his safety

I this poster is probably right about safety issues. As someone working for a big firm and living there, he’s not going to have the same safety issues as a tourist. I would think the most important thing is to understand the difference between stuff you can do in America and stuff you can do in Mexico. His company will likely be good about explaining that if they hire foreigners.

[Anonymous]

Don't know what an IR major is, but he'll love it if he can become conversational in Spanish. Much better lifestyle/culture and should be a great experience for a young guy. No way in hell I'd take a pass on this opportunity.

[Anonymous]

I have multiple friends who have worked there for periods (like 3 months to several years). I have visited them. They generally lived in very well off areas and had drivers if they traveled at night. However, I took public transport with them and cabs when we were going out and about on weekends. They loved the city and I loved visiting.

[Anonymous]

It's dangerous but this sounds like a cool opportunity.

Most of the kidnapping victims tend to be wealthy Mexicans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he's working for a large consulting firm, have him ask what they provide in terms of safety. I worked for a MC media company and they gave us rides home if we worked late. The drivers were also bodyguards. At orientation, wr had self defense classes and an expert who taught us the right way to gift police. We also had a fixer we could call 24/7.

Also -- if he's fluent in Spanish that will go a long way for his safety

I this poster is probably right about safety issues. As someone working for a big firm and living there, he’s not going to have the same safety issues as a tourist. I would think the most important thing is to understand the difference between stuff you can do in America and stuff you can do in Mexico. His company will likely be good about explaining that if they hire foreigners.

Can you elaborate on this, with specifics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he's working for a large consulting firm, have him ask what they provide in terms of safety. I worked for a MC media company and they gave us rides home if we worked late. The drivers were also bodyguards. At orientation, wr had self defense classes and an expert who taught us the right way to gift police. We also had a fixer we could call 24/7.

Also -- if he's fluent in Spanish that will go a long way for his safety

I this poster is probably right about safety issues. As someone working for a big firm and living there, he’s not going to have the same safety issues as a tourist. I would think the most important thing is to understand the difference between stuff you can do in America and stuff you can do in Mexico. His company will likely be good about explaining that if they hire foreigners.

Can you elaborate on this, with specifics?

Knowing when to try to negotiate when buying something, who and how to bribe to get what you want, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he's working for a large consulting firm, have him ask what they provide in terms of safety. I worked for a MC media company and they gave us rides home if we worked late. The drivers were also bodyguards. At orientation, wr had self defense classes and an expert who taught us the right way to gift police. We also had a fixer we could call 24/7.

Also -- if he's fluent in Spanish that will go a long way for his safety

I this poster is probably right about safety issues. As someone working for a big firm and living there, he’s not going to have the same safety issues as a tourist. I would think the most important thing is to understand the difference between stuff you can do in America and stuff you can do in Mexico. His company will likely be good about explaining that if they hire foreigners.

Can you elaborate on this, with specifics?

Knowing when to try to negotiate when buying something, who and how to bribe to get what you want, etc.

No Trump does not control Mexico.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's working for a large consulting firm, have him ask what they provide in terms of safety. I worked for a MC media company and they gave us rides home if we worked late. The drivers were also bodyguards. At orientation, wr had self defense classes and an expert who taught us the right way to gift police. We also had a fixer we could call 24/7.

Also -- if he's fluent in Spanish that will go a long way for his safety

Sounds like a security briefing given by the state department or Intel nerds

[Anonymous]

I would but want my young twenties something kid to work there.

Can he ask the firm for another posting?