By Clay McAdam
Editor’s note: When we asked our alumni for their thoughts about Living in Mexico last April, we got some great comments. We especially liked Clay’s well-thought-out reply. When we read it, we could feel his passion for the area and his championing of Mexico, as those of us that love it here are prone to do. We love it; we hope you do too.
I am pleased that you have asked for my thoughts about living in Mexico, and I am happy to provide you with them.
I have viewed Kristina’s video on Mexico Mythbusters. Kristina has certainly identified what people north of the border perceive to be problems living in Mexico with the reports of drug cartel murders, as well as other ‘myths’ that they have about living here. Kristina has responded to these myths in a very matter-of-fact manner, and I totally agree with her responses. Kristina has lived in Mexico far longer than I, and is very knowledgeable about life in Mexico. I feel that Kristina’s video could be most appropriately used by the government.
I would like to share my impressions and feelings from the perspective of a retired Edmonton police officer who has chosen to live permanently in Mexico. Although Jutta and I have been here less than a year, we feel perfectly safe walking in the streets of Ajijic at any time of day or night. It never ceases to amaze me when walking down the street and being greeted by the local population with a ‘hola’ or ‘buenos dias,’ people whom we do not know. Not since I was child in a small town in southwestern Saskatchewan have I been greeted in this manner. The Mexican population gathers in the streets in front of their homes in the evening to visit, and the young people gather on street corners as young people are wont to do, and never have I felt threatened or ill at ease. That is saying a lot when in Canada with the young people gathered on the street corners, I did at times feel threatened.
With respect to the media coverage of the drug murders, those are taking place generally along the border areas. To say that it is not safe to visit or live Mexico because of that is like saying that it is not safe to live in Canada because there have been forty shootings in the Vancouver area since the beginning of this year. Having worked as a police officer in Edmonton, I know about the drive-by shootings in residential areas of that city and shootings on the public by those involved in the fight for control of the drug trade. Regina, Saskatchewan has experienced more than its share of murders, and at one point was considered to be the murder capital of Canada. “What?” you say, “little old Regina, that can’t be!” You believe it of Toronto, and Montreal, but it also happens in Winnipeg, Calgary, and Halifax. Why do the world media not say that it is not safe to live Canada? Because of the local media in Canada and the United States? They wouldn’t admit that is not safe to live in those countries because they are world leaders and such a thing could not possibly be.
But what about the killings in the ocean resorts you ask? For the most part, look at the people who are being killed in those areas and you see mainly young people who are there on breaks from their educational institutions. Having dealt with some of these of people in my former line of work, I can tell you how stupid they can be when they are drinking. The stunts they pull are those of highly inebriated young people who have gotten themselves in trouble with the wrong crowd and suffered the ultimate penalty. I don’t mean to paint the ocean resorts as places that should not be visited as there crime everywhere. Look in your own backyards.
Yes, Lake Chapala area is a safe place to live, but one takes the same precautions here as they would north of the border. You don’t go out and leave your homes unlocked. Neither do we here. There are thefts here as well as anyplace else, but there is no major crime in evidence. But you say everyone lives in homes with walls around their property. Yes, that is true, because here one does not show off the ostentatiousness of their gardens to the public. Your garden is for your own enjoyment, and who cares what the neighbor has in his garden.
The North American news media has taken a situation that is occurring in the border areas and is blowing it totally out of proportion as far as I am concerned. The Mexican government is fighting a hard war against these drug cartels that are getting their weapons and money from the U.S. because of those who want the drugs for recreational use, or are addicted. That also includes Canadian drug abusers. Instead of the exaggerated news items, the media should be reporting on the steps that ate being taken by the United States and Mexican governments in this fight along their common border.
My advice is to come to Lake Chapala and see what it is like to live in a happy and enjoyable environment.
Thank you for asking me this question. It really brought all my emotions to the forefront of why I am happy to live in the Lake Chapala area.
Clay
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