The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

-When you’re off the tourist trail and not living in a transplanted gringo neighborhood, your Latin neighbors will surely be kind, friendly and gracious…unless you’re an unsociable jerk. You’ll probably the only gringo in the subdivision and as usual you will get the visiting dignitary treatment. And sure you’ll always have that oddball neighbor with a barking dog or have to deal with a problematic neighbor kid, but that’s life. Recently Expat Eddie had such an incident to deal with, and he did so in his own peculiar way… -And now a valuable housing tip that I wish someone would have mentioned to me when I first arrived in Latin America….NEVER rent, buy or build within six blocks of an Evangelical church. That is, unless you don’t mind your Saturday and Sunday nights tinged with erratic high volume wailing and guttural noise pollution (which begs the question; is Jesus deaf?) -If you live in an upscale first-world style subdivision, it’s a fact of life that you might be sharing the neighborhood with a few thieving politicians and the occasional upscale narco (they can be decent family men too). Both types can afford to live anywhere they want. But unlike the Hollywood stereotype, upscale narco guys will strive for a nice life but keep a low profile. So here are a few tips on how to handle the situation if you or your kids get invited to a “cince anos” party at Tony Soprano’s house… -Find out why Expat Eddie insists that  “IMPATIENCE is a virtue” (when in Latin America of course). Hear his reasons why its a big part of the “gringo advantage” -Wanabees always ask about low budget business ideas that a new expat can instantly jump on. Well, like I always say, “boots on the ground” is the best way to find out. And sometimes one only needs a week or so to see a great little opportunity or niche market. Now for example, the last seminar group that came down in June just boiled over with business ideas after just a few days here. But what about expats with very low or almost no capital? Well here we give an example of an ultra-low budget, unglamorous but novel, business idea (one of dozens tossed around at the June event) that one of our seminar gang came up with just by spotting an obvious (or not so obvious) need... -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one. -And while you’re at www.ExpatWisdom.com don’t forget to pick up your free reports!

-Did you know that with Panama’s new airport taxes, additional charges and fees work out to anywhere between $250 to $500 on top of (but included in) the ticket price?  I found it out the hard way when recently hit with $260 extra on a flight a few weeks ago. Word has it that the most expensive first world airport departure fees and taxes are incurred when flying out of Canada,but even those bloated govt charges don’t match Panama’s new blood-sucking rates. -And now a few things you should know about the high cost of living in Panama and the cash crunch its having on expats who are in the Panama “pensionado” program… a program once considered a very good deal especially to expats living solely on a social security check. -Few people realize the Chinese now own the Panama Canal outright (and made local politicians millionaires in the process) but even fewer folks outside of Panama realize the extent of the Chinese penetration and influence in the Canal Zone, and beyond. Now for some examples that may just blow your mind……. -Let’s demonstrate how predictable the “lag time effect” is in business and how it gives us expats a special leg up. You just have to keep your eyes on what’s been hot or fashionable up in the states and you can bet a badly done Latin version will eventually follow, usually a few years later. So what’s stopping you from being the first (or one of the first) to introduce something thats old hat in the US and do the job right? -Latin American fashion is all about …fake eye colors, tinted hair, sexy cloths and ultra-high heels. Well how about those Latin ladies and their occasionally outrageous sense of fashion? Though some aspects of the Latina dress code may seem extreme especially to newbee expat women, those transplanted gringas soon realize it’s a cultural thing and get over their first impression that many young ladies are skanks. Nope, they’re not skanks at all according to local standards… just in sexy competition with each other. -Here’s a new report on my latest trip to yet another Decameron, one of the oldest of their “all inclusive” resorts in Panama. Its less luxurious and more basic than the newer Decameron resorts I’ve seen in other countries but It's got its charms. And I bet you’ll get a kick out of what happened to me when I recently spent a few days there. -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one. -And while you’re at www.ExpatWisdom.com don’t forget to pick up your free reports

-Some thoughts on some ingrained first world gringo traits we never seem to completely lose no matter how long we live down here. -How do big first-world business franchises like for example, McDonalds, Sears and Office Depot, deal with chronically tardy Latin employees? Though local businesses tolerate lateness as a fact of life, first world franchises do run on time, and live and die by the clock… even in Latin America -I’m looking at the massive Panama real estate bubble first hand (its already twice the size of many of the other Latin bubbles) and I have to say that when it blows it won’t be pretty. Trust me…you don’t want to be there when it pops. Even though the deals will be stupendous, Panama is fast running out of electricity and water and they have already started announcing new water rationing schedules in the papers and on TV! -A hot report on how just last week, at the peak of the bubble, some lucky Canadian friends accidentally turned a $140k Panama property into a half million bucks (and then they high-tailed it out of Panama directly after cashing the check!) -Report on the horrors of the newly installed mega-million dollar Panama Big Brother airport immigration operation. Its so intrusive and scary now, that you’ll never want to go back to that little privacy compromised country again -Did you know that TSA can tag you, then take your computer and smart devices for 30 days. They’ll copy your data and use anything they deem incriminating to prosecute you. I personally know of three people who have had their laptops confiscated by TSA lackeys in the last year. -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one. -And while you’re at www.ExpatWisdom.com don’t forget to pick up your free reports!

My Latin American “Expat Wisdom” seminar ended with a bang (a very good bang) and here are a few of my comments about the crowd that made their way down. For one thing, this  group were not a bunch of “tire kickers”. Most of them see the light dimming up in the states and are very, very intent in leaving Dodge… permanently. -I keep getting similar emails from older wanabees who are afraid they’ll have a hard time learning Spanish (you can’t teach an old dog ….) so they’re looking towards English speaking Belize as an option. So again here are a few more insights on that. Realistically, its a nice place for tourists, the very rich, and young guys and gals who think they are invincible (weren’t we all at 23?) but its not the best choice for the average older expat. -Those nutty gringos and their Bermuda shorts… So what if it’s a sign of an unseasoned tourist? Well if you do wear shorts, and there’s not many people around, there’s no better way for a neer-do-well to spot you a mile away. And sure, gringo tourists tell me that I’m nuts when I advise them against wearing gangsta pants. First world tourists insist its just typical comfy beachwear…to which I say NO…a bathing suit is typical beachwear… which is a-ok. So guys especially, please skip the gansta pants. -Some inquiring minds want to know if there is a Chemtrail problem in Latin America. Whatever your opinion might be as to that phenomena (or lack of it), here’s what long term expats are saying about it… -What’s Latin America like for alergy sufferers? One would think it would be much worse here for all the rapidly growing trees and plants, not to mention 3 to 4 growing seasons. Well here’s the story on that… and its not what youd expect´. -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on on

-Simple minded as I am, I would never have imagined that certain listeners would write me thinking that I am somehow subtly discouraging them from coming down to Latin America - with my motive being to preserve my (and other expats) version of paradise- lest newbee interlopers come down and trample it. Well, I suspect the telling of some of my true expat tales is the source of that idea. Maybe some folks would rather face life’s  larger calamities on the horizon (up in Cleveland) other than deal with the minor though sometimes frustrating local habits and traditions we expats face when living in Latin America. -For all you wannabes out there who subscribe to International Living and those other multiple  "Expat Retirement" rags... yes, they are often good sources of info. But know this, when they recommend some new unknown inexpensive, golden “Expat retirement haven”, I promise you that by the the time it hits the presses or your email box the so-called "well kept" hidden secret has been “well-picked-over” and there are certainly no great deals anymore. In other words- unless you just love being around hoards of gringos AND you have a healthy first world retirement package- I have to recommend you avoid highly touted places like the plague. -Note that Latin America has an amazing amount of wildlife right outside your door. The trick is to try and keep it out there! So here are a few good pointers on how to keep the wild critters at bay, that is, on the outside not your bedside! -Don't be surprised when I say that “first-world wanabee” upper-class Latins with money really do some foolish things... in their quest to appear first world hip and chic. And though the first-world stuff they buy may impress acquaintances and friends (and instill envy, which is also the point), their cluelessness can backfire in some surprising ways too… yet they still don’t learn their lessons! -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on on

-Some people wonder what you can see when looking at the wide open Latin American night sky. What about background light, clarity, pollution and other factors that might affect one’s star gazing? -Oh oh! You have a bad tooth and need a root canal…. and you’re living in Latin America! YIKES! Ahh, ..I dunno.. its bad enough getting one done in the states! Some gringos ask if they actually know how to do that kind of thing in  the jungle.  Ok you weenies, they DO have first world docs here! And so we have another true story that highlights how to successfully navigate the field if you have any special dental needs. -A surprising close-up and personal perspective on the Latin real estate bubble. Some  interesting insights straight from a wealthy, stressed-out Latin right in the thick of it. He feels something coming and s getting nervous about his investments. -The rise and fall of old monied families in Latin America. Within the 2% of Latin families who have historically held and maintained great wealth, a certain rather large group of them have feckless kids who are not capable of holding it all together like daddy and grandpa did.... so they are slowly killing the golden goose. -They say if the price is right, even good people will sometimes do dastardly things. And in Latin America the same is true. The only difference is that down here, unlike in the first world, it doesn’t take thousands to subvert a person… a little pocket change will do. -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on on

-Chocolate, chocolate, everywhere but not a decent local candy bar to be found! Latin America is precisely where many of the best, highest quality confectionery ingredients in the world come from. They’ve got cacao beans, pecans, almonds, pistachios, cashews, macadamia nuts, raw natural sugar and a dozen kinds of pure honey, as well as many local candy companies producing all kinds of low-grade mediocre sweets, but they still can’t make a quality chocolate bar! Looks like another expat opportunity, yes? -There are over half a billion people in Latin America… a huge market. And every one with a sweet tooth and addicted to cheap, low grade, candy and junk food. Expats and wanabees looking for a business opportunity should take note that one only has to develop (or even copy) a first world sweet that’s slightly better quality than the local competition (a no brainer) and it’ll be a winner in the local Latin markets. -Oh Oh... not again! Johnny gets invited to another upscale Latin “cince anos” party (a 15 year old girl’s coming out party). This time he’s tossed in with a host of Latin movers and shakers and very high rollers. As usual he was practically the only gringo in the place and naturally left the place with more crazy stories about living in Latin America…. -Get ready for this… at parties and events, upscale Latins will try to break the ice with gringos like you by speaking English and trying to impress with their superficial knowledge of America sports. They think that by tossing out a few sports facts to a gringo it will put them solidly in your gringo boy’s club (it won't). -Latin friends have asked me this odd question, “Johnny, I don’t get it. What’s with the gringo obsession with everything and anything to do with zombies?” I've heard that question because all the first world zombie shows have suddenly hit the cable airwaves here (dubbed and translated) yet the Latins have not really bought in to zombiemania yet. But never fear, the first world “lag time effect” will prevail and soon they will be as nuts about zombies as brain dead gringos up north are. Which begs the question… has our society hit an all time low yet, or do we still have a ways to go to scrape bottom of the dumpster? -Many wanabees want to know if expats eventually get bored with Latin life.... especially those fidgety expats with so-called type “A” personalities. First world expat wanabees living in the big city wonder if they’ll miss the variety of culture and top notch entertainment they're so used to in L.A., Chicago (or Cleveland, don’t laugh). Lets talk about that.. -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on on

-When expats and gringos size up Latins by their first impressions, often times our ideas and judgements about them can be way off base. In many ways Latins can’t be profiled in the ways we generalize about first world folks. And here are some examples and reasons why … -Soon enough expats learn that all 20 Latin countries have their own distinct Spanish accents, and native Latins can distinguish perhaps ten or more of the most common said accents blindfolded. But us long-term expats with decent Spanish skills can only begin to distinguish maybe four or five Spanish accents even after many many years of actual "boots on the ground”. -Some 80 to 90% Latins grow up with nice, straight, beautiful white teeth without the aid of dentists or orthodontics, while 50% of north American kids need braces and professional help to achieve similar results (often to the tune of five grand or more). How can that be explained? -A true story that can only happen in Latin America. Three brothers, fresh from the coffee plantation, strolled into a Toyota dealership and asked to test drive a brand new HI-LUX pickup truck. These guys, with their three-foot long, razor-sharp machetes, muddy cowboy boots and all, were not going to leave the place until they had their way. And man, did they have their way! -Here’s a strange dilemma. Very recently another expat friend of mine, a former Illinois EMT, was sitting next to a macho Latin cowboy machete-wielding type and my friend spotted an obvious (to him) cancerous growth on the guy's nose. Yet the expat never said a thing to the guy…. he had his reasons. What would you have done in a situation like that- had you known a bit about medicine yourself? -The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its 3/4 filled now so be be sure to go to www..ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details. -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one

-Another story from the trenches; real life tales of an educated, first-world lady expat who came down and after a few years married an educated, upscale Latin gentleman… who turned out not to be such a gentleman after all, but well,.. remained a typical macho Latino . -You may have heard there’s a Latin “baby boom” going on right now and that the typical family size can hover in the double digits. Well, that may be true for the poor folks and the lower classes, but its far from reality in urban areas, and with the more educated folks. Meanwhile the uneducated half just keeps pooping (er,.. popping) them out. -Upscale and wealthy Latins (and their spoiled, entitled kids) routinely break minor traffic and civil laws since they know they’ll get a free pass from the cops. In Latin America, unlike in the states, the cops normally don’t use their authority position to harass or harrange folks, and in general they go very light on people they perceive to have money.. like people with upscale cars and such (that includes smart expats with junky vehicles too, because they believe we have money too). -A true story of what happened when an expat (this time a lady expat)demolished a motorcycle and sent the guy to the hospital. Pay attention here because it can happen to you!! -Latin women of all social classes put up with a lot in their men, because they’ve been brainwashed by their own mothers and grandmothers (and tradition) into believing “men have their needs” and can’t be changed. -The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its 3/4 filled now so be be sure to go to www.ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details. -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one

-Did you know that Latins of all socioeconomic brackets now have nearly the same life expectancy as first world gringos? Its a conundrum all right, considering the lower hygiene and sanitary conditions found almost everywhere down here. So why is that? Here’s the skinny… -About half of all Latins have never taken a bath in a real bathtub. Only the upper middle class and the wealthy folks have them. And even if the middle classes had tubs in their houses, which most don’t, the majority of Latin homes are connected to municipal water so it would talk about 6 hours to fill one. No joke! -Table etiquette advice and the do’s and don’ts when you’re invited to dinner at a Latin person’s house. Not that chicken will probably be served, and that there will be some unsettling moments for you, not them… -The truth about healthy Latin American eating habits and why we all can learn a lot from their traditional ways. I don’t mean we should all switch to rice, beans, tortillas and tequila… but we first world guys and gals could do a lot worse (and we generally do) -A few thoughts on how Latins party, and some things you never knew about bars, booze and cigarettes in Latin America. -The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its 3/4 filled now so be be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details and the earlybird signup bonus… -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on on

-The big front page headline news all over Latin America is how just last week a former president of Guatemala (proclaiming himself a so–called average middle class man of the people) had been spirited away to NYC to face federal money laundering charges. The charges stem from 17 separate wire transfers to US banks. The funds went to accounts in his name, his ex-wife and his daughter… adding up to the tune of 70 million dollars. All of those transfers took place from 2000 to 2004, while he was president. But you don’t know the half of it so I’ll let you in on what’s really been going down with that case. -Many gringos and expats have a weakness for celebrity... after all we grew up with Hollywood and the Boob Tube. And expats who spend a lot of time in the big city often fall in with wealthy Latin movers and shakers and media types and the scumbag political crowd. It happens a lot when you’re off the tourist trail where gringos are a novelty. And at first, hayseeds and average gringos from Dallas or Cleveland can be a bit awed when generals, senators or billionaires, with body guards and beach house heliports, invite them to a birthday party or a weekend barbecue. It may be fun at first, but I guarantee if you have any brains, that kind of entitled crowd will eventually suck the grey matter out of your noggin. In fact, some expat friends of mine have been so affected, that when the name dropping starts, I head for the exit… and when I see the caller ID I just don’t pick up anymore. But then again, if you like that kind of action .... -Some discussion on the painfully slow Latin legal system and how it can actually  be a positive thing for expats -The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its 3/4 filled now so be be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details and the earlybird signup bonus… -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one

-People just won’t quit sending me emails about wanting to become expats in Mexico. Now I do understand that there are over 1 million US expats who have already moved there, but that in itself should tell you much about what you can expect and why Mexicans like gringos for all the wrong reasons- just because they see dollar signs. -Expats or gringos that say they’ve found (or heard of) first-world-like, high-end sections of Mexico City.. . they talk of perfect places to live, safe parts of town that have charming colonial looks and all the amenities, etc., etc. Well yes, on the surface they’re right but any first world tenderfoots who gush about Mexico or Mexico City are unaware of the serious infrastructure problems (forget about the crime!) that are starting to affect everyone there… rich and poor. And here are some stories from expats who see the bad effects…. -Along with many many other problems, expats and gringos in Mexico are favorite targets for a number of clever scams going on right now. here are a few examples... -A few words about those well known US real estate franchises that have landed in Latin America (you know who they are) that have a large presence in nearly every city here now. Buyer beware! You should never assume they are out to help you get the best deal. Here are a few examples of how carelessly they operate and how you can use them to find what you want without paying them a commission. -How the massive gringo influx has turned most Mexican lawyers into blood sucking vultures. Good luck finding a decent Mexican lawyer who won’t try scamming gringos and expats somewhere along the way. Oh, I’m sure there are some decent shysters in a big country like Mexico…. but I just don’t know any. -How the Mexican government milks gringo property owners. And yes, property taxes are dirt cheap there, but here’s the bad news about the new gringo real estate sales taxes on Mexican properties. Be prepared to pay about a 30% tax on the total sale, whereas the locals only have to ante up about 4% when they sell. So be prepared to bend over, and take it in the er, ...wallet. -The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its 3/4 filled now so be be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details and the earlybird signup bonus… -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on on

-Expats and wannbees occasionally ask if it’s ok to hire someone who’s been deported as an illegal from the states. After all, there are many thousands of these guys looking for work down here in every Latin country, and their bound to show up for and interview… especially when they hear that a gringo is hiring. They do have their advantages. These guys and gals generally speak passable English and many have been positively indoctrinated to the gringo first-world way of doing things. With them, your training almost never has to start from ground zero. They can be up to speed in no time and tend to “get it” a lot faster than your average “untraveled” local. Sounds good right? Well its not that simple and here’s why…….. -Did you know that a great many Latin men who are illegally in the US make it a point to try to impregnate a Latin girl in the big city barrio up there? That’s because a kid born in the US is automatically a citizen, and thus offers a good chance that the dad can get himself on the fast track to a green card. But there’s more… a great number of these guys also have a wife and/or kids back in their Latin homeland, a family that they often simply abandon forever... -An update on the state of illegal immigration to the US, the revolving door, and the new scams and dangers for the Latins that try to sneak in through Mexico -Some brand new and scary reasons why it is a very bad idea to even consider moving to Panama... -The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its 2/3 filled now so be be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details and the earlybird signup bonus… -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one

-People have a lot of questions about maids and housekeepers. In that regard here are some slippery slopes you should try to avoid and some words of wisdom when you have one. -A few words for the ladies about the “Gringa Advantage”  and Gringa expats who happen to marry Latin men. -Some comments on US embassies in Latin America and why you should avoid just visiting them altogether(no matter what propaganda you may have heard to the contrary). What they really are is a tenticle of BB and they just want to keep tabs on you. You should also avoid hanging with or socializing with embassy personnel. -The locals live on rice, beans, vegetables fruits, tortillas with a little cheap meat thrown in for color. Which means a typical meal like that is quite tasty and very good for you too…, as long as its prepared hygienically. And that means you should not eat tortillas bought from the street stands even if they seem very fresh and you have watched cute little ladies making them right in front of your eyes. -I was a real old school pre-internet electrical engineer in former life (with two advanced degrees and a doctorate) and knowing what I know (er.. knew) I would never live in a Latin country that had  nuclear power plants on their soil: so that rules out Mexico, Brazil and Argentina (again!) And here’s why…. -The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its over 2/3 filled now so be be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details and the earlybird signup bonus… -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on on

-Expats and wannbees occasionally ask if it’s ok to hire someone who’s been deported as an illegal from the states. After all, there are many thousands of these guys looking for work down here in every Latin country, and their bound to show up for and interview… especially when they hear that a gringo is hiring. They do have their advantages. These guys and gals generally speak passable English and many have been positively indoctrinated to the gringo first-world way of doing things. With them, your training almost never has to start from ground zero. They can be up to speed in no time and tend to “get it” a lot faster than your average “untraveled” local. Sounds good right? Well its not that simple and here’s why…….. -Did you know that a great many Latin men who are illegally in the US make it a point to try to impregnate a Latin girl in the big city barrio up there? That’s because a kid born in the US is automatically a citizen, and thus offers a good chance that the dad can get himself on the fast track to a green card. But there’s more… a great number of these guys also have a wife and/or kids back in their Latin homeland, a family that they often simply abandon forever... -An update on the state of illegal immigration to the US, the revolving door, and the new scams and dangers for the Latins that try to sneak in through Mexico -Some brand new and scary reasons why it is a very bad idea to even consider moving to Panama... -The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Its 2/3 filled now so be be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details and the earlybird signup bonus… -Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on on