18 Tips to Maximize Your Focus on Mexico Experience

Coming to Lakeside to a Focus On Mexico 6-Day Learning Experience?

Here are some tips to help you maximize your stay during the program.

The Focus On Mexico 6-Day Learning Experience is a program for those seriously thinking of moving or retiring to Mexico. With expert speakers making presentations in the mornings, and outings and tours in the afternoon, one attendee commented, “The Focus On Mexico Program is like a guided vacation with built in tours.” However much fun it may be, most who come to the 6-Day “Crash Course” on Mexico are there to do their ‘due diligence’. They come to make sure that Mexico is right for them, and in particular to thoroughly check out the Lake YourChapala area.

So while it may seem like a guided vacation, there is a real difference between passively seeing what happens vs. actively planning ahead of time what you want out of your experience during the Focus Program. Thinking ahead how to maximize your time will help you;

• get your  personal questions answered,
• make definite contacts,
• learn what you need to, and
• know what your next steps will be to get you to your goal of moving to Mexico.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

1. Get cash – It’s a good idea to have some pesos on hand when you arrive and one way to purchase pesos is through your local bank (provided it has a foreign currency department).  Depending on the amount you are exchanging many banks charge a small or even no commission.  See Money tips for Mexico.
2. Pack sturdy walking shoes/sandals – It’s said that when you walk on the cobblestones in Ajijic, you move every bone in your foot, which is actually healthy, but if you are planning on exploring on your own or possibly joining the local hiking group for a hike, be sure to bring appropriate shoes and save your dancing shoes for Wednesday night at Manix.  Don’t let a fall put a damper on your trip.
3. Sun hat and sun screen – At 5,000 feet altitude it’s important to pack and use a sun hat and sun screen.  The sun is more intense than you realize and altitude sickness has a tendency to sneak up on you so that by the time you start to feel dehydrated, you may need to stop and recover.
4. Formulate your questions – Write down your most important questions before you leave home and make sure they get answered while you are at the seminar.  If they’re not written down, it’s easy to forget questions you had in mind amidst the plethora of information delivered during our crash course.
5. Medications – bring all of your medications in their original containers, thereby providing proof that your medications are legally prescribed by a physician.  Keep in mind that it is illegal to bring some common over the counter medications into Mexico including inhalers and medicines that contain pseudoephedrine (such as Acted, Sedated, and Vicks inhalers) or
   codeine.  Click here for a list of items prohibited when entering Mexico.

IN MEXICO

1. Visa – Be sure to complete the immigration card usually provided by the airlines.   Keep the portion of the immigration card that the official stamps and hands back to you.  You will need this to exit the country.
2. Hydrate – Again, it is important to stay hydrated at altitude.  Our van always has drinking water on hand, but it is good to have your own supply.  The general rule of thumb is to drink more water than you would at home.   Electrolyte,  the local oral rehydration drink, is available at OXXO (Mexican convenience store), and most of the small liquor and abarrotes (general store).  A calorie free version, SueroX, is available at the local Walmart.  These products are much better than the well-known sports drinks because they contain fewer complex sugars for your body to absorb.
3. Monitor your alcohol consumption – A good rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water for each alcoholic drink consumed.  Hangovers at altitude are worse so better avoided all together.
4. Medications – If you are considering self-insuring in Mexico, visit a local pharmacy with your medications to ascertain their cost and availability locally.  Most of the larger pharmacies such as Farmacia Guadalajara have some English speaking personnel.
5. Explore – If you can, plan on staying on after the program to do some personal exploration.  We can help you arrange tours and/or transfer to a Bed & Breakfast so that you can experience a different location.  See as many neighborhoods and different properties as possible.  Your dream neighborhood or home may turn out to be totally different than what you had in mind before arriving.  See Lake Chapala Neighborhoods Part I and Part II for more information about Lakeside neighborhoods.

AT THE SEMINAR

1. Take notes and make your own to-do list – If for no other reason, taking notes helps you remember the presentation.  Most information is forgotten within a few days, so take time in the moment to summarize your top take-aways from each talk, and what your action will be, i.e. email immigration lawyer.
2. Ask questions – Be sure that the questions you formulated before leaving home get answered.  If you don’t hear the answer to one of your questions, speak to one of the presenters or staff and we will help you find the information you’re looking for.  All of our presenters are available for questions following their presentation, so take advantage to get answers to your specific questions.
3. Network – Make connections with the other program participants and the experts you may want to work with.  Your Focus manual will contain contact information for both participants and experts, but you should be sure you make a personal connection with those you want to talk to later.  One of the most important parts of any conference is not the sessions themselves, but the interaction with other attendees and presenters that can provide the beginning of your local network. We make this easy for you with group lunches and dinners where you can network with participants and Focus on Mexico alumni who are now local residents.
4. Make your own gatherings – Everyone wants to socialize, but someone needs to take the lead.  We have found over time that our participants tend to connect with each other and even make long lasting friendships that start with meeting up for a drink or meal outside of the planned outings.  So think about taking the lead and inviting others in your group for an informal meet up.
5. Develop your personal Action Plan – In the last day of the Focus program, we review key take-aways and work together to create your personal written action plan. Having the program experience is one thing – actually moving the project of moving to Mexico from dream to reality is another. Your personal Action Plan will serve as a handy reference point once your are back home and planning your next steps.

AFTER THE SEMINAR

1. Exclusive Facebook Group – All Focus Program graduates (both live and online programs) are invited to join a Private Facebook Group called FOM Move2Mexico. This is where you can keep in touch with your class-mates as well as pose questions to the group. This group is specifically for FOM Program alumni who are still in the process of moving to Mexico.  Focus will also add key updates and exclusive content to this group.
2. Personal Follow-up – Alumni can always feel free to email info@focusonmexico.com with personal questions and will receive one-on-one follow up as a benefit of being a Focus Alumnus.

Let’s Wrap this Up

Above all, enjoy everything this wonderful country has to offer and let your sense of humor, adaptability, and patience guide you through the experience of a lifetime.  Relax and have a good time.  We look forward to greeting and showing you around Lakeside!

Sign up now for our one of our fast track learning seminars and see if Lakeside living is in your future!