I am Harriet Murray from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. For over 25 years, Vallarta has been my home, a place where I never truly expected to settle. Before making this vibrant coastal city my permanent residence, I visited Vallarta for a week every September for nearly a decade. However, during a fateful trip in 1997, I made a life-altering decision. On that occasion, I found myself alone, without the distractions of friends or the responsibilities of family weighing me down. I started to wonder what it would be like if I decided to stay and live here.
The thought of living outside the United States was both thrilling and intimidating. Some of my friends thought I was either crazy or that I wouldn’t last long—certainly not longer than a few more weeks. In those early days, I wrestled with doubts about my choice. There were times when I questioned my decision to embark on this new chapter of my life. Yet, as each week turned into months and months into years, I learned invaluable lessons that kept me here.
Living in Puerto Vallarta has allowed me to connect with a diverse range of people from all corners of North America, including Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. It’s essential to recognize that Puerto Vallarta is a part of North America and offers a unique blend of cultures. While we can choose to stay within our home countries, moving to a different nation profoundly challenges our personal comfort levels.
One of my passions is sharing what I’ve learned about buying and owning real estate in a foreign country. This journey has been enlightening, both personally and professionally. I continually explore the cultural nuances and business practices that differ from what I was accustomed to back home. Through my writing, I aim to shed light on the complexities of real estate practices in Mexico, sharing what I perceive as gaps and misunderstandings in the market.
Cultural differences often lead to misconceptions and unrealistic expectations. These variances stem from differing premises about how we approach life, work, and relationships. Once you buy property here, you face an entirely new set of circumstances: setting up a household, establishing routines, and learning to navigate day-to-day life in a different country. Selling property also introduces its own challenges, and I strive to address these issues, making the process less intimidating for newcomers.
One area that fascinates me is the research into why locals and expatriates have different perspectives on various topics. For example, the ways we show respect can vary greatly. In Mexico and other high-context cultures like France, communication often relies heavily on shared understanding and non-verbal cues. In contrast, the United States is typically characterized by a low-context culture where information is conveyed more explicitly. This difference can lead to miscommunications and misunderstandings across borders.
As I continue this journey, I hope to provide valuable insights and foster a greater understanding of these cultural dynamics. I encourage my readers to engage with me, sharing their thoughts and experiences, whether in agreement or disagreement. We can learn so much from each other in our diverse and richly layered world.
