Get Moving

The next step is to begin thinking about the moving process itself. The moving process involves selecting a good moving service, and it's essential that you base your choice on recommendations from people who have worked with a particular moving company before you make your choice. One thing to make sure is that you are not bringing in illegal substances like organic goods, alcohol, drugs or firearms into the country. You will be required to sign an official document certifying this. You are also not supposed to bring in any new goods, what you bring in should be your used household items, nothing else. Make sure to insure what it is you are moving and keep a record of the items, as things may be lost along the way, damaged or broken. You never know, even with the best companies. Besides, you will need to provide Mexican customs with an inventory of the goods you are bringing in.

The Relocation Process

Having done your homework, it is a very good idea to contact a relocation specialist before you move to Mexico. If you are relocating with a company, your company could provide you with a relocation specialist, as the services of a relocation specialist is sometimes included in the company's budget for the expatriate relocation package, but not always. Relocation specialists are very handy in that they offer you the chance to make your relocation to Mexico as smooth as possible for you and your family. They generally offer look and see tours to help you figure out where you'd like to live (it would be ideal if you could make a pre-move visit), and they also go into home searches to help you find a place once you've figured out where you'd like to live. They take charge of the hassles and details of setting up the house, utilities and communications, etc. If you are planning on leaving the country they can also take care of the sale or lease of your home. One thing to note about most relocation companies is that they generally prefer to work with companies as clients, rather than individuals. So if you are being relocated through your company, make sure you know if your company has included a relocation specialist in your relocation budget.

If you are not planning on using a relocation service, you can hire the services of a real estate agent, but make sure you go about this task upon recommendations from other people who have relocated to Mexico. Do your homework, search around, check out on-line resources and forums. You can find a house or an apartment depending on your needs, but you should know that the cost of living in Mexico is not cheap, despite the misconceptions of many foreigners. As a foreigner, you will also need a guarantor (aval) to underwrite your lease contract. This is often underrated by potential lessees, but is very important nevertheless. Note that your company can act as a guarantor if need be. 

Where To Live - Where Not To Live

There are certain things to look out for in picking a home in Mexico. Proximity of home to work and also your children's school is very important in a city the size of Mexico's capital. Traffic is often bumper-to-bumper, distances can be long. Making sure your work, school and home are within close vicinity of each other (as well as other amenities like sports clubs, shopping centers, supermarket, etc.) can significantly improve your quality of life. Another thing to note is pollution. There are parts of the city with residential areas that have less congestion, more parks, less traffic. Added to this factor is the ever-pervasive problem of insecurity in Mexico City. The crime-rate is high and you always have to keep in mind the safety and security of yourself and your family. Certain areas are safer than others, but even then, always make sure you take precautions.

Schooling

When choosing a school, make sure you go and visit all the schools that you have picked out and that you are given guided tours into all the facilities. Also see and compare the curriculums of the various schools and make sure they offer the quality and facilities you are expecting. Although Mexico City has excellent private and bilingual schools, one should always know all facets of such an important decision as concerns the education of their children. 

Job Search

In terms of finding a job in Mexico City, this often depends on whom you know as well as how good your credentials are. Being bilingual is always a big bonus, especially with a knowledge of English, while other languages like French, German and Italian may also come in very handy considering the number and size of European companies doing business in Mexico. 

For executives looking to change jobs or acquire new jobs, the best way to go about it would be through a headhunter. There are some excellent international headhunting services and companies spread throughout Mexico. Another good place to begin are on-line Internet employment sites and forums where you can find information and also interact with others who may know of opportunities and also exchange advice and experience. Make sure to also contact chambers of commerce, be they foreign or local, as well as checking out the daily classifieds in Mexico's various newspapers and their respective websites. 

To Sum Up: Enjoy

Although your homework before and during your move will have acquainted you with what to expect in Mexico in terms of culture shock, nothing will inure you until you actually live and experience Mexico for yourself. While the differences take time, patience and an open mind to come to terms with, having become acclimatized, you will find it the most rewarding experience of your life. As mentioned above, crime, pollution, traffic are ever-pervasive factors, yet the subtleties of becoming acquainted with social and business etiquette, style of living, language, culture, arts and crafts, the unique multi-layered history the country offers, reflected in the art, architecture and even in the faces of the people, all of this is just waiting to be discovered and what awaits you is a veritable feast for the senses and mind. Sure, we have to consider the itsy bitsy details of this whole complicated relocation process, and we have to do our homework assiduously, but you will understand once you have settled in, that you will experience the satisfaction and fulfillment of having relieved yourself of the panic, while at the same time having given yourself the time and knowledge to take upon yourself the adventure that is waiting to be discovered.