The next step toward Permanent Residency is the "Pase de Transeunte" which is sort of a temporary residency. You have to have two Venezuelan witnesses sign for you and a letter from your employer. In other words, you should get a job before you apply for a Pase de Transeunte. Check your local hotels and English schools to get a job that will qualify. There is probably a version of this visa for business-owners as well, but you'll have to look into it. Once you get your Pase you will be able to reside here for one year at which time you can apply for residency which lasts four additional years before citizenship. For more information about residency, visit your local Oni-Dex office, but don't expect them to be very helpful. You have to be persistent.

Mailing goods into the country is a bit stickier though, as customs are likely to force you to pay a 15-17% tax on each item. Since customs determines the value of the item themselves, you might get a high tax bill.  In Margarita there is no import tax because it is a free trade zone.  Everything that has been imported to Margarita is cheaper as a result.

Cultural Differences: Once you're on track to stay here for a while you will start noticing certain cultural differences. If you are from North America one of the things you will notice very soon is that people are not afraid to say what they think of you to your face. You might not know the person, but it is possible that they will make a comment to you that you can hear. This is unusual for us North Americans because we are used to people only making comments about us outside of earshot.

People are just bolder here, saying things to you that you would never hear in the United States or Canada. Perhaps New Yorkers or some Europeans will not be as shocked by this as much as Americans.

After a while you will start to notice a lack of authority. There are police and divisions between the rich and poor, but after a while you will start to think, who is in charge here?  For many, that lack of organization is refreshing.  Basically, in Venezuela there is a greater degree of liberty than is found in most first-world nations, accompanied by a greater amount of danger.  For example, traffic laws can be bent, you can smoke almost anywhere, there are no paternity laws and there are no income and almost no property taxes. 

In Margarita, there isn't any kind of tax at all apart from a few nominal taxes!  All of this adds up to more freedom than you might be accustomed to.  Since the country tends more towards anarchy there are also more hazards, but if you are careful there is nothing to worry about.  I've lived in Venezuela for almost two years and have never had a single incident.  I can't say the same for New York!

Venezuelan life is quite different from American and European life. Venezuelans base their lives around the family.  It is very common for three generations to live under the same roof.  People tend to eat at home with their family, rather than in restaurants. Abortion is illegal and contraception use is lower so there are a lot of young children running around. Venezuelans view children as a blessing rather than a burden and therefore aren't afraid to reproduce!

I won't go into other cultural differences such as the importance of time (which is lesser here) or relationships or politics. I will leave those differences for you to discover.  Part of the joy of travelling to or living in a new place is discovering and adjusting to those differences.  Just remember that you have to adjust to Venezuela, not the other way around!

Good luck and come on down.  You won't regret it. Venezuela is one of the most energized, verdant and fun countries on earth!

The following is Christopher's first article for the magazine:

• Merida, Venezuela - In The Venezuelan Andes