It's probably the biggest barrier. You can get through the airport on arrival with just English, but beyond that, most people speak only Spanish unless you go to very tourist-focused places or expat enclaves.
For us, those are areas we don't find particularly interesting or desireable so getting conversational is a goal for us. We live in a rural area in the US and plan on living in a rural area there. It'll be hard enough as gringos, but almost impossible without being able to speak the langauge.
Plus most of the North American expats are damned annoying. I can see why the locals tend to despise them in just about every country.
One are the same libtards we have here, but they decided to spread their "wisdom" and misery to other countries. They're very activist and intent on helping the "poor third world" people by trying to shoehorn the policies they advocated which failed in western countries. TBF, many have good intentions and a fair amount will learn the language and culture.
The second are the enclavers. People, usually retired, who emigrate from the US or Canada. They live in a close community of other expats, they don't speak the local language, they don't care about the local culture and really don't benefit the locals in excess of the demands they place on the area. They just like the weather and the low prices.
In El Salvador, you also have the Bitcoiners or wanna-be-Bitcoiners. A lot of these people made a bunch of money on bitcoin and they still don't know exactly how they did it. Many seem to want to leverage their wealth by living among poor people. They buy up lots of land, ham-handedly invest, make a mess of things because most were just lucky and aren't the financial geniuses they think they are.
Shockingly, the first group is usually tolerable in the short term, until they get power and influence. The second two groups tend to be assholes to the locals, and drive up prices for the locals. But they're tolerated as they're easily fleeced by the locals and generally stay behind their walled fortresses (only a slight exaggeration).
OK, this isn't a charitable assessment. Not everyone fits into a neat stereotype. But there is a reason that "gringo" is a often a pejorative.
Here's my philosophy to being an expat.
It's important to remember that when you become an expat, you are a guest in that country.
Other countries still have functioning immigration systems. They don't want you in if you're going to be a burden, and you're unlikely to become a resident unless you benefit their country somehow.
It's only bare minimum respect to try to learn the language and the local customs. Things are the way they are for a reason and if that reason is only tradition, then you still need to respect it.
If you can't be a benefit, at least don't be a problem.
Try to find ways to support the locals. Buy at the markets instead of the chain stores. Hire a cook or a maid or a driver, even if it's just part time. Volunteer at the church or school. If you have some resources and can start a business that doesn't hurt the local economy, then that's great. If you can hire locals or use local resources, so much the better. Try to make things better by your presence.
Definitely, but we already have friends there which makes it easier for us.
And you probably speak the language which helps.
Not yet, but working on it.
It's probably the biggest barrier. You can get through the airport on arrival with just English, but beyond that, most people speak only Spanish unless you go to very tourist-focused places or expat enclaves.
For us, those are areas we don't find particularly interesting or desireable so getting conversational is a goal for us. We live in a rural area in the US and plan on living in a rural area there. It'll be hard enough as gringos, but almost impossible without being able to speak the langauge.
Plus most of the North American expats are damned annoying. I can see why the locals tend to despise them in just about every country.
What makes the expats so annoying?
Well, there are three subgroups.
One are the same libtards we have here, but they decided to spread their "wisdom" and misery to other countries. They're very activist and intent on helping the "poor third world" people by trying to shoehorn the policies they advocated which failed in western countries. TBF, many have good intentions and a fair amount will learn the language and culture.
The second are the enclavers. People, usually retired, who emigrate from the US or Canada. They live in a close community of other expats, they don't speak the local language, they don't care about the local culture and really don't benefit the locals in excess of the demands they place on the area. They just like the weather and the low prices.
In El Salvador, you also have the Bitcoiners or wanna-be-Bitcoiners. A lot of these people made a bunch of money on bitcoin and they still don't know exactly how they did it. Many seem to want to leverage their wealth by living among poor people. They buy up lots of land, ham-handedly invest, make a mess of things because most were just lucky and aren't the financial geniuses they think they are.
Shockingly, the first group is usually tolerable in the short term, until they get power and influence. The second two groups tend to be assholes to the locals, and drive up prices for the locals. But they're tolerated as they're easily fleeced by the locals and generally stay behind their walled fortresses (only a slight exaggeration).
OK, this isn't a charitable assessment. Not everyone fits into a neat stereotype. But there is a reason that "gringo" is a often a pejorative.
Here's my philosophy to being an expat.