No products in the cart.
Moving to Mexico | Part 6 of 10 · An honest series by Dudy, creator of My Puerto Vallarta Daily
Dudy shares his family’s personal journey of moving to Mexico — the good, the challenging, the unexpected, and everything in between. In Part 6: learning Spanish before moving to Mexico — his biggest lesson learned.
Start learning before you pack your bags
Don’t be me. I had every opportunity to start learning Spanish before moving to Mexico. I had the time, access to a great Spanish school, and I lived in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Oakland where I could have practiced every single day. But somehow, I kept postponing it. There was always a reason to wait… until there wasn’t.
Looking back, I wish I had arrived here with even a basic foundation. So if you’re planning to move to Mexico, consider this my biggest lesson learned: start learning before you pack your bags.
Getting by isn’t feeling connected
As soon as we arrived in Puerto Vallarta, I enrolled in Spanish classes twice a week with the fabulous KayLista Spanish Studio, who I highly recommend. Unfortunately, the stress of moving, settling into a new country, and dealing with all the emotions that come with such a big life change made it difficult for me to focus. I had to pause my lessons after just a couple of months. I learned enough to get by in simple situations, but when you’re actually living here, “getting by” isn’t the same as feeling connected.
Surviving isn’t the same as belonging
Yes, you can survive without Spanish in many parts of Puerto Vallarta. Many people speak English, especially in tourist areas, and even our local tienda has staff who can help in English. But surviving isn’t the same as belonging. The real magic happens when you make the effort to learn the language, understand the culture, appreciate the customs, and become part of everyday conversations… even if those conversations are just neighborhood gossip.
Don’t underestimate this because “everyone speaks English.” First, they don’t. Second, speaking Spanish isn’t just about communication. It’s one of the greatest signs of respect you can show to the country you’ve chosen to call home.
Previous: Part 5 — Cash Is Still King ← · Next: Part 7 — Healthcare: Not What We Expected →
About this series
Originally shared on My Around the World Daily. Adapted with permission. Dudy spent a year living in Puerto Vallarta, photographing it daily for thousands of followers — read his farewell interview with I Heart Vallarta: CLICK HERE
Planning the move yourself?
I Heart Vallarta is the local community waiting for you on the other side — vetted local businesses, honest recommendations, and the people who make this city home. Join at the founding rate and land connected.
Read also
