I've been reading the Avisos Económicos (Classified Ads) in the Merida daily newspaper Pat brought back. We're not permitted to work in Mexico under the terms of our FM3 Rentista visa, but the Empleos (Help Wanted) make for some interesting reading.

Por ejemplo...it's not unusual to specify a narrow age range, sex, and marital status for your position. Since nouns have gender, one needn't even state sex explicitly. "Recepcionista para hotel de 40 a 50 años" can only mean a female desk clerk is sought - and only those between 40 and 50 need apply. "Casada de preferencia" would indicate a married lady is preferred.

"Cocinero joven para desayunos" makes it clear that a young man who cooks is wanted for preparation of breakfast. If a girl would do just as well, they would ask for Cocinera/o. Occasionally someone wants a couple - "Pareja con experiencia en molino y tortilleria" - a couple with experience in milling and tortilla making.

There are some interesting positions that probably don't show up here in the states very often. "Hojalatero ayudante adelantardo" - advanced tinsmith helper. Wonder what he does?

Some positions require specific skills, like "manejo computador" or "manejo paquete Office" - operate a computer or Microsoft Office. Whatever the skillset or specifications for personal characteristics, the salary seems to fall into the 600-1100 peso semanal (weekly), often for a four hour workday. If it is a four hour day, five days per week this works out to 30 pesos per hour - $2.72 USD. If it's an eight hour day that would be $1.36 an hour. Lower-end jobs like "lavador de autos" - carwasher - might only pay fifty pesos per day - about $4.50 USD. I wouldn't expect much for the "empleado para attender carrito de hot-dogs". A guy who sells perros calientes from a little street cart - often late into the night.



These ads give some idea what the standard of living is like in Merida. This is one reason we believe it is possible for two people to live comfortably there for less than $24K a year. Modestly to be sure, but it was just today that I saw the wise axiom - "A rich person is not he who has the most...it is he who needs the least".

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