In our series “My American Dream is in Mexico”, we explore the growing phenomenon of Mexican-Americans who were born or raised in the U.S. yet have chosen to pursue their adult dreams in Mexico. Each feature seeks to uncover their motivations, experiences, and the connections they’re rediscovering in the country their parents left long ago in search of a better life and more opportunities. Today, we are profiling Jenny Frausto-Aguayo and Kevin Frausto of the Eat Baila Travel YouTube channel.
The couple have roots in Chicago but are planning to settle in Mexico for the long haul. We discussed their backgrounds, identity, the privilege of being bilingual and bicultural, and their plans for the future.
Age: 30 and 36
Location: Mexico City and Puerto Escondido
Occupation: YouTube Content creators and Project Manager (Kevin)
Roots in Mexico: Zacatecas (Jenny), Veracruz and San Luis Potosí (Kevin)
Why did you move to Mexico?
Jenny: “Early on when we got married we talked about leaving the U.S. and Mexico was always an option but we thought something further afield like Spain or Brazil. In 2018, we visited Playa del Carmen and Mérida and we met foreigners living and thriving in Mexico. When we realized that people who had no heritage or family connection to Mexico were living there, we saw ourselves doing the same thing. We thought, why not us? We already have the cultural connection and the opportunities to thrive are there. Our goal was to move to Mérida in 2020, since it made so much sense — we have the cultural connection and Mexican citizenship. But when the pandemic hit, we postponed until 2021 to keep working and saving up.”
Kevin: “I used to travel to Mexico a lot as a kid — like two or three times a year, our family would drive down there together. But in 2006, when cartel violence escalated, we stopped going altogether. My perception of Mexico changed because of that and because of my mom’s fears. So, when Jenny started talking about moving to Mexico, I thought she was crazy! But when we took that trip in 2018, it helped me see that, while Mexico wasn’t as safe as it had been before 2006, it wasn’t as unsafe as I’d thought either.”
How did your parents react when you told them you were relocating to Mexico?
J: “They brushed it off. We told them a year in advance, and at first, they thought we were joking or just talking about a dream we’d never actually pursue. When they realized we were serious, the concerns started. They couldn’t understand why we’d want to move to a country they saw as unsafe based on the news they watched. We had many conversations to help them warm up to the idea, explaining that, just like in Chicago, Mexico has both safe and unsafe areas.”
K: “For my mom, it eased her mind that we started in Veracruz with her family, where we stayed for two months to settle in. After that, we traveled nomadically for the rest of 2021 and 2022, spending an extended period in Puerto Escondido.”
What inspired you to start your YouTube channel?
J: “We started our YouTube channel as a way to embrace our Mexican-American identity, and how we navigate that as individuals who are exploring their heritage country. We were looking for a place to live, but at the same time, we wanted to absorb all the history and important figures we didn’t learn about growing up — like La Malinche, Miguel Hidalgo, and others. We also wanted to showcase how beautiful Mexican culture is and share our learning experience with people on our YouTube channel and hope that other Mexican-Americans can feel empowered to embrace their culture as much as we do”.
In what ways have you reconnected with your Mexican roots?
K: “For me it’s been about figuring out my identity. It’s come full circle. When I was a kid, I traveled to Mexico frequently — both to San Luis and Veracruz, which are very different from each other. The culture I grew up with in Chicago also differed greatly from that of my Mexican peers and American colleagues at school and work. Now it feels complete, and I take pride in identifying as a Mexican from Chicago. Spending so much time in Mexico has taught me so much about my family and myself — insights I probably would never have gained if I hadn’t left Chicago.”
How do Mexicans in Mexico perceive your identity?
J: “It’s very funny. We got the first taste from our family in Veracruz because we speak fluent Spanish and they were shocked. They were like: “You don’t sound like other pochos, who have more broken Spanish.” Their reaction highlighted how we were breaking their preconceived notions of what Mexican-Americans are like. Also, on YouTube, we’ve gotten hate comments from Mexicans saying we’re not really Mexican and also from Americans telling us we’re not American.”
What does the word “pocho” mean to you and have you been called it?
J: “It’s a term often used derogatorily. Some people have chosen to embrace it and give it a positive spin, but it still bothers me when others use it to describe me. The word ‘pocho,’ as I understand it, has roots meaning something that is rotten — like a spoiled piece of fruit. It implies that we’re not good enough. We’re not good enough to be Mexican and we’re not good enough to be American either. So they put us in this limbo place that we like to call ‘ni de aquí ni de allá’ (neither from here nor there) but we’ve given it a spin and we like to say ‘de aquí y de allá’ (from here and there), because we belong to both cultures.”
Tell me more about what the phrase ‘de aquí y de allá means to you?
K: After spending so much time in Mexico, we truly feel at home here. The transition was much easier than we expected. At the same time, Chicago will always be home for us too. We feel comfortable in both places. We adopted the phrase because we’ve always felt we belong to both cultures rather than feeling like we don’t belong to either. In Mexico, we’re seen as American while in the U.S., we’re viewed as Mexican. Our constant travel between the two has shown us that both places are our home. We literally have citizenship in both countries, so we can proudly claim both, despite what others may say.”
In what ways has being bilingual and bicultural enriched your experience in Mexico?
J: “We feel like we have superpowers being fluent in two languages and bringing perspectives from both countries, though probably a bit more from the U.S.! We came to Mexico eager to learn and absorb what it has to offer. Mexico has so much to teach us and we aim to take the best from both worlds. That’s what ‘de aquí y de allá’ embodies — it’s a combination of ‘yes, and this.’ We blend the best of both to create the most fulfilling life we can. I believe that’s what our ancestors would have wanted for us: to see us happy and thriving, not struggling for basic needs. If we have the opportunity to live in the country they’ve called home for generations, why wouldn’t we?”
What is next for Jenny & Kevin?
K: “A couple of years ago, we bought land in Puerto Escondido near La Punta and we want to drive our car from Chicago to California then down to Baja and then put the car in a ferry to the coast to then make the trek to Oaxaca. Our goal is to turn the land into a home and possibly start a business, though we’re still brainstorming ideas. We might dive into this project right away or take one last taste of digital nomad life before we settle down to build both a home and a business.”
Are you a U.S.-born or raised child of Mexican immigrants currently living in Mexico? Perhaps your Mexican parents emigrated to another country, and you’ve chosen to return to Mexico? If so, I’d love to hear your story for this series! Please leave your email in the comments, and I’ll reach out.
Rocio is based in Mexico City and is the creator of CDMX iykyk, a newsletter designed to keep expats, digital nomads and the Mexican diaspora in the loop. The weekly dispatches feature top news, cultural highlights, upcoming CDMX events & local recommendations. For your weekly dose of must-know news about Mexico, subscribe here.
I am enjoying this series. I have subscribed to IYKYK, as well as eat, biala, travel. I hadn’t thought about the issues Mexican-Americans might face when moving to Mexico. I always thought my Mexican friends in America were so lucky to have multi cultural experiences. They had two “homes”. Being of Norwegian decent, it was much harder to visit my family “homeland”. My great, great grandparents emigrated to the US and made a book of their journey that is still in the family, but I was very young when my great grandparents passed on. My grandparents spoke Norwegian but didn’t teach it to my parents or us. We had several traditions and many recipes that were enjoyed while grandma was alive, unfortunately she passed about 40 years ago. Grandpa didn’t continue those things, passing last year at 100 years. So my sense of who I am is somewhat lost. I’ve been fortunate to travel to Norway and would love to look up family, but I feel as if I know nothing of my heritage. Now in Mexico, I am trying to learn and explore as much of the culture and heritage I can. A topic that might be interesting to cover is how, due to political polarization, many of my American friends look down upon me (and I assume others) for enjoying and spending much of my time in Mexico. I have fallen in love with the Country, culture, history and it’s people, however I get called a traitor, and much worse derogatory terms when visiting back home. Most of these people have never traveled and believe the political rhetoric spewed daily in the US media. I tell them that I in all the time I have been in Mexico, have never been raped, drugged or assaulted – even if I wanted to be. It’s sad that a majority of Americans have never tried to find time to talk with a Mexican or to visit Mexico because of some political bullshit. I accept the tern gringo and am proud to be assimilating into Mexican life
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying the series! It sounds like you’ve had a truly meaningful journey with your heritage, and I really appreciate you sharing the story of your family’s experiences and traditions with me. It’s inspiring to hear how you’ve connected with Norwegian culture and now are immersing yourself in Mexico’s rich history and traditions.
I completely understand the challenges of facing others’ misconceptions about Mexico. It’s unfortunate that political divides sometimes cloud people’s perceptions and make it harder for them to appreciate the beauty, warmth, and depth of cultures they might not know firsthand. I love your idea for a future topic on how living in or visiting Mexico often meets with these reactions—it’s such a relevant issue that could resonate with so many. Thanks again for following along with the series, and for supporting CDMX IYKYK and Eat Baila Travel. I’m thrilled to have you here!
Thanks for this insightful article. The pocho mentality is unfortunately a worldwide issue.
I experienced it here in Switzerland which I moved to as a kid from the UK and I frequently discuss it with people who are applying for Swiss citizenship, who can feel very insecure about their dual cultural identity. Being integrated in your new country doesn’t mean that you must deny your roots. As long as you go along with the local lifestyle, respect the laws and customs of your adopted country, you have every right to be there and to contribute to an open society.
Some locals everywhere get defensive, fortunately there are also those that are more open-minded and helpful.
In Switzerland, originally a poor country some 100 years ago, immigrants have helped to develop a very strong economy and a successful society.
Ignorance and fear go hand-in-hand and generate a stagnant society, some thing we can observe in politics in many democracies right now.
Kids from bi- or trilingual backgrounds often struggle with identity, until they realise this offers them choice and the opportunity and ability to contribute. I wish Jenny and Kevin all the best for their future and for their part in a successful and thriving society in México.
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and for taking the time to connect. I deeply resonate with your perspective—navigating dual or even multiple cultural identities brings both challenges and opportunities, and it’s true that integration doesn’t mean denying our roots. The strength and richness that bilingual, bicultural, and multicultural individuals bring to society are invaluable, as you pointed out. It’s inspiring to hear how you help others facing similar feelings in Switzerland, and your point about immigrants shaping strong societies is so true across the globe.
Thank you again for your well-wishes for Jenny and Kevin—I know they’ll appreciate your thoughtful words. And I couldn’t agree more: embracing a broader perspective and fostering openness are essential to building the thriving, diverse communities that make life so vibrant.
I love this article and learned a new word. I want to live in Mexico forever, tan soy Pocho, proudly and thankfully. I have found this new home country for me and try to be worthy of her values
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the article and found a new term that resonates with you. Mexico and its people are indeed incredibly welcoming, and I hope you feel that openness and warmth in your time here. Embracing your “pocho” identity with pride and gratitude is such a beautiful way to bridge cultures. I’m glad Mexico feels like home to you, and I have no doubt that you are enriching it with your appreciation and respect for its values. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts, and wishing you many wonderful experiences ahead in your new home.
Really enjoyed this article/series! I have been visiting Baja Sur as a tourist since 1986, every year – and finally made the move to Cabo in ‘18, fell in love & got married (to a Mexican). Although my Espaniol is still lacking, I practice online & try to get fluent a little bit every day, and really love the Baja lifestyle, eco-tourism here, and owning a business here. The cost of living is unbelievably less than S. Florida, and the food/vegetables are amazing here! Keep up the great articles & gracias for the series! Tomasito
Thank you, Tomasito, for the kind words and for following the series! It’s wonderful to hear about your journey to Baja Sur and the life you’ve built in Cabo—you’re living the dream! Embracing the local lifestyle, language, and eco-tourism sounds so fulfilling, and it’s fantastic that you’re running a business there as well. Wishing you all the best in Baja and plenty of amazing moments in your new home. I hope to check out that area next year!
I traveled a lot with my family from the San Diego area into mainland Mexico and Baja. Having grown up by the ocean, I was drawn to BajaSur. When my husband retired, we made the move to Todos Santos,BCS and we both love it! We are bilingual and that’s helps tremendously. We settled in a Mexican neighborhood rather than el otro lado where many gringos live.
I just googled Todos Santos and it looks heavenly! Seems like you and your husband made a great choice.
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I have a different take on the series you are writing. My grandparents came from Poland and Italy. I grew up in Chicago, but came to Mexico at 19 years old through a group called CIASP. I lived in a mountain village in the north of Pueble State on the borders of Puebla, Hidalgo, and Vera Cruz during the summers of 1965-1967. From Mexican peasants, I learned what it meant to be an American.
I am a US citizen and a permanent resident of Ecuador and of Mexico. I live in those three countries. At Present, I live outside Madison, WI USA on our farm where my wife grows organic flowers from May 1 through July 15th. I live in Quito, Ecuador(lived there part time for 17 years) from July 15th though Sept 1st. I return to spend Fall in Wisconsin from September 1st through October 15th. On October 15th through May 1st, I live in Ajijic, Jalisco (settled by the Spanish in 1531 because of the fresh waters of Lago Chapala) . I have been repeating this routine of living in 3 countries for 7 years.
Rocio, I would be happy to share my Whatsapp number with you and thoughts on multi country living, but I do not want to openly publish my telephone, but will send it to you via your email.
Wow, what an interesting story Jim! I will reach out to you via email in the coming days. Cheers!