According to the municipal government, total damages caused by Hurricane John amounted to approximately 50 billion pesos (US $2.5 billion). (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced an 8-billion-peso (US $400 million) reconstruction package for Acapulco following the destruction caused by Hurricane John in September.
The package, the president said, aims to attract and “further elevate” tourism in Acapulco. However, she stressed this can not be achieved without the support of the business sector.
Me reuní en Palacio Nacional con servidores públicos, empresarias y empresarios para la reactivación integral de Acapulco, tras el huracán John. Consolidaremos el turismo entre todas y todos. pic.twitter.com/PYXL52vjCa
In October 2023, Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco, in the southwestern state of Guerrero, as a powerful Category 5 storm, wreaking havoc on the popular resort city. Just 11 months later, Acapulco was hit by Hurricane John, a Category 3 storm that caused devastating floods and destruction across the city.
“Tourism is already returning to Acapulco,” Sheinbaum stated in a press conference. “But we also need the support of the private sector. There has already been a lot of progress in the reconstruction of hotels … but, we need [more] private investment in many areas of Acapulco,” she added.
The president met with business leaders on Nov. 14, who were reported to be satisfied with the federal reconstruction package. The task force involved in Acapulco’s reconstruction includes Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez, Undersecretary of Tourism Sebastián Ramírez, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard and the head of the National Fund for Tourism Development (Fonatur), Lynda Quiroz Zavala.
Sheinbaum added that the $400-million reconstruction package will go towards improving Acapulco’s public services, specifically drinking water and roads, and upgrading the sewage system to prevent flooding during future storms. Full details of the plan will be disclosed in Acapulco sometime in January 2025, the president said.
the $400-million reconstruction budget will go towards improving public services, specifically drinking water and roads, and upgrading the sewage system to prevent flooding during future storms. (Cuartoscuro)
In October, the National Chamber of Commerce, Services, and Tourism (Canaco-Servytur) of Acapulco requested tax incentives from President Claudia Sheinbaum to aid in the rebuilding of hotels and tourist attractions.
Local media outlets have reported that state authorities are considering the chamber’s request.
Protests continue in parts of Guerrero
Many residents of Acapulco impacted by Hurricane John claim that federal and state authorities have not yet included them in the census of homes affected.
Since Monday, residents of surrounding communities have blocked three sections of federal highway Acapulco-Zihuatanejo to demand compensation from the government due to the property damages left behind by John.
All homes included in the census are scheduled to receive aid of 8,000 pesos (US $400) for clean-up. Additional support, ranging between 15,000 and 60,000 pesos, is to be allotted to each home depending on the level of damage.
According to the municipal government, total damages caused by Hurricane John amounted to approximately 50 billion pesos (US $2.5 billion).
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard at a seminar on Nov. 13 at the Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City discussing the future of relations between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro
What share of Chinese investment in North America did Mexico receive between 2016 and 2023? Five percent? Ten percent? Twenty percent?
Not even close, according to Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard.
As this Economy Ministry graph shows, Chinese FDI in Mexico has never come close to US $1 billion per year, but in the last eight years, it has overall increased greatly. (Economy Ministry)
He told reporters on Tuesday that in the eight-year period from 2016 to 2023, Mexico received just four-tenths of a percent (0.4%) of the total Chinese investment in North America.
The United States received 68.1% of that total while Canada got 31.5%, Ebrard said.
The economy minister’s data was based on numbers he presented showing that foreign direct investment (FDI) by Chinese companies in North America was just under US $395.4 billion in that period.
Mexico got $1.68 billion of that amount. The United States received $269 billion of it, and Canada got $124.64 billion, according to Ebrard’s data.
Ebrard pointed out that this means that Chinese investment in the U.S. was 160 times higher than economic inflows to Mexico over the past eight years.
Chinese investment in the U.S. was 160 times higher than economic inflows to Mexico.
Both premiers believe that Canada should look at entering into a bilateral trade agreement with the United States rather than seeking an extension of the USMCA, the current trilateral trade deal that includes Mexico.
Ebrard called on the Canadian leaders to “review the data” on Chinese investment in North America.
“What are they talking about?” he said.
“… We have to avoid getting confused, I already sent them the data,” Ebrard said.
The economy minister said there are other officials, lawmakers and business leaders in both the United States and Canada who are questioning Chinese investment in Mexico without foundation.
He highlighted that some of those people have accused China of using Mexico as a “springboard” to get Chinese products into other parts of the North American market, namely the U.S. and Canada.
United States President-elect Donald Trump said last month that he would “seek strong new protections against transshipment” in a renegotiated USMCA “so that China and other countries cannot smuggle their products and auto parts into the United States tax-free through Mexico to the detriment of our workers and our supply chains.”
Premier Ford said last week that “if Mexico won’t fight transshipment by, at the very least, matching Canadian and American tariffs on Chinese imports, they shouldn’t have a seat at the [North American trade] table.”
Ebrard said he will dispatch some letters – to exactly whom he did not say – to refute accusations that Mexico is a transshipment hub for Chinese goods. He expressed confidence that trade-related points of contention between Mexico, the United States and Canada will be resolved during the USMCA review process, which will formally commence in 2026.
Ebrard said that the Mexican government does not believe it will be in a position of weakness when the USMCA review takes place, or during the early days of the second Trump administration.
Former presidents Enrique Peña Nieto and Donald Trump and current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the USMCA in 2018. It’s up for review in 2026, and Chinese FDI in Mexico is gearing up to become a major talking point.
“Our negotiating power is relevant,” said Ebrard, who regularly emphasizes that Mexico and the United States are each other’s largest trading partners.
“Any action that places the [Mexico-U.S.] relationship at risk results in impacts on thousands of companies,” he said, noting that many major U.S. firms have a presence in Mexico.
The economy minister also said that Mexico’s trade and investment relationship with China won’t be an impediment to a successful USCMA review.
Indeed, Mexico is taking steps to reduce its reliance on imports from China, and could increase tariffs on Chinese products, such as electric vehicles, to match the duties imposed by its northern neighbors.
Ebrard said last month that Mexico would “mobilize all legitimate interests in favor of North America” amid the ongoing United States-China trade war that could escalate once Trump is back in the White House.
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard at a seminar on Nov. 13 at the Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City discussing the future of relations between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro)
However, he said last week that Mexico would impose retaliatory tariffs on imports from the United States if the incoming Trump administration slaps tariffs on Mexican exports.
Is Ebrard’s data on Chinese investment accurate?
Ebrard on Tuesday presented Economy Ministry (SE) data on Chinese investment in Mexico over the past eight years, but there are claims that the ministry’s data is not accurate.
The reason, according to Enrique Dussel Peters, an economist and coordinator of the Center for Chinese-Mexican Studies (Cechimex) at the National Autonomous University, is that some Chinese investment comes into Mexico via United States subsidiaries of Chinese companies.
The foreign direct investment inflow is thus recorded as coming from the United States, when the money came from China.
Economist Enrique Dussel Peters, coordinator of the Center for Chinese-Mexican Studies. (UNAM/Twitter)
According to Cechimex, Chinese investment in Mexico between 2001 and late 2022 totaled $17 billion, more than six times higher than the amount recorded by the SE between 1999 and March 2024.
The establishment of joint ventures between Chinese and Mexican companies can also skew Chinese FDI figures in Mexico.
Past Chinese investment in Mexico is one thing, future investment is another
While the increase in Chinese investment that has already flowed into Mexico is a worry for some politicians and officials in the United States and Canada, an even bigger concern is the Chinese money that could come into the country in the coming years.
Donald Trump will be the next U.S. president in 2025, and he has threatened to impose heavy taxes on cars made in Mexico, especially if they are made by Chinese companies with plants here. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)
“Those big monster car manufacturing plants you are building in Mexico right now and you think you are going to … not hire Americans and you’re going to sell the car to us – no. We are going to put a 100% tariff on every car that comes across the lot,” he said in March.
Leading electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and Jaecoo are among the Chinese automakers that have announced plans to open plants in Mexico, but there is no absolute certainty that they will follow through. BYD Americas CEO Stella Li said earlier this year that the company’s plan is to “build the facility for the Mexican market, not for the export market.”
A number of lawmakers in the United States are concerned about national security risks associated with the capacity of Chinese connected vehicles to collect sensitive data. A group of Democratic Party lawmakers wrote to Claudia Sheinbaum just before she was sworn in as president to request that her government take steps to address challenges related to the sale and manufacture in Mexico of vehicles made by Chinese companies and those firms’ potential plans to use Mexico as a base to enter the U.S. market.
If most Chinese companies that have made investment announcements for Mexico – there is a significantnumber that have done so – do act on their plans, the amount of Chinese money flowing into the country could increase significantly in the near future.
From Mexico’s perspective, there are some important questions to consider.
Is Chinese investment a blessing, a curse or both?
Should Mexico continue welcoming all Chinese companies, including automakers, in pursuit of investment-related benefits such as job creation and higher economic growth?
Or should it be very selective in the Chinese investment it accepts in order to avoid upsetting its North American trade partners?
Today, a tsunami of Chinese cars and trucks is pouring into Mexico — and flying out of showrooms. (Michael Dunne)
The below article was written by Michael Dunne of Dunne Insights.
Mexico finds itself, quite suddenly, awash in Chinese cars. Hundreds of thousands of them.
The United States and Canada look at the situation and wonder: What exactly is going on with our neighbor to the south, our trusted partner in the USMCA?
Is Mexico a guilty or innocent party to the explosion of Chinese vehicles in the country? (EEYAUT Waihung/Wikimedia Commons)
Now imagine for a moment that you have been appointed to be the independent judge and jury.
Do you find Mexico:
A. Guilty — Mexico is secretly building ties with China.
B. Innocent — Mexico was blindsided.
or
C. It’s Messy — Mexico was an unwitting accomplice.
Before delivering a verdict you say you need more facts.
Here’s how the events have unfolded:
Back in 2020, Mexico decided to open the door wider to imports from China. A decree dropped import tariffs on cars from 20% to 0%. The idea was to give some Mexican car buyers access to low-cost electric vehicles (EVs).
Pretty soon a small stream of affordable cars from companies like Chery, Great Wall and MG arrived on Mexican shores.
No harm, no foul.
But then, the numbers began to jump. Today, a tsunami of Chinese cars and trucks is pouring into Mexico — and flying out of showrooms.
Founded in Great Britain in 1924, MG Motor was acquired by Chinese SAIC Motor Corp in 2007 and has made significant inroads in the car market in Mexico. (Shutterstock)
The P.R.C. will ship close to 500,000 vehicles to Mexico this year. China has blown past the United States to become Mexico’s number one supplier of cars.
One of every three new cars sold in Mexico this year will be built in China. That’s up from just 4% in 2020.
Mexico’s leaders appear to be frozen in stunned disbelief.
“I just don’t think Mexico was prepared for China’s scale and speed,” Travis Bembenek, CEO of Mexico News Daily, told me last week.
Mr. Bembenek, who has been doing business in Mexico for more than 30 years, knows his adopted country well. He is probably right.
And yet, the Mexican government seems strangely slow to counter the flood of Chinese imports. In fact, the Chinese market momentum seems to be getting stronger by the month.
BYD is on track to sell 50,000 cars in Mexico by the end of 2024, only one year after they entered the market. (Jorge Vallejo/LinkedIn)
BYD: Big, bold plans
Take Berkshire Hathaway-invested BYD, for example. China’s No. 1 automaker just entered Mexico in 2023.
The company is on track to sell 50,000 cars in Mexico this year. And BYD de Mexico CEO Jorge Vallejo says the company plans to double that to 100,000 in 2025.
That’s not all. Vallejo says that BYD will soon announce the location of a new BYD plant with the capacity to build 150,000 cars per year.
One veteran Mexican car dealer who just started selling BYDs told me he was ecstatic. “I’ve never sold so many cars in a quarter!”
BYD’s numbers look even more stunning when compared with industry giants like Toyota. It took the world’s largest automaker 22 years before it achieved 100,000 sales in Mexico in a single year.
BYD plans to get there in just 36 months. As my teenage daughter, Aurelia, likes to say: Wait, what?
Mexico’s own export machine
At the same time that Mexico is spending billions on cars imported from China, the country is also exporting a record number of vehicles to the United States.
In 2023, Mexico shipped a record 2.2 million cars to the U.S. It is a lucrative business for Mexico that also employs tens of thousands.
Automotive exports alone were worth US $144.1 billion in the first nine months of 2024. (Shutterstock)
Mexico is also home to a strong and vibrant parts industry.
It is natural to wonder: Why would Mexico import so many cars from China when the country is working hard to build its own export-oriented industry?
That does not make sense.
Trade sweats
China’s surge in investment south of the border has given North American leaders those middle-of-the-night sweats. Mexico is the canary in the coal mine.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese imports. And President-elect Trump has said that he will absolutely block any efforts to bring Chinese cars into the U.S. via Mexico.
American politicians and industrial leaders are beginning to complain out loud that Mexico may be a less than totally reliable partner.
On November 7th, just two days after the election, President-elect Trump made clear his displeasure:
“I’m going to inform her [President Sheinbaum] on day one that if they do not stop this onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I am going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send to the United States of America.”
Trump is not alone in his fury. Last week Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, Canada, recommended potentially removing Mexico from the USMCA.
Ford said Mexico should “at the very least” match U.S. and Canadian tariffs on Chinese imports, or “they shouldn’t have a seat at the table or enjoy access to the largest economy in the world.”
Last week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested that Canada consider cutting Mexico out of the next North American free trade agreement. (Doug Ford/X)
When four is a crowd
Tensions are building. The U.S. and Canada are not happy. China is quietly delighted. Mexico is under pressure to act.
Look for Mexico to increase tariffs on Chinese cars. Soon. Car exports to America are simply too crucial to the Mexican economy.
The 0% decree elapsed in September, so now Chinese cars face an import duty of 20%. That is hardly enough to stop the flow.
“Mexico will match the [100%] tariffs of the U.S. and Canada,” said Jorge Guajardo, former Mexican ambassador to China and now a partner at the DGA Group in Washington D.C., “precisely because Mexico wants to protect its own industry, its own supplier base. There is a strong auto parts lobby in Mexico pushing for higher tariffs right now.”
That happened, now what?
Mexico opened the door. Chinese automakers flew in. The U.S. and Canada got nervous: Is Mexico complicit or naive, they wondered?
The USMCA is definitely entering new territory. Much remains up in the air.
• What happens, for example, if Leapmotor International, the 51/49 JV between Stellantis and Leapmotor, starts building cars in Mexico?
• How will states like California react when some of the nearly one million Chinese cars now running on Mexican roads find their way north across the border? (I already see an occasional China-built car with Mexican plates rolling on San Diego highways)
Things can get complicated in a hurry.
Amidst all the uncertainty, one thing is clear: China successfully poked the USMCA. It won’t be the last time.
That’s the verdict.
Michael Dunne is an entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker. In 2018, Dunne founded Dunne Insights to deliver world-class advisory services on global electric and autonomous vehicle markets. Subscribe to his newsletter at newsletter.dunneinsights.com.
The first stage of the competition welcomed 160 luchadores aged 18 to 29, in the categories of Female Fighters, Male Fighters, Mini-Micro and Exotic. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
The Youth Institute (INJUVE) of Mexico City, in collaboration with Brigada Dos de Tres Caídas and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, inaugurated the “Lucha por el Barrio 2024” tournament on Tuesday.
The initiative seeks to promote young wrestling talents and inspire newer generations to engage in the sport of Lucha Libre.
The opening ceremony of the tournament took place on Tuesday at Utopía Meyehualco in the borough of Iztapalapa. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
The first stage of the competition welcomed 160 luchadores aged 18 to 29, in the categories of Female Fighters, Male Fighters, Mini-Micro and Exotic.
The participants underwent physical tests evaluated by a panel of wrestling experts. Only 80 of them, however, made it to the second round, which is scheduled for Nov. 20 and 21.
At this stage, the luchadores will compete in the ring, where they must demonstrate strength, endurance, performance and charisma to the public. At the end, a group of judges will evaluate the participants and select the finalists.
An opportunity to create ‘future legends’
The final competition will be held on Dec. 7 at the Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gymnasium, in the heart of the borough of Benito Juárez. The top three contestants will receive a cash prize and an annual contract to join the Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide roster.
At the opening ceremony, the head of the INJUVE Guillermo Santiago Rodríguez said it is of great importance to create opportunities for youth in various disciplines, including iconic sports such as wrestling.
The final competition will be held on Dec. 7 at the Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gymnasium, in the Benito Juárez borough. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Luchadora Faby Apache, who has over two decades of wrestling experience, said this tournament is an invaluable opportunity to discover new talents and to preserve the sport.
“Mexican wrestling is a [point of] national pride, and these events are essential to keep the tradition alive and create future legends,” she said.
What is Lucha Libre?
Lucha Libre, or Mexican wrestling, is mainly recognized for the colorful masks wrestlers wear and the theatrical performances put on by the luchadores.
More than a sport, it has become a popular form of entertainment and a big tourist attraction, mainly in Mexico City. Due to its popularity and cultural value, in 2018 it was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mexico City by the city’s Culture Ministry.
Mexico enjoyed 79% possession and outshot Honduras 27 to 9 during Tuesday's Concacaf match-up in Toluca. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Raúl Jiménez, Henry Martín and Jorge Sánchez led Mexico to a 4-0 win over Honduras, and El Tri’s 4-2 aggregate victory clinched the team a spot in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals.
The win also earned Mexico an invitation to next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup tournament.
Goalie Luis Malagón made two huge saves, including one in minute 17 when the game was still scoreless. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
In sharp contrast to its sluggish performance in Friday’s first leg of the quarterfinals in Honduras, El Tri — with eight new faces in the starting line-up — looked crisp from the outset. Skipper Edson Álvarez clanged a shot off the crossbar from 30 meters out just 90 seconds into the match.
Mexico patiently pushed forward against a Central American side that was content to sit back and wait for opportunities on the counter.
As halftime approached, Mexico began pressing the attack. Defender Jesús Orozco dribbled to the edge of the box before zipping a low cross behind the defense. Shaking free of his man at the back post, Jiménez got his right foot up in time to knock the pass into the net.
El Tri continued to dominate the match (Mexico enjoyed 79% possession and outshot Honduras 27 to 9), finally evening up the aggregate score in minute 72. A corner kick skimmed off Jiménez’s head at the near post and substitute Henry Martín redirected the ball inside the far post to make it 2-0.
Fans went all out to support Mexico at the Nemesio Díez Stadium in Toluca, México state on Tuesday. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Ten minutes later, another sub, Jorge Sánchez missed a golden opportunity to score the series-winning goal, whiffing on a cross from Jesús Gallardo. The 31,000 fans inside Toluca’s Estadio Nemesio Díez gasped, confronted with the notion that the game might be forced into overtime.
Moments later, however, Sánchez earned redemption. Muscling aside a defender, the wingback chested down a centering pass from Alexis Vega, turned toward goal and blasted the net from close range.
Martín added his second goal in stoppage time, converting a penalty kick to close out the scoring.
In addition to the goal-scorers, midfielder Luis Romo and netminder Luis Malagón were major contributors to Mexico’s victory. Romo led El Tri in line-breaking passes, while Malagón made two huge saves, including one in minute 17 when the game was still scoreless.
Jorge Sánchez scored goal number three in minute 85, solidifying the win for Mexico. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
In the Riviera Maya, sargassum season usually lasts from May to November. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
The government of Quintana Roo has announced that the 2024 sargassum season is officially over.
In the Riviera Maya, sargassum season usually lasts from May to November, although it can vary depending on the climatic and oceanographic conditions of each year. This year, the season officially ended on Nov. 14.
The Riviera Maya saw moderate-to-low amounts of sargassum along its beaches during the 2024 summer season. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
During a press conference, Governor Mara Lezama recognized the efforts of all those who contributed to keeping the beaches clean in Quintana Roo, from the federal government to state employees, civil society organizations and private companies.
Lezama said that this year, 37,000 tonnes of sargassum were collected from the shallow waters and beaches of Quintana Roo’s coast, 60% more than in 2023, when the season closed with over 22,000 tonnes of sargassum.
The budget to collect sargassum and clean Quintana Roo’s beaches this year amounted to 125.6 million pesos (US $6.2 million), Lezama said.
Vice Admiral Ramón Enríquez noted during the press conference that the navy deployed over 300 elements to collect sargassum, as well as a sargassum ship, 22 sargassum boats and a fleet of smaller vessels, in addition to containment barriers, beach sweepers and collector bands.
“We will continue working 24/7, without rest, to have clean beaches,” Lezama stressed.
Sargassum is a brown seaweed that spends its life floating on the ocean’s surface. While it is naturally beneficial to the marine ecosystems in the open ocean, once it reaches the coast, it decomposes and becomes harmful to marine life, plants, coral and human health. It also gives off a foul smell similar to rotten eggs.
Due to climate change, the presence of sargassum has increased on the beaches of many destinations with crystal-clear waters and white sand. While Mexico was one of the first countries to report sargassum on its beaches, this environmental problem affects coasts from western Africa to the eastern American continent.
In Mexico, sargassum affects the entirety of the Mexican Caribbean.
The sargassum forecast for 2025
According to Esteban Amaro Mauricio, director of the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network, January or February 2025 may see the early arrival of sargassum with a significantly higher concentration expected in April or May.
However, if the trends of the past two years continue, the summer months of 2025 could see a reduced number of sargassum as it may be diverted to the north by ocean currents.
Thinking of abandoning Mexico for pastures greener? The problem might not just be the men, explains psychologist Jenna Mayhew. (Julio Lopez/Unsplash)
Life can be complicated. Whether you’re facing personal dilemmas, grappling with cultural adjustments, or simply trying to make sense of your emotions, we all need a little help from time to time. That’s where Jenna Mayhew comes in. A seasoned psychologist with a deep understanding of both mental health, relationships and crosscultural living.
Every Wednesday, Jenna answers one carefully selected question from our readers. Her approach is grounded in years of experience, a warm and empathetic demeanor, and a genuine commitment to helping people understand themselves better. Whether you live in Mexico, are navigating life as an immigrant, or simply want advice on a personal matter, Therapy Talk is here to provide thoughtful, evidence-based guidance.
Jenna Mayhew (center) and the team at Hola Therapy. (Jenna Mayhew)
No question is too big or too small.
Dear Jenna,
I’m a 32-year-old straight woman living in Mexico City, and I’ve been actively dating for the past few years with the goal of settling down and starting a family. However, I’m beginning to feel that time is running out. Unfortunately, my experiences here have been disappointing — many of the men I’ve met have been unreliable, dishonest, and even downright dangerous. I’m considering relocating to Europe in search of men who are more aligned with my values and who fit the type of partner I’m looking for. While I’d miss living in Mexico, I resent how it has hindered my ability to find a meaningful relationship and pursue motherhood. Should I make the move?
I can sense the frustration and pressure you’re feeling as you navigate your search for a meaningful relationship and your desire to settle down and start a family. It’s not easy to face setbacks, especially when you feel that time is running out.
You may or may not be surprised to learn that this is a common concern brought to therapy in our clinic, particularly by women in their 30s and early 40s. I suspect you’ve had a friend or three with similar experiences. There are many downs, some ups, followed by even more painful downs; and after a few years of consistently putting your time and heart on the line, the question of “Is it me or is it Mexico?” moves to the foreground.
I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve had some unsafe experiences. It’s natural to feel disillusioned after repeated negative experiences, especially when it comes to dating. The emotional toll of meeting people who don’t meet your standards — or worse, who are unsafe — can make anyone question whether it’s worth continuing to try. However, the desire to find a partner and build a family is a profound and meaningful goal. It’s important to acknowledge that these feelings are valid, but also to recognize that this process of searching for love is often more complex and challenging than we’d hope.
Self-reflection could be the key to improved relationships. (Anthony Tran/Unsplash)
While it’s understandable that you might be tempted to relocate to Europe, I’d encourage you to reflect on a few important aspects before making a major decision. Firstly, let’s consider the cultural context around dating in Mexico versus Europe. Research indicates that the dating norms and expectations in different regions — even within Europe — can vary greatly. You may find that, just as in Mexico, dating in Europe also has its own challenges — whether it’s the pressure of online dating, differences in communication styles, or varying attitudes toward commitment. Psychologist John Gottman is famed for saying that “every relationship is a cross-cultural experience” because even if someone was your next door neighbour, each partner grows up in a household with unique expectations around relationships.
On the other hand, cultural differences in regards to relationships exist on a spectrum, and they may be amplified if Mexico is especially different from your own culture. A fresh start can be incredibly invigorating and it may open new avenues for meeting people and exploring different dating cultures.
Secondly, let’s talk about you. Arguably, the best way to attract a healthy relationship is to focus on yourself first. Research shows that people who are emotionally healthy and self-aware tend to attract more compatible partners, and have higher satisfaction and stability in three stages of relationship development: flirtation and dating, relationship consolidation, and relationship maintenance. Reflect on the type of partner you want and whether there are areas of your own life, whether that’s self-esteem, boundaries, communication, expectations and how you treat others when you’re feeling stressed or insecure that you can strengthen.
Even as a psychologist, I don’t believe that everyone needs therapy all the time. However, I do believe that the task of changing relationship patterns is particularly hard to achieve on your own. This is shaped by our earliest childhood experiences — it’s like the water a fish swims in: so ingrained that we often don’t even realise it’s there. While friends can be incredibly supportive, they often cheerlead or act as an ally rather than offering the in-depth reflection needed to break old patterns. A therapist can provide insights into your dating behaviours, help you process past disappointments, and clarify what you’re truly looking for in a partner, so you can develop healthier, more effective relationship strategies.
In the end, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to relationships and finding love. If you’ve already done the work on yourself, feel you’ve exhausted all options in Mexico, and your goal of partnership is enough of a priority, then ultimately relocating may provide a fresh perspective and more options. Whatever your decide, by remaining self-aware and open, you can keep moving towards the relationship that is right for you, whether it’s in Mexico or elsewhere.
Warmly, Jenna
Jenna Mayhew is an Australian psychologist based in Mexico, with over 20 years of experience in Australia, England and Mexico. She is the founder of Hola Therapy, a bilingual practice dedicated to supporting the immigrant and cross-cultural communities in Mexico.
Hola Therapy aims to give back to the community and one way they achieve this is by providing by clinical and financial support Misión México Foundation. https://www.misionmexico.org Misión México Foundation is a charity in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. They provide a stable, therapeutic environment for some of the state’s most vulnerable children, with a focus on safety, emotional recovery and education.
If you have enjoyed the “Ask Jenna” column, please consider giving back by making a small donation to the Misión México Foundation
The mezcal glazed turkey torta is the perfect way to transform that turkey from a dull piece of meat to a smoky masterpiece.
(James Kern/Unsplash)
Your leftover turkey is sitting in the fridge, dry and uninspiring, begging you to give it a second chance. Enter the mezcal glazed turkey torta — a way to transform that turkey from a dull piece of meat to a smoky masterpiece.
Here’s the trick: You take that leftover bird and glaze it with a mix of mezcal, honey, chipotle, and lime. Toss it in a skillet until it’s shimmering and coated, smoky and spicy, practically begging to be sandwiched.
Maybe you’ve got leftovers from your “practice turkey.” The Mezcal-Glazed Turkey Torta is the option for you. (Hybrid Storytellers/Unsplash)
Now, grab a toasted bolillo, and roll on some mayo on both sides. Stack on creamy avocado slices, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, tangy pickled onions, and a hefty handful of shredded Oaxaca cheese. Pile on that glazed turkey, now transformed, and top it all with the other half of the roll.
Take a bite. Suddenly, it’s an explosion of flavors — smoky mezcal, sweet honey, spicy chipotle, tangy lime, and all those fresh toppings getting to know each other. This isn’t just a sandwich; it’s a bird’s redemption story.
Maybe you’ve got leftovers from your “practice turkey”, or maybe you’re reading this later just after Thanksgiving. Either way, where there’s leftover turkey, there’s hope. Hope in the shape of the great Mexican torta.
Mezcal glazed turkey torta recipe
Ingredients
For the mezcal glaze:
2 tbsp mezcal
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp chipotle in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste
For the turkey:
1 lb cooked turkey breast, sliced (leftover turkey works great)
1 tbsp butter (for reheating the turkey slices)
For the torta:
4 bolillo or telera rolls (or any sturdy sandwich roll)
4 tbsp mayonnaise
1 avocado, sliced
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 large tomato, sliced
1/2 cup pickled red onions
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese
Fresh cilantro leaves (optional, for garnish)
Here’s the trick: you take that leftover bird and glaze it with a mix of mezcal, honey, chipotle, and lime. (Eaters Collective/Unsplash)
Instructions
Make the mezcal glaze:
In a small bowl, whisk together mezcal, honey, chipotle in adobo, lime juice, minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Set aside.
Prepare the turkey:
Heat a skillet over medium heat and add butter.
Add the sliced turkey and cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Pour the mezcal glaze over the turkey slices in the skillet, tossing to coat the turkey in the glaze.
Let the turkey simmer in the glaze for 2-3 minutes, or until the glaze thickens slightly and coats the meat. Remove from heat.
Assemble the tortas:
Slice each roll in half. Toast the cut sides lightly if desired.
Spread a bit of mayonnaise on each half of each roll.
Layer avocado slices, then add the glazed turkey.
Add shredded lettuce, tomato slices, and pickled red onions.
Throw on some shredded Oaxaca cheese over the fillings.
Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves if desired.
Place the top half of the rollover of the fillings and press gently.
Serve:
Serve the tortas warm, with a side of lime wedges for extra brightness.
Notes for a successful mezcal glazed turkey torta
Oaxaca cheese provides a melty, creamy texture that complements the smoky and spicy flavors. You can melt it slightly if you prefer.
For an extra kick, spread a little extra chipotle sauce on the bread.
Enjoy your delicious mezcal glazed turkey torta with Oaxaca cheese and tomato for a perfect blend of rich, tangy, and smoky flavors! Let me know what you think in the comments!
StephenRandall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean. His recipes can also be found on YouTube.
Among the experts and stakeholders speaking at the conference was Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo Montaño. (Alfonso Durazo/X)
The fourth annual Mar de Cortés forum, held in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, wrapped up on Nov. 15 with renewed support for sustainable development.
The forum brought together over 400 thought leaders, experts, business executives and members of civil society from five states – Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit – to discuss solutions to the environmental and social challenges facing the region’s urban areas.
Valeria Moy of the Institute of Mexican Competitiveness (IMCO) told attendees that it was crucial for thought leaders to create concrete metrics in order to ensure that today’s ideas translate into action. (Internet)
Given that “80% of the population in these five states live in the 13 most populated cities,” this year’s theme was “Cities with a Future,” the forum’s general director Juan Pablo Yamuni Robles told the newspaper El Economista in an interview.
The forum had several key takeaways.
Sustainable urban development
The cities that border the Mar de Cortés — also known as the Gulf of California — face shared challenges, including increased urbanization, pollution, overfishing and gentrification. The forum emphasized the need for sustainable innovation and design in the development of the region’s urban hubs.
To attract capital, Yamuni said, “We must give certainty to investors looking to invest in the region.”
Part of the forum’s mission, he said, is to influence public policies that promote a favorable environment for investment. This goes hand-in-hand with strengthening the rule of law, he said.
As the traditional fishing economy of Puerto Peñasco declines, new opportunities are arising in a US $1.6 billion solar farm being built in the Gulf of California city. (Wikimedia Commons)
Valeria Moy, director of the NGO Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (Imco), called on the forum’s organizers to establish clear monitoring and evaluation metrics to ensure that the forum’s collective efforts translate into action.
Expanding alternative industries
The region is well known for its fishing and tourism industries, which bring in US $200 and $500 million a year, respectively. To date, however, sector growth has not been managed sustainably, according to El Economista, resulting in decreased fish populations and environmental degradation. Fishing is therefore becoming increasingly less profitable, affecting the earnings and quality of life of those who make a living from the Gulf of California.
Yamuni emphasized the potential for sustainable tourism in the region, as well as regenerative agriculture and sustainable fishing and mining.
Dennis Frenchman, director of the MIT Center for Real Estate, highlighted the success story of Cabo Pulmo National Park, a protected national marine park in Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“For the 20 years that the park has existed, the biomass in the 71-hectare (175-acre) reserve has increased 460%, and, more importantly, the economy has diversified, from a declining fishing [one] to [one based on] conservation and ecotourism,” Frenchman said at the event.
Frenchman also stressed the potential for the fast-growing art and digital media industries in the region, particularly in Baja Sur’s historical city of La Paz, just north of Los Cabos, which has a vibrant art scene.
Update on the Plan Sonora
“I am very pleased to participate in the Mar de Cortés Forum to talk about the Plan Sonora, a project full of economic and tourism benefits for our region,” Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo shared on the social media site X.
Plan Sonora – the state’s sustainable energy and economic development plan – focuses on the development of the renewable energy and semiconductor industries in Sonora, located across the Mexico-U.S.border from New Mexico and Arizona. The initiative is expected to help strengthen bilateral relations between Mexico and the U.S. by encouraging nearshoring investment.
Part of the Plan Sonora is a $1.6 billion solar PV farm in Puerto Peñasco on the north side of the Gulf of California. During her presidential campaign, President Claudia Sheinbaum committed to completing the facility – being developed by the state-owned Federal Electricity Commision (CFE) – in May.
It’s expected to be the largest PV farm in Latin America.
The alleged kidnapping of drug kingpin "El Mayo" Zambada and his arrest in the U.S. has been a major point of tension between Mexico and the U.S. this year. (Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that she asked United States President Joe Biden to provide all U.S. government information about the arrest in the U.S. earlier this year of alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Sheinbaum told reporters that she asked Biden to provide more details about Zambada’s arrest during their scheduled private meeting time at the 2024 G20 Leaders’ Summit. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
“I raised this issue, which has been difficult in the [bilateral] relationship,” she told Mexican broadcaster N+ at the airport in Rio before she boarded a flight to São Paulo to connect to an Aeroméxico flight to Mexico City.
“I just told him that it would be very important for Mexico to have all the information,” she said before agreeing with a reporter that the U.S. president was “receptive” to the request.
The Mexican government has claimed that the United States government hasn’t been completely transparent about the arrest of Zambada and the events leading up to it.
Zambada claims he was kidnapped in Culiacán, Sinaloa, by Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, and forced onto a private plane that took him to the Doña Ana County International Jetport in New Mexico.
Guzmán López, an alleged leader of the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, traveled to the United States on the same plane and was also arrested in New Mexico.
The Doña Ana County International Jetport in New Mexico, where Zambada was arrested by U.S. officials after arriving with Sinaloa Cartel kingpin Joaquín López Guzmán, who was also arrested. (Wikimedia Commons)
Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador claimed in September that United States authorities negotiated with Guzmán López to arrange the delivery of Zambada to U.S. law enforcement.
He said it was “completely irregular” and “illegal” that a person was “kidnapped via an agreement and taken to the United States.”
