Canadians Amy Whitney and Curtis Davies had their eyes set on moving abroad for a decade before they made the move.
A friend who’d moved to Australia planted the seed. “I wanted to know how she did it. We liked to travel, and our vacations kept getting longer—from a week to three months. Over a few years, we visited Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Ecuador. Eventually, the conversation turned from ‘How can we make our vacations longer?’ to ‘How can we live here?’”
With retirement decades away, the couple knew they needed a way to continue making a living no matter where they moved. Like many people, their work was location-dependent back home in Kelowna, British Columbia.
“I’ve always been a small business entrepreneur. I worked part-time as an assistant and then a manager in a medical office, but Curtis and I had a food and alcohol delivery business on the side. Our idea was to help prevent people from drinking and driving, and we ran that business for 10 years.”
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An Online Opportunity
When Amy got involved with an online ordering restaurant software business, it served as a bridge to the possibilities of working online. She ran the marketing side, while her business partner was the developer and programmer.
Amy and Curtis then planned a three-month trip to Ecuador to explore the idea of living there, but just before they left, the software business partnership fell apart.
“This allowed me a substantial amount of time to think about what I wanted to do, but I had no idea. I’d worked on that business for two years, and that was the plan.”
With her online business dream in shambles, the couple stayed in a complex with other expats. Amy was struck by how few of them spoke Spanish.
“They’d lived in Ecuador for three, five, even ten years. None of them spoke Spanish, and they lived in a Spanish-only environment. It wasn’t for lack of trying, they used Duolingo and took classes, but most only knew a handful of words.”
Knowing she would live abroad one day, Amy had already been trying to learn Spanish for over a decade. Despite her efforts, she still couldn’t communicate in real situations. It was disheartening, and she was deeply frustrated.
“I felt a huge gap between what I was learning and what I actually needed in the real world. I couldn’t understand anything I heard, and speaking felt impossible. It was clear I wasn’t alone in this struggle, and I wanted to be the person who figured out a better way, so I could help other expats learn the language.”
At the end of the three months, the couple returned to Canada with ideas percolating.
“We continued exploring ways to get out of the delivery business and make a living online.”
At the same time, Amy continued working on her Spanish. She saw a dramatic improvement in her skills when she started learning through a Spanish podcast featuring a couple having everyday conversations.
“After a 14-year struggle relying on textbooks, apps, and other traditional language learning methods, I realized I’d neglected speaking and listening skills.”
She began focusing on conversational Spanish using real audio with transcripts of actual conversations.
“That’s when I realized the vocabulary I’d been taught was completely different from what was used in spoken Spanish. I used the audio to train my listening skills and came up with creative ways to practice speaking. It took a lot of trial and error before I figured out how to practice effectively.”
The Spanish podcast also sparked another idea.
“I wondered if Curtis and I could start a similar podcast to help English learners improve their skills. We started by putting a microphone on the kitchen table and recording ourselves having a conversation. And that was the beginning of the Real English Conversations Podcast.”
The Real English Conversations Podcast launched in January 2015 and now gets between 300,000 and 400,000 downloads per month. Curtis also offers private conversational English classes to listeners.
During this time, Amy and Curtis were planning a move to Ecuador, but two things changed their course:
An earthquake in Ecuador
The Canadian housing market
The earthquake made Amy reconsider relocating there. Combined with Ecuador’s visa regulations, which allow Canadians to stay only six months per year, the couple decided Mexico made more sense. The visa rules were more flexible, and traveling between Mexico and Canada was easier.
Then, with the housing market in their favor, they sold their home in British Columbia. That sale gave them a two-year runway.
“I knew we could figure out the online business in two years.”
Destination: Puerto Vallarta
In October 2016, the couple flew into Puerto Vallarta sight unseen.
“We rented an Airbnb for a couple of weeks while we looked for a place to live. We found a three-bedroom house with a pool and a front garden in a local neighborhood that cost 15,000 pesos. We lived there until 2023.”
While in Puerto Vallarta, Amy cracked the code on Spanish, thanks to focusing on listening and speaking skills instead of grammar drills and verb conjugations.
This realization ultimately led to Expat Spanish Lessons.
“I’m able to introduce these practical words and phrases early on in my students’ journey so they can focus on learning what will have the biggest impact on their day-to-day communication.”
In 2021, she launched her online language school, expatspanishlessons.com, which specializes in teaching Mexican Spanish for everyday life.
“So many of us underestimate the difficulty of learning a second language. By helping my peers, the people who’ve made a bold move to another country, I can help them integrate better and enjoy their new life even more by learning the language.”
Besides language learning and teaching, Amy and Curtis enjoy exploring their new home through food.
“As a foodie, it’s no surprise that going to restaurants is my idea of fun. I love exploring the local cuisine and trying international options as well. I also love cooking and baking at home, so exploring the local markets and finding incredible fresh produce, an amazing variety of seafood, and other ingredients I didn’t even know were available has been so inspiring. It gives me ideas for recipes, things I want to try, and even for recreating some of the regional dishes I love at home to learn the process behind them.”
A Fresh Start in Mexico’s Second City
While Amy and Curtis enjoyed their time in Puerto Vallarta, they had a big decision to make when their landlord informed them she was selling the property.
“The humidity in Puerto Vallarta kept us inside for several months of the year. So when we knew we’d have to move, we had a choice—either continue laying down roots in Puerto Vallarta or try a new spot. And with the new highway, travel time to Guadalajara is now just 2.5 hours, so we decided to give it a try.”
Guadalajara is Mexico’s second-largest city and the birthplace of mariachi, charro (cowboy) culture, and tequila. At 5,138 feet above sea level, it also offers a much more temperate climate.
The couple currently rent a two-bedroom apartment in a new building in the Ladrón de Guevara neighborhood. They have a balcony, 24-hour security, underground parking, a gym in the building, and a rooftop patio where they can watch the sunset. Rent is 19,500 pesos per month. It’s a quiet area despite being in the heart of the city.
Markets, Mountains, and a More Connected Life
Guadalajara is known for its thriving food scene.
“We have excellent bakeries and cafés. Pal Real is one of my favorites—it even represented Mexico in an international bean roasting championship. We also have lots of Asian options, like Vietnamese, Korean, and sushi.”
Amy and Curtis enjoy both the local restaurant scene and the surrounding countryside.
“Beyond food, I love getting out into nature. And although Guadalajara is a huge city, it’s surrounded by mountains. In less than an hour, you can be hiking, having a cookout in the forest, or relaxing in some natural hot springs.”
She’s also noticed a major difference in how she shops now compared to life in Canada. “The way I shop is one of the biggest changes for me. In Canada, we’re used to buying from huge commercial chains where we can get everything in one place, usually once a week. But in Mexico, I’ve learned to support local businesses—even individuals selling specific items.”
“Whether it’s the guy who sells strawberries, the shopkeeper at the corner store, or the person who refills your gas cylinder, I have his WhatsApp number saved so I can contact him directly for delivery.”
“The shop owners remember you, greet you warmly, and make you feel like you’re seeing an old friend, not just a customer. It’s a different way of shopping, but I’ve come to love it and the connections that come with it.”
Amy isn’t rushing into property ownership. “I continue to rent. Mexico is in an elevated pricing bubble, and I’m not sure if we’re going to stay in Guadalajara. When we know where we’re settling, then we’ll buy.”
When asked what advice she’d give to others considering a move abroad, she says:
“Come for a year with no expectations. See if you love it. And you’re either going to know if you do or you don’t.”
Get Your Free Mexico Report Today!
Get Your Free Mexico Report Today!
Learn more about Mexico and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a free special report – Mexico: The Perfect Close-to-Home Retirement Haven.
By submitting your email address, you will receive a free subscription to IL Postcards and special offers from International Living and our affiliates. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we encourage you to read more about our Privacy Policy.