🇲🇽 Living in Mexico — Weekly Update | What Expats Regret Not Setting Up Sooner, Universal Health Care in Mexico, Puebla - April 12, 2026

🟩 Important Updates - BEFORE We Dive In

💼 LIVE WEBINARS

We just wrapped up our 4-part Live Webinar series covering: Visas & Citizenship, Housing, Healthcare, and Work & Income. We had a great turnout, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who joined us live and helped make the series such a success.

For those who could not attend, we will be putting the replays online soon so you can watch them later. I’ll share the details here as soon as they’re ready. We also have more exciting webinars in the works, so stay tuned for what’s coming next.

🌴 Newsletter Note

There will be no newsletter next week, April 19, 2026, because I’ll be off enjoying Mexico’s amazing beaches 🏖️ and will be back with you on April 25th.

🟦 THIS WEEK

What expats regret not setting up sooner, universal health care is coming to Mexico, a coastal spotlight on Puebla, and the Community Tip: “What neighborhood feature matters more than you thought?”

🟥 What Expats Regret Not Setting Up Sooner in Mexico

A lot of people think the hard part is just getting to Mexico. But for many expats, the bigger stress starts after arrival, when basic systems are still not set up.

What people regret most is usually not one big mistake. It is the small things they delayed for too long. Getting an RFC, opening the right bank account, figuring out phone service, learning how to pay bills, finding a doctor, and understanding transportation all make daily life much easier once they are handled.

The problem is that many new arrivals stay in temporary mode for too long. They assume they will figure things out later. But the longer you wait, the more annoying everyday tasks become. Simple things like getting internet, receiving payments, signing a lease, or using certain apps can become harder when your setup is incomplete.

A lot of expats also wait too long to build a local routine. They do not identify their nearest grocery store, pharmacy, clinic, laundromat, or trusted rideshare options right away. That may not seem urgent at first, but those daily basics are what make life feel stable.

This does not mean you need to do everything in your first week. But the sooner you set up the core parts of daily life, the less friction you deal with later. Mexico gets easier once your systems are in place.

For many expats, the biggest regret is not moving to Mexico. It is waiting too long to get organized after they arrive. That is often the difference between feeling stuck and actually feeling settled.

❓ MX Quiz

❓ Which Mexican artist painted “The Two Fridas”?

See answer below 👇

 Mexico Weekly Roundup

📰 Mexico News

🇲🇽 SHEINBAUM HIGHLIGHTS MEXICO’S NEW UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICE AS A “HISTORIC STEP”

President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week that Mexico is moving ahead with a new Universal Health Service so that any Mexican can eventually receive care at institutions like IMSS, ISSSTE, or IMSS-Bienestar regardless of which system they originally belong to. She said a presidential decree was expected immediately and described the change as a major restructuring of the public health system.

El Universal also reported that the rollout depends on connecting data across the three health systems, including shared medical information and digital records. According to the report, the credentialing process will take more than a year, with the first noticeable benefits expected in 2027.

Why it matters: This could become one of Mexico’s biggest public health changes in years. If it works as planned, it would make access to care less tied to one institution and move toward a more unified system nationwide.

Source: El Universal

🇲🇽 SHEINBAUM REJECTS UN REPORT ON FORCED DISAPPEARANCES

President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected a United Nations report that said forced disappearances have been committed, and continue to be committed, in Mexico as crimes against humanity. According to the El Universal Oaxaca article, she argued that the report did not take into account actions her government has taken and that its analysis focused on four states during the 2009 to 2017 period.

Sheinbaum also said the report did not fit the UN’s own definition of forced disappearance, which she described as involving direct state action for mainly political reasons. She added that Mexico’s foreign affairs and interior ministries would provide more information, while insisting that her government’s work with families and collectives was not reflected in the report.

Why it matters: Disappearances remain one of Mexico’s most sensitive national issues. This story matters because it shows the tension between international scrutiny and the Mexican government’s response, while keeping public attention on victims, families, and accountability.

Source: El Universal Oaxaca

🌎 Foreign News About Mexico

🇲🇽 MEXICO’S PRESIDENT WEIGHS FRACKING TO CURB RELIANCE ON US NATURAL GAS

President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico wants to explore unconventional natural gas extraction to reduce its dependence on imported energy, especially from the United States. She avoided using the word fracking directly and instead described the plan as a more sustainable approach that would try to reduce environmental harm.

According to AP, the government plans to have a technical committee review possible methods over the next two months, including options that use nonpotable water and fewer chemicals. The push comes as Mexico remains heavily dependent on U.S. natural gas and wants more long-term energy security.

Why it matters: This is a major shift because fracking has long been politically sensitive in Mexico. It also shows how energy security concerns may now be outweighing some of the government’s earlier environmental objections.

Source: AP News

🇲🇽 MEXICAN ART WORLD PROTESTS OVER PLAN TO SEND FRIDA KAHLO MASTERPIECES TO SPAIN

Mexico’s cultural community is protesting a plan to send an important collection of Mexican art, including works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, to Spain under an agreement tied to Banco Santander. The Guardian reported that nearly 400 cultural figures signed an open letter asking the government to clarify what the deal means and how long the artworks will remain abroad.

The dispute centers on fears that works considered central to Mexico’s artistic identity could stay outside the country for too long. The article says officials have insisted the export is temporary and that the pieces will return to Mexico, but critics argue the agreement is too vague and gives too much control to the Spanish institution.

Why it matters: This is bigger than an art story. It touches on national identity, cultural heritage, and who gets to control some of Mexico’s most important artistic works.

Source: The Guardian

💱 Peso Watch

🇺🇸 USD → 🇲🇽 MXN: 17.26 📉

🇨🇦 CAD → 🇲🇽 MXN: 12.48 📉

🇪🇺 EUR → 🇲🇽 MXN: 20.29 📉

🗺️ Explore Mexico

🟥 CENTRAL SERIES — Puebla, Puebla

Puebla is famous for food, architecture, and its strong colonial identity. It’s calm, clean, and deeply traditional.

Pueblo Mágico: No

Nearby Pueblo Mágicos: Cholula, Atlixco

Food: Mole poblano, cemitas, chiles en nogada.

Culture: Ceramics, churches, festivals.

History: Founded in 1531; major colonial city.

Nature: Volcano views, valleys, gardens.

Known for: Food, Talavera pottery, architecture.

Cost of Living: Low–medium; very affordable.

Link: Visit Mexico

🍽️ MX Food of the Week

Tinga de Pollo

Tinga de Pollo is a classic Mexican dish made with shredded chicken cooked in a smoky tomato and chipotle sauce with onions. It is rich in flavor, easy to make, and commonly served on tostadas, with rice, or tucked into tacos for a simple everyday meal in Mexico.🧾

INGREDIENTS

2 chicken breasts or about 2 to 3 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 tomatoes

1/2 white onion

2 cloves garlic

2 to 3 chipotle peppers in adobo

1 tbsp adobo sauce

1 tbsp oil1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup chicken broth or water

👨‍🍳 STEPS

1. Cook the chicken if needed, then shred it and set aside.

2. Slice the onion into thin strips.

3. Blend the tomatoes, garlic, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, oregano, salt, pepper, and chicken broth until smooth.

4. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.

5. Add the sliced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.

6. Pour in the blended sauce and add the bay leaf.

7. Simmer the sauce for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

8. Add the shredded chicken and stir well to coat it in the sauce.

9. Let it cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until hot and flavorful.

10. Serve on tostadas, in tacos, or with rice.

🔎 Quick Insight

🔎 Rainy season changes traffic patterns – Roads flood quickly in some cities.

🎉 What’s Happening

📅 April 14 — Day of the Americas / Día de las Américas

This is a recognized commemorative date across the Americas, including Mexico. It marks continental unity and cooperation, and it is sometimes referenced in schools, civic materials, and cultural contexts.

📅 April 17 — Death Anniversary of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz / Aniversario luctuoso de Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

April 17 marks the death anniversary of Sor Juana, one of Mexico’s most important literary and historical figures. It is a notable cultural and educational remembrance date in Mexico.

📅 April 18 — International Day for Monuments and Sites / Día Internacional de los Monumentos y Sitios

This date is especially relevant in Mexico because of the country’s strong historic and archaeological heritage. It is used to highlight the value of preserving cultural sites, monuments, and historic places.

📅 April 18 — Feria Nacional de San Marcos Begins

One of Mexico’s biggest and most famous annual fairs begins on April 18 in Aguascalientes. The Feria Nacional de San Marcos is known for concerts, cultural events, food, exhibits, and large public celebrations that continue into May.

🤓 Fun Fact / Mexican Phrase

The floating gardens of Xochimilco date back to the Aztec era.

¡Qué padre! — That’s awesome / cool!

👥 Community Wisdom

Here’s what our Facebook community shared this week — 4K views · 126 comments (and counting)

📌 Top 5 Community Tips (Summarized):

1. Walkability Makes Daily Life Much Better.

This was one of the clearest themes. People wanted neighborhoods where they could walk to markets, cafés, parks, buses, and basic errands instead of depending on a car for everything.

2. Quiet Matters More Than People Expect.

A lot of comments focused on noise. People mentioned loud music late at night, fireworks, barking dogs, motorcycles, and general street noise as things that can really affect quality of life over time.

3. Good Neighbors Can Make a Huge Difference.

Many people said friendly neighbors, local connections, and a real sense of community were a big part of loving where they live. Several comments pointed to mixed or local neighborhoods where people look out for each other and daily life feels more connected.

4. Basic Infrastructure Is a Big Deal.

People repeatedly brought up practical things like water reliability, drainage, paved roads, fiber internet, trash pickup, and potable water. The message was that everyday systems matter just as much as the look of the neighborhood.

5. Local Convenience Adds Real Value.

Many comments highlighted the importance of being near fruit and veggie shops, local markets, tienditas, cafés, green space, and public transport. These small daily conveniences were described as a major part of what makes a neighborhood feel easy and enjoyable.

See the full post + comments:👉 Facebook Group post

Quiz Answer: Frida Kahlo.