What is The Mexpatriate?
If you’re hungry for more context and less “content” about Mexico, this newsletter is for you.
I write about current events in Mexico as an expatriate, an immigrant, a journalist and a relentlessly curious observer. I’m an outsider where I live and where I was born; reporting from a trans-border perspective.
Think of this newsletter as your field guide to the country’s political, economic and social landscape and an explorer’s map of the national conversation.
What to expect
The Mexpatriate will arrive in your inbox once weekly, in one of the following formats:
News roundup: A curated overview of what’s happening in politics, business, culture, the environment and security in Mexico. Expect to find my take on the biggest headline-hogs as well as smaller stories that you might have missed.
The Mexpat Notebook: A collection of links to what I’m reading, listening to or watching, whether online or off. Readers are encouraged to share their own finds as well. Expect a mix of long reads and short takes, as well as book and film suggestions in both English and Spanish.
Deep dive: Here I dig into a single meaty topic, one that is dominating the national conversation (like this on the “hugs, not bullets” security strategy) or something more reflective and personal (like this about the idea of “holding paradox” in Mexico).
The Mexpat Interview: Conversations with journalists, analysts and other Mexico observers.
Free subscribers get access to two posts per month, and paid subscribers get access to all posts.
Why I write it
There are many things in Mexico that don’t make sense: the “Mexican left turn” on a highway, a family piled on a scooter, the torta de tamal, the stubborn resilience of laughter.
Mexico’s contrasts can take your breath away, but the gray areas—the shadows—can leave you bewildered.
Most international media coverage of Mexico looks alike; one-dimensional in scope, oversimplified and flattened to fit in a larger container of global news. I try to relate Mexican current events in three dimensions, restoring depth and nuance.
I’ve been attempting to make sense of Mexico for almost 25 years, and while I’m still far from enlightenment, I hope you’ll come with me on the journey.
About me
I am a writer, editor and mother of two daughters. Mexico has been my home (and my muse) for over 20 years.
My family began an affair with Mexico starting in 1960, when my grandparents moved to Mexico City from Minnesota with their two young daughters and tilted their descendants’ destiny to the south.
The Mexpatriate was born first as a blog in 2013, which I re-launched on Substack after a (very) long hiatus in 2022. I hold a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the London School of Economics & Political Science and was most recently the chief news editor at Mexico News Daily.
You can read more about my thoughts on expats vs immigrants, and on how I approach my writing in this post.
