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Living in Puerto Rico...Follow

#1 Jun 20 2014 at 5:10 PM Rating: Good
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Not quite the asylum material, but after talking to my friends, my mom, my brother, my gf ( not necessarily in that order), I am still not sure what to do next.

So here it goes. My company is moving to Puerto Rico. They were nice enough to give me an offer to move along with them ( more gil, one step up the ladder). They are giving me a bonus ( though the bonus is about the same amount as the severance and the bonus happens to have a clause that I have to pay it back if I quit, or they fire me for a reason ), cover most moving expenses, and are supposed to help me a find non-ghetto place to live in.

GF is a medical assistant, and I dunno how difficult it would be to find her a job there. So I guess the real question for me is whether it is easier for me to find a job here ( chicago land area ) or for her there. Most of the other things are a wash. Well, school kinda isn't, but I think have this covered.

Anyhoo, do you think it is a good move? We are prolly gonna book a plane to see the island next week. But.. well, anyone of you was there for longer than a short vacation? Were you in a similar situation maybe?

Most input is welcome.

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#2 Jun 20 2014 at 5:29 PM Rating: Good
Well, you won't be able to vote, so you can enjoy a smug sense of superiority whenever the President does anything stupid, criminal, or immoral; in other words, you're set for life. He didn't get your vote!

I've never been to Puerto Rico, so I can't really advise you there. Just be aware if you aren't already that the tropical climate is almost certain not to agree with you if you were raised in Chicago (or anywhere else that isn't tropical).
#3 Jun 20 2014 at 5:39 PM Rating: Decent
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Have a couple of friends who live in Isabela and San Juan. Their feeling is that it's mostly a great place to live, but there are dangerous areas, like most of the US but sort of amplified. Similar to New York City where you might have the very wealthy and the very poor living in close physical proximity but never actually interacting. Obviously you have to be or become fluent in Spanish or it'll be a nightmare.
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#4 Jun 20 2014 at 5:54 PM Rating: Good
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Smasharoo wrote:
Have a couple of friends who live in Isabela and San Juan. Their feeling is that it's mostly a great place to live, but there are dangerous areas, like most of the US but sort of amplified. Similar to New York City where you might have the very wealthy and the very poor living in close physical proximity but never actually interacting. Obviously you have to be or become fluent in Spanish or it'll be a nightmare.


I was under the impression that most people there speak some sort of pidgin English; or you mean for pretty much everything official.
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#5 Jun 20 2014 at 5:55 PM Rating: Good
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Kavekk wrote:
Well, you won't be able to vote, so you can enjoy a smug sense of superiority whenever the President does anything stupid, criminal, or immoral; in other words, you're set for life. He didn't get your vote!

I've never been to Puerto Rico, so I can't really advise you there. Just be aware if you aren't already that the tropical climate is almost certain not to agree with you if you were raised in Chicago (or anywhere else that isn't tropical).


And no one will be able to give me the "well, you didn't vote so you don't count" speech. Sounds like a win.
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#6 Jun 20 2014 at 6:03 PM Rating: Excellent
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I'm curious as to:

1. What kind of company, and
2. Where on the island are they relocating to?

If you're near any current US military locations, English should not be an issue.
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#7 Jun 20 2014 at 6:07 PM Rating: Good
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Friar Bijou wrote:
I'm curious as to:

1. What kind of company, and
2. Where on the island are they relocating to?

If you're near any current US military locations, English should not be an issue.


Finance; they have their HQ in Hato Rey. Ideally, I would want something relatively close by while still being withing my reach gil wise ( so something close to San Juan ).
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#8 Jun 20 2014 at 6:11 PM Rating: Good
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ALSO: Aguadilla looks good re: English.


DISCLAIMER: I lived there when it was Ramey AFB, so I might be biased.Smiley: tongue




2 hour drive between Aguadilla and Hato Rey. Ouch. Maybe the housing cost would make up for it?

Edited, Jun 20th 2014 6:18pm by Bijou
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#9 Jun 20 2014 at 6:16 PM Rating: Excellent
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If you're young enough, and you don't have strong family attachments in the area, and it feels like an adventure, then do it. Nothing is permanent anyway.

(Although what's with the terms on that bonus? You can only spend it if you intend to die of a heart attack in your office?)
#10 Jun 20 2014 at 6:22 PM Rating: Default
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trickybeck wrote:

If you're young enough, and you don't have strong family attachments in the area, and it feels like an adventure, then do it. Nothing is permanent anyway.

(Although what's with the terms on that bonus? You can only spend it if you intend to die of a heart attack in your office?)


No restrictions on the way to spend the bonus. I do have to commit to two years there though. If I leave at any point before that, I am on the hook. It is a way for them to keep me there.. which is weird, because if they looked at my history, they would see I am not exactly a job hopper.
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#11 Jun 21 2014 at 5:07 AM Rating: Good
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I vote for going.

Never been there, nor lived outside the contingent US, but it sounds like a worthy adventure.
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#12 Jun 21 2014 at 8:08 AM Rating: Good
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never been there personally, but have known a few people that have been. They said they loved it there for vacation, one even brought back a stray dog. If it were me...
1. speaking spanish would be a huge adavantage
2. like you mentioned how easy would it be for your GF to find a job and would it be equal or better than whats she is doing now
3. finding a decent place to live(in a non ghetto)
4. local laws and customs I would look into
5. If you like the company your with and enjoy your job
6. How hard would it be for you to stay here and find other work?
Basic thoughts are those to consider. I dont speak spanish and personally would be weary of the move. But if this job you like and your girl can find a decent job there then I would do it.
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#13 Jun 21 2014 at 9:11 AM Rating: Good
I'd seriously consider it. Cost of living index of San Juan PR vs Chicago can be found here. (They don't have one for Hato Rey.)

So it seems that not only would you be making more money, your dollars would stretch farther in PR for many things.

Edited, Jun 21st 2014 11:12am by Catwho
#14 Jun 21 2014 at 12:59 PM Rating: Good
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angrymnk wrote:
trickybeck wrote:

If you're young enough, and you don't have strong family attachments in the area, and it feels like an adventure, then do it. Nothing is permanent anyway.

(Although what's with the terms on that bonus? You can only spend it if you intend to die of a heart attack in your office?)


No restrictions on the way to spend the bonus. I do have to commit to two years there though. If I leave at any point before that, I am on the hook. It is a way for them to keep me there.. which is weird, because if they looked at my history, they would see I am not exactly a job hopper.


Most companies will do that, one of my previous would do the same thing. The corporate office was in Denmark in the Copenhagen area, so they would occasionally want people to move there for a 2 year stint. My buddy did it with his wife, and she ended up being miserable over there so they cut it short. He was able to negotiate with them not to get stuck with the travel/moving costs to come back, but a lot of that was due to his value to the company.

All that said, it sounds like a great opportunity if you don't have kids yet. I can't imagine she'd have trouble finding a job if she's in the medical field, though likely she'll have to get her Spanish up to speed. We have an office there that I'm hoping to visit next year, and that's one trip that I'm really looking forward to as PR is a place I've always wanted to check out.
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#15 Jun 21 2014 at 8:08 PM Rating: Default
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There is one minor thing to think about though. Gun laws in PR are completely crazy. Apparently, I need to make three friends that can declare me sane enough to have a gun. Sounds like my god given rights to blow stuff up are being infringed upon even though I am not quite there yet.
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#16 Jun 21 2014 at 9:11 PM Rating: Excellent
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If it's really that important to you, you should just negotiate with your HR to get three coworkers to get the necessary documents. It doesn't cost the company any extra money, and shows them that you're at least intelligent enough to know you can negotiate contract terms. The worst they can say is no.
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#17 Jun 22 2014 at 1:33 AM Rating: Default
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lolgaxe wrote:
If it's really that important to you, you should just negotiate with your HR to get three coworkers to get the necessary documents. It doesn't cost the company any extra money, and shows them that you're at least intelligent enough to know you can negotiate contract terms. The worst they can say is no.


It isn't that important. It is just nice to have.
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#18 Jun 22 2014 at 7:42 AM Rating: Excellent
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angrymnk wrote:
Apparently, I need to make three friends that can declare me sane enough to have a gun.

Just show them your posting history Smiley: um
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#19 Jun 22 2014 at 8:49 AM Rating: Good
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Don't own a gun. It works for most of the world's population.
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#20 Jun 22 2014 at 2:47 PM Rating: Good
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Uglysasquatch wrote:
Don't own a gun. It works for most of the world's population.

It's also why the rest of the world is a bunch of pussies... Smiley: grin
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#21 Jun 22 2014 at 4:10 PM Rating: Default
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Jophiel wrote:
angrymnk wrote:
Apparently, I need to make three friends that can declare me sane enough to have a gun.

Just show them your posting history Smiley: um


You have a point; by comparison I look like the embodiment of sanity.
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#22 Jun 22 2014 at 6:26 PM Rating: Decent
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Do you love your significant other?

If she WANTS to go great, sounds like an adventure at the very least. In the real world though, she probably doesn't want to go. Sometimes financial success isn't really success.

In other words, nobody here can tell you what is right in this situation, it's all about whether your financial success and other perks are worth the cons in your specific situation.
#23 Jun 22 2014 at 6:40 PM Rating: Default
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Yodabunny wrote:
Do you love your significant other?

If she WANTS to go great, sounds like an adventure at the very least. In the real world though, she probably doesn't want to go. Sometimes financial success isn't really success.

In other words, nobody here can tell you what is right in this situation, it's all about whether your financial success and other perks are worth the cons in your specific situation.


Well, in this case, she wants to go, and she does not want to go; kinda like me.
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#24 Jun 23 2014 at 5:52 AM Rating: Good
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Just do it.

My kid and his GF have decided to move back to Maine. To my house.

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#25 Jun 23 2014 at 7:08 AM Rating: Decent
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My kid and his GF have decided to move back to Maine. To my house.


Lies! Nobody under the age of 40 moves TO Maine!
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Disclaimer:

To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.

#26 Jun 23 2014 at 7:12 AM Rating: Good
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Smasharoo wrote:

My kid and his GF have decided to move back to Maine. To my house.


Lies! Nobody under the age of 40 moves TO Maine!

I know! The gf (recent grad from BU) actually got a job in Portland, in her field - and it pays more than minimum wage.

For a month, though, they're without lodging.
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