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For Canadians Amy Whitney and Curtis Davies, the dream of living abroad simmered for a decade before they took the leap. Inspired by a friend’s move to Australia, their wanderlust grew through extended vacations in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Ecuador. “I was fascinated by how she made it work,” Amy recalls. “Our trips stretched from a week to three months, and eventually, we stopped asking, ‘How can we make our vacations longer?’ and started asking, ‘How can we live here?’” With retirement far off, the couple faced a challenge: their location-dependent jobs in Kelowna, British Columbia, wouldn’t support a life abroad. Amy, a lifelong entrepreneur, juggled part-time work as a medical office manager while running a food and alcohol delivery business with Curtis to curb drinking and driving. This venture ran successfully for 10 years, but it tied them to Canada. Their journey to a new life in Mexico, coupled with the creation of a groundbreaking language school, is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of pursuing passion. Along the way, they also explored opportunities through an international real estate listing to make their dream of living abroad a reality.
Amy’s foray into an online restaurant ordering software business marked a pivotal shift toward location-independent work. Handling marketing while her partner managed programming, she saw the potential for a borderless career. But just before a planned three-month stint in Ecuador to test the waters, the partnership collapsed. “I’d poured two years into that business,” Amy says. “It was our plan, and suddenly, it was gone.” Undeterred, the couple traveled to Ecuador, staying in an expat community where Amy noticed a striking trend: many residents, even after years in a Spanish-speaking country, barely spoke the language. “Some had lived there for a decade, tried Duolingo, took classes, but could only muster a few words,” she observes.
Amy’s own 14-year struggle with Spanish mirrored their frustration. Despite years of study, she couldn’t hold real-world conversations. “The gap between what I learned and what I needed was huge. I couldn’t understand spoken Spanish, and speaking felt impossible.” Determined to bridge this gap for herself and others, she began rethinking language learning. Back in Canada, Amy and Curtis explored ways to exit their delivery business and build an online income. A breakthrough came when Amy discovered a Spanish podcast featuring everyday conversations. “Focusing on listening and speaking, not grammar drills, transformed my skills,” she says. This insight sparked an idea: a podcast to teach conversational English.
In January 2015, they launched the Real English Conversations Podcast, recorded at their kitchen table. Now boasting 300,000-400,000 monthly downloads, it became a cornerstone of their online ventures, with Curtis offering private English lessons to listeners. This success laid the groundwork for their eventual move abroad.
Originally set on Ecuador, Amy and Curtis reconsidered after a 2016 earthquake and restrictive visa rules limiting Canadians to six months annually. Mexico, with its flexible visa policies and proximity to Canada, emerged as the better choice. A booming Canadian housing market allowed them to sell their Kelowna home, providing a two-year financial runway. “I knew we could figure out the online business at that time,” Amy says confidently.
In October 2016, they arrived in Puerto Vallarta sight unseen, renting an Airbnb while searching for a home. They soon found a three-bedroom house with a pool and garden in a local neighborhood for 15,000 pesos ($750 USD) monthly, where they lived until 2023. In Puerto Vallarta, Amy cracked the code on Spanish by prioritizing conversational skills over traditional methods. “I used real audio with transcripts to train my ear and practiced speaking creatively,” she explains. This approach not only boosted her fluency but also inspired her next venture.
In 2021, Amy launched Expat Spanish Lessons (expatspanishlessons.com), an online school tailored for expats navigating Mexican Spanish in daily life. “I focus on practical phrases that make an immediate impact,” she says. “So many expats underestimate how hard it is to learn a language. I help them integrate and thrive in their new home.” The school emphasizes listening and speaking, offering courses that resonate with expats’ real-world needs, from ordering at markets to chatting with neighbors.
Amy and Curtis embraced Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant food scene, exploring local markets and restaurants. “As a foodie, I love discovering fresh seafood, exotic produce, and regional dishes,” Amy shares. “It inspires my cooking and baking at home.” But when their landlord decided to sell their home in 2023, the couple faced a choice: stay in humid Puerto Vallarta or explore elsewhere. A new highway cutting travel time to Guadalajara to 2.5 hours tipped the scales toward Mexico’s second-largest city.
Guadalajara, at 5,138 feet above sea level, offers a temperate climate, a stark contrast to Puerto Vallarta’s sticky summers. Known as the birthplace of mariachi, tequila, and charro culture, the city blends tradition with modernity. Amy and Curtis settled into a two-bedroom apartment in the Ladrón de Guevara neighborhood for 19,500 pesos ($975 USD) monthly. The modern building boasts a balcony, 24-hour security, underground parking, a gym, and a rooftop patio with sunset views. “It’s quiet yet central, perfect for city life,” Amy says.
Guadalajara’s culinary scene captivated them. “We love Pal Real café, which represented Mexico in an international bean roasting championship,” Amy notes. “There’s also amazing Vietnamese, Korean, and sushi.” Beyond food, they relish the city’s proximity to nature. “In under an hour, you can hike in the mountains, have a forest cookout, or soak in natural hot springs,” she adds. The couple has embraced Guadalajara’s local shopping culture, a departure from Canada’s big-box stores. “I have WhatsApp contacts for everyone, the strawberry vendor, the gas cylinder guy,” Amy laughs. “Shopkeepers treat you like friends, not just customers.”
Amy’s language school thrives by fostering connection. “Helping expats communicate builds confidence and community,” she says. “Seeing their breakthroughs is incredibly rewarding.” While Curtis continues teaching English, the couple remains open to new adventures. They’re not rushing to buy property, wary of Mexico’s current pricing bubble. “We’ll buy when we’re sure where we want to settle,” Amy explains.
Guadalajara has become more than a home, it’s a canvas for their entrepreneurial and personal growth. From launching a globally successful podcast to building a language school that empowers expats, Amy and Curtis have woven their passions into a vibrant life abroad. Their story is a reminder that with determination, creativity, and a willingness to adapt, a new life in a new country is within reach. If you’re inspired to start your own journey abroad, contact us to explore how you can make it happen.
The couple moved to Guadalajara for its milder climate, vibrant cultural scene, and proximity to Puerto Vallarta (2.5 hours by highway). Their landlord’s decision to sell their Puerto Vallarta home prompted the move, and Guadalajara offered a fresh start in a dynamic city.
Amy shifted from traditional methods (textbooks, apps) to focusing on listening and speaking skills, using real-life audio with transcripts, such as Spanish podcasts featuring everyday conversations. This practical approach led to rapid fluency.
Expat Spanish Lessons (expatspanishlessons.com) is Amy’s online language school teaching Mexican Spanish for daily life. It’s designed for expats living in or moving to Mexico, emphasizing practical phrases for real-world communication.
Amy and Curtis rent a modern two-bedroom apartment for 19,500 pesos ($975 USD) monthly, including amenities like security and a gym. Living costs vary, but Guadalajara is generally affordable, with meals at local restaurants starting at $5-$10.
While Guadalajara has an English-speaking expat community, conversational Spanish enhances integration. Amy’s school helps expats navigate daily tasks like shopping or dealing with utilities, which often require Spanish.
Canadians can stay in Mexico for up to 180 days as tourists. For longer stays, Amy and Curtis pursued temporary residency, which requires proof of income or savings. Check with the Mexican embassy for specific requirements.
They run the Real English Conversations Podcast, with 300,000-400,000 monthly downloads, and Curtis offers private English lessons. Amy operates Expat Spanish Lessons, teaching expats conversational Mexican Spanish.
Guadalajara is generally safe, with a welcoming expat community. As with any large city, exercise standard precautions, especially in crowded areas or at night.
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