Original subtitles

Opportunity, prosperity, freedom. That's

Opportunity, prosperity, freedom. That's

Opportunity, prosperity, freedom. That's the American dream. And in recent years,

the American dream. And in recent years,

the American dream. And in recent years, migrants have gone through hell,

migrants have gone through hell,

migrants have gone through hell, crossing borders, risking life and limb

crossing borders, risking life and limb

crossing borders, risking life and limb to achieve that American dream here in

to achieve that American dream here in

to achieve that American dream here in Mexico City.

So, I sat down with one of these brave

So, I sat down with one of these brave

So, I sat down with one of these brave migrants who ventured here in search of

migrants who ventured here in search of

migrants who ventured here in search of a better life. So, where are you from?

a better life. So, where are you from?

a better life. So, where are you from? Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela.

Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela.

Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela. >> I'm actually from Atlanta.

>> I'm actually from Atlanta.

>> I'm actually from Atlanta. Atlanta. Where is that?

Atlanta. Where is that?

Atlanta. Where is that? >> Georgia. Whoa.

>> Georgia. Whoa.

>> Georgia. Whoa. >> Henley is something called a digital

>> Henley is something called a digital

>> Henley is something called a digital nomad. A group of wanderers who work

nomad. A group of wanderers who work

nomad. A group of wanderers who work remotely in foreign countries. And

remotely in foreign countries. And

remotely in foreign countries. And they've been pouring into Mexico City by

they've been pouring into Mexico City by

they've been pouring into Mexico City by the thousands. Bringing the hardworking

the thousands. Bringing the hardworking

the thousands. Bringing the hardworking mentality that immigrants are known for.

mentality that immigrants are known for.

mentality that immigrants are known for. >> Usually wake up around 9, 9:30, maybe

>> Usually wake up around 9, 9:30, maybe

>> Usually wake up around 9, 9:30, maybe 10.

10.

10. >> Freaky early. Um, usually walk around

>> Freaky early. Um, usually walk around

>> Freaky early. Um, usually walk around the park, get a coffee,

the park, get a coffee,

the park, get a coffee, dance at some Taylor Swift,

dance at some Taylor Swift,

dance at some Taylor Swift, um, come back, work for a few hours on

um, come back, work for a few hours on

um, come back, work for a few hours on my computer. I do marketing for a social

my computer. I do marketing for a social

my computer. I do marketing for a social media analytics company. That is really

media analytics company. That is really

media analytics company. That is really hard. And then it's margarita time,

hard. And then it's margarita time,

hard. And then it's margarita time, baby. Everything is so much cheaper

baby. Everything is so much cheaper

baby. Everything is so much cheaper here. You can just go out, order as many

here. You can just go out, order as many

here. You can just go out, order as many drinks as you want, and your bill is

drinks as you want, and your bill is

drinks as you want, and your bill is like 70 bucks for the whole night.

like 70 bucks for the whole night.

like 70 bucks for the whole night. >> I can see why they risk so much to come

>> I can see why they risk so much to come

>> I can see why they risk so much to come here. But is this American welcome in

here. But is this American welcome in

here. But is this American welcome in Mexico? I hit the streets to ask real

Mexico? I hit the streets to ask real

Mexico? I hit the streets to ask real Mexicans what they think. How do you

Mexicans what they think. How do you

Mexicans what they think. How do you feel about digital nomads in Mexico

feel about digital nomads in Mexico

feel about digital nomads in Mexico City?

>> Um, yeah. You don't got to translate. I

>> Um, yeah. You don't got to translate. I

>> Um, yeah. You don't got to translate. I speak English.

speak English.

speak English. >> You are not a local.

>> You are not a local.

>> You are not a local. >> I'm not a local.

>> I'm not a local.

>> I'm not a local. >> So, how many generations has your family

>> So, how many generations has your family

>> So, how many generations has your family been here?

been here?

been here? >> Zero. None.

>> Zero. None.

>> Zero. None. >> Your abolita doesn't live around here.

>> Your abolita doesn't live around here.

>> Your abolita doesn't live around here. >> She's in Bokeh. I'm from Montana

>> She's in Bokeh. I'm from Montana

>> She's in Bokeh. I'm from Montana originally.

originally.

originally. >> I'm actually from Austin, Texas. I'm

>> I'm actually from Austin, Texas. I'm

>> I'm actually from Austin, Texas. I'm from San Francisco.

from San Francisco.

from San Francisco. >> Okay.

>> Okay.

>> Okay. >> California.

>> California.

>> California. >> And none of those are places in Mexico.

>> I couldn't find a single Mexican, but

>> I couldn't find a single Mexican, but

>> I couldn't find a single Mexican, but the American immigrants were taking over

the American immigrants were taking over

the American immigrants were taking over everything. Mexicans must be loving

everything. Mexicans must be loving

everything. Mexicans must be loving that.

that.

that. >> Mexico City, where another protest

>> Mexico City, where another protest

>> Mexico City, where another protest against unaffordable housing and

against unaffordable housing and

against unaffordable housing and gentrification took place over the

gentrification took place over the

gentrification took place over the weekend.

weekend.

weekend. >> Residents there saying some

>> Residents there saying some

>> Residents there saying some neighborhoods that are popular with

neighborhoods that are popular with

neighborhoods that are popular with digital nomads are leading to rising

digital nomads are leading to rising

digital nomads are leading to rising costs, making their own neighborhoods

costs, making their own neighborhoods

costs, making their own neighborhoods too expensive for them to live. Uh-oh.

too expensive for them to live. Uh-oh.

too expensive for them to live. Uh-oh. Seems like not everyone was happy. I

Seems like not everyone was happy. I

Seems like not everyone was happy. I went to an open house to talk to a

went to an open house to talk to a

went to an open house to talk to a realtor about the impact these

realtor about the impact these

realtor about the impact these immigrants were having on the housing

immigrants were having on the housing

immigrants were having on the housing market.

market.

market. >> Hi.

>> Hi.

>> Hi. >> Hi. Did you come in? Nice to meet you.

>> Hi. Did you come in? Nice to meet you.

>> Hi. Did you come in? Nice to meet you. >> And I was stunned by what I saw.

>> And I was stunned by what I saw.

>> And I was stunned by what I saw. >> This is ridiculous.

>> This is ridiculous.

>> This is ridiculous. >> Americans were renting two-bedroom

>> Americans were renting two-bedroom

>> Americans were renting two-bedroom apartments like this for only $600 a

apartments like this for only $600 a

apartments like this for only $600 a month. That is such a good deal.

month. That is such a good deal.

month. That is such a good deal. >> Oh my god.

>> Oh my god.

>> Oh my god. I take it you're interested in the

I take it you're interested in the

I take it you're interested in the lease. Would you like me to send over

lease. Would you like me to send over

lease. Would you like me to send over the papers?

the papers?

the papers? >> I'd love it here.

>> I'd love it here.

>> I'd love it here. >> But I still had to meet with an

>> But I still had to meet with an

>> But I still had to meet with an anti-immigration activist. So I invited

anti-immigration activist. So I invited

anti-immigration activist. So I invited her to my new perspective. What's

her to my new perspective. What's

her to my new perspective. What's Mexican for Pietair? She insisted on

Mexican for Pietair? She insisted on

Mexican for Pietair? She insisted on wearing a mask probably so she could

wearing a mask probably so she could

wearing a mask probably so she could harass digital nomads without getting

harass digital nomads without getting

harass digital nomads without getting doxed. Okay, Carlo, let's get down to

doxed. Okay, Carlo, let's get down to

doxed. Okay, Carlo, let's get down to what's really important. What do you

what's really important. What do you

what's really important. What do you think of this place? I'm thinking of

think of this place? I'm thinking of

think of this place? I'm thinking of relocating and I want to really love it.

relocating and I want to really love it.

relocating and I want to really love it. >> I mean, that is the main issue. So you

>> I mean, that is the main issue. So you

>> I mean, that is the main issue. So you come in here with dollars and prices out

come in here with dollars and prices out

come in here with dollars and prices out because we cannot compete with that. And

because we cannot compete with that. And

because we cannot compete with that. And at the same time, there have been many

at the same time, there have been many

at the same time, there have been many cases of eviction of places to be turned

cases of eviction of places to be turned

cases of eviction of places to be turned into kind of like this Airbnbs.

into kind of like this Airbnbs.

into kind of like this Airbnbs. >> Carla was clearly giving some get off my

>> Carla was clearly giving some get off my

>> Carla was clearly giving some get off my lawn energy.

lawn energy.

lawn energy. >> Did you hear me? I said get off my lawn.

>> Did you hear me? I said get off my lawn.

>> Did you hear me? I said get off my lawn. >> And like your racist uncle, she was mad

>> And like your racist uncle, she was mad

>> And like your racist uncle, she was mad things aren't the way they used to be.

things aren't the way they used to be.

things aren't the way they used to be. >> Even the culture itself is changing at

>> Even the culture itself is changing at

>> Even the culture itself is changing at its core. Sometimes you do hear more

its core. Sometimes you do hear more

its core. Sometimes you do hear more Spanish in Brooklyn, you know, than you

Spanish in Brooklyn, you know, than you

Spanish in Brooklyn, you know, than you do here in Condesa.

do here in Condesa.

do here in Condesa. >> You said Condessa. Now, is that a cool

>> You said Condessa. Now, is that a cool

>> You said Condessa. Now, is that a cool neighborhood where there's matcha

neighborhood where there's matcha

neighborhood where there's matcha places?

C O N D E S A.

C O N D E S A.

C O N D E S A. >> One of the main issues is that like

>> One of the main issues is that like

>> One of the main issues is that like salsa janop like sp like salsas are not

salsa janop like sp like salsas are not

salsa janop like sp like salsas are not spicy anymore because now they're

spicy anymore because now they're

spicy anymore because now they're catering to that gentrified uh palette.

catering to that gentrified uh palette.

catering to that gentrified uh palette. And I'm not arguing. I'm just saying a

And I'm not arguing. I'm just saying a

And I'm not arguing. I'm just saying a gentrified palette is the reason we do

gentrified palette is the reason we do

gentrified palette is the reason we do have the culinary delicacy of ranch.

have the culinary delicacy of ranch.

have the culinary delicacy of ranch. >> I want to be appreciative of your

>> I want to be appreciative of your

>> I want to be appreciative of your cultural like uh traditions of ranch.

cultural like uh traditions of ranch.

cultural like uh traditions of ranch. There's always going to be that exchange

There's always going to be that exchange

There's always going to be that exchange of cultures and migration of movement.

of cultures and migration of movement.

of cultures and migration of movement. We just want you to do it in a way that

We just want you to do it in a way that

We just want you to do it in a way that you're not making us lose our homes.

you're not making us lose our homes.

you're not making us lose our homes. >> Okay, that actually sounds reasonable.

>> Okay, that actually sounds reasonable.

>> Okay, that actually sounds reasonable. But is this message from the protesters

But is this message from the protesters

But is this message from the protesters getting through to Henley or is she

getting through to Henley or is she

getting through to Henley or is she guzzling down enough tequila to drown it

guzzling down enough tequila to drown it

guzzling down enough tequila to drown it out?

out?

out? >> Most of our friends that are from here

>> Most of our friends that are from here

>> Most of our friends that are from here are doctors or lawyers or business

are doctors or lawyers or business

are doctors or lawyers or business owners. And from what I've heard from

owners. And from what I've heard from

owners. And from what I've heard from them, it's generally more of the

them, it's generally more of the

them, it's generally more of the lowincome people that are protesting.

lowincome people that are protesting.

lowincome people that are protesting. >> It is heartwarming to know that at least

>> It is heartwarming to know that at least

>> It is heartwarming to know that at least we're not gentrifying rich people out of

we're not gentrifying rich people out of

we're not gentrifying rich people out of their neighborhoods.

their neighborhoods.

their neighborhoods. >> It is hard.

>> It is hard.

>> It is hard. >> Maybe I could bridge the gap. How should

>> Maybe I could bridge the gap. How should

>> Maybe I could bridge the gap. How should these digital nomads behave so that

these digital nomads behave so that

these digital nomads behave so that these gringoes can turn into gring

these gringoes can turn into gring

these gringoes can turn into gring stays?

stays?

stays? >> I worked really hard on that joke.

>> I worked really hard on that joke.

>> I worked really hard on that joke. >> Try and respect us. Try and learn some

>> Try and respect us. Try and learn some

>> Try and respect us. Try and learn some Spanish and start paying taxes.

Spanish and start paying taxes.

Spanish and start paying taxes. >> I'm not paying Mexican taxes because I

>> I'm not paying Mexican taxes because I

>> I'm not paying Mexican taxes because I pay American taxes and I don't have

pay American taxes and I don't have

pay American taxes and I don't have legal status here. And you know what's

legal status here. And you know what's

legal status here. And you know what's the point?

the point?

the point? >> The point is to contribute to the people

>> The point is to contribute to the people

>> The point is to contribute to the people and the infrastructure in which the city

and the infrastructure in which the city

and the infrastructure in which the city that you live. But tbh, it's so much

that you live. But tbh, it's so much

that you live. But tbh, it's so much paperwork. So I get it. Why would you?

paperwork. So I get it. Why would you?

paperwork. So I get it. Why would you? Many of them come and they call

Many of them come and they call

Many of them come and they call themselves expats because they don't

themselves expats because they don't

themselves expats because they don't even want to take that name of migrant.

even want to take that name of migrant.

even want to take that name of migrant. >> I don't really feel like a migrant.

>> I don't really feel like a migrant.

>> I don't really feel like a migrant. >> I feel like an expat.

>> I feel like an expat.

>> I feel like an expat. >> Why don't you feel like a migrant?

>> Why don't you feel like a migrant?

>> Why don't you feel like a migrant? >> Isn't a migrant like someone who

>> Isn't a migrant like someone who

>> Isn't a migrant like someone who might? Because I am a migrant. I'm a

might? Because I am a migrant. I'm a

might? Because I am a migrant. I'm a freaking migrant.

freaking migrant.

freaking migrant. >> You're Say it proud.

>> You're Say it proud.

>> You're Say it proud. >> I'm a migrant.

>> I'm a migrant.

>> I'm a migrant. >> You just made every single person in

>> You just made every single person in

>> You just made every single person in Texas hate you.

Texas hate you.

Texas hate you. >> Turns out you can be both a migrant and

>> Turns out you can be both a migrant and

>> Turns out you can be both a migrant and a gentrifier. But in Mexico City, the

a gentrifier. But in Mexico City, the

a gentrifier. But in Mexico City, the key to being a good gringo isn't

key to being a good gringo isn't

key to being a good gringo isn't retreating into the creature comforts of

retreating into the creature comforts of

retreating into the creature comforts of home. It's immersing yourself in the

home. It's immersing yourself in the

home. It's immersing yourself in the rich cultural traditions of your adopted

rich cultural traditions of your adopted

rich cultural traditions of your adopted country, even if it lights your frigin

country, even if it lights your frigin

country, even if it lights your frigin guts on fire. Okay, this quesadilla is

guts on fire. Okay, this quesadilla is

guts on fire. Okay, this quesadilla is so good. I'm never leaving. Also, I

so good. I'm never leaving. Also, I

so good. I'm never leaving. Also, I literally can't get up because I my

literally can't get up because I my

literally can't get up because I my pants.