Crime

It is difficult to participate in a conversation pertaining to El Salvador without someone in the mix eventually bringing up the subject of crime -- and for good reason. 

Most news about El Salvador that expatriates receive leave the impression that the country is fraught with indiscriminate and violent crime. Add to this a recently released report putting El Salvador at the top of the most violent nations on Earth. I am not going to get into debating the merits or flaws of the report, but the reality of the situation in the country is not as dire as what many outside the country might think.

Danger definitely exists, as it does in Los Angeles, my adopted home. Prudent behavior goes a long way both in San Salvador and Los Angeles. Much like I wouldn't walk around a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles wearing a thick gold chain around my neck, I don't do the same in San Salvador -- unless I wanted undesired attention.

While my example is a bit of a hyperbole, it serves to illustrate where many people go wrong. 

The behavior that keeps you safe wherever it is you call home as an expatriate will also help keep you safe in San Salvador and other places in El Salvador. Unfortunately, some people tend to forget this point when they jump on the plane taking them to El Salvador (or any other place for that matter).

Much like in major cities within the United States, violent crimes are often associated with specific areas of San Salvador or other destinations in El Salvador. And much like in Los Angeles, this fact doesn't mean the possibility of something occurring outside those areas is eliminated, it merely means the chances are reduced. To give you an example, there are many small towns in El Salvador where violent crime is completely unheard of. 

Petty theft or vandalism is a different story, which brings me to another important point. Violent crime may be concentrated in specific neighborhoods, but petty crimes aren't, and this is something that is quite a bit different than what you may be accustomed to in your current place of residence.

Welcome!

Seihonda/Wikipedia

Greetings!

Thanks for stopping by and reading this blog. In case you have stumbled upon us by chance, below are a few words that talk about it.

A few decades back, the civil war in El Salvador forced my family and I to leave El Salvador. We joined the growing expatriate community residing in the United States, many of whom had also fled for similar reasons. As the years passed, the community continued to grow, due to increased immigration for varied reasons, as well as first generation Salvadoran-Americans. The phenomena has repeated itself in other nations, such as Australia, Canada and Sweden, all places where many war refugees migrated to during the war. 

After the war, many expatriates --including myself-- trekked back to El Salvador to visit family, see old friends, etc. For many of us, it became a ritual we practiced on a regular basis. But for many, visiting presented a number of questions, especially to those that originally fled the country as a child or now wanted to travel back to El Salvador with children of their own.

What neighborhoods are considered safe?

How do I activate my mobile phone?

Can I rent a car with my license?

The list of questions is endless, and whenever possible, I chime in and provide some insight to those who may be asking, based on my direct experiences from my travels back to El Salvador. Over the years, a few individuals have suggested to me that I formalize some of my tidbits into a guide of sorts for folks wanting to visit and share some of those same curiosities.

So here it is, Somos Expats, a guide for expatriates (and others) wishing to visit El Salvador. I hope that you find information that is useful for your trip. If you any questions or specific topics you would like to see covered, drop me a note and I will be more than happy to get you an answer. Likewise, if any information becomes outdated or is incorrect, do not hesitate to send me an email or add a comment so I can correct it.

Thanks again for visiting!