| you live abroad, staying in touch with your family, | | | | sent reliably and quickly through one of several |
| businesses, and financial institutions back in the | | | | mail forwarding services. Several international |
| United States doesn’t have to be a hassle | | | | franchises are here, including Domino’s |
| or expensive. With a little planning, an expat can | | | | Pizza and Blockbuster Video. In addition to |
| stay in touch, pay bills, and manage money from | | | | acclaimed art schools, San Miguel has one of the |
| anywhere in the world with no more than access | | | | largest collections of English-language books in |
| to an Internet café. | | | | Mexico in its public library. |
| But if you intend to continue operating a | | | | In Thailand, new condos to rent in Chiang Mai can |
| business...or day trading...infrastructure (that is, | | | | come with free unlimited high-speed Internet (to |
| high-speed Internet access and reliable e-mail and | | | | rent a 500-square-foot condo would cost about |
| telephone communications) is critical. | | | | $365 per month). |
| Infrastructure in Honduras, and particularly in the | | | | Outside of Bangkok, the U.S. Embassy has set up |
| Bay Islands, is improving almost daily. Several film | | | | what it calls “American Corners” in |
| production companies have used Roatan to film | | | | various universities across the country. The aim is |
| television series for the United States and Europe, | | | | to foster mutual understanding between Thailand |
| creating greater awareness of the islands and | | | | and the U.S. through a variety of means. These |
| more frequent cruise ship visits--this exposure will | | | | include satellite programs, digital video |
| continue to attract foreign investors. | | | | conferences, high-speed Internet access, and |
| Already there have been some improvements to | | | | book and multimedia collections. Another aim is to |
| roads and electricity. Communications have | | | | stimulate dialogue with individual citizens, groups, |
| advanced by leaps and bounds, with landline, cell, | | | | institutions, and the media through local |
| satellite and VoIP telephones, DSL and dial-up | | | | information and cultural activities. |
| Internet connecting Honduras to the rest of the | | | | Montevideo, 120 miles from Buenos Aires, is |
| world. Satellite and cable television bring North | | | | Uruguay’s commercial, educational, and |
| American entertainment and news into Honduran | | | | cultural center. It has a European ambiance and |
| homes. | | | | old-world charm. Ciudad Vieja, the old historic |
| Mexico continues to be a land of contrasts, both | | | | center, has sycamore-lined streets, open-air |
| geographically and socially. Indian communities in | | | | markets, fine restaurants, and sidewalk |
| mountain villages maintain centuries-old | | | | cafés. Property prices are reasonable, and |
| customs…not far from cities where | | | | the day-to-day cost of living is on par with |
| wealthy businessmen scurry around with cell | | | | Ecuador, if not a bit less. There are numerous |
| phones and wireless Internet. | | | | schools of dance, music, and art, along with 35 |
| In San Miguel de Allende, you can get all the | | | | radio stations, good cable television, and |
| amenities you expect in the modern world, | | | | high-speed Internet services. They’ve |
| including reliable telephone service and high-speed | | | | even got a jazz festival. In Punta del Este a |
| Internet access. You can get mail delivered and | | | | broadband line costs $50 a month. |