Re: Anyone been South America?...
Mexico is not in South America, here are countries in Americas:
North America: Canada, US, Mexico
Central America: Guatemala, Hondarus, Nicaragua, Costa Rico, Panama
South America: Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Aregentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uraguay, Guyana, Sariname, French Guiana (French colony) and Brazil.
All countries starting from Mexico and southward to Aregentina speak Spanish except Brazil which has been a Portugese speaking country.
About learning good Spanish, I think Mexico has been a pretty good Spanish country more so because of business activity. Northern towns, close to US border like Monterey, Juarez, San Juan, Laredo, Tijuana, Chihuahua, Hermosillo etc. etc. very nice but are a bit expensive.
You can have lower standard of living in souther cities like Puebla, Vera Cruz, Oaxaca, Guadalajara but they are a bit risky, even the police is as bad as Pakistani. More about Mexico and other Latin American countries later...
"Buenos deseos de México"
Señor MZ