Common misconceptions and clichés about life in Mexico

fdinolfo wrote:

In the 8 years since moving to Mexico from the US, I've met countless expats who assumed they'd "pick up" Spanish while living here, with a few months of local classes. It seems most people don't know that it takes a lot of time and effort (e.g. homework, practice) to learn another language. When they realize this, many give up and never master more than the most basic Spanish. My advice would be to start even before you move here. Most of us know years in advance before taking the big step of moving to another country. Use this time to start learning and practicing.

i've been here 5 years as of July, and i agree that practice is a major factor in learning Spanish, But I do not feel you can really learn the Spanish as spoken here in the U.S. For one thing you are taught to use words that are actually not commonly used here.  Some of the things that are taught are rude. The other problem is Spanish is not cut and dried, there are many dialects. I have seen the same problem with Spanish speaking people trying to learn English. They usually just give up period.

Gene1023 wrote:

"You gonna die!" I actually feel safer here in Mexico than in some places in the US.

Yes, the Mexican Government screws with Residente Premanentes much less than the US government screws with its citizens.

Still, it doesn't hurt to keep a low profile.

kerryinmexico wrote:

I have to respectfully disagree with Travellight. I attended Spanish Meetups and used online language tools and became an intermediate speaker before arriving to Mexico. With Skype, you can practice every day with a native speaker from the country of your choice.   Although slang and some words are different, to speak properly all you need is Spanish. Spanish is one language, just like English is.

Actually I was referencing formal Spanish training prior to  coming to Mexico. No mention was made of SKYPE or on line tools. Both could be useful because they involve more real communication. I was talking about formal classes where they teach you to  say Yo at the beginning of every sentence and que if you have a question.
It was the person (fdinolfo) that i was responding to who felt formal training was better than on line tools. I took Spanish in high school but have learned Spanish in Mexico and Peru by actually speaking it. What ever works is what I think. So you will have to respectfully disagree with her.

travellight wrote:

That's a start, but be aware that appointment at 11 is not a fixed appointment. It's a time you must be there but not a time they will see you necessarily. I ran into that again and again with Hacienda appointments. You arrive to get a seat to wait with others. They give you a number, and you sit.

That's not necessarily different than the US.  DMV, SSA, IRS any number of other government bureaucracies.  Doctors' appointments vary all over creation in the US.

In doctors' and dentists' offices here an walk-in in pain can take priority over people with appointments.  Also treue in the US.

gudgrief wrote:

travellight wrote:

That's a start, but be aware that appointment at 11 is not a fixed appointment. It's a time you must be there but not a time they will see you necessarily. I ran into that again and again with Hacienda appointments. You arrive to get a seat to wait with others. They give you a number, and you sit.

That's not necessarily different than the US.  DMV, SSA, IRS any number of other government bureaucracies.  Doctors' appointments vary all over creation in the US.

In doctors' and dentists' offices here an walk-in in pain can take priority over people with appointments.  Also treue in the US.

Well true, but then I didn't usually have a fixed appointment at the DMV in the U.S, I just showed up. The SSA I just emailed or called. As for doctors, if I wasn't seen in a 1/2 hour they could scratch me off of their list. Most government offices in the U.S. can be contacted on line.`

So, here you can check their web site for basic information, but that's pretty much it.  You can fill out some paper work and submit it, but it has been impossible for me to skip that appointment. The appointment that so far is never done at the time I was given.

auntierie1 wrote:

My husband is still surprised by "siesta' which is the same time in Mexico, Italy, France, Spain...........I just assume it is the same everywhere (whether it exists or not).

Here They tend to call it lunch if they take it or not. The times vary, but it's pretty much after 1 pm. Then they may come back to work in the evening. The lunch often actually involves lunch or the pub for most.
Cerveza is a hot day essential after all. yesterday about one I was walking back from parking my car on another street ( parking is a whole other topic, as is driving)  anyway my neighbor insisted on giving me a ride that short distance and gave me a beer. Mexican norm at it's best.

gudgrief wrote:

I had to fight with a cop in San Luis Potosi to take a 250 peso curbside fine for running a red light.  It was a rental car and he would have taken the plates or made me wait for a judge to determine the fine.  The corruption is not the same all over Mexico.  Sometimes you get a ticket for illegal parking, sometimes they take you plates, sometimes they tow.

Rich tourist pickings in Tulum.

I only had to use a bribe once to get my drivers license back from a city cop. It wasn't my idea, the insurance agent recommended it when a local raced through a school zone well over the speed limit hitting my rental car. I argued with him about that, because the accident was clearly her fault, but he said it would be much less complicated if I greased the wheels, and he was right I immediately got my license back and was on my way leaving her still yelling at her insurance agent.

Otherwise, I have not had to pay a bribe anywhere in Mexico, and I drive down to the Cancun  PDC, Tulum area at least once a year. I would tend to wonder about associations.

travellight wrote:

gudgrief wrote:

I had to fight with a cop in San Luis Potosi to take a 250 peso curbside fine for running a red light.  It was a rental car and he would have taken the plates or made me wait for a judge to determine the fine.  The corruption is not the same all over Mexico.  Sometimes you get a ticket for illegal parking, sometimes they take you plates, sometimes they tow.

Rich tourist pickings in Tulum.

I only had to use a bribe once to get my drivers license back from a city cop. It wasn't my idea, the insurance agent recommended it when a local raced through a school zone well over the speed limit hitting my rental car. I argued with him about that, because the accident was clearly her fault, but he said it would be much less complicated if I greased the wheels, and he was right I immediately got my license back and was on my way leaving her still yelling at her insurance agent.

Otherwise, I have not had to pay a bribe anywhere in Mexico, and I drive down to the Cancun  PDC, Tulum area at least once a year. I would tend to wonder about associations.

This reminds me of a story from many years back in Saltillo.  I was working for GM and my ex reported an incident as follows.

A truck sideswiped the car when she was in the lefthand lane waiting to make a lefthand turn.  The truck pulled up a hundred yards or so down the road, a busy main thoroughfare 4 lane with turning lane.  She dumbly waits for cops, city cops, to show up.  The truck driver runs up to the cop with a wad of cash in his hand.

By the time she thinks to call me the car was hauled off to the impound yard and she had a summons to appear in court.

I called the plant traffic manager who was no help.

After letting myself calm down a bit, I called my nextdoor neighbor who happened to be the chief of the Federal Highway Police for the State of Coahuila.  We were on friendly terms and I had arranged a plant tour for him and his top officers.  30 minutes the car was delivered to our company car garage where it was directed to the GM dealer in the city for repairs.  I'm sure the Chief had to swap some small favor with the local chief but nothing was ever said and my friendship continued.

Things like this are something to be aware of.  There's no secret code book.  Make friends with as many Mexicans as you can, preferably people in the know how the system works.