Guadalajara Reporter

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Written by GR Staff
Saturday, 26 January 2008
Dear Sir, Some time ago, I had the opportunity to attend a social affair primarily attended by expatriates who lived year-round in Mexico. This was a catered affair and the setting was beautiful. As luck would have it, I was at a table with seven other expatriates. As the conversation progressed over a period of approximately 45 minutes, it became apparent that a single theme predominated their conversation. That theme was their dissatisfaction with everything in Mexico and Mexicans in particular. Of course they complained about the traffic and drivers, which is true of every country in the world including their native countries. However, they rapidly progressed to the governments, both local and national, Mexican workers, shopkeepers ("why can't they speak English?"), Mexican food (this I really didn't believe since we were eating Mexican barbecued beef catered by Mexicans), and more. I was sitting there listening and comparing their conversation with my own experiences in Mexico: Mexican shopkeepers who went out of their way to help me, neighbors who if they didn't see me for a while would stop by to see if I was okay, the police who stop and say hello when I'm in front of my residence early in the morning, the drivers who make sure that I can get across the street when I'm walking (either by waiting or signaling me to go ahead while they wait), the Mexicans who never refused to respond to the word "ayuda" (help), the Mexicans who grin at my sometimes poor Spanish and then proceed to help me correct it, complementing me for trying, the fact that all the neighbors on both sides of the street for a block greet me with a grin and cheery hello every time they see me (they are all Mexican), the Mexicans next door who, when having a fiesta, make sure that I'm invited, my Mexican landlord who has made sure that when he goes to the countryside in Jalisco that I'm invited, and all the Mexicans who have been among the friendliest and helpful people that I have met over the world. Hmm, I wondered if I was in a different Mexico than they? How could I have missed it after almost nine years in country? Then it hit me, I had heard this theme before in different places in Mexico. And seemingly it came from the same type of setting; a group of expatriates who were congregating among themselves and had very little day-to-day contact with Mexicans except for their maids, gardeners, and other laborers. They knew/know very little of the history of this country or it's people. For some reason they want everything to be "like it is/was back home." They attempt very little or no Spanish and as a rule go only where other expatriates or visitors go. There are many expatriates who do not fit this profile and have adjusted to life in Mexico and love this country. They have made the effort to do so. This group that I was sitting with had not made nor would make the effort. A question had to be asked to this group. So, it was: "Are you aware that the same airline, bus line, car, or train that brought you into Mexico also goes the other way?" You could have heard a pin drop. "Why would you say that?" they asked. My reply was simple: "If I hated a country as much as you, I would leave. You are guests in this country and have not learned of all the hospitality she has to offer and you are unhappy with Mexico. So why stay?" Needless to say, I won't be invited back. But there is a lesson here: we are all guests in a country that has welcomed us. Many of us have responded by being good citizens and trying successfully to adjust to Mexican living. For those that haven't or don't want to, there is a simple question: "Why are you here?" Jim Armstrong, Guadalajara