 |
| Lawrie and his younger brother Freddy Medina - party time! |
Mexico, as a nation, is politically incorrect. Here
greetings between acquaintances, friends, family members or co-workers are a
hug and an affectionate buss on the cheek.
It’s the culturally acceptable
greeting and not thought of as sexual harassment.
Between men the greeting is usually a hand-slap
fist-bump and then an arm around the shoulder guy-hug. Handshakes are rare, and
usually reserved for formal, first-time introductions.
 |
| Setting up for a birthday party |
Many of our Mexican male friends have no idea
what to do when a foreign woman shoves her hand out for a handshake, instead of
leaning in for a kiss. I experienced a number of limp, finger-tip shakes before
I realized I was, in their view, behaving oddly.
Now I just hug and smooch
‘em!
Lawrie has always loved hugging, but in Canada he
was afraid that he would be accused of sexual harassment so seldom indulged in
affectionate greetings. Here in Mexico, everyone loves to hug which makes Lawrie
a very happy man.
 |
| Another day, another birthday party! |
To our Mexican friends family is everything. Life
revolves living with or close to your family. If you don’t have children, parents,
siblings, cousins, aunties, uncles, and grandparents underfoot you are to be
pitied because you are alone.
The average family home is noisy with animated conversations, loud music, and unrestrained laughter.
The average family home is noisy with animated conversations, loud music, and unrestrained laughter.
Faith defines life in Mexico. In most of the G-8
countries, USA, Canada, Russia, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, and
Italy your job and your income defines you. Here, what you do for a living is
not important.
 |
| Quinceanos - complete with entertainers. |
Education is valuable but
human dignity counts for more. Manners and respect for others are important as a means
of peacefully co-existing in a boisterous and frequently crowded household.
Education focuses on culture, art, tradition and history. Learning to play and instrument, or to sing and dance is far more important than an expensive degree that enables you to serve coffee at Starbucks.
Education focuses on culture, art, tradition and history. Learning to play and instrument, or to sing and dance is far more important than an expensive degree that enables you to serve coffee at Starbucks.
You are responsible for yourself. There are no
high-priced lawyers suggesting a huge lawsuit for a personal injury if you trip
on an uneven sidewalk, scald yourself drinking hot coffee, touch a live
electrical wire, or fall into an unfenced swimming pool.
 |
| Dress well, eat well. |
Canadians and Americans tend to lean more towards
volunteering their help and financial assistance to local charities, with an
expectation of local celebrities contributing their fair share.
In Mexico it is not as prevalent, people rely on close-knit families to help out in a financial or medical crisis.
In Mexico it is not as prevalent, people rely on close-knit families to help out in a financial or medical crisis.
Appearances matter but people are not obsessed
with being young, thin and beautiful. Being well dressed and eating good food
are far more important.
 |
| Lupita's Quinceanos. |
And most importantly, family events such as
engagements, weddings, a child’s first birthday, baptisms, a young woman’s
fifteen birthday known as quinceaños, birthdays for any family member and wedding anniversaries
are celebrated in grand style.
The fiesta may last all night and includes
amazing food, drinks, decorations, beautiful cakes, music, dancing, and
possibly fireworks.
Mexico is a very special place, and we love our
life here.
Hasta
Luego
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By CA reviews on September 26, 2017
3 comments:
Exactly! I was born and raised in an Italian-American family, and in many ways it’s culture mirrors the Mexican culture Lynda has described. We all hug and kiss hello and goodbye, so it comes very naturally to me. My Mexican neighbors have embraced us and call us “familia”. The people of Isla are its’ heart. I love it here, too.
It shows every day in Mexican people. They are very family oriented and are so nice to us as visitors. The greetings here are so special. Nice post Lynda. See you in a couple days.
Amazing! I love the Spanish, Italian and French cultures. They are so openly affectionate with each other.
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