10 things gringos have WRONG about Mexico (Bad!)
After a lot of travel, discussion and experience in Mexico–I wanted to write this. Like every place, it has its good points and bad points and today we’re going to touch on the bad points… let’s begin!
I’d really appreciate it if you’d share this article on your social media AND Stay tuned for the post on Mexico’s great points at the end of the article
- Just because you haven’t witnessed anything, doesn’t mean it’s always safe. When I was in Isle of Man I was asked, “So, is what they say about Mexico…you know… yeah I mean… you know…the crime and all… true?” with them looking at me with hesitation like the scene from the Grinch (see below). Approximately 35,000 people go missing every year, thats about the population of Monaco. There have been monuments/statues that have been used to show all those who are missing—the results are shocking. Some cities have worse homicide statistics that war-zones in the middle east and have for some time.
2. Cancun, Rich Mexico City (Polanco, Santa Fe, Roma, Las Lomas), San Pedro de Garcia, Los Cabos are not the rest of the country. Venture off the resort and you’re still not really into what a friend here called “real” Mexico. I often have heard “Oh I love Mexico!” from foreigners. Oh yea, where have you been? –Cancun, Isla Mujeres and a week in Downtown Mexico City, they reply.
I have been to poor areas in some states and while there are good things to walk away from it, I’m 100% sure that many foreigners would change their perception of Mexico if they were placed in these areas. It’s not practical for everybody to live in these rich areas which forces them to look for homes elsewhere and they may be met with a very different expectation.
3. Lo Siento, No Hablo Ingles, Güerro. I am spoiled that I have been able to rely on people close to me while I am here with Spanish. But Mexico has some of the worst performance with English speakers in Latin America. ‘Most’ people do not know English because they never have to use it in their daily lives at all (once you leave the areas mentioned in Number 2). It’s a role of the di where sometimes someone will have family in USA or have gone to school but for the most part they will not be equipped with English. I have witnessed that people in the 18-30-year old range are eager to learn because of better job prospects. It’s amazing how far hand signals can go as well.
4. Bureau-Crazy! Mexico, like the rest of Latin America is one stupid rule after the other. It is a horrible place for entrepreneurs, banking can be shady and taxes are very complicated. The lifestyle benefits do not translate over to professional life such as business, banking, investing or tax optimization. I cannot believe the conditions workers experience in Mexico that involve strict behaviour protocols, long hours, low pay, complete invasions of privacy (not limited to employees) and the endless need for 3rd & 4th parties to mediate a decision. I’ve made the conclusion some time ago (this is a big statement) that Mexico will never become a 1st world country. Pockets of prosperity & wealth are already popping up–and will continue, but throughout the country it’s impossible just based on the bureaucracy procedures alone.
5. It’s a LOUD place. If I were ranking these by most and least bothersome I think it would at the top of the least. Peace and Quiet is truly difficult to find here. Dogs, Cats, Pigeons, Music, Trains, Trucks, Singing, Garbage man bells, did I mention dogs? If it generates sound, it will be heard. There is no “bed-time” in Mexico either and the thought “Eh, it’s getting late, lets turn the music down, people are trying to sleep” simply Does. Not. Exist. I’d argue that unless you live next to a nightclub right now, you’ll be coming to a place that is noisier than your current place. Bring those earplugs
6.Gringo Pricing. “That was a little more expensive than usual wasn’t it?” –Yes! It’s because you spoke English [in taxi]! Stop talking English in Cabs, they’ll assume we have more money and charge more”. I’ve had that conversation. It’s a real thing, there’s a perception you’ll have more so why not charge more? This is NOT the case in those more rustic areas (mentioned in Number 2)—but you’ll have to be willing to witness poverty and deal with Number 3–Did I lose you?
7.Ir a Casa—“Go home”. I’ve only witnessed people being upset with this in Mexico City. So many people are moving to Mexico that they’re raising the local prices for Mexicans. California wokesters complaining about their specific dietary habits doesn’t really fly down here. There is not a general hostility towards foreigners (cause of Gringo Pricing!) but locals would rather save on rent than make it back by overcharging. Americans in Mexico City sure do love that avocado toast!
8. Food. Food is actually a plus. It’s really, really good. However, there are some days that you simply don’t want to eat more tortillas. Sometimes you don’t want chilaquiles or enmoladas for breakfast, either. Sometimes the food can feel one-dimensional or not satiating. Compared to Argentine, Uruguayan or Balkan food, there’s a lack of protein in the foods. The food is often cooked with seed oils & is very, very fattening. Mexico has a big obesity problem (pardon the pun) and it’s no wonder. [There is often a variety of restaurants so this isn’t a deal breaker]
9. Heat. This is not applicable everywhere in Mexico but areas of the Yucatan Peninsula can get really, really hot & humid. It’s not uncommon for it to touch low 30s every day, which for me is not comfortable without AC, a fan or a swimming pool.
10. Booze. I haven’t had any problems with this & to my knowledge, any problems stay domestic (like the beer they love to drink). Drinking seems to be a real problem in Mexico to the point where there’s a joke about how low a gringo’s tolerance is down here. 1 USD tall-can beers are great but can grow into a bad habit, fast. Drinking on the job has been seen numerous times–> but read number 9 again and you’ll understand why.
I’ve said this before, but in my opinion, it’s best to use Mexico as a lifestyle play. This is absolutely not the place to extend your information, data, banking, business or assets. You are not going to move down here with pockets of cash, books of ideas and all your personal forms to be problem-free.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Check out my article reviewing Mexico not an individual-level but a geopolitical-level (releasing SOON!). There I argue that Mexico is the place to be (but again, from a lifestyle point of view).
#StayOnTheBall, amigos
