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Retire in Mexico and Every Day is Opposite Day: 2 Cultural Differences in Daily Communication
from: Julia Taylor"Yes" means "no." "Now" means "later."
My English student came by at the time of her lesson and
pronounced this carefully rehearsed question: "Will you give me
30 minutes?" I wasn't completely sure that she meant she needed
30 more minutes until the class started or that maybe she meant
she could only stay for 30 minutes.
"Do you want to have class now?" I asked, trying to clarify the
situation while still using English.
"Yes, now," she replied.
"Ok. Come on over," I gestured to my door.
"I have to eat first."
Do you get it? Why did she say "now" when she really meant 30
minutes later? When you first live or retire in Mexico, you
might be confused by this. After 4 years here, I got it right
away.
In Spanish, when someone says "ahorita" they actually mean "in a
bit." My student was using an English word to express a Mexican
cultural concept.
"In English now means right away, like in 30 seconds," I told
her, snapping my fingers to illustrate the point.
Of course this happens to us north Americans when we are
speaking Spanish. Forget whatever impressions you may have left
over from your high school Spanish class. Cultural differences
define the ways things are expressed in Spanish. If someone
tells you they will do something "ahorita" don't hold your
breath. It may take them a few hours to do it.
Another great opposite is "yes" means "no."
"No" is a taboo phrase, and is therefore rarely used in Mexico.
Instead people just say "yes," albeit more vaguely.
"How can this be?" you ask. Let me tell you, it can be a real
shocker when you first live or retire in Mexico. The real damage
comes in when you, as a person from a country where "no" is an
acceptable response, use the poisonous little word. I've flubbed
up on this one many a time and, let me tell you, people's faces
fall. They feel terrible when you tell them "no."
If you want to say "no" STOP YOURSELF. Try to say "yes" first,
then add something that keeps things very vague. If saying "yes"
feels too much like you will have to follow through on the "yes"
then just give lots of excuses, say "thank you" over and over
and leave the "no" out.
At first you will probably feel like you are lying, but if you
KNOW HOW TO 'NO' it will be much more comfortable for you. When
interacting with others tune in to when they are being vague and
take note of the hedge words they use. By observing others you
can build a "no saying" dictionary that will allow you to
maintain good relationships with friends and acquaintances.--jt
About the author:
Julia Taylor has been living in Mexico for 4 years as an
American expat. She shares her extensive cultural knowledge with
those who want to live or retire in Mexico. Visit her website at
http://www.home-sweet-mexico.com to learn more about cultural
differences, safety, making friends, setting up a home, getting
around, and much more.
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Mexico Specific links
Mexico News
Mexico extradites 2 drug traffickers to US - Fox News
 BBC News | Mexico extradites 2 drug traffickers to US Fox News A Beltran Leyva drug cartel boss and a member of the Tijuana drug cartel were extradited by Mexico to the United States, the Mexican Attorney General's Office said. Sergio Villarreal Barragan, a leader of the Beltran Leyva cartel, was handed over to US ... Mexico extradites drug boss involved in corruption probe Drug cartel player extradited to US from Mexico Mexico: Drug Cartel Boss Extradited To US |
Mexico's Reygadas brings surrealism to Cannes - Fox News
 The Guardian | Mexico's Reygadas brings surrealism to Cannes Fox News Mexico is wracked by murderous violence, often involving drug gangs who leave the decapitated bodies of their victims on public display. One of the film's most startling images involves a man literally pulling his own head off. Bizarre Mexican family drama baffles Cannes |
Hurricane Bud forms off Mexico's Pacific coast -NHC - Reuters
 Voice of America | Hurricane Bud forms off Mexico's Pacific coast -NHC Reuters Bud expected to start weakening on Friday * Hurricane may not make landfall (Updates with Bud as hurricane) MEXICO CITY May 24 (Reuters) - Hurricane Bud formed off Mexico's Pacific coast early on Thursday, and could threaten parts of southwestern ... Bud Becomes Category 2 Hurricane as Mexico Coast Prepares Hurricane Forms Off Coast of Mexico Hurricane Bud forms off Mexico |
Mexicans Protest Ties Between Politics, Media - Wall Street Journal
 Wall Street Journal | Mexicans Protest Ties Between Politics, Media Wall Street Journal By NICHOLAS CASEY and JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA MEXICO CITY—Thousands of students are joining a growing street-demonstration movement to protest Mexico's top two television networks, which they accuse of colluding to secure the leading presidential candidate's ... 1000s of students protest media in Mexico Mexico's PRI eyes jump-start to reforms if victorious-aide Mexico political party suspends former official in drug-money scandal |
Mexico Party Suspends ex-Governor Over Probe - Wall Street Journal
 Forbes | Mexico Party Suspends ex-Governor Over Probe Wall Street Journal AP MEXICO CITY—Mexico's former ruling party said Wednesday it will suspend the membership of a former governor accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from drug cartels. Tomás Yarrington, the former governor of the border state of ... Mexico opposition party chides ex-governor in drug probe Mexico's former ruling party distances from ex-gov Mexico Journal: Violence and Corruption on the Texas Border |
