"Good news: U.S. tourists are finally starting to return to Baja California. Three friends and I just returned from yet another fantastic weekend
doing the "20,000 calories south of the border" tour, and while we adjusted to "Mexican time" and had a grand time lowering our blood pressure, some
of our fellow countrymen obviously were having a hard time. Following are three ways to make sure you'll have a terrible time south of the border.
Of course, these behaviors aren't specific to Mexico; you'll find ugly Americans, ugly Brits, and even ugly Canadians all over the world.
5. Insist on New England Protestant-style punctuality.
Fact: life in Mexico is not as tightly regulated as life in the United States. Power outages happen; road closures happen; people will stop and assist
at accidents, because another person's well-being is more important than being at the restaurant at 7:00 on the dot. This drives Americans crazy,
particularly when the response is an unapologetic shrug. So alien to the culture is the idea of slavish devotion to the clock that when you actually
want someone to show up at 7:00 sharp, you have to specify, "a las siete, hora inglesa"--at 7:00, English time. Meanwhile, have another beer.
4. Fail at polite small talk.
The US is a very, very abrupt culture. We have no problem launching straight into a conversation, even if it's someone we don't know very well. No
hello, no polite inquiries into the other party's well-being. At home, that's considered efficient and being respectful of the fact that people have
other things to deal with; in pretty much every other country in the world, it's considered the height of rudeness. Start every conversation with a
greeting and at least a "¿cómo está usted?" before asking questions.
3. Haggle gracelessly over prices.
Yes, haggling is a way of life in the markets of Mexico; the first price is always a bad one, and you should haggle amiably. Unfortunately, the only
haggling we ever do in this country is over cars, which everyone hates and which is needlessly antagonistic, and houses, which is done por escrito. As
a result, we suck at it, and we end up being rude. Decide what it's worth, be fair to the vendor, and either pay more or say no if they won't meet
your price. No need to get your blood pressure up.
2. Refuse to eat the food.
Fact: the vast majority of prepared food purchased in Mexico is made right in front of you, either in fondas in the market, at stalls on the street,
or in open-kitchen cenadurias. The American model where the food comes out from some invisible kitchen is not the norm, but for some reason Americans
think that's the only safe way to eat. They'll refuse to eat anything on the street, citing some cousin's roommate's former girlfriend who claims to
have got dysentery from a taco in 1982. The rule is the same anywhere in the world: eat where there's a line; places don't get popular by poisoning
their clientele.
1. Get upset when plans don't work out.
Americans seem to be very comforted by well-planned trips. At 0900 hours we will deploy to breakfast; coffee and pan dulce, then back in the car at
1000 hours to hit the museum when it opens. Of course, this ignores the realities of life; the restaurant is understaffed, the police have set up an
inconvenient roadblock to investigate a car accident, or the museum worker stopped off for a bowl of menudo to cure la cruda before coming to work.
Live life on Mexican time and stop trying to cram two days' worth of activities into every day, and you'll have a much better time."SteveD - 10-19-2012 at 03:09 PM
We we started coming to Baja more often and for longer periods of time we were originally upset at restaurants. After you have finished your meal and
the dishes are cleared the waiter disappears. Later we found out that it is the custom. Stay and relax as long as you want. No rush to "turn over"
the table. If you want to leave, ask for the check.
Over the past few years some of the restaurants in the Rosarito area seem to operate by American time standards. They want your drink and dinner
order right away, food is served very quickly, empty plates are removed and you are presented with the check. We usually just get our drinks and sit
back and enjoy them for a while. Maybe order an appitizer or watch the sunset. Then order dinner. Now that we both are retired we like to take our
time.David K - 10-19-2012 at 03:12 PM
That's a pretty good list!
"Mexican Time" = When we get there, not what the clock says.
"Mañana" = Not 'tomorrow... just not TODAY!Udo - 10-19-2012 at 04:55 PM
I feel that the haggling is more a game than anything else. Although the haggling only happens in the goods that are marketable, and not a necessity
of life.Mulegena - 10-19-2012 at 06:33 PM
About haggling... it seems to be practiced by visitors more than by locals.
among Mexicans it really doesn't happen much.
A price is stated by the vendor, service person... whomever.
The goods to value ratio is considered; if its fair, its paid; if its not, the buyer moves on.
[Edited on 10-20-2012 by Mulegena]Lee - 10-19-2012 at 07:04 PM
Is there a list that describes Mexicans as negatively as this one does Northern Americans?
Ugly American is an ugly and racist term even if there is some truth for some Northern Americans.
Just keep perpetuating stereotypes. Feel better?
"The times they are a changing" sung..Bob dil
captkw - 10-19-2012 at 07:36 PM
Just a few years back in BCS it was the norm to haggle...not much anymore it seems !! but if you know the culture,,folks,,villages..you can still make
a afternoon of it !! just dont speak usa school spanish and gringo attitudes !! K & T
[Edited on 10-20-2012 by captkw]willardguy - 10-19-2012 at 07:42 PM
I think it all depends on what you're bargaining for, and how late its getting!Tree - 10-20-2012 at 01:56 AM
I have a set price i'm willing to pay that will get me the item at a reasonable price but still allow for some profit on the sellers part. It is a
business and just because you are in mexico doesn't mean you should buy something for considerably less then market value. I want to do all I can to
help the people in Mexico put food on their table and help their family. My group (CTR- Compadres trail riders) is a bunch of dirt bikers that enjoy
coming to baja and are willing to spend our money to help the local merchants/economy. Katiejay99 - 10-20-2012 at 05:13 AM
I once asked the owner of a local restaurant why the waiters wouldn't clear the plates and empties or ask if the customer wanted refills and his reply
to me was:
We don't want to rush the customer and if we keep coming back all the time, it puts too much pressure on them to feel like we want them to hurry and
leave. We appreciate our customers and want them to stay as long as they like. If they want a refill, they will ask.
I told him that most people like having an uncluttered table. He just shrugged and said that if they want it cleared all they need to do is ask and
we'll gladly do it.Marinero - 10-20-2012 at 07:18 AM
Years ago, on my first trip to Baja, I stood at the entry desk at the old El Arco Hotel in La Paz, wanting to cash a traveler's check. The three
young men behind the desk would not look at me or wait on me. After some time I said something and all three hurried over. Seems I was making them
nervous by not speaking first and giving them some idea why I was there. It would have been rude for them to approach me and ask me what I wanted.
Things have changed some, but not all that much in the smaller Pueblos. Why Knew?DENNIS - 10-20-2012 at 12:45 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Mulegena
About haggling... it seems to be practiced by visitors more than by locals.
Maybe so in the curio shops wher the locals don't so often frequent, but not so in the Segundas where they do shop and haggle.
We have to be making our comparisons at the appropriate venue for them to be meaningful.
K & T 
