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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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here is another cultural difference between my original home in Canada and my baja home....swimmers wear their clothes in the water here in
Asuncion...extremely rare to see an actual bathing suit on a local let alone a bikini. I'm not allowed to swim at the town beach in my bikini!!! When
I first came here most everyone swam in jeans and a T-shirt but now they are wearing more shorts and a T-shirt.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
here is another cultural difference between my original home in Canada and my baja home....swimmers wear their clothes in the water here in
Asuncion...extremely rare to see an actual bathing suit on a local let alone a bikini. I'm not allowed to swim at the town beach in my bikini!!! When
I first came here most everyone swam in jeans and a T-shirt but now they are wearing more shorts and a T-shirt. |
Yes, I remember 30 years ago on the Mainland, women sat fully clothed in the ocean shallows. However, they'd go in the river to wash
the family clothes on the rocks stripped down on top to their underwear. As an aside, it was also fashionable in those days for women to wear big,
gold men's watches. As for me, I usually choose to swim with a t-shirt & shorts here in Baja or a wetsuit. I'm protected from sunburn, jellyfish,
prying eyes and cold-@## water.
I'm reminded of a really old photo of my parents. They were teenagers back in the 1920s, just friends. They're both wearing these very modest suits.
Daddy's, a one-piece with long shoulderstraps & shorts; Mama's a one-piece dress. Daddy's holding a beach umbrella over the two of them and
they're smiling so happily. Good memories, thanks!
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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chrisx
Banned
Posts: 173
Registered: 12-17-2009
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Mood: baj nomad is broken
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tres minutos
Two weeks ago I went looking for Angie, ( Sign the name Angie ). When I found her she said she would be over in tres minutos.
2 weeks later, (yesterday,) she showed up around lunch time. ¿ tres mucho minutos ? She stayed for 9 hours or so, until bed time. If you want to
learn Spanish go shoping with a Mexican girl, one that likes to talk a lot. She wants a photo of her little puppy dog. Should I not buy her at least
one new shirt. After all she looked at the prices and found one on sale. She insisted I buy a water melon. Put some soy sauce, garlic salt, green
chilies, and some things I always forget to put in the basket. She cleaned my room, and hid my camera in a bag full of socks.
Put her tooth brush in my drawer.
She said she wants to go to La bufadora today and take more photos of her cute little puppy.
The last thing she said was dies minutos.
Is anybody able to predict what dies minutoes means in Mexico.
[Edited on 8-20-2011 by chrisx]
HEY GRINGO HIT THE BRAKES
SCAN THE ROAD AHEAD AT ALL TIMES
HIT THE BRAKES AND SLOW WAY DOWN
WAIT, PASS WHEN SAFE
HEY GRINGO HIT THE BRAKES!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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'Mexican time' ... just like the metric system: 'double it and add 30'! 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by chrisx
She cleaned my room, and hid my camera in a bag full of socks.
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I've known of construction workers who would hide the owners tools in surrounding brush. When the tools came up missing and ample time allowed for
thorough searches, if not found, the thief would return at a later date to gather up the loot.
If the culprit was, in the interim, accused or placed with the property in the past, the tools or whatever would be miraculously found and the
accused would be righteously indignant.
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chrisx
Banned
Posts: 173
Registered: 12-17-2009
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Mood: baj nomad is broken
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A valid statement, and a thought that needs thinking.
In this instance, She was arranging things in normal Mexican storage order. Clearly different than my single male toss on the table storage method. I
assume socks are a well known and common hiding place. She made a production out of putting the camera away and out of plane sight.
Note for better hiding places call Mexico City and ask the mariachi who live 18 in one room
HEY GRINGO HIT THE BRAKES
SCAN THE ROAD AHEAD AT ALL TIMES
HIT THE BRAKES AND SLOW WAY DOWN
WAIT, PASS WHEN SAFE
HEY GRINGO HIT THE BRAKES!
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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how about sweeping dirt...never did that at home NOB!
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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Sweeping dirt is a good one Shari, I have sweet memories of doing that, must admit, it was quite a few years back.
I remember when I first came home, what was at the top of my lists of why return was I was so sick of the efficiency of the U.S., I don't miss that at
all.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
how about sweeping dirt...never did that at home NOB! |
You probably never had a dirt floor in Canada. Or...did you??
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3603
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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What do most MX think when trash is thrown from a moving vehicle in Baja? I'm guessing nothing, or else -- oh someone's getting rid of their
basura.
My impression of Mexicans on beaches on a Sunday afternoon is that most will leave all their trash on the beach. That would be bottles, food,
diapers, everything. And sometimes gringoes will feel obligated to pick the trash up.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lee
What do most MX think when trash is thrown from a moving vehicle in Baja? I'm guessing nothing, or else -- oh someone's getting rid of their
basura.
My impression of Mexicans on beaches on a Sunday afternoon is that most will leave all their trash on the beach. That would be bottles, food,
diapers, everything. And sometimes gringoes will feel obligated to pick the trash up. |
You're right, Lee.
Trash is part of life in Mexico, and I dont mean Mexicans are trashy people.
In the states, in high refuse situations, we have a plan to deal with it. Trash cans, as well as a crew to empty them.
Here, in most cases, they don't do that.....yet.
Wind is the great basura cleanser.
Pray for Wind.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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The BLM in the SoCal deserts use to have a lot of trash cans out at the main recreation areas-------people came from miles around to dump their
household trash at our sites so that they could avoid paying for trash collection at their homes, I guess. About 30 years ago, BLM pulled all the
trash cans out of the desert as we were simply overwhelmed, and the "cans" acted like magnets for mountains of trash, far beyond the capacity of the
"cans".
Trash is EVERYBODIES problem, and it takes EVERYBODY doing their share to keep it under control----it's far beyond the capabilities of "Government".
In the USA over the years we have made great progress in each of us handling our own basura-------I can testify to that as I have "paid attention" for
many years since it was "my" problem in the desert.
Yes, the "wind" works wonders for loose trash-------removes it from your sight, and deposits it in somebody elses sight------not sure that is
progress, tho.
Barry
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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When my daughter originally formed UVERDE in Los Barriles, one of her principal activities was to pull all of Her company's construction crew off the
job one day a month and pay them instead to pick up trash, cleaning up downtown and the outlying areas of our community. They hauled away several dump
truck loads of trash every month. A few gringos did step in and help, but 90% of the trash was picked up by my daughter's crews. It was her way of
giving back to our community and teaching her workers about throwing trash around.
Once a month, there is a recycle pickup in Los Barriles, this has been organized by a few local gringos. But again, UVERDE has stepped up to the plate
provides transportation of recycled items to La Paz where they are processed.
UVERDE is a Mexican Non Profit Organisation with an all Mexican board dedicated to Environmental Issues. UVERDE is not funded by the Gringo
community. It stands on it's own now, Mexican Volunteers, Money raised by rummage sales etc. UVERDE also visit the schools to orient the kids in
environmental issues and provides summer recycle art projects for kids of our community. Los Barriles has never been the same since UVERDE stepped up
to the plate. We have a little trash blowing around town, but still several times a year UVERDE organizes trash pickups.
[Edited on 8-20-2011 by Eli]
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Sampling fruits
It's common for an American shopper to pull off a grape and try it before purchasing the entire bag. To make sure the taste is what you expect. Don't
like the flavor - don't buy it.
My ex got the dirtiest look from a vendor at San Ignacio when she did that. Oooops... lesson learned.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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Hugs & Pecks
I come from a family of huggers- Hugs for hello, hugs for goodbye with family and friends is all ok with me. I'm not used to shaking hands. It's not
something that was done in my profession etc, but I'm working on that one especially when a Mexican child extends his or her hand I remember,"oh
shoot, the handshake".
One thing I haven't figured out is the right-side, left-side fake kissy thing that sometimes goes with a hug. Is it right side first, then left or
vice versa or is there a technique? When and who do your reserve this for?
We've become friends with the ingeniero who did our Environmental study and we needed to get some documents from him. We were in La Paz for FM
renewals so he said he'd meet us at the immigration office. The office was busy that day and most of the chairs in the waiting room were full. Hilario
walked in and we waved and he came over. I expected a verbal greeting and instead noticed he was gearing up for a Mexican-hug-greeting, and then he
surprised me and went for the Hug-and-side-to-side-peck maneuver.
I have never attempted that maneuver Mexican style so I went with what I know and gave him a big 'ol smouch on the cheek like I'd give my grandma.
The noise in the crowded room just happened to dim at that exact moment and I swear the "smack" could've been heard on the Malecon outside. I don't
think that's how you do it .
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
Yes, the "wind" works wonders for loose trash-------removes it from your sight, and deposits it in somebody elses sight------not sure that is
progress, tho.
Barry |
I thought we were talking about Mexico. About something we don't understand.
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chrisx
Banned
Posts: 173
Registered: 12-17-2009
Member Is Offline
Mood: baj nomad is broken
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My great Grandmother who was born in 1882 said,
¨the people who did things the old way seemed happier than the people who did things the modern way.¨
She died in 1971.
There seem to be a lot of people in Baja living the old way to some degree.
Many Mexican people seem happier than even their cousins up North.
HEY GRINGO HIT THE BRAKES
SCAN THE ROAD AHEAD AT ALL TIMES
HIT THE BRAKES AND SLOW WAY DOWN
WAIT, PASS WHEN SAFE
HEY GRINGO HIT THE BRAKES!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
Yes, the "wind" works wonders for loose trash-------removes it from your sight, and deposits it in somebody elses sight------not sure that is
progress, tho.
Barry |
I thought we were talking about Mexico. About something we don't understand. |
We are, Dennis. I don't understand why ANY folks (north or south) would "throw" trash to just 'blow in the wind'------and I have never heard an
explanation that satisfied me. It defies logic. 
Barry
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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yep the "Hug and a Handshake" is one of those differences and I try to warn our visitors and friends about the handshake after the kinda fake
kissy-poo action...which is on the right cheek by the way...right fake kiss followed by the right hand sticking out. Or sometimes its a fake back
pat...also right cheek to cheek.
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
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The concept of what is polite/acceptable in Mexico is interesting. I'm not sure that it's fair to either Americans or Mexicans to define one as more
polite than the other.
The buenos dias, provecho, etc. I see as analogues to Have a Good Day, Enjoy ... Basically custom. Digging in a little deeper, there is a feeling of
privacy in Mexico that doesn't really exist in the US. Very similar to what we see in other "Latin" (and related) countries, like Spain, Portugal,
Italy, as well as other older cultures. An example is the ritual that one should follow before talking business - how are you, how is the family, ...
It's also true that to form true bonds of friendship, that go beyond these manifestations of education and culture is just as difficult in the two
countries, but in different ways. I remember when I first moved to the US in 1982, how truly shocked I was at the openness of Americans. I mean they
address each other by their first name while strangers. They also talk about things that in Italy are considered intimately personal (relationships,
sex, family are examples). But the reality is that this is a layer, and discussing these matters is in no way reflective of friendship. This is
similar in Mexico.
There are also contradictions ... like waiting in the line to cross the border at San Ysidro. I mean Mexicans are there to grab every personal
advantage they can - screw everyone else. Hardly polite. A mexican friend once explained this contradiction by saying that when driving a card, they
don't have to look at you in the eye. Read in that what you will.
When moving to another country we know little about from one we know well, it's easy to see the good points of the new one while criticizing the one
we come from. That rarely produces accurate observations. It's pretty tough to declare one country/culture as superior to another - they are all
different, and being made up of people, have pluses and minuses.
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