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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 359
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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Today I'm embarrassed to be a Gringo
Sheila and I spent a couple hours today helping the Red Cross collect at a road stop. I would estimate that 80 to 90% of the Mexicans donated poor
and rich alike, however I estimate that only 15 to 20% of the Gringos donated. Most ignored the collector, often speeding up with closed windows and
eyes straight ahead. This was in San Jose where there are lots of wealthy Gringos who are well aware of what the money is being collectred for --
Some with Mexican plates and some with Northern plates. I did not include rental cars as I would not expect them to be aware of what was happening,
but they almost outdonated the local Gringos.
Thanks to all the people who did generously donate.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Found the same thing to be true here recently when a group of round-eyes took up street collections to fix a road in a predominantly expat
neighborhood. The Mexican donations were generous, even from strangers.
The US folks for the most part had a "not my problem" attitude.
This may be a cultural thing. Anybody know?
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DianaT
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Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by soulpatch
Maybe they give in other ways. |
Maybe that is true. I hope so.
We find it easy to just keep some money sitting out in the truck so that we are always prepared. We hope to never need the Cruz Roja, but we also
want to see them there if we do.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19934
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | | Originally posted by Paulclark Today I'm embarrassed to be a Gringo |
well, diff cultures think differently about looking for donations in median of road. gringos associate that with homeless (in US I have only seen
homeless or firemen in median -- i donate to homeless, but not firemen who already got lots of tax money), while in mexico it is common for
organizations to collect in road.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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It all evens out
| Quote: | Originally posted by Paulclark
I would estimate that 80 to 90% of the Mexicans donated poor and rich alike, however I estimate that only 15 to 20% of the Gringos donated.
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Most all gringos yield right-of-way to ambulances. Most Mexicans don't. 
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Paulclark
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Posts: 359
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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I don't know where you drive, but here everyone makes every effort to give right of way to an ambulance.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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I see it happen regularly...
| Quote: | Originally posted by Paulclark
I don't know where you drive, but here everyone makes every effort to give right of way to an ambulance. |
In TJ, Rosarito and Ensenada. Ambulances weaving in and out of moving traffic and not one vehicle either pulls to the right or stops,
or both.
What I find odd is I have seen it happen with funeral processions. Which leads to a whole other set of questions.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
I see it happen regularly...
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Yeah...so do I. It's another culture/personality thing. Many of them continue to believe rules and regulations are for other people, not them.
It's not like they just heard sirens for the first time.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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I remember years back when we first saw the Cruz Roja collectors.
We donated well at the first one we saw and some at the second but didn't realize that we would see more and more so we ended up not donating to some
along the way.
Now we plan a modest donation for each one, each time we pass.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
I remember years back when we first saw the Cruz Roja collectors.
We donated well at the first one we saw and some at the second but didn't realize that we would see more and more so we ended up not donating to some
along the way.
Now we plan a modest donation for each one, each time we pass. |
Just make sure they put the little sticker on the windshield. It means you gave at the office.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Aw. Come on Dave. This thread is about a much deeper issue than driving habits. While I might understand some travelers' reluctance to give a
donation, more out of ignorance than anything else, this does place an interesting light on the folks from NOB. to give them (maybe) just a little
defense, since the site of the collection was in San Jose, it is possible that a high number of tourists were involved in Paul's somewhat unofficial
survey. There are huge numbers of tourists who fly into the area and rent cars, who have been forewarned to discriminate against "beggers". That said,
we have never passed up the opportunity to contribute, even if it was only pocket change. Lord knows that so many of those affluent tourists have
never driven the entire Baja and encountered so many situations where donations were being sought. Finally, I'm not trying, in any way, to toot my
horn by mentioning pocket change. It's just that sometimes, we just don't have cash on us. They don't take plastic. When we do have "real cash", we
donate.
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vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
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Over the last few years, I've noticed that when you donate to the Cruz Roja, a red cross sticker is placed on your windshield to show that you've
donated.
I seem to get a smaller sticker for like 5 pesos donation and a larger one for 20 pesos.
Nobody asks again when they see the sticker.
And those women are so cute in their uniforms!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
pocket change
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It all spends.
The predominant group of can-handlers in Ensenada throughout the year are the recycled druggies collecting for their program. These guys are
street-smart. At an intersection with a red light, they'll pick out an American every time.
I don't like that.
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arrowhead
Banned
Posts: 912
Registered: 5-5-2009
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Sheesh. Mexico is heavily marketed to Gringos as the cheap destination to vacation and live. Why is it so puzzling that you have cheap Gringo's down
there?
Mexico gets the Gringo's it panders to. So what's the beef?
No soy por ni contra apatía.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Actually a Good, if Sad Point
| Quote: | Originally posted by arrowhead
Sheesh. Mexico is heavily marketed to Gringos as the cheap destination to vacation and live. Why is it so puzzling that you have cheap Gringo's down
there?
Mexico gets the Gringo's it panders to. So what's the beef? |
Perhaps there should be a survey on what matters most to people who have moved to, or travel frequently to Mexico and Baja. I'm feeling that if
honesty prevailed, there would be a disappointingly large number of people who would be on the side of cheap vacations; not to mention those, who if
were forced to fess up, actually consider Mexicans to something less than Americans. That's just the feeling I get when considering why so many folks
seem to want to let all hades break loose like they couldn't NOB.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Just make sure they put the little sticker on the windshield. It means you gave at the office. |
Doesn't work. Just like a cross to a Jewish vampire. I collect probably a dozen of those stickers on my windshield this time of year. Of
course I'm gonna get stopped...again and again. I'm an easy mark. 
I just wish they wouldn't stop traffic. And I'm especially displeased at seeing them at toll booths.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65285
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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In Northern Baja... it is the opposite from my 'few' observations... Mexican plated cars in front give nothing... I always donate to Cruz Roja when
they are on the road in small towns...
Used to be a standard thing in Camalu, but has been missing the last few years through there. A policeman was always parked to keep an eye on the
activity.
I would be really surprised if Baja Nomads were cheap with Cruz Roja... at least the Nomads I know...
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
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Mood: Skeptical
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This time of year they are out enmass. It is a good cause. I usually give if I have coins...small sure, but I give often and collect the little red
crosses on my windshield. Today an older looking Mexican truck, Baja Sur plates was right in front of me. He gave! This time I didn't...no change, but
the guilty look on my face and a shrug hopefully exonerated me. 
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Donjulio
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Registered: 5-19-2009
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When there is an accident and they respond they aren't going to be looking for that sticker to decide whether to treat you or not but you will be glad
they had enough gas to get there.
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
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I never gave to donation collectors out in the streets because I didn't know whether or not they were legitimate.
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