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Papirex

Feb 22, 2006, 12:01 PM

Post #26 of 35 (918 views)

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Re: [alex .] gringophobia

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Hey - Now I finally learned the english translation of Ajijij Unsure

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

Marlene

Feb 22, 2006, 7:09 PM

Post #27 of 35 (872 views)

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Re: [alex .] gringophobia

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6. The preconcieved notions of how Mexicans enjoy poverty, the poor, humble, but happy theory.

You nailed it. This (number 6) particularly baffles me when I hear it; followed closely by 7. Only the other day did someone express this very idea to me in conversation as one of the main reasons for a future move to Mexico. The people, happy with what they have no matter how little. Huh? Where does that notion come from?

The truth is that this is VERY class oriented culture and being poor and humble does not bring joy here any more than it does north of the border. (In fact, it is not a happy place to be poor since there is no welfare or social assistance and people have been known to do some bad things out of sheer desperation. Things like selling a child.)

A friend and I had an interesting discussion just last evening. A discussion about how the expats proudly brag about how they found a bar with really cheap beer and free botanas, for example. Places our Mexican friends wouldn't be caught dead lest somebody should think they were slumming. Not cool for them to be seen in such places. They would rather blow their hard earned money and appear in one of the trendy bars or restaurants for an evening, and this is what they commonly do. It makes a statement and it makes them feel good. And many local people, contrary to popular belief, CAN afford to go out to trendy places on a regular basis.

Now we have this thread and the original question off track.

sandykayak

Feb 23, 2006, 9:45 AM

Post #28 of 35 (813 views)

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Re: [MUGAWUMP] rents and---

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<<The first part of your post will come in handy during my actual move, but for my visit, I will probably fly in or at least to Brownsville.and then drive or bus.>>

Hi, mugawump (what's a mugawump anyway?), I'm going to throw in a couple of pesos to this thread:

If, when you actually drive down, you had a roomy vehicle such as a pick-up with a cab you could transport some camping equipment (cot, folding furniture, small electric fridge, gas stove etc) and either stay at campgrounds or have enough basics to furnish a rental apartment (try a short-term lease in case you hate the area) until you find your little niche in heaven.

In Nov. 04 I drove (solo mit two small doggies) from Miami, FL to Chapala and back a month later.

Camping in the US was easy. In Mexico I camped at a former KOA south of Monterrey. After that, I did some motel camping (that's where you put your camping chair in the breezeway outside your room and facing the parking lot) and cooked my dinner - no restaurant and I wasn't about to go searching.

Being self-reliant and equipped to be self-sufficient is very empowering. That way you can have a lot of flexibility and do a lot of touring. Coleman has a relatively new camping stove ($80) that has a burner on one side and a grill on the other - uses the 1 lb canisters (not sure if available in Mexico, but by road you can take a bunch with you).

Can't wait to retire....

PS I'm 59, take Lipitor and Celebrex, will be having hip replacement surgery on March 20th, while my 81-year-old ex husband, who takes no medications, is hale and hearty (still goes out with his dog and popup camper) was determined to piss on my grave. He probably will. (New hubby is 63)

Dare I suggest that a canine pal will be great company? You will probably be adopted by one (or more!) after you arrive in Mexico. If you haven't done so, you might enjoy reading John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley."

ENJOY THIS NEXT PHASE OF YOUR LIFE.
Sandy Kramer
Miami, Fla & El Parque

Elaine

Feb 23, 2006, 9:53 AM

Post #29 of 35 (810 views)

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Re: [Marlene] gringophobia

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"They would rather blow their hard earned money and appear in one of the trendy bars or restaurants for an evening, and this is what they commonly do. It makes a statement and it makes them feel good."

This is one stupid attitude for anyone and the only statement it makes is that they have "it" all wrong. You should not worry about what others think of you or what you do. If you are relying on others' opinions to give you worth, you will never get it. Unfortunately, too many people have this opinion. And happiness comes from within a person, you need to wake up every morning and make a decision that this is going to be a good day and then don't let anything or anyone take that away from you. You own your happiness, it does not come from others.

***********************************************************
When one door closes, another opens. Some people are so busy looking at the door that has closed, they don't see the door that has opened. Keep looking for those open doors.
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alex .

Feb 23, 2006, 11:11 AM

Post #30 of 35 (795 views)

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Re: [Elaine] gringophobia

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That is why one can see a gringo in shorts dropping off a half empty Corona bottle on the church steps on the way to mass. No respect for the local culture, he's being himself, you see.One should be very much concerned about what others think, being a social outcast is unlikely to bring happiness within. Everywhere I go I am constantly trying to undo the reputation of Americans being themselves, thank you very much.
Alex

(This post was edited by alex . on Feb 23, 2006, 11:21 AM)

MUGAWUMP

Feb 23, 2006, 12:02 PM

Post #31 of 35 (781 views)

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Re: [sandykayak] rents and---

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A mugawump is a bird who sits of the fence with his mug on one side and his Wump on t'other "A fence-sitter-upon" (Actually, a Moderate independant{politically}) I have had many a dog, so I know they are litterally a person's best friend

I have tried numerous scources, but am beginning to think that Gringos are few and far between in the Cd Victoria Area. I think I will also check out the Lake Chapala area.

THANKS FOR YOUR IMPUT

Gary Anderson

Feb 23, 2006, 12:33 PM

Post #32 of 35 (775 views)

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Re: [Marlene] gringophobia

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"6. The preconcieved notions of how Mexicans enjoy poverty, the poor, humble, but happy theory."

Not to get too far afield here, but we have our friends the Brits to thank for the generic version of this notion. It goes back to their colonial days and the myth of the "noble savage."

This of course was largely a justification for the slave trade and other such treatment indigenous peoples received at their hands, and was based on the idea that the colonials didn't have to do anything for the indigenous because they were happy just the way they had always been, including having been enslaved by their neighboring tribes, so why not ship them off to the New World to be slaves there because they wouldn't know the difference and besides there was a lot of money in it for the traders.

That myth, which was applied to great effect by the conquistadores in Mexico as well, persists to this day in one form or another, as evidenced by the quote above.

GA
____________________________________________________________
"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22 . . . ." - Joseph Heller

(This post was edited by Gary Anderson on Feb 23, 2006, 12:35 PM)

Adrian

Feb 23, 2006, 7:55 PM

Post #33 of 35 (711 views)

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Re: [Gary Anderson] gringophobia

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In Reply To

Gary, what are you blathering about?

The term 'noble savage' was coined by John Dryden (an English critic and poet) in 1670 or so, but the concept of the Arcadian peasant was greatly expanded by Jean-Jaques Rousseau about 100 years later.

Thanks for the anti-Brit insult - it went down a treat - 'What have the Romans ever done for us, eh?"

Adrian

Papirex

Feb 23, 2006, 11:48 PM

Post #34 of 35 (688 views)

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Re: [Adrian] gringophobia

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Adrian, When I went to school in The United states, they still actually taught us our history. We owe many things to Britain, including our system of laws, which do work very well. Anybody that has ever been on a jury knows that. People that have spent their lives dodging jury duty don’t have a clue. We were taught, and I still believe, that England is our mother country. I am glad that we are independent of her now though, in fact, My ancestors fought on the side of the colonists in our revolutionary war.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

(This post was edited by RexC on Feb 23, 2006, 11:49 PM)

tonyburton / Moderator

Feb 24, 2006, 7:47 AM

Post #35 of 35 (646 views)

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Happiness scores from around the world...

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http://www1.eur.nl/fsw/happiness/
Have a fun day!

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