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alex .

Aug 18, 2004, 7:03 AM

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Invitations

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to the "Mexican affairs" can become burdensome after awhile, and just plain expensive. Sure, its interesting at first, but once you establish a reputation of being generous, ya get an awful lot of invites. Don't fall into the trap of thinking " Hey, I'm IN now, why they treat me just like one of their own," 'cause it generally isn't so.
Alex

(This post was edited by jennifer rose on Aug 18, 2004, 8:04 AM)

Marlene

Aug 18, 2004, 9:43 AM

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Re: [alex .] Invitations

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Isn't that the truth! I was trying to think of a way to say just that actually.

I finally put my foot down when an acquaintance of mine invited me to her sisters wedding shower (someone I had never met) and told me how much I was expected to donate.

lmaxine

Aug 18, 2004, 10:21 AM

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Re: [Marlene] Invitations

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I have been invited to and attended many Mexican affairs, and have never felt I was being invited because of the gift they expected. I've never been "advised" about how much to give. So, my experience has been very different from yours.
"He upon whose heart the dust of Mexico has lain will find no peace in any other land." Malcolm Lowry

Marlene

Aug 18, 2004, 11:04 AM

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Re: [lmaxine] Invitations

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I gather that is the point that Alex was trying to make. It really can get out of hand on the invites depending on your social circle. I am married to a Mexican whose family lives in Mazatlán, so you can't imagine the numbers of functions I regularly attend and those are not optional because after all it's family. We take gifts. Most everyone does.

I have simply learned to be selective or creative now when it comes to the kazillion OTHER THAN FAMILY invites, otherwise we would have no money left at months end. For example, we offer to take photos of our friends children's birthday parties, wedding showers and baby showers, etc, etc. We download them to a floppy and give it to them to select the pictures they want for the family album.

The experience I mentioned was the one and only time that has happened, but it was a reality check. When I was teaching school I was invited to almost all of my 66 students birthday parties. My cleaning lady of nearly four years has 3 boys and I get invited to each "piñata" as she calls it.

This really is a something to incorporate in your monthly financial planning as an expense of living here, just like telephone, gas, electricity, etc. It can be a budget buster if not planned for. Thanks for bringing this topic up again Alex.