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jennifer rose

May 29, 2009, 9:01 AM

Post #1 of 14 (3539 views)

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Where do you draw the line?

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http://richland.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/the-line/

jerezano

May 29, 2009, 9:30 AM

Post #2 of 14 (3519 views)

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Draw the line? What a strange idea! Where do you draw the line?

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Hello all,

Why Jennifer Rose should be insulated or isolated from drawing the line is moot. But just the idea of drawing the line is so strange it must be discussed.

Examples: I never ate tripe during my 60 some odd years in the United states. If when I moved to Mexico I was drawing a line when I refused to eat menudo, did I know it? Not to my knowledge. Nor did any of my Mexican friends ever think or say that I was offering a line that somebody must cross. When I went to Oaxaca and ate fried grasshoppers was I crossing a line? I never knew it. Neither did my Mexican friends who had never eatten grasshoppers before.

Isn't that what drawing a line means, to say volunteers who want to join this side or that side step over the line?

But to accept Mexican customs, to adapt to the absence of turnips in the markets, to long for fresh asperagus at the end of the market chain, to throw away half of a just bought lettuce because of rust: Is that drawing a line?

Sometimes it seems to me that reporters or writers in an effort to be clever make some stupid mistakes. Yes, I read the referenced article. Did I find it amusing? No. Did I find it clever? No. Did I find it interesting? Yes. And the article does mention and document many problems of adaptation that we find in México, but I could go North to the USA or Canada or to the far East to China and write exactly the same type of article. Would it be published here in México? ¿Quién sabe?

Editors of web pages are desperate for space fillers. Thanks to the good taste of our Editors here on mexconnect.com we don't often see many space fillers of this type even though they too are desperate for interesting articles.

Now getting back to the question of Jennifer Rose, doesn't she ever draw the line? Many of our posters feel that she draws the line too often. Others of us, not enough.

So where do you, yourself draw the line? Better make yourself a good strong Margarita and sip it while thinking.

jerezano.

Anonimo

May 29, 2009, 10:02 AM

Post #3 of 14 (3504 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Where do you draw the line?

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God, I loathe that website with a passion.
All generalities are suspect, including this one.

Saludos,
Anonimo

bournemouth

May 29, 2009, 10:04 AM

Post #4 of 14 (3502 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Draw the line? What a strange idea! Where do you draw the line?

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I think I'll make the margarita and sip it, while forgetting about drawing lines or anything else.

Marlene

May 29, 2009, 12:17 PM

Post #5 of 14 (3479 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Where do you draw the line?

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C'mon, life's too short. It's meant to be light-hearted humour. I think most people can find at least one chuckle in his writings.

I draw the line at taking myself too seriously. I would have said "drinking Tejuino" until I read this thread. :-)

Malaya

May 29, 2009, 12:21 PM

Post #6 of 14 (3477 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Draw the line? What a strange idea! Where do you draw the line?

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I love that site. Have read it for ages. It's very tongue in cheek and well done.

Crossing lines - never thought of it before. I come from Canada where there is much ethnic diversity and crossing of lines in a different way. We often look for lines to cross that take us into the world of another culture. It's something that's celebrated in many Canadian cities.

In Toronto there are 179 languages spoken, so it gives us an opportunity to cross lines into many different cultures.

(This post was edited by Malaya on May 29, 2009, 12:23 PM)

Gringal

May 29, 2009, 2:04 PM

Post #7 of 14 (3446 views)

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Re: [Malaya] Draw the line? What a strange idea! Where do you draw the line?

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A lot of "lines" get crossed if you don't have access to NOB goods on a regular basis. You know, when the underwear you brought with you gets holes in it....you gladly cross the line if you can find something to fit. Bright red...no problem.
Milk in a box? It's milk, already. Whassa problem?
Street food from a big pot? Nowhere. Not here, not anywhere. Turista is painful as well as embarrassing.
Apron? Bought one the first year. Cute. Wear it downtown? Hey, no vain Mexicana would, either.
Unflattering, sloppy clothes? Nope. See above.
Romance with a taxi driver? Pool boys and gardeners are in better shape.

BTW, that story about the Gringos making a list for the Mega manager is no legend. I was there when it was going on. It included.....white worchestershire sauce. Things happen in San Miguel. They have "doggie weddings" too. In costume.

Anyway......the article is as funny and unfunny as that "gangs of San Miguel" series. Little chuckles. No belly laughs here.

Now...pass that margarita. Pass two. One for my amigo.

Anonimo

May 29, 2009, 2:45 PM

Post #8 of 14 (3433 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Where do you draw the line?

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In Reply To

I don't think I take myself too seriously. I just find that site's style snotty and irritating, about the social foibles of people who don't interest me.

First visit to that website, I had no idea of what it was about. The navigation was weird. After a while, I may have had a chuckle or two along the way.
All generalities are suspect, including this one.

Saludos,
Anonimo

sparks

May 29, 2009, 4:25 PM

Post #9 of 14 (3406 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Where do you draw the line?

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The JR comment made no sense unless someone was getting stroked (inside stroke)

It could have been a worthy subject but I agree with whom ever said it was just another filler article

Start talking about mixing in with Mexicans in their environment and language and then you have a subject about lines .... not if you can find your favorite brand of canned peas in the local store

So last weekend three of us old-old farts met three vacationing young sisters on the beach. Young is from 38-18 ... and we were feeling young, believe it! Now here's a line, language, age, culture .... and a bunch of delirious old farts. Two of "my buddies" actually think they will see these women again .... but I met my line

An age old story but combine language, culture, education and worldly exposure (and delirious old farts) .... and relations with Mexicans are difficult

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

Marlene

May 30, 2009, 11:24 AM

Post #10 of 14 (3294 views)

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Re: [sparks] Where do you draw the line?

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Quote

Start talking about mixing in with Mexicans in their environment and language and then you have a subject about lines .... not if you can find your favorite brand of canned peas in the local store

The way I've always read that blogsite is that this is exactly the point he's trying to make.

(This post was edited by Marlene on May 30, 2009, 11:25 AM)

sparks

May 30, 2009, 12:54 PM

Post #11 of 14 (3273 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Where do you draw the line?

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They put some work into that 'article' .... but decided to remain tongue-n-cheek rather get serious. That's OK

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

Malaya

May 31, 2009, 2:59 PM

Post #12 of 14 (3158 views)

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Re: [sparks] Where do you draw the line?

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If you were a long time reader of that blog you would know the whole thing is tongue in cheek.

It's not meant to be serious. He's a great comedic writer and his subject of gringos in Mexico is perfect for his style of humor.

Maybe try reading a bit of it and you'll get the drift. The picture on his front page is a great clue.

(This post was edited by Malaya on May 31, 2009, 3:01 PM)

MazDee

May 31, 2009, 7:36 PM

Post #13 of 14 (3110 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Draw the line? What a strange idea! Where do you draw the line?

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Jerezano, I admire you no end, but I think you are being too serious about this. I know expats that fit the mold implied by the article, which I thought humorous (as I do the Gangs of San Miguel stuff). I have known people who say the Campbell's soup with a label in Spanish tastes "different" and they bring it down from US! I know someone who brings Folgers Coffee in big cans, and frozen bacon, and various household cleaning products. To those people, the line is very narrow. I admit to bringing Adams peanut butter when I go north (cuz I don't like mine sweetened) and x-sharp cheddar, Regiano Parmesan and some spices. I have a feeling if I lived in DF I wouldn't have to do that, but I live on the frontier, as you do, and miss some things. Probably has nothing to do with crossing the line, anyway, because I could live here without those things. I try just about everything, including grasshoppers, but don't think that has anything to do with this topic, either. I will say that the line I can't cross is really loud music. It can be fun for a while, then I would like to talk to my friends.

(This post was edited by MazDee on May 31, 2009, 7:54 PM)

Marlene

May 31, 2009, 11:02 PM

Post #14 of 14 (3067 views)

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Re: [Malaya] Where do you draw the line?

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I've heard he's Canadian, eh? (well actually I read it on his "About" page), so then why did he spell humour wrong? :-)