My Mexican Experience.

I went to Mexico and lived and worked amongst the locals for some time. I believed that I was quite open minded to different cultures and the differences in attitude and approach to life but found Mexico quite a challenging experience in a number of ways.

Social attitudes:

Mexicans are very welcoming, warm and friendly people. Many times I was included very readily in different social groups and this was helpful in making friends and building a social network. It would not be unusual to be invited along to parties organised by people that I did not know. I would feel uncomfortable as I had not been invited directly (the North European custom) but I was always made to feel extremely welcome.

Mexicans are extremely enthusiastic social organisers, the problem is that plans so extensively discussed one day can fail to transpire at all the next. This is different to the Northern European way where plans proposed are generally followed through without a need to re-confirm. I learnt to double check, phoning the next day to confirm and set specific meeting times and places. Failure to do so would mean that the other side would simply assume things were not going ahead and make alternative plans.

Punctuality:

Attitudes to punctuality were an initial shock and frustration for me. I remember an American Boss arriving for a meeting that had been set for 10am. At 10am very few people had arrived and he sat and watched as people trailed into the meeting for at least 30 minutes after the scheduled start time with seemingly no perceived need for apology. This is something that just would not and could not happen in my home country.

Honesty:

Honesty was another issue for me. In my home culture I am totally honest with friends. If I cancel a social event I tell them why and if it is because I am too tired I say so. In turn my friends respect my honesty and indeed see it as a mark of our friendship. In Mexico this honesty was seen as potentially hurtful and so all kind of false explanations would be provided, my Aunt is ill, I have to work late rather than telling the truth. Truth is used only where there is no potential for hurt or offence to the other person.

Security:

Security was a worrying aspect of life in Mexico. I disliked feeling I always had to look over my shoulder or travel with companions. I was lucky and lived in Monterrey. I would not like to have lived in Mexico City.

Death:

Attitude to death was also another puzzle for me. In November there would be the “Day of the Dead Celebration” where families visit graveyards with food, eating, drinking and making merry believing that the souls return at this time each year to be with their families (Mexico less traveled). I understand the cultural reason for the celebration but it is very different from what would seem right in my own culture.

Religion:

The Catholic faith was also a puzzle to me, friends who had spent the weekend partying  would suddenly be unavailable for activities on a Sunday when they HAD to go to Mass to receive the sacrament. Life was lived almost in two different moral arenas one relating to the more modern way of living the other honouring the traditions of their Catholic faith.

In conclusion:

Overall my time in Mexico was a really interesting experience and I developed a respect and sense of warmth for the Mexican people who were so welcoming and friendly. I learnt about Mexican culture through my personal experiences and this was difficult at times. I learnt that being open to other cultures is not easy. “It is quite a challenge and one should be prepared that the first two years are never a phase of settling down but a phase of pure adaptation and learning”

For people making similar transitions I suggest that they find some cultural mentors to explain cultural norms and beliefs to them, so preventing cultural differences from becoming overwhelming.