Last night, turning the last pages of Jean Lacouture’s fabulous books about the Jesuits, I read these admirable verses from Jean-Joseph Surin (1600-1665):
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10/02/2004 Entry: "Why go to Mexico?"
Last night, turning the last pages of Jean Lacouture’s fabulous books about the Jesuits, I read these admirable verses from Jean-Joseph Surin (1600-1665):
Je veux aller courir parmi le monde,
Où je vivrai comme un enfant perdu;
J'ai pris l'humeur d'une âme vagabonde
Après avoir tout mon bien répandu;
Ce m'est tout un que je vive ou je meure
Il me suffit que l'Amour me demeure.
Setting aside the religious context of the poem, I confess recognizing myself in the words from Surin: I wanted to wander around the world, and landed here in Mexico; I’m living like a lost son of my European culture, fancying a bohemian life that cost me dearly. Today, more than ever in my life, everything is indifferent to me – numb and empty is my soul.
Why do foreigners come to Mexico? I believe because of lust for a lifestyle that appeals to most inhabitants from Northern countries. Please note my word: lust, not love! I have too much admiration and respect for “love” to accept that, for example, the following common statements convey a deep feeling about this country:
- “Sunshine every day”: and rain every evening and night, six to eight months per year! Probably the most superficial comment of all, though for the same reason Florida and Spain get their share of pensioners. What do you do once you can display a perfect suntan? Count the clouds in the sky?
- “Laid-back way of life”: just wait until you have to face the delightful “ahorita” of your Mexican work-mates, or when the gas delivery arrives 2 days late in mid-Winter and ice-cubes are falling from your nose!
- “Great food”: certainly, until you spend a few weekends locked-up in your bathroom expelling every atom of your Friday night Mexican-style dinner loaded with jumping bacterias. Besides, a tacos diet is about as exciting and healthy as feeding from KFC and McDonald’s all the time.
- “Great music”: you will undoubtedly cherish the mariachi band that will start whining at 6:00AM in front of your neighbour’s house, while you are desperately trying to get a few more minutes sleep before a difficult day!
- “Great heart of the Mexicans”: oh, I promise you won’t ever forget the sincere smile of the street vendors trying to sell you handfuls of necklaces made of fake stones! In reality, Mexicans themselves only trust their circle of closest friends. The legendary “great heart” is often superficial and when in need you won’t find more helping hands than at home.
As ever, this is my viewpoint. However, I would invite all my readers to post comments with their own reasons of “why should you come to Mexico”. Maybe I shall finally see the light and find reasons to love this country?
Replies: 15 comments
Comments to Juliana and "mierde"
Juliana, your objectivity shows that your feet stand firm on the ground. I like the way you look at life, with inquisitive eyes and an open mind. I suspect that you understand that people can achieve peace by living and letting live, and that we gain the most when we try to understand each other. Mexico needs that. I commend you on that objectivity.
"mierde" (did you mean French "merde"?) your comments are valuable and insightful, and they add to the experience and mutual understanding of everyone in this forum. At the same time, you can't help your false Mexican pride show. Just as most falsely "hurt" Mexicans fire back to any criticism that an "unqualified" foreigner might make, even if that critocism is true. Besides, don't people in Monterrey hate people in Mexico City (with reason too! Mexico City people are arrogant and ignorant and rude). You volunteer cooments to Serge such as "the food is not unhygienic" well, my dear mierde, I am sure the food is fine in Monterrey (and I am not being sarcastic, Monterrey is as "first world" as Mexico gets), but I grew up in Mexico City and I would not recommend that you eat anything from a taco stand or many restaurants unless you want e-coli or diahrrea.
Let me guess...UT Austin? Texas A&M? (I am talking about your Alma Mater "dude"). That's SO Monterrey...Also, you say that you run into lots of Asians when you go grocery shopping...in Laredo, right? Or McAllen? Everyone knows "regios" do their grocery shopping in Laredo. Why buy the substandard Mexican goods when you have the US border less than 2 hours away by car? Or do you mean that the Asians you run into go buy their groceries at the HEB in Apodaca? I don't think so.
As for your foreign friends who are momentarily based in Monterrey, and they "love" Mexico and keep coming back. Well, duuuude, isn't it so totally awesome that they can live in those super guarded super luxurious gated communities in the most americanized city in Mexico while getting expat salary and perks? Of course they love Mexico dude! They don't have to run their own start ups and be scared of making their way home to Cuajimalpa every night with a fear of being kidnapped. Of course they like to come back for the posadas. Who wouldn't want to go to a posh party in a foreign country, without compromises, taxes or rent to pay, or any fear for their physical integrity?
Finally, the examples you post to claim that every country has similar problems to Mexico are frankly nothing short of childish "an african american transvestite attacked me"...first of all, what does it matter what the drag queen's race was? (This is another problem that mexico has, by the way, it is one of the world's MoSt racist countries), and why would a transvestite attack you oh macho regio man??? haha. But that's not the point. OK some bikes get stolen in the Netherlands and some black drag queens will want to suck your cock. Is that as bad as a country (Mexico) that gives no security to its citizens? (whether physical, economic or emotional). I could go on "dude" but I don't know if your brain is already spinning at warp speed, like a centrifuge duuuuuudeeeee. I'd better slow down for you, so enough for now.
Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 12/09/2004 10:40 PM MEX
Alejandra,
In another comment I saw that you read all the other comments on this blog. As part of my reply I said I am patiently waiting for an objective comment in favour of Mexico. I am simply a fan of this blog and as much as I enjoy the posts by Serge, I enjoy the comments when they have fundaments. This time I think your post brings to light interesting new things to it. I am also a Latin living in another english speaking country, and it is curious for me to read the experiences of others living the nomad live I am currently living, it is a bit of a mirror effect. Having said that I have a love/deception affair with the country I am living in now, but that is not what this blog is about.
I can see you have the freedom to move around the EU at your will, I have to confess I have only been to the UK once. From the lines I can see you might be either studying or working and you have expressed your opinions regarding Europe quite openly and with respect. Isn't that what Serge does too? I don't think that writing up personal experiences with the normal ups and downs that life brings is a lack of respect towards the country.
If you have read the posts you must have probably noticed that Serge is an entrepreneur in a country he barely knows, his mobility is limited to the budget generated by his company. He has worked hard to bring Mexico to an technological entrepreneurial (if that word exists ;-) ) image, and I find that worth of my respect and admiration. Don't new companies bring employement and stability to the people? He saw in Mexico the potential, now he sees the reaction of the people.
All I want to say in my comment is that regardless the country we live, we all have opinions towards it. I am sorry to say but when I lived in Mexico I did hear mexicans talking horrible passionate things about the country, fully honorable of the title 'lack of respect'.
Human beings are critical, you are critical to the EU, Serge to Mexico. Free speech in the free countries.
Posted by Juliana pas Vache @ 12/09/2004 10:03 AM MEX
I am going to reply all the other way around. I am a mexican living in Europe. London, UK.
Being a mexican, I always carried the stereotype that in Europe "things were better", "people were more educated" (can you believe they read 52 books per person, per year...??)so on so on.
And being quite frankly, what is true of those stereotypes is great. LOTS of things are better, specially in England. I just LOVE organization and that here things do WORK. But as everything in life, and the this is not the exception, the EU has a positive and a negative side.
Europe has great features. But a great deal are just "ilusions". I left Italy because I couldn't stand the caos. The rudeness of the italians and the IGNORANCE they live in. (Oh my God, one italian once told me that Mexico was a young country, only 500 years old. Yeah...,right.
Well, yeah, you know... I think people before the spanish conquerors came, were watching over the sea waiting for somebody to tell them what to do. For God's sake! Read a book!)
Although is not their obligation, I could LIVE (not read, not "somebody told me") that lots of people in Europe are quite ignorant. So, in reality, culture is sometimes a label. Yes, beautifull buildings, gardens, statues... educated people? mmmhh...
Being next to the US force us to learn a second language. Not by choice, but we have to deal with a world in english. When I came to Europe, I was amazed (another stereotype: europeans speak 452452 languages) to discover that most of the people (I said MOST) only speak their native languages. Italians, Spanish, French, Polish, etc, etc.
Mhh… so let’s say for me, Europe is based a large amount of it’s “fame” in the passed glories.
Living in another country gives me a very objective picture of Mexico. Yes, IT IS CHAOTIC, the corruption is stunning, poverty, lack of opportunities are there, tangible and real. ...And ALSO real and tangible, are great people, great landscapes, LOTS of territory (which can't be said by many europeans ;) )and most of all, a country and it's people which have to deal with life with a quarter of the budget of "The first world".
So my dear mate, I am not selling you Mexico as if I was from Sectur. Frankly, I don’t mind if you stay there or you go back home.
What I can tell you, is before everything, is you have to be GRATEFUL with my country, because TODAY, its paying the food you eat, (if you don’t like mexican, we have every kind of restaurants & supermarkets, so don’t play the martyr) and the lifestyle you have.
- Even if your foreigner company pays your wages, Mexico has to give them business doesn’t it? - And, I am positive, foreigners ENJOY a really GOOD way of life there.
Be gratefull, and respect the things that you are different from or you don’t understand.
I am a foreigner in this country. I am not an english, nor ever will be. I CHOSE to reamain here, and as long as I do it, I will RESPECT, care, and look after the wellbeing of Britain. Why? Because TODAY, is my home, it’s paying the wages I eat and live from, and must of all, because I have the freedom that in the moment I don’t like it, I can always walk out, choose another country or just go back home.
Posted by Alejandra @ 12/08/2004 11:14 AM MEX
dude...you're seriously screwed up. if you hate mexico so much, why are you here? was it the money? whatever reason, i can tell you're not happy, but that doesn't mean you have to belittle our country. i bet i can find every single flaw you found in mexico back in europe (friend living in holland reports theft of bycicles is horrific)....and in the states (an african-amercian travesti verbally attacked me in new orleans), and in canada, and in china. if you wanted to, you could make the most of this experience. i live in monterrey and every time i got grocery shopping, i see a LOT of asians. and they're not bitching about anything. they're smiling because they can buy all the fruits and vegetables and baked goods they could never get their hands on in asian regions. they're smiling cause their kids are recieving a wonderful american education for practically zilch and without the intolerable rules known to be applied in asia. they're smiling because they're nice and people are nice to them to. you sound like an extremely bitter person, and i can assure you that if i ran into you anywhere in the world i'd treat you like scum. not because you're european. but because you're arrogant, cocky, and egocentric. i have tons of foreign friends and they have all loved living in mexico. once their parent's contracts in mexico are done, they go back home....but they ALWAYS come back for our class reunions and christmas posadas. it's a shame you aren't more open and positive about this situation. and regarding the food.....you are such an idiot. the food isn't unhygienic, your system is just not used to the aumont of condiments, chili and cooking oil employed. i bet if i suddenly ate exactly what indian people ate, i'd be sick too. i've had enough, i really don't have a lot of tolerance for uneducated poeple like you. i hope you can enjoy the rest of you time in mexico and spare my poeple some harsh times.
Posted by mierde @ 12/05/2004 02:05 AM MEX
What a refreshing comment from Victor...
Posted by Juliana Humble @ 11/13/2004 11:44 AM MEX
Great comments Victor,e specially the phrase "Happiness is within".
What happened to Serge? Are you alive Serge? This is a scary question actually, given that we are delaing with Mexico. I really hope you are well.
Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 11/11/2004 10:48 PM MEX
Why do people go anywhere?
There is more than just rational reason behind the moving to a place. Legends of prosperity, liberty, and adventure have attracted those who through history left behind friends, culture, and many times family.
Watch Discovery planet for a moment, and you may understand. It is all about dreams. It is all about that perfect moment that may be on the other side of the hill. It is a mix of curiosity and dreams. It is the essence of the human spirit. It is believing that it can be true, that it can be possible, it can be better, it can be new.
It is Hope that keeps us going, and moves us on.
Now, about Serge, if you feel empathy is because many times you found yourself in his shoes. Disillusion leaves a taste that is hard to forget. His comments tend to be harsh (yes, I lived in Mexico for 17 years) towards Mexico, but what else can you expect from somebody that decides that it is better to quit. He tends to forget in his hasty generalizations that the human nature is treacherous everywhere. He tends to forget that it is not easy anywhere.
If you believe it is, then, you are probably part of the problem. Because it is much easier to do it tomorrow than to do it today. It is much easier to bribe a cop than to do it the right way.
Serge mentioned that they built this tower. I read somewhere else that they are selling some of these apartments from 250,000 dollars to 1.3 million dollars. Yeah, there are people that make it everywhere. I am sorry that it is not you Serge.
But if you agree with me, I think we should not be so tough with Serge. The guy is recovering that which he lost along the way. He is having dreams again, he is hoping that there is something somewhere else. Happines is not out there. Happines is within.
This is not a religious blog, so I will stop right there.
Have a good day!
Posted by Victor @ 11/09/2004 05:37 PM MEX
Serge, I see that most of the people who post here are either Mexican or reside overseas. You have a legitimate need to hear the candid opinion of other foeigners happily settled in Mexico. I advise you try the Newcomers Club http://www.newcomers.org.mx/, they are the largest association of longstanding and new expats in Mexico City. I don't think it will be hard to find pleased and long-settled foreigners in Mexico. For one, Mexico has the largest community of American citizens worldwide, outside the US. Other happy foreigners that I have found to be longtime residents or new residents of Mexico are the large communities of Spaniards. Feel free to contact them at any of: Centro Gallego, Orfeo Catala, Centro Asturiano, Centro Vasco, Centro Castellano, Centro Montanes, Centro Leones, etc.
Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 10/04/2004 02:50 PM MEX
mmm... I wonder if I should stick my nose on this explosive blog. Perhaps to make it more explosive I will write in it.
From my humble perspective while reading this blog I can tell that Serge is not the kind of person who would tolerate more time of the 'mexican-way' to simply have sex with a mexican. He could have the same if not better sex somewhere else, no? Plus, one topic he hasn't complain at all is his sexual life... unless I am in the wrong blog!
He sounds much more of someone fully decided to work out a plan to make things work out of Mexico, someone who has had enough of a life in the clouds, by noticing that whatever was promised in Mexico didn't reach his expectations.
I am one of the persons who certainly recommend Mexico City as a tourist destination, yet living there is another story. I have written my personal views already in this blog so I will leave that for the curious.
Quite happily this time there are interesting replies to this blog. The first reply of L'ombre d'une vague made me think that he was either european or canadian (not by the english), but because of the open objective point of view towards his compatriotas: I have seen much of that false nationalism where I live with my own compatriotas. Many people here love Colombia, yet how many of us are willing to go back? mmm...
When I lived in Mexico City I did have mexican friends, and I remember the night when with a bunch of tequilas in our heads we were talking about how 'false' mexicans can be towards foreigners, that is human nature, and that is a fact. Human beings true to eachother is just a cause of pure 'love' if such a thing exists (which I believe it is, just to keep it objective here). But human relations are more directed towards supplying necesities. Elsie might have never experienced a friend that lied to her and or/ leave her grounded... I don't call it luck, I call it lack of living! Friends where made also to compete with, to fight with, perhaps so later you could bare a future boss and husband? To succeed you need to have the ability to win over others. Have you seen the puppies playing? If she has a sibblings she might now... But live can be too pink sometimes. Anyway I could go deeper but I am not psychologist, nor anybody to go personal, just making a point that this has touched personal grounds.
Though generalizing that all mexicans are this or that is such a stupidity. What l'homme sans nom says is valid. What Elsie says is just too personal to be considered a factual entry, yet I respect the people that take the time to reply in what I called the blog of 'Acid Rain over Mexico', specially when they address their names.
By reading my post again before posting, I am feeling my post is neither a factual entry, yet I am going to publish it.
Posted by Juliana not so humble @ 10/03/2004 08:32 PM MEX
Maybe I ought to make some clarifications in light of the comments I'm getting:
1) These "highlights" of Mexico I'm mentioning have been collected from foreign friends and foes alike, including some replies to my blog postings. I'm repeatedly amazed by the irresistible charm that Mexico oozes abroad to attract tourists and adventurers like flies on a pot of honey (the image of a carnivorous plant springs to my deviant mind of course).
2) All the examples I'm mentioning are real and not at all extreme cases set up for mere impact sake. I got sick with basic Wal-Mart sushis and fancy Pied de Cochon carpaccios, heard seranatas in Cuajimalpa and been told Lomas de Sotelo is no better, etc.
3) "Every cloud has a silver lining" and I'm sure there are perfectly good reasons to come to Mexico and enjoy the experience. Yet I'm convinced they lie beyond the stereotypes published by SECTUR and the urban myths resulting from skin-deep analysis. As much as I relish the prospect of receiving more flak, I would love to hear about foreigners happily settled here and willing to share their experience.
4) For foreign men, I acknowledge that sex is a common motivation - the vast majority of my male friends from Europe who reside in Mexico City are here because of some "significant other". This is NOT my case.
Posted by Serge @ 10/03/2004 08:17 PM MEX
I forgot to add, you two are intense in different ways. Serge is stressed and Elsie is passionate about her bubble. I think all you two need is to get together and have sex.
Posted by L'ombre d'un vague @ 10/03/2004 07:05 PM MEX
Elsie, you seem to be a world traveler, etc. so, you should know that people should respond in the language in which they are spoken to, (just an observation, we are all free to express ourselves however we want). You make some good points, however, you missed the fact that Serge is talking about real stereotypes that foreigners have of us Mexicans, such as there being eternal sunshine in Mexico City.
You sure make some good points, yet they are not wholly objective. You are talking about your personal experience only, just like Serge is talking about his, but Serge is being much more objective. I believe that he is being attacked on this blog for being the rare equation of "foreigner in Mexico + truthful".
I for one, live in what is considered the highest end area of "the Hills" and am woken up often by the sound of mariachi bands of some dud serenading his nina bien, the one he doesn't have sex with because she should stay a virgin till she marries, while he whores around on the side.
You are one of the Mexicans who, like me, are mistaken for foreigners in our own country, just because we are white. What really has always amazed me is that I always felt insulted and discriminated by this, but most other people who are victims of this actually feel superior or pleased to be mistaken for a "superior foreigner". I don't know you evidently, but by the way you write and by visiting your blog I can tell that you are of that breed of the Interlomas area-dwelling crowd who have the luxury of an education that can afford them to be a Wiccan (99.9% of Mexicans would not know what that is), and who can vacation often in France. That is all OK and I am glad that you have all that, but I am sorry to bring your feet to earth by telling you that if anyone were to put your perception of Mexico and Serge's on a balance, yours would fly, fly high, maybe as high as your bubble of cosmopolitan and locally rare sophistication, high above this "city of palaces"
Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 10/03/2004 07:01 PM MEX
Leave Mexico NOW and stop complaining, you don't have to stay here If you don't want to.
There is beauty in this country, It's a shame you can't see it. You are welcome everytime to our country and you are free to leave whenever you want.
Posted by YO Mero @ 10/03/2004 05:07 PM MEX
Bueno, te voy a confesar algo... cuando empecé a leer tu blog, sentí un poco de enojo, después de eso pensé: "pues pobrecito, con qué clase de mexicanos estará lideando"... porque, o tú tienes muy mala suerte o yo he tenido muy buena suerte!!! Por otro lado te imaginé todo perdido en un lugar que no era lo que tu pensabas...
Por ejemplo haces comentarios de tipo:
"sunshine every day"... jajajajajaa según entiendo vives en el D.F... y el D.F. JAMÁS ha tenido fama de ser un lugar soleado, tiene fama de caótico, de ser un lugar que te asaltan y blah blah blah... pero de soleado y tropical... JAMÁS.. (no sé de dónde hayas sacado eso ejejej) afortunadamente no es así... yo no podría soportar vivir en un lugar tropical jejeej
"great food" jaaajajajajajaja esto es de las cosas que más me dió risa, cuando dices que pasas los fines de semana encerrado en el baño expulando tu cena del Viernes... hay dos razones para ello... o tu estómago es muy delicado para aguantar la comida mexicana (porque es demasiado condimentada) o de plano te pones a cenar en los lugares más horribles de México!!! jajaajaja ... vino a mi mente una imagen de un extranjero comiendo "tortas de tamal" en una esquina de la Ciudad de México jajaajajaj
"Great music"... te puedo preguntar en dónde vives??? jajajaajajaa o sea, en dónde vivirás como para que un vecino te despierte a las 6 de la mañana con mariachi!!! a esa hora la mayoría de los defeños van saliendo para sus trabajos/escuelas... debido al tráfico tienen/tenemos que salir temprano jejeje.. a mi jamás me ha pasado que un vecino me despierte con música a esa hora jejeje (realmente te compadezco si es que te ha pasado eso)
"great heart of the mexicans" .. esto si me hizo compadecerte muchísimo!!! no sé si sea por tu trabajo o no sé... pero eso de estar rodeado de personas que "te brindan su amistad superficialmente" y cuando los necesitas no hay nadie... bueno ha de ser algo muy feo realmente... y como te dije, no sé si yo sea muy afortunada o tu con muy mala suerte... a mi me han pasado muchas cosas cuando salgo sola y afortunadamente mis paisanos me han ayudado y eso que ni los conocía.... por otro lado es OBVIO que la mayor confianza la tienes con tus amigos más cercanos, una cosa son los amigos y otra son conocidos...
Ahh si!!! en cuanto a los vendedores ambulantes... me hizo recordar cuando fui a Francia hace unos meses y los vendedores ambulantes me hostigaban!!! y hasta me quisieron asaltar jajajaaja... y si, la verdad es bastante molesto cuando te hostigan para que les compres algo (tanto en México como en Francia).
Tengo muchas cosas que decirte... creo que exageras un poco, pero es lógico ya que estás fastidiado de México y eso hace que veas las cosas aún peores de lo que son..
Luego vendré a terminarte de dar mi opinión, te late?
Por cierto... ¿qué diablos es eso de "manito"? jajajaaj con razón tienes quejas de México, creo que estás rodeado de los Mexicanos equivocados jajajajaa
Y por último... quieres una buena razón para amar México??? yo te la daré... y esa razón SOY YO!!! jajajajajajajaaja =)
Salgo corriendo porque tengo que ir al D.F!!! (qué estresante)
Bye, bye!
Posted by Elsie @ 10/03/2004 04:14 PM MEX
Why do foreigners come to Mexico? is similar to "Why do Mexicans come back"? Some people are masochists (those who keep pulling the lever that delivers both cocaine and an electric shock, like lab rats do) and those who you describe, Serge. Mostly adventurous Europeans looking to escape the rigid rules and ennui of Europe, only to discover that it was all a smokescreen. There are those who come for the sex, and end up having sex with other expats only. There are those who come because they have been unemployed in Spain or Greece for over 2 years and come here feeling they will rule the place and looking down on the "brown" people, and end up realizing that the job they have here they could never get in Europe and end up marrying some very dark-skinned woman with strong indian features. There are others who are itinerant souls "ames vagabondes" like the verses read, and they like it a lot when they are here, but then again, they like it everywhere where it's weird.
You are right about those hard-to-pin-down feelings about Mexico. There are a few of them. One of them is the discrimination that a white/blong Mexican feels when being addressed in English at the Zona Rosa, just because he isn't dark-skinned and short. By default, you are assumed to be a foreigner. Another one makes one wonder what the name is of that ubiquitous Mexican trait of going from extremely nice with someone to then stabbing their back at the slightest mood swing.
Mexicans are the only people on earth that I have met who bad-mouth their country when in front of foreigners, saying how bad things are, and feeling important and superior because they are talking to a foreigner. But God forbid a foreigner talk bad about Mexico, because then Mexicans will retort with false pride and false patriotism and will argue the marvels that Mexico is (incidentally, directly the opposite of their own usual negative comments about the country)...one could go on and on...but to answer your question, Serge, there is no good reason to come to Mexico. If you want to get kidnapped go to Moscow and at least get kidnapped in a beautiful city. If you want to get stabbed in the back, go to Iraq and at least get stabbed for a cause. If you want to get discriminated against, go to Japan, and at least get the Gaijing treatment from a cultured society.
You have much ahead of you in life. Do the best you can while you're still there, build a good exit strategy, and then go enjoy the bohemian life that you long for and deserve. hell, you are still young, do it now when you can enjoy those years elswhere buddy.
Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 10/02/2004 07:51 PM MEX
