We Mexicans are sooo friendly!You hear this a lot, and nothing could be less true.
Throughout history, Mexicans have dealt with war, revolution, rapine, robbery and violence. This has made them cautious and suspicious.
Alas, most visitors and even Gringos who have lived here for years buy into the friendly myth because Mexicans do give them the face you see in the photo here.
Mexicans, however, rarely give this face to a Mexican stranger. Just to you, amigo. Only to you.
And why is this?
1. Mexicans rarely meet a foreigner. Doing so is a great treat.
2. Gringos are all rich and gullible. Getting money is a real possibility if you smile broadly at them. Be their buddy!
These two things cause the friendliness myth.
We do live in what appears to be a "friendly" world, artificial though it may be. See "The Movie Set" item above.
Pay attention to how Mexicans treat Mexican strangers. Usually with glum stares.
(A Mexican´s) face is a mask, and so is his smile. -- Octavio Paz.
4 comments:
How many blogs do you have? I just stumbled upon two I haven't seen before.
Now my day is ruined reading them.
Jennifer Rose suggested I do a post on the Ministry of Smiles enforcing smiling faces. I like these posts even though they are several years old.
Richard, I have six. If you click on the Profile on any blogger.com blog, it takes you to a place where the blogs are listed.
The six are connected by a common thread, Mexico. However, the Pearls of Zapata on occasion veers off to Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Texas and even, on a couple of occasions, to Europe.
PS. Mexicans do not smile nearly so much as do American middle-class women.
P.P.S. I rarely add anything to this website. The majority was written some years back, but it all remains true.
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