We’re all annoying in our own way. There is always a quirk or personality trait that irritates the masses. Oftentimes those traits span an entire nationality.
I should know, I’m American.
Oh Americans. Known the world over as loud, obnoxious, fashionably-challenged, and completely coddled. According to The Times and a 10-year-old article on Business Insider, citizens of the U.S. travel simply to compare everything to the U.S., speak English loud and proud, and make little attempt to learn the local culture. Who is more intolerable than us?
I’m happy to say that since moving to Mexico City I’ve found out that we aren’t the only deplorables. At least here in Mexico. (I’m talking to you Canadians, Brits, and Aussies.)
Not to fluff my own feathers, but I have always made a very concerted effort to meld with the local culture as much as possible. Yet, I’m still classified as annoying. Why? I needed answers. So I set out on a very entertaining quest to uncover the most offensive things I, my fellow gringos and selected other nationalities, do to roll both the proverbial-and-physical eye of our Mexican neighbors.
Through in-depth interviews of six born-and-raised-in-Mexico friends, I found out more than I needed to know about the actions we (often unknowingly) take to offend them.
Here are the top 10, coupled with my personal interpretation of what we’re doing wrong.
Expect English everywhere. It’s true that Mexico City restaurants are handing out English menus to Mexican patrons, much to their chagrin. It’s a double-edged sword. It’s a testament to the country’s accommodation of outsiders, but it’s also preventing English-speaking expats from immersing themselves in the language and, therefore, learning it.
Refuse to drink filtered water.
I understand this from both sides. If you’ve fallen victim to Moctezuma’s rite of passage, just looking at an ice cube will make your stomach turn. However, it likely didn’t come from an ice cube. Dining establishments have no intention of poisoning you, or anyone else, with tap water. No one drinks it here anyway. Filtered is fine.
Talk about how cheap everything is.
This has come up before on Mexico News Daily. Even if it is cheap compared to your home country, it’s not cheap compared to Mexico’s average salary. Delight in the money you’re saving, but keep it to yourself.
Guilt payments and over-tipping.
If your housekeeper gives you a rate, that’s the rate you should pay. Don’t double it because you think it’s too low. It throws off the pay scale for Mexicans who might not be making the same salary you’re raking in from a San Fran-based tech giant. This also goes for tipping. The standard is 10-15%, so unless the service is absolutely spectacular beyond belief, stick with the local customs.
Not eating like a Mexican.
This is one of my favorites. I’m not referring to Mexican dishes and I’m sure you’re noshing heavily on tlayudas and mole. This refers to Mexico’s traditional dining schedule. Think about it – gringos eat lunch around 1:00 P.M. and dinner around 7:00 P.M. Mexicans eat lunch around 2:00 P.M. and dinner around 8:00 P.M. This means that when a Mexican couple shows up for date night at 8:15 P.M., there are no tables available.
Crossing the street like a gringo.
The rules here are pretty obvious — pedestrians yield to cars. Yes, it’s opposite to most other countries but trying to change this societal rule will end up getting you squashed. It’s confusing to drivers and safer for you to follow the rule so just do it.
Lack of formalities.
It’s common in the U.S. to skip conversation openers in the interest of saving time and getting to the point. In many cases this is a glorious way of doing business, but that’s not how it works here. Especially when interacting with someone for the first time, take 5 minutes to be Mexican and break the ice. A “How was your trip to Acapulco last weekend?” can go a long way.
Asking about your safety everywhere you go.
Parts of Mexico aren’t safe. Parts of Australia aren’t safe. Parts of London aren’t safe. Safety is an issue everywhere. Do your own research and if you’re really unsure, ask a friend “if they’ve ever driven on their own to Veracruz because you’re thinking about doing just that” and you’ll get the answer you’re looking for.
You don’t look Mexican.
Very delicate territory here. There has been a long held belief that Mexicans look a certain way, work in certain industries and have a certain style. This is particularly rampant in the United States. And for a country that is so sensitive to class, a statement like this can be really offensive (especially when coming from an American).
Mexicans don’t eat burritos.
This isn’t true everywhere, obviously. The seafood joint up the street from my apartment has a pretty rico seafood burrito on the menu. If you’ve flown into Puerto Vallarta, you’ve probably filled up on a famous smoked marlin burrito at Tacón de Marlin. What is meant by burrito in this case is a lack of research or curiosity about true Mexican culture. Mexico is mole, it’s Tenochtitlan, it’s Quetzalcoatl, it’s Catholicism, it’s copal, it’s mariachi, it’s agave. This country is so rich beyond the edges of a jack-cheese and ground beef burrito from Chipotle. Mexico is simply amazing.
Anything self-deprecating behaviors you want to add? Please let us know, politely, in the comments below.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
Starting a conversation with “lo siento por mi Español mal” is usually a good ice breaker for me. I get back “your spanish is good” to which I reply :muchas gracias, espero mi Español es mejor, estudio Español pero no es sufficiente. Hablas inglish?”
Regardless of the answer, I have humbled myself and avoided their being embarased by saying “no” . If they say “no” I pull out my cell and say “google” . I get a laugh and move to smalltak
in San Miguel de Allende cars yield to pedestrians with a smile as there are no traffic signals. we also go by uno y uno depending on who gets to the intersection first. very civilized.
I agree with all but the “over tipping”
you don’t see the issues that it causes?
Yeah, you shouldn’t feel bad about tipping 10% but at least in CDMX 20% seems pretty normal. Most places give like 10, 15 and 20% as the standard options when you pay by card iirc
All this is true and I personally hate seeing them here in Mexico. They are embarrassing. Not just in Mexico but every country they go to! I try to travel places where they don’t frequent much or areas around Mexico they don’t hang out. I actually saw a white female put her hand up in a motion to stop a vehicle on the road so she could cross on a green traffic light while I stood there and shook my head. These people are terrible.
I agree but it’s tough to find countries that Canadians don’t travel to… 😳😂🤷♂️ (People should not, you included, over generalize entire populations.)
Who mentioned Canadians? They are all foreigners, UK, USA, AUS, RUSSIA etc everytime.
I agree with all this except the the “over tipping / guilt payment nonsense. I have a wonderful housekeeper. She and her two young daughters descend on my house about every ten days. I have named the “Hurrican Miriam and her two tropical typhoons. They spend about three hours roaring aroundand cleaning places where I didn’t even know I had places. They are super honest. The best thing for all of us is for me to get the hell out of the house when they are here.
I pay Miriam 1000 pesos per visit and give the typhoons 100 or 200 each. This roughly equals the minimum wage in California. I have had so many complaints from wealthy gringos because I am “ruining” things for them that I refuse to talk about it now. But I can tell them and you, it is true that you get what you pay for.
Any person in any country will gladly be overpaid.
But you are viewed as a total idiot.
If Christopher has so much money then stay in California. What are you doing in a poor country? People love to brag they spend 4 grand a month living in Mexico. Are you nuts? Get out of this dump for a higher quality of life.
christopher ross June 5, 2024 At 7:45 pm
I agree with all this except the the “over tipping / guilt payment nonsense. I have a wonderful housekeeper. She and her two young daughters descend on my house about every ten days. I have named the “Hurrican Miriam and her two tropical typhoons. They spend about three hours roaring aroundand cleaning places where I didn’t even know I had places. They are super honest. The best thing for all of us is for me to get the hell out of the house when they are here.
I pay Miriam 1000 pesos per visit and give the typhoons 100 or 200 each. This roughly equals the minimum wage in California. I have had so many complaints from wealthy gringos because I am “ruining” things for them that I refuse to talk about it now. But I can tell them and you, it is true that you get what you pay for.
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I find it interesting that most people (American and Canadian) come to México to visit or live without reading one book about México’s history or culture. I recommend “In the Shadow of th Angel” written by Blair.
I’ll read it! I am always hunting down good Mexico-based books.
The first book a Mexican friend told me to read over 30 years ago was Distant Neighbors.
Me gusta su articulo y su periodico! Una pregunta……¿por que es necesario pagar en USD para en lugar de Pesos para una suscripción?. !Vivimos en México!
It’s annoying to see a digital nomad taking up a table for 4 as she immerses herself in a lap top and exploits the free Wi-Fi. And, to see him extend his stay by nursing a cup of (by now) cold coffee. Such pretend customers crowding out larger paying parties looking for a table. This selfishness/inconsiderateness is sadly common where l live.
Yes i agree with you about this, even if a table for 2 is right next to a table of 4, what’s up with this folks? Stop it !!
Interesting that Mexicans think Gringos are loud?
Hahahaha
Haha good one. White people all on their cell phones with earbuds listening to music and podcasts. Mexicans use their phones to talk.
Mexicans also love to talk to Whatsapp to send messages. Anything to talk!
Barri Gordon. Your friend gave you excellent advice. I have read everything about Mexico that I can get my hands on, but Distant Neighbors remains one of my absolute favorites. It is a revelation. HIGHLY recommended!
Great article! Gave me some good insight on how to blend in better.
Love the article, found it helpful to blend in…not crash land!
Frankly, I agree with each point made, having resided in San Miguel de Allende since 2006.
However, just for some balance, I’ve yet to call a business in Mexico and given the option to “press this number for English”. That’s quite common in the United States, to accommodate our friends south of the Rio Bravo.
Don’t know about other U.S. States, but in Texas, Federal and State election ballots for Citizens to legally vote are now in English, Spanish and even a third language that I don’t recognize. And this is simply for citizens to understand what they’re voting for in their preferred language to avoid the need to learn English.
Just something I thought was worth sharing.
I absolutely love going beyond the tourist traps and discovering the authentic culture of a country. When I’m in Mexico, the last thing I want to do is to try making it more like my home country. I learn the language and the customs because I want to connect with people, learn more about their culture, and blend in as best as I can. In doing so, I find that, although we come from different cultures, we generally have more in common than not.
And nothing says “we’re really not so different” like throwing around pesos like it’s cheap candy. Well, writing blogs and making YouTube videos about “how cheap things are” might be worse, but I digress…
Overpaying is also one of the many seeds of gentrification, artificially shifting the supply/demand balance of a neighborhood. In a sense, over tipping and overpaying for things is pushing the idea that more money equals more happiness. Just my opinion…but that’s a cultural sickness in the U.S., and I don’t want to export it.
Point taken, but be careful about how far you take this argument. Should the Mexican minimum wage not be increased because it’s “pushing the idea that more money equals more happiness”? In a country that’s still plagued by poverty and inequality, you should understand that more money really does equal more health, peace of mind, happiness for a lot of people
I didn’t say anything about wages. Suggesting that I would apply the same approach to a minimum wage seems a bit of a straw man. My comments are about fitting in rather than standing out…which ties in with the general idea of this post–not being offensive to Mexicans in their own country. My belief is that overpaying for services and tipping outside of the norms does not help in that effort.
Porque Ud y sus amigos no hablan Espanoldespues doce anos en SMAl
Australia’s intentional homicide rate is 0.8 per 100,000 persons.
Mexico’s is 26.1.
It’s THIRTY TWO TIMES higher than Australia’s. And that’s not including disappearances, which would push it even higher.
But the United States is dangerous right? All we ever hear about is gun violence in that country.
The US’s is 6.4, so still FOUR TIMES higher than the US.
Please stop making this false equivalency.
“Ask a friend if they’ve ever driven on their own to Veracruz because you’re thinking about doing just that.”
Okay, I learned that my friend drove to Veracruz once and nothing happened to them. Therefore: it’s safe?
Often overlooked or ignored, but the number one thing (IMHO) that can offend Mexicans is the difference in worldview between U.S. folks and Mexicans: In México, and in most of Latin America, school children are taught there are 5 continents instead of the 7 that we were taught in U.S. schools. It’s very hard for U.S. folks to admit that “América” is a continent, not a country. It runs from the northern arctic region all the way to the southern tip of Chile. When the term “American” is used, it really refers to people from the United States, from Canada, México, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala…Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina…Uruguay, Paraguay…you get the idea. In the Mexican worldview, América is one of the five continents: Asia, Africa, Europa, América, and Oceanía. Yes, there are two parts of the continent — north and south — but there’s also central. The U.S. has co-opted the name “America,” which sometimes frustrates people in the other countries on the continent. Simply acknowledging this worldview changes our perspectives of what it means to be “American” and the interactions we have with other people who share the continent with us.
The “instruction” not to overpay or over tip cuts both ways. I understand why someone might be concerned about the economic distortion that can be caused by wealthy foreigners wildly paying more for services than local people. However I have often observed some of us trying to pay the absolute minimum they can get away with. Sometimes it’s tourists bargaining for curios by offering 1/3 of the asking price; more often it’s foreigners insisting on paying no more than the minimum wage for hard work in the hot sun. I find the latter offensive and unjustifiable because it emphasizes not only an economic difference but a power differential.
The Author should also be sensitive not to refer to San Francisco [ by the Bay] as “San Fran” which is a bit offensive but still better than “Frisco”.
The cortesia, customs, vulture and especially respect are accepted everywhere.