Is Mexico a happy country? Safety and smiles are how I view my life here after seven years. You may find that strange, so let me share this little story that sums up perfectly why this is my view and how it relates to the common misconception that Mexico is unsafe.
My friend is a wellness coach up in Vermont, who specializes in helping women with autoimmune issues. Interested in all things that can help her clients she asked me to do a little experiment with her by smiling after reading a study on how smiling is a mood enhancer. It not only lifts your mood but elevates a positive mindset and helps deal with anxiety and depression. Something a lot of her clientele deal with after being diagnosed with autoimmune issues.
The task was simple. Go to the supermarket to pick up a couple of things and smile at every person you pass. She was in Vermont and I was in Cozumel, so we decided to see how smiling would affect our mood — but also to see how many people smiled back, something which also greatly improves happiness. After all, if you smile and no one smiles back that’s a bit of a bummer, right?
The result? The warmth of the Mexican people won. I received 24 smiles, 2 hand holds, a couple of hugs and a kiss. The kiss was from a sweet abuela (grandmother) who also gave me a blessing. You’ve got to love abuelas, they’re the best.
The results from Vermont were very different. After smiling at every person, she passed the grand total of smiles returned was three. Most people wouldn’t even meet her gaze and afterwards while discussing the differences joked she should move to Mexico.
Does this surprise you? Honestly, I’m not surprised if it does because as the Mexico Correspondent for International Living, the number one question I get asked from people thinking of moving to Mexico is “Is Mexico Safe?”
For me, as a single woman who travels by herself and lives by herself, my answer is yes. Provided you use common sense of course. I mean, if you walk down a dark alley at two in the morning blind drunk then I wouldn’t vouch for your safety. But that is the same in every country in the world.
My experience living in Mexico has been positive. The warmth of the people delights me daily so if you’ll bear with me, I’d like to dispel a myth about the safety in Mexico.
Remember the famous old newspaper saying “If it bleeds, it leads”? The same applies to television and that is why the US 24-hour news cycle is fond of sensationalism. A lot of times when people think of Mexico they think of cartel shootouts in the street like it’s still the Wild West. It’s not.
Plus, please also remember Mexico is huge. With 31 states (Mexico City is still not technically a state), it’s three times the size of Texas and a vast majority is a far cry from the Wild West. In all 31 states, you’ll find warm local communities full of friendly locals who are quick to smile and help in any way they can. That’s real smiles too, not just a quick passing obligatory smirk. I’m talking about eye contact, genuine big smiles with those little eye crinkles at the corner and usually with a buenos diás (good morning) or buenos tardes (good afternoon) attached to it. How happy Mexico can make you is tangible.
I’m also talking first-hand experiences of acts of kindness and warmth shown toward me daily. From a bus driver who shared his lunch with me at a roadside stop to a gorgeous old granny in the supermarket who gave me half of her parsley because I needed it for a recipe. I have thousands of stories just like this showing the warmth of the people.
So, when I fly to the US to speak at conferences and someone in the audience inevitably asks me if Mexico is safe, I tell them the story of a man who chased me down the street once. The only time I have ever been chased in Mexico.
Do you know why? To give me back a 200 peso note dropped in the supermarket. He was behind me in the line and as soon as he’d purchased his groceries he came jostling up the road, jogging with arms fully laden with heavy bags to chase me down and return my money. Sweet? Yes incredibly. Do I mind being chased down the street? No, not at all. I wish more people would chase me down the street and give me money.
For those of you wondering, yes, he was wearing a big smile as well. That is why I live here. It’s also why Mexico is one of the top countries worldwide that people move to. It’s also why Mexico already has millions of expats from all over the world living throughout the country.
Safety and smiles. To me, that is Mexico — one of the happiest countries I have ever experienced.
You are so right. Direct eye contact and smiling are contagious here.
Yes they are, if I’m ever in a bad mood because of work, life, whatever, I just go for a little 5 minute walk and the amount of people that smile at me always brightens my day! And I love the eye crinkles of the big genuine smiles too.
I agree. And I’ve been chased because I left my change purse (with $60 US inside) at the ticket counter in Chapultepec Zoo. Three times (yes, I’m guilty) I’ve left my cell in Uber and, with great inconvenience, the phone has been returned. I’ve done the smile test with the same results. When I smile in LA, I get strong and hostile return looks, if they acknowledge me to begin with. Yes, I love Mexico, especially its kind and friendly people.
I love all of that! How wonderful that you’ve had these experiences, it’s made my day to read your wonderful comment. Thank you so much for sharing that with us!
I completely agree. I have lived in Acapulco for most of the last 24 years and can’t even count the acts of kindness that I have been the recipient of over the years. It’s really a happy place to live. One such act was when I landed in Mexico City at the airport late because of weather delays and I had only 15 minutes to get to my boarding gate to Acapulco. I got to Customs and saw the huge line ahead of me. I explained what happened to the last person in line and she took me through the line and explained along the way to others in the line and got me to the front. Not one person complained about it. If she hadn’t done this for me, I would have had to spend the night in Mexico City, and I have been forever grateful. If this was in Canada or the US, I think the response would have been more like “it sucks to be you”
Aww thank you for sharing that story with me Sheila, I love that! You’ve put a smile on my face and thank you for commenting and sharing it with all of us.
A great article with which, from 50+ years of experience, I wholeheartedly agree.
Wow Ronald, 50+ years … I’m such a newbie compared to you but love hearing that your experience has been the same.
Eight years living in 2 states- visited several others and the verdict is the same. Strangers willing and quick to help others, with a smile and a “we’re all in this together” friendly vibe. Incredible patience. Delight when I am able to assist in turn. I hope to stay till I die here.
Me too Edie, I’m always delighted to help when I can. My dear Mexican friends son wants to be a chef and I love cooking so she sends him to me to learn how to cook, we have such fun together and I’m so proud of how well he’s doing. I’m delighted to have a little cooking buddy and budding chef.
Couldn’t agree more and I am fortunate enough to be blessed with many smiles here each and every day!
Isn’t it the best?! I’m always very surprised if someone doesn’t smile, it’s a rarity to be sure.
Attending a reception in Chicago two weeks ago with a good number of well educated well off people I was asked if Mexico is safe, all I could say was, “as compared to what?, we are in Chicago Sra.
You just made me smile Geoffrey, thanks for commenting and sharing that with me.
I have lived part time for 15 years in a small beach town and as a very senior senior now I have always felt safe walking everywhere. But I am not out late and try to get home before dark now. But the big difference seems to be that the people in Mexico seem happy. Everyone on the street seems happy, locals, gringo locals, tourists, kids, families etc.People are friendly, helpful and respectful.Many have less than most at home but I have also noticed that are families where the husband went to the US as a young man and returned to Mexico to marry and have a family. If they could they preferred to return to Mexico and live and with a knowledge of English are able to get good jobs in the hospitality world. I think I feel happier when I am there even though I live in a wonderful small town in California.
I agree and I’m very surprised when I meet someone that isn’t happy living here. it’s such a great place to live and I’ve always felt safe too. And like you, I don’t go dawdling around in the wee hours by myself either, I’m an early riser and love watching the sun rise. Thanks for commenting and sharing with us.
Without a doubt I agree that Mexico is a happy country and that Mexicans in general are happy most of the time. They do smile more than we do here and they definitely laugh much more. In fact, there is nothing like the Mexican sense of humor to me. I recently talked to a Mexican native at Costco in this country and I haven’t laughed so much since. Not anything in particular – we just touched on the subject on how many of the Mexican poor are not necessarily unhappy people. Very sad, of course, but not to be disrespectful towards his people and beloved country, he said something incredibly funny. This man was just a typical good-natured Mexican and very simpatico. In fact, it made me love the thought of Mexico even more. I wish I could have stayed forever and it was a hard decision to leave. There comes a point and time when you need to live closer to family.
I love that, i too quite regulary end in giggle fits when talking to Mexican friends so I know exactly what you mean. thanks for sharing your fun story with us!
Thanks so much for your response. I had second thoughts about my input, in fact. Some things that seem very funny in Spanish become kind of lost in English. During my ten plus years in Mexico, I made sure I didn’t miss any of it and I studied and learned the language well. My caregivers today are all Latinas, preferably native Mexicanas, and we speak Spanish only. My native language is Swedish so my Spanish is less accented.
I have lived in Mexico almost 10 years now, and it truly gets annoying that I am constantly asked by those in the U.S. if it is safe here because the U.S. media makes Mexico appear as if the blood stories they love are all over Mexico. The press makes all of Mexico seem as though it is Chicago. We find Mexico to be kind, helpful, and joyous. For example, recently I fell, HARD, while walking down a handicap ramp, in what I know now are slippery shoes. I hit so hard that I did not immediately get up. I had my eyes closed in pain when I heard rapid steps coming toward me. Three Mexican men had rushed up to help me. They slowly lifted me to a sitting position, gathered together the contents of my purse and purchases, and walked me to my car, loaded my purchases and me into the car, and made sure I was okay to drive. I have many of these kind of stories. What is most annoying is the unreliable technology, but even that has gotten a lot better.
What a beautiful display of warmth and compassion, I love that they were nearby to help you. This countries kind people will never cease to amaze me. Thanks for commenting and sharing that with us.
Stoic Vermonters may not be the best source for wrangling smiles from strangers in the U.S., but the results are still not surprising (in Oregon you might get 5). Here in Nayarit, smiles and any friendly acknowledgement are almost always returned. I’m surprises when it’s not. Mexico is a very friendly and safe country. Just don’t put yourself into trouble, like anywhere else.
ha ha ha I’ll tell my friend she’s stoic and I’m sure she’ll get a kick out of that. Thanks for leaving a comment, it’s always lovely to hear for readers.
Love this article, it made me smile; and you are so correct. I’ve only lived here 4 years, visited for many more; I’m a flight attendant and one time going thru security at AICM airport, I complemented the security agent’s earrings, and she was going to take them off and give them to me. I was floored, so kind. I also love how when at a restaurant, and another table gets up to leave and pass; they say “provecho”. I love this country and its people. 💕🇲🇽
Your comment made me smile! What a lovely story and what an awesome lady to offer earrings! Thank you so much for leaving me a comment, I really appreciate it.
What a lovely article. It made me miss my Mexico and be soo proud of the people from my country. Thank you for showing the side of Mexico that the international sensasionslism will never show. 🙂
Muchísimo gracias Jazmin, that means the world to me!
I have lived here for 41 years and I agree with everything you said. I have to many nice things that have happened to me to write them all down but believe me everyday I get lots a smiles and buesnos Dias!!!!
That’s so lovely Mary, thank you taking the time to share that with us. I really appreciate it and a big buenos diás to you (I’m smiling as well, you just can’t see it here in the comments).
My first trip to Mexico, I arrived with preconceived ideas, based solely off of media reports and life in the US. By the third day, all of that had been erased and I decided that I needed to retire to Mexico. Like all the stories above, I have countless examples of experiences of honest, caring people who seem to genuinely care about my well-being. I never experience as much warmth and kindness as I do when in Mexico. However, let’s keep this amongst ourselves… a__hole gringos seem to be moving here with less and less thought about the local culture – more interested in living an American lifestyle without any concern for Mexico and her incredible people. I believe this lack of respect can also be attributed to the media’s portrayal and irresponsible political speak in the US. ✌️&❤️
Ha ha ha thanks for sharing, you are not the first one to comment on that and it unfortunate.
I’m a gringo …permanent resident…and I’ve lived and worked in the Cabo area for the past 20 years…in construction with a crew in the 30 people range…all Mexicanos. With little Spanish in the beginning I would recognize any person I made eye contact with a nod and or a smile or an hola…which in 95% of the people is always a big smile or nod or hola back. Faces light up. Try it
Wonderful, I agree 100% … no 1,000%. And yes, it works every time, they are such warm people they love it when people say hello, sometimes it makes their day and let’s face it, being kind and smiling at someone only takes a moment and it’s free. If everyone did this I think the world would be a nicer place for it.
Beyond the smiles what I call the Culture of Kindness is a core value of most Mexicans. We’ve lived most of the year in Mexico for nearly a decade. Our annual 1,600 mile drive to Nayarit is always eventful. Of course we’ve had numerous flat tires and breakdowns and always, always, someone stops to help going out of their way to help. Mexicans seem thrilled to have an opportunity to help someone! I’d much rather be stranded on the side of the road in Mexico than in the U.S.. So yes, lots of smiles, outward signs of something deeper: open, generous hearts that see our shared humanity rather than our differences. Living there has made me a kinder person.
Aww I love that! And thank you for sharing that will everyone, I agree 100% and have always had positive experiences and wouldn’t trade my dear Mexican friends for anything!
Aww I love that! And thank you for sharing that will everyone, I agree 100% and have always had positive experiences and wouldn’t trade my dear Mexican friends for anything!
Couldn’t agree more! We moved to Lake Chapala 13 years ago from Ontario Canada. We LOVE our lives here. The people are beautiful, friendly, happy and helpful
We have everything here to be comfortable for the remainder of our lives. VIVA MEXICO!
I love this! You sound exactly like me and you made me smile so big .. thank you for commenting and I’m so happy you’re living a wonderful life in Mexico. Cheers, Bel.
A few years ago I met a friend at a restaurant in Guadalajara for lunch. He had just been released from a hospital and was weak. When we left I was walking with him to an Uber when he collapsed. I’m older and he’s big and I couldn’t support him. Two men who were dining in the restaurant, jumped up, left their meals and carried him to the waiting Uber. This is so typical and why I love Mexico.
You are right Bruce, this is so typical of how warm and caring the Mexican people are. I too have had an accident in Mexico and was overwhelmed with the kindness and willingness to help.