It isn’t easy to live in a country other than the one we are born and raised in.
Some countries make it easier, while others make it so their immigrants rarely, if ever, truly feel welcome.
Think of how many immigrants live in an adopted country in constant fear of discrimination, racism, police harassment, or violence. Of course some countries have programs and resources available to help immigrants or foreign residents, but that does not necessarily mean that life is easy or welcoming for them.
Many of us feel frustration at certain processes or requirements of living in Mexico. But imagine an immigrant trying to navigate the Department of Motor Vehicles in the United States. Imagine a foreigner trying to figure out how to pay their taxes with the IRS. Imagine trying to navigate buying health insurance in America.
Many of us feel frustrated with the residency process in Mexico, but speak to an immigrant to the US about their residency / citizenship process for some perspective. I have immigrant friends in Europe who marvel at the resources available to them (like free healthcare, free childcare, free language classes), while at the same time living with a constant sense of racism towards them.
I am not trying to put down any particular country or claim that Mexico is perfect. But I think those of us foreigners living or spending significant time in this country should feel gratitude.
My personal experience in Mexico has been of people who are very welcoming of the foreign population. Of course, as the numbers of us in parts of the country continue to rise, certain issues and problems are created, but in general the Mexican population welcomes us with open arms.
I’ll share a few examples. Think of how many times you have seen a Mexican try to speak English when we struggle in Spanish. Just yesterday at a restaurant a Mexican thanked me for speaking Spanish to the staff. It wasn’t a condescending comment about some of us not speaking Spanish, but just a thank you.
Mexicans don’t charge us money to enter their places of worship, but rather welcome us to enter and attend. Mexicans try to help us navigate their country and be accommodating with our sometimes clumsy questions and actions.
The local international school near our home is having a “typical Thanksgiving dinner” for the school lunch in which kids are encouraged to dress formally in a sign of respect for the holiday. A few weeks ago, during a Day of the Dead message given by a Catholic priest in our town square, time was also given for a local Jewish Rabbi to speak.
Life is not easy anywhere. There are always challenges and frustrations with bureaucracy and overly complicated processes. Mexico most certainly has its share. But I think Mexico has something special that helps us foreigners.
Mexico teaches us patience. Mexico teaches us humility. Mexico teaches us to respect elders. Mexico teaches us about the importance of community. Mexicans welcome us with a smile and a sense of humor. Mexicans teach us the importance of (loud) music and dancing in our life. And Mexico’s community, climate, food, and culture make us feel fortunate to be here, and be able to enjoy it all with the locals.
My wife and I are very grateful this Thanksgiving to live in Mexico and be fortunate enough to be welcomed by this great country.
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
Thanks, Travis. Very much appreciate your comments. As a travel writer and photographer, my travels have taken me around the world to more than fifty countries. I agree that the kindness and hospitality of Mexico and her people stand tall. Whenever I visit, Mexico feels like a second home. Best wishes. Lee Daley. HTTPS:/epicureandestinations.com
I couldn’t agree more. I moved here 9 years ago from NJ and when asked what I love most, it’s not just living in a small, remote town; it’s the people and traditions, the hearts of the people. So accepting, so giving, so humble.
Thank you Travis! You excellently captured the reasons that I’m thankful for Mexico. I love attending my wife’s family functions. Family is still strong, the very young and the very old are not forgotten. My favorite thing is that the Mexican people still joke with each other and laugh at themselves. I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen someone offended, just laughs, smiles, music, and love.
Oh my goodness!! when I first came to Mexico 53 years ago I fell in love. The people, so kind, so respectful and so considerate, really impressed me. The formality of society is wonderful in many ways. And the indigenous people have such exciting and interesting crafts and customs! We have great diversity, our families protect and help one another. And that is just part of it!! What was once more dictatorship through PRI has now become democracy. Our country has issues just as any country has but we also have beauty and kindness.
I am thankfully that the many Americans that moved down here can’t vote in Mexico. Many left the US because of where they came from was insane but continue to vote the same way that caused the insanity.
And that is so unfortunate as they try to dirty the kindness of the Mexican people.
I love this part:
“Mexico teaches us patience. Mexico teaches us humility. Mexico teaches us to respect elders. Mexico teaches us about the importance of community.”
It’s worth quoting.
Absolutely. I wish more countries would have these wise values, like Canada, the USA and a lot of other countries.
Travis, once again, thank you. My wife and I have been here just fours years and received our Permanente status this week so we are by no means experts on the country. What you have captured so well are the expression of Mexican values. For me the value that stands out the most doesn’t even have a word in Spanish for it: the value is Fairness. People all over Mexico want everyone to experience fairness and they get upset if they see the opposite. We love Mexico for the reasons you have shared and hope to never leave
Perfect comments Travis and as the comments above reflect, us expats living here feel the same. As one of our friends from another Latin country commented when I asked if people in his country were as nice as the Mexican people said “No one is as nice as the Mexican people!”. Says it all.
Totally agree.
Well said Travis. Every once in a while it’s good to get a dose of perspective; reminders of what we left behind and of the goodness of the people we encounter on a daily basis. It’s all too easy to forget.
Well said Travis. It’s a valuable perspective; reminders of what we left behind and the goodness of the people we encounter in our daily lives.
I love your description of a foreigner living in Mexico, I couldn’t agree with you more. We came from Canada to Mazatlan in 1989 for our honeymoon and have been snowbirds since 2001. First travelling with our truck and trailer throughout a lot of the backcountry, then settling in Mazatlan first in an RV park until we bought an ocean front condo in 2005, and we have never looked back. We have seen drastic changes in this town of Mazatlan from a sleepy small town to an ever expanding major tourist destination. With the good came the bad, from non refrigerated markets and stores to more sophisticated grocery stores, just to ame a few. But also with the influx of investors came the ever expanding tourist resorts and highrise hotels and highrise condos, some of them blocking precious ocean views, like in our case. Where we once had unobstructed ocean views for the 20 years we have owned and lived in this condo, we now have a 22 story condo tower conglomerate with commercial stores on their ground levels being built, which is going to totally blocki our view. And there is nothing we can do about it. Our condo building started out as a classy hotel in the 1960’s, it was converted into condos in the 1980’s and is still standing as a 21 unit 6 story condo building today with many improvements made over the last 20 years . There were only two hotels on the waterfront in Olas Altas, the Freemont Hotel and the Belmar Hotel, two of the oldest hotels in Mazatlan, along with the Playa Mazatlan in the Golden Zone. Sadly today there is not one empty lot left along the whole waterfront all the way from Cerritos to Olas Altas, a shoreline of around 30 km or 18 mi. where they are not buiding condo towers up to 25 stoies high or huge hotel resorts. The charm of Mazatlan as we once knew it is gone, but along came progress with prosperity and a rise in economy for the average worker. We love Mexico for all the reasons you stated and will be coming to this lovely paradise until the day we die. VIVA MEXICO!!!!
i invite everyone to visit Paraiso, Tabasco , a town in the gulf of Mexico beatiful beaches and jungle along with the history of Mayas and Olmecs …..
I came to Mexico in 1965at 19 years old.Lived here during the summers of 1965-1967. Came armed with 500 Spanish words. Lived in a small mountain village in Northern Pue, 6 hours from the nearest road, without running water, electricity,% toilets, and professionals in health care or education. Only 50 spoke Spanish, the others Otomi. Still until you leave your culture, you never truly know your own culture. Mexican peasants taught me what it means to be an American. I now live in 3 countries, about 7 months in Mexico. Mexico think colors, music, dance, coffee, moles, tequila, tortillas and every way they are used, corruption, fresh and inexpensive fruits and vegetable, grilled wood cooked chicken, and cooked/boiled port on every corners, fireworks, parades, boots and horses.
What a heart warming article Travis. It is so beautiful the way you express your experience living in Mx, as well as the many other comments. I can’t help but to feel pride as a Mexican to know how appreciative and embracing you are of my country. This only leaves me with the feeling of continue to welcome foreigners who decide to come to Mexico and help them have the most positive experience here!