All 34 citizens had requested to leave the Caribbean nation. (Alicia Bárcena/X)
Due to the deteriorating political and security situation in Haiti, Mexico staged an operation early Sunday morning to evacuate 34 Mexican citizens aboard a military ship.
The group included 24 women and 10 men, of which seven are minors and four are diplomatic officials, according to statements from Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Monday morning press conference.
Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena revealed the details of the special operation during the president’s Monday morning press conference. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
The United Nations Human Rights Office stated on Thursday that Haiti, where violence has killed more than 1,500 people so far this year, is experiencing a “cataclysmic situation” that has brought the turmoil-stricken Caribbean nation “close to collapse.”
The New York Times cited “corruption, impunity and poor governance, together with increasing levels of gang violence” since late February, when several gangs joined forces to attack strategic locations in the capital.
A major factor behind the Mexican rescue operation was “the illicit control that armed groups have over the Toussaint Louverture International Airport” in Port-au-Prince, according to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry (SRE), a situation that “prevents civilians from leaving.”
SRE cited other “violent acts” and “threats to keep the country paralyzed” as reasons behind what Bárcena called “a special operation” by the Mexican Navy.
To rescue the 34 Mexican nationals who were in “a risky situation,” according to López Obrador, Mexico sent a Navy ship into waters near Haiti. The operation began at 4 a.m. on Easter Sunday, according to officials.
The Mexicans were taken by helicopter to the ship, and were due to arrive soon at Puerto Progreso, Yucatán, according to Mexican officials on Monday morning.
The operation was ordered by López Obrador, who noted, “We did a survey in Haiti to see who wanted to return, and everyone who returns does so voluntarily.”
SRE noted that the somewhat secret operation — it was not announced in advance — was conducted by personnel from SRE and the Navy (SEMAR). It was undertaken in response to a situation in Haiti that includes “shortages of food and basic products, economic paralysis and closure of public services.”
The Mexicans were transferred in two flights by a Navy MI-17 helicopter from the heliport of the Dominican Republic Embassy in Port-au-Prince. The Navy ship ARM Holbox Island was used in the operation (ARM stands for “Armada de México,” in much the same way USS is used to connote “United States Ship”).
The Mexican ambassador in Haiti, Daniel Cámara Ávalos, helped coordinate the operation with SRE and SEMAR.
The SRE statement noted that the Mexican Embassy in Port-au-Prince will remain open “with a minimum number of officials to protect the facilities and serve the compatriots who decided to remain in the Caribbean country.”
Mexico's Olmecs are considered the "mother culture" of the Americas, and their monuments still stand today. (Shutterstock)
Did you know that Mexico ranks among the oldest civilizations in the world as it was home to the Olmecs, dating back to 1200 B.C.?
The Olmecs influenced various Mesoamerican cultures in modern-day Mexico and Central America, defining everything from religious practices to urban settlement patterns, architectural styles, and trade routes.
Major Olmec sites across central and southern Mexico. (Wikimedia Commons)
Artifacts found at Olmec sites place the culture among the earliest cradles of civilizations, alongside cultures in Iraq, Egypt, India, China, and Peru.
The Mother Culture of Mesoamerica
The Olmec culture, known as the “Mother Culture,” laid the early foundations that influenced the subsequent cultures of Mesoamerica. It emerged during the Preclassical Mesoamerican period (2500 BC to 200 AD) in what is today the southeast of Veracruz and western Tabasco in the Gulf of Mexico.
Because it is unknown how this civilization referred to themselves, the name “Olmec” was given by archaeologists based on the presence of rubber in the areas where this civilization thrived. It is derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word “Olmecatl,” which means “inhabitant of the rubber country.”
Both the cultural characteristics and artistic style of the Olmecs extended beyond the Gulf region, spreading from the Mexican states of Morelos to Guerrero and Chiapas to the Guatemalan Pacific coast and Costa Rica. This prevalent influence may be attributed to the extensive trade network established during that period.
Contributions of the Olmecs
An Olmec mask made of jade. Like many European and Middle Eastern civilizations of the time, the Olmecs were skilled craftsmen. (Wikimedia Commons)
Art: The Olmecs are noted for their colossal basalt heads, raging between 8 to 9 feet tall and weighing 20-40 tons. These uniquely Olmec monoliths have striking facial features and appear to be wearing helmets.
Other colossal sculptures include altars, stelae (upright slabs), and statues.
Sports: As the oldest culture on record in the Americas, experts believe the Olmec invented the ball game or pok-ta-pok, a ceremonial team sport played by Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Maya and the Mexica.
Writing and science: The Olmecs are also credited with the creation of writing and epigraphy in the Americas, as well as the development of calendars, which later influenced cultures such as the Maya and Nahua. Scientists also believe that the Olmecs were the first Mesoamerican people to understand the concept of zero.
Religion: the Olmecs introduced the cult of the jaguar, which is present in all Mesoamerican cultures.
Urbanism: the Olmecs built what archaeologists consider the first planned city in pre-Hispanic Mexico: La Venta in Tabasco. Beyond its architectural achievements, the famous Olmec heads were unearthed in the city.
Additionally, they are credited with discovering the first conduit drainage system in the Americas.
La Venta’s monumental earthen architecture, great sculptural collection, jade artifacts, and massive offerings are unique in the pre-Hispanic world.
Other important Olmec archaeological sites include San Lorenzo (the oldest Olmec city) and Tres Zapotes (the last Olmec city) in Veracruz.
Complex B of the archaeological site of La Venta. The city is believed to have been a major stoneworking site, due to the carved heads and statues found in various states of completion. (INAH)
Pre-Columbian cultures influenced by the Olmecs
Despite the Olmecs’ intellectual and cultural achievements, their culture declined significantly between 400 and 350 B.C. for unknown reasons. However, other cultures rose after the Olmecs, further enriching Mexico’s historical wealth.
Next is a timeline of the most important pre-Columbian civilizations that followed the Olmec in today’s Mexico.
Zapotec (200 B.C. – 500 B.C.)
The Zapotecs, known as Ben Zaa in their language (“the people of the clouds,”) are the oldest group in the Oaxaca region. Their main city was Monte Albán, now one of Mexico’s most visited archaeological sites.
The Zapotec city of Monte Alban, in Oaxaca, is one of Mexico’s major tourist attractions. (Vadim Petrakov/Shutterstock)
Maya (350 B.C. – 1697 A.D)
This is one of the best-known cultures of Mesoamerica. It developed over an approximate area of 325,000 km2, covering parts of Chiapas, Tabasco, the Yucatan Peninsula, and part of Central America. They survived until contact with the Spanish, after which point their empire quickly declined.
One of the 7 New Wonders of the world is the Maya archaeological site of Chichen Itzá.
Teotihuacán (100 B.C. – 600 A.D.)
The Teotihuacán culture thrived in the Teotihuacán Valley, central Mexico. Their city, Teotihuacán, is considered one of the most intricate cities of the ancient world. This culture is recognized for controlling the deposits of obsidian, the most precious commodity of the time in Mesoamerica.
Toltecas (800 A.D. – 1200 A.D.)
An Olmec head in the Museum of Anthropology of Xalapa. (Wikimedia Commons)
Known as the “master builders” of Mesoamerica, the Toltecs capitalized on the decline of Teotihuacan to strengthen their power. Their influence spread throughout the central plateau in what is today Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, Mexico state Morelos and Puebla.
Mexica (1345 – 1521)
After a group of Mexica (also referred to as Aztecs) departed from the mythical Aztlan and settled in Tenochtitlán (present-day Mexico City), the Mexica empire was established. This civilization is the most extensively documented in all of Mesoamerica and was the largest empire of the time.
The fall of Tenochtitlán in 1521 resulted in the fall of all other pre-Columbian civilizations to the Spanish crown. From the ruins emerged the new capital of the colony of New Spain, marking the end of a long line of Mesoamerican civilizations that started with the mother culture of them all: the Olmecs.
Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.
Fancy trying surfing for the first time? Oaxaca has some of the best waves in the world, and Puerto Escondido has no shortage of surf schools to help you learn. (All photos by Ian Ostroff)
Want to learn how to surf but have no idea where to begin? Maybe you’ve seen photos and videos of people catching monster waves on Mexican beaches in Los Cabos and questioned how they do it so effortlessly. That was me before I arrived in Puerto Escondido for my first lesson.
I can’t say I’m ready for the big waves at places like Zicatela Beach after one week of surf school. But there are enough beaches in this part of Oaxaca that perfect for beginners looking to learn how to surf for the very first time.
The beaches of Puerto Escondido are the perfect place for beginners to get to grips with an incredible sport.
In my experience, you’ll also have a great time while developing your new skills and confidence in this sport. That’s what counts the most at the end of the day, right?
Surfing isn’t easy. From basic techniques and safety rules to reading waves, and knowing which beaches to practice on, it can be overwhelming at first. But considering Puerto Escondido’s history, there’s no better place to learn in Mexico.
Where to take classes & potential costs
Puerto Escondido has been a popular surf town for decades, and that means there are endless surf schools and instructors to choose from when shopping for lessons.
There was a moment during my third class when I saw a young father and his newborn son going far out into the water of Playa Carrizalillo. Noticing how surprised I looked, my surf coach smiled and told me matter-of-factly: “In Puerto Escondido, you learn to surf before you can walk.”
Chingón Surf School is great with beginner surfers.
The company that helped me go from beginner to surfing small to medium-sized waves within five days was Chingon Surf Lessons. But if you walk along the path towards La Punta Beach, you’ll find a plethora of options that may be right for you.
Expect to pay anywhere between $800-900 pesos per lesson. Typically, they last about two hours, which includes the use of a surfboard and a certified instructor assigned to be your guide for the morning or afternoon.
How long does it take to learn the art of surfing?
From the way you position yourself on the board to knowing when to dive under the water to avoid getting injured by the rough waves you’ll find in Puerto Escondido, there’s a lot to understand.
Granted, the technical aspects of surfing and basic safety rules are things your coaches will go over with you before getting into the ocean. But there’s a difference between knowing in theory and real-world practice.
If your footwork isn’t fundamentally sound on the board, you’re going to fall off when trying to catch a wave. If you don’t position your hands in a push-up position or get up on the board too late or too early, you’ll also dive straight into the water. There are also unexpected things you need to know once you’re practicing this sport.
Preserving your energy between waves is a big one.
Swimming against the current for two hours or for however long your session is can be exhausting. Battling aggressive waves coming your way as you swim, shredding water, and handling your board, can result in increasing physical and mental fatigue.
I learned the hard way in my second lesson, in particular, when the waves at La Punta Beach weren’t giving me a break. Let’s just say, I took plenty of falls and hits that day.
Nothing is more satisfying than a successful day of surfing, especially when you’re still learning the ropes.
But once I took my time to swim back into the surf lineup, as well as resting on my board when the tide was calm, I found myself paddling less and having the strength to handle more waves and grow my confidence.
All-in-all, a week of consistent lessons is enough to learn the art of surfing. It’ll take more time to become a seasoned pro if those are your goals, but you’ll at least have a good foundation and be able to go out on small to medium-sized waves.
Beginner-friendly beaches to practice your new sport
Puerto Escondido is best known for its powerful waves at Playa Zicatela, but if you’ve done a week of intensive surf lessons like I have and feel confident to practice on your own, there are two solid options: La Punta Beach and Playa Carazalillo.
Even though it’s hard to predict how the waves will be on any given day, these beaches are welcoming to all levels. You see plenty of surf students like myself and their coaches there almost daily, which is reassuring.
Playa Carizalillo is a great place to get to grips with the waves in a relatively calm bay.
If I had to pick one, however, I’d say Playa Carazalillo is the most beginner-friendly beach to surf in Puerto Escondido. It’s also a beautiful place to hang out after your surf session is done.
There is a good balance of small to medium-sized waves that come your way here, and it’s easy to avoid falling on rocks since the water is so clear.
La Punta Beach is another good choice. The only difference is there are slightly more people in the surf lineup and sometimes big waves that appear out of nowhere. But if you’re aware of this beforehand, you’ll be more than okay.
Ready to start your surfing journey?
If anyone tells you surfing is easy, they’re lying — even if that person happens to be Laird Hamilton. But if you learn the technical aspects of the sport and practice enough, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy days out on the waves sometime in the future.
My surf coach once told me there’s not much to do in Puerto Escondido other than to go surfing in the morning and relax in the evening. Even though I slightly disagree — it’s a popular checkpoint for young backpackers and spiritual types who have no interest in surfing — there is some truth to the coach’s words. Having spent over a week in this Oaxacan paradise, there’s no activity I’d recommend more.
Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist, and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café, or anywhere within Mexico visiting family and friends.
"Made In Mexico" is so much more than just reality TV - it's a look at Mexico's gaping class divide. (Netflix)
There are countless things to love about Mexico.
TV entertainment is not one of them.
There are some incisive looks at the Mexican class system on Netflix. Made in Mexico is not one of them. (Netflix)
In my quest to learn everything possible about my adopted country, I’ve watched many Mexican-made Netflix series. While there are anomalies (“La Casa de las Flores” and “Luis Miguel: la serie,” for example) the majority are so bad I’ve had to turn them off.
One of the worst, in my humble opinion, is the reality show “Made in Mexico.”
The 8-part series follows a group of Mexican socialites navigating life in their early 30s in the country’s capital. As you can imagine, everyone is fashionable, wealthy and good-looking. The show touches on the usual themes — love, friendship, nightlife and the struggles of being a high-class, directionless youth trying to make it on your own in what one character describes as “the Beverly Hills of Mexico City”, aka Polanco.
Before you close out of this article (because I know you want to) allow me to admit a shameful truth.
I learned more about Mexican society from this stupid show than I have actually living here.
This includes the concept of a whitexican, or a privileged, upper-class Mexican which MND writer Gaby Solís has eloquently elaborated on in her article, What is a whitexican? Which is essentially exactly what this show is about. The term doesn’t surface often, if at all, but everything the characters represent embodies its definition. Between their propensity for English idioms, their distinct social class, and the somewhat suffocating role of “keeping up with the Joneses” (the Jones usually being your immediate family), the actual reality of this reality show is quite…real.
A real example of whitexicans doing natural things in their natural habitat.
This class of Mexicans have lighter skin (but not always!), nice clothes, branded purses, and a team of housekeepers in their exquisite and modern apartments. They went to private high schools, dine in the trendiest restaurants, and take exotic vacations.
Maybe you’re thinking “well this isn’t the type of Mexican I hang out with, so I don’t care.” Perhaps. But it is a Mexico that exists and it’s a Mexico that defines so much of what you see, hear, and read about. Understanding the nuances is a step to cultural fluency. You’ve decided to live here, and it’s your responsibility to become as fluent in “Mexico” as you can.
Made in Mexico will prepare you in ways language classes, dating, and daily life cannot. Here’s the valuable information that eight hours invested in this show will arm you with.
Slang
The series opens up with an explanation of a fresa, a term you probably hear on occasion. Each of the protagonists gives their own interpretation, which basically means “entitled”, eventually telling the viewer that everyone on the show is a fresa. How do you spot a fresa? Similar to (but not the same as) a whitexican, fresas have a certain way of speaking (which sounds like they have una papa en la boca, or a potato in their mouth), dressing (preppy and designer everything, men with slicked back hair and women with long, painstakingly curled locks that inhibit their ability to look quickly to one side), and spending their time (at their family’s ranch house, taking selfies for their fashion blog, or promoting their latest philanthropic venture).
In defense of the show’s fresas, most do embody the Mexican spirit of extreme work ethic. All of the Mexican characters (seem to) have multiple professional commitments and full schedules.
“Fresas” can often be found living in the United States, where they have left central parts of their Mexican identities behind. (Bárbara de Regil/Instagram)
Other valuable slang you’ll hear that will make eavesdropping on the table of ladies next to you at brunch so much easier include:
Mexico is classist, there are no two ways around it. The importance of one’s rank on the hierarchical ladder is made clear in Made in Mexico, as it defines many things: your wealth, your connections, your family, and your reputation. The latter is determined by your family history, so if you have a revolutionary, politician, or prominent business owner in your lineage, you are expected to maintain or exceed the level of status previously set.
Religion
Religion plays a huge role in Mexican society, which quickly becomes apparent in Episode 1. One of the main characters is of Lebanese descent (a significant subset of Mexico’s upper and working classes which I hadn’t been fully aware of until I watched the show) and, at 32, is finally moving out of his God-fearing mother’s home. On move-in day, she showers him with crosses, icons, and Virgin Mary statues to be placed in specific areas of his house for protection. To my mind, what he really needs protection from is her, but that leads me to another valuable lesson I learned watching Made in Mexico.
Family
We all know that family plays a major role in Latin culture. But do you really know how much of a role it plays? As mentioned, children (especially sons) inherit the sometimes impossible task of maintaining a family’s reputation by taking over the business or starting one. It also means your marriage choices are limited to those in your social class or above. How often do you see the CEO marrying a maid? While things like this can be commonplace in countries like the U.S. or U.K., it rarely, if ever, happens in Mexico.
Patriotism
One theme that is apparent in the show is something I’ve noticed in my own life here, and it’s something I personally find so wonderful. Mexicans are very proud to be Mexican. Nearly everyone you meet, whether they make street tacos or run a multi-million dollar corporation, loves their heritage. It feels as if the entire population knows their nation’s history, rattling off random facts about Tenochtitlán at the drop of a dime (which we catch a glimpse of in Episode 1). When driving north from the center of Mexico City with friends, I was impressed at their ability to explain the topography, including the names of buildings or mountains and the stories behind them. I spent 6 years living in Philadelphia just blocks from the Liberty Bell and I still can’t tell you why it’s there. Maybe this is the reason that Made in Mexico is brimming with spectacular shots of the capital and its surrounding area.
I will warn you. Watching Made in Mexico requires a thick skin. Still, between multiple moments of cringe, you’ll be learning. Some of the lessons are outright and others will seep into your psyche through osmosis. You won’t realize it until one day, you’re reading a Mexico News Daily article about Carlos Slim and think, hey, isn’t he Lebanese? At that point, you might harken back to the scene where Roby, a Lebanese-Mexican, describes the plight of Lebanese Catholics to Mexico to escape the Ottomans, and something will click. And you’ll thank those eight hours of trashy TV entertainment for taking you one step closer to Mexican fluency.
Want to know more about Whitexicans? Check out the Mexican perspective by Mexican writer Gaby Solís.
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.
Whitexicans can easily be spotted in the wild because they wear things like this jacket. (Mexico is the shit/Instagram)
In 2018, a new term began circulating on social media to refer to a particular demographic in Mexico: “whitexicans.” As one can infer from its name, it addresses Mexico’s white population.
The label is now the handle of an Instagram and X social media account sharing “dark humor” about the lifestyle and attitudes of the whitexicans.
Whitexicans have become a major talking point for Mexican society in recent years, revealing class divides in the country. (Cris la huarachita/Instagram)
But beyond the color of the skin, the whitexican tag implies something else that’s only apparent to those who pay close attention to Mexican society: social status.
While there’s no written definition (yet) of what a whitexican is, everyone who uses it knows exactly who the label refers to — and what it reveals about Mexico’s high society.
The privileged class
Whitexican is a combination of the words “white” and “Mexican” and specifically refers to upper-class Mexicans who lead a privileged lifestyle: They attend private schools, travel abroad, speak English and have access to opportunities many Mexicans only dream of.
The label reveals what has been apparent in Mexico since the Spanish colonization, but until a few years ago, it was very little acknowledged or part of the conversation: that most of Mexico’s high-class population is white.
The attitudes and lifestyle of this demographic are accurately portrayed on the @whitexican Instagram account. Through humorous posts, it showcases the privileged lives and unapologetic attitudes of White, upper-class Mexicans toward lower-class Mexicans.
Whitexican people have the privilege of traveling more than the average Mexican. (Juanpazurita/Instagram)
I reached out to the administrators of the @whitexican account to ask for comment, but they weren’t immediately available, although they granted an interview to the BBC in 2019.
In that conversation, one of the account’s administrators, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that the label whitexican refers to “that privileged sector of society that is unaware of the reality of the country, lives in a bubble and believes that all Mexicans have the same opportunities.”
He includes himself in that category and assures that he has a good economic status, which is why he created the account, he said, to parody the manners of his own social circle “and to showcase the daily attitudes with which racism is normalized in Mexico.”
As someone who grew up in a similar background, I am well aware of those attitudes. But as with any stereotype, one must never generalize or assume that all upper-class Mexicans are arrogant or oblivious about their privilege. Using labels to generalize, experts say, can only contribute to more division.
Here is an example of a meme that the account @whitexican posts daily.
“What’s up with the water in Mexico City? We will run out of it… honestly, people need to understand.”
“When will we run out of it?”
“They say June 23”
“Oh, don’t worry. We’ll be on our Eurotrip. We’ll undoubtedly have water when we come back.”
Each meme is accompanied by a caption mocking real-life conversations. If you swipe left, you will most likely find a WhatsApp conversation or a social media post on which the meme is based.
Whitexicans: White Mexicans or rich Mexicans?
Many of you might wonder if one should be white and rich to be a whitexican.
The answer is no.
In that same BBC interview, the @whitexican administrator said that to be a whitexican, “it is enough to adopt their attitudes, such as believing themselves superior to others, discriminating and showing off their lifestyle.”
Javi Noble is a character from the movie Nosotros los Nobles. His privileged bubble does not allow him to see the reality of the bulk of the Mexican population. (Nosotros los Nobles)
The hilarious film tells the story of a wealthy Mexican businessman, Germán Noble, and his three grown children. When Germán realizes how spoiled his kids have become, he cuts them off from their wealth and forces them to do unthinkable jobs “that don’t belong to their class.”
The film was a tremendous success because it accurately portrayed 1) the huge disparity between social classes in Mexico and 2) the racism underlying such class disparity.
Other Mexican films that have addressed class division in Mexico more dramatically are Amores Perros (2000) and Roma (2018).
Since her appearance in the film Roma, Yalitza Aparicio has suffered racism and discrimination because of her appearance. (Yalitza Aparicio/X)
In a new study, the INEGI found that 71.5% of the Indigenous population participating in the study agreed that Indigenous communities were undervalued in Mexico. In contrast, over 90% of the surveyed people said it was “wrong” to discriminate against someone based on the color of their skin.
“The magic of racism or classism in Mexico is that we don’t see it. We don’t even notice it. And when someone calls us out, we get offended that they are calling us racist or classist,” Black Panther actor Tenoch Huerta said in a documentary by El País.
Oscar-nominated actress Yalitza Aparicio (who is Indigenous) has also spoken about the racism she has faced since her role in Roma, in which she plays a housemaid in a middle-class White family in Mexico City. Historically in Mexico, the role of a housemaid has always been allocated to those of Indigenous descent.
Mejorando la raza: A product of the mestizaje
Mestizaje:the racial mixing process between the Spanish and Indigenous groups in Latin America.
In Mexico, it is common to hear the expression “mejorar la raza,” meaning that someone brown-skinned should marry someone with fairer skin to “improve the race.”
Mexican-British anthropologist Mónica Moreno Figueroa explains in her book “Negotiating Our Belonging: family and Mestizaje in Mexico,” what fuels many Mexicans’ desire to be separated from their Indigenous origins and be perceived as White.
“There is this idea that something ‘white’ is better, prettier,” she says, alluding to the Spanish caste system, which prioritized the criollos (people born in Mexico from Spanish parents) and the mestizos.
I grew up experiencing this firsthand. Growing up, my grandmother was always concerned that I, being brown-skinned in a family where most were white, would get “browner” if I didn’t protect myself from the sun.
It was also typical to hear expressions such as “He’s handsome even when he’s brown” or “Oh, let’s hope the baby inherited the blue eyes of her mother’s side!” from people of her generation.
Thankfully, it has been a long time since I heard something like that because racism is now, at least, part of the conversation. According to Moreno, “We [Mexicans] have already gone through the struggle to affirm that racism exists.”That’s the first step towards fighting discrimination. Now, we must find ways to fight it. And humor might be one of those ways.
Want to know more about Whitexicans? Check out the expat perspective by expat writer Bethany Platanella.
Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.
Mexico News Daily owners Travis and Tamanna Bembenek were interviewed on Mariana Campero's "Mexico Matters" podcast. (CSIS)
Naturally, we at Mexico News Daily believe strongly in the increasing relevance and importance of Mexico on the world stage.
So we were honored to be recently invited to participate as guests on the “Mexico Matters” podcast hosted by Mariana Campero and share our thoughts on our personal journey, as well as discuss topics such as elections, nearshoring, safety and migration.
Mariana has an exceptional background as the former CEO of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI), a current member of the board of directors of Citibanamex, and current Senior Associate of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Mariana is currently based in New York City and she regularly interviews political and business leaders on her “Mexico Matters” podcast. Former guests of the podcast have included Larry Fink (CEO of Blackrock), General David Petraeus (former director of the CIA) and Robert Lightheizer (former U.S. Trade Representative).
Mariana asked my wife and co-owner Tamanna and me a wide range of questions in the nearly 30-minute interview. The title of the podcast is “Americans are migrating to Mexico too” and we began with a discussion on the numbers, trends, and issues around the fast-growing migration of Americans other foreigners to Mexico. We talked about the upsides of this migration, as well as some of the challenges that it is causing.
We also discussed the fact that many of these foreigners come to Mexico to do business, and highlighted some of the issues that we personally have faced, both in our corporate and entrepreneurial experiences in the country.
Mariana also asked us about the serious issue of violence against journalists in Mexico, especially during electoral campaigns, and what this means for our team. We shared with her the strategies we use at MND to keep our team safe, and how our content is focused on what is relevant for our readers to be better-informed residents or visitors to Mexico.
We ended with some discussion about the impact of nearshoring on the country’s economy, from the perspective of our own personal experiences and reporting.
What the team at MND does is not easy, and not without risk, but we are immensely proud to be able to bring you a front-row seat to Mexico. We strongly believe that good journalism keeps our readers around the world informed, to make better choices and to provide optimism rather than worsen anxiety.
Please take a few minutes to listen to the podcast below, and thanks for supporting Mexico News Daily.
While expat living in Mexico is refreshing, it is always important to remember that we are all guests in another country - one that has its own sense of pride and way of life. (Paulina Negrete/Cuartoscuro)
I still remember clearly the first time I had a group of Mexicans glare angrily at me.
I don’t remember my exact wording, but I was exasperated and said something like, “Why can’t Mexico figure out that these milk boxes are not actually easy to open at all?” with a chuckle to my host family. (The milk boxes back then said “abre fácil” – “easy open” – but were anything but easy: you had to tear off the corner of it and I always wound up making a huge mess of it).
Mexicans are very welcoming hosts – but it is always a good idea to be respectful. (Shutterstock)
I wasn’t trying to insult anyone, but boy did I learn my lesson: while this is an incredibly bromista (joke-loving) culture where sarcasm does indeed hold a place of honor, sarcasm applied by a foreigner regarding the way something is done in Mexico is most definitely not appreciated.
This was over 20 years ago, and I’ve learned quite a bit more about this particular culture’s sensitivities since then. And as more and more of my paisanos join me in this beautiful country, I think some studied consideration about how to be respectful a la mexicana is in order, especially as natural tensions in some sectors are rising with such an influx of new people.
To be good guests and immigrants, here are some things to remember:
Mexicans wear their pride on their sleeves; this goes for personal and national pride, by the way. As a country, Mexico has been both invaded and put down (by, collectively, us) enough to be a little sensitive about criticisms toward them…especially by newcomer outsiders. Indeed, who enjoys criticism at all? Every country, as we well know, has things they do well and things they don’t do so well. If you need to vent about the “not so well” category around here, try to keep it restricted to your personal journal or a close friend or therapist rather than venting online. Because as some of us have learned the hard way, social media is not a place where nuance can be easily detected and emotions stay calm. Foreigners who vent in public or even private groups seem to find themselves more and more met with an angry “Why don’t you just go back where you came from” sentiment (which, curiously, tends to come much more frequently from the political left rather than the right).
Make your curiosity bigger than your desire to start every sentence with, “Well, where I come from…”. Spoiler alert: most Mexicans already know what things are like where we come from if where we come from is the US or Canada. No one has bad intentions when they start talking about themselves…it’s a way to start or keep a conversation going, after all. But it behooves all of us to remember that most basic of conversational skills: to make a great impression, let the other person do the talking (and really listen). And if you can, make your best effort to do it in Spanish!
Living in Mexico is a chance to try something new and different, so embrace the experience! (Depositphotos)
Tensions between the economically advantaged and the not-so-advantaged are just as high here as they are elsewhere. And as I’ve said before, seeing a group of people who don’t necessarily work harder or even have more education than you knocking it out of the park because they’re gaming the system (earning in one economy and spending in a different, cheaper one) while you struggle doesn’t feel good. “But our spending here is helping the economy” might be logical, but nowhere in the world are people logical; they’re emotional. Nor are they usually thinking about the advantages, on a country-wide level, of tourism. What they’re thinking about is the fact that rents have gone up exponentially in areas newly popular with dollar-bearing newcomers and their menus are suddenly in English. So, what to do? On a practical level, do your best to find out the actual costs of homes and services in a certain area that locals are accustomed to paying rather than simply laying down whatever money’s asked because it’s cheap to you, specifically. Too many people doing this is exactly what drives gentrification, a topic that has many locals in newly-popular areas particularly tense. At the very least, don’t behave as if you’re doing anyone a favor by spending money here or crowing loudly about “how affordable Mexico is.” For most people living here, it’s not. So enjoy what luxuries you might not have been able to in your home country, but remember that they’re still out of reach for most people.
Not everyone is into fast change. In places that have long been known for their catering to the tourist crowd like Los Cabos or Cancún, people know what to expect: lots of English-speaking establishments, high rents, services catering specifically to the tastes of foreigners. Those changes happened long ago, and they’re used to it. In newly-popular areas in Mexico, things are changing (and gentrifying) fast, and not everybody is into it. In those places that used to be considered “the real Mexico” where not many foreigners could be seen (Oaxaca city comes to mind), the speed of change is a touchy subject for some Mexican residents…especially when it’s accompanied by increased prices for everyone (which is not solely a result of the influx, but the optics make it seem like it is). On the positive side, most Mexicans are honored and proud to see that so many foreigners have fallen in love with their culture and communities, so emphasizing that can do wonders.
Mexico is a delightful and magical place, and it’s a country where most residents are warm and open to the newly arrived. Our task, then, is to remember to be good neighbors first, and careful not to treat our new homes as an amusement park: squeal with delight on the inside.
The flight occurred on Thursday while Montes de Oca and his family were traveling to Palenque in a Beechcraft King Air plane. (Facebook)
A federal lawmaker and six members of his family including his wife and two children were killed in a light plane crash in Chiapas on Thursday afternoon.
The pilot of the aircraft was also killed, bringing the total number of dead to eight. There were no survivors.
The accident may have occurred due to bad weather in northern Chiapas. (@carlosmartinh/Twitter)
The lawmaker killed in the accident was Juan Pablo Montes de Oca Avendaño, a 46-year-old Ecological Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) deputy from Chiapas. He was on leave to work on the political campaign of Eduardo Ramírez, who is vying to become the next governor of Chiapas.
Montes de Oca’s wife, daughter, son, sister, niece and nephew were also killed when a Beechcraft King Air plane came down in the municipality of Salto de Agua. The deceased pilot has been identified as Roberto Villanueva Valdez.
The cause of the accident has not been established, but reports suggest bad weather may have been a factor. The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) said Friday that it had opened an investigation and would direct aviation authorities to determine the cause of the accident.
The flight took off from the Tuxtla Gutiérrez International Airport and was on its way to the Palenque International Airport when the crash occurred.
Salto de Agua residents reported that the plane started coming down after it appeared from behind mountains. The aircraft crashed into rocky terrain and reportedly burst into flames. Police attended the crash site, but the victims were apparently killed instantly.
The newspaper El Universal reported that a video disseminated by residents showed cloudy conditions around the mountains the plane passed over before crashing.
Ramírez, the Chiapas gubernatorial candidate for the Morena party and the PVEM, said in a post to the X social media platform that his heart was broken and that he was “devastated” to hear of Montes’ death.
“I can’t come to terms with the departure of my great friend, my brother, Juan Pablo Montes de Oca, his wife and his children. This tragedy has left me with a profound sadness, a hole in my soul,” he wrote.
The PVEM conveyed its condolences to the loved ones and friends of the deceased deputy and his family members.
Montes was a civil engineer by profession and served as a deputy minister of infrastructure in the Chiapas government before becoming a federal deputy.
He also served as mayor of the municipality of Venustiano Carranza and as a state deputy in Chiapas before entering federal Congress in 2021.
President Sheinbaum's Kutsari Project seeks to strengthen Mexico's semiconductor industry. (Maxence Pira/Unsplash)
The United States will partner with Mexico in a new semiconductor initiative whose ultimate aim is to strengthen and grow the Mexican semiconductor industry, U.S. authorities said Thursday.
The U.S. Department of State announced that it would partner with the Mexican government to “explore opportunities to grow and diversify the global semiconductor ecosystem” under the five-year US $500 million International Technology Security and Innovation Fund, which was created by the CHIPS Act of 2022.
The U.S. government is aiming to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan for semiconductors, or chips, and partner with rising chip manufacturer Mexico. (Intel Guadalajara)
The U.S.-Mexico chip partnership will “help create a more resilient, secure, and sustainable global semiconductor value chain,” the State Department said in a statement.
The department said that an initial phase of the partnership would include “a comprehensive assessment of Mexico’s existing semiconductor ecosystem and regulatory framework, as well as workforce and infrastructure needs.”
“Key stakeholders in the Mexican ecosystem, such as state governments, educational institutions, research centers and companies will participate in this analysis in conjunction with Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy. The insights gained from the assessment will serve as the basis for potential future joint initiatives to strengthen and grow this critical sector,” it said.
The announcement of the partnership comes as the U.S. government seeks to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan for semiconductors, or chips, which are used in the manufacture of a range of products including cars, electronics and medical devices. The State Department highlighted that the manufacturing of such products “relies on the strength and resilience of the semiconductor supply chain.”
Thus, strengthening the Mexican semiconductor industry to supply chips to companies in North America makes a lot of sense.
Taiwan is currently the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, accounting for 50% of total production, according to the international freight platform ShipHub. China ranks fourth behind South Korea and Japan, and ahead of the United States.
The global semiconductor industry is expected to see sales of US $588 billion in 2024, according to Deloitte. (Vishnu Mohanan)
The State Department said that “the United States and Mexico are key partners in ensuring the global semiconductor supply chain keeps pace with the digital transformation underway worldwide” and “this [new] collaboration” between the two countries “underscores the significant potential to expand Mexico’s semiconductor industry to the benefit of both nations.”
It also said that the U.S.-Mexico semiconductor partnership “will build on existing cooperation under the bilateral High-Level Economic Dialogue and trilateral North American Leaders Summit process.”
“This partnership will also support the work already underway to bolster regional competitiveness in semiconductors, including workforce development, in the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity,” the department added.
Former foreign affairs minister Marcelo Ebrard revealed in September 2022 that the United States had invited Mexico to take advantage of massive U.S. investment in the semiconductor industry.
“They already authorized an approximately US $50 billion [semiconductors] program and they’re inviting us to participate,” he said after talks between high-ranking Mexican and U.S. officials.
In October last year, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a “joint semiconductor action plan” between the U.S. and Mexico “to accelerate our integration” and “scale our efforts to attract new investment.”
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a joint U.S.-Mexico semiconductor action plan in October 2023. (Anthony Blinken/X)
Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena said at the time that the two countries had “a very clear strategy — for this region to become the most powerful region in the world in the production of semiconductors and conductors.”
Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro said that the collaboration with the U.S. represented a “significant opportunity” and highlighted that the development of the semiconductor industry in Mexico would create “better paying jobs.”
Writing in Forbes last month, the co-CEO and head of business development at the Texas-based Nearshore Company said that “Mexico’s advantages for chip manufacturing go beyond its geographical proximity to the U.S.”
“Over the years, Mexico’s technological capabilities have been on the rise. While traditionally viewed as a low-cost, labor-intensive manufacturing hub, the presence of automotive and aerospace companies in the region … has been the driving force behind transforming Mexico’s manufacturing labor force from one that is labor intensive only, to now include more advanced manufacturing skills,” wrote Jorge González Henrichsen.
“As the semiconductor industry expands in North America, I believe it will attract high-skilled professionals, further bolstering Mexico’s capabilities and transforming the border region into a thriving, advanced manufacturing ecosystem,” he said.
Local authorities have largely taken the side of the musicians, seeing banda as a major influence on the city's identity. (Dania Robles/Cuartoscuro)
A group of foreign tourists are enjoying an acoustic guitar performance on the terrace of a seafront hotel in Mazatlán when their experience is abruptly interrupted by a very different genre of music — banda sinaloense, to be exact — emanating from the nearby beach.
A video of the event — as well as a photo of a sign at a luxury condominium banning the hiring of musical groups on the beach in front of the building — recently triggered an online, and offline, debate between people who support the right of banda musicians to play loudly and proudly on the beaches of Mazatlán and those who would like the city’s playas to be more peaceful places.
The beaches of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, México are known for live groups that play “Banda” music. Now gentrification pushed by hotel owners, business men & politicians have made an “anti-noise” coalition to prohibit live music on the beach, largely to appeal to influx of 🇨🇦tourists. pic.twitter.com/zbbR8wCZGz
Gentrification, the importance of preserving traditional Mexican music and the “welcomeness,” or otherwise, of foreign tourists in Mexico have all formed part of the debate.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Mazatlán this Semana Santa (Holy Week), there was a protest by banda musicians concerned about measures they believe are aimed at silencing them, which was met with reassurance from the mayor that live music will not be banned on the city’s popular beaches.
Despite the absence of any move by authorities to prohibit musicians from plying their coastal trade, the banda brouhaha has attracted widespread attention in the Mexican media this week. Let’s take a deeper look.
First things first. What is banda sinaloense?
According to the newspaper Debate, “banda sinaloense, also known as tambora sinaloense, is a musical genre that has defined the cultural identity of Mexico, especially in the state of Sinaloa.”
“With deep roots in the 19th century, this musical style has experienced a significant evolution, combining European, Caribbean, United States and Indigenous influences to create a distinctive sound.”
Banda musicians on the beach in Mazatlán. (Rashide Frias/Cuartoscuro)
The website Musicalyst notes thatbanda sinaloense is “a brass-based genre that combines traditional Mexican music with European polka rhythms.”
“The music is characterized by its upbeat tempo, strong brass section, and the use of clarinets, trumpets and trombones. Banda sinaloense is often played at celebrations such as weddings, quinceañeras [fifteenth birthday celebrations] and fiestas” — and at the beach in Mazatlán.
There have been complaints about the presence of banda musicians on Mazatlán’s beaches for years, but the issue hasn’t previously blown up quite as much as it has this week.
The debate over whether banda should be allowed on Mazatlán’s beaches
Writing on the X social media platform above footage of the interruption of the acoustic guitar performance, Mexico-based United States journalist Andalusia K. Soloff noted that “the beaches of Mazatlán … are known for live groups that play banda music.”
“Now gentrification pushed by hotel owners, business men & politicians have made an ‘anti-noise’ coalition to prohibit live music on the beach, largely to appeal to [an] influx of Canadian tourists,” she wrote.
“It’s their country and traditions. Don’t take that away from them,” read one response to her post.
“Ban live music? What?” said another X user.
A musician holding a sign that says “Let us work on the beach” in Mazatlán on Wednesday. (Dania Robles/Cuartoscuro)
Another social media user took a very different view, exclaiming: “Hallelujah. I wish they would do the same over here on the [Baja] peninsula. Pinche [damn] Mexicans and their obnoxiously loud music.”
One of the most prominent voices in the ongoing debate has been Ernesto Coppel, a hotel owner, television personality and native of Mazatlán. He suggested that tourists from the United States, rather than Canada, are the most frequent complainers about banda music on Mazatlán’s beaches.
“We cannot allow this racket of cacophonous noise for even one moment more” Coppel says at the beginning of a video message, referring to loud music all over the city including on public transport.
Loud music is “causing tremendous damage to the city,” he asserts, adding that the banda groups that play on Mazatlán’s beaches are a “scandal” and a “disaster.”
“They don’t allow people to rest. I have a lot of complaints from hundreds of American tourists who tell me, ‘I’m not coming back to Mazatlán because of the racket,'” Coppel says, claiming that they have developed a view of the city as a chafa (bad or cheap) tourism destination.
“We’re all making the effort to invest billions of dollars per year in Mazatlán, in resorts, in hotels, in aquariums, in everything. We urgently need to control the noise. We’re not a fifth-class destination, we’re a first-class destination and that’s how we should see ourselves,” the hotelier continues.
“Enough is enough. … We have to legislate, we have to control this, cut this out. Things can’t remain like this,” concludes Coppel, a leader of the Alianza Antirruido en Mazatlán, or Mazatlán Anti-Noise Alliance, which is made up of at least 20 hoteliers and apartment building owners, some of whom have made similar remarks.
“So because of the gringos we’re going to change the way our brothers from Mazatlán are?” said one social media user in response to Coppel’s video.
“Sinaloa is naturally noisy, but it’s beautiful that way. That’s its charm,” the person added.
#NotiTreceMX en #Mazatlán prohiben la Música de Banda, que porque dicen molestan a los turistas… hubo una manifestación que se salió de control.
los detalles a las 10:30pm
13.1 Tv abierta / 113 Megacable
13 izzi & Totalplay pic.twitter.com/3ICULTbzRb
— RAMIRO ESCOTO DIGITAL (RED) (@Ramiro_Escoto) March 28, 2024
Another social media user complained about the presence of United States tourists in the Sinaloa resort city.
“I’ve just returned from Mazatlán. How awful! It’s full of slovenly gringos. But CHOCK-A-BLOCK. I’m from Sinaloa and I’ve traveled to Maza my whole life, but never had I seen so many gringos. The worst thing is that they speak to you in English as if they were in the United States. How sad,” the person wrote.
Another social media user asserted that “gringos love Mexico” but “without Mexicans and without modern Mexican culture.”
“Mazatlán is literally known as the cradle of banda sinaloense,” the person added.
On social media and in the streets of Mazatlán, “gentrification is being spoken about,” the newspaper Reforma reported, “because preference is being given to people from outside the port, mainly foreign tourists, who have complained about the ‘noise.'”
Of course, not all Americans, or foreign tourists more broadly, dislike banda music. In fact, a number of foreigners in Mazatlán who recently spoke to Mexico News Daily said that they love the genre, with some even choosing to live in or visit the city in order to enjoy banda on a regular basis.
Musicians take to the streets of Mazatlán to play — and protest
A large group of musicians protested on Wednesday against “measures that seek to silence banda music on the beaches of the port” of Mazatlán, the newspaper Reforma reported.
Banda musicians played loudly and proudly in protest against the threat of measures to prohibit them from playing on Mazatlán beaches. (Dania Robles/Cuartoscuro)
Miguel Rubio, a member of a band that regularly plays on local beaches, told Reforma that he wasn’t against authorities limiting the hours in which musical groups can play. However, he rejected any move to ban them outright.
If a band is playing on the beach at three in the morning, “one can understand it is annoying for tourists,” he said.
However, “Mazatlán is the land of the bandas,” Rubio said, insinuating that visitors need to understand that.
Samuel Ramírez, another musician, stressed that his livelihood and that of his fellow band members is dependent on being able to play on the beaches of Mazatlán.
“That’s how we get the daily sustenance for our families,” he said.
In addition to their instruments, protesting musicians carried signs with messages such as “We are hungry, we have family, yes to music!” and “the beach is free.”
While the musicians were protesting peacefully — albeit while playing their instruments — municipal police suppressed the demonstration, Reforma reported.
With “yanks” and “blows,” the officers tried to “silence the instruments,” the newspaper said.
After meeting with hoteliers and authorities, musical groups agreed to not play on beaches before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m. (Dania Robles/Cuartoscuro)
The newspaper El Financiero reported that a fight between police and musicians broke out when officers tried to arrest one protester.
The response of Mazatlán authorities
After a meeting between local authorities, hoteliers and musicians late last week, the Mazatlán municipal government announced that musical groups had agreed to not play on beaches before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m. The government also said that only 15 two-person ensembles and 12 larger bandas would be given permits to play in certain areas of certain beaches.
However, Mayor Edgar González Zatarain said Thursday that municipal authorities had issued 56 permits and also given musicians identity cards. He said that permits had been granted to 38 bandas and 18 norteño groups.
The mayor also said that local authorities have always supported banda sinaloense musicians, and acknowledged the contribution they make to the identity of Mazatlán and the city’s culture.
In a radio interview on Thursday, González stressed that municipal authorities hadn’t imposed restrictions on the times bands can play on the beach, highlighting that the musicians themselves had agreed to limit their hours. “There is no established schedule,” he said.
Banda sinaloense has seemingly been played on the beaches of Mazatlán forever — and will continue to entertain (or annoy) beachgoers for a long time to come, including over this Easter weekend when large numbers of tourists and locals will descend on the so-called Pearl of the Pacific.
If you like the beach, but don’t like banda, Mazatlán — to say the least — is probably not the place for you. As one local musician put it, playing banda is a “tradition” in the city, and most certainly not a crime.
