Job Discussion Forums

[TedSeastrom]

Before I spent a summer in France way back when, I read a book called "The Ugly American." The focus was more on the behavior of tourists than on politics. It made a big impression on me.

Today with Iraq, American immigration policy, and nearly eight years of George Bush, I wonder if any country feels welcoming toward American EFL teachers...especially Mexico.

There must be some backlash from the recent focus in the US on immigration issues. I know that in Seattle, where I live now, there is a major crackdown on improperly documented workers. People are losing jobs. And I've read that money transfers from the US to Mexico have dropped substantially.

Will I experience open hostility when I go to DF in January? What is the best way to respond if I do?

[MO39]

I haven't run into anything like that, though I mostly spend time here with old friends and new students. Today one of them went off into an anti-government rant, but it was against the government in Tabasco for being responsible for the recent horrible floods in that state. He also told me that Mexico needs a second Revolution because the first one didn't do the trick!

[gandalf7]

Granted, I haven't been in el DF very long, but I'm about as white as they come, I dress relatively gringo, and I do have an accent (not as marked as some, but it's still there). I don't think I've ever genuinely been mistreated, and I can't really say that people have been worse to me than in a city like New York, for instance. The worst that's happened to me is that I was wearing a "Viva Mexico" bandana after El Grito in Mexico City, and someone managed to write Gringo in shaving cream on my back. Which is relatively minor, since I wasn't verbally or physically assaulted. Not even close to that.

I think most people, even if they had a problem with Americans, wouldn't do anything to you anyway -- maybe just give you a dirty look. Hell, I've been on the Metro when someone has been going on and on about the imperialist U.S., and no one looked at me, the person didn't even look at me as if he were thinking about placing blame on me...and if anything is going to happen, it would be in that situation, I think -- ie, when someone is going on some rant about the U.S.

I think the most important thing is that you be friendly. I mean, for instance, if you go to a taco stand, don't just tell the person "dos de cecina, uno al pastor" -- a short chat of a couple sentences would probably be better. "Hola, buenas tardes, como estas? Me gustaria dos tacos de cecina....etc..."I've found that people are a bit more sensitive to social niceties than what I'm used to, and at the same time, a bit more laid back...so a small chat with service people, for instance, might not be a bad idea. And knowing the language also helps to dispel stereotypes...

Or you could just wear a shirt with W. and "What are you doing in *my* world?" and see what happens.

[TheLongWayHome]

[GueroPaz]

Offhand, I cannot recall being mistreated for being a gringo during the years I lived in southern Mexico. I interacted with campesinos, oficiales, human rights observers, misioneros, militares, zapatistas, indigenas, chilangos, everybody.

But that was before the invasion of Iraq. Now, in Thailand, if the subject comes up, I say I disagree with my government, and folks can figure out the difference.

I suspect that if you outwardly accept and respect Mexicans and their culture, they'll respect you.

[Jetgirly]

As a sort-of related question, is there any hostility towards Americans who don't speak a word of Spanish? I'm Canadian and I imagine I will be mistaken for American, but we study French in school (by law at that time in my area), so I never had the chance to learn Spanish. I would enroll in a Spanish course but I still don't know if I'll be able to go to Mexico (and we're six weeks from departure!).

[MO39]

[cangringo]

I've also found that a smile and an effort on your part goes a long way. I have been in Mexico for a year and a half and I still don't speak Spanish...I try but it comes out in a garbled mess. They do really appreciate the fact that you try and as long as you aren't demanding they speak to you in English, which I've found some Americans/Canadians/British do, they are usually very friendly and helpful.

[Jetgirly]

I definitely don't expect people to speak to me in English - I moved to Italy with five days' notice and am very good at getting by without speaking the local language (perhaps too good... I need to force myself to at least attempt to speak...) And I do know the basic greetings, please, thank you, soy vegetariana, etc. So I'm happy to hear people will be nice to me!

[MO39]

[Jetgirly]

This thread is about possible anti-Americanism in Mexico.

While I personally have never had unpleasant experiences because I didn't speak a local language, I have interacted with people all over the world who are perplexed (and turned off) by the fact/perception that so many Amerians don't speak a second language. Every American person that I know well (limited to a few friends and co-workers and a branch of my extended family) was taught Spanish in school, so I made the assumption that Spanish is taught as widely in the US as French is in Canada. Based on my assumption that most American are taught Spanish, and based on the fact/perception that so many American don't speak a second language, I came to wonder if I might be treated badly if people in Mexico perceived me to be someone who studied Spanish extensively but was unable to speak a word of it. I would think that someone who spent thirteen years studying a language and then couldn't form a complete sentence would be perceived to not value that language and/or be lazy.

[MO39]

[GueroPaz]

Very few Americans speak Spanish well or at all, even some with Hispanic ancestors. My son in law who's Mexican-American can only speak kitchen Spanish to his elders, and studied French in high school! My Mexican-American daughter in law barely speaks it at all.

I knew a few smart-aleck Mexican-Americans who went south of the border acting as if they were God's gifts to Mexico, and their arrogance was quickly put down. That's an exception.

I doubt that a French Canadian would be expected to speak Spanish. Even Tejanos are sometimes not expected to.

[kosherpickle]

when i was in high school spanish i passed the class with a high grade by using babel fish to write my essays.
that should about sum up for you how good that teacher was.

[Guy Courchesne]