Job Discussion Forums

leegleze · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Posts: 18

About your ethnic appearance: When I lived in Mexico (yes, I'm planning to return after a short hiatus), I hosted an entire family of Japanese ESL students who were there on holiday from Canada. I found that the Mexicans in Nayarit were simply fascinated with their exotic appearance and tried to engage them in conversation to find out all they could about Japan and its culture. Many Mexicans where I lived had never seen an East Asian person and were genuinely in awe. In your case, I think it would be a big plus rather than a detriment to your effectiveness as a teacher. You'd certainly be able to hold the class's attention! Good luck with your job hunt!

bjcor · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

leegleze:
Ah.. I guess I should look for a job somewhere other than D.F. then.. because when I was with them chilangos, I didn't get any reaction of that sort. Obviously because they've seen more Asians since you see them more often around there. It seems it depends a lot on where I go because when I was in Taxco all alone, I got some random people talking to me on the street just out of curiosity about my background.

MikeySaid:
It's so true unfortunately for Americans.. I've even been told by some Mexicans that being Canadian is a lot more elegante than being from the states. One thing has to be the political situation and the other, in my opinion, due to the presence of the French language in Canada, although it doesn't have much to do with anglophone Canadians. I say that because so many Mexicans ask me everytime I mention where I'm from, if I speak French like it's so representative of entire Canada... I don't know, maybe it is outside Canada.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

MELEE · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject:

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

I have a Labrador. That means it's Canadian, eh? Wink

In Chiapas las fresas are now calling Canuks "Coppeles" in honor of the store chain.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

I think where the confusion could be is that in 2002, Coppel purchased the financially troubled Calzados Canad� footwear chain, once the largest in Mexico.

Coppel stores began in Culiacan, Sinaloa in 1941. We have much of the Coppel "old money" clan living in guarded premises overlooking the ocean here in Mazatlan.

If anyone cares for the history of how the name Coppel got associated with the name "Canada", here it is in English.

http://www.answers.com/topic/coppel-s-a-de-c-v?cat=biz-fin

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

A lot of people do know a bit about Canada, but it doesn't seem to go much beyond, "oh, it's cold there, right?" They do seem to know abour French and the fact that we aren't American. In fact, some think we are still British! I have a lot of fun explaining about Canada, because I think it's important that people know a bit about where their teachers are from. It helps them understand the language better.

MO39 · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:

Hey, dixie,

I like your new colorful avatar - it's so cheerful (!) and helps to keep my spirits up on such a gray and gloomy Tuesday.

MO

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

MO39 · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Dixie
Couldn`t you just have gotten him to smile a teensy bit?