Job Discussion Forums

[justin032]

Hey everyone, I've really appreciated all your posts so far and I have another question for those who are residing or have ever spent time in DF and elsewhere in Latin America: Is Mexico City going to be foreign/exotic enough for someone looking to really take in Latin American culture? I know this sounds like a bogus orientalist type question but let me explain a bit more...

I'm getting quite close to really taking the leap, and will hopefully be doing my CELTA in Buenos Aires in February. I'm going to try and make a good go of it there, but from everything I've read it's not going to be a long term situation. So I will eventually be faced with leaving and I'm pretty set on DF as the next destination, although after reading through so many of the posts here I keep coming across mentions of "Wal Mart" and "Coca-Cola" etc...and obviously with Mexico being so close to America it is going to be more susceptible to Yank influence than a place like Uruguay.

Basically, just wanted to get input from those that are there if DF feels truly like a completely different experience, or is it more of just a Spanish speaking version of NYC? I see a lot of advatanges to DF, like being able to cheaply travel home and the possibility of actually saving a few hundred dollars a year unlike almost anywhere else in LA, but at this point I would be mainly going there for the experience, learning a new culture/language etc. If anyone has any anecdotes to hammer home their points either for or against that would appreciated too! Thanks!

[Guy Courchesne]

At the unintended expense of the rest of Mexico, Mexico City is geographically, politically, economically, and culturally the heart of this country....far more than a capital. It is modern and old. It is the primary driving force behind just about everything Mexican, from its food, to art, to literature, and to history, and yet it takes a modern face as well.

You would see many different faces and facets in this city as it draws migrants from every corner of Mexico and Latin America. You'll find a Walmart next to Little Cuba. You'll find a Costco next to the best little Uruguayan restaurant outside of Uruguay. You'll see a BMW pull up alongside a guy and his horse, pulling something for sale. Korea town borders the gay district, while a parade of soccer-crazed fans pile into a street taco stand, right next to the Lebanese restaurant.

[dixie]

I would have to agree with Guy, in the sense that D.F has the old and it has the new, and often you find them side-by-side.

The good thing about D.F as well is that it is fairly "central" and so it is easier to leave the city and head out to see other cities, town, villages, pueblos, etc.

In regards to the Coca-Cola / Wal-mart "Yank" influence, I find that its hard to completely get away from that. I lived in a small town, up in the mountains of Honduras and Coca-Cola was the main stay there as it tends to be here. Cell phones were just introduced as I was leaving (that was the spring of �04) and it was a big deal. Everyone was rushing out to get one of their own.

I have never been a "big city" girl and wasn�t sure how I was going to take to living in Mexico City, but I LOVE it! Yes, there are certainly the "modern" world influences, but there is also the "old".

I would certainly come and try it out! As they say, you never know until you try.

[Phil_K]

If you want to get away from Walmart and Coca-Cola, try the moon

Seriously, I think a part of getting the Mexican experience lies with you. If you hang out at MacDonalds and spend your time in malls, then you won't get it, but there is plently of opportunity to be "Mexican" here, as it is such a big and diverse city.

[MELEE]

I'm not sure where you are from, use of the word Yank makes me think you are British, but then you mentioned cheap travel home, so maybe you are North American?

Either way, while my visit to Buenos Aires was extrodinarily brief, I'm sure you will find Mexico City much more "foriegn" than BA, especially if you are European.


I would never live there myself, but I enjoy visiting DF (I usually have a respitory infection by my third day there though) and think Guy's description is right on. No matter what you are looking for, you can find it in M�xico, D.F.

[justin032]

I am an American, but I went to college in the UK. Quite interesting about DF feeling more foreign than BA. The main thing that had me concerned was after spending time in the tango capital of the world I would feel a void of real Latin culture in DF....but your responses have reassured me, thanks!

[notamiss]

I've never lived in any place in Mexico except the DF and it's plenty different enough for me. WalMart is not like WalMart at home, in fact I find it indistinguishable from the other Mexican supermarket chains; when I say it's not like at home I mean that both literally and metaphorically. If you want to be in Mexico City and feel that you're in Mexico, then I think a good part of it is not to fall into a pattern of structuring your social life around fellow ex-pats. Also, I'm puzzled by your remark of "void of real Latin culture in DF": perhaps you imagine it very different from what it is. Mexico City is far, far from being a copycat, wannabe Norte with only the language changed, which is perhaps what you were imagining (if I read you wrong, please explain).

[MELEE]

This brings up an interesting question.

What is Latin Culture?

As a Latinamericanist, by education and passion. I would describe Buenos Aires, as having less "Latin Culture" than Mexico City. But then by the very fact that Buenos Aires is in Latin America (as is Mexico City) then Whatever culture is produced/expressed in the city, must be Latin Culture--whether or not it meets your expectations.

[notamiss]

Here are a few concrete examples of cultural differences. Some of them are not what you might have thought of as aspects of culture until you analyze your experiences. Before I was aware that they were cultural differences I used to think they were annoyances. (Now I appreciate them.)

1) Time and hospitality. A party takes place on a particular day, period. As an example, if you arrive at a wedding reception 4 hours after it started, you will be warmly welcomed, and your hosts will bustle about cheerfully to warm up a plate and serve you. It would not occur to anyone that it was rude of you to arrive "late" (because it isn't and you're not).

2) Queuing, greeting and service. If you arrive at a counter wanting to be served, you don't wait "politely" until the clerk is finished serving the customer who was already there. You greet the clerk immediately, acknowleging his/her presence and giving the clerk a chance to acknowledge yours. (Waiting would be seen as ignoring them.) Someone else may arrive and start to give their order before you. This isn't rude either; the clerk can multitask. I'm still getting the hang of it even after so many years. Best to observe and learn from others at first.

3) Noise. "Everyone" has a dog or several dogs. Massive barking at night is normal, not considered a nuisance.
Every day has its saint, and every saint has its celebration, with brass band and fireworks. We live in a traditional part of the city and there are processions every day (affecting traffic flow) and fireworks, too, often late at night, or 6:00 in the morning or both.
(In my experience, at least) the idea of being annoyed because your neighbour is having a loud party, would be inconceivable here. If you see the lona going up and the chairs and tables being set up in the street, and the truck unloading the 3 m tall speaker tower, just check that you have your ear plugs handy for the night. Or plan on joining the party.

[Phil_K]

One for me is family. This is talked about a lot, but is very real. In England, I lived 10 minutes drive from my parents, and saw them about once a month...if that! I saw my sisters every Christmas, and they lived more or less in the same area.

My wife calls or sees her mother everyday and is always trying to organize things to do en familia. Not as bad (or good, depending on your opinion) as one couple we know. EVERY weekend, they visit one set of parents Saturday, and the other on Sunday. EVERY weekend without fail.

[corporatehuman]

If you like big cities then you should go to DF. DF is still very different than any city you've been to. That's how I feel. I've only been here for a month. It is still definitely Mexico.

That being said, I lived in Chiapas for a year, and Chiapas was much more culturally different FOR ME. But then again that was my first time in Mexico! If this is your first time in Mexico and you don't speak spanish both places I think would feel very different.

Both places are good places to learn Spanish. Less people speak English in rural areas of course, and you can always fall into the trap of hanging out with only ex-patriots or english students and as a result never learn spanish. You just have to be vigilant and take a few risks not to fall into that...

But DF is cool. Guy is right. There are all those sections. You can go to glitzy malls or you can go to hole-in-the wall taquerias. There is a Korean section and there is a Cuban section. I am in DF specifically for the 'arts' scene as that was something I missed living in the rural areas.

Melee I completely sympathize with your view of the pollution here. I'm still not sure if I'm used to it. I live right in the center of town along two huge blvds. I actually keep checking this website: http://www.sma.df.gob.mx/simat/

Sistema de Monitoreo Atmosferico SIMAT...it shows the different contaminents in the air any given day. I want to plan my day around it (like only leave when my atmospheric pressure rating says it is safe) but that hasn't worked and it would be like living in a bubble. Oh well. Enjoy your Oaxacan air.


Chris

[MO39]

[Phil_K]

I know the pollution affects different people in different ways, but I wouldn't let it put you off coming here (OP). Personally, I have never really noticed it, probably because I smoke too much .

[corporatehuman]

Phil that's my problem. I quit smoking 6 months ago. The smoking makes your lungs PREPARED so you have a cigarette in the morning they already are up and fighting the CONTAMINATION while my lungs go out there WITH nothing but innocence. Anyway I will have to take up smoking again.

Chris

[Phil_K]

HE HE! One of the two will get you in the end... I'll go for the smoking!