First things first…

Hope you had a very wonderful holiday season, and Dick and I wish for all of you a very joyful New Year!

I received an email a couple of weeks ago from someone planning to be in Mexico next year for Christmas, and they asked “Do we decorate a palm, or a Norfolk pine?”  I told them to do both.

However, this is the first time in our married life, that we didn’t put our tree up.  Since we went on a cruise and weren’t going to be home that much during December, we decided not to put it up.  Our tree usually takes me about 3 days to finish.  I’m just plain fussy about where each ornament hangs… that takes time to hang, see how it looks, and then possibly rehang an inch to the left or whatever, and that is after I “Oh!” and “Ah!” over each one that means something to me – and that’s most of them.  So, this year, no tree. 

But, about two weeks before we headed out, Dick walked into the kitchen hauling many, many boxes of “just a few things to put around the house”.  So, we did do that.  And I must say I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the decorations up every day before we left. 

Then, about one week before leaving, one of the boys said “Do you have your lights put up outside?  Do you need help?”  Now, they knew we weren’t putting any up – we thought.  But, undeterred, he continued, “It’s going to be pretty obvious you’re not at home if you don’t have your usually lights displayed”!  He was right.  So, out came the boxes of outdoor lights and up on the cactus and plants across the front of the house – and I have to admit, it did then look like Christmas. 

So, off we went on holiday, returning on the 20^th of December.  All the way home, we kept telling each other that it was just too late to bother putting a tree up – we both agreed.  But, the way we kept bringing it up on the way home, it was pretty apparent to both of us that the tree just may make it up. 

Imagine our surprise and joy when, the evening we finally got home late at night and walked in the front room,  there was a lovely – about 4 foot tree in a beautiful pot!  It was decorated brightly in lights and red sparkling ornaments!  Sons do wonderful things sometimes!!!

Now, I know that next year we will decorate the larger tree, but our new “love” tree will always take a place of honor – you can bet on that!

Right now, the house is ready for company to help us bring the new year in. Everyone is bringing in a dish – we’re doing Coney Dogs –  what we call hot dogs with chili – complete with shredded cheese, onions, relish and everything else you can possibly pile on a hot dog bun.  And we have the mandatory candy and salty stuff and lots to wash the food down with.   All the Christmas decorations have been stored away waiting quietly for next holiday season … but our little tree is sitting proudly in our entry way…still is shining brightly… and will probably be there for quite a while to come!

Wishing you all the best for the New Year!  Barbie, Dick and Griffy

Xmas Tree Article by Barbie

Mexico borders our country…

…it is a foreign country with it’s own laws and customs, so you do want to be well prepared.

I have included here, a picture of the Bull Fighting Ring in Mazatlan, Mexico.

I will probably never see the inside of this facility. Completely against my perception of entertainment.   However – remember that Mexico is a different country, with different traditions and different customs than we are familiar with. While you may never want to see this spectacle either, you should respect the long years of tradition that makes this an important event to many Mexicans, when you are in their country.  

What may be perfectly acceptable actions in the states could offend someone in Mexico and visa versa.

Bull fighting arena

You’ll find the people of Mexico to be very conscious of everyday manners, both in their actions and their speech. How refreshing!

• Mexicans tend to be more conservative than Americans – this goes for dress, especially in the more Provencal areas of Mexico.

• When having a conversation with a resident of Mexico, you will find they tend to be more comfortable to stand closer together that we are used to – they don’t seem to fear “someone getting in their space” as seems to be the way in America.

• DO NOT use the old O.K. sign – making  the hole with the thumb and index finger – that’s a vulgarity in Mexico and you will offend most people!

• A handshake is acceptable and a back slap. Hugs are usually for friends, but can also be used in business situations. In some instances a kiss on each cheek is appropriate. I’d let the other person initiate that.

You may find that Mexico is, unfortunately, a bit race-conscious. This apparently originates from the fact that the conquering Spanish (light-skins) basically enslaved the indigenous (dark-skinned) peoples. Ergo, for some Mexicans, the concept remains that white is rich and powerful and dark is lower-class. It’s amazing that such ideas still exist in this day and age.   Today, with about ten percent of the population being white, 60% mixed and 30% indigenous, race consciousness sadly persists.

Americans, visiting Mexico for the first time, may be to see the high percentage of darker skinned individuals, rather than the white skinned Hispanics they have become accustomed to seeing in advertisements and on TV.

I believe the easiest way to deal with unwanted attention is simply to ignore it. Being not only light-skinned, but if your appearance proclaims that you are apparently not from Mexico, you may be called a gringo or a guera – there is usually no offence meant, it’s simply a description of what you are.

Gringo – There are many opinions of the derivation of this word – one is that the song “Green grow the lilacs, all sparkling with dew…” was popular during the Mexican/American War in the 1800’s. The Mexicans heard the song so often that “green grow” eventually became gringo for Americans …it’s a possibility.

Anyway, now Gringo is used for anyone with Caucasian features basically. It takes a certain kind of person to live outside the U.S.  If you plan to live in Mexico and enjoy it, you should immerse yourself somewhat in the customs and culture of the country.

In this article I hope I have basically introduced some everyday behavior, appropriate for us Gringos in Mexico:

• Be polite to everyone.

•Don’t assume just because someone doesn’t have a formal education they are not as smart as someone who does.

•Treat others as you would want to be treated!

Mexico / customs article by Barbie.