These last couple of weeks have been crazy! I've been trying to get together the wedding pictures and they are almost complete. I will put up a gallery soon.
I put together this list of dos and donts in Mexico. I enjoyed putting it together, I hope you enjoy reading it.
Don't:
· Don't Drink the Water!!! (ok I had to get this one out) Although some gringos are really paranoid about this, the water system is improving and you don't have to go to the extreme of closing your mouth in the shower. I have brushed my teeth with tab water and have not died. But in general the water they have told me that the water is filled with a lot of extra minerals which isn't good for you. Just don't go chugging it.
· Don't eat street food. If anything will get you sicker faster, it is this. I have never had a successful street food stand experience that hasn't put me on the toilet for two weeks. The hard thing about this is street food is amazing! and cheap. But don't succumb!
· Don't assume pedestrians get the right away while crossing the street or assume Mexican traffic laws are mandatory. The rule of the road is the bigger object wins. For all my engineers out there, F=MA. The bigger the M, the more screwed you are. Simple physics.
· Don't freak out when you see a bloody pig head hanging in the local market. Very common. umm, in fact, if you get queasy easily, just avoid the market altogether…
· Don't be afraid to go to the doctor if you get sick. $10 is the bill and $10 is the medicine and you'll feel better in 3 hours. No insurances necessary, it's great.
· Don't give up money change if you don't have to. Change is so rare here I don't know why, because everything requires change. If you have been given a $500 (50 USD), forget about ever using! I have seriously had taxi drivers charge me less because I didn't have the correct change and they didn't want to break a $100 (10 USD).
· Speaking of Taxi drivers, don't start screaming at your taxi driver because he just ran a red light or starts driving down a one way. You won't die, I promise, just think of it as the newest rollercoaster at King's Island…
· Don't rush anywhere. Relax! Take your time. You're in Mexico! Just pretend you are on a beach in a lawn chair with a Pina Colada and then you'll begin to see the life in the eyes of a Mexican.
Do:
• Take the international bus system. I'm telling you, you can get anywhere in Mexico for under $40 in the most comfortable seats. Half price if you are a student. They usually show really horrible B movies along the way if you're into that. But the Mexican countryside is beautiful. Way cool
• Expect a TON of fiestas. I have been to a fiesta every week I have been here. I kid you not. They often last until 4 in the morning. I'm a woose and can't stay up that late, but there is always good food and tequila.
• Bring ear plugs. Like I said fiestas until 4 in the morning? Yeah, it never fails that they are your neighbors playing Ricky Martin, Shake Your Bon Bon at hours in the morning only roosters and borrachos know about.
• Fake that you are Mexican. Ok, maybe not if your white with blond hair, but I laugh whenever I tell people that I was born in Mexico, their whole tone of voice changes as they smile and give me a wink that says, "welcome to the club". It's like telling people you're a Bengal's fan in Cincinnati…well kinda…
• Do talk in Spanish. I think it's very rude assuming everyone speaks English.
• Do go to a Mexican wedding, it's a riot!!
• Do get your shoes shined at a vendor downtown. One of the best experiences of my life. Felt like a new man. Don't judge me until you try it.
• Do try to befriend the Mexicans. Mexicans are normally very friendly, but I find it a challenge--you've gotta "break them". They are weary of foreigners but like I said, once you are in you are in. Caution: there are some who won't just like you. Don't take it personally, just move on.
• Try new foods. If you have never eaten every last morsel of the cow from butt to brains you are missing out!! Not because it is tasty, most of it is the grossest thing you'll ever try. But come on! To come back to the states and say you had cow stomach soup and lived to tell about it? What better way to make new friends standing in line waiting for burritos at Chipotle… "Can I tell you about the time I ate cow brains in Mexico?...." Great conversation starter.
I put together this list of dos and donts in Mexico. I enjoyed putting it together, I hope you enjoy reading it.
Don't:
· Don't Drink the Water!!! (ok I had to get this one out) Although some gringos are really paranoid about this, the water system is improving and you don't have to go to the extreme of closing your mouth in the shower. I have brushed my teeth with tab water and have not died. But in general the water they have told me that the water is filled with a lot of extra minerals which isn't good for you. Just don't go chugging it.
· Don't eat street food. If anything will get you sicker faster, it is this. I have never had a successful street food stand experience that hasn't put me on the toilet for two weeks. The hard thing about this is street food is amazing! and cheap. But don't succumb!
· Don't assume pedestrians get the right away while crossing the street or assume Mexican traffic laws are mandatory. The rule of the road is the bigger object wins. For all my engineers out there, F=MA. The bigger the M, the more screwed you are. Simple physics.
· Don't freak out when you see a bloody pig head hanging in the local market. Very common. umm, in fact, if you get queasy easily, just avoid the market altogether…
· Don't be afraid to go to the doctor if you get sick. $10 is the bill and $10 is the medicine and you'll feel better in 3 hours. No insurances necessary, it's great.
· Don't give up money change if you don't have to. Change is so rare here I don't know why, because everything requires change. If you have been given a $500 (50 USD), forget about ever using! I have seriously had taxi drivers charge me less because I didn't have the correct change and they didn't want to break a $100 (10 USD).
· Speaking of Taxi drivers, don't start screaming at your taxi driver because he just ran a red light or starts driving down a one way. You won't die, I promise, just think of it as the newest rollercoaster at King's Island…
· Don't rush anywhere. Relax! Take your time. You're in Mexico! Just pretend you are on a beach in a lawn chair with a Pina Colada and then you'll begin to see the life in the eyes of a Mexican.
Do:
• Take the international bus system. I'm telling you, you can get anywhere in Mexico for under $40 in the most comfortable seats. Half price if you are a student. They usually show really horrible B movies along the way if you're into that. But the Mexican countryside is beautiful. Way cool
• Expect a TON of fiestas. I have been to a fiesta every week I have been here. I kid you not. They often last until 4 in the morning. I'm a woose and can't stay up that late, but there is always good food and tequila.
• Bring ear plugs. Like I said fiestas until 4 in the morning? Yeah, it never fails that they are your neighbors playing Ricky Martin, Shake Your Bon Bon at hours in the morning only roosters and borrachos know about.
• Fake that you are Mexican. Ok, maybe not if your white with blond hair, but I laugh whenever I tell people that I was born in Mexico, their whole tone of voice changes as they smile and give me a wink that says, "welcome to the club". It's like telling people you're a Bengal's fan in Cincinnati…well kinda…
• Do talk in Spanish. I think it's very rude assuming everyone speaks English.
• Do go to a Mexican wedding, it's a riot!!
• Do get your shoes shined at a vendor downtown. One of the best experiences of my life. Felt like a new man. Don't judge me until you try it.
• Do try to befriend the Mexicans. Mexicans are normally very friendly, but I find it a challenge--you've gotta "break them". They are weary of foreigners but like I said, once you are in you are in. Caution: there are some who won't just like you. Don't take it personally, just move on.
• Try new foods. If you have never eaten every last morsel of the cow from butt to brains you are missing out!! Not because it is tasty, most of it is the grossest thing you'll ever try. But come on! To come back to the states and say you had cow stomach soup and lived to tell about it? What better way to make new friends standing in line waiting for burritos at Chipotle… "Can I tell you about the time I ate cow brains in Mexico?...." Great conversation starter.
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