I´m a bit sad. I think my honeymoon period has ended. (Not with my boyfriend, thank god!) I mean my cultural honeymoon in Mexico has ended. I look around and get annoyed. I have started cussing at Mexicans in my head. They just piss me off all the time now. The country frustrates me. Daily.
I hate the stupid valet parkers. I hate the cleaning people who spend endless hours talking when they should be working. I hate the stupid Telcel dudes in their cheap blue suits who smirk at me when we pass on the sidewalk. I hate the honking horns and drivers who dont let me walk past. I also hate the smarmy men who purposefully let me walk past their cars so they can whistle at me. I hate rich Mexican men that think they are god´s gift to the world. And I hate rich Mexican women who look at me like they want to smash me with their platform heels and swat me over the head with their humongous LV bags. I hate all the people trying to sell me crap in the street. I dont want your cell phone case nor your gum nor your plants nor your tarot card reading!
Pretty Mexican Street? No, I hate cobblestones.
Maybe, just maybe, I hate my neighborhood. How is it possible to live in what most consider to be the “nicest neighborhood” in the city and just feel spite inside? Would I still enjoy Mexico if I lived in a more humilde, more relaxed and quiet neighborhood? Would I like Mexico more if I had to commute to a different neighborhood?
Or, perhaps it is not the neighborhood. Perhaps it is just the country. Am I just ending the blinded-by-joy feeling of first arriving somewhere and discovering all the new, different and lovely secrets of a new culture? Is this normal? Is it possible to find the love again? Or should Mexico and I break up? I cant decide. Please help.
Maybe I should start going to church?
September 25, 2009 at 3:38 pm
…um, my gringa blogger, I don’t suppose this “honeymoon ending” has anything to do with a Mexiucan man, does it? All my gringa friends who once had Mexican boyfriends are going through this, too..!
September 27, 2009 at 11:33 am
Good guess, but no, it has nothing to do with a Mexican man … I made that mistake during round 1 in Mexico! I´m very happily in love with my European man!
September 25, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I hear ya. However, try living in Santa Fe. I wish I had had a honeymoon period. I have been frustrated as all get out since day one at the airport. I am hoping that after I have exhausted all my rage I will find this place charming. Good luck to you! I hope tomorrow is better.
September 25, 2009 at 5:15 pm
I lived in DF (Polanco, mainly) from 1955 to 1967, with time off for good behavior. Mexico City was an easier place then, little traffic, maybe 3 0r 4 million people. Still, most Americans living there eventually hit the same wall you have. In my case, a week or two in the states would mend my mind, make me focus on the good Mexico stuff again.
September 26, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I guess I´ve been reached by the same desiase! Fortunatly, I have grate expats friends to help!
September 30, 2009 at 8:23 am
I’m Mexican and I hate the same things that you do. Many Mexicans feel the same actually, many of us feel frustrated of the lack of civic education, the corruption, the crime, the government complete lack of ability or will to solve problems, the poverty, etc, etc, etc.
Anyway, believe it or not, we have improved -slowly- as a nation. Maybe one of the reason of all our current problems as a nation is that we are a “kind” of new race, as opposed to what happened with the US where most of the natives were killed or “apartheided”, in Mexico the Spanish and Indians started a complete new race, with huge contradictions -that you can see everywhere-, I suppose that explains a little bit why we are the way we are.
Thanks for writing about Mexico,
Fernando
October 4, 2009 at 7:32 pm
oh doll. disenchantment comes with the territory, no matter where you live. i am still trying to discover the charm of phoenix, and i wish it would happen already. at least you loved mexico for years and years! better to have loved and lost, yes?
October 4, 2009 at 11:44 pm
The racism most capitalinos have towards the rest of their countrymen(mostly the south) and of course towards the chilangos always surprised me.Many of them blame the chilango for the problems that the city has.
November 8, 2009 at 9:47 am
I lived in Mexico for a year and a half (returned to the US two years ago) and will most likely be moving back for a few months in the New Year before starting my masters (in the US). Anyhow, I went through about 6 months of almost manic happiness when I first arrived, which was followed by about 3 months of a more subtle contentment. After that my wrath for Mexico was super fuerte for nearly 6 months. I had moved from Mexico City (which I loved) to Puebla (which is a more difficult place to meet cool people), so that was part of it. I think a 2 week trip to the U.S. would help. I now miss Mexico and romanticize it constantly from afar.