Hello! My name is Vinicius Covas, I am Brazilian and I had the opportunity to live in Mexico during 2013. I confess that the country surprised me in several ways. As a journalism student, I always had my mind attentive to collect insights, and here, I gather them 100 of them:
1. Mexico is bigger than what I thought it would be, and it’s even bigger than Mexico itself realizes.
2. Mexico is not just sombreros, chilli, and mariachi music.
3. Mexico is hot, cold, too hot, and too cold. Generally, all of the above in the same day.
4. Mexico DF has two cities: one above the ground, and one beneath it with an incredible subway system.
5. The city beneath the ground has less traffic than the one above it.
6. I don’t know which is worse in Mexico: the drug traffic or the car traffic.
7. Mexico has one of the cheapest subways of the world. But if the fare is raised by just 2 pesos, “chilangos” (mexico city inhabitants) will jump the turnstiles.
8. The Mexican subway is like a shopping center on rails. Almost always an “antro” (nightclub) with mobile DJs.
9. Transportation by railroad and the mexican BRT work pretty well. You can travel all around the capital using the subway. I don’t know why there are so many cars in the streets.
10. Mexico is the country with the highest level of pollution in the American continent.
11 “Ahorita” is the diminutive of “ahora” (now), but it usually means “in a little while”.
12. Actually, you would use “ahorita” for anything.
13. “Wey” (or “güey”) is a mandatory greeting. But there are some rules: a woman can call a man “wey”. A man can call another man “wey”. A woman can call a man “wey”. But a man shall never call a woman “wey”. It is in the Mexican constitution.
14. “Qué onda, wey?” is the Mexican “Whats up, dude?”
15. “Muy padre” (lots of dad) is not a comment on there being too many priests in a church. Rather, “Muy padre” means something like “cool”. “Poca madre” (a little of mother) also means “cool”. In summary: Dad is lots and mom is a little. Machismo perhaps?
16. In Mexico everything is “muy padre!”
17. “Híjole!” (son-ish!, Yikes!) Never try to understand Mexican slang, wey. “Aguas!” (waters!, watch out!), for one, with its double meaning. “Ándale!” (go on!) confusingly does not mean, “Go walk away”. Neither is “órale!” (pray!, wow!) an exhortation to get you praying.
18. If you are Mexican, but were not born in Mexico city, you are provincial. In other words, you are in a category even below “gringo”.
19. If you live in Mexico City, you are a “chilango” and one of the around 20 million of inhabitants of the city.
20. The Mexican will fight tooth and nail for the city where his accent comes from.
21. In Mexico there must be 365 types of food. One for each day of the year. Every day, you discover a new type of food.
22. In Mexico, every food has a first name, a last name, a zip code, and a story.
23. In Mexico you put a lime on top of almost everything.
24. In Mexico almost everything is eaten with corn.
25. In Mexico almost everything is eaten with chilli.
26. In Mexico you eat almost everything.
27. In Mexico almost all the restaurant tables have bowls of chilli sitting on them.
28. Never ask a Mexican if a chilli is spicy. Even if he says it isn’t, it will be.
29. In Mexico tacos have a last name. Tacos “al pastor” (shepherd tacos), tacos “dorados” (crispy tacos), tacos “de barbacoa” (not bbq, but slow-cooked sheep tacos), “de flauta” (flute tacos), “de parrilla” (grilled tacos)…
30. In Mexico saying that burritos are a traditional dish is almost a crime. Even if it is, in fact, a dish with Mexican origins. They say it is Tex-Mex… (although in the north of Mexico they claim they truly are a Mexican creation (I don’t know anything anymore…).
31. In Mexico water comes in flavors. There is water flavored with chocolate, barley, pineapple, root, watermelon, cane, orange, strawberry, rice… and even water.
32. In Mexico breakfast is sacred. Actually, it is the first meal of the day. Filled corn dough, atole, quesadillas, pozole, chilaquiles, molletes, hotcakes…
33. For the Mexican there is God in heaven and tacos on earth.
34. In Mexico you can get fat just by breathing in the grease from all the tacos, gorditas and quesadillas.
35. In Mexico, tacos are eaten with your hands. They are also made by hand. But the one who makes them will not touch the money.
36. Anyway, it’s better not to know how street tacos are made. “Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente!” (Eyes that don’t see, heart that doesn’t feel!).
37. In Mexico if you make an appointment with somebody for 12pm, it means it is at 1pm. Or later.
38. Not for nothing the main TV station has 3 channels: one that plays the currently scheduled show, another that plays the shows with an hour delay, and yet another that plays the shows with a two hour delay.
39. In Mexico, you tip for everything. In the restrooms, while you wash your hands, someone will give you a paper towel to dry them. It is not just kindness; it's an innovative way to ask for tip.
40. In Mexico you might want to go out with some change in your pocket. Someone is bound to ask for it. (It’s the same in Brazil.)
41. In Mexico you never actually pay what the supermarket cash register rings up. The price will always be rounded up.
42. And if the cashier does not offer to sell you credit for your cell phone, you will get cell phone credit for free.
43. In Mexico supermarkets have a big fight declared through advertising. You either go to the “super” or to “la comer”. “En el super, cuesta menos” (“In the super you pay less”).
44. In Mexico the bus fare varies depending on your destination, by distance. Up to 5 km there is a certain price; longer than that costs more.
45. In Mexico it is common to see wealth and poverty side by side. When they are next to each other, the poor is the rich man’s employee.
46. Los mexicanos creen poco en el México. Pero tienen un gran orgullo por ser mexicanos. Además de todo.
Mexicans don’t have much faith in Mexico. However, they are really proud of being Mexicans.
47. The Mexican is proud of Mexico’s history and takes every measure not to forget the heroes of the past.
48. Foreigners like Mexico a lot.
49. San Miguel de Allende was voted the best city in the world; ironically, the city has more foreigners than Mexicans.
50. Not all Mexicans go to the United States illegally, crossing the border to seek opportunity. In Mexico there are also opportunities as well as legal means to travel to the neighboring country.
I'll write more facts of Mexico on my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/viniciuscovascom
51. The second city with the highest number of Mexicans is not a Mexican city. It is L.A.
52. Actually, nowadays, many big American cities used to belong to Mexico. What an irony!
53. In Mexico it is not compulsory to vote, but with 500 pesos they can make it happen.
54. The current Mexican president was elected without people actually electing him. That’s how it seems…
55. In Mexico there is a union called CTE. I’d rather not comment on it… (I don’t quite know if it is CNTE or SNTE).
56. Mexican teachers don’t like to be evaluated. When that happens, they get out of schools and go to the streets to evaluate the government. (Admittedly, I don’t know a lot about this subject. I apologize to the teachers if I am mistaken. Excuse me.).
57. Mexico has one of the richest men on earth while 45.5% of the population lives in poverty.
58. Carlos Slim earns 27 million of dollars a day. The minimum wage of the Mexican is 64 pesos a day. A single Mexican (Carlos Slim) earns the minimum wage of 4,756,000 Mexicans.
59. However, Carlos Slim has built the Soumaya Museum, named after his wife. Everything original.
60. Mexico is one of the richest countries when it comes to natural resources. Valuable metals, oil, gold, copper, silver, natural gas… I don’t get why it is considered poor.
61. Mexico does not forget the heroes of its history.
62. Mexico is the country of many civilizations. Totonaca, maya, tolteca, olmeca, azteca…
63. The text on the t-shirt you buy in Cancun will be in English.
64. In Cancun, while the Mexican works the foreigner has fun.
65. Playa del Carmen is better than Cancun.
66. In the Mexican Caribbean, there is sun every day of the year.
67. Mexico will never die due to a lack of tourism.
68. In Cancun, the things have two prices: one for foreigners and another for Mexicans.
69. In Mexico men greet each other with one handshake, then a hug, and then another handshake.
70. In Mexico soap operas are all about drama.
71. The Mexican is friendly.
72. In Mexico the same word could be written in two forms: the original formal way and by adding the “ito” suffix. The last represents the diminutive form, but is used for almost anything.
73. A Mexican Christmas without a piñata is not Christmas.
74. If the national football team wins, it is the best of the world. If it loses, it is the country’s shame.
75. The covers of some Mexican newspapers have a naked woman on one side and a dead person on the other.
76. Some Mexican politicians spend more money on campaigning than they do on investing for the government of the people.
77. In Mexico not even grandmas like the Nieto (grandson, last name of the mexican president).
78. Before catching a cab in Mexico, see if the driver has placed his licence in the window.
79. The Day of the Dead in Mexico is one of the strongest traditions I've seen in my life. They prepare food that the deceased liked and it is eaten “with him" by his grave. Music is played and his death is "celebrated." The vaults are beautifully decorated. It's exciting.
80. Actually, in Mexico no one dies.
81. The Mexican is in love with tequila, but mezcal is the lover.
82. In Mexico 3 things are sacred: mom, the Mexican flag, and the Virgin of Guadalupe.
83. In Mexico there are two kinds of people: “buena onda” (good vibe) and “mala onda” (bad vibe).
84. Professional wrestling (“lucha libre”, free wrestling) is a big lie, but it's the funniest lie you've been told. Muy padre!
85. The other type of wrestling is the wrestling of Mexicans, which is almost always not really free, and is to combat the lie (of the government).
86. Speaking of lies, the Mexican 28th of December is a complicated day. I’m lying, it is not. Bullshit, it is.
87. Mexico has a reputation for being dangerous. Shame! There are so many good things in the country that should be better known.
88. In fact, Mexico does have its dangerous side. That side is on the front cover of some sensationalist tabloids.
89. In Mexico music plays an extremely important role. Even if it is getting lost among the young, there is a movement to keep Mexican traditional music alive.
90. It is worth traveling to other parts of the country to learn more about Mexican culture.
91. The Chapultepec city park, with its 747 green hectares, breathes for the whole gray Mexico City. For now…
92. Mexico has a problem with water and air pollution. The country needs the help of Captain Planet.
93. In Mexico it’s forbidden to take alcoholic beverages on public roads. Out of the public tract, nothing is forbidden. Not even beer with tequila, coffee, salt, lime and chili. They like it.
94. The Mexican national football team is the “America” team with a green uniform. Even the head coach. I think the team in the yellow uniform (America) would beat the one in the green uniform.
* ”America” being the name of a professional football club based in Mexico City.
95. In all parts of Mexico you will find a Sanborn’s (restaurant) and an OXXO (convenience store).
96. Mexico is always portrayed in Hollywood movies as the country of drugs and cartels. I don’t know how the Mexican government still allows that. Might have spoken well, or badly, but at least I spoke for myself??
97. In Mexico it’s very easy to travel in time. In some cities you live in past centuries and in others you live in the future.
98. In truth, the notion of time in Mexico also changes a lot. I have no doubt that in the small villages of the country the day has more than 24 hours.
99. Mexico is the country of those who still have dreams.
100. One thought about Vinicius Covas: he is charmed by Mexico.
Thanks for the translation Cynthia Alexander and Dewi Harjanto
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