The Dark Side of Yucatan
At the insistence of some of our more pragmatic readers, we've been working on an editorial we were going to call, "The Dark Side of Yucatan". We thought it might offer some balance to our Merida Moments article. But the truth is, we've given up. We just can't think of any useful and original negative observations.
Many others have written about conditions in Mexico that they find unpleasant. It seems there are whole websites devoted to the subject, and the major media certainly seems fond of reporting bad news about this country. Their list of criticisms ranges from the ridiculous to the profound, including: loud music, crazy drivers, lazy or careless workers, crime, poverty, trash in the streets, poor treatment of animals, unemployment, drug wars, corrupt govenment and abusive law enforcement.
The list of complaints is as long as you want to make it.
But upon reflection, it seems to us that everything "wrong" with Mexico can be observed to some degree in almost every country. We've witnessed some pretty wretched examples in the United States. In fact, Mexico's problems have been stereotyped for so long that people from Gringolandia tend to overlook many of the things we've come to appreciate about our adopted home, the things we do write about.
After living here for several years, we've concluded that much of the "mess" in Mexico - the inconvenience and disorganization - is simply a symptom of liberty, something that far too many "developed countries" seem ever more willing to sacrifice so that their "trains run on time". Comfort, convenience and security are awfully nice, but we prefer free expression, healthy struggle and frequent visits from the unexpected.
Apart from Mexico, Yucatan does have its own special problems, like the vestiges of a caste system that tend to isolate various groups and hinder social change, but this subject is very political, and there are better people than us addressing it.
We have written about many of the challenges of living in Yucatan, including the heat and humidity, Moctezuma's Revenge, insects, the language barrier, stray dogs and city traffic, but we try to approach these subjects in a way that is useful to potential expatriates, not as reporters trying to sell papers.
Most of the items on our unpublished "Dark Side" list are about growing pains. The indigenous Maya, the working-class Yucatecos and the casta divina are all enduring swift changes brought about by the accelerating invasion of the modern world. Meanwhile, retired expatriates are experiencing consternation as younger (and wealthier) gringos move in. It's seldom easy to accept or appreciate change, especially in a place with a history like Yucatan's. Not all of the changes that modernity brings are for the better, either. We are seeing that here first-hand.
The purpose of Yucatan Living is to provide information that is helpful, honest and (hopefully) entertaining about living here. On a practical level, we are trying to make it easier for people to choose Yucatan as their new home. We also believe that if people have the imagination, inspiration and courage to escape situations that do not truly serve them, then something quite meaningful has been achieved. We're big fans of Reality, both dark and light. And we're big fans of liberty. It takes a special talent to write about the dark in an original and useful way, but when it comes to this website and its subject matter, we are exercising our freedom to write about the light.
Comments
clemente escobedo 18 years ago
Good job keep the good vibes going
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Grant 18 years ago
Carlos Daniel Gallegos makes a bunch of interesting points. Being an economic conservative, I used to think we should just open the border, but later I began to realize that however good this would be for people economically, it would be unfair to those who had paid taxes to build up all the public infrastructure in the US, and the cultural damage a large influx of non-assimilating immigrants would do. I still think everyone would be better off to have a free flow of capital and labor across the border, but we need to get there slowly and respectfully. It would help if more gringos spent time living and working in Mexico. If the EU can do it, with all of their bad history, surely we can as well.
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San 18 years ago
Johnny come lately here - I just returned from a visit to Merida. Was impressed by sweepers on sidewalks, clean city, workers at daughter's building site and elsewhere so hard-working and industrious. People kind and welcoming. Happy to find "them and us" attitude prevalent in USA missing. Share inability to find "Dark Side". I have to admit I enjoyed putting paper in the "John" back at the airport, but not worth the trade. (-:
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Carlos Daniel Gallegos 18 years ago
I appreciate the opportunity to have lived in Merida. It made me appreciate the easy Social System that the US and Texas has. My wife, Working Yucateca, does not sugar coat life in Merida. She is quick to point out the hardships experience by those in poverty and the lower middle class. Texas has the ADA for the disabled, Public housing, Food stamps, and Medicare. I made the mistake of comparing Merida to my home here in Texas, and was asked to come back where life is easy. Conservative Radio is quick to point out, if life in Mexico is so wonderful, why the large migration or exodus to the USA? Why not change Mexico for the better inside the nation? Right now Ilegal Immigration is a big topic in the USA. (google Farmers Branch Texas) And you will see. Things are changing for the better, but slowly in Mexico. I miss the slow pace life of Merida. Just my view points expressed.
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CasiYucateco 18 years ago
I love the positive outlook in Yucatan Living, as well as the frankness of the authors/owners of the site. For example, they were quite open with all of us about their home construction troubles.
But, home construction troubles happen everywhere. A neighbor's 60 day addition to his house turned into a year - in the USA. Traffic is a problem everywhere. Insects? Ditto. Weather that isn't perfect? Ditto.
"Not the News" is a great source of information and mostly amusement for me too. Even the very most positive people in the world need to throw a little tantrum or rant away about something just to blow off steam. I've chuckled over many "Not the News" articles, thinking, "There, but for the grace of god, go I."
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Grant 18 years ago
Why would one choose to live in the Yucatan if what one wants is to live in the US? (Of course one can ask the converse of all the hispanic activists trying to make the US like Mexico, but that's another discussion.) The Yucatan is interesting precisely because it isn't the US, yet one occasionally meets those (not many, thankfully) whose fondest wish is for the natives to learn English and fix those rotten sidewalks.
Not to be confused with such persons is William Lawson, whose Not The News was the only Merida gringo website for many years ago. Partly because of his candid observations about "the Formerly White City," I became interested and ultimately bought a house in Merida. He's still going strong these many years later. Highly recommended reading.
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YucaGringo 18 years ago
Anyone that has been around Merida or Yucatecos, for any length of time, will develop a "positive attitude" and a different perspective of "life". Yucatecos, as a whole, are happy people. Their happiness is not based on their "social status". They have no concept of time. That's a little flustrating for some, but it is one of the things that I miss the most. I miss the laid back and slower pace of "life". Most of us, in Gringoland, don't take time to "smell the roses".
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carol 18 years ago
I have lived in both Mexico and the U.S. for many years, and I have decided that there is no way to compare nor contrast these 2 countries. Both have their bad and good, and we all would live alot happier lives if we choose to look at the good wherever we are. Hope to retire in Merida- love Mexicans- I married one!!
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joshua 18 years ago
I am moving to Merida with my young family July 01 this year, we are very excited. We have used your website to calm the nerves of our relatives here in Canada several times, each time another over hyped news report graces the Canadian public. Thanks again for the invaluable resource you have provided here.
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Jan 18 years ago
Yeah, your insight is refreshing and always appreciated. There is so much more to appreciate here than complain about...the only dark side I want to see is the occasional dark sky that promises rain....
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Michael 18 years ago
I'm a firm believer that there are many "realities" to any situation. Thank you for choosing the positive side.
Certainly we should share information to protect ourselves (like the gas stations that cheat you), but that doesn't need to cast a black cloud over the wonderful Mexico experience.
I live in Houston and have spent a lot of energy getting mad at bad drivers and slow, disorganized lines in the stores. After spending time in Merida, I saw that the situation was not much different. Now it doesn't bother me at all.
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