TRAVEL. MEXICO

5 Things to Expect from your Mexican Friends That Will Make You Feel Uncomfortable

Are you thinking about someone at this moment? If not: — Hi, this is Gladys and I am your Mexican friend now. You can continue reading.

A variety of experiences listened from my international friends about their Mexican gang made me want to write about what to expect from us, Mexicans.

I have found that some of our attitudes may be too much; almost overwhelming; to some cultures with different cores and values.

For these 5 things to expect from your Mexican friends, I’ll try to go deeper and explain the background behind our annoying attitudes, such as being unpunctual. — hehe.

That’s why unpunctuality is the first remarkable thing that will make you feel uncomfortable from your Mexican friends.

1. Expect unpunctuality

This is not a stereotype, it is actually the truth. Although of course there are exceptions from very punctual people.

If you invite your Mexican friend to a party at 8 pm. Expect them to arrive by 9 or 9:30. Sometimes we do it on purpose.

Why? We usually don’t like being the first who arrive at the party. We want to avoid the awkward moment of being all on our own.

There’s no better description but this Pulp Fiction scene.

Instead, we enjoy arriving when the party mood is already on point.

Although for some other instances, yes we tend to not be great planners so we arrive in retard. I apologize for that.

2. Expect big family parties

Mexicans are very proud of their culture and a Mexican family party is a perfect event to share with you guys; our international friends.

At a Mexican family party, you can feel the real taste of Mexican food. Can truly get to know the Mexican humour. And you will be able to experience the warmness of a Mexican family as if it was yours.

If you get to be invited to your Mexican family's friend; expect to say — Hola, cómo estás, to at least a dozen people. At least.

Everybody will surely ask you something about your country. How to say this or that in your language or how is the weather up there.

This leads me to the next point.

3. Expect to be in the spotlight

I know how annoying and intimidating this could be.

Mexican people are always curious about whoever comes from abroad. We enjoy getting to know other places by people’s tales.

You will be the star of the night. People will be curious to hear a different accent, discovering new slang, and comparing different gestures and their meanings.

We are really interested in learning from you and your culture. We aim not to be rude to put you in the spotlight and make you be the center of attention.

It happens the same when we meet someone from a different region in Mexico.

4. Expect close proximity from strangers

Proximity and invasion of personal space boundaries are some of the main characteristics of Mexican culture.

This will surely depend on every people’s character, the scenario, and the familiarity. Here is what to expect from greetings and goodbyes.

a) You just shake hands. This is basically for very formal scenarios.

When your friend introduces you to their friends and family don’t expect them to extend their hand and shake them.

• Why?

Because introducing international to local friends is always a good idea. If you are a friend of a friend of mine, it makes you a referred person who will potentially be my friend too.

This makes you a trustable one to skip the formal procedures.

Instead, expect the rest of this list.

b) The Mexican’s lips seek your cheek.

Some cultures give two or three kisses. Take note that in Mexico, one kiss is enough.

Be careful. If you forget it you may be giving a peck kiss instead!!! — Unless that’s your real aim.

Actually, you can just high-five with your cheeks if you don’t feel like giving a proper kiss on unknown people’s cheek.

c) The Mexican pulls you to their lap

If you shake hands it will probably happen that the Mexican will pull you to their lap followed by a few patting in the back.

Between men, they could be quite rude. What was supposed to be a warm patting seems more like a drowning resuscitation.

If this ever happens to you, they are not trying to make you feel uncomfortable, they are very excited and happy to see you.

d) X.O.X.O Style

Expect a straight warm hug, patting in the back, and a kiss on the cheek if it’s the second or third time you see a person.

We usually do this more between family. If your Mexican friend feels the confidence to do this with you, consider yourself as a close friend, almost like a family member.

Note: You can always get to know your boundaries if none of these work for you. We will always want to make you feel comfortable and appreciated.

Although because we have been doing these forever, don’t take it personally if sometimes we miss it out. We just need to learn it on the way.

5. Expect them to stuff you with food

YES, we love food and we are proud of it.

I wrote about my experience when I shared a Mexican dish with my foreign friends in France. You can read it here.

Stuffing our loved ones with food is more of a traditional thing. We were taught that offering food is a way of saying I love you.

When we were kids our grammas would stuff us with their delicious food. We weren’t allowed to say NO and we may have eaten it all.

If you get invited to a Mexican gathering expect to find there a lot of food. Your friends would expect you to try out every dish, and moreover that you enjoy them all!

My best advice is to eat small portions to be able to try all dishes.

Depending on your food restrictions and spice tolerance, your friends would enjoy adapting their flavours for you.

Even though you have said you are already full, your friends will insist you eat more. Either for trying out a new dish or offering you more of your favourite dish of the night.

They are not trying to make you uncomfortable or make you feel under pressure to eat more than you can.

On the contrary, we may insist because we want you to feel satisfied and full enough. — So, really don’t be shy about saying YES to 15 tacos if you feel like you are still hungry. We’ll be so pleased to know that you are enjoying our food!

Final Thoughts:

I wonder who did you think about the whole time while reading?

Although Mexican culture is as wide as the country, I tried to gather common concerns about Mexican attitudes that could be annoying in other culture’s cores and values.

I am pretty sure if you share this with your Mexican gang, they will pretty much agree.

If not, they will be mostly lying to you; just joking. Share with them and let’s see.

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