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Most of the items on our unpublished “Dark Side” list are about growing pains.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.
But wait! For a refreshing dose of the dark, try these popular websites:
- Merida Insider - The first and only forum for local expatriates
- Not The News - original perspectives from El Maloso
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exellent, also - ha!
good for you guys!!!
Very good! I congratulate you on your very sensible perspective. I live in the USA and here negative stereotypes about Mexico are becoming even more negative. You live there and you are better qualified than most occasional reporters to offer a realistic account of life there. I do wish Mexico success in its present battle agaisnt the narco violent forces. A real desestabilizing influence. Hope the US will sincerely help with some good inteligence work. The more stable Mexico is, the better for all of us.
wow…. I’m laughing on so many different levels… I can say nothing more.
Thanks!
For those of us old enough to remember JFK - Do you remember the concept of Camelot? Isn’t that all any of us really wants in a place to live? …for it to care and for it to try? That’s why we live in Yucatan. We admit its sometimes “inconvenient” … but you have to laugh - because it’s never malicious or malignant. Everyone here knows Yucatan isn’t Utopia - but there’s no better place to live, not in all the world that I know of.
I liked this article a lot, particularly the, “Dark Side? Better leave that to the professionals” vibe. It would be all too easy to write about the “bad” things the Yucatan has to offer…but honestly…is there room for another extranjero crying about a lack of cheddar cheese and non-shelf stabilized milk? Well, okay, some fresh milk would be nice. At any rate, terrific job, as usual.
Also, was it my imagination, or was there an overt call-out for the need for a competing expat message board buried in your article somewhere?
Hi again, I have to admit my friends that you’re very positive, enthusiastic and choose to see the bright side, or the glass half full… I had seen all of the opposite that you mentioned: weather, traffic, economy, politics, mosquitoes and so on… ah but the siestas in the afternoon, the chatting with friends at night, or the serenades, there is so much to do… all we need is… choose to look at the positive side, choose to appreciate, choose to live and love wherever you are… on this planet.
thanks again for sharing the bright sky of mi Merida Linda!
I come to this site to keep myself inspired and I enjoy the positive nature of the articles. I have never understood the American lifestyle even though I was born in the US. Maybe it’s because my grandparents came from Europe that I have a different set of values. Regardless, I am planing my escape to Mexico where I feel more at home. Keep up the good work!
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.
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….
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.
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!!
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”.
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.
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.”
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.
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. (-:
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.
Good job keep the good vibes going
Thanks for a great post. I feel that it’s good idea to be realistic about visiting or moving to a new place. I find that when I’m not distressed over the fact that a place I’ve built up in my mind is not a perfect utopia, I can be open to surprises and the truly good things about that place. While I think we should focus on the positives, knowing some of the negatives certainly helped me avoid some pitfalls and enjoy my recent trip to the Yucatan. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.
As a longtime NYer who has endured a high level of “hassle factor” to continue to live here, I can say from experience that sometimes the problems are a pain, but not enough to give up on the place you love to be. Merida felt like home to me in many ways during my recent visit there–a very liveable city despite the skinny sidewalks, pollution, and scary traffic. Of course things are done differently–that’s a given. But what a wonderfully warm, social, diverse, tolerant, and interesting place to visit and/or live. I hope to give it a try someday. It has a spirit to it that is unquenchable and irresistable–as does NYC, at least for me. Viva Merida and viva Mexico.
I had to revisit this article, as to the ‘them vs us’ attitude. There is no outright display of this or open display of this. Yet, my wife, 100% Yucateca, says there is some reservations among her family and friends about the increase of outsiders to Merida and the Yucatan. Even people from interior Mexico. There is a political board in the Plaza Grande. If you have not done so yet, and you live in Merida, stop by and read it some time. There is much anti-Mexican and USA message written on that board. This past Nov. 1st in Plano TX was the swearing in of new U.S. citizens. Person’s who came into the U.S. the right way. Just as Mexico protects it’s borders and requires us to have an FM3 Visa, the USA also wants to protect its country. Maybe, the large number of gringos in Mexico will influence the country to take a path of improvement? Then, maybe her people will stop the exodus and come home to their hermosa pais.
When I clicked over to this from Merida Moments, I had expected a similar word painting about the less than pretty side of life al estilo Yucateco.
I can see why you chose to concentrate on the light, and I really enjoyed your concluding points. However, the negative points that expats make about life in Mexico seem to almost always be about exterior things: Insects, roads, disorganization.
I guess I just try to write about what I perceive as negative about the culture in such a way that it’s not a rant, nor a condemnation, but rather a word-picture of the less-than-pretty much in the same way that the Working Gringos wrote about the beautiful.
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