Live or Retire in Mexico: Talk to Your Neighbors May 5
Live or Retire in Mexico:
Build a Strong Future by Talking to Your Neighbors
Along with the decision to live or retire in Mexico comes a necessity to learn to talk to your neighbors–whether you know it beforehand or not. One of the major cultural differences between Mexico and the US and Canada is the importance placed on interpersonal relationships.
Mexicans continuously build and manage extensive favor networks, which they call friendships.
These networks are ingrained in their sense of self and once you arrive on the scene, they will begin to include you. You will be the most interesting person around, but will be something of a wild card since you won’t have any reference about the already existing, long-term favor networks in your neighborhood. “Taking sides” is very dangerous.
I was very uncomfortable with the amount of attention I received when I first moved into my new neighborhood. I didn’t understand people’s motivation for offering help or giving me open invitations to family events, etc. Since as a north American I needed to size them up through simple, non-committal chat, I found myself backing out. For me, their offers came too early and were too forward.
The thing is that Mexico is a very class-ist society and you, as a north American—especially if you are white, embody a powerful position. People will target you when you come to live or retire in Mexico to develop favor relationships with. One of the key aspects to the favor network system is that people try to make connections to members of the upper class because those people can pull strings or do them favors when they need it.
I won’t get into a deep analysis of class-ism, nor the potential conflicts a north American expat may have in “playing” that system because it is beyond the scope of this web page.
The thing you need to know when you live or retire in Mexico is that you should respond humbly, and with gratitude to these advances. If you don’t play along, people will eventually give up on trying to get into extensive favor trades with you and you will feel the “heat” on you turn down. The crucial thing is that you do this with extreme grace.
If you reject people’s advances too bluntly, or don’t respond with gratitude you will be labeled as someone who thinks too highly of yourself. People will talk behind your back and not cooperate with you in the future. Lack of cooperation can show up in issues like prices at neighborhood stores, parking troubles, etc. If you are labeled as “too good for your britches” you will be the victim of ostracism and cheating.
So, when you first live or retire in Mexico, you have a two-fold objective.
RETIRE IN MEXICO NETWORKING OBJECTIVE 1:
Avoid “playing favorites” and getting yourself committed to close favor networks with certain people before you have time to get to know the people and the implications of the favors involved. This involves extreme tact and grace. Express gratitude and be vague.
RETIRE IN MEXICO NETWORKING OBJECTIVE 2:
Remain open to contact with people. TALK to people. Spend time shooting the breeze at the neighborhood store. Talk with your neighbors when you see them out and about. People love a good chat and don’t take too well to those who are always too busy. Say “buenos días,” “buenas tardes,” and “buenas noches” whenever you pass by people in the street. Don’t frown or look too serious when you walk by your neighbors.
This need to “shoot the breeze” is especially important for men. If you arrive as a couple, the man is crucial in connecting to other men in the neighborhood, while women can build connections with other women.