I have had enough experience with doing business in Mexico to know what you mean, but no, I haven’t written such an article. I guess you might have to write your own…. That’s what I did when I wrote my book.

I wish you all the best in your business.

Regards,

Julia C Taylor

As good Mexican I haven’t read fully your website and article…hehehe, but I was wondering if you may have something about doing business in Mexico… You see, I’m negotiating with some Americans to represent their consumer brand in Mexico and sell it to retailers in Mexico. What I’ve found a little challenging is telling them that even though we may have the same clients as in the USA such as Walmart / HEB / Office Depot / Costco and others, doing business with US retailers in Mexico is not the same as it is in the USA. I know this because of personal experience,having worked for an American Company in Mexico, studied in the USA, etc; and I think their expectations is to work similarly as it is up north, but as you mention the “honesty” and “I give you my word” concepts are TOTALLY different!! Have you written anything about these concepts when doing business that I can refer to…?? I appreciate your help!!

Thank you for taking the time to write it out the way you see it. I know totally what you mean. You’re so right that my perspective on this web site is that of an American going through culture shock adjusting to living in Mexico. After 8 years in Mexico I thought Americans were too cold, too. I was shocked when friends didn’t kiss each other’s cheek to say goodbye — just gave each other a “cold” goodbye wave from about 5 feet away from each other. On this web site, I tell it like it feels during the first few years.

Again, Thank you.

Regards,

Julia C Taylor

Thank you.

Living in Mexico should make you so flexible you can see the back of your own head.

Kindest Regards,

Julia C Taylor

PS I’m so glad you liked the “You Know You’re Becoming a Mexican When” jokes. I thought they were a stroke of genus, but have gone largely unappreciated.

Gracias por sus comentarios.

Saludos,

Julia Taylor

I was a dual citizen, a “white” Mexican (as in anglo-saxon gringo), but despite all of the problems and frustrations that arise from living in and within México, still prefer it to the USA. There is something exceedingly creepy and pre-fascistic about the USA, and Americans in particular (in deference to the phlegmatic but passionate Canadians) are increasingly perturbed and quite frankly, I feel, unbalanced.

Canadians at times will have a bee in their bonnet but are often more “in tune” with the world; at least the educated ones.

Though the USA has great universities, cultural institutions and of course lots of other cool things, I find that it is mostly a paradigm for shopping as a way of life and an idealised middle class democracy.

I would recommend to any “expat” to follow by dad’s advice (RIP): “STAY AWAY FROM OTHER EXPATS”. If you want to live, love and eat gringo, then by all means putter about Ajijic or San Miguel or whatever.

As for México, and no thanks to Echeverría, López Portillo, the Technocrat creeps like Salinas, Fox etc. we are in a shambles. México should have become “South Korea” years ago. Our great error has been to foster and encourage NAFTA, ignore South America and strengthen ties and image in Europe.

We suffer the criminality we suffer from due to corruption and an excessive dependence on the potheads to the North.

Sorry folks: the danger for México was, is and shall be the overbearing influence of the USA and its ridiculous Protestant culture of “shoot and say sorry”. The land of Tea Baggers and Republicans is a really, really creepy place.

Only those under thirty in México-completely swallowed up by “globalisation” really believe the USA (the land of rap and dope) is still a viable model for anyone. And even they follow suit only out of inertia. A sort of Brave New World scenario….pass the soma….

In any case an interesting website and column and please, para conocer este país complejo y contradictorio, lo mejor es 1. no idealizarlo 2. no criticarlo sin un mínimo de diez años aquí y 3. con firmeza pero con gentileza saber decir “no” cuando alguien quiere abusar de vos.

saludos…

Thank you for your comment. I think you are right, classism is probably the stronger reality — and people use skin colour to base it on.

Kindest Regards, Julia C Taylor