Living in Mexico without Speaking Spanish

For four months now, I have been getting along just fine living in Mexico City, speaking very little Spanish. It has been surprisingly easy and people have been VERY nice about it!

I have just experienced my first slightly negative experience though!

I was checking out at the grocery store the other morning and the cashier kept asking me if I needed my parking ticket stamped. (You have to pay for parking everywhere that you go in Mexico City). As I walk to the grocery store, I don't need my ticket punched/stamped. So, I said no to the cashier. She proceeded to ask two more times. At which point I said, "no hablo Espanol." The woman behind me then translated for me. I told her "gracias", then told the cashier "no" again. The woman behind me then said, in a more snotty tone, "you live in Mexico and you don't speak Spanish?" I smiled at her and said "si". Then, went on my way.

While this is not a horrible experience by any means, I was a bit taken aback by the tone of her voice. Most people ask "cuantos mesas in Cuidad de Mexico?" or something to that effect...asking me how long I have lived in Mexico City. And, all those people have been very friendly.

I cannot imagine translating for someone in the U.S. and taking a negative tone of voice. I am sure there are plenty of U.S. citizens that would, as we are by no means perfect, but I have not come across it. You can be sure that if I ever do, I will remember this experience and shoot daggers from my eyes at the mean translator!

Grocery Shopping in Mexico...The Scarcity Model

In Polanco, the closest thing we have to a Whole Foods is a VERY small store called "The Green Corner".

We went there last Sunday and bought two packages of turkey burgers (hamburgesas de pavo). The turkey burgers were EXCELLENT!!! The two packages (4 burgers in each package) cost a total of $14 USD.

So, I walked back today, hoping to stock up on more turkey burgers. Unfortunately, The Green Corner was out of all pavo products. The store clerk told me to come back on "Lunes o Martes", as they might have some then.

Can you imagine going to a US grocery store and them being sold out of ALL turkey products?!?!

In Mexico, this happens all the time.

My new favorite drink is Vitamin Water. For some reason right now...there is NO Vitamin Water at 7-11, Superama OR the Walmart I went to yesterday!!

Mike is addicted to the blue can of Monster energy drinks. In the US, we bought them by the case at Costco. In Mexico, there are no Monster cases at Sam's Club. So, Mike is frequently looking for them at the various 7-11's, Oxxo's and Circle K's near us. The 7-11 sells out VERY quick. If my Spanish were better, I would ask them to order an extra case each month and I will buy the whole case...but, my Spanish is poor...worse than poor... so, we'll continue the seemingly daily hunt for the blue can... As well as for my coveted Ponche de Frute Vitamin Water!

It seems as though Mexico operates on the scarcity model. Supply is low and demand is high!

When I walk into the Superama on Horacio, in Polanco, there is a table filled with "US items". Snyders pretzel, various special cases of Coca-Cola products (but NEVER Cherry Coke...can't find that anywhere!), and chocolate covered pretzels. But this table is also subject to change each day. If you don't stock up on those chocolate covered pretzels, or even regular pretzels...you may never see them again.