Jan
16
The “Americanization” of Mexico
January 16, 2007 | Tags: Opinion |
I just read an interesting article in the American Chronicle entitled “Guanajuato: The Death of Heritage“.  It’s a theme I’ve thought on many times before, as Americans and others move into an area and instead of embracing what is different and special about a place, instead slowly (or not so slowly) transform it into a imitation of what was back home. The author mentions that some 25,000 gringos now live in Puerto Vallarta and so they chose Guanajuato for a more authentic experience. Now they find that the gentrification/Americanization process is following them to Guanajuato.
One of the things I love about latin cultures is how social everyone is and how everyone interacts together to solve the simplest things, like how to get from here to there. Forget being face down in a map, just ask someone! Go to the hardware store and the clerk will stay with you from beginning to end and help you find everything you need behind the counter. But once the Walmarts and the Home Depots and their clones start moving in it isn’t long before that culture becomes transformed.
A couple years ago, My friend Colin and I wrote an article on Costa Rica which generated a lot of controversy in the ex-pat community there. Tropical Fever was a lighthearted rant on the worst things that foreigners bring to their new homes. But it must have hit close to the mark since many people were unable to see the humour. But when the only thing one hears among the expat community is how crappy the roads, how corrupt the politicians are and that their maid wants another raise this year then it’s time to move on to a place where one can live more in harmony with the locals and celebrate our differences.
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