Higher Education

In Spanish, to be polite is to be educated, regardless of whether you passed the third grade or not. Sometimes I feel that Mexican culture seems so old world, with a level of chivalry and manners that we North Americans have completely given up on. But then something happens that makes me feel the opposite way, and I start grumbling about how they're all a bunch of...well, I think some ugly xenophobic thoughts. Sorry.

Part of the stated mission of this blog is to write my interpretations and misinterpretations of Mexican culture, but it is actually more difficult than it would seem. Are Mexicans more polite or more rude than people from the U.S.? To try to settle this question about the land conquered by Señor Cortés (literally, Mr. Courtesy), I've decided to start writing occasional posts in which I counterbalance one aspect of Mexican educación with one grosería.

educación (politeness)

Yesterday, I went with Jenny to a doctor's appointment, and we shared a spacious elevator with another couple. We hadn't said a word to each other, but they politely asked our permission before exiting. I was a little dumbstruck, because con permiso is often used when you need to get past someone. Were we somehow in their way? We clearly weren't, they were just being courteous. According to my Spanish tutor, it's also good to ask permission when passing through a room with only one person in it, for example an empty lobby with a secretary, to acknowledge that she is a person and not just furniture.

grosería (rudeness)

Mexicans love cell phones, a technology that assists them in being even more distracted. Imagine if we Americans had a device that automatically extended our stomach size whenever we walked into Hardees. Or a special machine that could help lower the IQ's of politicians whenever they were debating whether to invade middle eastern countries.

Cell phones are used everywhere here. It's pretty common to hear the guy in the bathroom stall next to you having some kind of business meeting. I took an informal survey of some students, and only one was grossed out by the idea. (And forget trying to get them to turn theirs off during the class). When going to the movies, you can pretty much expect not only that a phone will go off, but that someone will also answer it. Most annoying are the people who sit several rows in front of you texting their friends. Then occasionally they get entranced by the movie and just leave their phone on, so it's like someone pointing a flashlight in your face. Jenny even reported someone taking a call at a funeral. So in the alternative reality where I am appointed emperor of Mexico, my first act will be to ban mobile phones outright.