New Board Feature: Ask the Mexican

[Ponch ®]

Ever wonder:

-"Does drinking the water in Mexico really give you the runs?"
-"Why do Mexicans consider cardboard boxes 'lugage'?"
- etc....

In order to promote a better understanding of "my people", in this thread I will answer (to the best of my knowledge) any questions you might have about Mexicans, Mexico, and Mexican culture in general.

And there is no such thing as a politically incorrect question. Shoot away!

[Brock Samson]

do you ever wear a sombraro?.. 

[nh_mopar_fan]

Why do Mexican jumping beans jump?

Because the cops instruct them to?

[Ponch ®]

do you ever wear a sombraro?.. 

Not me personally, but I do know that sombreros gained their status as traditional Mexican dress due to the country's agricultural history. At present time, the sombrero has been supplanted by trucker-style hats or counterfeit LA Dodgers or "USA #1" baseball caps purchased at swap meets.

[Ponch ®]

Why do Mexican jumping beans jump?

It's training for when they're trying to enter the United States by jumping the fence.

[bull]

This is great! First off, are we talking about the habits of Mexicans in the US or Mexicans in Mexico?

1. How can they stand being around nine other people all the time? Nine in the van going to work, nine in the house they live in, nine of them standing around looking at each other at the county fair, etc.? Don't Mexicans ever need some alone time?

2. What's with all the stuff stuck to their cars, ie. fake sticker flames and dinky wheels on a Ford Taurus? And what do those big, white, Old English-looking font letters on the back window mean?

More later.

[Ponch ®]

This is great! First off, are we talking about the habits of Mexicans in the US or Mexicans in Mexico?

Both, though sometimes I will note the distiction between the Mexicans in the US (MUS), Mexicans in Mexico (MM), and Mexican-Americans (MA).

1. How can they stand being around nine other people all the time? Nine in the van going to work, nine in the house they live in, nine of them standing around looking at each other at the county fair, etc.? Don't Mexicans ever need some alone time?

Beats me, but seems like its out of necessity. Since most of the income of most MUS goes back to Mexico, they are forced to live in small apartments and fit into one car. MA's such as myself don't get it either.

2. What's with all the stuff stuck to their cars, ie. fake sticker flames and dinky wheels on a Ford Taurus? And what do those big, white, Old English-looking font letters on the back window mean?

The flames, wheels, spinner hubcaps, etc. are a way of personalizing their vehicles at the lowest possible cost. This is mostly done by nacos (the mexican equivalent of white trash). The Old English-type letters usually announce to the world the Mexican state from which the owner of the vehicle originally hails from. The proudest seem to be from Jalisco, Michoacan, and Sinaloa.

Tacky and lacking taste? Absolutely, but it really is no different than having a Rebel Flag license plate or a "In Memory of Dale Earnhardt 1951-2001" vinyl decal on your back window. 

[nh_mopar_fan]

Where does Cheech Marin fall into the Trinity with Mexicans?

[Ponch ®]

Where does Cheech Marin fall into the Trinity with Mexicans?

I believe he would be Mexican-American

[nh_mopar_fan]

Oh, this is off to a GREAT start!

[Charger_Fan]

Is a MUS's ass watertight?

[Ponch ®]

Is a MUS's ass watertight?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Can you please place it in context?

[Charger_Fan]

Is a MUS's ass watertight?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Can you please place it in context?

Well, I mean watertight for crossing water channels they may come upon during the trip...like a frog?

Oh & what's with the dingly-ball stuff up by the sun visors on their cars? It is to make it look more homey inside?

[Ponch ®]

Well, I mean watertight for crossing water channels they may come upon during the trip...like a frog?

No, they're not any more watertight than any other race. However, they have proven ingenious at building improvised rafts and other nautical vehicles for such purposes. This is a trait we share with the Cubans.

Oh & what's with the dingly-ball stuff up by the sun visors on their cars? It is to make it look more homey inside?

Yes. For more, see my reply to Bull's earlier questions.

[Daytona R/T SE]

In the movies I see Mexicans refering to each other as Esse'  (spelling?) Is that some sort of endearment or is it Mexican for "Mother ****er" 

[Daytona R/T SE]

My fat sister's husband is from Thailand.  He's a short, skinny brown dude that gets most of his wardrobe from dumpsters and the local goodwill.

Everybody that meets him for the first time thinks he's Mexican.

I always tell him just go with the Mexican thing, nobody around here has ever heard of Thailand.

Did Poncho Villa spend any time in Thailand making babies?

[PocketThunder]

Did Mexicans live in the area of LA before the white man got there or did they come after or at the same time?

[andy74]

Did Mexicans live in the area of LA before the white man got there or did they come after or at the same time?

ive often wondered the same thing,and why do all the mexicans ive ever seen pick fruit and vegtables for other people all the time?why dont they get together and buy a farm?

[Ponch ®]

In the movies I see Mexicans refering to each other as Esse'  (spelling?) Is that some sort of endearment or is it Mexican for "Mother ****er" 

It's a sort of term of endearment. It literally means "that one". I would say that it's the equivalent of "homie".

Did Poncho Villa spend any time in Thailand making babies?

Not to my knowledge. However, since it is widely believed that the continent was populated by Asians crossing through the Bering Strait during the last Ice Age, a lot of Native Americans have had Asian-like features. Furthermore, since most Mexicans are a mix of European and Native American blood, it is not uncommon that Mexican's may have Asiatic features, especially those with mostly Indian blood. I have a Mexican friend who people are always confusing for Filipino. They will come up to him and start speaking to him in Tagalog.

[Daytona R/T SE]

In the movies I see Mexicans refering to each other as Esse'  (spelling?) Is that some sort of endearment or is it Mexican for "Mother ****er" 

It's a sort of term of endearment. It literally means "that one". I would say that it's the equivalent of "homie".

Did Poncho Villa spend any time in Thailand making babies?

Not to my knowledge. However, since it is widely believed that the continent was populated by Asians crossing through the Bering Strait during the last Ice Age, a lot of Native Americans have had Asian-like features. Furthermore, since most Mexicans are a mix of European and Native American blood, it is not uncommon that Mexican's may have Asiatic features, especially those with mostly Indian blood. I have a Mexican friend who people are always confusing for Filipino. They will come up to him and start speaking to him in Tagalog.

Thanks, Mojo. I'm sure I'll think of something else 

[Ponch ®]

Did Mexicans live in the area of LA before the white man got there or did they come after or at the same time?

Before. As you may or may not know, the Southwestern part of the U.S. was originally part of the Spanish colony known as "Nueva España", later on when Mexico gained it's independence it became part of Mexico, therefore making its mostly Spanish speaking inhabitants Mexicans. The region was ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848 under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the Mexican-American War. However, a lot of Spanish-mexican culture remains in the area, as evidenced by the Spanish names of most cities and streets. During its Mexican days, Los Angeles was known as "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina De Los Angeles Del Rio Porciuncula, Territorio De Alta California".

I guess that technically speaking, the first Mexicans were white (Spanish). Otherwise the original inhabitants were native americans.

ive often wondered the same thing,and why do all the mexicans ive ever seen pick fruit and vegtables for other people all the time?why dont they get together and buy a farm?

Lack of capital. Most of those people picking fruit are recent immigrants that don't have the know-how or the time to establish a bussiness. Those who do go on to better things, usually do buy a farm...then hire more fresh illegals to work for them.

[Shakey]

Is it true that the children in Mexico are taught simple English sentences in their early school years, prior to learning anything else such as the alphabet or numerals?

For example, I once saw a documentary that showed poor children in a classroom in Mexico and the teacher was instructing them on how to pronounce certain words in English.  In the background, written on the chalkboard in big bold letters was the sentence

"Hey Mister, would you like to f**k my sister".

[Ponch ®]

Is it true that the children in Mexico are taught simple English sentences in their early school years, prior to learning anything else such as the alphabet or numerals?

I don't know. While I did spend a couple of years going to elementary school in Mexico, it was certainly not in my early school years. A lot of the kids did know basic stuff like colors, animals, and could count to 10 in English.

For example, I once saw a documentary that showed poor children in a classroom in Mexico and the teacher was instructing them on how to pronounce certain words in English.  In the background, written on the chalkboard in big bold letters was the sentence

"Hey Mister, would you like to f**k my sister".

[Charger_Fan]

Did Mexicans live in the area of LA before the white man got there or did they come after or at the same time?

Before. As you may or may not know, the Southwestern part of the U.S. was originally part of the Spanish colony known as "Nueva España", later on when Mexico gained it's independence it became part of Mexico, therefore making its mostly Spanish speaking inhabitants Mexicans. The region was ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848 under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the Mexican-American War. However, a lot of Spanish-mexican culture remains in the area, as evidence my the Spanish names of most cities and streets. During its Mexican days, Los Angeles was known as "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina De Los Angeles Del Rio Porciuncula, Territorio De Alta California".

I guess that technically speaking, the first Mexicans were white (Spanish). Otherwise the original inhabitants were native americans.

You Googled that, didn't you?

[bull]

The flames, wheels, etc. is a way of personalizing their vehicles at the lowest possible cost. This is mostly done by nacos (the mexican equivalent of white trash). The Old English-type letters usually announce to the world the Mexican state from which the owner of the vehicle originally hails from. The proudest seem to be from Jalisco, Michoacan, and Sinaloa.

Tacky and lacking taste? Absolutely, but it really is no different than having a Rebel Flag license plate or a "In Memory of Dale Earnhardt 1951-2001" vinyl decal on your back window. 

Ain't that the truth. Cheesy is cheesy no matter where you're from.