New Board Feature: Ask the Mexican

[MTPOCKET]

Why do Mexicans use hammers to work on everything?

[red72chrgr]

Why do Mexicans use hammers to work on everything?

Don't you have a BFH in your toolbox? 

[Telvis]

Is there any way to communicate to slow moving Mexican drivers that the left lane of the freeway is for fast and passing traffic only. I know they  mean well and want to obey the traffic laws to avoid getting pulled over. How can we explain to them that the right lane is the best place to do that? 

[AKcharger]

Is it true that Mexicans can breath in both air AND water like an amphibian? Someone said they have gills and can stay submerged in rivers and lakes for hours at a time...what about salt water?

Still waiting for my answer...

[d72hemi]

Is there any way to communicate to slow moving Mexican drivers that the left lane of the freeway is for fast and passing traffic only. I know they  mean well and want to obey the traffic laws to avoid getting pulled over. How can we explain to them that the right lane is the best place to do that? 

You should try living in UT! Everybody drive in the Fast lane (left) at 5-10 mph under the posted speed limit! Then they will not let you "play frogger" and pass them because they will fill all 3-4 lanes, side-by-side, without any cars in front of them.

Ian

[bull]

Here in Oregon it seems there are two big annoyances to me. One is what I call "random braking," where someone will be driving along at 60 mph with their brake lights constantly flickering on and off. That or they just hold the brake pedal and accelerator down simultaniously and cruise the speed limit with their brake lights on. You can never quite figure out what they are doing.

The other annoyance is the people (almost always in front of me) who lollygag down the ON RAMP to the freeway doing 30 mph, and actually get on the freeway doing no more than 40 mph. And then they wonder why the traffic is so slow around them. Duh! Try the peddle on the right, fool! Isn't that what on ramps are for, to get up to speed and merge without bringing the whole friggin' freeway to a standstill?

[BronzeOnSteelies]

In Church today there was a reading from Saint Paul to the Corinthians. Since I had checked this thread out yesterday I was all ears.

The priest in his homily said that the City of Corinth was on an isthmus between the Aegean Sea and the Indian Sea. It had a population of 600,000 and they did live La Vida Loca there. He said the Romans would say you are acting like a Corinthian as an insult (I thought the Romans invented Orgies?).

My theory is that a Chrysler marketer was in Church a long time ago and noticed how the word Corinthian rolled off the tongue, ergo Corinthian Leather.

This thread is awesome. I have learned a lot and it just keeps coming. Thank you Iceman!     

[RECHRGD]

There seems to be a lot of driver related questions or complaints.  Just wondering if in some border states are you able to take a drivers exam in spanish.  Doesn't make sense to me that someone might be able to get licensed but not be able to read the highway signs.   Bob

[Vainglory, Esq.]

There seems to be a lot of driver related questions or complaints.  Just wondering if in some border states are you able to take a drivers exam in spanish.  Doesn't make sense to me that someone might be able to get licensed but not be able to read the highway signs.   Bob

Uh, yeah.  Hell, I'm in a state on the exact opposite border from Mexico and you can take the drivers test here in Spanish.  You can even take it in Hmong and Somalian if you want to.  Which naturally makes no sense to me...

[BronzeOnSteelies]

I got another one

Dear Mojo:

Why are all mexicans that come to the midwest dry-wall hangers? is there a the universidad de drywall in mexico or something?

Signed Dusty

This summer our new house was framed and finished by a hispanic crew. They then went on to build the house next door and are currently working on one a couple lots down. They speak Spanish but I do not know if they are Mexicans.

Since they are carpenters and not drywall hangers they seem to be upper class. The one with the trailer full of equipment drives a full size black Chevy truck with some bling wheels but no graphics.

I also noticed on Friday nights they start a fire (in the front yard) and have some cold ones.

They have ignored me whenever I would waive at them. Now that I have been educated by this thread I need to go pay them visit and impress them with my knowledge of their culture.

Iceman, what would be a good opening remark in Spanish to make this connection.

Mark in Illinois

[Ponch ®]

This summer our new house was framed and finished by a hispanic crew. They then went on to build the house next door and are currently working on one a couple lots down. They speak Spanish but I do not know if they are Mexicans.

Since they are carpenters and not drywall hangers they seem to be upper class. The one with the trailer full of equipment drives a full size black Chevy truck with some bling wheels but no graphics.

I also noticed on Friday nights they start a fire (in the front yard) and have some cold ones.

They have ignored me whenever I would waive at them. Now that I have been educated by this thread I need to go pay them visit and impress them with my knowledge of their culture.

Iceman, what would be a good opening remark in Spanish to make this connection.

Mark in Illinois

My advise would be to not try too hard. Otherwise you'll come off as patronizing. You can always greet them with "Hola, Buenas Tardes" (if its in the afternoon, evening) or "Buenos dias" (if its in the morning) and go from there. Just don't try to have a full blown conversation in spanish. I personally find it very annoying when a non-spanish speaker tries to speak spanish to me because a) seems like theyre automatically assuming that I can't speak english and b) most of the time they'll butcher the language really bad.

If you don't speak spanish and they don't speak english, you're gonna have trouble understanding each other anyway, so you might as well just try to communicate in the simplest ways (signs, pointing at stuff, etc). At some point you both will learn to figure out what the other is saying, and maybe learn from each other.  Odds are that they'll know enough english to get by though.

As far as how to approach them 'culturally', just approach them the same way you would any other neighbor - don't go up to them like you've never seen a mexican and they're some kind of novelty you want to check out. Don't forget, a six pack of beer (mexicans love Budweiser) is the universal sign of man-friendship.

[ChargerRob]

Hey Iceman, I just read all of your answers on this thread and really liked how you went out of your way to answer them in a positive manor.
I even LMAO on some of the jokes. Your doing good man, Muchas Gracias. 

Robert

PS:  In the morning it's Buenos Diaz.   In the afternoon it's Buenas Tardes
and in the evening (after 6p.m.) it's Buenas Noches.   

[Charger Aficionado]

Why in the hell are drug dealers IDOLIZED in hispanic music/culture???  Why are they not looked-down upon???  After-all they are the scum of the earth.

[Ponch ®]

Why in the hell are drug dealers IDOLIZED in hispanic music/culture???  Why are they not looked-down upon???  After-all they are the scum of the earth.

They're not necessarily idolized just in hispanic music, but there are prevalent themes of drug trade and crime lords in Mexican regional music - which is the equivalent of country music. But drug-related country music isn't new, if you've ever listened to Hank Jr., David Allan Coe, or Johnny Cash.

[PocketThunder]

I have one for ask the mexican.  .

whats it like sharing a place with the nubian princess?  Tired of watching re-runs of sex and the city on your TV yet?  Did you move her into the place first and then move your stuff in later "if there was room"   

[68chrgrwife]

I want to know how come Mexican folks call handcuffs "esposas"? 

esposas.....means wives....you do the math....

[68chrgrwife]

Do the Mexicans want Carlos Mencia back?  I mean seriously, does anybody even like this guy anymore?   

I love him..think he is hysterical and my neighbor two doors down who is have cuban and half spaniard (from Spain)..loves him too.

[68chrgrwife]

Ok so I have a few questions that I haven't seen yet....

1. Why are all GOOD car interior people male mexicans?  And who taught them all how to sew on the machine?  (I worked with one and he was awesome).

2. What is up with leaving the toilet paper (used) in a pile in the bathroom instead of flushing?

3.  Why do mexicans love to stare at me?

4.  How is homemade tequilla made?  And what is better (In Your Opinion) Pattron or homemade (I've had both, and I love homemade Mexican tequilla so much better).

5.  why is it that the kids of immigrants know english, but their darn parents don't?  I hate that I can't talk to my girls friends parents unless the kid is around?

6.  is it true that all mexicans in mexico have maids?  (You're all rich in mexico but poor a crap here in us. so why come here and be my maid?)

7.  why is it that only mexicans drive hippity hoppity cars?

8.  why do they all have small stearing wheels ?  (you know the chain link ones?)

9.  Is it true that the little red square paper with a number on it(in the back window of the car)  is how many mexicans can fit in the car?

[Ponch ®]

I have one for ask the mexican.  .

whats it like sharing a place with the nubian princess?  Tired of watching re-runs of sex and the city on your TV yet?  Did you move her into the place first and then move your stuff in later "if there was room"   

It's aight...the 2nd bedroom is my unofficial office/game room/ sanctum sanctorum. 

[dkn1997]

2. What is up with leaving the toilet paper (used) in a pile in the bathroom instead of flushing?

The hispanic guys at my job do that too, what's up with that?  Better than the aphganis (people from aphganistan) though.  they wipe their ass with rocks.  The Army brings in portajohns for the citizens who work on base/camp or the guys they are training.  When the go to empty the units, yep....filled with rocks!

[Ponch ®]

2. What is up with leaving the toilet paper (used) in a pile in the bathroom instead of flushing?

The hispanic guys at my job do that too, what's up with that?  Better than the aphganis (people from aphganistan) though.  they wipe their ass with rocks.  The Army brings in portajohns for the citizens who work on base/camp or the guys they are training.  When the go to empty the units, yep....filled with rocks!

This is a relatively easy one to answer. It's a matter of habit - in their countries the plumbing isn't that great, so flushing the t.p. down the toilet can be catastrophic.

[Old Moparz]

The hispanic guys at my job do that too, what's up with that?  Better than the aphganis (people from aphganistan) though.  they wipe their ass with rocks.  The Army brings in portajohns for the citizens who work on base/camp or the guys they are training.  When the go to empty the units, yep....filled with rocks!

In my opinion, I don't think they wipe with rocks. I knew a guy who used to climb up on something next to a porta-john to drop rocks in the vent pipe on top. The reason he did this, was to give whoever was taking a dump "The Blue Water Splash" on his ass.   

Also knew another guy who was running a job site & pissed off at the company who rented out the porta-johns. They never cleaned them regularly & they were a mess, so he'd put lots of newspaper & other objects like rocks in them so when they did finally come to clean them, the vacuum truck would suck up these things & get clogged. (Kind of a get even thing.) 

[Nacho-RT74]

I'll try to help on this. I'm not from Mexico and haven't been there either, but is something culture shared, specially me who even born in Venezuela, I'm direct Spanish parents, having double nacionality and I have been in Spain. Probably some if this has been already answered, But I had to stop on page 2 to answer this and then go on reading.

Gringo: GREEN GO reffering to USA troops as Greens dunno because uniform or US$ color bills on Mexico-USA War.

Gato=Jack: not just in Mexico but all Spanish speakers including spain. Is not just to auto jack licke hidraulic jacks and all king of that stuf... dunno why.

Siesta: comes From Spain. 2-4 pm are the hottes hour at day and being Spain the hottes country in Europe is very tipical get that snap to save from heat. Same reason why commercial stuff close at those hours. In fact, in Spain the lunch time is at 2 pm o'clock. Another reason is because in Spain, the lunch is a big succes, and  frecuently the lunch is not a quick SNACK like a sandwish or kinda, is a BIG LUNCH and good one... YUUMMIE !!! at the end of lunch trust me you are full and you will be tempted to get a Siesta.

[Nacho-RT74]

Is there a Mexican conspiracy to take over the US?

Why don't Mexicans (or any immigrant for that matter) learn the language before they come here? Is it because the education opportunities aren't so good there? If so why don't more of them choose to learn it once they arrive?

Is it true that many illegal Mexican immigrants are criminals?

USA citizens aren't able to say HOLA when visit here. In fact some transnational managers sent to work in Latin America some of them maybe by one or two years doesn't speak not a spanish word at their last labor days ( is a personal experience ) so we are forced to speak english on our own country . Around 40% of spanish speakers are able to drive a small chat with any Engislh speakers, maybe not the best and correct conversation, but we do. I have doubts about same rate backwards... not even close.

About the Second. Even is true that not all inmigrants are the best and that is all over the world, not only mexico or cubans or any latinamerican guy, the BAD ONES who are minory are allways the highlights starts, then the rest GOOD ONES are criminalized. As usualy happens the bad stuff allways pass over the good stuff.

That happens also to in Europe with Arabians ppl and Latin americans with Spain, however, not on the same grade between latinamericans and Spain relationship.

[Nacho-RT74]

Why don't Mexicans (or any immigrant for that matter) learn the language before they come here? Is it because the education opportunities aren't so good there? If so why don't more of them choose to learn it once they arrive?

Because a lot of people don't spend their lives planning to move to the U.S. Most of them end up leaving when circumstances (no jobs, poverty) force them, so they never really learn the language. Once they get here, it's not that they don't choose to learn it, they really just don't have the time, working 2-3 jobs, etc. Maybe they'll pick up enough to get by with their jobs. I've known a few people that, when given the opportunity, jumped on it and did learn english and went on to better things...but it's not a lack of motivation. Think of how sometimes people here will complain about getting laid off, not finding a job, etc...and when someone *cough*Vainglory*cough* says "well...get your ass to night school and get a college degree", most of them say "how am I gonna go to college...I have to work to feed my kids". That's pretty much the same circumstance that immigrants find themselves in.

I'll be level with you though - there are some (a minority, I would say) who really don't care to learn the language, because a) they don't want to seem like they're "selling out" and turning their back on their culture or b) they think they'll only be here for a few months or a couple of years and then go back to Mexico...so why bother?.

Education, believe it or not, is in some ways superior and ahead of what we're used to here. When I lived there, kids were already doing algebra problems and finding square and cube roots for 4 digit numbers (no calculators), and beginning physics and biology...in the 5th grade. I was so far behind that it took me a year just to become an 'average' student. That's why there you can go straight from high school to the equivalent of graduate school - medicine, law, etc. The problem is a lot of kids have to drop out to help their families economically. That's why you'll meet a lot of bus boys here who'll tell you "I was halfway done with my architecture degree, but...."

Is it true that many illegal Mexican immigrants are criminals?

Yeah, but so are many Americans. The numbers are proportionate

On both stuff I'm totally agree with Mojo. Education in fact I'm pretty sure is superior down here and also Spain than rest of the world ( except Asia countries ). Another different story is that students USE the education level right, but education by itself is pretty superior in all levels

About the second one. How many times you have seen a Mexican killing boys with a gun at school ? and then killing himself after that. I think all were whiteys USA citizens

Good and Bad boys are all over the world.