New Board Feature: Ask the Mexican

[Nacho-RT74]

Is Ricardo Montobain really mui macho? And where does Corithan leather come from?

Very macho. I'd think Corinthian leather comes from Corinthia...wherever that is.

Corinthian remind me like Greek Architecture talking about column tops ( Doric, Jonic and Corinthian ). Probably comes from Greece that won't be weird since all our cultores comes from Rome and Greece empires

[Nacho-RT74]

2.  Mexicans in our area seem to be extremely protective of people of their own race...i.e: pick on one, pick on all.  Is this also true in Mexico, or is this a property of immigrating?

It might be a little of both. On the one hand...what ethnic/social group doesn't stick together? On the other, as I said above, Mexicans in areas such as yours really are a minority, so yes, they will tend to look out for each other. Strength in numbers, or so they say.

3.  I have a close friend who is from Brazil.  She immigrated to America legally a few years ago, and is often confused for being a Mexican.  I was surprised just how offended this seems to make her.  She has indicated that her disdain stems from the illegal immigration problem and the lack of cultural integration she see's from the Mexican community overall.  Is this the truth, or is there some cultural division between Mexico and South American countries?

Another profound question. Your friend, despite her long, PC explanation, is probably just offended that she is being lumped in with the Mexicans because she isn't one.. It's understandable, to an extent - the same way a Japanese person gets offended if you call him/her Chinese, etc.

Generally speaking, there isn't much of a cultural divide between Mexico and South America and we tend to get along with each other pretty well. However, Brazil has a different language and a different culture (Portuguese/African and a huge German/Italian influence, vs. Spanish and Indian in the rest of the continent) and that can lead to a certain 'disconnect'. The more interesting case is Argentinians. Even though they speak spanish, most of them are of Italian and English descent. The general feeling towards them in the rest of the Americas is that they are arrogant and stuck up beacuse of this. However, this is a stereotype - though like any stereotype, there is a little bit of truth to it. For example, I had an Argentinian friend who would always  say  he was "Argentinian, but my parents were European" when asked about his nationality - never Hispanic or Latino.

#1... like Jews, Or arabs... If you visit any country you will find clubs getting joined ppl from different countries. For example we in Caracas have Galician Club, Basque Club Catala Club, Canarians Club etc.. and all those mentioned are from same country, Spain, but from different regions. In fact I have been member of Galician Club ( however my parents aren't Galician ).
There are also Hungarian, Jews, etc... Clubs or culture asociations.

wouldn't you happy if you find a "Bro" in a very different country ? somebody to talks and share about the same? and also keeps your culture alive and don't forgett your origins.

#2... maybe because Brazil is another languaje and different country colonie ( portuguese ). Even we share mostly of stuff, every country has its own indentity and ppl likes to be good idetified.

I don't think a Texan Guy will like a lot to be confused with somebody from Philladelphia for example. If you likes to be identified with your own state being from same country, you can imagine being from different country.

Argentinians... they think they are from another planet, so much superior than the rest LOL. I think is part of a world guilt, geting a Latin america culture or ppl like an inferior class, and they want to keep appart and on top of us instead enter on its own defense being same latinamerican ppl. Is true that mostly of them are Europeans, mostly Italians and Spain descendant, but ALL latinamericans are on the same way

IF they are so superior, why Argentinians football players dreams to play in European league ? LOL why they don't stuck on its own Football league ? hehehe

[Nacho-RT74]

Why do Puerto Ricans look down on Mexicans?..

Another example about loose its own identity selling its soul to USA goverment, being the same latin origin. In fact they were one of the first Spanish colonies. They dream to be USA citizens and in fact they practically are the 51 state. I think partially USA guilt giving some speciall treatment to puerto ricans and depreciating the rest.

Even I'm agree that latinamerica has made its own grave because its own ineficient, USA hasn't been to much helpfully trying to save from that giving us just a hand and instead trying to suck from latinamerica everything as posible.

Maybe is also first Spanish conquers arrived to America guilt. Spain sent here the worst of its own citizens, some of them coming out from jail, hungry to get richness from a new world probably that bring it up corruption. Then this behavior cames from generations.

[BB1]

What was Billy Batson real name. A true Hispanic hero driving around with an old white Cracker. 

[Ponch ®]

What was Billy Batson real name. A true Hispanic hero driving around with an old white Cracker. 

who? The only Hispanic hero that should matter is this guy:

[mikepmcs]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0169067/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Marvel_(DC_Comics)


v/r
Mike

[Ponch ®]

Captain Marvel was Hispanic?

[Brock Samson]

hey ponch, who should I sue DS440 or the whizenhimer twins?..

[BB1]

No his name is Michael Gray, I use to watch Shazam on Saturday mornings when I was a kid. I just thought it was a funny show, but they were very serious about it. 

[Ponch ®]

No his name is Michael Gray, I use to watch Shazam on Saturday mornings when I was a kid. I just thought it was a funny show, but they were very serious about it. 

Dude...the 70's were before my time. I only know of CHiPs thanks to the re-runs they used to show on Channel 5 here in L.A...

[Old Moparz]

No his name is Michael Gray, I use to watch Shazam on Saturday mornings when I was a kid. I just thought it was a funny show, but they were very serious about it. 

Dude...the 70's were before my time. I only know of CHiPs thanks to the re-runs they used to show on Channel 5 here in L.A...

I can't help thinking about an old friend named Bill when I see anything CHiPs related, LOL. A group of us would make plans on Friday nights to go somewhere, but this one guy would always be late & screw us up. He'd stay home to watch that show & pass up the chance to do something. I think it was on from 9 to 10 PM.

[BB1]

Did you get the news, Ponch got a star on the walk of fame!!! aka Erik Estrada.

Finally a real actor get his name in concrete. 

Congrats 


http://www.erikestrada.com/

[Ponch ®]

He'd stay home to watch that show & pass up the chance to do something. I think it was on from 9 to 10 PM.

and what's wrong with that?

Everything I know about life I learned from CHiPs

[Old Moparz]

He'd stay home to watch that show & pass up the chance to do something. I think it was on from 9 to 10 PM.

and what's wrong with that?

Everything I know about life I learned from CHiPs

Nothing's wrong, but my friend grew up to be a drunk.   

I think I watched that show only twice in my life. I didn't hate it or anything, but I just didn't care for it. I do recall one episode where a mirror on a glass delivery truck caused an accident. The CHiPs heros recreated the accident right down to the sun glare, but stopped inches from destruction.   

[Ponch ®]

  The CHiPs heros recreated the accident right down to the sun glare, but stopped inches from destruction.   

That's because they knew what they were doing. I remember that episode...it's the one where Officer Sindy was involved in the accident, and everyone was trying to blame her because they found a cheeseburger in her car.

[RallyeMike]

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.

I decided to try and pick up some conversational. Should I give it up? My friends who speak Spanish seem entertained. Like you, strangers seem annoyed.

My biggest problem is that people speak it so fast I can't distinquish the words. Do any mexicans speak spanish slowly, kind of like how southerners speak english?

[mikepmcs]

Mike
I wouldn't give it up.  I would think the majority of Hispanics would like the fact that you are trying to learn the language and break down a barrier.   


No, they don't speak slowly.   I used to listen to my mother and her sister gab on the phone and holy crap it was confusing..... of course it would go from laughter to tears back to laughter during the whole conversation.  I thought it was hilarious.  Oh yeah, every conversation at least once, you would catch the word Elvis.   

v/r
Mike

[dodgecharger-fan]

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.

I decided to try and pick up some conversational. Should I give it up? My friends who speak Spanish seem entertained. Like you, strangers seem annoyed.

My biggest problem is that people speak it so fast I can't distinquish the words. Do any mexicans speak spanish slowly, king of like how southerners speak english?

Just don't so this: http://snltranscripts.jt.org/90/90enews.phtml

[mikepmcs]

That skecth was heee-law-rrrrrreeous.

[Ponch ®]

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.

I decided to try and pick up some conversational. Should I give it up? My friends who speak Spanish seem entertained. Like you, strangers seem annoyed.

My biggest problem is that people speak it so fast I can't distinquish the words. Do any mexicans speak spanish slowly, king of like how southerners speak english?

No, don't give it up. You hit it on the nail yourself though - it's cool if you're with friends that know what you're trying to do, but it's different with strangers.

Mexicans don't necessarily speak slower, but some do speak faster or with weird accents that are hard to understand. Northern mexicans, the redneck types that wear cowboy outfits and drive tricked out trucks, speak with an inflection that elongates the last letter of whatever word they say. It's easily recognizable. In fact, the spanish voice actors that dubbed the Dukes of Hazzard used to do it with that accent.

[Lowprofile]

How come in Mariachi bands, the biggist guy always plays the smallest guitar, while the little hombre is playing the biggest one?

That's a very profound question that requires a profound philosophical answer. Due to time and space restrictions, it is not feasible for me to go into it.

Just wondering if you had put any more thought into that question?

A few more questions for you Bro............

When entertaining guests, what do you recommend as the best chips/salsa combination?

Where can I get the best bar-b-que Tri-Tip in LA?

What is the most popular Chevy in the Latino community?  [my guess is a 64 Impala drop top]

[Ponch ®]

How come in Mariachi bands, the biggist guy always plays the smallest guitar, while the little hombre is playing the biggest one?

That's a very profound question that requires a profound philosophical answer. Due to time and space restrictions, it is not feasible for me to go into it.

Just wondering if you had put any more thought into that question?

A few more questions for you Bro............

When entertaining guests, what do you recommend as the best chips/salsa combination?

Where can I get the best bar-b-que Tri-Tip in LA?

What is the most popular Chevy in the Latino community?  [my guess is a 64 Impala drop top]

I'm stll looking into the mariachi matter.

1) Chips and salsa are what white people think Mexicans like to eat as an "Or'deuvre" (sp?). This notion is further perpetuated by Mexican and mostly pseudo mexican restaurants that bring you chips and salsa as soon as you sit down. In fact most mexican people prefer a variety of chips (traditional potato, Doritos, etc) with dip However, REAL mexicans bring out peanuts covered in lime and Tapatio-style hot sauce, garbanzo seeds, pickled pork rinds, etc as appetizers. They call it "botana". Now, if you insist on going to "Tortilla Chip and Salsa" way, you really can't go wrong with Mission Tortilla Chips. The salsa, on the other hand, is more about your preference in taste and how hot you like it.

2) Good question. There's the Bear Pit in North Hills, and a couple of places in South Central that I don't remember the names of. If you wanna go 'exotic', try a place called Zankou Chicken (it's a local chain) - for middle eastern / mediterranean style tri tip. If you wanna play it safe, you can always find a Rosie's BBQ restaurant. You planning on being in town soon?

3) Currently, I would say that the most popular Chevy in the Latino/Mexican community isn't an Impala, the Monte Carlo, or what has been called the "Mexican Ferrari" (Camaro). In reality, it's probably a toss up between Silverado trucks and its SUV counterparts (Tahoe, 'burban, etc). Of course some of the well off Mexicans prefer Escalades or loaded Denalis.

[Rocky]

Where can I get the best bar-b-que Tri-Tip in LA?

For the best Tri-Tip you don't go to LA.  You go where it originated around Santa Maria, north of Santa Barbara.

[Lowprofile]

I'll be out that way around the last wk of July/1st wk of August.

[Ponch ®]

I'll be out that way around the last wk of July/1st wk of August.

cool...we'll need to