That resort is not the real Mexico

MARLENE MORRISON
Opinions Writer

I am all for stimulating the Mexican economy. As a native of Mexico I am always delighted to learn about all the of the fun trips that people around these parts take to Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas or Cancun to escape the harsh Saskatchewan winter. Trust me, I escape too. However, unlike most of my peers I do not escape to the sunny hot spots.

Blame it on being a Mexican, but when I go to Mexico I am more interested in seeing my fellow Mexicans as opposed to half the population of Saskatchewan. Don’t get me wrong, I am quite aware of the fact that these places are very beautiful — who wouldn’t want to go there? I also partake in a little something called “Mexican Pride.” But there is something so particularly fundamental to my existence as a Mexican in Canada: I must hear about every nuance of your experience as you “rough it” at one of the countless all-inclusive resorts.

Now, I am not being accusatory or condescending. I delight in hearing about how my friend’s roommate got so drunk he had to be hospitalised (I have an odd sense of humour). But I must fill you in on a little secret: there is more to Mexico than tequila, cheap currency and corruption, although I am sure those are considered pivotal to the Mexican image.

Mexico is also rich in culture. If you think that all the Spanish you will ever need to know will consist of “dos cervezas, por favor” you are sorely mistaken. Yes, that will get you far with the hotel staff who probably know more English than you know Spanish but there is more to the language than knowing how to order alcohol. 

Though Spanish (not Mexican) is the dominant spoken language, there exist 62 Amerindian dialects spoken among the indigenous peoples. The indigenous are those that try to sell you gum and offer to wash your windows while you are sitting in traffic, in case you weren’t so sure. I find it peculiar how people can say that they have escaped to Mexico to “get away from it all” and in actuality, never really go anywhere beyond the parameters of their all-inclusive hotel.

As a student, I can understand why people would not venture outside their hotel: everything you could need or want is there, so why would you leave and spend your hard-earned money elsewhere?

But please, I beg of you, do not for one minute believe that because you went to Puerto Vallarta that it translates into “experiencing Mexican culture” if the entire time you spent it by the hotel pool, partying with the very nice couple from Sweden. And I assure you, flirting with the Mexican bartender so they would give you the good tequila does not count as relating to the people. And neither does bartering with the Indigenous woman who happens to have six or seven children by her side.

I would suggest that if you were to trespass the confines of the all-inclusive resort it would be to taste the cuisine in the place where people don’t call it “Mexican food” but food. There is a reason why Mexican food is a common favourite among people — it’s actually good!

Mexico is great for is history. This is the land of the Aztecs and Mayans. Did you know that Chichén Itzá is now one of the new Seven Wonders of the World? In case you weren’t aware, it’s the location of a pyramid built by the Mayans.

I could continue to try to give you a lesson on why Mexico is a place renowned for its culture but that would fall to deaf ears if the audience is mainly interested in going to a place where the alcohol is cheap and the weather is hot. And perhaps that is all Mexico will ever be to some. But as a Mexican, this narrow-minded party mentality seems like a waste because people choose not to see past the facade.

And though I cannot guarantee that you will not contract the H1N1 virus or that you will not be arrested and consequently discharged because you bribed the police, I can say that there is a reason why I partake in the aforementioned “Mexican Pride.”

Although it would seem that my view of Mexico is a tad idealistic, I can’t help but take pride of my own native land. 

One last word of advice: don’t drink the water. Trust me.