Author: sspiegel

Hola a todxs!

For this blog post, I’m going to share my experience of asking a Mexican friend, who we’ll call Ana, what she thinks about Americans. Because I do interviews as a core part of my research, here’s a disclaimer: this is not a research interview, and it’s coded to be anonymous. I met Ana for a cafecito and asked her some questions about her impressions of Americans. For context, we had this conversation in Oaxaca Centro. Ana is originally from CDMX (Ciudad de Mexico), and has worked in hospitality for many years. Ana has met many Americans, primarily in tourism settings.

Ana shared with me some familiar impressions of Americans that I have heard before: we are loud, demanding, and sometimes inconsiderate travelers. One of the examples she gave me was really interesting: she noticed that often Americans don’t move for locals on the sidewalk, even when locals are carrying heavy things such as carts or water jarras (jugs) (which is often!). Having been raised by immigrant parents, I have for much of my life been keenly aware of these American stereotypes, and have tried to avoid embodying them. I’m sure I haven’t done that perfectly; I inhabit many spaces and identities, and being American is one of them.

As Ana and I kept talking, she shared with me some positive thoughts about Americans, including that we’re more open minded. This surprised me, especially in the wake of the U.S.’s political conditions for the last few years, and the increasing tensions and issues arising with the U.S.’s foreign policy that directly affects the lives of many Mexicans. I think this heterostereotype of open-mindedness contrasts Mexican and American culture in a specifically gendered way; in Mexico, the culture (especially for women) has more intense expectations for modesty and traditional roles in domestic life. In general, I would agree with Ana’s assessments of Americans, while maintaining my perspective of curiosity that wants to know more about how these dynamics, and perceptions of these dynamics, develop and change over time.

Before diving into my critical incident analysis, here is a quick update on my travels. I’ve settled well into my homestay, and my classes in Spanish have been going really well. My conversation, reading, and listening skills have all improved already, and I’m excited to see where I’ll be at in another week! It’s rainy season here, so it’s hot and sunny with thunderstorms (las tormentas) in the afternoon. I’m establishing my daily routines walking to my classes, cooking my meals, and exploring the city. My first week here was at the height of Guelaguatza, a long festival with a history and meaning of inter-group sharing among Indigenous peoples of Mexico. The parades, performances, and cultural events have been an incredible experience of life here. It’s also interesting to see how life changes during and after the festival. 

I haven’t had any super notable critical incidents; but there is one recurring pattern that I think can still be analyzed through this framework. The way I dress, my mannerisms, and perhaps my features paint a picture that says “not local!” Because of this, occasionally people have quickly attempted to switch to English when I speak to them, in multiple settings, such as stores, restaurants, and events (such as art showings, poetry readings, concerts). As much as I appreciate people’s willingness to communicate with me in a way they think is easier (well, is easier) for me, I’m dedicated to speaking Spanish in my everyday life. In those moments, I feel a bit of shame for not speaking Spanish well enough for people to assume I can communicate on their terms. I’m working on overcoming the fear and awkwardness of the inevitable misunderstandings that come with crossing language ‘borders’ and barriers. What I’ve actually found, is that so much can be communicated and mutually understood /despite/ language barriers. Giving this pattern thought, it also might reflect broader patterns of power. In the U.S., many people think “if you move to my country, you should speak my language.” But when I, a person with the privilege of a U.S. passport and funds to learn Spanish, comes to a country whose peoples face language difficulties and discrimination in the U.S., I am met with an incredibly friendly and accommodating atmosphere, where people will connect with and help me in English or Spanish. I hope that when I return to the U.S., I can take this spirit of ‘meeting people where they’re at,’ and connect more with Spanish-speakers who may have difficulties with English; I’ve helped out elderly folks in places like Oakland before, but always wished my Spanish was better so I could do more. A really important part of this, in either side, setting, or situation, is for everyone to do their best to mutually understand each other’s language preferences and uplift each other while being conscious of power.