Mexico is often considered to be either a beach resort destination or a wonderland for drug lords. However, the majority of people don’t know the truth about Mexico, its culture and people. Their opinion is based on stereotypes. Below I present 11 misconceptions about Mexico – a country that I definitely recommend to both: visit and live in.
1 – Mexico’s real name is: United Mexican States
Mexico is divided into 31 states, just like the United States of America. Each state has its own law regulations and police. Moreover, Mexican states are even more independent than the American ones. When staying in a different state your phone is practically in roaming.
2 – Problems with the name of the capital
Right, the majority of people think that the capital of Mexico is Mexico City. However, that’s only partially true. The actual capital is Distrito Federal (DF) – Federal District. Mexico City metropolitan area, on the other hand, lies withing the whole DF and parts of the State of Mexico. Therefore, only inhabitants of DF, not the whole Mexico City can say they live in a capital.
3 – Mexican food abroad is not actually Mexican
Everyone seems to love Mexican food, that recently has been classified an irreplaceablecultural heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. But… outside of Mexico people tend not to consume real Mexican food, but Tex-Mex. In Mexico noone actually eats burritos aca Chipotle style, moreover filled with rice. Also, most Mexican food is not spicy hot – it’s actually sour due to the amount of limes on everything, in Mexican simply called lemons. Spicy salsas and served on the side.
4 – Mexicans don’t always have darker skin
When my friends look through my photos taken during my stay in Mexico very often I hear ‘he/she doesn’t look Mexican’. True, assuming that all Mexicans have dark skin and black hair is a huge mistake. There are plenty of Mexicans that are as white as Eastern Europeans. Moreover, especially in big cities such as Mexico City exists a huge Jewish community and therefore those people have white skin tone too.
5 – Mexican Spanish is way different
As mentioned in my previous note on Mexican slang, Mexican Spanish is way different. Opposite to the majority of Latin American places in Mexico torta doesn’t mean a cake, it’s a sandwich. Also, sope is not a soup, but so-called ‘Mexican pizza’ (by ‘pizza’ I mean that of course it’s not a pizza, but it reminds them of the concept of pizza – dough, salsa, topping).
6 – Mexico is actually safe
According to US travel advisory: ‘Mexico City (also known as the Federal District): No advisory is in effect. See also the discussion in the section on Estado de Mexico for areas within the greater Mexico City metropolitan area.’
I agree completely. The place is actually safer than some of the big cities in America or even Europe.
7 – Mexico is not a third world country
Arcos Bosques
The term ‘third world’ was invented during the cold war as a geo-political division of countries aligned with the US (1st World), the Soviet Union (2nd World), or neither (3rd world / non-aligned). Given that the Soviet Union doesn’t exist anymore, Cuba considered themselves “non-aligned,” and China was revealed to have split from the Soviets long ago, the term didn’t even make sense then, so why would it make sense now. Moreover Mexico offers plenty of modern buildings, or exclusive restaurants. On the other hand the gap between poor and rich is quite huge – a lot of houses have a maid and driver, while other have not much money to live on.
8 – Mexico is always hot
Mexico is a big country, therefore the weather varies. Some zones are indeed always hot, but in some areas it’s even snowing sometimes.
9 – Women are privileged
Mexico is a perfect country for women. Despite plenty of stereotypes that Mexican women have to be housewives, women are quite privileged. There are women-only pink buses or special section for women in the subway. Also, Mexicans are very caballerosos that means they always open the door for women, pick them up before the date/meeting or always pay for everything.
10 – Cancun or Baja California don’t represent Mexico
Tourists usually know about only two Mexican destinations: Cancun, or if they’re Americans Baja California. However, those places don’t represent the country at all if you visit them as a tourist in so-called ‘zone Hotelera’. Both places are very ‘Americanized’ – everyone speaks English and things are expensive. However, outside of the big resorts there the place is a slump. Mexicans usually go to different beach spots, such as Acapulco, Playa del Carmen or Huatulco.
11 – Mexicans don’t celebrate 5 de Mayo. Independence Day is 15 of September
Mexico declared independence on Sept 16th 1810. 5 de Mayo only commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862 when Mexico won with the French army. Nevertheless for Mexicans that’s not a reason to celebrate.
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