Would someone make up my mind here?

Question

I read about abuses in Mexico and how horrible it is to live there.There are no jobs,housing is poor,healthcare is poor,food scarce,people disappear for speaking out and the list goes on.I also have friends who are from Chiapas and Viquipilco who say these same things.
Here's my conundrum...People on here say Mexico is so wonderful.Are you from these area's or do you just mean the architecture etc.

For those who don't really know me...I don't give thumbs down on my questions.If I don't like your answer as it would pertain to the question I simply won't rate it with up or down.Because I appreciate everyone who takes the time to answer civil. Thank you

DAR...LOL..I've been there myself.Just want some input from some who said they've lived there.Because things don't jive with what I've seen,read and heard.

Astucias..Spelling? Sorry...anyway, how about the 2 places I named?Bear in mind I've been to one of them and seen poverty beyond belief.Also soldiers roaming the streets and children begging.

Chiapas and Jiquipilco?

Answer 1

I lived in different areas of Mexico for several years. First, I was an exchange student with a wonderful family in Queretaro. This family is from Spain, politically involved with the state, and, very, very wealthy. We traveled throughout Mexico, and, our "staff" came with us. The servants home is bigger than my home here in the US. We went to Puerto Vallarta, Michoacan (got stuck in a mountain), Guadalajara, Mexico City, and, San Luis Potosi all for more than a week each. Each time we went we took along the cook, housekeeper, mechanic, and, "assistant" (who ran errands- and, I suspect had an on-going affair with the father). They had 5 children, and, hosted myself and another girl from France on exchange. This family owns a few hospitals, is closely involved with politics, and, owns a major bookstore in Mexico City. Living with these people was great. They have everything we have- I could watch the same shows I watch here on their Satelite tv, they go on an "around the world cruise" every summer. The parents of this family both have US- issued degrees. The kids have traveled throughout the USA, and, go to Disney world often.

I returned a few years later to live like a "commoner" beginning on the island of Isla Mujeres (near Cancun- but, not flashy, few Americans). I lived in a low-budget hotel, and, "hung out" with the people that lived there. (And, I got a picture of myself sitting on a shark-LOL). THen, I went to Mexico City, Monterey, and, back to visit my exchange family.

THis is what I can tell you: The differences between the rich and poor are huge. With the poor, we ate beans & eggs, hand washed our clothes, and bathed by having a bucket of water poured over our heads. My clothing was stolen from the line. I witnessed police (several men) rape a woman during a comedy show in front of everyone after her husband objected to their emptying peoples wallets. They raped her and discussed it, saying they hoped she would be pregnant, and held his head to watch. They were both crying, as was I. I was told to stop (friends I was with) and that if they realized I was American I would be in trouble. In another city, I was felt up by cops repeatedly (they just squeeze into you as you walk by), a friend I was with was told I would be "arrested" if he didn't give them money. THe poor live in fear. They are abused by government and the rich. There are people (a lot) that sleep on streets and bathe in fountains. Children are homeless and alone and are encouraged to sniff glue by the government (it makes them not feel hunger). Taxi drivers are known for raping women (Mexico City). There are wild dogs running everywhere. At street corners, people will do anything for money- breathing fire, desperately washing cars, etc. There are no programs for the deformed or crippled. They are beggars, and, often go hungry- sitting at street corners. People with down syndrome or similar are often killed as babies or young children by parents or neighbors. There are bugs (scorpions), and snakes that can kill you. The general population lives in 2 room homes (1 general room, 1 bedroom) that are built on the side of mountains. There aren't windows. If you have holes in the cement of your home you are "lucky" for ventilation. Nothing grows in the soil in Monterey (no clue why)... The "entertainment" becomes the children, and, the bible. Praying is a family activity. We talked about death a lot. Kids die young. Drinking is common, so is having a "mistress". Families have both parents working (often) and they are still barely putting rice & beans on the table. Lucky people are able to buy a cart to sell food from. They actually make enough money to live on, but, are often robbed. Citizens in Mexico can't own a gun, but, the police carry rifles at all times. There is no system of "checks and balances". If a cop kills someone, he is not questioned. There are no consequences. The police have killed people that protest on several occasions. There are people that have just "disappeared" after being arrested by police. The sad reality is this, if you have money, you can buy your way out from police brutality (usually). The father of my exchange family, though, couldn't at one point. He was taken into the country, beaten, and, had has wallet & car stolen- by the police!!! I was outraged, and couldn't believe he didn't do anything- he just said there was nothing he could do. There was no one to report it to.

The differences between the rich and poor are so much. And, if you simply go there and live in tourist areas, you don't get it. The touristy areas are "pretty" and "cleaned up" so as not to offend American & European senses. The poor are tortured and bullied continually. There are no social programs for children, the disabled, or the poor. It is horrible.

Now, would I go back? Yes. I plan on it. I love it. I love the food, the music, the countryside, the hospitality of the people, the laid back environment, and, personally, the hope that I can help someone. Oh, and, I left days after seeing the woman group raped in the club. It took me a couple years before going back again....

Answer 2

It must not be that bad off becuase Mexico deported over 250,000 illegal immigrants last year alone. So they are coming there becuase it must be better than where they are from.

I have been to mexico and to some of the poorer areas (guadalajara) While it is worse than america it was by far not that bad. I have also been to Haiti if you want to see real desperation try a place like that, The US had to halt cruise ships from going there at one time becuase the Hatians found out that kids begging by the cruise ships got more money and that kids with deformities got even more money. The parents were known to break the arm or leg of their child and set the bone so it healed inproperly so their kid could get more money while begging.

The Mexican's just want to skip the legal way. Many of them pay more than alot of American's have in their bank account to get guides to get them across the border.

Answer 3

I've been plenty of times but not to many places. It isn't the U.S. by any stretch but then I've lived in Asian countries and Mexico isn't worse, only different.

I have family and extended family from there and living there.

My best assessment is second-hand information from a very close college friend who came legally to study. He told me this over 15 years ago. His town wasn't bad but needed more public utilities and schools. But the government wouldn't spend the money for it.

me: Why not?

he: There are two classes (he said 'kinds') of people in Mexico. My family taught me to study, better myself, move up. The other class (kind) of people teaches their kids that anyone who picks up a book does it so they don't have to pick up a shovel.

me: You mean reading is an excuse not to work?

he: Yep. Why build schools and services most of the people just mess up?

In that same conversation, he told me to look out, in a few years, those people would be everywhere up here because, since they quit school as soon as their old enough to work, then, as soon as they start working, they start families.

In my own apartment neighborhood, I personally know that a majority of the young girls living here had their first child before 15 (at least 3 at 13). Each of them had between 3 and 6 before age 25. Those mothers were born here. What is to be so different about their kids who are born here? Those kids are nearly teens.

This really is a problem of numbers. And condom sense.



...

Answer 4

I live in Mexico, central Mexico, and those stories are bullpucky. Every one I know here is working, say what they want, have cars, houses, some have horses too. They work at every kind of job, they do not live 20 in a house, are free to do pretty much whatever they want.
Where I live there are very few "gringo's" and no tourist's, the people are great, lots of job openings. Most are a little over weight, happy, with no plans to head for usa.

Answer 5

Life is what you make out of it. As long as you have enough to eat, you can be happy. A simple fisherman, can have a happier life than we do. As Austacias, stated some people see what they don't have and are unhappy. THose are the ones who leave to find a better life. . I don't think starvation is a major problem in Mexico, but the quality of the food is. I don't think they have a varied diet, to ensure good health.
When people say their poor, you need to keep in mind that poor is a relative term. If you compare the poor in the US, to the poor in Mexico, you would notice a big difference. The same can be said of the poor in Mexico, compared to those in Africa. I have a Hispanic friend who I offered to drive to a mall to get a discounted bread maker. I warned her that the neighborhood might be considered bad for some. She understood and told me she use to live there. Her daughter was on a date and bragged about her old home, and was shocked that her male friend thought the neighborhood was considered bad. I personally didn't think the neighborhood was that bad, but I new what other perception might be. I;m sure some of the Southern areas are relatively worse than other areas. I'm sure the abuse is greater there than here. People get use to abuses and their norms are reset to adjust to the environment. Some see the abuses and thinks it's normal. It's hard to understand, because you didn't live their life. If you listen to some people, they are happier living in a mud hut than living in the US.

As to those who describe Mexico to you, some of them have agendas. Believe it or not, there are Mexican officials who do come to this site. I saw atleast one who got mad at us.

When I think about abuses in the world, Mexico would not be in the front of my mind. THere is so much suffering in the world, and the only reason the Chiapas is on my mind is that I do not believe we should have allowed Nafta to occur with a country like Mexico. We here complain about how bad it is here in respect to illegal immigration and the problems of a developed nation being next door to a third world nation, we should keep in mind the horrors in Zimbabwe and the illegal immigration problem in South Africa. THe only way you will know for sure is to go there and look into their eyes and ask them how do they feel. If they say their happy , but there is fear in their eyes, you will know the truth. AS for the list of what makes portions of Mexico bad, what should be on the top of the list is education. I ramble long enough so good nite. I like Amanda's answer, but don' tell her.

Edit: jeez Amanda is long winded, and I thought I out wrote her. If you didn't quite understand what I was talking about you can be happy and poor, read Amanda's statement about wanting to go back there again because it's laid back.

Answer 6

I went to Mexico 3 years ago, and loved it. It was like 20 hours into mexico, where people would call the 'poor' part, and I wouldn't mind living there forever. It is so peaceful, and everyone was so nice. They had the outdoor markets. I wouldn't say it's a horrible place to live at all.

Answer 7

Mind control

Answer 8

I have traveled all over Mexico and it is a different culture and is hard to be among so much hard ship> That's why there all trying to come to the USA>Unless you have been there an seen it than there is no way you could understand>It's a beautiful country an nice people>There different than the 1s here>

Answer 9

Mexico is only wonderful if you are at Cancun at one of the all inclusive resorts. What they are failing to tell you is that by millions of illegal aliens flooding into the U.S. soon they will drag it down to be just like Mexico. Have you ever been in Tijuana? No bathrooms. Only pipes in the street I had to squat over. Coming to an American city near you.

Answer 10

Someone is going to make up your mind for you?

This I have got to see.

Locations in Mexico vary. Some are poor. Some of the industrial standards in residential areas would shock you. Some areas are rich, and others are middle class.

What is America like?

Watts?

Compton?

Beverly Hills?

Wisconsin?

It is a big country.

Answer 11

My brother lived in Mexico for a few years and loved it. I can only repeat what he said. But keep in mind there are many parts of the US that are just nightmares to live in, so I guess Mexico would be no different.