Uncontroversial – the food. We eat much more fresh products and much less canned, frozen, prepared. We eat lower on the food chain, more beans, rice and corn, less meat. We eat more things grown closer, fewer things shipped from far away. We mostly buy in the open air street market and eat seasonally.

Somewhat controversial perhaps – walking down the street. First we do a lot more walking here, partly because of the weather but mostly I think because things are set up for walking and more people do more of it. Second, virtually everyone speaks to you on the street, at least a simple “buenos dias” or “buenos tardes.” People seem much more courteous. It is hard to do anything without inquiries about one’s family, etc.

Perhaps more controversial – respect seems more important. One shows it and receives it. A young woman I work with (volunteer on my part) asked if I preferred to be addressed as “tu” or “usted.” Because I am 40 years older than she, she felt uncomfortable addressing me as “tu” without my permission. Even young “punks,” “emos” and “darkos” here tend to be more polite than adults in the north.

Quite controversial probably – Mexico has a constitutional provision forbidding the stationing of foreign troops on its soil and forbidding the stationing of Mexican troops on foreign soil. It constitutionally forbids the sickness of invasion and imperialism.

I know that is 4 and not 2 things, but it is hard to stop at even 4 – I agree with the 2 above as well.

Now hubby wants to move to Thailand next… all I can think is- yeah there’s cave diving, but I haven’t spent 2/3 of my life learning Thai!!!

Mexico definitely has its downsides, but these were some of the areas that I noticed and thought “I wish the US was more like that!”

Anyway, a very informative post, thanks!

If not, well, it looks like I could be a part of any future interviews. We take it one day at a time at the moment! lol