It is my experience that gringos in all of Latin America are constantly shaken down in virtually every transaction by government entities and citizens, and are considered to be “walking billfolds”.
The Latinos have a unerring sense of whether or not the gringo is right off the banana boat thinks the Latinos are honest and noble. After the gringo lives in one of these countries for ten, fifteen years, the natives lay off a little, knowing that you have learned they will try to fleece you.
And another thing–try going to university in Mexico (as a college friend of mine did to get some medical degree) and NOT SPEAKING SPANISH! As opposed to the US, where I couldn’t get a school counselor job in west Texas BECAUSE MY SPANISH WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH!
It is my experience that gringos in all of Latin America are constantly shaken down in virtually every transaction by government entities and citizens, and are considered to be “walking billfolds”.
The Latinos have a unerring sense of whether or not the gringo is right off the banana boat thinks the Latinos are honest and noble. After the gringo lives in one of these countries for ten, fifteen years, the natives lay off a little, knowing that you have learned they will try to fleece you.
And another thing–try going to university in Mexico (as a college friend of mine did to get some medical degree) and NOT SPEAKING SPANISH! As opposed to the US, where I couldn’t get a school counselor job in west Texas BECAUSE MY SPANISH WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH!