Contents of Post
I wasn’t planning on tackling Mexico so soon. I had been compiling all the events and notes from our trip and thought it was still time out. Yet as next week begins the 2022 Nomadic Inscriptions Choice Awards, I realized that it was essential to address some of the myths about Mexico as a sort of preface.
Let’s debunk some of these common myths.
Mexico Is Dangerous
The most common myth about Mexico is that it’s dangerous. Given the recent news about the unfortunate kidnappings and loss of lives that surfaced, now is a good time to address this.
Coming from Canada and having lived in the states, the rumours of the dangers of Mexico were stressed heavily. Even now, the travel advisories from the U.S. and Canada recommend either exercising a high degree of caution or, for some regions, not travelling entirely.
My entire life there has been constant fearmongering about Mexico and it’s downright unfair. My mother refuses to ever go there because she’s terrified of all the things that might happen.
Yet every country, even every city, in the world has areas that are safe and areas that are less than safe or even dangerous. You need to be smart and stay safe no matter where you go.
From my own experience, I would have to stress that I actually felt safer travelling through Mexico than through the U.S. or even Canada when I went back shortly after my Mexico trip.
When I asked someone about this while there, they explained things in a weird, but oddly comforting way. They stated:
“When it comes to the cartels, the biggest of them all is the government. With both the government and the other cartels, one of the main ways money is made is through tourists and travellers. Why would they want to harm one of their primary revenue sources?”
Alas, my experiences may mean little to nothing. Therefore, I’ll give you the official statement by Fair.org, “Scary Headlines Hype Dangers Rarely Faced By Tourists In Mexico”
Do with that what you will
Addressing The Recent Kidnappings And Deaths
I would understand if anyone said, “But Jenson, four Americans were just kidnapped in Mexico and two died!”
True, it happens. Yet it happens everywhere. Hell, it’s estimated that 2,300 children go missing every day in the U.S. that’s not even mentioning adults.
However, I’m going to set aside the “It’s worse elsewhere” argument, since it’s just bad. Let’s actually look at how things have panned out since.
According to ABC News, Mexican investigators believe that the cartel members responsible thought that these Americans were rival human or drug traffickers. Yet, that’s not even the big hitter.
Due to the events that occurred, the cartel not only made an official apology, but also turned in 5 of its members to the authorities. According to BBC news, the letter stated this happened, “under their own decision-making and lack of discipline” and broke the cartel’s rule of “protecting the lives of the innocent.”
Honestly, even if it’s a cover-up by the cartel, this is not something you see in Canada or the U.S. when it comes to kidnappings. I’ve never personally heard of it happening anywhere else. Perhaps it does, but I don’t know of it.
So with that information, why would you consider Mexico more dangerous than the streets of Los Angeles, New York, or Red Deer?
This myth about Mexico has, in my opinion, been hammered by the rest of North America to make their southern neighbour look very bad unnecessarily. Maybe at one point, it was like this, but as long as you’re smart while travelling you should be safe.
Mexico Is Dirty
I don’t even understand where this one comes from. Yet it’s almost always North Americans that I hear this from. It’s a myth about Mexico that is ignorant and uninformed at best. Plus it’s completely hypocritical.
Every time I ask what someone means, their go-to is that trash is everywhere. Sometimes pollution will be mentioned.
It’s sad. Everywhere we have been in Mexico has been incredibly clean. In fact, out of everywhere I have been so far in the world, Canada and the U.S. have been the worst for litter and trash being everywhere. Granted, I haven’t been to the alleged dirtiest countries in the world, but Mexico is nowhere on that list.
When it comes to pollution, Mexico apparently doesn’t fare too much worse than the States.
Getting A Tattoo In Mexico Is A Horrible Idea
Everything I’ve ever seen or heard about getting a tattoo in Mexico can be boiled down to one word: Don’t.
There was always the “you’ll contract a disease”, “It’s unclean, unsafe, and downright unsanitary”, or “Any tattoo from Mexico is certain to become infected.”
I want to nip this myth about Mexico in the bud. Actually no… I want to squash it like the worthless, stupid insect it is. Especially since it is one I fell for.
Every single tattoo studio I went into in Mexico was immaculate. They might even be the cleanest I’ve yet seen worldwide. Far cleaner than any studio I’ve been to in other North American countries. Plus, they follow all the same methods and sanitary precautions I’ve seen in tattoo studios worldwide.
Honestly, if I were to pick any country to get another tattoo in right now, it would be Mexico. I’ve had some pretty sketchy and wild tattoo experiences, such as the Mongolia one. Mexico is certainly in the top 5 in best tattoo experiences.
It’s Always Hot In Mexico
I can see how this might be believed. You watch a movie or show that features Mexico and you see the desert and that sepia-like filter. You almost expect Mexico to just look like that. It doesn’t by the way.
It’s a given that there are some very hot areas in Mexico; some areas may be hot all year round. However, it’s not hot all the time in most areas. In fact, during almost our entire time in Mexico City, it was pretty cool. Lisa, my wife, wore a sweater and I wore shorts and a t-shirt.
You have to understand, though, I’m pure Canadian. We hit much over 20 degrees Celsius/77 Fahrenheit and I start melting.
The temperature range on average is from 15-27 degrees Celsius/59-81 Fahrenheit, depending on where you are in the country.
Mexico Is Nothing But Desert
I mean, this is just stupid. How would they feed their country if it was just desert?
Mexico has deserts, mountains, coasts, and gorgeous, luscious rainforests. It’s also a huge exporter of Avocados, so everyone can have their avocado on toast.
In fact, the export of vegetables is one of the highest contributors to their GDP.
This may just be the stupidest of the myths about Mexico.
Mexico Is A Poor Third World Country Rampant With Crime And Savages
I hope after going through the myths about Mexico that we’ve covered so far that this one hurt you as much to read as it did for me to write.
I’m going to cover this in pieces. Starting with savages. Man, Mexicans are so friendly and considerate. Their civility is impressive. Every time there was even a hint of the need for a line, they just line up and wait patiently. They do this for the bus! Every country I’ve been to so far tends to just clump up for public transport, and some even fight to get on first. Yet a country that is supposedly “rampant with savages” is far more civil and respectful than where I come from.
To address the other points, by the definition given by the U.N., Mexico could technically be considered a first-world country. Yet, most seem to consider it to be a developing or third-world country, even though it has the second-highest GDP in all of Latin America. However, there is a large amount of disparity between the rich and poor, but show me a country where that isn’t true, and I’ll show you a flying pig! The lowest is Slovenia with 24.6% and that’s the only one under 25%!
When it comes to crime, it really depends on which statistics you’re looking at. If you look at the statistics of all crimes individually, there are certain areas they do rank high. Yet if you compare each statistic to America, you will see that the overall crime rate is arguably lower in Mexico than in the U.S.
All Mexican Food Is Spicy And Will Give You Food Poisoning
I can see where this particular myth about Mexico came from. One thinks Mexico and they might think salsa, peppers, and spice.
Yet, just like in any country, there are people who do and don’t like spice. I love spicy food, it brings me great joy. Yet, somehow the majority of the food I had while there was either only slightly spicy or not spicy at all. I had to hunt a bit to find the level of spice I wanted.
It’s unfair to make assumptions about food based on the few things one knows about a country. That’s how we get things like “all Canadians love maple syrup. They drink it up there.” It’s ridiculous.
Let’s Finish By Talk About The Myths About Mexico and Countries In General
When it comes to myths about Mexico or any country, there is not much to be said. It’s usually a pathetic twist of fact and stereotypes that are fuelled by hatred or a lack of understanding.
It’s detrimental to us as humans to rely on and believe in these myths any more than one might believe in folklore, myths, and legends. Believing in Santa Claus is cute while young, but would be ridiculous coming from an adult.
We do ourselves a disservice when we believe or spread these things. Plus, we contribute to the harm inflicted on our fellow humans that come from those places. We should be ashamed of it.
The first time Croatia and the other Balkan countries were explained to me, it was in the sense of this uncivilized, barbaric, and savage places and people. If I had believed that, then I wouldn’t have made two of my best friends, Jo and Valentina, or fallen in love with Croatia and its vast history.
When you hear something about another country, don’t just believe it. Take time to consider what might be behind that information and go see yourself, so you can make your own conclusions. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
What are some myths about Mexico or other countries that you’ve heard about that are false? Let’s bust some myths together in the comments below.
Until next time, stay authentic, stay Nomadic, and let the world inscribe itself upon you more than you inscribe yourself upon it.
