Hi Francine.
I really enjoyed your article. It was immaculately spot on, er, I mean spot off.
Not exactly one of the common stereotypes regarding Mexico, however, cleanliness of one's home, like in Germany, is an obsession here. Passed on intergenerationallty by her mother who inherited it (genetically and/or culturally?) from hers, Maria, my wife, is perpetually cleaning even when there is nada to clean. Which, of course, prompts me to ask her "were all Mexican women born with brooms in their hands?" I think much of this cleanliness obsession at home and adjoining sidewalks is directly linked to the concept of "que diran"/"what will others say" as many Mexicans live their lives predicated on peer pressure.
Unfortunately, in Mexico this concern for cleanliness is only in or near one's home as a large percentage of people will throw basura/garbage in any public area without giving it a thought-alas, this is also passed on intergenerationally.
It seems like Maria purchases baking soda by the multi-kilo pack! Hence, it also seems that our refrigerator has more containers with baking soda in them than food.
When I was a chef in Thailand, I was told about a German chef from another hotel who said that he would make his Thai cooks remove their shoes before entering his office. PLEEEEASE!!! National obsession or not, I refused to shake his hand when I was eventually introduced to him (as it was not verboten for farang/foreign chefs to enter his castle while wearing their clogs or whatever style of shoes they were wearing).
Last edited by Les-Mexico; 09/12/12 08:25 AM.