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Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 11/27/2005 7:12:27 PM
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Squirt
Posts: 124
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As you all know, I do not post very much -- in fact, for those of you who don't know me, I am Maggie's husband.
Anyway, we had a great time and experienced some very interesting things. Maggie will primarily be the one to write about our trip, but I had one or two observations I would like to share.
First, I need to provide some background. I was lucky enough in college to minor in Spanish and to spend a summer at the University of Guanajuato in Guanajuota (hereinafter GTO) Mexico. GTO is about 200 miles NW of Mexico city. It is a small city of about 50,000 people tucked in between low mountains. When I came back from that summer (can't believe it was 1990), I would describe myself as fairly proficient in Spanish. Although I have forgotten/lost alot of my ability to speak Spanish, I am still sufficiently proficient to carry on a reasonable conversation and to be understood.
So -- here is what was amazing to me. One night I am talking to the bartender when the bar was a little slow (in Spanish of course) and he told me I am the only person he can remember who ever even attempted to have any type of conversation in Spanish. I found this to be amazing. I continued (in Spanish) by asking him how often customers bothered to order in Spanish -- he said it was pretty rare. I guess I would have expected more. I kinda find this interesting. Maybe the fact that I lived in the country (albiet for just a summer) makes me look at these things a little differently. I enjoy trying to speak Spanish -- no one ever slams me for my grammar (which gets worse by the year) and they seem to appreciate the effort (even when I butcher the language). So -- if anyone fears trying to speak Spanish while in Mexico -- I'd like to say give it a whirl. I think people will appreciate the effort -- especially when in an AI resort.
I think Mags touched on this one but I wanted to offer my own thoughts on this one. One night I saw an obnoxious guy b*tch about not being able to get Canadian Mist at the bar. Then he made some cuts on "tipping" the bartender --- something about "we'll I can always just tip him a buck" or something along those lines. Had I been back in my college days, I probably would have walked over, spouted some obscenities at the guy and clocked him. Fortunately, I am not in my college days and I kept my mouth shut. Anyway, I just wanted to throw out how offensive I find people who are so disrespectful -- especially when staying in someone else's country.
Finally, I think Mags touched on this -- but we noticed a lot of people taking sea shells off the beach and having them dry out on patios outside of there rooms. In case you don't know, this is illegal in Mexico and if you get caught doing it, you'll get in some serious trouble. Also, when I returned from Mexico U.S. Customs asked whether I had any sea shells or coral (after I mentioned that I went diving) -- I said absolutely not. Good thing -- you have that stuff, and they confiscate and incinerate it. Aside from being illegal -- taking shells and coral (even if it is dead on the beach) is very unfriendly ecologically.
Anyway -- continue to look out for Maggie's post -- uh, oh -- here she comes, looks like I have to get off the computer.
Sincerely yours,
Squirt
< Message edited by Squirt -- 11/27/2005 8:29:56 PM >
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 11/27/2005 8:30:54 PM
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trishaluna
Posts: 223
Joined: 1/10/2005
From: Boston
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Thanks for the post. It will encourage me to butcher the language some more! Just kidding, my spanish in college, upon graduation was also very good. Although now, 12 years later is very very rusty but I love attempting to speak spanish while on vacation. I know that my grammar is so off base ( I cannot conjugate verbs for the life of me) but people respond. As far as the disprespectfullness of many travellers - it's sad and unfortunately common. It always makes me work harder at showing my gratitude for their wonderful service, warmth and amazing country that I'm visiting.
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 11/27/2005 9:27:36 PM
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Whitney
Posts: 4022
Joined: 2/6/2005
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I told my self i have a life..and DO NOT LOG ON..
but squirt, wow, do i wish these were your college days.
it makes me SICK how people go on and on about the most shallow of all things..Whisky for cryin out loud!!
How relaxation is mistaken for laziness..
How developing country is mistaken for 'no initative"
How MY way is the ONLY way.
I don't complain about a dang thing in Mexico when it comes to the people, the service, the ameneties, nothin.
Life is too short and people are too precious.
Maggie nailed it in her post...guy's house has been hit by hurricanes, he's trying to take care of his family and put a roof, literally over their heads..and some guy can't get his brand so it's the end of the world
that's just freeking shameful.
This is why we over tip, people.
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It's not what you know, it's who you are.
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 11/27/2005 9:46:25 PM
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GuestI
Posts: 25700
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Whitters: It was funny....coming back thru customs...they are asking what we have to declare we had one T-shirt.....the dude just looked at us as if we were crazy.....nope not so much...I want the Roo to be forever....we bring pix and stories and leave the Roo intact....I/we believe this is the only responsible way to travel.
Cheers-
Mags
< Message edited by Maggie -- 11/27/2005 10:50:43 PM >
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For Saskia: Odota, anna minun ajaa se pois!
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 11/27/2005 10:32:15 PM
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Rose
Posts: 12472
Joined: 9/28/2004
From: Toronto
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Nice observations Squirt. Isn't it dreadful that people don't even make the slightest effort to speak a little of the language when in a different country. I can get by in Spanish (have to dig out my CD's and do a refresher before Feb). We were in Greece a couple of months ago and I learned just half a dozen phrases by heart and used them constantly. Everyone there speaks English, but, it's not the point - people appreciate it when you make the effort. There's NO EXCUSE for not being able to say, at the very least "Hello", "Yes", "Thank You" and "No Thank You".
So embarrassing when people make such a fuss. Like everyone else, I wish you'd been back in your College Days. Don't think I'd have been able to keep my mouth shut.
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I left my heart in Buenos Aires AGAIN.
November 8th - St.Lucia here we come!
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 11/28/2005 8:54:06 AM
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CoffeeGrounded
Posts: 7430
Joined: 1/25/2005
From: DFW
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Thanks for reporting, Squirt, and thanks for putting the word out again: IT IS ILLEGAL TO TAKE SHELLS AND CORAL!
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 11/28/2005 9:05:24 AM
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GuestI
Posts: 25700
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quote:
ORIGINAL: CoffeeGrounded
Thanks for reporting, Squirt, and thanks for putting the word out again: IT IS ILLEGAL TO TAKE SHELLS AND CORAL!
Additionally, if caught you will face a fine and potentially have charges pressed....now this is the really nasty part..........that needs to be highlighted again.....
All shells coral (live/dead) get burnt! Yes, you heard me burned alive!!!!....this is a direct quote from the customs agent we spoke with on 11/26.
So please just take a picture and share your love of the Roo and take a moment to educate others....IMHO this is the only responsible thing to do.
Cheers-
Mags
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For Saskia: Odota, anna minun ajaa se pois!
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 11/28/2005 10:04:43 AM
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Melinda and Scott
Posts: 145
Joined: 10/30/2005
From: Estevan, Saskatchewan
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I was wondering about sand myself. I try to speak my best spanish when I'm in Mexico which isn't very good spanish (gets better the more I drink or at least I think it does; actually I think it is better because I'm not so self consious that I am saying it perfectly) The Mexican's have always complemented me on my very basic, poor spanish. I think they appreciate that you try. They are very respectful when you murder their language and help you to say it correctly. Remember you only need a few basic words like cervaza and camerones.
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 12/4/2005 1:28:38 PM
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LewesDE
Posts: 2619
Joined: 8/30/2005
From: Lewes, Delaware
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Hey Squirt, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and observations. I will make a greater attempt to butcher the language as often as I can!
Glad to hear you had a great time!
watching the Weather Channel last night, looks like you guys got snow?
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"Half of this game is 90% mental" -Danny Ozark, Philadelphia Phillies Manager
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 12/6/2005 12:30:33 PM
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pdbwill
Posts: 83
Joined: 6/6/2005
From: Malibu, California
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Squirt,
I couldn't agree with you more. I always use my rather pedestrian spanish as much as possible and it's a nice challenge to try and improve over the trip. The only time I meet resistance is when a a front-desk clerk or some other hotel manager prefers english and gets impatient w/ my meanderings in spanish. Otherwise the locals I talk with really enjoy the basic courtesies and the fact I'm willing to try and use their language and customs. It's an enjoyable part of the experience.
Sounds like you had a great trip.
Will
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 12/7/2005 4:27:38 PM
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lasekeye
Posts: 120
Joined: 9/6/2005
From: British Columbia, Canada
Status: offline
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Thanks so much for the note on shells, we always comb the beaches...now I know to leave them there.
Last year in the DR, one of the resort workers in passing, said the usual como esta?, just like he did to all the other tourists that day. Yet, I think I got his best smile when I was able to reply, bien gracies. His smile got bigger as he asked habla espanol?, and at least I could reply, poco espanol.
I am really glad that I took the spanish crash course at out local community college. We don't travel as often as I would like, but I know that our vacations will always include a beach, and usually the spanish language.
I try to introduce ourselves in spanish, and order at the bar in spanish. I know that what I can say isn't the best ( and very limited), but I can tell they enjoy the effort.
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RE: Tulum with Maggie -- A Couple of Observations - 12/7/2005 6:21:10 PM
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stargazer
Posts: 183
Joined: 7/17/2005
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Status: offline
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Squirt, that was a really great post, and as many others have observed....it is rather shocking that someone would go to another country and have something so seemingly insignificant to b*tch about. Whiskey of all things.....honestly!
I only took 8 lessons in Spanish...a "crash" course as another poster observed...but I'm amazed at how much more I understand than can speak when in Mexico. This certainly makes me want to pull out my dog-eared lessons and re-read them before we venture down at the end of January (they travel with me, but rarely make it out of my carry on unless I'm searching for a specific word or phrase). As a matter of fact, I think I will. I can only imagine how difficult it is for them to learn English, and then, in most cases have to speak it for 12 hours a day every day. However, I am usually able to get my request or question across....god knows how!
As for the shells, coral and sand...I remember words I heard years ago "take only memories and leave only footprints"....
Thanks for the reality check.
Jennifer
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