Dehydrate AND laugh with this week’s collection:

Meme translation: “If you’re not happy, then you have failed as a worm.”

What does it meme? Spoiler alert: Paulo Coelho (famed Brazilian lyricist and novelist) didn’t really say this. In fact, I’m not sure he even spoke Spanish. Such is the internet – brimming with often very untrue, but often very funny, content.

Anyway! Notice how “feliz” (happy) and “lombriz” (worm) rhyme in Spanish? “Feliz como lombriz” (Happy as a worm) is the Spanish equivalent to the cutesy “Happy as a clam” in English. So unless you want to fail as a worm – and I don’t believe you do – it’s time to get happy, STAT!

Meme translation: “I declare war against my worst enemy, which is… (clockwise from top) my boss; CFE (the state electricity company); the heat; the bill collector (an informal role by someone who sells on credit or in payments and then comes to collect periodically); love; my neighbor; his damned little “friend”; Coppel (a popular department store in Mexico that gives terrible opportunities for buying on credit).”

What does it meme? Well. It seems we’re all a little irritable lately, and unfortunately, have plenty of reasons to feel that way. And hey, I’ll also admit it: sometimes you’re just in a bad mood and whatever happens to pop up in front of you when you’re feeling that way becomes The Absolute Worst. 

What’s got us irritable? Spin the wheel and find out!

Meme translation: “Mexicans trying tacos anywhere else in the world.”

What does it meme? Mexicans are not known for their pretentiousness, but I think most people would admit that they’ve earned the right to be absolutely intolerable snobs about tacos. The man in the photo is dressed as Anton Ego, the infamously dissatisfied food critic from Disney’s “Ratatouille.”

Now that a taco stand has won a Michelin star, there will probably be no living with them on this subject.

If you really want to get a Mexican going, tell them about your favorite Taco Bell order. If you want to see their head explode, talk about how much you appreciate Taco Bell as a seller of Authentic Mexican Food and wonder aloud why they don’t open any stores in Mexico.

Meme translation: “Oh, how I’d love to be a dried-out lime just hanging out in a nice, cool, fridge.”

What does it meme? Has the life of a dried-out lime ever looked so good? I’ve found myself lingering lately in front of my own refrigerator, basking in the cool air. 

And that’s about as good as it gets right now in the many areas of Mexico that don’t have air conditioning, because it is hot, hot, hot with no end (so far) in sight. When you start fantasizing about being a cold piece of fruit hurrying toward decomposition, you know things are getting intolerable.

Meme translation: “When you’re over 30 and you prefer to party at someone’s home, with music at a reasonable volume so you can chat.” 

What does it meme? Last weekend I went out for a “girls’ night” with some friends. We’d originally planned on a low-key bar not too far from my house, but then someone noticed they’d be having a show, with a cover no less: 100 pesos to listen to a Norwegian folk music soloist on a Saturday night.

We decided to avoid the “Midsommar” vibes and went to an Irish pub instead. And let me tell you: after a while there, we were dying for Norwegian folk music at a reasonable volume. Though we’d sat outside to avoid the noise, it was all in vain: after the soccer game (which had attracted many very loud fans), there was a Metallica cover band. 

Next time, we’re going to a friend’s house.

Meme translation: “I’m up, God. What time are you helping me, or how’s this going down?”

What does it meme? There’s a cute little rhyme in Spanish: “A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda” (God helps those who wake up early).

For this little chick unaccustomed to waking up early, the effort should result in some pretty immediate results. I especially love the phrase, “o cómo va a estar la onda,” as it’s so casual, as if it had been a deal struck the night before with one’s buddy.

Good luck, little guy! I hope someone gets back to you with that help.

Meme translation: “The ocean might have me beat on water, but it’s got nothing on me when it comes to salt.”

What does it meme? To be “salty” in Spanish is not quite the same as in English: here in Mexico, it means that you’re unlucky…the saltier you are, the unluckier you are. Indeed, “más salado que el mar” (saltier than the ocean) is a phrase I’ve heard several times.

The other phrase you’re probably not used to, “me la pela” means, in this case, that there’s no competition – that little doggie is the clear front-runner! 

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The post The most ‘chistoso’ Mexican memes you missed this week appeared first on Mexico News Daily

And that’s besides all the activists and journalists.

Sadder still is the fact that the killers are pretty much completely getting away with it. This fact that leads us to a painful truth: the people who say they’re in charge are not usually the people who actually are in charge. 

Why not?

Why can’t the government control the violence?

Like a lot of things, it’s complicated. But I think our editor Kate Bohné put it very well in her Substack essay, Bullets, not hugs. When democracy truly came to Mexico (with Vicente Fox’s election in 2000), it disturbed the uneasy, corruption-enabled peace that had been in place for decades. It also failed to provide a mechanism for rooting out the small-time players of “the old guard” at the municipal and law enforcement levels: “This shift exposed the “gray zones” of criminal-state collusion to the pressures of election cycles, which at a municipal level, are frequent (mayoral terms are only for three years). Under the one-party system, these local arrangements among cops, officials and smugglers were somewhat stable, but with the end of PRI hegemony, they became fractured.”

AMLO’s famous phrase of “hugs, not bullets” is not turning out to be, in the end, a winning strategy. I, like many, gave it the benefit of the doubt: if Calederón’s strategy of targeting the powerful cartels with everything we had led to an unprecedented time of violence in Mexico, perhaps a softer approach was in order. The idea was to take a pro-social approach to keeping young people from joining cartels in the first place by offering them plenty of opportunity to be successful otherwise, and meanwhile, to not take a swinging bat to the hornet’s nest of well-armed and well-organized criminal gangs the way Calderón did.

Unfortunately, most analysts have concluded that the result has mostly been what looks an awful lot like warm embraces for the bad guys and bullets for everyone else. I think we can all agree that this is not a winning strategy. 

The problem isn’t a nationwide one

These problems, of course, are localized: there are very safe places in Mexico and there are very unsafe places in Mexico, the same way you’d find in any other country.

But the fact that cartels feel so emboldened in their efforts to control elections on the local level is disturbing at worst, terrifying at best: they are extremely well-organized, and the fact they’ve been so successful in eliminating so many candidates they consider unsatisfactory certainly makes it seem like they’re two very big steps ahead on all fronts.

Terror sucks, but terror is extremely effective.

And it’s not that people don’t care. It’s simply that the problem seems too big to handle. How does one drain the ocean we’re all swimming in of sharks? (Actually, I need a better analogy, as sharks aren’t even close to being as dangerous as the cartels are…humans, maybe?).

On a national level, Mexico just doesn’t have the resources to send in a literal army to protect small-town mayorial candidates; and even if they did, there’s been plenty of documented collusion between criminal groups and the armed forces, anyway. It’s not that all of them are corrupt; most are not. But as we all know, it doesn’t take a majority to poison a group.

Are expats affected by any of this?

Mostly not much; as foreigners, we’re barred from participating in politics anyway, and most of us gravitate toward communities with reputations for safety when deciding where to visit or to live already. But it does mean that we need to make a point of not being naïve when evaluating the risks of certain actions. As a handful of unlucky foreigners and quite a lot of Mexicans can attest to, the bad guys here do not mess around.

So when you’re “doing your research,” make sure you’re also paying special attention to things like the reputations of certain driving routes if you decide to come by car (which I would not recommend, though I know plenty of people who have without a hitch). Keep your embassy’s emergency contact number on speed dial, and maybe even permanently share your location with someone back home. 

I’m not saying that you need to live in fear; what I am saying is that you need to remember that the justice system in Mexico is very, and perhaps extremely, different than the system you’re likely used to, and unnecessary risks should be 100% avoided.

Much to your shock, I am sure, I personally have not yet figured out a safe and fair path forward for so many swaths of Mexico to get out from under the drug cartels’ thumbs. 

And anyway, Mexico’s ongoing security issues are for Mexico to solve, and I do believe that this will happen, especially as more opportunities for individuals and the country as a whole open up.

In the meantime: have fun, yes, but stay safe, and remember that part of the fun and the risk of traveling is the fact that you simply can’t be in charge of everything that happens: be strategic about the risks you decide to take.

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The post The Mexico election and expats: What you should know appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Sending you a high five from my sweaty hand to yours, with prayers for rain and cool breezes in all our futures.

Meme translation: “There are two things I don’t publish on social media: my money and my partner. Not because I’m mysterious, but because I don’t have either.”

What does it meme? Well, it’s the thought that counts, I suppose! Privacy these days is an illusion anyway.

Meme translation: “Hey… what year is it?” 

“173 Before Christ.” 

“Who’s Christ?” 

“No idea.”

What does it meme? This one cracked me up because I’ve always wondered how people in the “B.C.” era counted their own years… before and after the agricultural revolution, perhaps?

However they did it, we know the Mexica and ancient Maya had their own advanced calendars, which you can see at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.

Meme translation: “I started seeing someone.” 

“Like going out with them, or like you’re hallucinating?”

What does it meme? Besides being cute, this meme makes for a good little Spanish lesson. 

“To see someone” means the same thing in English as “ver a alguien” does in Spanish — at last, an actual translatable phrase in which the various meanings are the same! Those can be hard to find, I know.

And by the way, if you’re wondering about why it’s “ver” and not “mirar,” it’s simply the difference between “see” and “look at.”

Meme translation: “The important thing is to eat a wide variety of food.” 

“Me choosing six different types of bread.”

What does it meme? If there’s ever an excuse presented for eating more pan dulce, I will 100% take it every time.

If you haven’t been inside a traditional Mexican bakery, you’re missing out. It took me a bit initially to get used to the drier consistency — they’re usually dipped in coffee, milk or hot chocolate — but once I did, I was all in. Go ahead, try every kind!

Meme translation: “Well I do like it when people give me little gifts made out of paper… the deed to a property, for example.”

What does it meme? The generation of workers who will never be able to afford to buy anything but a tiny sliver of property is upon us, on both sides of the border. For many, their only hope is inheriting something from an older, richer generation.

Even so, no one wants to seem shallow or “interesado,” the adjective we’d use for someone who’s only interested in someone’s money. So whether it’s an origami rose or a deed to a house, hey — we’ll take it!

Meme translation: “Today I’m going to look fabulous!” 

“Good morning every…!” 

“This damn sun is the worst…” 

“Yeah, just horrible!”

What does it meme? Poor sun. It’s coming out for all of us, and who appreciates it?

With temperatures reaching painful highs all over Mexico in the past few weeks, it’s been hard to appreciate the lovely golden rays beating down on all of us. 

By the way, a note on the vocabulary: we covered “pinche” a few week ago in my article on curse words, but not “culero,” which is also a bad word that can mean everything from coward to asshole to something terrible.

Meme translation: “No amount of self-love can replace the support of a community.”

What does it meme? This one is sweet rather than funny, and it’s one of the many lessons that I think we can all learn from Mexican culture. You might get tired of spending 6-hour Sunday dinners with the family or having to show up to every cousin’s birthday party, but hey: it beats the loneliness of isolation every time and there’s no replacing real face-to-face support and community.

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The post Mirthful Mexican memes to manifest merriment appeared first on Mexico News Daily

I’ve seen the roots of some of our most famous stereotypes (beware the flying chancla!) and the realities of what it really means to raise a child here (spoiler alert: guilt and paralyzing fear are universal mom feelings). 

Many people, even those who don’t live in Mexico, will be familiar with Mexico’s patron saint and most popular archetype of the perfect mom: la Virgen de Guadalupe. She is selfless. She is doting. She will sacrifice anything for her children, who are her greatest loves (Joseph who?).

The idea of “traditional” Mexican motherhood is rooted in the reverence of the characteristics exemplified by la virgen, and women were long expected (and sometimes still, unrealistically expected) to wait on their children hand and foot, who, by the way, could do no wrong.

Well, the male children, anyway. The girls would typically be put to work learning the arts of homemaking, cooking, and childcare, the assumption being that they needed to be trained to serve their future husbands and children. 

Another prominent characteristic of Mexican motherhood is one that I’m still occasionally caught off guard by: children are treated as very young children for a long, long time. You might have noticed manifestations of this in the form of male children as old as nine going into the women’s bathroom with their mothers in public places, for example, or hearing mothers say things like “I’ve got to get home to bathe my children” (who are quite a bit older than five).

But things are changing: Mexico’s economy, just like most other economies in the world, rarely provides for salaries large enough to provide for the needs of an entire family these days; increasingly, households require two working parents in order to make ends meet. Unfortunately for mothers’ nerves, the expectations of what it means to be a “good mother” haven’t changed all that much despite this shift.

This means that many of those perfect mother ideals simply cannot be met, though there are plenty who try: most all of my close mother friends struggle mightily to provide home-cooked meals — the only kind of food you give your kids if you truly love them around here, it would seem — and to sit with them to help with homework.

This economic reality has also given way to a new archetype: the mamá luchona (“struggling mom” — typically used sarcastically) often characterized as a young mother who leaves her children with her own parents or whoever else is willing to raise them while she goes out to work, study, party and date (I’m sure you can guess which of those activities mothers are accused of the most). 

And now with the exploding popularity of social media like TikTok and Instagram, we all get to see another stereotype of Mexican motherhood: that of the constantly screaming mother who runs a tight ship but cares nothing for her children’s emotional well-being. 

Her children act respectfully because they are afraid of her, sure that they’ll be in for a chanclazo (basically, getting a flip-flop thrown at them, or just being hit with it more directly) should they do or say the wrong thing. 

The videos on this subject are meant to be comical, and they are. The subtext seems to say, “We Mexicans aren’t emotionally coddled as children like our neighbors to the north; the rules don’t change because we have feelings about them.”

I will say this: when you’re busy working as well as being a mother, it’s tough to keep your kids in line, and yelling often ensues. I’ll admit that I’ve noticed this within my own circle of friends (and, occasionally, myself), most of my mom friends, even if they do everything for their children, really let their kids have it (verbally — I have yet to witness a flying flip-flop) when they mess up. 

I’ve heard some of them talk to their children in ways I wouldn’t dream of talking to mine, and can’t help but wonder if it will be something they are talking about on a therapist’s couch in 15 years. But I also see them going above and beyond for their children in ways that I do not, providing for some striking contrasts among our various sensibilities.

In the end, all stereotypes come from somewhere, from the chancla-throwing, hot-tempered Mexican mother to the coddling, feelings-first “gringa” mother whose children can get away with just about anything if they manage to convince her that it’s imperative to their mental health. But the realities of motherhood are always so much more nuanced than they appear, and there’s one thing we all have in common with la virgen: a fierce love for our children and a willingness to do just about anything for them.

So in the wake of Mother’s Day, just remember: we really are all doing our best.

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The post Do Mexican moms really throw sandals at their kids? appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Enjoy!

Meme translation: “Me listening to anti-systemic music on my way to my 9-5 salaried job.”

What does it meme? There’s the part of us that wants to rebel, and there’s the part of us that needs to earn money so we can continue to feed, clothe and shelter ourselves.

Mexicans are nothing if not realists, which is why raging against the machine comes pretty far behind other priorities. With wages for most salaried positions quite low compared to ever-increasing living expenses, however, it’s easy to see why people might fantasize about it!

Meme translation: “Dude, just something chill and then we’ll be back by 11:00 p.m. at the latest.” 
What does it meme? “We” is a more phonetic spelling of the word güey, which most people – primarily young people and men when they talk informally to each other – use to mean “dude.”

Now, about “algo tranqui”: do not, I repeat, do not trust people when they assure you of this status regarding an outing or party. It’s short for “algo tranquilo” — something chill — and is absolutely not to be believed — which is the joke in the meme above!

So unless you’re willing to risk winding up looking like the animals in the second panel, beware!

Meme translation: “Me waiting for my husband to tell me that we’re millionaires and that this was all a test for me to prove my love to him.”

What does it meme? Most of us marry for love these days, but marrying for money has its obvious merits. And once the honeymoon phase dies down, it’s normal to fantasize about at least a combo of sorts!

Meme translation: “Best-seller. Kid Hamburger. 80-gram hamburger with cheddar cheese.” 

“Oh wow, now that interests me!”

What does it meme? This one is a little dark, I’ll admit. I’ll also admit that I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw it!

The above is a depiction of Tlaloc, the Mesoamerican rain god to whom children were routinely sacrificed, the idea being that this helped maintain the natural order. “Kid Hamburger” is as variably interpretable in Spanish as it is in English. Yikes!

Luckily for kids today, we’re way past the time of Tlaloc’s rule.

Meme translation: “So you die, and you make it to Mictlán. Mictlantecuhtli greets you and says: ‘What was that about, man? What do you mean you were praying to an image your conquerors used to indoctrinate you?’”

What does it meme? The above is Mictlantecuhtli, a Mesoamerican god  who rules over the dead and the underworld of Mictlán, which you might have an idea of if you’ve ever seem the popular Pixar movie “Coco.” 

And if you’ve spent much time with Mexican hippie academic types in the social sciences and humanities, you’ll certainly hear expressions of indignation at the fact that the conquerors of this country managed to get everyone to believe in their religion, instead.

Meme translation: (On sign) “Mexican Food” 

(Above text) “I’m really craving a mop.”

What does it meme? First of all, allow me to point out that I am not satisfied with my own translation of “antojitos.” It comes from the root word “antojo,” which means craving. “Snacks” is usually suggested in dictionaries, but they’re more than snacks and often even serve as dinner: empanadas, quesadillas, picadas, tostadas, taquitos fritos… that sort of thing. 

It looks like the business in the storefront above changed but, unfortunately, the new tenants forgot to change the sign. And that’s too bad, because I’d be way more excited about some delicious antojitos over cleaning supplies any day!

Meme translation: “Mexican Table of Equivalences for any Foreigner:” 

“If someone says this”  “This is what it really means.” 

“This has no chili peppers” – “It has no chili peppers.” 

“Not spicy at all” – “It’s spicy.” 

“Not spicy” – “It’s pretty spicy.” 

“A little spicy” – “It’s extremely spicy.” 

“Super spicy” – “Try at your own risk.” 

“Really damn spicy” – “We will not be held responsible if you decide to eat this.”

What does it meme? If you’ve ever fallen for a Mexican telling you that something’s not spicy, you’ll understand the necessity of the above table. (I tried finding the book this is apparently in, by the way, but couldn’t. If y’all know, let us know in the comments!).

Do as you would when proposed with a plan described as “algo tranqui”:  proceed with caution!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The post Magnificent Mexican memes to make you laugh all the way to Mictlán appeared first on Mexico News Daily

There’s a word in Mexico to specifically describe that feeling of discomfort from being around just too many people at once: engentar. (See the word “gente” (“people”) in there?)

It’s a word I use a lot, because – wouldn’t you know it – every time I decide it would be lovely to take a little trip somewhere, it seems everyone else has independently decided on the exact same thing. 

What to do?

If you don’t mind the crowds, the extra time waiting in lines, and the elevated prices for everything from taxis to souvenirs, just enjoy yourself. Some people thrive on the particular kind of energy that lots of people in one place bring, and if that’s you, then carry on.

If that’s not you, then never fear: I’ve got some tips to make you feel a tad less engentado on your next trip, whether you’re coming to Mexico from abroad for a long vacation, or hopping over to the next town for a long weekend.

How to avoid the crowds in Mexico

1. Check the holiday calendar (especially the SEP calendar).

   Long weekends are a prime time when people decide to get out of town for a bit, and if there’s any kind of prime tourist destination or big holiday event or festival within reasonable driving or bus travel distance during those times, chances are you’re going to find big crowds.
   
   If you really care about being present at a specific event, try to plan way ahead: make reservations for whatever you can (hotels, meals, even parking if you’re able), and be prepared to enjoy a baño de pueblo (literally, a “people bath”)!

2. Try to avoid going out on weekend quincenas.

   A quincena, literally a “fortnight,” (15 days) is the term people use for “payday” around here, usually around the 1st and the 15th of every month. As everywhere, people tend to go out looking for some fun once they’ve got some money in their pockets, so everywhere from the movie theater to the grocery stores tends to get a heavier-than-usual volume of visitors.

3. Stay in the city when everyone else leaves.

   Semana Santa, summer break, long weekends…these are the best times to explore the urban landscape, as traffic is usually down and the hot spots are a little roomier than usual. City folk who can afford to get out of town mostly do get out of town during those times, so they make for rare moments of feeling like you’ve got the whole place to yourself!

4. If you can, do your traveling and exploring during the off-season.

   This is likely a logical conclusion you’ve come to given the above, but it bears repeating: if you can travel during the times that most people are not traveling, you’ll have a lot more breathing room.
   
   Another advantage is that prices tend to fluctuate up and down with the comings and goings of crowds of vacationers. If you can go when demand is low, you’ll likely find you can hold onto your funds for a bit longer – perhaps for your next trip!

5. Get off the beaten path.

   We all know the hot spots in Mexico right now, and we know how popular they are. But Mexico has much more to offer than its beaches and popular-with-expats cities.  Especially if you can speak/read Spanish, have a look at some Mexican travel sites to get a glimpse of some of the lesser-known areas, or take a look at the “travel” section of Mexico News Daily! Sometimes a little extra research majorly pays off, particularly if you are looking to avoid crowds.

So, those are my tips! If you’ve got any for your fellow travelers – or recommendations for great places to visit that people might not know about and how to avoid the crowds in Mexico – drop them in the comments below!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The post How to travel in Mexico without the crowds appeared first on Mexico News Daily

The best part? You can legitimately say you were studying. 

Meme translation: “Ma’am, classes were canceled today for the eclipse.” 

“He wants to be an astronomer.”

What does it meme? Did everyone catch the eclipse last week? Depending on where you were, it was more or less dramatic (there was a little under 70% coverage where I was).

Plenty of schools canceled classes that day, and those who didn’t supposedly had pretty low turnouts. Some parents though, like the one in this meme, were apparently less than thrilled about having to find childcare for their little ones when they still had to go to work!

Meme translation: “If you drink, don’t drive. And please, don’t call your ex. Value your life and your dignity.”

What does it meme? Now this…is a good sign.

And now you know: drunk dialing isn’t just a problem in the English-speaking world. The plethora of memes and jokes about it here, in fact, would leave me to believe that it’s even more prevalent around here! 

So remember, kids: if you’re going to drink, get a designated driver or take a taxi. And if you’re tempted to profess your love to someone long lost, give your friend your phone. Your dignity will thank you.

Meme translation: “Why hasn’t my package arrived? I ordered it through…”

(on screen) “FraudEx”

What does it meme? If you’ve had anything delivered to you in Mexico, chances are you’ve come into contact with one of the most prominent shipping companies here, Estafeta. 

I’ve always thought it was a strange choice of a name, as (to me) it looks and sounds pretty similar to the word for “scam,” estafa. “-Ote/ota” is one of Spanish’s  augmentative forms (as opposed to a diminutive form that you’re probably already familiar with, like “-ito/ita”), and visually it fits perfectly with this joke: “Estafota” would translate to something like “big scam” (I did my best above to make it look at least somewhat like the name of a shipping company).

I don’t think that kitty’s package is going to be making it after all.

Meme translation: “When you’re an English teacher and you see that there’s a kid from the United States in your class.”

What does it meme? Most kids in Mexican schools take English classes. But teaching a different language (especially one different than your own) ain’t no joke, and the truth is that most language teaching positions for Mexican nationals don’t pay enough to recruit teachers that are truly fluent in the language they’re teaching, as those who are can usually make much more money elsewhere.

So, when a student shows up in their class who does speak the language fluently, it can be a little intimidating. Knowing this, I’ve always given my daughter strict instructions to never, under any circumstances, publicly correct an English teacher unless specifically asked to.

Apparently, she’s taken that lesson to heart a bit too much: when I had a meeting with her teacher a few months into this last school year, he said he had no idea that she spoke English at all!

Meme translation: “If I could have one power, I’d like to be able to be retired.”

What does it meme? This one takes a little explanation: poder as a noun is “power”; poder as a verb is “to be able to” (basically, “can”). Perhaps a better translation might be, “If I could have one power, it would be the power to be retired,” though really, there’s no perfect option: plays on words don’t work across languages unless the languages have the same word for two of the same different concepts (which does sometimes happen, fortunately).

That said, I share your wish, my little tlacuache dude.

Meme translation: “It was there the whole time and we didn’t see it.”

What does it meme? If you’ve spent much time in Mexico, you’ve probably run across the cultural icon that is El Chavo del Ocho. The TV show ran through the 1970s until the early ‘80s, but I still don’t know a single Mexican, even under the age of 10, who wouldn’t immediately recognize the show’s character, who’s being rendered in the above photos out of the portrait of Benjamin Franklin. (They can all probably do a pretty good impression of the character, too.)

The series centered around a kid who lived in a barrel (and it was a comedy!) and his interactions with his neighbors in the vecindad, the little neighborhood where his barrel was located. 

Meme translation: (on screen) “The Pope forgives everyone” 

“And I said, ‘That’s good! One less thing to worry about.’”

What does it meme? I put this one up just because I thought it was adorable: the world might be falling apart, but, hey, the Pope forgives us. And whether from him or our dear ones, isn’t forgiveness for (and preferably ignorance of) all our shortcomings what we all really want?

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

The post ‘Jajaja’ and ‘jejeje’ with our Mexican memes of the week appeared first on Mexico News Daily

I’m also a fan of watching Mexican TV (and Netflix) specifically for learning purposes. With technology that lets us put on subtitles at will, watching local shows and movies is a fantastic way to study both Spanish and Mexican culture, and one that I’ve long recommended.

To help you enjoy them as much as I do, I’ve come up with a list of recent Mexican TV shows that you can find on some of the major platform services available — one is hosted on Disney, and the rest are on Netflix. 

I’ve tried to stick to lighthearted comedies and a couple of intriguing dramas, but there’s certainly more out there — especially if you expand your search to film! Mexico has an astoundingly varied and storied film history, so it’s worth a much deeper dive than we’re taking here for those especially interested.

El Galán

This is an adorable show that I got to know because I was on the subtitling team for it a couple of years ago, and I… think I’m allowed to say that. It centers around an aging telenovela (soap opera) star looking for a comeback in his native Mexico after a couple of decades performing on cruise ships. Back in Mexico, he realizes that the world has changed quite a bit since his popularity as a womanizing and — let’s admit — obliviously sexist leading man. This is a comedy that follows this flawed but loveable ex-star as he tries to find his footing once again in a world with very different sensibilities than the one he found so much success in before.                              

La Casa de las Flores

This might be my favorite modern Mexican TV show, and was so popular that it resulted in several spin-offs. This dark comedy centers around a wealthy family in Mexico City — as many Mexican shows do, admittedly — whose wealth was built initially by a flower shop. The show begins with a startling mystery and features some of the best comedic acting I’ve seen. My favorite character is one of the older sisters – especially since she speaks very, very slowly, making dialogue easy to follow. If you only have time for one show, make it this one!

Club de Cuervos

For an incredibly humorous deep dive into the world of Whitexicans, you can’t get much better than “Club de Cuervos,” which centers around a pair of siblings who inherit a popular soccer club when their father dies suddenly.

The son is a bit of a loose cannon and the very face of unrestrained, slightly psychopathic but fun privilege, while his sister is serious and businesslike, far better equipped to take over the team but much less likable: what male-dominated industry wants a woman who hardly smiles bossing them around? This show is impeccably acted and uproariously funny – and well worth your time.

Ojitos de Huevo

This show was an interesting mix of Disney-like simplicity in storytelling and some rather adult themes.

It centers around two disabled young men who have graduated from school and decide they want to leave their families in Querétaro to try to “make it” in Mexico City. One is blind, and the other has cerebral palsy. They’re both smart and funny, but they’re also young men who by definition are not in the most intelligent phase of their lives.

When one of the boys decides he wants to be a standup comedian, the pair and their band of misfit friends do everything to make it happen in this heartwarming and very funny one-season series.

Luis Miguel

I’ll admit that this is the only show on the list that I have yet to see, a biopic on one of Mexico’s best-loved artists. That said, it’s been highly recommended to me by several people, usually with an introduction like, “It’s surprisingly really good!”

If you don’t know who Luis Miguel is, you surely will soon if you spend very much time in Mexico. He grew up on stage, singing songs that most Mexicans know all the words to, and was the very definition of cool in the ‘80s and ‘90s. One of the cafés I frequent only plays his songs…and no one minds at all.

And apparently, he’s had a life fit for a soap opera, which is dramatized in this biopic series. 

This, of course, is a very short list, and doesn’t include many of the shows that are still watched nationwide on cable TV. But you can put subtitles on these, so they’re a great start!

Got any other Mexican TV shows you’d like to recommend? Feel free to list them for us all in the comments section!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

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April 1st isn’t necessarily a special day for jokes here, though: Mexico’s version of April Fool’s Day is on December 28, which is called Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents). That’s when you’ll typically see the fake positive pregnancy test Facebook posts from Mexicans.

But if you ask me, every day is a good day for a joke. So, without further ado, here is your curated list of Mexican memes!

Meme translation: “I don’t like the organ grinders or banda music either, but I’m not going to let some freaking (note: this is a polite translation of the word) foreigner come here to criticize my people’s horrible taste in music.”

What does it meme? Oh, dear… it seems quite a few nerves have been touched of late regarding this issue of “noisiness” on the beaches of Mazatlán at a time when the city is doing its best to attract luxury-seeking foreign tourists with very clear ideas about what “luxury beach vacations” sound like.

To be fair, my reading of the above article led me to conclude that it had been a Mexican (sounds like a whitexican?) luxury hotel owner who was trying to get the banda players off the beach, and not, as many emotional Mexican patriots believe, a band of angry tourists with pitchforks and bad Yelp reviews. Sigh. 

But I get it: I’m allowed to say my kid’s being difficult, but if someone else suggests she’s a brat, I go for the jugular. Seems like Mexicans who don’t like banda are in the same boat!

Meme translation: “When they confuse your plant collection with a plant nursery.” (on sign: “NOT A PLANT NURSERY”).

What does it meme? I mean, the above space does look a lot like it might be selling some of those plants – there are so many!

If I had a greener thumb, I’d have a similar setup…and likely be pretty annoyed if people were constantly ringing my doorbell trying to buy them from me! Still, it’s a small price to pay for enjoying as much greenery as one can, even in the (very common) absence of a yard. Thankfully, there are plenty of other viveros around!

Meme translation: Well, this one’s in English.

What does it meme? Ah, “ahorita.” Could a word so urgent to understand and use be more confusing? 

The joke is, of course, that ahorita means all of those things. Sometimes, you can tell from the context and the tone of voice in which it’s said:

“Te dije que ahorita en este momento!” (“I said right now, this very moment!”)

“Claro, ahorita…” said with a wink and a smile, which means, basically, “Maybe if I remember it after 100 other things I’d like to do first, but really, I have absolutely no intention of doing it.”

“Ahorita te lo traigo.” – “I’ll get it for you in just a second.”

“Ahorita que llegue mi hermana vamos.” – “As soon as my sister gets here we’ll go.” (so, later).

When you really need to know what it means, maybe ask for a specific time. Fair warning: most Mexicans will find that kind of abrasive. But hey – sometimes you need to know!

Meme translation: “Time heals nothing; what really heals is the frog’s tail.”

What does it meme? I’ll admit that it was the little froggy butt that really got me on this one.

There’s a little rhyme (which is apparently also a song, but I’ve not heard the tune once in my 20-plus years here) that people say, especially to little children who have a “booboo,” and it goes like this: “Sana, sana, colita de rana, si no sana hoy, sanará mañana.” (Heal, heal, little frog’s tail, if it doesn’t heal today then it will tomorrow.” Trust me, it’s catchier in Spanish).

This is usually said while giving a light massage to wherever they’ve hurt themselves, and as far as I’m concerned, is a magic spell. Learn to say it, and you’ll be ready to comfort toddlers all over the country! 

Meme translation: “Beginner. I can’t even handle my life, to say nothing of this car… I’m new to driving a standard. Be patient with me because I still screw up and roll backwards. Keep your distance and don’t honk because it makes me anxious.” (note the spelling, “amsiedad” which should be spelled with an “n” instead of an “m.” I don’t know why, but the “m” just make it sound funnier!

What does it meme? Oh, what sympathy I have!

Driving in Mexico can be quite a doozy, and lots of even brand-new cars are standard shifts (they’re cheaper). I wish I’d thought of putting up a sign like this when I was learning!

Meme translation: “Shit.”

What does it meme? I usually try to stay away from curse words in these memes, but this one really cracked me up! That’s Freddy Kruger, of course, caught in a dreamcatcher. 

Dreamcatchers are pretty popular around here lately – I’ve been seeing them more and more in artisan markets. Too bad the characters in the original story didn’t have them!

Meme translation: “Male animals. Female animals.”

What does it meme? I’ve seen this before in English, and I am very happy to see the Mexican meme version appear as well! Seeing the elaborate colors and drama, especially of male birds compared to female birds, is always a fun thing to observe!

A note on these words: unless they’ve humanized their pets quite a bit (which certainly happens), most Mexicans don’t say the equivalent of “boy” and “girl” when indicating the sex of an animal; it’s “macho” or “hembra.” 

Likewise, you should be careful not to use those words on human beings, lest you want them to think you see them as animals! For us, it’s hombres (men) and mujeres (women), or the gendered endings of words like niño/a, muchacho/a, chavo/a, etc.

Even though I know this, I pause at one of my most frequented restaurants every time I approach the bathrooms and think to myself, “Wait, is it M for “macho” and H for “hembra,” or M for “mujeres” and H for “hombres”? (It’s the second one). 

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

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I don’t remember my exact wording, but I was exasperated and said something like, “Why can’t Mexico figure out that these milk boxes are not actually easy to open at all?” with a chuckle to my host family. (The milk boxes back then said “abre fácil” – “easy open” – but were anything but easy: you had to tear off the corner of it and I always wound up making a huge mess of it).

I wasn’t trying to insult anyone, but boy did I learn my lesson: while this is an incredibly bromista (joke-loving) culture where sarcasm does indeed hold a place of honor, sarcasm applied by a foreigner regarding the way something is done in Mexico is most definitely not appreciated.

This was over 20 years ago, and I’ve learned quite a bit more about this particular culture’s sensitivities since then. And as more and more of my paisanos join me in this beautiful country, I think some studied consideration about how to be respectful a la mexicana is in order, especially as natural tensions in some sectors are rising with such an influx of new people.

To be good guests and immigrants, here are some things to remember:

1. Mexicans wear their pride on their sleeves; this goes for personal and national pride, by the way. As a country, Mexico has been both invaded and put down (by, collectively, us) enough to be a little sensitive about criticisms toward them…especially by newcomer outsiders. Indeed, who enjoys criticism at all?
   
   Every country, as we well know, has things they do well and things they don’t do so well. If you need to vent about the “not so well” category around here, try to keep it restricted to your personal journal or a close friend or therapist rather than venting online.
   
   Because as some of us have learned the hard way, social media is not a place where nuance can be easily detected and emotions stay calm. Foreigners who vent in public or even private groups seem to find themselves more and more met with an angry “Why don’t you just go back where you came from” sentiment (which, curiously, tends to come much more frequently from the political left rather than the right).
2. Make your curiosity bigger than your desire to start every sentence with, “Well, where I come from…”. Spoiler alert: most Mexicans already know what things are like where we come from if where we come from is the US or Canada.
   
   No one has bad intentions when they start talking about themselves…it’s a way to start or keep a conversation going, after all. But it behooves all of us to remember that most basic of conversational skills: to make a great impression, let the other person do the talking (and really listen).
   
   And if you can, make your best effort to do it in Spanish!                                                                    
   

   

3. Tensions between the economically advantaged and the not-so-advantaged are just as high here as they are elsewhere. And as I’ve said before, seeing a group of people who don’t necessarily work harder or even have more education than you knocking it out of the park because they’re gaming the system (earning in one economy and spending in a different, cheaper one) while you struggle doesn’t feel good.
   
   “But our spending here is helping the economy” might be logical, but nowhere in the world are people logical; they’re emotional. Nor are they usually thinking about the advantages, on a country-wide level, of tourism. What they’re thinking about is the fact that rents have gone up exponentially in areas newly popular with dollar-bearing newcomers and their menus are suddenly in English.
   
   So, what to do? On a practical level, do your best to find out the actual costs of homes and services in a certain area that locals are accustomed to paying rather than simply laying down whatever money’s asked because it’s cheap to you, specifically. Too many people doing this is exactly what drives gentrification, a topic that has many locals in newly-popular areas particularly tense. 
   
   At the very least, don’t behave as if you’re doing anyone a favor by spending money here or crowing loudly about “how affordable Mexico is.” For most people living here, it’s not. So enjoy what luxuries you might not have been able to in your home country, but remember that they’re still out of reach for most people.
   
4. Not everyone is into fast change. In places that have long been known for their catering to the tourist crowd like Los Cabos or Cancún, people know what to expect: lots of English-speaking establishments, high rents, services catering specifically to the tastes of foreigners. Those changes happened long ago, and they’re used to it. In newly-popular areas in Mexico, things are changing (and gentrifying) fast, and not everybody is into it.
   
   In those places that used to be considered “the real Mexico” where not many foreigners could be seen (Oaxaca city comes to mind), the speed of change is a touchy subject for some Mexican residents…especially when it’s accompanied by increased prices for everyone (which is not solely a result of the influx, but the optics make it seem like it is). On the positive side, most Mexicans are honored and proud to see that so many foreigners have fallen in love with their culture and communities, so emphasizing that can do wonders.

Mexico is a delightful and magical place, and it’s a country where most residents are warm and open to the newly arrived. Our task, then, is to remember to be good neighbors first, and careful not to treat our new homes as an amusement park: squeal with delight on the inside.

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

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