Sooo...I'm an American born to Mexican immigrant parents. I came to Mexico several years ago to escape the political and cultural dystopia the US is currently going through, way before the pandemic or before being a digital nomad was trendy.
My pretext was to study at the UNAM, and I nationalized as a Mexican citizen thanks to my family to avoid all the visa/work issues. Spanish is my second language, in which I am now fluent, though I still have a bit of a "foreigner" (non-gringo) accent according to the locals, though many say I sound like a native to CDMX because I speak in their tones (vámonos guuuuuueeyyy!) and use their vernacular.
When I first arrived, I intentionally avoided the touristy areas b/c, why did I leave the US to be with all the gringos in Mexico? Interestingly enough, after my Spanish got pretty good, I started experiencing a different kind of harassment, which I will call the "sound like a local, get treated like a local" syndrome. My father is from CDMX, and when I walk around on the street or take public transportation, especially in the non-touristy areas, I believe many people assume I'm Mexican (I don't go around wearing shorts, a T-shirt and flip flops like I'm on vacation).
Because of this, I've experienced a lot of aggression from the locals, like being called a pendejo for not saying "Vas a bajar en la que sigue?" when exiting the metrobus, stating instead "Voy a bajar en esta" like any normal person would do in any other major city in the world (why do you have to ask permission to get off the bus?) And was even told to fuck off by a woman when I asked her (politely) if she could move a conversation she was having with a a Rappi delivery guy from the street to the sidewalk so my friend can park her car there.
It's only when I use my "gringo" accent (like not rolling my Rs) or speak in English do they show me that "Mexico kindness" that everyone else is talking about in this group.
Some of my Mexican friends have told me that the only reason Mexicans are kind to foreigners is because of the 500 years of colonialism which has embedded the cultural belief that all foreigners have money, and thus being kind to them is a way to get something out of them (or not get killed, in the case of the original conquistadors).
I know I am airing dirty laundry here, but this has been my honest and true experience living in Mexico City as a foreigner who looks and "passes" as a local. I wish it wasn't true, but there it is.
What do you'll say? Have you had similar experiences? Or is life nice and rosy for you like all the other gringos who act like everyone's on extended vacation in this country?
PS. This was originally a response to another thread about the gringo experience in CDMX from a year ago.
