I just happened upon an interesting discussion among expats in Mexico on forming lines. Seems like something simple, mundane, boring even, certainly not worth writing a blog about. Then again, there are a number of unimportant things that happen every day in which cultural relativism is tested.

Let me tell you a story. When I was 7 months pregnant I had to pay the cable bill. I walked out of my home and attempted to hail a taxi but to no avail. I ended up walking halfway across town, belly and all, only to realize that, after paying the bill, I had no money left to take a cab and had no idea which buses would get me closest to my new home. So I decided to spend my last few pesos on a fruit juice.

Flushed, tired and near passing out, I walked into the nearest Fasti, grabbed my box of Boing! and got in line. I felt like the room was spinning but knew I just needed a refreshing drink and a few moments to rest. A man came up behind me and set his ham and coke on the counter, ready and waiting to pay. I looked at the man, looked at the clerk and said, “Excuse me, I think I was next.” They both looked at me and the clerk said, “Ah,” before ringing the man up. That’s fine. No problem. Now it really was my turn.

But then a police lady and her friend came up and placed their things on the counter to be immediately rung up. I turned and glared at the police lady’s sidekick. I guess I made her uncomfortable because she nudged the cop, “I think she was next.” The police lady said, “Sorry,” but made no move to let me pass. I was fuming. I no longer wanted my box of juice. “Olivídalo,” I said glaring at the clerk, and stormed out.

You see, in the United States we’re used to things like well-formed lines, designated traffic lanes, and lots of personal space. That’s not the case in Mexico. Most of us who are drawn to Mexico are also somehow drawn to the lack of order, the lack of rules and restrictions, to the freedom and the room to move as you please. Just like anything else, it’s got its good side and its, well, not-so-good side. It’s something to take in stride and to learn from. That doesn’t mean, “When in Mexico, do as the Mexicans do.” It just means that it behooves us foreigners to take the good with the bad and try to recognize culturally based differences without pretension, that is, without ethnocentrism. After all, where else can you see something like this:

Source: Will and Guy’s Funny Pictures