Respect Local Customs & Culture
By Lizzie Riley (a frequent visitor from Canada)
For decades Mexico has been the go-to holiday destination for hundreds of thousands if not millions of American and Canadian sun-seekers. Now with global travel increasing annually, Mexico continues to extend a gracious welcome to planeloads of tourists from around the world.
A cornucopia of history, culture, culinary delights and steadfast traditions unique in every corner of this diverse friendly nation is a true delight. Mexico offers travellers an experience of a lifetime. Many visitors return year after year to once again bask in the warm embrace of this land and its people.
It is disheartening that some travellers, wherever they may roam, are disrespectful when it comes to acknowledging, honouring and observing the culture and traditions of their chosen guest country.
To coin an old phrase “When in Rome do as the Romans do” is a rule of thumb for being a respectful guest in any foreign land. Simply put you will never see a bare-chested Mexican man walking down the street or a Mexican lady shopping for groceries in a bikini. Or worse yet using a tree as a urinal or defecating in the shrubbery.
Being respectful and courteous to the environment, culture, the local citizens and fellow travellers will reward you with a multitude of fond memories.
Language barriers can cause a bit of anxiety for foreigners when trying to understand the native tongue. If you haven’t done so already, download a translation app to your device. It’s an easy and very convenient way to begin conversing with the locales. These translation apps will help you. And will give you all the tools you require to interact and communicate in a polite respectful way.
Everyone has at one point in time been subjected to that unwanted houseguest where you start the countdown of the time left until their ultimate departure. Respecting the culture and traditions of your host country is crucial. Not observing these can lead to some serious repercussions.
Defacing monuments, placing your home country’s flag anywhere without legal authority, being drunk and disorderly in public are just a few of the “No No’s”. Not accepting a gift from a local is considered extremely rude.
So, if you remember to pack your underwear you can certainly remember to pack your manners too!
Happy Travels!