What gets your goat?

[V]

Live here long enough, and something will start irritating you. Mine is the casualness with which addresses are treated. You know how it's supposed to be- SM, M, L, E, D, plus perhaps a street name, name of city, zip, and state.

I get bills from Telmex, Cablemas, Aguacan, and the CFE, among others. None of them has the same address on it. Some are really badly butchered, making you wonder how any mail ever gets to you. I've got one that even names the wrong street.

I just can't understand how the clerks who deal with opening accounts can get it so wrong, or not want to clarify the address they're entering on your account, if they don't get a complete one out of you.

Then, you get those who, when you complain say, "Sorry, can't change it once it's in the system."

Yesterday, I got around to finalizing the process of receiving a tax number which, although the process is begun online, is finalized in the tax office. I gave the clerk my FM3, the only document I have which correctly states my address (because, amazingly, at immigration they relied on what I told them instead of taking the address off one of my f****ed up bills). You think the clerk at the tax office used that address for my tax records??? NO, instead, he insisted on using the one from the utility bill I'd brought, even though it was obviously defective, containing only the SM and D, plus the street name (stated incorrectly), and I told him so, pointing out that the address on my FM3 was correct. He refused to pay any attention to it, or me.
______________________

Small thing, I suppose, but I just hate the disorder this represents; and, possibly, the lack of concern shown by those whose job it is to enter your address in your new account....

[jayg]

V, what does L, E, and D stand for in your post? A cougar got my neighbors goat, but that would be 2000 miles north of Cancun.

jayg

[V]

Sorry to hear about your neighbor's goat!

"L" is for the lot number, "E" for the building number, and "D" for the apartment number, if it's an apartment you live in.

[V]

"Get your goat"

Anybody use this expression, anymore?

At least it's still widely understood.

[ToriB]

I know the meaning, but can't say I hear it all that often, if ever. But what get's my goat is the importance of Gas, but having to sit around and wait for it is what has annoyed me the most so far. I ran out in the middle of cooking brownies the other day. Mind you, the top didn't cook, and it has the consitancy of the batter, which is great. But if this was chicken or beef...I would be REALLY pissed off.

[Steve]

Noise:
- why is it necessary to ring the doorbell once every second?
- why do people park outside others houses and lean on the horn to attract their attention, instead of ringing the doorbell (once)?
- why are there at least 2 dogs, often more, yapping within earshot almost constantly?

Driving:
- making a left hand turn in front of you from the right hand lane
- cars pulling alongside you when waiting to turn left, blocking your vision and trying to get in your intended lane first
- people sounding horns behind you the exact milisecond the traffic light changes to green
- people who simply must park right next to the entrance (schools and supermarkets) even if it stops others getting past and causes danger to pedestrians

All of the above can probably be summed up with selfish and ignorant people.

[V]

Looks like the longer you're here, the longer the list, Steve!

ToriB, my wife would gladly second your vote. She's got caught out twice, so far, while in the middle of major cooking project (our rooftop tank has no gauge, so we have to estimate where we are in consumption).

[For any who don't live here, many homes in Cancun use propane, or some such, which is delivered by truck and pumped into your rooftop tank; or, you have smaller bottles of gas, in your home, which must be replaced when they run out. For those who've lived all their life with natural gas piped into their homes, this is a bit of a jar.]

[rawkus]

Where do I start..? Hahahaha.

I can only second what Steve wrote about car horns.

Here in our street its almost "law" that you,

A: Lean on the horn for at least 5 mins....

B: Scream the persons name obnoxiously loud ("MAAAAARIIIIIIIAAAAAAA!!!!")

C: Horn for another 2-3 minutes...

D: Finally use your mobile.

E: Best times to do this? 2AM - 5 AM, especially weekdays...

F: Bonus: Play horrible Banda as loud as possible - because "everyone LOVES it!".


Ineffective and stupid "professionals" is another thing that makes me boil...


Littering is another thing...

Mistreatment of animals, wildlife an environment(yes, Im a "nature-nut ) is probably what pisses me off the most.

There is NO excuse for it but it just doesnt end.

Then we have the "regular" stuff such as corruption etc.

Good thing the beer is cheap and the weather is sweet

[V]

Rawkus said,

Good thing the beer is cheap and the weather is sweet

That's right, Rawkus, gotta keep things in perspective around here!!

[ToriB]

The thought of leaving the neighborhood I am in now seems like a bad idea. It is super quiet. The occasional Dog Social Gathering at 3 or 4 am, but not horns, no littering, no loud music..I feel very fortunate. I feel so sheltered.

[RiverGirl]

Ages ago a rattlesnake got my neighbor's goat...one got their llama too.

When I first moved here the addressing system, and all it's misuses, did bother me a lot. Each of our bills lists a different address on it. Our CableMas bill even lists the wrong street. But hey, the bills get here and we pay them. So I'm over that.

I also used to be bothered by how my neighbor would always start a party at midnight and go until dawn. But after we twice went over there, in our underwear, and screamed at them in front of their guests, they were so embarrassed that they've since started holding parties at better hours. So I didn't get over that, but it's been addressed...or undressed, or whatever.

I also used to be really bothered by all the disco music I hear everywhere here. I still hate it. But now I'm even more bothered by Norteño music, it just drives me up a wall. I would kill to have a neighbor that liked Miles Davis!

I agree with all of Steve's grievances except that whenever someone cuts me off by turning left from the right lane I feel a little spark of pride when I don't smash into them. I think I sort of like how driving here keeps me on my toes. Or maybe I've just been lucky so far not to hit one of these idiots.

A big thing that bothers me about Mexico are how there's such a sense here of helplessness and a lack of understanding for what it would take to make Mexico a better place. People here don't take good care of the environment, of each other or of animals and they just accept this as normal. There's a lack of vision for what it would take to solve these problems, and hardly anyone seems to care anyway. I don't like being around people who accept bad situations and don't try to fix them, they make me depressed.

People here abuse animals and think it's normal. They own dogs for protection but never walk them (they bark all the time because they don't get enough attention or exercise, which amounts to abuse). They own cats and dogs but don't get them neutered, and then think it's cute when they get knocked up. The thing that bothers me the most here is the poor treatment of animals and that fact that very few people here even care about changing it.

[jenleib]

I didn't know the expression, but there are so many things (starting with corruption) that.... ok, I gave up.

But I need a good advice, and I am sure someone will help me. A new neighbor (right below me) moved in a few weeks ago, I thought he was educated... well.... he puts his music every Saturday night (he started about 1 hour 1/2 ago) at the max, and happily sleeps next to it (I know, I went to knock at his door last week with another neighbor, we went to the front window, we closed the window, he didn't realize until the other guy yelled). The only thing he said is "call the police", very smart guy!

He loves salsa, me too... but he doesn't even invite me. And I like salsa when I decide to listen to it (or dance), otherwise it is an invasion. What if I go out on Friday and need to... recover? Oh, a detail... he is a lawyer.

Of course I can't go down, enjoy the beach, look at the stars... I need peace for that.

I thought about turning off the electric meter, but he will turn mine off, it is not a good option. I thought about a drill (that I sold, but I can borrow one), that will not wake him up for sure.

Short of ideas. Anyone more inventive? I still have a few Saturdays to bear. I have to work now from 8 am to 11 pm or more, 7 days a week, not sure I can.

Thanks for any idea. RG, do you think I can go to the garden in my underwear or less, and dance? NOW the police will come

[v8eyedoc]

"Driving:
- making a left hand turn in front of you from the right hand lane
- cars pulling alongside you when waiting to turn left, blocking your vision and trying to get in your intended lane first
- people sounding horns behind you the exact milisecond the traffic light changes to green
- people who simply must park right next to the entrance (schools and supermarkets) even if it stops others getting past and causes danger to pedestrians"

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha......!!!! Steve.... OMG........!! And I thought you were talking about BOSTON drivers..all that time..!! Try driving in Boston some time ...for a "fun" experience... Cab drivers slam on their brakes and stop in the middle of traffic to pick up a passenger... Pedestrians and drivers are always at odds with one another...as it is a "challenge" to jay walk....!!! And then, most drivers as well as pedestrians.....are always giving each other the - "1 finger salute".....Boston's friendly way of saying - HELLO

[Jim in Cancun]

Thanks, Doc for reminding us that things and people are not so different in other places as they are here. The longer we are here, the more we forget that. And something "here" must be better than "there" or certainly we would be smart enough to move.

"Wherever you go, there you are." (Yogi Berra?)

[mixz1]

Ha! My first thought when I read Steve's traffic gripe was "he never lived in Boston". I'm glad the Eye Doc agrees with that. For myself, down here in the ZH it's pretty quiet, although every once in awhile some drunk tourists will be a bit loud coming back to their hotel and Grill 14 will abuse their outdoor speakers when there's a private party. Two weeks ago they actually set off a really grand fireworks display at 2 AM. Once our heart and blood pressure readings returned to near normal levels, we sat up in bed and actually enjoyed the show. In that same vein, every once in a while one of the pirate ships floats by in full blare. I always wonder about the hearing damage being incurred by the folks floating by since Disco Inferno is playing loud enough to rattle our windows. Burn Baby Burn... what did he say?

What absolutely devours my personal goat is the way a group will stop in a doorway, or block an entire aisle in the market and not even notice that you want to pass through, by, over, around or under until you issue a stentorian "permisso!!!"

And yes, my ultimate goat killer is Walmart. As unavoidable as it may be, I repeatedly swear that I will never go in there again, only to violate my own oath because it's just so damned easy to get to. I actually had a meltdown in there on Thursday when some fool behind the service counter inserted the public address microphone into his mouth and for 15 continuous minutes barked totally distorted and unintelligible gibberish at 747 takeoff sound levels into every loudspeaker in the store. This while every TV and boom-box was equally blaring, all on different channels. I actually left my wobbly-wheeled, filthy carrito in the middle of the aisle ("Permisso!!") and walked out.

And while I'm venting... how come the carritos at Superama (Walmart deluxe), Mega, Costco, Sams and Sorianna are all reasonably clean and in good repair while the average Walmart carrito, when pushed, will immediately describe a circle and cannot be shoved in a straight line without incurring a sore wrist? And I won't even go into the stuff you find decomposing in the bottom of a Walmart carrito.

[V]

Brilliant, Mixz1!

Which one of those have we not all experienced/felt (excepting the ones connected with driving, for those, like me, who don't own a car).

What absolutely devours my personal goat is the way a group will stop in a doorway, or block an entire aisle in the market and not even notice that you want to pass through, by, over, around or under until you issue a stentorian "permisso!!!"

This one gave me a flashback to yesterday, in Chedraui, at Plaza de las Americas. Same scene, with a cart, I waited until someone noticed me, after which they grudgingly moved their cart out of the center of the aisle.

This little item, and some of the ones Steve and Rivergirl also mentioned seem to require the coupling of concern for others, with insight, if they are to be prevented. A few people don't care, but I think more lack the insight into how to maneuver/stop their cars/carts/bodies in a way that doesn't inconvenience others. [But, I'll admit, I've often witnessed a line of cars stopped along a curb to discharge passengers, and all are prevented from pulling away from the curb by a single, new arrival, who chose to pull in at an angle, for the same purpose, blocking every car in the line waiting to pull out until they had discharged their passengers, and pulled out! Where do you put this one, lack of concern?, lack of insight?, or hybrid?]

[V]

For Jennlieb-

Short of ideas. Anyone more inventive? I still have a few Saturdays to bear. I have to work now from 8 am to 11 pm or more, 7 days a week, not sure I can.

Be grateful it's just one day a week??

[SCMcons]

I agree with all of the posts, particularly blocking aisles and entrance ways. One that I may have missed is the refusal to use turn signals even when making a right hand turn on a divided road. I don't know how many rear end accidents I have seen because of the refusal to use a turn signal and the other car following too close and going too fast.

[RiverGirl]

One thing I simply don't understand is why so many people here will bring their entire family shopping.

Sometimes I even count the family members. Five people is quite common but I've counted 7, 8 and 9 people. It doesn't bother me, unless they block a store aisle or entrance (which they easily do) but I simply don't understand it. It's a little cultural eye-opener for me every time I see it.

I pretty much hate shopping (especially at Walmart) and my displeasure increases the more people I have with me. So to go shopping with 5 or 6 or 7 of my family members would surely make me suicidal. I would not survive, no way. Yet plenty of people here do it and look quite happy about it. I find it very weird.

[mixz1]

Originally Posted by RiverGirl

One thing I simply don't understand is why so many people here will bring their entire family shopping... Yet plenty of people here do it and look quite happy about it. I find it very weird.

Unlike RG, Walmart makes me homicidal, not suicidal, so when that family of 9 is holding a prayer meeting in front of the stack of Dos Equis I'm trying to reach, the urge to grab for an HK MP5N is overwhelming. Yet, when I see that same entourage, from bebe up to abeulo and abuela, trudging onto the beach with their huge wheeled cooler, umbrella, folding table and chairs, setting up for a day of sun, sand, waves, tortillas and beer (if not something stronger) I get a warm feeling for people who still have reverence for the family.

Excuse me for showing my soft side. I'll just go now and find a puppy to kick.

[V]

I know what you mean, Rivergirl, it's hard enough for just me and my wife to get through the experience without causing a scene. But, add kids to the mix, touching everything, breaking something, or dropping something into the basket that you don't notice until you get home with it.... Add whining for candy to the mix and, anything could happen.

Yesterday, same shopping trip, a five year old hands her mom something she got off the shelf and all the mom did was say, "That's nice, honey. Put it back, now."

[Life_N_Cancun]

Ditto on all the car related stuff, I'll add the craters (ie: potholes), shoddy repaving jobs, and mini pyramids all over the place (ie: topes).

Everyone and their dog has a cell phone here so the incessant honking outside at all hours to get someone’s attention is just blatant rudeness, and would get you shot in Detroit.

I can also relate to the personal space and obstruction issues mentioned. Many people here don’t seem to notice or care that they are blocking others. Violating others personal space is also an issue, for example while waiting in line, many times I’ve had the shopping cart behind me pushed right into my back side repeatedly, to the point where I’ve had to turn around and push it back to give them a clue. Other times I’ve felt like the person behind me was trying to pickpocket me as they were standing so close. Perhaps I’m just an uptight American, but I like my 14 inch “personal space bubble” to remain free of unwelcome intrusion.

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is the constant lying. It seems like everyone here will lie right to your face without a second thought, much more so than I ever noticed in the States. The total lack of personal responsibility is also very frustrating. Few people here seems to be able to admit when they are at fault or do what is needed to remedy the situation unless forced to do so. I write it up to a cultural thing, but anyone who lives here for any amount of time learns quickly that you don’t take anyone at their word. It’s sad, but very true. Eventually, it becomes “normal” that people are dishonest and irresponsible, but it still adds stress to most situations.

Finally, I’ll agree with the sense of helplessness that RiverGirl alluded to. Mexico has great potential, but the corruption just runs so deeply in this society that any attempt to change things seems a pointless and dangerous exercise. That coupled with the apparent low value human life seems to have for some, ensures that the corruption and violence will continue. Of’ course I feel much of the blame is on the US’s drug appetite and inability to build a proper fence, but that’s a rant for another day.

[V]

Life wrote:

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is the constant lying. It seems like everyone here will lie right to your face without a second thought, much more so than I ever noticed in the States. The total lack of personal responsibility is also very frustrating. Few people here seems to be able to admit when they are at fault or do what is needed to remedy the situation unless forced to do so.

Growing up in the U.S. southwest, where Latinos/Latino culture dominate the landscape, I also noted the two things Life mentions and, as a young professional man, found them very frustrating.

Oddly, living here, while aware of the existence of these cultural differences, they've yet to impact me, everyone having been more or less reliable and honest, over the last ten months. I can't think of an instance of outright lying (aside from a petty ripoff, or two), or irresponsibility, in any situation I've yet encountered, with everybody having done what they promised, so far. I suppose it's helped that, for the most part, I've been dealing with the professional class, or governmental processes with defined parameters of operation

It may help, by reducing my exposure to shady situations, that I don't have a car and don't own property, here- two areas of life notable for exposing people to these kinds of frustrations.

[LTL]

Invasion of personal space.
Not sure why men feel the need to stand 1cm off my hip when in line at the grocery store (I am a guy not a hot female model). Or the ladies do the same while talking on their cell phones at a high volume or pushing their shopping carts against me ankles.
I step ahead, they step ahead. These people are just asking for a spinning back elbow. One day it will likely happen and I will then be posting from outside of Mexico.
Agree with all the driving comments. Especially the lack of using turning blinkers. Just imagine how much better driving would be if people actually indicated when they where turning or stopping.
Not just cranking the wheel right or left and hoping for the best or the good old hitting the 4-ways and slamming on the breaks no matter where you are in the street.
It appears that the city has been painting lines on a lot of the streets lately, not they just need to do a newspaper and tv campaign to teach people what they mean.
I guess we can just keep dreaming.

[kellygirl]

The crazy address thing bothers me. This week I got my neighbor's Cablemas bill, and his address actually says La Casa con la torre y la bandera...the house with the tower and the flag. Which he does have, but I still got his bill.

But mostly, it is the sense that Mexicans refuse to make the effort to bring their country forward. They have so little trust in and support from their government that it is really every man for himself, so they just don't care about anything beyond their doorstep or their nose. Noise, horns, dogs, cheats and liars are all selfish people who can complain but not act. If anything gets us to sell and move back stateside, it will be the realization that not only will nothing change here in Mexico, but that the Mexicans don't want it to change, because then they would actually have to work and be responsible for their product. Of course there are exceptions (and those are the people I strive to hire!)

[TraceyUk]

Most of the time I am fairly laid back about stuff here but the driving does cause me to have "Road irritation" .
I still struggle with people being unable to say "No" to things when they know they have no intention of doing something- or no capabilities to see them through.(yes yes I know its a cultural thing !!!)

Tracey

[V]

Kellygirl:

...his address actually says La Casa con la torre y la bandera...the house with the tower and the flag.

Sounds like the Cablemas employee who input this address was not long off the farm!

I'm glad to notice that others find this lack of orderliness annoying. Looks like inconsiderate driving- including that of grocery carts- and casual treatment of addresses are in the lead, so far as the "gets my goat" competition goes. Opps, forgot to mention creating unnecessary noise!
____________________

I will second all those who complained about carelessness with trash, and disposal of things, generally. We have a tree-filled park in front of my apt complex. From time to time, city employees come through and mow the grass, remove fallen branches, and clean up, generally. There is one thing they refuse to clean up, however- they will not remove the building material debris that home owners have had deposited in the park following the remodeling of their homes. It appears the owners of the properties did not want to pay the 500 or so pesos someone might have charged to truck the debris away at the time. So, all of us are left with these permanent, unsightly piles, two different ones, which will be there until the next great flood, I suppose.

[rawkus]

One thing that bothers me daily are the "Jogging Mafias" that invade and occupy the running track in the HZ...

Just this morning I counted to 4 groups of people who seems to own the whole track, and thus spread out W I D E, across the entire track with up to 5 people...

People yell "permiso!!" but instead of moving their a*sess, they start to argue with everyone who "dares" to voice their opinion...

Nowadays, I always go for the shoulder tackle and the response this morning were words I didnt even knew existed

I really hope a buff dude on roller-blades runs into them one day soon.

[v8eyedoc]

WHAT GETS MY GOAT.??? Actually over 20 years of travelling to Cancun..I have gotten used to most things which used to upset me before... Numero Uno: "THE MEXICAN MINUTE".... which I have found is anywhere from 3 hours to 2 weeks....or..never!!! "Sir..! We will up to your villa to make that repair in 15 minutes." 3 hours later - still waiting..!! AND..Numero dos:....Having to return merchandise like at Home Depot, a few months ago.. A $3.00 item...and it took three different people to unbox, unwrap, examine....and after 25 minutes....I got my $3.00 refunded.. In the USA....return an item at the Home Depot..and yer cash is back in yer hand in 1-2 minutes..!

People (Mexican) take you at your word....!! When you ask a Mexican if they have the time....Instead of telling you what the correct time is....they just say yes...!! LOL

[RiverGirl]

One thing that is frustrating here is that employees in businesses aren't often given the power to actually make customers happy when something goes wrong.

Every time we have a problem with our bank they have to contact a supervisor in Mexico City to fix the problem. And I've encountered the same situation with all kinds of other businesses here, the person who has authorization to fix the situation is rarely the person available for me to talk to.

It seems that employers don't trust their employees to think or to have decent judgement. And to be frank, they probably don't pay them enough to think. In the end the client suffers and learns to expect b.s. service from businesses here.

Good service is so rare here than when I encounter it I have a little flash and wonder if I'm actually in the U.S. I hate to say that, but it's true.

Having done management when I owned a retail store I can tell you that I always felt that if my employee couldn't fix a customer complaint, and had to come to me for help, that too much damage had already been done. So I would always feel I had to overcompensate for the customer's suffering. The customer's time is valuable and if he/she has a problem it should be remedied as fast as possible.