Everything in Mexican mores and customs is about respect. It’s time for we foreigners to check ourselves to see how we met some of the tenets of expected good manners.
1. When ending a phone call, you never say just goodbye. You need to say goodbye three to four times, with phrases such as “cuidáte bien,” “besos,” “abrazo,” “que te estés bien.” You can cut this down to two once you know someone better, or if you find yourself talking to a dial tone a lot.
2. Mexicans consider it their sacred duty to help family members. For example, if a man sold you a car, it will be his brother who will fix the drive shaft for you and his father will help you get a driver’s license. A sister will sell you something to hang on your rear-view mirror. They are not trying to take advantage of you. Nepotism is a duty. “Jorge & Sons & Second Cousins, Inc.”
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