Maybe it is due to the springtime heat wave that’s kicking in, or some weird alignment of the planets, but for some reason a lot of my fellow expats have become extremely cranky of late. 

Suddenly different people have started bending my ear about all sorts of daily irritations of lakeside living. They gripe that the traffic sucks, service providers rip off the foreigners, the authorities are incompetent and corrupt and village people are apathetic about all the litter and trash in their surroundings. 

Well, guess what? It works both ways.  I’ve been asking native folks what they think of us and it turns out they think much of some of our engrained behaviors. 

It took some prodding, because in general, the Mexican populace appreciates what expats contribute to the local economy and charitable causes. They aren’t inclined to fuss about our cultural differences and personal flaws. They recognize that most of us are seniors and get to be cantankerous from time to time. 

But after my survey subjects finally opened up, individuals from many walks of life revealed some common pet peeves.

The number one beef about foreign immigrants is a typical disinterest in learning and speaking Spanish. It’s not that anyone expects us to master the language. Folks just wish we would at least get a grasp of the accustomed courtesies, starting dialogue with a cordial Buenos Días or Buena Tardes and remembering to throw in a por favor and gracias when we ask for something. 

We should also keep in mind that lots of Mexicans know enough English to pick up the gist when they overhear our rants against their country and their kind.

A manicurist at an Ajijic salon finds some clients to be overly impatient, expecting that things get done at the snap of their fingers. Other compatriots agree that we’d enjoy life a lot more by taking our eyes off the clock and getting in sync with Mexico’s laid back, imprecise approach to time frames. 

One local restaurateur admitted he gets weary of customers who complain about his food or service saying, “That’s not the way it’s done where I come from.” A contractor has heard his share of similar remarks, as if people of a certain nationality are they only ones who know the right way to skin a cat.

I must stress that these observations don’t mount up to a generalized indictment of lakeside expats.  On the contrary, the majority of us are viewed as friendly, polite and well-intentioned persons. Many are recognized for openly embracing Mexican culture and accepting the country’s way of life with all its imperfections.  Still, hushing up or at least ignoring the whiners who give us all a bad name might well contribute to fostering an atmosphere of tolerance, harmony and cross-cultural understanding for the good of all.