When in Mexico…
As I sit here in the airport waiting to leave Cancun, Mexico I reflect on our time spent over the last 6 days. "Our" time, meaning my family and me. Two children and my wife of 25 years, last week, we celebrated a milestone in my daughter’s life (about 2 years overdue thanks to c-vid) but, conveniently enough, also landed on our Silver Wedding Anniversary. I reflect on a time spent cherishing family and the past year, decisions made, and owing some much-needed family time to my kiddos. At age 13 and 16 they are growing up way too fast and unfortunately a convenient age to get caught up in the business of mom and dad's life with "family time" often coming in second place. Mostly independent now they too are working on "finding their way". This vacation was just as good for them as it was relaxing for my wife and me.
I also think about a week where English was certainly not the primary language and where my struggling Spanish helped make everyone smile and even laugh. Resorts though I think are used to that as we heard a wide range of cultures. Spanish, German, French, English, and Chinese to name a few. Cultural mixes are familiar to me as I have been blessed to travel to multiple Caribbean countries, multiple African countries, a few in South America, and one in the far away South Pacific. However, the uniqueness of all the cultures converging on one location for approximately a week is what fascinates me and for the last week we were deep into the cultural experience.
Here in Cancun the majority of people are probably on vacation and as an All-Inclusive Resort the alcohol was free flowing for those whose culture it is a normal pastime. Knowing those conditions, it is possible that individuals are a bit more pleasant when engaging with each other. However, I sense that there is a bit more to it than vacation and alcohol. Conversations were simply started because you were together, whether on the beach, by the pool, at a restaurant, or an evening show, people, language barrier and all, conversed.
I wonder that, as Americans, do we tend to be less welcoming or friendly? Now, before I get persecuted for even thinking that my own heritage may not be as pleasant than others, I will say that as I have traveled the past few years, Americans are known to be loud, rude, aggressive, and self-righteous in other areas around the world. Right or wrong, this is the general impression in other countries. Yes, yes, I agree that there are unpalatable people in every culture and country and America has multitudes of positive, friendly, loving, and caring people. You could even explain this away by saying Americans aren't rude we are direct, we aren't arrogant we're confident, our confrontational character is simply being unapologetic, and our passion misunderstood to be "loud".
So maybe with that it is the end of the discussion… but here is where I am going with this.
(fast forward a few hours)
Now, sitting at home comfortable in the US, albeit much colder than 80° Mexico, I realize there is some truth to our general "reputation". Heck, I am just as guilty as the next person as I often find myself acting cold or unwelcoming. As a matter of fact, I've just experienced it when stopping at a restaurant for dinner. My experience in other cultures has been that even the simplest interactions, such as ordering food, can lead to a pleasant conversation about family or life. Open markets are a gold mine of interesting conversations, and most of all you see faces and not just tops of heads as people walk by you upright, and NOT bent over their cell phones. People look at you, whether it is with a blank look or a small smile and head nod, it’s that eye contact or a nod of acknowledgement that can be refreshing. General conversations can be "struck up" about the simplest of things. The fact is that in many other cultures, relationships are a top priority. I would have to imagine that at one time, a long time ago, the same could be said about "western" culture.
This has been my experience time and time again and the latest time spent in Mexico just refreshed my soul that we can all do better. A renewed faith in mankind that we can all at least be sociable as God designed us. We can all be more welcoming, friendly, and just plain nice. We were created to fellowship together. This is not a religious thing, it is a humanity thing, by design, to care for one another.
So, as this blog is named, Welcome Inconvenience, I need to remember myself that starting those conversations, making that eye contact, and showing a smile begins with me and not looking at it as an "inconvenience" but to welcome it as an opportunity. In a society driven by task lists, tight schedules, and career success, let's look outside ourselves and into the humanity of others. Let’s just all try to be a bit nicer today.
So, what are your thoughts? Do you see our culture declining in social relations? Not Facebook, Instagram, or TickToc social I mean real and raw social relationships. Are they on a decline and what can we do to be “culture changers”? Leave a comment below, tell me your thoughts, am I crazy and can we make a change?