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October 14, 2002.
Hello, I
am Heidi and I visit PV as often as I can. I/we hope to be part-time residents
in the next 5 years. I loved your article on Quimixto
(Tribune No. 269 - June 3-9, 2002) and I just wanted to thank you for your suggestion
and to let you know we will DEFINITELY be visiting this unique area of PV (and
we WILL rent horses, regardless of what our guide, if we have one, may say). Thank
you so much. I love the PV Mirror and look forward to
more engaging articles from you. Heidi A.
Dear
Editor, I just read the letter from D. S. in a recent
P.V. Tribune (Sept. 30-Oct. 7, 2002). I would like to ask her (maybe you are so
kind to forward it to her): What happens if someone calls 911 in the USA asking
for help in Spanish, or in my case, in German? I don't
disagree with her, but I think it is far from being realistic to expect a bilingual
person working for the Mexican government, considering the salaries. The
numerous stated complaints, suggestions and/or opinions of foreign residents,
that there should always and anywhere be someone who speaks English, is from my
point of view very exaggerated. We (foreigners) chose to live in a different country
and I think it's only fair to claim that we have to integrate ourselves into the
existing culture. I don't say that we have to agree with all and everything, but
hey: WE are the guests. Let me also mention, that I've
never met a Mexican living in the USA, Canada or Germany (I haven't met Mexicans
living in other countries yet), who expected someone to speak Spanish. Let
me ensure you that I know how D. S. feels, because the police, called by a neighbor
who informed me immediately after calling the authorities, caught 2 youngsters
trying to get into our house in plain daylight a few months ago. I'm very sure
that D. S. feels angry, scared and helpless at the same time, because of not speaking
Spanish. My recommendation is to start learning Spanish, because I'm quite sure
that this solution will be much faster than waiting for the Mexican government
to change. As more and more time passes by living in
this true paradise, I have to remind myself much more often that I'm the guest
here. It comes out so naturally within the daily routine to suggest: Why don't
they do it like in other countries? They should… And then I hold on a moment
and locate myself until I realize once more: Other rules! In
German news, the radio station warns from time to time about a ghost driver (someone
driving in the wrong direction) on the "Autobahn" (speedway) between
exit "X" and "Y". Just imagine the ghost driver listening
to: "…between Cologne and Bonn heading towards Bonn, there is a ghost
driver on the Autobahn. Please keep on the right lane and lower your speed…"
The ghost driver's thought: "ONE ghost driver? There are HUNDREDS out there!"
Have a nice day and enjoy the last evenings with frog
symphonies behind the house …before the rainy season ends. Sincerely
yours,
Karsten Saller
Dear Editor, In
your issue No. 286, there was a letter from a person who had their apartment broken
into and could not make themselves understood by the phone operator at the police
station. That person, D.S., asked for a few words of wisdom. The
only words of wisdom I have to offer are these... Hey D.S.! Try learning a few
words of Spanish! If you are going to live in this country -even for part of the
year- at least have the courtesy to try to learn, at the very least, the bare
minimum to get by. Buy a book for God´s sake! Thank
you.
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