Homeopathic remedies and customs. . .

I forgot about all of the great things my maestras are teaching me.  I think this will be an ever evolving post as I learn new stuff.

- VapoRub (vapo roo for you Andrea; they say it just like that and it made me think of Rosa) on mosquito bites to stop the itch.
- garlic on scorpion stings to stop the burn.
- if you like someone of the same sex, don't say "me gusto" - that connotes a romantic interest.  Say "me caes."
- pie, as in the dessert variety is called pie - pi; don't try to get all pronouncy and call it foot - pee-ay - by mistake).  Chips are called chips.  Some things don't translate (please see also "big mouth," "putting ones pet to sleep," etc.)  Basically you can't just take your English words and trade them in for Spanish ones and expect to be understood.
- be very careful when saying comb - peine; really sound out those vowels, because pene means something else entirely and you don't want to be asking for it at the drugstore because you need it for your hair.  Subtle, but important.
- do NOT put your garbage out the night before.  The street dogs will tear the bag open because they can smell that tiny bit of chicken in the Ziploc bag.  Then you have a stoop full of garbage.  AND you can be fined.
- M80s and car alarms are perfectly acceptable at any hour of day or night.  If you hear a car alarm going off (and they do frequently because the streets are so narrow that any time a large car or truck goes by, it upsets all the smaller cars and they bleat), you can rest assured it will continue to do so for at least 10 minutes.  M80s sound like gunshots in the wee small hours of the morning or late at night - but it's only because when the streets are quiet, God can hear them better or something.  God apparently loves M80s.


WHEN VISITING:
- it's rude to "stop by" in Mexico; if you do, don't expect to be offered refreshments
- if you do call to come by, bring something with you - every time.  It seems wine is not enough if you're going over for dinner; they traditionally bring ham, cheese, eggs, etc.  If you're in town to visit friends, and you'll be going to their place several nights, the first night you should bring something for the house - a tablecloth, candlesticks, something.  Maybe you can get lazy the second night and just do the bottle of wine.  But the third night you better be showing up with groceries or a full bar.
- that said - the stuff you bring?  Is not for you to eat while you're there.  It's not like, "here is a great bottle of wine for you; let's open it!"
- if your Mexican friend tells you to visit them next time you are in town; they don't mean "come stay with me for two weeks" - they mean lets go have coffee
- If you're staying with someone, you should be prepared to either pay your way, or do stuff around the house.  If your host provides breakfast, you should provide lunch (yes, for everyone).  You should also be doing the laundry and tidying up as needed.  Basically - it's probably cheaper and easier to stay in a hotel if you're on vacation.

WHEN SHOPPING:
- It is a total faux pas to bargain for fruits & vegetables - you can ask for less of something if it's in quantity, but that's it!
- As for bargaining for other stuff (jewelry, pottery, etc.) - she said a little bit of bargaining is okay, but not to do that "What?!  That's way too expensive!  Bah!" kind of thing.  They give you a price, you say, "Oh, that's expensive" or "I don't have that much" and they ask what you think, you give them a price and they either say yes, no or they counter again with a price in between.  Then you take it, or you say thank you and walk away.  And don't go back every day trying to bargain again and again - either on the same item or on different things.  They don't care if you don't buy, but they don't want to be insulted!