| If you happen to have an interest in expatriation | | | | who are staying in San Miguel de Allende |
| and are targeting Mexico as a possibility, here is | | | | (Gringolandia Incarnate) come to Guanajuato and |
| some of the banter you most certainly will read | | | | become very out-of-sorts over not being able to |
| on the forums: "To Learn Spanish or Not To | | | | find many English speaking locals in the tourist |
| Learn Spanish, That is the Question!" | | | | industry. And, speaking of San Miguel de Allende, |
| I fall, of course, on the "You've got to learn | | | | the playground of the rich and famous Gringos, |
| Spanish" side of the fence. My main arguments in | | | | the prices for everything are so high that many |
| my columns have been that you can never, ever | | | | can't afford to live there. It is no longer an |
| learn the culture of Mexico without the access to | | | | American Retiree Haven unless you are rich. |
| the Cultural Portal--the language! But, my | | | | Prices in the Prime-Living Locations for expats |
| arguments generally, not always, fall on deaf ears. | | | | have soared so high that they are now looking |
| The solution so many American expats seem to | | | | toward the center of the country, the Mexican |
| love is moving into a well-honed Gringo | | | | highlands, to find places for retirement and learning |
| infrastructure called, "Gringolandia". In these little | | | | the language does not seem to be on their list of |
| enclaves they've banned together to form their | | | | things to do to get ready. |
| own little version of America in their own little | | | | So, you move to a little place off the beaten path |
| American colony and practice their own little | | | | in Mexico. One day you are strolling along in a |
| version of American colonialism. Part of this | | | | lovely little plaza and you suddenly keel over in |
| includes a self-governing practice not even | | | | some sort of attack or seizure. The very |
| remotely resembling a democracy. If you want to | | | | Spanish-only locals see you are having some sort |
| be a part of it, then it is their way or it is the | | | | of medical emergency and very valiantly rush you |
| highway. They will even enforce their Lord of the | | | | into a Spanish-only clinic. You can't string enough |
| Flies government with threats and carry some of | | | | Spanish words together to barely order a cup of |
| them out--or at least try to. | | | | coffee much less begin to tell the doctor what's |
| Is this true of all of them without exception? | | | | wrong with you and what medications you take |
| No,of course not. But I have to say that so as to | | | | that might interfer with what he or she is about |
| minimize the death threats this blog will surely | | | | to inject you with. Your friend whose Spanish is |
| bring. | | | | worse than yours, cannot do anything to ease |
| Another part of these Gringolandias is that they | | | | the language crisis and all he can do is stand there |
| find the bilingual Mexicans and use them. They use | | | | and hope you don't die. |
| them for everything. They use them to do their | | | | Fiction? Nope. I know someone it happened to. |
| bidding in the real Mexican world that exists | | | | Look: Americans remarkably do not seem to get |
| outside of their little Bubbled Gringolandias that | | | | that in the popular resort areas and in the areas |
| require using the language. (Where I live I am | | | | that have become the Gringolandias of Mexico |
| wondering when the locals who speak English will | | | | where English is widely spoken, that this is not |
| figure out they should begin to charge for these | | | | true everywhere in Mexico. And yet, they keep |
| translation and interpretation services and make a | | | | coming as tourists and expats into the |
| killing off the monolingual Gringos?) | | | | non-Prime-Living and Resorts areas of Mexico fully |
| Whether someone agrees or not with my views | | | | expecting the locals to be bilingual. |
| of expatriation to Mexico and the Spanish issue | | | | At the very least when a tourist, have your |
| can certainly be debated. What cannot be argued, | | | | medical history and medicines you take translated |
| however, is that if the Gringo tries living in an area | | | | onto a card, or something, that you can give to |
| of Mexico where English is not widely spoken, and | | | | the doctor in an emergency room. |
| is out cruising the town and has a medical | | | | At the very least as an expat, learn Spanish! Stop |
| emergency, just what in "English's Name Only" are | | | | using the excuse that it is too hard, you are too |
| they going to do? | | | | old, you've tried but it just is too hard, or |
| Many are being attracted, in recent years, to | | | | whatever else your monolingual lazy butt can |
| Central Mexico. It offers cheaper living and that's | | | | think of. |
| mainly what is sought regarding expatriatism. | | | | The truth, the Linguistic Evidence, is that you are |
| What many do not understand is that the cities in | | | | not too old. Learning Speech is hardwired into |
| Mexico that have developed a Gringo | | | | every human's brain. Stop confusing learning |
| infrastructure with plenty of English to go around, | | | | something about Spanish--grammar--with learning |
| is an artificial thing (and much more | | | | Spanish--speech. |
| mega-expensive). It is a hybrid. I've seen visitors | | | | NO EXCUSES! LEARN SPANISH RIGHT NOW! |