[caption id="attachment_499" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="(flickr credit: Omar Omar)"]
[/caption]In Mexico there aer some things that run precisely on time like busses and airports and lunchbreaks. Other things are scheduled a little more vaguely;
I was told I was scheduled for 10:30 or 11AM if they come today. So it was a definate appointment with a variable start time and optional existence (it never happened) "Es Mexico". I noticed on the appointment slip that if I cancelled there was the threat of a $20 USD cancellation fee. <insert fist shake here>
Some evening entertainment scheduled for 9:45 had people arriving from 9:45 to 9:55 with 3 seperate welcomes from the MC who each time indicated there would be further delay before starting. (after stating that "this is the main event")
An information session was first "promised" to last only 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then in reality it lasted 45 minutes.
I noticed at the beach that the "dive shop" which would lend kayaks and snorkelling gear was steadfast about not allowing gear to be borrowed 10-20 minutes before lunch hour. Hundreds of acationers used the beach and even ate on the beach over lunch hour, but the dive shop created a 1.5 hour "hole" in the beach activities by being so zealous about their lunch break. It seems there is still a love for "rules" in a culture where some timelines seem option.
I also noticed Mexican staff at the hotel hustling to serve customers and I've observed that staff who are constantly working outdoors in the heat tend to work at a constant but slower pace. This makes sense when I understand that many work (10-16 hour shifts).
The heat gave me reason to pause as i observed how low my energy level became. Suddenly any "convenient stereotypes" of a bunch of lazy Sombrero topped Mexicans snoozing in the shade fell apart, replaced with an appreciation for hard working people who in many ways have a healthier more realistic pace of life.
Enjoy!
Greg
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