A great list, I really enjoyed reading it especially #5.
I find that Westerners have a habit of talking a lot, but not saying much at the same time. The rest of the world is much more comfortable with honesty.
Ha! This was fantastic! My mother-in-law would include rice with your beans. When she came to visit us from Cuba, she griped when we had a meal without rice. "Si no hay arroz," she said, "no hay comida."
Loved this post! My gringo dad lives in a small village (San Pedro) 2.5 hrs southwest of Guadalajara, I'll have to send him this list :)
Eva
· 11 months ago
I'll admit I'm an outsider on the subject (non-Spanish speaker, and beyond an all-inclusive in Acapulco years ago I've never traveled in Latin America) but I must admit I've always been a little uncomfortable with the term "gringo".
Apart from (increasingly common) ironic usages by travel writers, I can't recall ever seeing it used in a way that wasn't at least mildly derogatory. Is that TV and movies talking? Do real people actually use it without intending to display scorn?
I've always equated it with the Thai, farang, or perhaps the Swahili, mzungu -- although that one I have seen used without contempt.
I guess, being raised in multi-culti central (if not in reality then at least in intentions, if you see what I mean) I'm uncomfortable with any broad generalization or definition of foreign-ness being tied to race..? Anyone else get a little icky feeling when you see these terms?
Turner
· 11 months ago
There are definitely times you feel like a trained monkey in foreign countries.
Right on! Cute post, and it takes me back to my 2007 travels through Guatemala. Although I didn't have the benefit of staying with a family... sounds like your host mom's the bomb-diggety!
That's just had me spitting soup over my screen with laughter. I really love your writing - and as always, it's just serving to heighten my excitement about my forthcoming trip to Guatemala. Oh, and yes, that food looks lovely!
I did hear the word was coined in the way-back-when, and was derived from the US Army's fondness for the song 'Green Grow the Rushes-o'. But, I think this is 'urban myth', because no American I know has ever heard of it.
@Eva, my first tendency was to agree with your general uncomfortableness with the word "gringo" or any other generalization linked to race (or ethniciy, nationality, etc). No one has ever galled me gringo (gringa?) to my face, but I have a hunch I wouldn't like it very much. I mean, I could name a whole host of words Americans use to categorize hispanics, particularly those who recently immigrated to the U.S., but I would never, ever, under any circumstances think that it would be ok to actually speak these words outloud or even think that they are acceptable ways to categorize people.
On the other hand, I occasionally refer to the French as "Frenchies." Maybe context matters here (and in the case of gringo), as the use of this word generally occurs when I'm either with French friends who use it as well or with friends who have lived in France/studied French culture. It's used almost as a term of endearment in these cases, and it is never used to degrade or deliberately offend someone, but I could see how others might see its use in any circumstance as being done in poor taste.
I'm not sure that this quandry has a good answer.
Christy
· 11 months ago
Gringo Biz.....thats awesome. Yeah I was just last week and man I had my fill of beans and tortillas. Gah no more of that combination.
Hey everyone, this is Drew, Christine's DH (Designated Hitter?) wanting to chime in here with regards to the general PC nature of the use of "gringo". I totally understand that initial tightening of the stomach some of you might get when first reading this casual usage, but the more I talk to Christine about her experiences (I am currently chained the my family's house in VT for the time being, for those who didn't know.), the more clear it is to me that the culture and context of the usage there is truly not cut and dry in any way. Anyone who has spent significant time in Central America might be able to back me up on this, but it's clear that at least with the majority of people Christine has run into, the people there are very much unaware that the word has a negative bent to it.
-Three make a point to say that while it can be used in a derogatory way, it is not usually the case, and is just as likely if not more likely to merely mean "American" -One sites it specifically as non-derogatory -One sites it specifically as derogatory -Two site it as a matter-of-fact statement that it means Americans, no bias one way or another
I'm sure you will now bow down to my irrefutable, highly scientific methods here, which lead me to believe that there is a trend towards the word being not-derogatory. Now of COURSE people can and will use it in a hateful way, the same way any non native can change the specific nationality of a person into an insult merely by their inflection. >>> (Effing Mexicans... Ugh) <<< I do get how someone not acclimated to the very grey contextual area down in that region could feel a little "icky" about the word, but I hope that anything I just wrote here soothes that upset tummy like the smooth, minty salve that is Pepto Bismol. Can we resume laughing heartily at this post? I can't tell you why, but this might be my all time favorite post on the site. I'm always telling her to bust out the comedy more, and she nailed everything in this post just the way I personally love to read. Great job babe:)
Eva
· 11 months ago
Hey Drew,
Thanks for getting back to me! (And Tanya, too.) It's comforting to know that most people don't use it in a derogatory sense -- as I said, in my (TV and movie-based, ha) experience, it always seems to be a slur. I'm also more comfortable with it usually meaning "American" than simply "white person" for some reason -- I think there's more room to have fun with national stereotypes than racial ones, unfair as that may seem to people who've been on the receiving end of national stereotypes a lot.
Equating inherent foreign-ness with a different racial background is what really makes me uncomfortable -- for one thing, because it's just not accurate in our globalizing world. I have a grim memory of a substitute teacher in high school teaching a unit on immigration, and, turning to the only black kid in class, asking: When did you get here?
(His response? "I'm from Toronto...")
ps: With respect to the Swahili for "white person", mzungu, I have a Filipina friend who got a real kick out of being chased down the street by kids shouting Mzungu! Mzungu! "That's a first!" she said. :D
>>there is a trend towards the word being not-derogatory. Now of COURSE people can and will use it in a hateful way,<<
I'm often being asked whether or not I mind being called a 'Brit' ... usually, I can tell from the person's tone of voice whether or not any insult is intended. I'd rather be called a 'Brit' than a 'Pommy B*****d', though. :D
Spot on. I've stayed with a family and also in some family-run hostels in Mexico, and that's exactly how it is! They even warned me of the street food.
I didn't listen to that warning though, but all was well.
Cheese Doodle
· 7 months ago
I just came across this one google, it's SO TRUE! As a Mexican myself, living in a very gringo community, my family and I really related to this.
Nice~
Rebel
· 6 months ago
I think I've entirely missed the tone of this article. Is this supposed to be ironic? The entire reason to go to another culture is to experience something different. As a traveler, I am the one who must adapt... not the host family. "Best to nip problems in the bud...by asking them if they are happy everyday." A host family is just that a host, someone welcoming you into their country and their culture... not a servant, it's not their job to make you happy. I can't figure out from who's perspective this is supposed to be funny.
All Comments
I find that Westerners have a habit of talking a lot, but not saying much at the same time. The rest of the world is much more comfortable with honesty.
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My mother-in-law would include rice with your beans. When she came to visit us from Cuba, she griped when we had a meal without rice. "Si no hay arroz," she said, "no hay comida."
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Apart from (increasingly common) ironic usages by travel writers, I can't recall ever seeing it used in a way that wasn't at least mildly derogatory. Is that TV and movies talking? Do real people actually use it without intending to display scorn?
I've always equated it with the Thai, farang, or perhaps the Swahili, mzungu -- although that one I have seen used without contempt.
I guess, being raised in multi-culti central (if not in reality then at least in intentions, if you see what I mean) I'm uncomfortable with any broad generalization or definition of foreign-ness being tied to race..? Anyone else get a little icky feeling when you see these terms?
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I did hear the word was coined in the way-back-when, and was derived from the US Army's fondness for the song 'Green Grow the Rushes-o'. But, I think this is 'urban myth', because no American I know has ever heard of it.
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On the other hand, I occasionally refer to the French as "Frenchies." Maybe context matters here (and in the case of gringo), as the use of this word generally occurs when I'm either with French friends who use it as well or with friends who have lived in France/studied French culture. It's used almost as a term of endearment in these cases, and it is never used to degrade or deliberately offend someone, but I could see how others might see its use in any circumstance as being done in poor taste.
I'm not sure that this quandry has a good answer.
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A quick run through of the seven definitions listed on page one here ( http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=... ) show me that of these seven:
-Three make a point to say that while it can be used in a derogatory way, it is not usually the case, and is just as likely if not more likely to merely mean "American"
-One sites it specifically as non-derogatory
-One sites it specifically as derogatory
-Two site it as a matter-of-fact statement that it means Americans, no bias one way or another
I'm sure you will now bow down to my irrefutable, highly scientific methods here, which lead me to believe that there is a trend towards the word being not-derogatory. Now of COURSE people can and will use it in a hateful way, the same way any non native can change the specific nationality of a person into an insult merely by their inflection. >>> (Effing Mexicans... Ugh) <<< I do get how someone not acclimated to the very grey contextual area down in that region could feel a little "icky" about the word, but I hope that anything I just wrote here soothes that upset tummy like the smooth, minty salve that is Pepto Bismol. Can we resume laughing heartily at this post? I can't tell you why, but this might be my all time favorite post on the site. I'm always telling her to bust out the comedy more, and she nailed everything in this post just the way I personally love to read. Great job babe:)
Thanks for getting back to me! (And Tanya, too.) It's comforting to know that most people don't use it in a derogatory sense -- as I said, in my (TV and movie-based, ha) experience, it always seems to be a slur. I'm also more comfortable with it usually meaning "American" than simply "white person" for some reason -- I think there's more room to have fun with national stereotypes than racial ones, unfair as that may seem to people who've been on the receiving end of national stereotypes a lot.
Equating inherent foreign-ness with a different racial background is what really makes me uncomfortable -- for one thing, because it's just not accurate in our globalizing world. I have a grim memory of a substitute teacher in high school teaching a unit on immigration, and, turning to the only black kid in class, asking: When did you get here?
(His response? "I'm from Toronto...")
ps: With respect to the Swahili for "white person", mzungu, I have a Filipina friend who got a real kick out of being chased down the street by kids shouting Mzungu! Mzungu! "That's a first!" she said. :D
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Cuando vas para Honduras?
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I'm often being asked whether or not I mind being called a 'Brit' ... usually, I can tell from the person's tone of voice whether or not any insult is intended. I'd rather be called a 'Brit' than a 'Pommy B*****d', though. :D
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I didn't listen to that warning though, but all was well.
Nice~
"Best to nip problems in the bud...by asking them if they are happy everyday." A host family is just that a host, someone welcoming you into their country and their culture... not a servant, it's not their job to make you happy. I can't figure out from who's perspective this is supposed to be funny.