Comparing the United States and Meixco (Meeting with Omar Part 3)

Yesterday, I met with Omar for the third time this semester. Our meetings are becoming more routine and it is becoming easier to talk to each other. When we met for the first time, I could tell he felt a little awkward; I definitely did too. However, as we have talked and are getting to know one another more deeply, I am really appreciating my time with Omar and I believe Omar is enjoying it as well.

Omar and I talked about a multitude of different things during our last conversation. One main theme that always seems to dominate our discussions are the differences and similarities between the United States and Mexico. I believe this happens since it allows us to create points of commonality and makes our conversation flow more freely. Moreover, I am curious to learn about the different customs in Mexico, so I naturally find myself asking about these topics.

One topic Omar and I focused on today was language and accents. Omar told me that different people have different Mexican accents, depending on where the person is from in Mexico. Omar is from Northern Mexico, and he said that Northern Mexicans typically have a stereotype of speaking more rudely. The first thing I thought of when Omar mentioned this is how this can be compared to the United States. People from Boston, New York or Chicago are typically known to have accents that can come off as impolite (although this is not always the case). Even though this is just a generalization, I thought it was interesting how Omar and I were able to draw parallels between language in Mexico and in the United States. I told Omar that he should visit Boston, New York or Chicago one day so he could get a better idea of what I was telling him about.

Moreover, with our mutual excitement for all the different holidays coming up, Omar and I shifted our conversation towards this. This is Omar’s first Halloween in the United States and he is particularly eager for it. However, he does not have a costume yet. We both laughed when I told him I did not have a costume yet either, and am most likely going to whip something up the night before. Moreover, Omar told me that Halloween is not a huge deal back in Mexico, but they still celebrate it. He is looking forward to embracing all the American traditions that Halloween entails, such as handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. Also, in Mexico, a big holiday that is right around Halloween is Dia de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead.” I remember learning about this in my Spanish classes in high school, but Omar basically explained to me that it is a day to remember loved ones who passed away and celebrate their lives. In Northern Mexico, the holiday is not a huge deal, and Omar said that he and his family typically would go to the cemetery and visit their loved one’s graves. In Southern Mexico, however, Dia de los Muertos is an immense celebration with parties to celebrate the lives of those who have passed. I always have thought that this holiday is fascinating. It is a big part of Mexican culture to embrace death and celebrate the lives loved ones have lived. This contrasts drastically with the culture in the United States, where death is typically viewed as a morbid and frightening event.

Furthermore, Omar is looking forward to having his first Thanksgiving ever. In my ignorance when talking to Omar, I completely forgot that Thanksgiving is only an American holiday, so Omar has no idea what it entails. I told Omar all about it—the huge turkey dinner, family, football and the history of how the holiday originated. I believe that my explanation gave Omar a better understanding of what Thanksgiving actually is and why it is celebrated. I look forward to talking to Omar after Thanksgiving to see how he liked the holiday. Stay tuned!
Near the end of our conversation, Omar and I began to talk about work and minimum wage. I just began working on campus this past week, so Omar asked me about it. We eventually got talking about minimum wage and I was extremely surprised at how different minimum wage is between the United States and Mexico. In Texas, minimum wage in $7.25/hour. To put this further in perspective, minimum wage in Arizona, where I am from, is $8.05/hour. The minimum wage varies by incremental amounts from state to state, but these variances are typically due to explainable variables such as the cost of living. When discussing the minimum wage with Omar, I did not even think to say it was “per hour.” I merely just said, “$7.25.” Omar replied back to me, asking if that was the daily rate or hourly rate. He then went on to tell me that minimum wage in Mexico is around $7.00 a day. I was stunned when Omar told me this. He said that this is not nearly enough money to live off of. Fortunately for him, since he has attended college, Omar was making above minimum wage before he came to the United States.

Omar has been doing great ever since coming to the United States. His mom might come visit him this weekend from Mexico, and Omar is tremendously thrilled about this. It has been over four months since he has seen anyone in his family. Moreover, my conversations with Omar are always great. Not only is he benefiting from our conversations by practicing his English, I am learning a ton, too. I am grateful for this opportunity to participate in this program and get to know Omar. I cannot wait until my next meeting with him to see what exciting new experiences he has had.