Cultural Differences

I find cultural differences fascinating, so here are some I noticed while in Puebla (some are because it's Mexico, others no doubt just because it's a city):

- most prices are similar, but copies can be made for 2-4 cents each, and matinee movie tickets are 2 for $5. Our hosts fed 9 people supper at a restaurant for $30.

- the green light blinks before it turns yellow

- stop signs are ignored - that's why they put in stop lights!

- breakfast is at 9 or so; dinner (their "strong meal") is at 2 or 3pm, and supper at 9pm.

- fruit is cheap

- the houses are very sturdy, made of cement, which means no remodeling; they share walls and are painted bright colors. One way you can tell where one house ends and another begins is by the color change.

- there are hardly any runners, parks, trails or grass

- no carpet, heating, cooling, flying insects or yards

- no one can drink the tap water

- in the big mall, there was an escalator with no steps, just a ramp; also guards at almost every store

- Volkswagen Beetles are everywhere; also many other Volkswagens

- each day of the week, cars with certain license plates are banned in Mexico City

- most young people live with their parents until they get married

- when someone enters a house, everyone else gets up and hugs and kisses the person; same when someone leaves

- most families get together every weekend

None of these are bad or good, worse or better; they're just different. We had good fellowship with our Mexican brothers and sisters in the Lord, and had a lot of fun too!