That's My Story

PUBLISHED IN WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWS BAJA COLUMN Week of Aug. 1, 2006

Photo: If I had a hammer…

JUST ANOTHER CULTURAL DIFFERENCE

For any of you that have ever tried to do some construction or a re-model or even just hired a contractor or handy-man to do something around the adobe, you might have an inkling of what I’m talking about.

I have been working on a project now for over a year. Well, not me. I’m busy. Being the smart guy that I am, I hired some folks to do some work for me. Of course, at the outset, it’s all smiles and handshakes and a lot of , “No problema. No te preocupes! (No problems. Don’t worry!) Famous last words, right? Right up there with, “I swear I will NEVER drink again!”

Well, things went on swimmingly the first few weeks. Madre de Dios! These guys were good. And they were cheap. Compared even to the guys you might find to do some yard work at your local Home Depot parking lot, contruction zoomed and I couldn’t believe how little it cost! Guys in ladders. Gus schlepping paint. Guys grittily pushing wheelbarrels of cement in the hot Baja sun! Up-and-up-and-up it went and I felt like saying, “No wonder the danged Aztecs built those pyramids so well and so fast!”

Then, one fateful day came the word…”Uh, Jonathan, we forgot permits for electricity. Oh, and we also forgot a few other things too. But…(here come those famous last words) “Don’t you worry! We’ll have to done “manana.” (tomorrow)

That was over a year ago and I am no closer to completing my project now as I was then. The red tape and cost overruns rivals the U.S. budget in the Iraq. How did this happen?

I have come to learn there is a cultural difference in how we use the word “manana.” It was explained to me by my foreman one hot sweltering day as I sat on a pile of stones that was supposed to have been moved, “manana.”

As he explained to me, when we gringos use it, it means exactly what it means…”tomorrow.” However, I was advised that, although Mexico has often been accused of being the laid-back “land of manana,” it is also because culturally, it’s the polite way of saying, “maybe!” What?

Here’s the rule, according to my foreman. Culturally, many Mexicans hate to disappoint and say something cannot be done. They are being polite. So, being ambigious is the next best thing. Saying “manana” handily dismisses the issue. According to my foreman, he said, “By the time a Mexican says ‘manana’ to you the third time, go find someone else to do the job.”

On the other hand, if someone emphatically says, “Seguro!” (sure thing), you can take it to the bank. He got up and dusted himself off leaving me sitting on the hot pile of stones to contemplate his advice and the construction mess around me.

“So when will you finish the electrical?” I called after him.

“Sure thing, manana!” He laughed.

I just paid him too…

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com