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Posts Tagged ‘living in Mexico’

CAN’T GO WRONG BAJA PRIMER

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Baja Rockfish, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, fishing tournaments, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, women fishing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Look past stereotypes. A smile is a smile in any language!

CAN’T GO WRONG BAJA PRIMER

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of Aug. 10, 2011

Been down here long enough and had several thousand folks pass through our care either directly or indirectly here in Baja.  Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of things that you can do that will always work no matter what.  What got me started many years ago was listening to two gringos talking on the beach.

 

“I’m really disappointed in Mexico.   The golf course here is not even close to being as good as Pebble Beach!”  (how many are THAT good?)

 

“We were fishing and the boat didn’t even have an electronic fish finder on it.  We caught fish, but it’s like fishing in the stone ages down here.”

 

Y’know, sometimes expectations are just a little too high.  Folks forget.  This is still the Baja.  Until a few years ago, things we take for granted like electricity, running water, phones and ice were non-existent in many places, let alone complaining because you can’t find a McDonald’s for the kids. 

 

Anyway, here’s my two-cents primer on things that are 100 percent guaranteed if you plan to visit us:

 

  • Never forget you’re a guest here.  Act accordingly as if you were visiting a friend or neighbor and you will never go wrong.
  • Stereotypes work both ways.  You are consciously or sub-consciously judging your hosts as Mexicans. It’s inevitable.  You are also being judged as a guest American.  Americans are also stereotyped.  Remember, you’re being watched and judged.  Be an ambassador of goodwill.
  • No one will every laugh at you for trying to speak the language.  It’s appreciated.  By the same token, don’t get impatient if a local doesn’t speak or understand English as fast as you would like.
  • “Please” and “Thank you” in any language is always understood.
  • An unspoken smile or a laugh is a powerful communicator
  • A dollar left on a dresser of your hotel room or pressed into a palm for a small favor goes further than any dollar you ever spent
  • You will never go wrong eating at a place that has a crowd or a line around it.  It’s worth the wait. 
  •  Make a friend forever by complimenting someone’s child or asking about their family.  Ask to see a photo. 
  • Shopping is always better the further you get away from the tourist areas. 
  • Never be afraid to negotiate.  It’s expected.  It’s fun.  It never hurts to ask if there is a lower price for anything…from taxi cabs to day tours and from margarita glassware to blankets.  If they say “no” smile.  If  they say “yes” smile even bigger! 
  • Ask a taxi driver to “show you HIS favorite places.” Or take you to HIS favorite restaurant or where the locals go or eat.  Often you will discover things you would never find in the travel brochures.
  • Even if you get a bargain, tip nicely.  You’ll be remembered.
  • Take a photo of someone and, if there’s any way, give them a copy.  They will treasure it and you always.  We take photos for granted.   We have thousands of photos of ourselves.  Many folks down here have their photo i.d. and sometimes not even that.
  • Tell your captain you just want to catch fish.  He really wants to.  Let him do his job.  Try tipping AHEAD OF time or showing him his tip ahead of time.  See what magic that works!
  • Our throw-aways are someone’s treasure.  A used t-shirt.  Old fishing line. Some hooks.   A worn baseball hat.  A out-of-fashion pair of shoes or slippers. Hand them off with a smile.  Get a smile in return.
  • Don’t be afraid or too lazy to walk through a park,  beach or shopping area where families are gathered. 
  • Visit a local bookstore or listen to some local music.
  • No matter how much of a hurry you think you are in, stop and sit.  Watch and listen.  Absorb. Revel in the slower pace, even for just a moment.  You’ll be amazed.  Don’t forget that you might not be passing this way again, even if you’re rushing to catch the glass-bottom boat tour or the mariachi dinner show.  Those will always be there.  That  magnificent sunset over the Sea of Cortez might not.

That’s my story!

Jonathan

  ________________________________________

.

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico  www.tailhunter-international.com.  They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront.  If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com  or drop by the restaurant to say hi!           

___________________________________________

 

 Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

 

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

 

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

 
Website: www.tailhunter-international.com
U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.
Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate

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“PERSPECTIVES – Another Slice of Life in the Baja”

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Life, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Tackle and Techniques, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Mexican Independence Day, Mexico life, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Tailhunter International, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications, tagged , , , , , on July 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

An eye-opening trip home...

“PERSPECTIVES – Another slice of Life in the Baja”

Originally published in Western Outdoor News the Week of July 27, 2011

At any given time we have several dozen employees on the roster here in Baja.  Like business owners anywhere in the world, we stress over the usual stuff  like scheduling, attendance, benefits, employee taxes…the usual stuff.

 

But, one of the biggest problems we face is folks always coming in late. Dangit, how come a dishwasher or cook can’t come in on time?  Day-after-day.

 

 No matter how many times you talk with them; put things in their files; dock their pay…nothing works. Arrive late. Often leave early. Doesn’t anyone have an alarm clock? How hard is it to be ON TIME? Three days late, legally lose a day of pay.

 

Then, I had a bit of an epiphany of sorts.

 

We had just closed the restaurant about midnight and headed home, I saw one of our cooks walking down the block in the dark.  I pulled over and offered to give him a ride home which he happily accepted.  To me, no big deal. Hop on in, Jose!

 

It took almost 15 minutes to go just several miles.   Up one dark deserted street. Down another side street.   Around a dark turn or two.  Dogs in the trash…some guys on a porch drinking beer under a harsh lightbulb..two more dark roads…or three…up several hills and more dark alleys then into the foothills. 

 

            No houses around but plenty of trash.  Abandoned hulks of cars.  Everytime I thought we must almost be there, he’d say, “poco mas adelante.”  (little further).  No problem, Jose.

 

            Man…some of these “streets” were best for a mountain bike or vehicle with high clearance.  Little more than gravel.  In my rearview, I could see blooms of dust behind us.

 

We finally arrived at a cluster of dilapidated concrete cinder-block structures.  In my headlights, it was hard to tell if they were painted.  Single light bulb ceiling lights in some windows that didnt’ look like they had glass.  Mis-matched bed sheets seemed to serve as curtains in some. 

 

I knew Jose had a little girl and a wife, but judging by the amount of laundry hanging to dry in the dusty breeze, it was clear that more than 3 people lived there.  More like a dozen.  Two dogs sleeping in the dirt under a yellow glazed streetlight.

 

I asked Jose, how he gets to work every day.  He said he walks about 2 miles down the dirt road.  Hopes he hitches a ride with someone, if possible.  He then pays 20 pesos to catch the bus (10 percent of his daily wage) assuming it’s on time and assuming it hasn’t broken down.  It’s an hour to come into work…if he’s lucky.

 

What about at night?  Sometimes he doesn’t get out until after midnight.  There’s no bus after midnight.  He walks.  He hitches.  He hopes for the best.  Sometimes it takes 90 minutes to hike home. 

 

He shrugs his shoulders and smiles. Gives me a high-5 and a “gracias”.  Out the door then runs into his house around an old tire and   through a broken screen door.   A single glaring light bulb goes out. 

 

I drove down the hillside deep in thought.  Jose’s a great worker.  But, I’ve been busting this guy’s chops for more than a year because he’s routinely 5-15 minutes late. . .or more.   I’ve docked his pay.  I’ve threatened to suspend him. He’s never argued with me.  He always promises to be better.  How’s a guy to run a business when the employee can’t be on time? Sheesh!

 

Then, he’s late again and I jump on his case.  In fact, I have him on night shift which means he won’t leave the restaurant until well after midnight,  So…that means, Jose walks home up through the dark alleys…the back paths…the dusty roads…and up into the hills to get home.  Every night.

 

I never thought…

 

You just assume that people have transportation.  As an American, we are used to always having ways to get from point A to point B.  Certainly, we can get to work.  We all have cars or access to cars.  Gotta get somewhere?  Heck…jump in your car and just go, Man!

 

We just so often forget.  Most people don’t have cars in Mexico.  Or the bus doesn’t run.  Or they have to walk a zillion miles to catch a bus that may or may not be there on time if at all.

 

Or, if they do have a car, gas costs the equivalent of a day’s wages.  So you buy ONE gallon at a time.  To an American, that would be like paying 50-100 dollars per gallon! 

 

It gets complicated when a kid or family member is sick.  When the car breaks down.  When the bus doesn’t run.  When you don’t have enough dinero to even buy one gallon of gas.

 

Someone is gonna be late.

 

I try not to bust Jose’s chops so much anymore.  It’s not gonna do any good to “teach him a lesson” in punctuality.  I’m the one who gets “schooled” in being a bit more tolerant and also grateful for my own blessings.

That’s my story

Jonathan

___________________________

 

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife, Jill, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico  www.tailhunter-international.com.  They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront.  If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com  or drop by the restaurant to say hi!    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International

 

TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor

TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR #1 Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor

 

Now follow us on FACEBOOK TOO

 
Website: www.tailhunter-international.com
U.S. Office: 3319 White Cloud Drive, Suite A, Hacienda Hts. CA 91745
Mexico Office: 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863

.
Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report:
http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

Tailhunter YouTube Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/pangapirate


“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”

 

             

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