Things I've learned so far...

Tonight I'm going to make a list of some of the interesting things I've learned so far while in Mexico. Enjoy!

1. Just to get this out of the way- seriously, don't drink the water. Make sure you get bottled water, so you may just have problems.

2. Police carry huge guns with them at all times, so be sure you don't offend the policemen!

3. Speedbumps are everywhere. Riding in a vehicle is just a constant game of breaking and accelerating. And even with all the speedbumps, people still drive too fast!

4. Pedestrians have no rights. You look before you cross the street, or you hope you have great insurance.

5. Baggers at places like Wal-Mart or Super Bodega must be tipped, a peso per bag. That may be their only source of payment, and if you forget, they'll start chattering at their coworkers in Spanish- probably talking about the cheap Americans.

6. Coca-Cola is the king of pop. It's cheap, only about 40-50 cents for a bottle. Good luck finding Pepsi!

7. Hammocks are one of the most comfortable pieces of furnature in the world.

8. Being on time is rediculous to many Mexicans. Late is the norm, so bring a book with you wherever you go.

9. Americans tip way too much. In Mexico, a good tip is 10%, and it's normally 8%. However, if you eat at a restaurant geared towards tourists, they'll automatically add a 15% tip to your bill.

10. If a Mexican speaks English, they'll usually want to practice with you. This can make practicing my Spanish hard!

11. Little old ladies are incredibly nice! They'll also talk your ear off, so be prepared to listen (and let's hope you can understand the rapidfire Spanish.)

12. Cashiers will ask you for change if you don't give them exact change. It's also difficult to find a place that will cash a $500 bill (about $35-$40 USD).

13. People love to talk about Obama. If you say you're from America, you may just hear them say somthing like, "Oh, Obama. Yay!" in broken English.

14. Some people need to learn how to respond to emails. You know who you are...

15. Climbing ruins means your rump is going to hurt the next day, but it's worth every steep and crumbling step.

16. God has created amazing sights in the world. Find a cenote and you can see the wonderful creations.

17. Flamingoes are noisy birds. They chatter like seagulls.

18. Pirates are harder to find than you think, even on a pirate ship. And no, Johnny Depp wasn't there. :(

19. Buses are amazing. They are the best way to get around town, and they're cheap. Plus, you almost always have a bus story to tell after riding on one. The US needs more buses!

20. Mexico is...(speechless) I can't begin to describe how awesome it is to live in such a beautiful country. No doubt Mexico has serious problems, but it's so easy to forget that while living in Mérida. It's like another country althogether.