How To Not Look Like A Gringo.

[westsail374]

This is a great thread.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Personally I found most 3rd world communities don’t worry about being politically correct

Lol - yup .

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by skipmac

...One nit picking point. Some Spanish speakers (mildly) resent the citizens of the USA calling themselves Americans..

But then what do us gringos call ourselves, USAians? Comes out a bit awkward. Doesn't roll off the tongue as nicely as Mexican or Cuban or even Argentinian.

Regarding gringo.....Whether it's derogatory or not depends on the tone and attitude of the speaker. Like Gary Cooper (not John Wayne) said, "If you wanna call me that, smile."

"Estadounidenses" I find does not roll off the native English speaking tongue so well -- at least not mine. "Norte Americano" is a little easier but could also be Canadian. "Extranjero" is broader still (but it is used in the little village where I live because we now have a mix of foreigners).

Hey I've got it...how about..."GRINGO"! Smile when you say that!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by ArtM

That's the thing, it's not about being "dressed up". Flip flops are ok, as long as they are clean, fit properly, and match your style. People will wear flip-flops with long pants. Trim your toenails though! I like to buff or even put on a coat of clear polish myself, or at least I should do it more often than I do. You ever look at an American man's feet?

OK, so I trimmed my toenails today...but I am not buffing and painting them...at least not without sufficient motivation from some hot latina hoochie mama!

[cheoah]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

"Estadounidenses" I find does not roll off the native English speaking tongue so well -- at least not mine. "Norte Americano" is a little easier but could also be Canadian. "Extranjero" is broader still (but it is used in the little village where I live because we now have a mix of foreigners).

Hey I've got it...how about..."GRINGO"! Smile when you say that!

In Cuba, they call us Yumans, or from Yuma. Comes from the 1950's film 3:10 to Yuma. Norte Americano works fine down south, and says enough to most, as if the shoes didn't already. In Cuba they make a distinction between US/Canadians, because they relate to us as "family" and are generally very happy to see us, but also surprised because relatively so few visit.

[Capt Phil]

Cuba still is a destination resort area for many Canadians. When my kids were in college in BC, they regularly went to Cuba on vacation. There were cheap flights on an airline called Wardair, I recall, that flew out of Vancover and Toronto. It was cheap, good food and drink and Cubans were very friendly folks according to my kids.
In those days, the 80's, the US was very strict about citizens travelling to Cuba so a 'Gringo' was much more likely to be Canadian or European than American. Phil

[boatman61]

Dunno how I come across to folk along the way... seem to clear in and out just fine and the folk are friendly and talkative in the main.. Some like me and some do not.. have to get opinions on my 'Look' from members who've met me...
I call it my 'How I feel on the day' dress code... if I've just got in after a rough passage... they get the dripping foulies and gaunt haggard look with the 'Death's Head' grin..
Otherwise its trousers n boots with short sleeved shirt that goes on when needed.. I'm crass and casual..
But Gringo..? hell I'm also a Ghora.. an Untouchable, a Chitta Bandar and a coupla 3 other things along the way so..
I'm ME in many guise's...

[Astrid]

I have heard tell the term Gringo comes from the mid 19th century song "Green grow the Lilacs" which was popular in among US soldiers during the Mexican war and which was misheard by Mexicans as 'green go' instead of 'green grow."

[Jimbo485]

When they start calling you "gringo culiado" or "gringa culiada" or "huevon concha su madre", then you have a serious problem.

[zeehag]

anything with ch or cu is bad bad bad......


boatman i like your style.....

[Dennis.G]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

... "Norte Americano" is a little easier but could also be Canadian.

Mexico is also part of North America, but I have heard "Norte Americano" used in Mexico for USA (of course we are North of Mexico so I guess makes sense).

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by zeehag

anything with ch or cu is bad bad bad......


boatman i like your style.....

Thanks Zee...
and yer right.. nowt worse than a Chihuahua in a bad mood..

[donradcliffe]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Yep.

Gringo attire:

- "sporty" shirt or ragged t shirt.
- "technical" sandals
- shorts
- sun hat
- backpack

Wear jeans or dockers, generic white sneakers, a soccer jersey or single color t shirt, and maybe a baseball cap. Basically don't wear anything that costs a lot of money.

Or do, and just be nice because most people don't really care.

This gave me a laugh, because 20 years ago I was wandering around Alcapulco looking for an American tourist to carry my income tax papers back to mail in the US. There were more Canadians than Americans, so after some thought I started talking to the ones wearing white sneakers, as I noticed that the Canadian gringos wore sandals or leather shoes. I hit a retired postal worker from Chicago on the first try...

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by zeehag

ok folks.. scenario.....
going to the port capt to check into aport ...no dinghy dock, just a surf landing ont he beach.....

what would YOU wear to go to shore ?????

ye gonna wear long pants??
a dress ??

get real.

formality is great for dock landings. so are long pants and dresses.

lets get some reality going here.

That’s got to be a trick question Zee.

Get ashore with your beach stuff.
Bring a waterproof bag with your formal clothes
Change at the local taverna and go do your bussiness

[Capt Rottnest]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

LOL! I think the Aussies might give you Canadians a drubbing when it comes to poor tipping.

People tip.. outside USA??
That's one custom I wouldn't want to make its way to Asia.