Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller discusses the prevalence of fluoride in salt in Latin America and its implications for expats. He clarifies that while he previously mentioned fluoride in salt in Latin America, he didn't elaborate on the solution. He advises expats to cook at home and avoid using fluoridated salt to minimize exposure. He also touches on the overuse of salt in food, which can lead to dehydration, and shares personal anecdotes about his experiences with over-salted meals. Additionally, he mentions the historical context of fluoride use in concentration camps during World War II, suggesting it was used to 'dumb down' individuals. The segment transitions to a story about a wedding attended by a gringo expat and a Latina, highlighting the cultural and familial dynamics in Latin America, including the role of extended family and the challenges of travel without reliable transportation.
The podcast segment recounts a story about a grandpa who traveled by a chicken bus to attend his granddaughter's wedding, bringing a live chicken as a gift. The chicken was transported in a paper bag, and upon arrival, it was slaughtered and cooked for a family dinner. The bride, a sophisticated city girl, found the gesture endearing and appreciated the cultural tradition. Johnny Mueller comments on the cultural differences, particularly regarding mango varieties in Central America and the perception of gringos versus Latin Americans at the wedding.
Johnny Mueller discusses the cultural differences between gringos (Americans) and Latin people, particularly in the context of weddings and social norms. He highlights how Latin people are more reserved and unlikely to speak openly about gringos, while gringos often overhear such comments. He also talks about the relaxed approach to time in Latin countries, using a wedding example where the bride arrived significantly late, and how this is expected and accepted. Johnny contrasts this with the more punctual Italian culture, referencing Mussolini's impact on train schedules. He concludes by advising expats to embrace the slower pace of life in Latin countries, suggesting it leads to a better quality of life.
In this segment, Johnny Mueller announces an upcoming expat wisdom seminar in July 2014, highlighting its duration, limited attendance, and how to access details. He then shares a story about a gringo couple who experienced a unique advantage in a remote area of Central America, where they were treated exceptionally well without needing to provide identification or a credit card. Johnny contrasts this with the typical experience of local couples and notes that such treatment is rare in the U.S. He then shifts to a practical tip about currency issues in Latin America, warning that many places won't accept larger U.S. bills, even if they advertise accepting U.S. dollars. He advises expats to withdraw smaller denominations from ATMs and to be prepared for scrutiny when using U.S. currency.
Johnny Mueller discusses the challenges gringos face when trying to use U.S. dollars in Latin America, where cashiers often scrutinize bills for defects, even when none exist. He explains that this scrutiny is not due to animosity but because cashiers are aware that if they accept defective bills, they may have to buy them back with local currency, which can be a financial burden. Johnny also suggests that this situation presents a business opportunity for gringos, such as setting up kiosks to exchange damaged bills for a discount. He emphasizes that the cashier's behavior is a result of a catch-22 situation, where they are trying to avoid financial loss.
In this segment, Johnny Mueller discusses the experience of being rejected with U.S. bills in Latin American countries, likening it to getting a credit card rejected due to being over the limit. He shares personal anecdotes about the embarrassment and how he has turned the tables by rejecting the local currency, which leads to a humorous and sometimes confrontational interaction with cashiers. He emphasizes that while it can be a bit of a power play, it's not as confrontational as it might seem in other places, and the locals often respond with sympathy and apologetic behavior.
In this segment, Johnny Mueller discusses the confusion that new expats, or 'gringos,' often face when encountering the word 'sale' in Latin America. He explains that while the word 'sale' is commonly used in English-speaking retail contexts, in Spanish-speaking countries, it is often used differently. Specifically, the word 'sale' is used in Spanish as 'salle,' which means 'get out' or 'leave,' especially in contexts like garage doors where it serves as a warning not to park. Johnny also highlights the cultural stereotype that high-end stores in Latin America use English words to target a more educated or affluent audience, which can lead to misunderstandings for expats.
The segment discusses the confusion Latin Americans face with the English word 'sale' (or 'Salle') when encountering it in retail contexts, especially in big cities. It also touches on the topic of motorcycle cops in Latin America, highlighting the small engine sizes (typically 200cc) and their limited effectiveness in traffic enforcement, contrasting them with the larger bikes used in the U.S. Johnny Mueller provides these insights as part of his weekly podcast, The Expat Files, which offers advice for expats living in Latin America.
Topics
Fluoride in salt, Cultural and familial dynamics in Latin America, Expat experiences, Historical context of fluoride use, Cultural traditions in Central America, Chicken buses as a mode of transport, Wedding customs and family traditions, Cultural perceptions of gringos and Latin Americans, Cultural differences between gringos and Latin people, Social norms in Latin countries, Relaxed approach to time in Latin countries, Impact of historical figures on cultural norms
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:01:01 Fluoride in Salt and Health Implications 00:01:50 Dehydration from Over-Salted Meals 00:03:01 A Unique Wedding Experience for an Expat 00:05:27 The Chicken Bus Ride and the Live Chicken Gift 00:06:58 The Chicken's Journey and the Cultural Significance of Mangoes 00:10:04 Gringos Overhear Comments About Themselves Behind Their Backs 00:10:14 The Gringo Advantage in Latin Countries 00:10:35 Wedding Invitations and the Concept of 'Manana' Time 00:12:18 The Cultural Acceptance of Lateness in Latin Countries 00:12:37 Mussolini's Impact on Italian Punctuality 00:13:06 Advice for Expats to Embrace the Latin Lifestyle 00:13:40 Announcing the Expat Wisdom Seminar 00:14:12 The Gringo Advantage in Central America 00:15:29 Currency Issues in Latin America 00:16:49 The Problem with U.S. Dollars in Latin America 00:17:11 Johnny's Personal Experience with Dollar Rejection 00:17:23 The Business Opportunity for Gringos 00:18:15 The Exchange Rate and Cashier Behavior 00:18:48 Cashiers' Motivation to Make a Good Impression 00:19:13 The Catch-22 Situation for Cashiers 00:20:17 The Embarrassment of Rejection with U.S. Bills 00:20:19 Turning the Tables on Cashiers 00:22:33 The Sympathetic Response from Locals 00:22:49 Introduction to the Confusion with the Word 'Sale' 00:23:00 The Common Confusion with the Word 'Sale' 00:24:25 Cultural Stereotypes and the Use of English Words 00:25:54 Confusion with the Word 'Sale' in Retail Contexts 00:26:51 Motorcycle Cops in Latin America: Engine Sizes and Effectiveness
Transcript
Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.
[00:14] Hello there all you expat wannabes, I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to The Expat Files, living in Latin America. The show that tells you just what it's like to live, work, play and or retire down here in Latin America. It's a mix of the good, the bad, the ugly and the great and it's all right here so let's get started. Just to clarify something I said on the last show, I was talking about how down here in Latin America they put fluoride in the salt, which I think or hope they don't do up in the states but it wouldn't surprise me. That said, every time you go to someone's house for dinner or to a restaurant you're getting dosed with fluoride. I'm talking about down here in Latin America of course. Last show anyway, I never did get to mention what to do about it, at least that's the consensus of some of the latest emails I've been getting.
[01:00] What to do? Well, just cook at home and don't use that salt. That's it. And of course as we all end up doing occasionally, we end up at someone's house or at a restaurant so you're gonna get dosed a little bit. But it's up to you how much you want to expose yourself to that. But you have to know it's worse up in the states because when you go out to eat at anyone's house or restaurant, they're cooking with that water that's got fluoride in it. Which is not the case down here in Latin America because the water isn't fluoridated. But you know it seems down here as well as up in the states, people over-salt everything. Including throwing a heap full of salt in the water before they boil anything too. And if you're like me, a person who doesn't add extra salt to practically anything, that means every time you do eat at someone's house or go to a restaurant about a half
[01:46] an hour to an hour later, you're absolutely parched and dying of thirst. I'm sure a lot of you folks know what I'm talking about. That's happened to me hundreds of times down here. So yes, you might say I'm that finicky guy that sends food back to the kitchen when it's over-salted. At restaurants, I've been known to do that when nobody else at the table does. But you can't very well do that when you're eating over at someone else's house. That just would be rude. But of course even 20 some years ago when I was up in the states, to me anyway, most restaurants up there over-salted everything, especially the fast food restaurants. Anyway, to resolve that problem down here in Latin America, just note that if you cook a lot at home and you read the labels and never buy that salt with the fluoride in it, then you're just not going to get any extra fluoride.
[02:32] And for those of you guys and girls out there who don't give a damn about fluoride, well go ahead and pour it on. But remember, Germans gave fluoride to the prisoners in concentration camps in World War II. But of course those benevolent Nazis gave fluoride to their prisoners so they'd have good teeth, right? Fant chance. They gave it to them because fluoride dumbs you down. Makes you docile. Go ahead and look it up. But don't expect your dentist to tell you that. Not on the record anyway. Alright, enough said about that. Now I have to report that I went to a wedding this week. And yes, it was one of those special gringo Latina marriages that you hear about but few people get to attend. Because down here off the tourist trail, gringos are so rare. And the gringo? Well he lives down here in Latin America and is an expat wisdom seminar attendee.
[03:22] Funny how that kind of thing happens, huh? And the Latina? He met down here a few years ago at a Walmart, believe it or not. Anyway, since all you expat gonna be's and wanna be's up in the States, and you folks in Cleveland of course, unless you come down here for yourself off the gringo tourist trail, you'll never get to see a wedding like this. So, I'm gonna fill you in on a few little highlights that are sure to make you laugh. Now first of all, let me mention that if a first world gringo or gringo hooks up with a middle class Latin person, like in this case, and do recall that middle class Latin America is basically lower middle class first world style. And in this case, the bride came from a solid Latin middle class family. And do note that in every Latin country, it's pretty much a given that a lot of
[04:07] the people from her side of the family or his side of the family are gonna be coming into town from way out in the boonies. Since every Latin family that lives in the big city has a good part of their extended family living out in the boonies. There will be farmers and fishermen, agricultural workers, whatever. We're talking about an extended family of small town folks who sometimes only get to the big city once or twice a year. Because remember, even most middle class Latin families do not have cars or cars that are decent enough to make a long trip. Meaning the only way to get to the big city is by, you guessed it, chicken bus. So why am I bringing this up? Well, it's because I just found out recently that the grandfather of the bride who lives on his own small farm way out in the boonies, about 200
[04:52] kilometers from the big city where the wedding was, and for you metrically challenged folks out there, that's about 150 miles away. Now this guy who wears a cowboy hat all the time now, a guy who really does live off of what he produces, well, the day before the wedding, he rode the chicken bus in to see his granddaughter bearing gifts, of course. And what did he bring, you might ask? Well now, don't take this as a stereotype or a cut down or a put down. I'm just reporting the facts, Jack. So this is the absolute truth. And don't think this is rare. It's not uncommon at all. What he did was he brought a live chicken on the chicken bus. I mean, why do you think they call them chicken buses, right? And by the way, for those of you who always thought the chickens rode on top the bus, as you'll see, this story proves otherwise.
[05:41] Anyway, now remember, this is like a four or five hour ride. And as I heard the bride tell the story and she did it with no embarrassment at all, in fact, she laughed about it and really felt it was a nice gesture. So it turns out, even though she's a somewhat sophisticated big city girl, she also knows how things are down here, obviously. Anyway, as she pointed out, he transported that live chicken on his lap, holding it for that four or five hours by the neck and head, the only parts of the chicken that were actually showing. The rest of its body, and it was a big chicken, was wrapped in a double layer paper bag so that the chicken would have somewhere to poop, of course, and not do its business on his lap. After that four or five hour ride, when he finally got to the bus terminal
[06:27] in the big city, he was met there by his daughter, the bride's mother, and they took another chicken bus to her house. Then they both immediately went into the kitchen, she broke the chicken's neck and they both stripped the feathers and do what else you'd do with a dead chicken. And she prepared a nice free range, what I call driveway chicken dinner. Then mother and grandpa called up the daughter, invited her over and broke bread over an extremely fresh and newly dead chicken. You better believe this was no Tyson chicken. This one was guaranteed free range, no hormones, preservatives or additives. So you might ask, how did the bride-to-be react to all this on the day before her wedding? Well, she was more than happy to see her grandpa, who she hadn't seen in months and months, and she was more than thankful to have that nice fresh chicken dinner.
[07:17] Oh, and by the way, her grandpa also brought her a big bag of her favorite mangoes, a type that only grows on the lowland coast where he lives. Now, you might not have known this, but Latins do have their favorite mangoes since there are at least 12 different types. And that's just down here in Central America. And believe me, they're all very much different from each other, which always makes me laugh to think how stupid weak gringos can be. Because you know, I recall when I lived back up in Chicago 20-something years ago, all of my friends and acquaintances, as well as myself, thought there were only one kind of mango in the world. Because we only saw one kind of mango in the grocery store, when they were there at all. Boy, were we wrong. And now, you know, over the years, I've developed my own special taste for a certain kind of mango,
[08:04] which is only in season about a month to a month and a half out of the year. So when that time comes, I really load up. When you come down, you'll find you have a favorite too. Only you do have to come down to find those things out. All right, so now that I've told you that little chicken story, I do have to mention that the new bride didn't come out and tell this story voluntarily. Not because she was embarrassed or anything like that. For her, it really wasn't much out of the ordinary. That stuff happens down here all the time. It's just that when the couple were going through their wedding gifts a day or two after the wedding, making a note of who gave what for thank you cards and all that. When it came to grandpa's name, and the bride told her new husband that he brought a chicken, et cetera, et cetera, he, being a gringo,
[08:49] just cracked up and had to have all the details. So here they are. Now, the way this wedding turned out, about half the people there were gringos and gringas from my expat wisdom seminars, most of them living down here permanently now. And the other half were Latinos and Latinas from the bride side of the family, of course. Again, almost all of them middle class Latin American style. Now, talk about the gringo advantage off the gringo tourist trail. Get this. I understand that after the wedding, the most repeated comment from the Latin American contingent at that wedding party, the talk amongst themselves, of course, in Spanish, the word going around at the party, was that every last one of those Latin folks
[09:35] was thrilled to be among all those rich, good looking gringos and gringas. I'm not kidding you. That's what all the Latin people were discussing amongst themselves. And that little tidbit was revealed to the bride from the bride's sister. Remember, Latin folks off the tourist trail, that is, are way too timid and reserved when they're among gringos to ever say something like that. So unless you know your Spanish really well, you're never going to overhear that kind of small talk. But I'm here to tell you, that's what they're saying behind your back. I mean, it could be worse, right? And the fact is, you know the gringo advantage is in full force in a place like that, when the rumor is that we're all good looking handsome and wealthy and, well, we're not. I mean, I was there, right? But, you know, even the scruffiest
[10:22] of us gringos do clean up well. Oh, and another thing about Latin weddings. Down here, it's perfectly normal for it to say on the wedding invitation, let's say three o'clock, and the wedding is actually at four because everybody knows people always turn up late. And not just fashionably late either, like five, 10, or 15 minutes. Figure a half an hour to an hour. So anyway, in this case, the invite said the wedding was at three o'clock, but it was actually arranged to be at four. Meaning the wedding invite had manana time all factored in. So anyway, four o'clock rolled around and most of the spectators, including the groom, were there already. But the bride and her entourage didn't actually arrive till well after five. I think it was 5.30.
[11:09] And that's just how things are expected to be down here. In fact, as soon as four o'clock rolled around, a lot of gringos at the party were looking around thinking that maybe the wedding wasn't gonna come off after all. I mean, an hour late for the bride? A sure case of cold feet if it had taken place up in Cleveland. But all the Latin folks that were there were unconcerned as usual and just having a good old time. Then as 4.30 hit, some of the gringos flashed concerned looks at the prospective groom. Meanwhile, the Latins in the crowd carried on as usual. Then as you might expect, as the bell told five, even the groom was getting a bit worried. Even as he reassured all the gringos that she was on her way, or at least he thought she was on her way. But note, he didn't have to give
[11:56] any such assurances to the Latins in the audience. Then when she finally did arrive and it was well worth the wait, she and her entourage offered up no other excuse but to say that the hairdresser slash makeup artist was a little slow on the draw. And that was it. That was the excuse for an hour and a half wait. Or basically a two and a half hour wait if you're talking gringo time. Yet another example of things that gringos will just have to get used to because you can't change that. I mean, look, Italy is somewhat a Latinized country too. Before Mussolini came along in the 20s and 30s, nothing in Italy ran on time either. And he did make the trains run on time. Of course, we all know
[12:41] he eventually got hung by his thumbs in a public square. So after Italy's little brush with precision and doing away with the guy that made it happen, the trains never ran on time again. And the moral of that story? Well, there is a moral somewhere. I just can't think of it now. Anyway, that said, it's further proof that you really should come down here and live off the gringo tourist trail. That's where it's happening, man. No matter how much you resist it, you'll definitely be thrown into a lower gear and you'll be better off for it, believe me. And you'll live longer too, guaranteed. So do note, every one of my expat wisdom seminar alumni who've moved down here and that's quite a few now. Practically, every time I run into them, I hear a brand new round
[13:26] of gringo advantage stories. Yet when I'm on the gringo tourist trail like in Panama, Mexico, or Costa Rica, I never hear stuff like that. Not anymore. And since I mentioned expat wisdom and expat wisdom seminars in a roundabout way, don't forget about my upcoming July 2014 expat wisdom seminar. This time it'll be six full days and nights again, with attendance limited to 25. So get on board. Just go to www.expatwisdom.com. Click on the Latin American seminar link somewhere at the top of the page for full details. If you have any questions, email me at theexpatfiles at gmail.com or johnny at expatwisdom.com. Now speaking of the gringo advantage,
[14:14] one of the persons at that wedding mentioned to me that he and his wife, when exploring in Central America, way off the gringo tourist trail, and in their travels, they happen to have stumbled on a very nice hotel resort complex, in an area known for its beautiful thermal hot springs, known by local tourists that is, not gringos. Anyway, to their amazement, since hardly any gringos ever came through that area or that hotel, they say from the moment they walked in the place, they got the deluxe treatment. They ended up spending four days at that hotel, using all of its services, as well as signing off the restaurant bills to their room, all the while for the full four days. They were never asked for identification, not a passport, not anything.
[15:00] They just signed the register and that was it. In all that time, they weren't even asked to give up a credit card for the front desk to make an impression, you know, as a deposit for extra charges, etc. They never asked and it never happened. And at that, this gringo couple was truly amazed. Now they and I know that would never happen to a Latin couple that came into that hotel to register, and we all know that would never happen up in the States, maybe 30 years ago or more, but never these days. Now to change the subject just a little bit, I'm getting more and more emails from people saying that when they come down to Latin America, many times the places that accept US dollars won't take $100 or $50 bills, even if there's a sign in the window on the menu that says we take US dollars.
[15:47] So be aware that some of these places will only take 20s or less. And oftentimes they won't even take 5s, 10s, and 20s saying that there's some kind of a defect with them, whether it's a tear or a pencil or a pen mark, or even one of those very common bank stamps, a star or a number. You've seen those. And arguing with them won't help, even if your Spanish is perfect. Fact is, if you withdraw money from an ATM machine down here or a bank, many times those very same dollars, those 10s and 20s and 5s, won't get accepted by the very bank that issued them. And note, ATMs down here won't put out anything larger than $20 bills. The same thing often happens in establishments that say they accept US dollars too.
[16:33] When you hand your 10 or 20 over the cashier will look it over very carefully, then call over his or her supervisor and they'll look it over very carefully too. Then oftentimes that supervisor will disappear somewhere into an office where someone else looks at it. So by the time it's been scrutinized like that, the chances that they'll accept anything but a fresh, unfolded pristine bill become less and less. Now, I've tried this myself. I've taken dollars out of an ATM machine in a bank, walked over to the teller window and had a few of them rejected as I tried to redeposit them. Like, that makes sense. But you know, this is Latin America. And those are things you just have to deal with. Now, I know I sound like I'm complaining about this,
[17:19] but in reality, it's a great gringo business opportunity. Imagine setting up a kiosk saying we'll take your bent, stapled and mutilated U.S. dollars for, let's say, 95 cents and a dollar. I'm sure you'd have all the business you could handle, especially if you were in a busy mall or on the gringo tourist trail. Note here I said on the gringo tourist trail. In fact, if I wasn't so busy myself, I know of a few places I could set up a kiosk like that and make a mint starting tomorrow. And in fact, not only would I take bent, stapled, mutilated and folded U.S. dollar bills, I'd buy gold and junk jewelry too. So, a lot of gringos do get frustrated when we go to a grocery store, let's say, and try to pay with dollar bills because the exchange rate is better.
[18:05] Remember, I did a show like that in the past on how in some places you can pay with either the local funny money or the U.S. funny money. And that obviously you should pay with the one that has the best exchange rate. Anyway, a lot of us gringos do get frustrated when there is a very good dollar exchange rate and they won't take them because they find some defect. Even if to you, it's no defect at all. But you know, if you really get frustrated, there is kind of a way to get even. At least you can stick it to the guy or gal on the other side of the transaction who's screwing with you. At least make him feel a little stupid. But be aware they're not screwing with you because you are gringo or for any animosity or personal reason. Those cashiers really do want to make a good impression on a gringo. And it's not that you've lost
[18:51] your gringo advantage when you're up at a counter paying with dollars. The fact is, when a cashier accepts any kind of U.S. dollars, they generally write it down in a little book. Then at the end of the day, if those U.S. dollars are rejected by the bank they deal with when they make a deposit, the cashier has to make good by buying back those rejected dollars with his own personal funny money. Which as you might imagine is not a good deal for him or her. Because now how is he going to trade that U.S. funny money that he had to buy back into his own currency when the local banks won't accept those dollars because they have some kind of defect in them. Like an ink mark or a tiny tear. Anyway, for a cashier it's like a catch-22.
[19:37] Which they try to avoid at all costs as you might imagine. And that's why cashiers generally over-scrutinize U.S. dollars. At the end of the night they don't want to be stuck holding the bag. And besides if that happens one too many times they just get fired. But like I said you can get some satisfaction when you're put on the spot like that. And believe me the first few times it happens to you you don't feel good. It's like getting your credit card rejected because you're over the limit. You think the people around you and the cashier are now thinking you're kind of a deadbeat. You know what I mean. And it gets even more embarrassing if they reject two or three or even four of your U.S. bills in a row. Which has happened to me. So if you have had enough of that crap
[20:23] and you're starting to come to a boil turn the tables on them. And this is how you do it. If they finally end up accepting one of your U.S. bills or you end up paying in their funny money you will probably get some change in their funny money of course. That's pesos, colognes, limpiras or whatever. Then when the cashier hands you that change you do exactly what they do. You hold each and every one of their funny money bills up to the light. Do it slow and obvious and start rejecting them. Go ahead and make a good show of it too. Take your thumbnail and rub the nose or cheek or beard of the genocidal dictator on the money. State that it doesn't feel right.
[21:09] It could be counterfeit. Then you say to the cashier this bill is not acceptable. I want another one. And then this always happens. That person will look quite flustered for a second but they'll oblige and give you another one. And that's right. You do the same thing to the bill they just gave you. Reject it. Do it two or three times and of course everybody will be watching. You'll be holding up the line because you'll be in some kind of checkout line. That's for sure. So after you've done that a few times and make the guy feel like an idiot you've really made your point. Believe me. And yes, I've played that little game three or four times this year already. And I've actually had a pissed off manager or two come over to check out the problem. And I've also gotten a few Latin customers waiting in line to crack a smile
[21:54] when they see exactly what I'm doing. They get it all right. They really seem to enjoy the entertainment. But alas, not every gringo can pull that off because you have to know your Spanish pretty well to play a game like that. But do give it a try. You'll certainly have a lot of chances to do it. And by the way, with this rejection of your US dollar business at the counter checkout line, it's not at all like a cashier is trying to pull a power play like you might see up in Cleveland. The cashier will give you no attitude at all when they reject your bills. You'll notice when they do reject your dollars they're often very, very apologetic about it, even to the point of putting on a sad face themselves. And you know, I've seen this with some of the ladies that they actually feel bad
[22:40] saying things like, which means I'm sorry, mister. Please forgive me. So as a rule, Latins are sympathetic and nice even when they have to do something unpleasant like reject your dough. Now to change the subject once again, I noticed that when fresh gringos come down here for the first or second time, they always say, Johnny, I see so many words in English down here. And sometimes Spanish and English mix together. But I found that one of the words that really confuses fresh and new gringos is the word sale, S-A-L-E. And that's because when you go to retail stores like clothing and shoe stores, for example, you'll often see the word sale on the window or on the rack, just like up in the States
[23:25] or the word offerta, which looks and sounds almost like the English word offer, O-F-F-E-R, only in Spanish it's spelled O-F-E-R-T-A, offerta, meaning on sale. And the more you're on the gringo tourist trail, the more you'll see that word sale, S-A-L-E, instead of the traditional word in Spanish, offerta. So you'll see that quite a bit on the gringo tourist trail. The word sale, like up in the States. I said on the gringo tourist trail, but you will see that word occasionally show up off the gringo tourist trail too, especially in high-end shopping malls. There you'll find all those first world franchise stores like Guess and Payless and Nike, Sears and Diesel, et cetera,
[24:13] stores that are catering to a higher-end, more educated crowd who they believe speak English well enough to understand the meanings. So in effect, by putting up English signs, they're pre-qualifying their customers because Latins truly stereotype their own people who speak English as people in higher income brackets, which basically they are, unless of course they speak English because they got deported as illegal aliens up in the States. But that's another story. So here's what confuses fresh gringos. When they're well off the tourist trail, they'll see that word sale all the time, but it really doesn't mean sale at all. And though the letters are exactly the same as the word sale in English, they're pronounced Salle in Spanish,
[24:58] Salle, which means go, get out or leave in English. Salir is the verb, which means to go or to get out. So anyway, off the gringo tourist trail, you're going to see that all over the place, most often posted or printed or painted on garage doors. And what that word Salle, spelled sale, S-A-L-E, actually means in that case is get out because you can't park here. It's a warning not to park in front of the guy's garage door. So in Latin America, they don't technically say no parking here or don't park here. They say, buddy, get your car the hell out of here. It doesn't belong in front of my garage door. That all can be inferred from that one little word, Salle.
[25:44] That is why you'll see that word everywhere, especially in the big city and any place in Latin America where parking is at a premium. Here's where the confusion comes in on the other end. Latin Americans who live out in the boonies or in small towns, they've never seen that word Salle used in any other way, but leave, go or get the hell out. So they're often quite confused if they make that rare trip to the big city and go to one of these retail shops and see that word posted on racks, on shoes, on clothes, and any other item that's on sale. For a moment, it's confusing and completely out of context for them until someone explains to them, if someone explains to them, that it means offerta or sale in English.
[26:31] Okay, we're getting pretty close to the end of the show now and I have time to answer one weird email question. Now, after I mentioned traffic cops and stuff in one of the previous shows, I got an email from a person asking me about motorcycle cops in Latin America. He asked me some technical questions about the bikes and their equipment and stuff. And here's really all you have to know. There are quite a few motorcycle cops down here, but get this. The average size of the engine is only 200cc, which means basically they're useless for chasing anyone. They just don't have the torque or the velocity. Even worse or better, depending how you look at it, cops are often seen riding two on a bike. Whereas typically up in the States, motorcycle cops up there have at least 650cc
[27:16] and you never see them riding two to a bike. Occasionally you do see cops with big expensive BMWs. But that's all for show. They're just a handful of cops that are in the presidential entourage. While all the other cops get to drive 200cc rice burners. You've been listening to The Expat Files, living in Latin America, coming to you twice a week from somewhere south of the border. Email me, theexpatfiles at gmail.com. And don't forget to check out expatwisdom.com to sign up for your free reports on Latin America. See you next time. Nos vemos!