Today I am going to talk about differences between Mexican and Spanish language/culture. If you have anything to add, PLEASE do so in a comment!

Let me first start by saying that I am a huge appreciator of all cultures and love diversity. I definitely believe that that is what makes the world go round. We can all learn something from another culture. I was also born and raised in Southern California and do tend to have a certain propensity towards Mexican culture due to a more extensive knowledge/experience in it. I realize this and do my best to not be biased.

OK, OK or okay, is used a lot in the US, ok? In fact, it’s used all over North America. Mexico is a huge fan of okay, using it with its own accent, of course. Ok is embedded in me, deeper than my own sense of direction [well, I guess that’s not very deep]; it’s an ever-present reaction that I exhibit to convey my understanding or to validate someone else’s, ok? Ok, so the word OK or okay is most definitely not present in Spain. This is so saddening to me that this tiny little extremely useful word can be cast aside and replaced by one, not so.. cool. Vale, coming from the verb valer, to be worth, is used instead. Vale is [for my fellow grammarians] in the third person singular tense. So it would be HE/SHE/IT/YOU (formally) are/is worth… that’s it. I am still confused as to how this word came to be in the place it is currently. As much as I know, it could have been around longer than our beloved okay. Nonetheless [great word, I don’t use it nearly enough], vale is very present and very used, vale? Nonetheless [yes, I’m using it again so soon! It’s great, isn’t it?] I have not been able to get used to the vale-dity of this word and find myself saying okay all the time. Sometimes I catch myself and say ok.. err. vale.. and then, feeling like I didn’t convey my understanding, throw in an extra OK! for good measure. Of course the quick downward head nod aids in this, but I just don’t feel like people understand that I understand. Every day I strive to make vale a real part of my Spanish vocabulary, but since it never was before, it’s hard to now. I said it so much one day that when switching to English I started saying vale! It’s one of those words/meanings that really becomes engrained in you. So that is my first observation of the difference between Mexican and Spanish dialects.

The next little word occurs when someone speaks too fast and you’re like what, whoa whoa whoa, whaaat did you say? Or perhaps if he or she mumbled and you couldn’t catch what was said, or maybe if you just didn’t understand the words being said at all. Whatever the case, the English version would be a big fat HUH? Or maybe an I’m sorry? In Mexico they say mande? Mande is from the verb, mandar, meaning to send. It is also in the third person singular tense, BUT is in the subjunctive form, most likely originating from the fact that there used to be a bit of sentence before it and most definitely a que.. Quiero que me mande [Ud.].. or something like that, meaning I want you to send me (to do something)/give me orders [un mandato is a mandate/an order]. This has always sounded a little peculiar to me, but it as well is engrained in this skull of mine. So as literal as vale sounds in Mexico, mande probably sounds like I am asking to be someone’s servant, just waiting for a command from them, when all I really want them to do is slow down and enunciate or just repeat or rephrase whatever they said. I believe they say dime [tell me] in Spain, but I haven’t exactly figured it out yet. The confused look, cocked head, and hesitation or grunt [ummmm… huh?] does go a long way, though, I must admit. I’m going to have to get back to you to confirm the dime, but so far I get many crazy looks when I say mande?

For some odd reason another very important word in my vocabulary is the word just, or only, or.. well, just. For example, “don’t worry about doing that now, I just need it whenever.” Or “I just need a few eggs, not the whole carton.” I guess I’m just not that good at giving examples, but I do feel that the word ‘just’ enhances my sentences and aids me in the communicating of the lack of urgency or diminutive factors something I’m trying to convey might have. I didn’t discover ‘no más’ for a long time. ‘Justo,’ meaning just in the king sense.. or rather, the fair sense, does not have the second meaning of ‘only’ that the English ‘just’ has. No más is extremely volatile. It translates to “no more,” which I like… I want no more than to say good bye to him. It just sounds cool. You can use it in Spanish sentences like, “I just want to say good bye to him” or “I only want three eggs.” “Sólo” is also used, but no más is just way cooler. In class one day I said “no más.” It just rolled off my tongue as I was speaking to one of my professors in Spain. She giggled and noted that I have a Mexican accent. I never really considered myself having a Mexican accent since the books and learning materials in school were always Spanish-based, but I guess I do. I asked her what they say in Spain and she said just “sólo.” I said “vale.”

I always favor linguistics, but do let me address some cultural aspects, as well! The weather here mostly resembles that of California’s. Nice and hot in summer and rather chilly/gloomy/sometimes rainy in the winter. It is still winter here and while it is not freezing, people love to bundle themselves up in all kinds of snow-type attire. I would rate it a whopping 89% of people wear boots/dress shoes, probably higher. Tennis shoes, whatttt? I have sensitive feet, people! I mean, I have not walked this much since… last time I was in Spain! Nonetheless [third time’s a charm], I continue wearing my tennis shoes, but do throw flats in there an awful lot.. even though I do get funny looks as if those aren’t even dressy enough.

Apart from shoe-wear, Spaniards are a huge fan of scarves of all colors and patterns. It isn’t completely uncommon to see someone in San Diego with a scarf, but not later in the day when it warms up. Besides, it’s usually when you’re a little bit dressier anyways. Here it’s a daily thing.

Peacoats… the European thing? Or just the Valencian thing? These are everywhere and fit right with the boots and scarves. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re very cute and fashionable, but not in the middle of the day when it’s warm because you now have to carry about this oversized, bulky jacket.

All of this could be due to Spain’s propensity towards fashion. It seems like everyone is always dressed up, no matter what. That could also sólo be me, though. I do like to scrub it out every now and then [but nothing worse than sweat pants/shorts and a tshirt]. On a normal day you’d catch me in jeans and a tshirt but that is so taboo here. Also, all this could also just be a Valencian thing. Basically, I sólo need to buy a new wardrobe, vale?

Well I’ll add more later. I didn’t realize I had so much to talk about! Haha. Again, I do love both cultures, but the Spanish culture is taking some getting-used-to and I want to remember all of these cultural/linguistical differences.

Ciao for now, kids!