15 Comments

Mike I’ve just come across your writing and I’m

so glad I did. I’m middle aged, and have been obsessed with Mexico since my first visit around 30 years ago. Much like your writing about crossing into Tijuana. Your writing speaks so well to the greatness and charm of Mexico. Now I dream of retiring there one day. We are just back from

a family trip to the Yucatán and it’s reenergized my love of Mexico. I’ve been reading Mexican papers , listening to podcasts on Mexico, and looking on Substack :) I’m working my way through all your posts and they are wonderful. Along that line - what books would you recommend for reading about Mexico? I think my interest is often what you write about: the culture, the sociology, the psychology of the Mexican people. History is good too, but I like learning about what makes the Mexican heart go. Gracias Mike!

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The Labyrinth of Solitude was a really great read...

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Hi Jn - I'm glad you like my articles! Thank you so much for your kind words.

For reading, I too like the Labyrinth of Solitude. It is a little dated, but still relevant. I also quite liked "Horizontal Vertigo" by Juan Villoro. It is specifically about Mexico City, but it is a great in-depth reflection on that city. For history, I don't think "Mexico: Biography of Power" by Enrique Krauze can be beat. It is a very readable (and long) dive into the history of Mexico.

I hope you get to realize your dream of retiring in Mexico one day. In the meantime, take care and Happy Holidays!

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Thank you Mike. I will look the book up. I look

forward to your next posts.

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Listening to Horizontal vertigo. Wow - great!

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I want an aguinaldo! lol. They do this in the Filipino culture as well. Although in their case employees get the 13th month. So one full extra month of pay and also prorated if they didn’t work the full year. It’s an interesting decision to do this versus increase min wage. It feels like codifying a kind gesture. And sets the tone for other things too if that makes sense.

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Hi Christy - thanks for pointing out that the aguinaldo is something that other cultures have. Minimum wages in Mexico have actually been increasing yearly. But I like that the aguinaldo is an extra something special at the end of the year. It is a kind gesture, as you say. Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!

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We do this here in Puerto Rico, too, though it's not required until you have more than 21 employees, which we don't. However, I like the practice and do practice it even though it's not required by law for me yet. I think it is a lovely custom and it was fun to hear how it is implemented in Mexico.

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Fun to hear about the various places this custom is practiced! Kudos to you for blazing your own trail outside of the law 😉! Thanks for the comment, Michelle - and Happy Holidays!

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Really a good post Mike, and great to lay it out for any folks new to having employees in MX. I like that it comes around Navidad and Feast of Guadalupe time too. Really helps people out.

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Thanks Jeanine - and yes, I personally know some folks who are not clear about how the aguinaldo works, so I hope this clears it up. Thank you for your comments, and Happy Holidays!

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Thank you for this clear explanation.

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You're welcome, Joyce. And thank you for your kind comment - always appreciated. Take care, and Happy Holidays!

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Good breakdown on this issue, Mike. We have a housekeeper and I gave her aguinaldo a while back, with my homebrew calculation. Using your formula, I see (fortunately) we're good. My calcs were okay.... All the best!

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Thank you Victor - happy to hear that your homebrew worked 😉. Hope you are enjoying your "time off" - take care and Happy Holidays!

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