Why Mexico?
It is difficult to talk about the culture of Mexico without devolving into gross generalizations. Indeed, there is no one culture in Mexico; Mexico and Mexican society derive from and comprise many disparate elements - indigenous populations and traditions1, the Spanish colonial period, and the Catholic Church are some of the most influential of these elements. But for the purposes of this article, some generalizing is required and, I hope, appropriate; and I will focus on the aspects of Mexican culture and society that most foreigners are likely to encounter and engage with.
The Mexican people are, for the most part, warm, inviting and very family-oriented. Mexicans tend to work hard, and to focus strongly on family life - both immediate and extended. Traditions and celebrations are important components of Mexican life, and these are manifested by the many parades, fiestas, and holy day observances that are so common in Mexican towns and cities. Social niceties are still important and still observed in Mexico; greeting people (even strangers one passes in the street) with a buenos dias, buenas tardes, or buenas noches is more than a courtesy, it is an expectation. As patrons walk by other diners in a restaurant, you will usually hear them say a simple provecho (a sort of bon appetit) to these other diners.
Life in Mexico seems to move a bit more slowly, and with more intention and focus on enjoying life rather than rushing to get things done. Business, too, operates this way. There is some truth to what people in the U.S. or Canada might refer to as a mañana sensibility - that things don't always happen right away or "on time". Mexicans tend to be a little more patient, more forgiving.
There is less structured regulation in Mexico than in the U.S. or Canada. Zoning laws are both more fluid and less strict. Most neighborhoods in Mexican cities and towns are divided into neighborhoods that are an assortment of domiciles and businesses. The U.S. and Canadian suburban model, while it can be found in some places in Mexico, is not at all the norm. Because of this, Mexican population areas tend to be more noisy - the sounds of businesses, automobiles, and vendors permeates population centers in ways that one would not find in a suburb. And I don't mean to say that Mexicans are a noisy people, it is just that the population centers can be noisy places. I find that Mexicans themselves tend to be somewhat quieter than their northern neighbors. When sitting in a cafe or restaurant in a part of Mexico that has a large foreign population, it is easy to pick out the tables where the U.S. and Canadien people are dining - they're the tables where all the loud voices are coming from. Mexicans are, by and large, a bit more reserved.
And in being more reserved, Mexicans tend to be less direct - preferring politeness over confrontation or brutal honesty. I believe this is one facet of Mexican culture that trips up foreigners the most, because it is subtle and nuanced and manifests in ways that foreigners don't expect. A Mexican might give you an answer that she believes will please you, even if that answer isn't completely accurate. And this isn't deception - it is politeness. People from the U.S. in particular find it quite difficult to comprehend this.
Infrastructure
The physical infrastructure in many towns and cities in Mexico can be quite different than that found in the U.S. and Canada. Streets and sidewalks are less maintained - it is not uncommon at all to find large gaping holes in the sidewalk, or random bolts sticking up from out of the ground that were meant to attach to a streetlight that never materialized. Many streets are paved with cobblestones, curbs are of varying heights, unevenness abounds. When walking in Mexico, one must always be aware of one's footpath.
Water and sewer infrastructure varies from town to town, and building to building. In general, water that is delivered from the pipes is not meant to be consumed. Drinking water is typically brought into Mexican homes in some bottled manner - with the 20-liter garrafon being the ubiquitous source of drinking water. Sewer infrastructure is often not built to handle anything other than human waste itself, which means that toilet paper is often deposited not into the toilet, but into a trash receptacle next to it (many newer buildings and, especially, homes targeted to U.S. and Canadian buyers often have larger sewer lines that can handle toilet paper).
Economy
The Mexican economy is a large and complex subject, and I will delve deeper into particular aspects of the economy in future articles. In simplistic terms, Mexico enjoys a growing economy with consumer prices that are often a fraction of those in the U.S. and Canada. To risk spectacular over-generalization, one could conceivably expect to pay around 1/2 to 1/3 of what one pays for necessities such as food and housing. But this is highly dependent on region and demographics; tourist areas, for example, will generally have higher prices than areas that are not predominantly focused on tourism.
Language
Mexico does not recognize Spanish as an "official" language; rather, it is one of the 64 national languages that the Mexican government recognizes2. However, the vast majority of Mexicans speak Spanish and Spanish is the de facto language of Mexico. Larger cities and tourist areas tend to have a more bi-lingual Spanish and English speaking population, and for Mexicans directly employed or otherwise engaged in the tourist industry, there is a good chance that they will speak English. However, English-speaking foreigners should never just assume that the stranger they are talking to also speaks English. Firstly, it is somewhat disrespectful to the culture to just start jabbering away in English with the expectation that you will be fully understood. If you aren't able to converse in Spanish, you should learn enough to at least ask if the person you are interacting with speaks your language. Again, in resorts, hotels and attractions that cater to tourists, asking is not really necessary as the people you commonly interact with in these contexts almost certainly speak English.
I don't want to give the impression that you should assume that if you spend most of your time in a tourist area, you can get along without learning Spanish. If you are going to spend a significant amount of time in Mexico and you don't know Spanish, you should begin to learn enough to at least hold simple conversations and ask questions. Your experience of Mexico will greatly improve with the more Spanish you know3.
Closing
Mexico is a complex, colorful and culturally rich country. But clearly, given all of the above, it is not for everyone. The idea one has of Mexico can clash harshly with the reality of Mexico. In general I would suggest that if you:
Want to be in Mexico just because it is inexpensive, or just because it is warm
Believe that what you hear on the news back home about Mexico is an accurate depiction of what Mexico is really like
Assume everyone in Mexico is eager to accommodate your “foreignness”
Assume everyone does (or should) speak English
Assume you can recreate your US/Canadian lifestyle for less money
Have severe mobility issues
Then you may find adapting to Mexico to be a challenging and unsatisfying experience.
On the other hand, if you are:
Open minded
Willing to embrace cultural differences
Willing to learn Spanish
Not a "Type A" personality; or if you are, you are willing to let go of your Type A expectations
Then you might find that adjusting to Mexico and Mexican culture is very accomplishable and profoundly rewarding.