Mexican Food

[synthia]

You might have done better if you had eaten Mexican food instead of standard American fare like club sandwiches and pasta. Unless you go to very high end restaurants, the type of food you describe is usually not very good in developing countries.

[Macmember]

We did go to the higher end restaurants. This is where I found the food I described.

The best food I had was at a small neighborhood restaurant.

[synthia]

Well, there goes my theory that if I had more money I could get good western food. How depressing.

[Steve Hazzard]

Originally Posted by synthia

You might have done better if you had eaten Mexican food instead of standard American fare like club sandwiches and pasta. Unless you go to very high end restaurants, the type of food you describe is usually not very good in developing countries.

With all due respect, I was not aware that Mexico is a "developing" country? I realize that Mexico is not like Canada or the US in industrialized country rankings (I don't know if that's a bad thing; the US has the most expensive health care system in the world and is ranked among the bottom of the top 20 industrialized countries!); Mexico has been an organized country and culture much longer than the US or Canada! Much of our US heritage comes from Mexican and Latin cultures! I certainly don't want to retire to a "developing" country!

[synthia]

A 'developing country' is one that has not yet met the economic criteria for being a 'developed' (or first world) country.

I found some definitions and several different lists, using different criteria, and Mexico is not on any of them.

[Steve Hazzard]

Originally Posted by synthia

A 'developing country' is one that has not yet met the economic criteria for being a 'developed' (or first world) country.

I found some definitions and several different lists, using different criteria, and Mexico is not on any of them.

Thank you! We'll agree to disagree on the developmental status of Mexico!

[synthia]

Yep, 'cause I'm going with the IMF, UN, etc. Not that I think Mexico belongs in the same class as the really underdeveloped countries, the ones that seem to regress or at most stay stagnant.

[Steve Hazzard]

Originally Posted by synthia

Yep, 'cause I'm going with the IMF, UN, etc. Not that I think Mexico belongs in the same class as the really underdeveloped countries, the ones that seem to regress or at most stay stagnant.

We now have Mexican trucks on all US highways! I've already seen several Mexican truckers on I-81, I-380 and I-80 in northeastern Pennsylvania. Speaking as an ex-owner/operator of 12 years, I certainly hope that these truckers are not coming from a developing country piloting 80,000 pound vehicles on the same roads that I drive!

[synthia]

What in the world does being a developing country have to do with truck weight? You can get exemptions in the US and drive 80,000 pounds. Does that make us a developing country? (and yes, I'm sure that you can get exemptions, because I know someone who works with trucks that have them). The criteria for being a developing country are as described in the article. You don't really get to make your own up. Some developing countries, like Thailand and India, can provide excellent top-of-the-line medical care. They are great places to go for knee replacements, plastic surgery, and by-passes. But they are still developing countries. It's the overall criteria that count.

[Steve Hazzard]

Originally Posted by synthia

What in the world does being a developing country have to do with truck weight? You can get exemptions in the US and drive 80,000 pounds. Does that make us a developing country? (and yes, I'm sure that you can get exemptions, because I know someone who works with trucks that have them). The criteria for being a developing country are as described in the article. You don't really get to make your own up. Some developing countries, like Thailand and India, can provide excellent top-of-the-line medical care. They are great places to go for knee replacements, plastic surgery, and by-passes. But they are still developing countries. It's the overall criteria that count.

I was not making up my own criteria for developing countries, I was simply noting that Mexican truckers are now allowed full access to US highways. I drove truck from 1973 to 1985; I was not permitted to drive on Mexican highways, not that I would have wanted! When it comes to the infrastructure of roads and bridges, Mexico is somewhere between a developing and a 3rd world country! At least that was my experience when I was on the road.