It is easy to get caught up in technicalities that do not reflect daily realities. I know it is easy because I get caught up in it sometimes.

Everyone has their idiosyncrasies, even discussion forum hosts.

I love calling myself a gringo, especially when I ask how picante is the salsa.

"Donde esta la salsa de gringo? Soy gringo."

I only understand a little Spanish, but that sounds like "where is the salsa made of gringo", rather than "where is the salsa for a gringo".

Oh, so that's why they laugh louder than I expect.

I love calling myself a gringo, especially when I ask how picante is the salsa.

"Donde esta la salsa de gringo? Soy gringo."

I only understand a little Spanish, but that sounds like "where is the salsa made of gringo", rather than "where is the salsa for a gringo".

While I agree with Rob in principle that all folks living in the Americas are Americans, language doesn't always adhere to science.

Yes. It is easy to get caught up in technicalities that do not reflect daily realities. I know it is easy because I get caught up in it sometimes.

Take “fruits” and “vegetables”.

One of the vegetables one might commonly buy is tomatoes. But tomatoes are not vegetables, they are fruits. Maybe you make a sandwich with tomatoes and another “vegetable”, the avocado. But avocados aren’t vegetables either; the avocado is a fruit too.

Maybe you decide to have some berries after your sandwich. But you’ve already had a berry; the avocado fruit is botanically a berry. You ignore that and decide to have some strawberries. Oops, strawberries aren’t berries; they are pseudocarps.

You give up on having berries and have a banana, with some nuts. Except that botanically, a banana is a berry. And the cashews you add are not nuts, they are drupes, and the peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes.

You get frustrated by all of this and try to explain it to your “American” friend who was born and raised in Vancouver and carries a Canadian passport. When you tell him he is American he takes offence and says,

“Next you will tell me that the president of France is not “French” but is instead “European” like the chancellor of Germany who is not “German” but “European”!”.

The Estadounidense term should also be used instead of the terms gringo, gabacho, etcétera, though the use of that terminology is too ingrained to change it.

I love calling myself a gringo, especially when I ask how picante is the salsa.

"Donde esta la salsa de gringo? Soy gringo."

Or when they say that the salsa is media or poca picante, I respond, "Pues, media para los mexicanos o media para los gringos?"

Hola
So you consider yourself an American. You are not a citizen of the United Mexican States? Where I am from (Canada America) if I am called an American, it is an insult because the whole world (except you) associates that word to mean the USA.

This is a very subtle and sensitive topic. The whole world does not automatically associate American with a U.S. citizen. However, for many, it is simply understood. As demonstrated by this conversation thread, the subtleties and misunderstandings can engender prickly responses.

I love the Spanish word for a United States citizen, estadounidense. If were to find a literal English equivalent, we would most likely say UnitedStater, as we might say someone from New York is a New Yorker. Speaking in English, when the situation arises that I need to specify my citizenship, I use the word UnitedStater and get odd and, at times, amused looks.

@Padrino

Excellent reply.

The Estadounidense term should also be used instead of the terms gringo, gabacho, etcétera,
though the use of that terminology is too ingrained to change it.

Though Yes, preguntando al mesero si tienen una salsa para los Gringos would be good, (meaning una salsa menos picante, si no una que no pica).

When I'm asked the usual pregunta, "where are you from"?
I say: southern California.
Done deal y punto.

You are welcome to call yourself whatever you like. I will follow the national protocol from where I was born . You do your thing.

Africans are Africans. Asians are Asians. Europeans are Europeans. And YOU and I are AMERICANS. Yeah, call yourself whatever you like. It's not about doing my thing. It's called GEOGRAPHY. You seem to have your nationality confused with the CONTINENT you live on. Not a damn thing at all to do with "national protocol" because no NATION is involved.

Hola
So you consider yourself an American. You are not a citizen of the United Mexican States? Where I am from (Canada America) if I am called an American, it is an insult because the whole world (except you) associates that word to mean the USA.

@Victorio:

Yes, that is also my interpretation, as You noted at the end of your reply, that is the assumption & general understanding.

Though as the Spokesman pointed out, "technically speaking" it may be erroneous.
Ni modo.

"Be happy & don't worry"

Hola
So you consider yourself an American. You are not a citizen of the United Mexican States? Where I am from (Canada America) if I am called an American, it is an insult because the whole world (except you) associates that word to mean the USA.

This is a very subtle and sensitive topic. The whole world does not automatically associate American with a U.S. citizen. However, for many, it is simply understood. As demonstrated by this conversation thread, the subtleties and misunderstandings can engender prickly responses.

I love the Spanish word for a United States citizen, estadounidense. If were to find a literal English equivalent, we would most likely say UnitedStater, as we might say someone from New York is a New Yorker. Speaking in English, when the situation arises that I need to specify my citizenship, I use the word UnitedStater and get odd and, at times, amused looks.

You are welcome to call yourself whatever you like. I will follow the national protocol from where I was born . You do your thing.

Africans are Africans. Asians are Asians. Europeans are Europeans. And YOU and I are AMERICANS. Yeah, call yourself whatever you like. It's not about doing my thing. It's called GEOGRAPHY. You seem to have your nationality confused with the CONTINENT you live on. Not a damn thing at all to do with "national protocol" because no NATION is involved.

Hola
So you consider yourself an American. You are not a citizen of the United Mexican States? Where I am from (Canada America) if I am called an American, it is an insult because the whole world (except you) associates that word to mean the USA.

The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World.

This is not that hard!!!!!!!!!!

You are welcome to call yourself whatever you like. I will follow the national protocol from where I was born . You do your thing.

Africans are Africans. Asians are Asians. Europeans are Europeans. And YOU and I are AMERICANS. Yeah, call yourself whatever you like. It's not about doing my thing. It's called GEOGRAPHY. You seem to have your nationality confused with the CONTINENT you live on. Not a damn thing at all to do with "national protocol" because no NATION is involved.

Hola
So you consider yourself an American. You are not a citizen of the United Mexican States? Where I am from (Canada America) if I am called an American, it is an insult because the whole world (except you) associates that word to mean the USA.

You are welcome to call yourself whatever you like. I will follow the national protocol from where I was born . You do your thing.

Africans are Africans. Asians are Asians. Europeans are Europeans. And YOU and I are AMERICANS. Yeah, call yourself whatever you like. It's not about doing my thing. It's called GEOGRAPHY. You seem to have your nationality confused with the CONTINENT you live on. Not a damn thing at all to do with "national protocol" because no NATION is involved.

When did the North American passport become available? Until then I am Canadian .

Yes, you are. You're also an American. So are Mexicans, Chileans and Panamanians.

The U.S. passport lists their nationality as Unites States of America. The "America" part is the continent we all live in.

Finallly it wasnt a drunk American tourist.

Careful. Canadians are Americans, too. We're ALL Americans from Tierra del Fuego to the Northern Territories and Greenland.

Hola.
Sure the Halloween tradition was inherited from the USA and Canada, but it was turned into a three day celebration by Mexico. It was a one night thing up north.

Yes, 3 days of Jalogüín party hearty mentality, especially in tourist destinations, where lots of alcohol is involved, instead of the respectfulness, solemnity and reverence of Día de Muertos. Thanks, but no gracias.

Yep , that is all there is to it. Well unless you can get your GF to do the sex nurse outfit and leave the party early.

Teens - Sneak out of bed to go to a party. Leave early to get back into your own bed.

20s - Go to a party. Stay late, hoping to be able to get into some else’s bed.

30s - Go to a party. Hope to be able to leave early with someone who wore a sexy nurse outfit and get into their bed.

40s - Get the kids into bed. Go to a party. Come home early so you don’t have to pay the babysitter a premium.

50s - Hear theres a party. Stay at home and keep checking to make sure your kids are still in their beds.

60s - Go to a party. Try to sneak out early to get into your own bed.

70s - Go to a party. Don’t have to leave early. A “Celebration of Life” is always in the afternoon.

80s - The party is at your place. The nurse isn’t sexy, but you are glad they are there, just in case they are needed.

Time for some classic Woody Allen:

Interviewer: "Do you hope to achieve immortality through your work?"

Woody: "No, I hope to achieve immortality by not dying."

A party of 4 arrived and the linger of post over consumption of alcohol was in the air as they walked by. This followed obnoxious loud comments and mimosas for their party.

Our dear friend who is a waiter at this restaurant asked if we could interpret as they were drunk and made no sense as to what they were ordering.

Simply to help our friend I attempted to assist with their order. Unfortunately their insistence that "sopes" means "soup" to them was a quick and waste of time discussion.

I apologized to our friend and he politely called it a festive "mood".

We ate our meal and spoke with the owner and what has become familiar faces/friends and each commented on the disrespectful behavior of that "party".

It was a sad example of tourist feeling entitled.

I just returned from a friend's residence in the La Noria neighborhood where we enjoyed coffee, pan de muertos and smiles and tears of our friends who have passed.

What a contrast!

I shared my morning experience with my Zanka friends and they asked me why I was shocked of such behavior.

A "holiday" is not a tradition or a culture.

A tradition and culture is passed down from generation to generation and is respected.