Mexico Road Trip: Techie Geeks Vs. The World
There is little or no graffiti in these towns. The young people don’t have blue hair, pierced lips or imitate rap stars. They are polite, friendly and the ones I’ve seen and spoken to in the past few days are intelligent and curious. They study hard and are eager to improve their lives…they have a work and study ethic. In Escarcega I spoke to several students at a Veterinary school. They were curious about English and said many of their reference books were in English.
What isn’t clear is whether the difference is because they live in an isolated region, come from poorer families or there is a real cultural difference. I asked Cuauhtémoc about this…
Frankly, I think they will become like all other teenagers everywhere else, he answered, as soon as they become more mainstream, everything you see will change. I don’t see them quite like you do, he laughs.
Why not? I ask.
There has been a long standing feud between Campeche State and Yucatan, he said, I suppose it goes way back to the Yucatan War.
I said about the only thing I could remember about the war was the Indians deserted in droves when it was corn harvesting time…they weren’t the best of soldiers.
I don’t know about that, he said, but there is a continuing tension. Just as there is a tension between those in Campeche and those from Ciudad Carmen. Those from Carmen don’t like to be called Campechanos; they have invented the word Carmelitos. Campeche is a nice, quaint, historic city that the Gringos like to visit. It’s full of museums and art galleries and culture…Carmen is about oil and technology and commerce. All the money and influence is going to Carmen…
So just what group do you identify with? I ask.
I’m a businessman, he laughs, I sell to whoever needs and can afford my services. I do work in Merida and Campeche and Carmen and sometimes in Cancun…in fact I have offices there as well. I also have contractors and employees from all areas…and have no problem with it.
I told him that I thought Silicon Valley was the least prejudiced area in the U.S.; one’s capabilities are what are most important.
Ah, amigo, he said, that’s the beauty of technology, no? One either does the job or doesn’t…as the owner and employer I could care less about the way one looks or where they are from or if they are Maya or not…I need results, right? Does it work or not? I’ve got other things to worry about…
Like what? I ask.
The middle class bothers me, he continues, it’s a fragile situation here in Mexico. Foreign investment and middle class consumption is driving a lot of the businesses you see here; construction and supply, furniture, autos as well as technology. Look what happened in the crisis of 1994. The middle class was overextended and their buying power plummeted…it was not a pretty thing. The poor and the super rich aren’t driving the economy…it’s the growing middle class. If they get hit hard, it will put our economy in a tailspin. And I worry about the U.S. too…
Why? We are pretty strong and seem to be able to withstand hurricanes and recessions, I reply.
Sure, but it affects us too…and worse, he said, look at what happened after your 9/11. Business in Cancun fell and it affected the whole peninsula…many folks from all over work in Cancun and when that work is affected, it hurts. Just like Hurricane Wilma has hurt and is still hurting us…So that perfect storm of yours that you talked about the other night can be worsened if your economy takes a dip…when the U.S. hiccups, we get a nasty bellyache, he laughs, in fact, we need to go to the hospital.
How did you learn all this? I asked, and without much education?
Ah amigo, that’s simple, he laughs, I’m a businessman and I keep my eyes and ears open…like you do. Whenever I go into a company, I may be fixing their networks and servers but I also listen to what is being said. And I ask my people to listen too. That way I know what’s going on before it happens, he laughs. And my English is getting better too and as you know the Internet is like going to school…and sometimes better. I get a lot of technical information from the web; just like your technical companies do. It’s just a natural thing for us techie geeks…we stay up all night learning. The more I learn the more I know and the more I know, the better I do in business…
But why you and not others? I ask.
You should have gone into technology, he laughs, and you are so persistent…as you know that is essential for a good technician or programmer. With me, I think it was my poverty. When I was growing up, I felt badly that my family needed things and we didn’t have them. Sometimes my father had work and sometimes he didn’t…and it bothered me. It also bothered me that others had things and wasted them or didn’t appreciate them – even though I am fairly well off, I still appreciate things, even the little things. When I get in my car or turn on my laptop, I remember when I did not have those things. Maybe it’s not so much that I love those things as it is I hated not having them, no? See amigo? Does that make sense? If I keep talking to you I’ll start thinking about these things and lose my focus on my business, he laughs.
Please don’t do that, I laugh back, or we won’t have any gas or cell phone service.
You overestimate my importance, he adds, there are others that can fix networks and wire oil platforms. But not just anyone can figure out what makes a young, poor kid want to lift themselves out of poverty. Maybe that’s your job?
You don’t think I have these answers? I laugh.
Maybe not, but you keep asking the questions. It’s the old 80-20 rule; only 20% produce and the rest consume or get drunk, he laughs, you and I are producers, it’s in our blood and we can’t live any other way. If I did not have technology; I would find something else – so would you. The key for Mexico is we just can’t lose that 20%; it’s more important for us…and we lose it when our better people swim that Rio Bravo…
Rio Grande, I laugh.
He reaches across the seat and touches my shoulder.
For you and me amigo, there is no god damn river. You care every bit about those poor kids as I do. You and I are the Raza Cosmica or cosmic race; even though you are certainly too pale for my tastes, he laughs, but at least you aren’t an Evangelical! We’ve spoken about many things but not once have you asked me about the word of God…besides, tomorrow we will buy some Tecates and watch your futbol Americano, no? I like the way you Americanos paint your faces and take off your shirts in the freezing weather, ha…
So you will take some time off and watch the game with me?
Sure, he laughs, but I’ll have my laptop there as well…I need to do some remote access checks on some networks we just installed…
And I’m sure tomorrow there will be gas and the cell phones will still work…
Jack D. Deal
