Occasionally, we receive a letter from someone that objects to our version of what life is like in Monterrey, Mexico. (Make no mistake; however, our family loves Mexico). We always answer these people with respect, pointing out that this was our view and that we realize others see things differently. Differing opinions does not make one right and the other wrong, it simply means that individuals cannot help but look at all things with other or additional viewpoints. In each case, we have extended the invitation for these people to write an article based on how they see Monterrey and we would post it alongside ours. In each case, we have never heard from these people again.Below is one example of the letters we have received followed by our reply. If any resident of Monterrey would like to write such an essay based on their view of the city, by all means, send it to us. The full name of the person below was withheld out of respect, since he did not respond back to us. It is printed as written.
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2005 7:54 PM
Subject: How wrong are you
I just finished reading your “experience” about living in Monterrey and let me tell you that I am very outraged about all the crap you are writting about this charming city, which by the way happens to be my hometown.
First and formost, education is a priority in not only Monterrey but all Mexico as well, the fact that our Federal Government doesn’t provide the states with sufficient funds for education doesn’t mean that our teachers don’t take pride in what they do and give their students the best of educations within their limits, it is an insult that you claim that education is not a priority in our country nevertheless in our city!!! About your comment on libraries, did you really do a research on how many libraries and how well equipped there are in Monterrey and its surronding areas??? I honestly don’t think so!
Refrigerators being a luxury? What a pathetic statement, even in the most limited neighborhoods of our city people do have the very basics, including a REFRIGERATOR! Didi you really visit neighborhoods in Monterrey to make such a claim???
Telephone service being scarce in Monterrey? Let me tell you that may be that was the situation 30 or 40 years ago, but considering how many options our country has for telephone service I can assure you that telephone service is everything but limited!!!
Police cars being Beetles?….they may be Cavaliers, or Crown Victorias, but Beetles???….C’mon brother!!!
Universities?? Monterrey is house for the best Colleges and Universities not only in Mexico but it can well compare and sometimes surpass the ones in the US and Europe. Examples?….Universidad Regiomontona, Universidad De Monterrey, ITESM, Universidad Del Norte…Want more?
Learning is by memorization?? I am most outraged by this completely absurd remark!!!! Mexicans can not think abstractly???? Should I even comment on this???
Should I keep going??….I think you should review and consider re-writing your so called “Living In Monterrey”, do a little research before you dare to write about anything, I strongly doubt you yourself had any education and that your so called experience was a mere adventure.
Sincerely
A. D.
Dear A…,
We are very sorry you are offended but you seem to have misread the article and jumped to some interesting conclusions. It also seems you have not checked “About us” and our educational background that you say is lacking. Our stay in Monterrey was hardly just an adventure. The article we wrote was based on what we saw during the two years we spent there. In fact, our daughter-in-law is from that city. Her family has lived there for several generations and still lives in various parts of the city. We checked that article with her as we wrote it in 1996. To this day, our son and his family still live near the city.
We will respond to each of your points and, yes, A…, we did visit many neighbourhoods, including San Pedro, which does not fit into our general assessment. Life is full of different perspectives. Just because one sees something differently from another does not make it wrong or the other right. Just ask people who visit New York City! We can understand that you want to be defensive about “your” city. We also realize that others will see Monterrey differently. That is the beauty of living in Mexico and other countries. Perspectives will always be different because they are seen by individuals.
1) Refrigerators are indeed a luxury in many parts of Monterrey and, Mexico, for that matter. This is for several reasons, according to the people we spoke with in these areas. For many, they are too expensive to buy and to run. Electricity is not cheap there. Another reason is that markets are everywhere, so there is no need to store food. The common practice is to purchase each day only what is needed – except for those in such areas as San Pedro where those residents also have cars, refrigerators, central air conditioning, etc. that other areas view as luxuries.
2) Regarding telephones. People are notorious for running up phone bills only to have their service cancelled. Consequently, although many have phones in their homes, the service cannot be used. Today, there are more cell phone users in Mexico than there are land line phones.
3) Police cars. When we were living there, “Beetles” were indeed used by the police.
4) Libraries. You asked if we did any research in libraries while we were there or noticed how well-equipped they are. We really had to shake our head at this one. You obviously have not read the rest of our site. Since libraries and education have been a priority for us for over 40 years and continues to be into the third generation, our assessment is quite accurate.
The state of public library really is pitiful compared to North American standards. Although the libraries were being used and the staffs were helpful, there was a lack of comprehensive subject matter and up-to-date editions. However, the people do the best they can with what is available to them. Unfortunately, this is not much – unless you are referring to a library not accessible to the general public – which should make one wonder why it is not. Such libraries as the Tech are fairly good, but again, not accessible to the general public. Tthe situation has not improved since we were there, according to those with whom we are still in contact. What books there are available to the public, are old. This means that a student cannot have access to current information. Even basic reference books that North Americans or Europeans take for granted were not available in Monterrey, although the librarians knew about them. Books are also very expensive and out of reach of the average person, never mind a library which runs on a limited budget, no matter in which country they are found.
We not only had the opportunity to research in several libraries in Monterrey, including the state library and a public library, but also in Chiapas. Research means more than just coming in and looking at the decor. We actually took books and read them. We talked to librarians. We talked to students and parents. What more could we have done? From our experience of researching in hundreds of libraries in four countries, including working extensively in two of those countries, we find regrettably that what we saw in Mexico is not up to the standard of the other three countries.
5) Universities and Education. Outside of Mexico City, Monterrey does indeed have a good selection of universities. However, your statement that they surpass those in North America or Europe is certainly idealistic, but far from reality. Education is a major point with us and we have personally been able to compare what is offered in Mexico with that offered in Canada, the United States, and England. It is well known among educators that Mexico trails all industrial countries in education, specifically reading (comprehension) and science. It is well below the US, which is notorious for being a slacker in public education. Fortunately, the US is a hotbed for home schooling. This is because parents are realizing that their educational standards are also lacking and Mexico is trying to emulate this?? When talking to various parents about the educational standards in Mexico, they all agree that it is bad and they do wantbetter, but are at a loss as to how to go about it since those in power are unwilling to change its structure!
Our son and his wife have been dealing with educational authorities in Mexico for over 10 years now. In fact, they have recently published a teachers’ textbook and the companion childrens workbook that is thrilling progressive educators and students in their area. Last summer, they presented workshops to a federal department on their style of education and were very well received. Their own children were sitting there as living proof that their system works. This same department was concerned about the educational system in Mexico and wanted input as to some basic changes that could be implemented. Our son and his wife have also dealt with graduates of several universities in the Monterrey-Saltillo area and, without exception, find them to be weak in developing logical arguments or discussions; thus, the reasoning behind the “lack of abstract thinking” comment. Being the seat of several major universities in Mexico does not guarantee the development of analytical minds. Your letter is proving this point, by the way.
There is a page on our site written by our daughter-in-law about her experience with the university system in Monterrey. It is called “Circo de la Educacisn Superior”, which you can read here https://www.innvista.comsociety/education/hogar/circo-de-la-educacion-superior/ The conclusion is that you cannot use logic with university professors without repercussions. Do you have any idea why? It makes one wonder about those who do get their degrees.
Although students and teachers alike do not want to admit it, the Mexican education system does depend on rote memorization. Teachers will initially deny it so as not to look bad but, when pressed, have to admit it is true. They do realize that the goal is to move forward but cannot because of old habits in the classroom and in the curriculums set down for them. They also have to deal with the lack of textbooks which are simply too expensive to have enough for everyone; so how else are they supposed to teach? By memorization. This not only provides limited knowledge but a singular point of view, leaving the student lacking in generalized knowledge and the ability to think abstractly.
So A…, since you do have a different perspective of Monterrey, we extend an invitation to you to write an article expressing your viewpoint. That should give readers another prospective from which to judge. We offered this to a couple of others who saw Monterrey differently from the way we presented it, but we have never heard back from them. People like to complain, but few really want to do anything about it. Will you be any different?
Should you also decide not to write an article, we would at least like to post your letter along with this answer from us. However, we will not be changing the original article, or even pulling it from our site. This is our site and we write things as WE see them and based on our own research – including the way we saw Monterrey when we lived there.
Sincerely,
The Duff Family
