Comments on: A most unpleasant duty. http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/ Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:30:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Georjina http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/comment-page-1/#comment-745 Georjina Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:06:44 +0000 http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/#comment-745 The link no longer works to the attorney. Can you repost a fresh link or give the details for contacting him/her? Thank you >>I hav efixed the link, but jere it is again:  http://uruguayconnection.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=9&sid=39e34dc3e3a757ea21c120f71f71c4e6 The Southron The link no longer works to the attorney. Can you repost a fresh link or give the details for contacting him/her? Thank you

>>I hav efixed the link, but jere it is again:  http://uruguayconnection.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=9&sid=39e34dc3e3a757ea21c120f71f71c4e6

The Southron

]]> By: modhatter http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/comment-page-1/#comment-594 modhatter Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:39:12 +0000 http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/#comment-594 I do not know if it is correct to compare a Mexican with someone from Uraguay, but many have said it applies to most all South Americans, which I can not say is true. But part of the culture in Mexico is to always say what they think the other person wants to hear. (in other wards lie when necessary) If they think you want them to go somewhere with them, they will say they will go, and then they won't show up. If you ask a girl out on a date, she will make the date and not be there, instead of politly saying no to you. It is the aspect of living in Mexico that I have the hardest time with. There is not much creedance given to a peron's word. This might have been the case with your people. They were lax and inneficient in their job responsibillity to you, and when confronted, they lied, because this is just what they do. It is more accepted there and kind of expected. I have seen that. It doesn't mean that those people are necessarily bad people in other respects, just not very efficient, and if you are going to REALLY adapt, then you will need to understand that the truth is a real rarity in this part of the world. A lousy way to live, I agree, but are you going to be able to change them? I have experienced this myself with my Mexican employees. At first it really threw me for a loop, and left me scratching my head. I can't tell you how many times I said to them "Why didn't you just tell me the truth" It would have been better for everyone concerned, but it is just not their way. These same people might also walk a mile to help out a total stranger in need, so we can not say they are necessarily bad people - just not truthful. >>I have a rule of thumb regarding comparing Latin American culture from Mexico and Central America to the culture here in the Southern Cone of South America:  I DON'T! I am happy to say that I have never had the problems you mention with my staff here--though it exactly described my experience in Costa Rica.  My staff, and the professionals with which we work most closely have been paragons of truthfulness and reliability. That being said, in general Latin Americans do seem to be more tolerant of people telling lies and half-truths than my rearing will allow--but here I attribute that to tolerance and good humor, not mendacity.. The Southron I do not know if it is correct to compare a Mexican with someone from Uraguay, but many have said it applies to most all South Americans, which I can not say is true. But part of the culture in Mexico is to always say what they think the other person wants to hear. (in other wards lie when necessary) If they think you want them to go somewhere with them, they will say they will go, and then they won’t show up. If you ask a girl out on a date, she will make the date and not be there, instead of politly saying no to you. It is the aspect of living in Mexico that I have the hardest time with.

There is not much creedance given to a peron’s word. This might have been the case with your people. They were lax and inneficient in their job responsibillity to you, and when confronted, they lied, because this is just what they do. It is more accepted there and kind of expected. I have seen that. It doesn’t mean that those people are necessarily bad people in other respects, just not very efficient, and if you are going to REALLY adapt, then you will need to understand that the truth is a real rarity in this part of the world. A lousy way to live, I agree, but are you going to be able to change them?

I have experienced this myself with my Mexican employees. At first it really threw me for a loop, and left me scratching my head. I can’t tell you how many times I said to them “Why didn’t you just tell me the truth” It would have been better for everyone concerned, but it is just not their way. These same people might also walk a mile to help out a total stranger in need, so we can not say they are necessarily bad people – just not truthful.

>>I have a rule of thumb regarding comparing Latin American culture from Mexico and Central America to the culture here in the Southern Cone of South America:  I DON’T!

I am happy to say that I have never had the problems you mention with my staff here–though it exactly described my experience in Costa Rica.  My staff, and the professionals with which we work most closely have been paragons of truthfulness and reliability.

That being said, in general Latin Americans do seem to be more tolerant of people telling lies and half-truths than my rearing will allow–but here I attribute that to tolerance and good humor, not mendacity..

The Southron

]]> By: Lee Harrison http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/comment-page-1/#comment-593 Lee Harrison Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:19:01 +0000 http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/#comment-593 Thank you for the honest and forthright update. It so happens that the reason I was logging on today was to get their contact information to pass on to someone else. Very timely. What happened reminds me of my own experience with the FBI check, which I initiated here in Montevideo. I personally checked with immigration, who assured me that my background check had not been received. One day I stopped by at the Interpol office (Maldonado 1109), and they told me that it had in fact been received, processed through their office, and sent to Immigration. Immigration, however assured me that Interpol was wrong. The record was not there. Back to Interpol. This time, Interpol showed me a transmittal form with a date and time. They called Immigration and politely assured them that they had it, somewhere. Back to Immigration. Low and behold, the manager had it in her hand when I walked through the door. So I came back the next day, took my number, and headed for my turn at the desk to have everything processed. Once again the agent told me that it wasn’t there, and sure enough, it hadn’t gotten into my folder. I asked her to speak to the manager, who found it again. The lesson I learned from this (and believe me, I’m still learning) is that no amount of follow-up is too much. The people at Immigration are great, but the system for processing, tracking and follow-up is quite disorganized. Again, thanks for your continued diligence and unbiased info. Lee Thank you for the honest and forthright update. It so happens that the reason I was logging on today was to get their contact information to pass on to someone else. Very timely.

What happened reminds me of my own experience with the FBI check, which I initiated here in Montevideo. I personally checked with immigration, who assured me that my background check had not been received. One day I stopped by at the Interpol office (Maldonado 1109), and they told me that it had in fact been received, processed through their office, and sent to Immigration.

Immigration, however assured me that Interpol was wrong. The record was not there. Back to Interpol.

This time, Interpol showed me a transmittal form with a date and time. They called Immigration and politely assured them that they had it, somewhere. Back to Immigration.

Low and behold, the manager had it in her hand when I walked through the door. So I came back the next day, took my number, and headed for my turn at the desk to have everything processed. Once again the agent told me that it wasn’t there, and sure enough, it hadn’t gotten into my folder. I asked her to speak to the manager, who found it again.

The lesson I learned from this (and believe me, I’m still learning) is that no amount of follow-up is too much. The people at Immigration are great, but the system for processing, tracking and follow-up is quite disorganized.

Again, thanks for your continued diligence and unbiased info.

Lee

]]> By: Steve Fitzhugh http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/comment-page-1/#comment-592 Steve Fitzhugh Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:06:56 +0000 http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/#comment-592 David, Even though this was difficult for you to write we thank you for doing so. Those of us that are working hard to make the move need the honest and fair reporting you do. Thank You! S&D David,
Even though this was difficult for you to write we thank you for doing so. Those of us that are working hard to make the move need the honest and fair reporting you do.
Thank You!
S&D

]]> By: syd http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/comment-page-1/#comment-591 syd Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:08:35 +0000 http://www.uruguayliving.com/2007/07/01/a-most-unpleasant-duty/#comment-591 In response to Southron's delisting of the services of Fatma and Miguel Silva, I would like to add we are not pleased with our dealings with them either. We had to secure the services of a lawyer, but have just recently managed to regain our documents and most of our money they were holding. If you wish to read a more detailed account of our problems, please refer to the Sociedad Southron ("Warnings"). Syd Blackwell and Gundy Baty In response to Southron’s delisting of the services of Fatma and Miguel Silva, I would like to add we are not pleased with our dealings with them either. We had to secure the services of a lawyer, but have just recently managed to regain our documents and most of our money they were holding. If you wish to read a more detailed account of our problems, please refer to the Sociedad Southron (“Warnings”).

Syd Blackwell and Gundy Baty

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