A culture of trust is priceless. I love how the guesthouse owner wouldn’t take payment until you were happy everything was as it should be. I was also really taken by your observation of how different currencies can shape your personality. I’d thought about this for languages, but not currencies. I wonder if people living in countries that have adopted the Euro noticed any differences in their culture or how they interacted with others when their currency changed.
Wow, this is such an interesting question. Interestingly (and anecdotally), when I arrived to Spain in May, I took out 60€ from the airport ATM, and when I left 3 months later I still had some of that exact same cash lingering in my purse. The anti-cash cultures just don’t hit the same in terms of connection to currency (though I know Spain is quite different in that sense from Germany, for example). I’m going to ask my European friends and report back.
Do you have a guestroom?
love this! what a great perspective on community
Sounds like there's a high level of social capital, great post Emily!
A culture of trust is priceless. I love how the guesthouse owner wouldn’t take payment until you were happy everything was as it should be. I was also really taken by your observation of how different currencies can shape your personality. I’d thought about this for languages, but not currencies. I wonder if people living in countries that have adopted the Euro noticed any differences in their culture or how they interacted with others when their currency changed.
Wow, this is such an interesting question. Interestingly (and anecdotally), when I arrived to Spain in May, I took out 60€ from the airport ATM, and when I left 3 months later I still had some of that exact same cash lingering in my purse. The anti-cash cultures just don’t hit the same in terms of connection to currency (though I know Spain is quite different in that sense from Germany, for example). I’m going to ask my European friends and report back.
This was a funny and insightful reflection. I laughed out loud at the “silly gringa” quip.
Now waiting for the sequel about the word that rhymes with pesos 👀
One of my goals is to be more transparent and honest in my writing... I'll consider it 😆
I loved this piece Emily! I've written down Puerto Escondido - might pay a visit next year when I come to Mexico!