| Gentrification is "the process of renewal and rebuilding | | | | Just think of this. |
| accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent | | | | When was the last time you waltzed into Wal-Mart to |
| people into deteriorating areas that often displaces | | | | buy a pair of socks, a transaction taking mere minutes, |
| earlier, usually poorer, residents" (Webster's). | | | | but left refreshed and more energized than when you |
| Gentrification is occurring in Guanajuato. | | | | went in? When was the last time you spent an hour, |
| When we decided to move to Guanajuato instead of | | | | maybe two, in Wal-Mart (and all you came to buy |
| to one of the many cities in Mexico, it was because it | | | | were socks) because you saw someone you knew |
| was, at that time, "still Mexico." Gringos live | | | | and took the time to talk and minister to one another's |
| everywhere in this marvelous country. The largest | | | | needs? |
| populations are in Mexico City as well as in the resort | | | | When was the last time you went to a Wal-Mart |
| areas of the West Coast. It is estimated that around | | | | superstore because you knew you might meet |
| 25,000 gringos live in Puerto Vallarta. | | | | "so-and-so" and get to see what's happening in her life |
| San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato in | | | | and share what's happening in your life? |
| Mexico's heartland, has about 12,000 Gringos-most of | | | | That's what we saw in Guanajuato: a life we |
| whom come from the USA. | | | | remembered, loved, cherished, and missed from our |
| We didn't want to live in any of the areas where | | | | childhoods in the 50's and early 60's. |
| Americanization has taken over to extent that they | | | | Downtown Guanajuato, or El Centro, is not so much a |
| are barely recognizable as Mexico. San Miguel de | | | | place to go but a place to find friends, to relax, to |
| Allende is a perfect example of how the influence of | | | | recharge. Shopping in small, Mom-and-Pop shops here |
| such a large, and might I add, excessively demanding | | | | is more than an activity to forage for your daily bread. |
| American enclave has changed the town from colonial | | | | These shops are places to forage for souls, for |
| Mexico to Gentrified Mexico. Americanization is its | | | | companionship, for support. |
| defining theme. San Miguel de Allende "looks" Mexican. | | | | Do you remember when America was like that? |
| It is, however, Mexican in facade only. | | | | Superstores come into towns like plagues. They are |
| We wanted to live where that wasn't happening or | | | | able to buy products at such huge wholesale discounts |
| where it hadn't yet happened. We chose the city of | | | | and in such quantities, the small, traditional, and |
| Guanajuato. | | | | heritage-sustaining-Mom and-Pop shops cannot keep |
| Did we err? | | | | up. Soon, they are run out of business. They die. |
| Late in 2006, the first signs of Gentrification in colonial | | | | Downtown becomes a fantasy land. It becomes a |
| Guanajuato began. A Mexican version of a "Super | | | | theme park like Disneyland where tourists come to |
| Wal-Mart" opened. We now have a Mega superstore. | | | | see how people "used to live." The city planners |
| It is an anchor store in an indoor mall that contains | | | | rename downtown as the "historic center" where |
| what you would expect to see in any mall in the USA. | | | | people come to see "history" and shop at insidious little |
| There is a Blockbuster video store, General Nutrition, | | | | boutiques that target the rich tourists. The point I am |
| and various other stores that no average | | | | trying to make is that downtown Guanajuato is not a |
| Guanajuatense (someone who lives in Guanajuato) | | | | "historic center" but it is alive and is where life still goes |
| could possibly afford. There is even an exclusive | | | | on, businesses are run, and people live. It has history |
| men's store with clothing imported from Italy. And, to | | | | but is very much alive as it was hundreds of years |
| top it all off, there is cholesterol-laden, heart | | | | ago. It is where life is being lived and not now history. |
| tissue-destroying, obesity-inducing MacDonald's selling | | | | Superstores will change all of that. |
| seven-dollar hamburgers. They've also throw in a | | | | The locals in a city like Guanajuato think superstores |
| multiplex movie theater for good measure. | | | | are a good thing-at first. Then reality sets in. They are |
| Just as in America where the arrival of these | | | | forced to shop in these superstores because the small |
| superstores has all but ruined small downtown | | | | neighborhood stores are dead and gone. The locals |
| America, these stores in Mexico are causing the same | | | | have to get their food somewhere. It is the superstore |
| problem. Whether it is a Wal-Mart (and Mexico has | | | | or nothing. It seems rather diabolical to me. It seems |
| plenty of them), or the Mexican version, Mega, they | | | | well planned. It seems to be done on purpose. |
| have come into towns without a thought about how | | | | Superstore overlords know what they are doing. |
| they will effectively alter the lives of hundreds, if not | | | | Not only do the locals have no other alternative but the |
| thousands. What happens is a way of life, one that | | | | superstore for sustenance, they also soon realize they |
| works, one that enriches, one that promotes | | | | cannot get to the store conveniently. So, they reason, |
| community and the fellowship of its members, is | | | | we must get a car to get to the poorly located |
| destroyed. | | | | superstore. Thus, car traffic increases in a city where |
| Heritage is lost forever. | | | | there are already too many cars with no place to put |
| What has happened all over America is happening | | | | them. It is a city that is becoming increasingly polluted |
| here. In America, Wal-Mart has become the new | | | | because American car manufacturers have convinced |
| "downtown." In the days of yesteryear when I was a | | | | Mexicans that you haven't arrived in the world unless |
| kid, it was a custom to go downtown. We would walk | | | | you own a car. |
| the sidewalks, stare at the window displays, and end | | | | I cannot help wonder how much Americanization has |
| up where everyone did-the drugstore. There we sat, | | | | to do with all of this. |
| drank sodas and ate ice cream while our parents | | | | The Mega store that opened here is nothing more |
| caught up on the neighborhood gossip. It was there | | | | than a Super Wal-Mart on steroids. It also has a |
| where relationships were forged and strengthened. It | | | | dubious history in Mexico of forcing the Wal-Mart |
| was there where those in trouble found comfort and | | | | business model on Mexico and her people. And, they |
| solace. It was there where you would find | | | | employ the American Wal-Mart business model. |
| reassurance that, though the world seemed to be | | | | Open a huge megalithic warehouse of a store, buy |
| falling apart, you could survive with the help of your | | | | products at wholesale prices, and the people will come. |
| friends. It was true community. | | | | No matter that these stores destroy the heart and |
| Now in America, no one drives to downtown if one | | | | soul of a city. The almighty dollar (peso) reigns |
| even exists. No one walks anywhere. Wal-Mart and all | | | | supreme. There is no doubt in my mind that these |
| its derivatives are the new downtown. Instead of going | | | | giants can and do offer better prices at what the |
| downtown to shop, everyone heads to where the | | | | Mom-and-Pop shops can. No doubt! |
| products are offered at prices the old local | | | | But, at what cost? |
| Mom-and-Pop shops cannot possibly beat. Instead of | | | | A way of life is threatened. A way of life that sustains |
| catching up on the gossip, instead of forging | | | | and nourishes is lost. Life is irreparably broken. |
| relationships, instead of finding comfort, solace, and | | | | Something that works-life-is messed with and is |
| strength to get you through a crisis, instead of | | | | consequently ruined forever. |
| community, you find a cold and impersonal factory | | | | There is no going back. |
| where you recognize no one. You find a sea of | | | | Lest you think I am bitter in attributing this to Imperialistic |
| people rushing in and out of a warehouse filled with | | | | Business Americanization, listen to this: |
| goods. No one talks. The employees barely | | | | I was in the mall in Leon, Guanajuato, and asked a man |
| acknowledge the customers. Everyone rushes through | | | | why he liked coming to the mall. The response blew |
| the store trying to get their stuff as fast as they can | | | | me away, |
| so they can leave and get back to what has become | | | | "I come here," the Mexican man told me, "because it is |
| a miserable urban existence. | | | | here where I can pretend I am in America. |
| Too harsh? I don't think so. | | | | |