Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.09.2014, Side 35

Reykjavík
Köbenhavn
London
Berlín
@burgerjoint
35The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 14 — 2014 HUMANS
there was a new Mexican in town. It turns
out she had seen my flag! I told her I was
the 'new' Mexican in town,” he continues.
Apparently his pride has contagious
capabilities. “Many neighbours started to
adorn their houses with flags from their
respective countries; I saw a family place
an Icelandic flag, then I saw a Polish one,
an African one, and so on. I’ve caused a
flag-war!”
And while Rodrigo flaunts his
colours in quaint Reykjavík, he never
misses a chance to express his love for
Mexico. “I keep telling people that Mexico
is the best country in the world,” he says.
But sometimes his sense of nationalism
can be taken the wrong way. “In Europe,
people tend to frown upon nationalistic
behaviour. I guess, since the birth of
Nazism and such extremist ideologies,
people see this as something negative.
But after I explain why I feel the way I feel,
they understand.”
Iceland with a grain of salt
For Mexicans living in Iceland, one of the
most painful challenges is being left out
of Icelandic conversations. “Everybody
here speaks English,” Rodrigo says, “but
that doesn’t mean they like speaking
in English.” While he understands that
language has been one of the most
fortifying strengths in terms of maintaining
Icelandic culture, he doesn’t seem inclined
to learn the language when he’s able to
communicate perfectly in English.
Another big contrast between the
countries is, of course, the food. “They
eat a lot of meat, beef, pork, fish, seafood,
horse, whale and lamb over here—and
they’re addicted to sweets! They add
liquorice to everything,” he says. There
isn’t a single Mexican expat who doesn’t
miss the food from his country and
Rodrigo isn’t the exception. Just getting
started on the topic makes his mouth
water with a longing for some motherland
delicacies. Rodrigo’s mom occasionally
sends him care packages with Mexican
junk food and candy. “The day I opened
the bag of Churrumáis—a corn-based
snack sprinkled with hot chilli and lime—I
was elated. I only shared it with very
special people. And they had never seen
anything like it!” he says. The next best
option, he claims, is the Mexican food at
Santa Karamba. “I think it’s the best rice
I’ve had in my life. The sauces they make,
I really don’t know how they do it!”
Double standards
Rodrigo tries hard to blend in with the
locals, to the point of dressing like them.
“People say I dress like an Icelander,
perhaps it has to do with my haircut,
the clothes I wear and where I live,”
he says. According to Rodrigo, tourists
are very easy to spot. “They’re the ones
wearing tons of layers and hiking boots
in the city,” he explains. Anyone could
understand why he wishes to blend
in. After all, who wants to be called a
tourist? “I find that people here hate
tourists. But I try to tell them that they’re
the ones helping their economy.” And it
is thanks to tourism that he can enjoy
the luxury of living in Iceland. Rodrigo
continues to describe a situation that
is so out of control that local residents
tend to avoid Laugavegur—the capital’s
main shopping and entertainment
strip—altogether during the months of
July and August because it’s filled with,
well, you know.
Rodrigo has plans to stay in Iceland
a bit longer, and maybe commit to
learning the language once and for all.
It all depends on the job market. For the
time being, the flag will continue to peep
through his skylight, baring his love for
Mexico—no pun intended.
----
No Mexicans were harmed in the writing of
this article.
Thank you, Rodrigo Aparicio for your
valuable time. ¡Muchas gracias!
And special thanks to the Mexican
Embassy in Denmark for helping me
spread the word.