My parents are making me nervous?

Question

i have asked this question before but i just want to get more feedback

I'm traveling alone to Mexico City to visit a friend who lives there with her parents, my own parents are saying that because of my looks that i loo too flashy and can fall target to kidnapping and or assault, i have long platinum blonde hair ...this is me www.myspace.com/fatilux...i'll be wearing my hair exactly like that...curly long and blonde...are they overreacting like i think so?? i'm sure there is plenty of blonde girls in mexico plus i speak fluent spanish...what do you think???

Answer 1

The risk is if you act like a fool, don't go to dangereus places, don't be at the wrong place at the wrong time and everything will be fine.

Your hair or your skin is not as important as your "general look", México (the country, not only the city) has several racial differences, each region is different to another, and there are blond girls here. At México City it is very easy to notice when you are not from there, no matter if you are mexican too!

I'm mexican, from Los Altos de Jalisco. We are NOT the tipical mexican, and they (México city inhabitants, called "chilangos" by us) can easily notice we are not from there; if we go to a bad place, we are in danger. There are white and blond girls here, but the tan (or the lack of tan) will always let us know you are not from México, even you don't say a word; and at México city they will even notice someone is not from there, even this is a mexican.

You can go to México city, I think your friend will help you to be safe, don't be so worried, but open your eyes.

By the way, nice music in your MySpace. I like it.

Answer 2

They dont have a lot of Blonde haired girls there so it is new to them. They might whistle to you or something, but they probably wont get to far. Just ignore them or say thanks.

Answer 3

Mexico city CAN BE VERY dangerous. All I can really say is be careful. I wouldn't go if I were you but then again I moved to Jamaica for half a year against all advice and came back fine, but I'm a guy so yeah just be careful and don't go out alone or at night.

Answer 4

Having lived in Mexico City and being American, tall, very white, and relatively blond (although male) I would say like any big city watch your back but really the chances of you having any problems are small if you are smart.  First off, kidnappings are usually planned in advanced and target the super wealthy, why would they kidnap you when Mexico has a lot of super wealthy Mexicans to target.  (Mexico has more millionaires than Germany) it's more likely you would be robbed on the street or by a taxi driver, but just be smart and only use radio taxis and don't walk in bad neighborhoods. Second depending where you are in Mexico City you may not stand out that much. As CDOG seems to be unaware of, but you seem to know by your question, white and Latino are not mutually exclusive, since Latino is not a race. (Of course blonds are not the norm, since most, but not all, Mexicans who are white are of Spanish decent)  If you are in wealthy areas and dress and act properly they may even mistake you for a Mexican.   This happened to me on more than one occasion in wealthy areas without a lot of tourists and I was asked directions by Mexicans until they laughed when they heard my gringo accent. If you go to poor areas (Mexico is a very stratified country and white people are almost never poor) you will stand out and get whistled at because you are blond, but a Blond Mexican would also get whistled at but they wouldn't be crazy enough to go to those areas.  In general, I found Mexico City to feel safer than some American Cities especially New Orleans, for instance.  If you look at the murder rate for example it is still a lot lower than many American cities, although assault and petty theft tend to be higher.  You are lucky to have a friend showing you around. Mexico City can be really fun if you know where to go and there are plenty of foreigners from all over the world that live there,  be sure to check out the really cool neighborhoods of Condesa, Coyoacan, Roma, if you like Yuppee and blond go to the neighborhood of Santa Fe, chances are you won't stand out there at all.  Oh I would add don't listen to the above poster and DO go out at night, the nightlife in Mexico City is what makes it worth it. Good luck and post some pics on your myspace after your trip.

Answer 5

I think they are overreacting too

Answer 6

Hi im Mexican from Mexico City.

First of all, Mexico City have dangerous areas but for everyone, not only for you blonde girls. If you are going to stay in touristic areas you have no problem. its really safe in this places, of course, you are going to cause expectaction because we dont have  a lot of beautiful blonde girls like you, but thats it, You dont have to be worry about coming here.

Best Wishes, sorry for my bad english, and enjoy our city.

http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PhotoA...

Answer 7

i think they are overreacting, i am sure you wont be a target and it depends what places you go. Mexicans are really nice i am sure you will be okay

Answer 8

I would go with wut cdog said!

be careful thou...

Answer 9

You will get a LOT of attention as a gorgeous blond girl with blue eyes like you are :) Expect guys to hit on you and not necessarily in the most charming of ways.

Let's be honest, Mexico City is really fun to visit but it really is a scary place too. I lived in Guadalajara for 3 years and it is also huge (some 7-8 Million people) but is way more mellow than Mexico City and I never felt like I was in danger when in Guadalajara.

Have fun, but just use caution - Make sure that you are always with your friends and don't go out at night, especially NOT alone. EVER. That place is just freaky at night.

If you guys go to a club or something that's different because they are a lot of fun, just make sure you don't get separated from your friends. Just do how they do, they know what's up.

You'll notice that most Mexican girls don't make eye contact with the guys and just ignore them altogether unless they have some other reason or they are interested in that guy. I suggest you do the same. Avoid the guys down there and just ignore them if you have to.

It IS a fun city so have a good time! And just think about it this way, millions of women live there everyday and are fine.

Answer 10

If I were you I'd take your parents advice. You don't want to end up like Natalee Holloway.

Answer 11

You never know whats going to happen. As parents they have a right to overreact because they are trying to protect you. If your traveling alone I suggest you bring along some pepper spray. As long as your around a whole lot of people which I'm pretty sure there are large groups in Mexico City especially for Spring Break. Don't corner yourself or get stuck in situation where you can't do anything .. if it makes you nervous get the h**l out of there! Yes, you are very pretty and there will be other pretty girls but men  will be men the most you'll get are perverts trying to hit on you.

Answer 12

I wouldn't worry about your hair.  There are plenty of Mexican girls who have blonde hair like you so you won't be that much of a novelty.  But I would still be careful.  Kidnappings are on the rise in Mexico and you should be careful no matter what you look like.  Keep a low profile and don't broadcast yourself as an American.

Answer 13

your pretty but no offence theres alot of pretty girls in mexico why would they wnna chace some white girl when they can get all those latina girls if i was mexican i would not doing any wierd stuff but dont worry im sure you'll be safe

Answer 14

Except for Tokyo and other big cities in Japan, any big town in the WORLD can be dangerous. It all depends whether you walk into the areas where more crime is committed. Mexico City, although not the best of places, is neither the most dangerous. The tendency to lump every city of Mexico as dangerous just because someone had a bad experience in Tijuana is totally off the mark. You'll be coming to Mexico City to stay with local residents who'll likely know how to move around, so, why worry? If they do it so can you. By the way, my wife is blonde since her family is from northern Spain and she's been living here since she was 16. Just listen to you friends in Mexico City and be just as careful as if you went to, let's say, Detroit or St. Louis.

Answer 15

I'm not blonde (brunette as a matter of fact), but I'm white, thin with green eyes living in Mexico City. Yes, I get whistled A LOT. Even cops have whistled at me, go figure.

You will attract that kind of attention, but the chances that a guy would actually rape you in the middle of the street in broad daylight with people everywhere, umm.. no. There's a law that states in Mexico City that is a man sexually harasses you in a bus, taxi or subway, he can go to prision for up to 5 years. Yes, 5 years just by touching you once, even if it were by accident because it was in public transportation.

There's few naturally blonde people in Mexico City (the north has a lot of white people so it's less rare), but you will see german, irish or spanish blonde women every now and then Not to count out tourists from the US or Europe in the touristy areas.

Mexico City can be dangerous, but I've lived here for almost 15 years and I've never been mugged. I travel by subway all the time and I think a man groped me once when the train was really filled but I kept banging his hand with my umbrella just to indirectly say: Bug off. If a guy is groping you, you can yell out what he's doing and other people will defend you (especially cuse you're attractive and güerita which gains sympathy). A friend was travelling once and a guy groped a little 4 year old when her dad was present. The man beat the c**p out of that guy and he was bleeding all over the place. Other passangers were punching him too. Unfortunately he escaped without getting arrested haha.

Kidnappers don't kidnap foreign tourists, they would be idiotic. If an American were kidnapped in mexican soil, it would be on the news 24 hours all day long and they'd get arrested. The prision time for kidnapping is longer than 1st degree murder in Mexico. Kidnappers usually kidnap bratty kids of mexican millionaires who don't go to the cops because they are corrupt businessmen themselves and the person that arranges a kidnapping is usually someone who personally knows the victim to get their money. It's highly unusual for a person to get kidnapped randomly.

You can get mugged though. Avoid flashing cash in the DF or going in dark alleys at night, just common citylife sense. Pickpockets in the subway are common. I've never been mugged even by a pickpocket, but I know tons of people that had their cellphones stolen and they never even noticed it.

If you use common street sense, you'll have to put up with whistling and people calling you GUERITA all day long, but you'll probably be fine.

Answer 16

I wouldn't say to stay home, but be very careful. Something such as a kidnapping or rape happens in better places often...but Mexico. Stay in areas with other people like yourself.