Now, I cross the border with my brothers and I see lots of open air
shops. We had been here as kids a few times. Some are pretty nice.
...way nicer than when we were here as kids!
Some are pretty dumpy. Some sell jewelry, others clothes, others
ripoff brand items (Nike's that aren't Nike's, Rolex's that aren't Rolex's,
etc.) Others sell sarapi's and then others sell traditional Mexican
tourist items. Shakers, rattles, onyx chess boards, chests and so forth.
I walk in a store where they are selling jewelry, they know
one thing when I walk in the door: I'm a tourist and:
(a) I've come to spend my American money in their Mexican store
(b) and they know I've come with a mindset that says, "I'm going to
get a great deal here."
(c)You can't ask for a better customer.
So part of the context is that you have a true buyer. Someone who
has determined, in advance they are going to buy stuff in Nogales
today.
Fact: You aren't going to leave Nogales as a TOURIST without
having bought some stuff.
Meanwhile the store owner wakes up in Nogales and opens shop ready
to do what he did yesterday. He has a proven formula to make as many
sales as are humanly possible.
He knows "you" are coming. He knows "you" will be there today. He
doesn't know if you are black or white or Asian. He just knows YOU
are coming. You are an American (even if you aren't, you ARE)
The American walks the streets and looks at the stores. He used to
wave people to come in but then business got bad so he doesn't do
that anymore. Instead it's all left "open" and "nonthreatening."
Then the American, YOU, will get interested in some kind of jewelry.
You will look at it. You might touch it if it is cheap enough and not inside
of a glass case.
You will ask to see it and the owner/employee will say, "You like it?"
The American, you, will shrug their shoulders pretending not to be
interested and say, "how much."
(I don't speak much Spanish but I can actually get through these
negotiations because it only requires a few words!)
The owner looks at the handwritten code on the back of the item. Six
letters (In the old days this didn't happen and items might accidentally
get sold for less than cost). Those six letters tell the employee
what the minimum is that the item can be sold for.
The American sees a little girl sitting on the floor quietly playing
with a toy. Her dress is ratty and she looks sad.
(She's part of the context right? What if she was dressed in
beautiful clothes and dancing around her Father's store? That would
change the ensuing transaction quite a bit wouldn't it?)
"For you, $95."
You will enter a state of shock. More expensive than it
would be in the States.
"Too much?"
The American, you, will hand the necklace back to the store owner
who won't take it back.
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Then the American, YOU, will get interested in some kind of jewelry.
You will look at it. You might touch it if it is cheap enough and not inside
of a glass case.
The American sees a little girl sitting on the floor quietly playing
with a toy. Her dress is ratty and she looks sad.
