Mexicans and Canadians

Don't be surprised if people you meet in Mexico immediately assume that you are from the United States. The two countries look pretty much alike to most Mexicans. However, I find that saying I am from Canada always illicits a very positive response. The average Mexican understandably doesn't know much about Canada. He or she will probably have heard about Toronto or Montreal but not much else. I always try to gently educate people about Canada when I'm in Mexico, and the information is usually well received. For instance, Mexicans are often surprised to learn that the weather can get very hot in Canada during the summer and that the sun sets after 9 pm. Also, keep in mind that Mexicans rightly consider themselves to be fellow North Americans, and that the term "American" can apply to anyone from the Americas, not just to citizens of the U.S.

Calling Home from Mexico with Canada Direct

When it comes to calling home from Mexico, Canadians have a real advantage over visitors from other countries. It's called Canada Direct, an automated telephone service that puts you in contact with a Canadian operator. You can dial one of two access numbers from a pay or private phone within Mexico and then speak directly with an operator. The access numbers for Mexico are 01-800-123-0200 or 01-800-021-1994. Make sure to use a pay phone marked LADATEL or TELMEX. Pay phones in Mexico usually take peso coins or pre-paid phone cards that you can buy in local stores.

I've used this service with great success over the years. Granted, with Internet cafes popping up everywhere in Mexico, I don't telephone as much as I used to. But Canada Direct is a terrific option, plus it's nice to pay less expensive Canadian long distance rates.