Learning a Trade in Mexico

I have watched many Mexican men and women training their sons and daughters while they are working. Last Sunday I watched the Mariachi playing his trumpet next to his young son. At ten years old, the son was doing a fairly good job with his own trumpet. I have watched the waiter at La Nueva Posada teaching his son during hours that weren't too busy. I see women teaching their daughters how to run their outdoor markets on Wednesdays. I suspect that most jobs here are inherited, passing from father to son and mother to daughter. It seems like a nice way to do things. The families get to spend more time together that way. There becomes an even stronger tie between them.

Family ties are strong here. Often after the children grow up they continue to live with their parents for many years. They often have children and return to their families. Or maybe they never even leave the families and have children. I know a Mexican musician here who is supporting eleven people in his household. Musicians don't make much money. This seems to be a common theme. They must eat a lot of beans, rice and tortillas. Otherwise, I don't know how they can survive. I have great respect for these parents and grandparents. Retirement only comes to them after many years of struggle. At that point it becomes the job of their long supported children to take care of them. Hopefully that will happen and they won't have to spend their last years begging on the streets. Most jobs here don't pay enough for savings accounts, especially if a person is supporting a large family. So, family ties are essential.