Evening star., 1942-06-28
The Travellers Notebook
In Which Guest Writes, Telling Youth
Of the Fun Of Polishing Up at
The University of Mexico

with all countries outside the BOOM
ing United States. it is imperative
to remember that woman has
broken the traditions in this country
in excess of all other lands Never
theless, Mexican youth is very mod
ern. and possibly the only stopping
place is slacks. Your sort doesn't
wear them there yet.
Since the university buildings are
scattered about in the heart of the
metropolis you can't go faddy. On
the other hand, summer is casual
time in any land. Therefore actual
town" cloths are not needed. Light
wool spring suits-spring casual
coats and sport dresses-sweaters
and skirts, too, are the usual. Comfy
shoes of gay sport variety score
high. Sometimes you will want your
cottons. Noontime can be warm,
but most of the days are mild in
spite Of tropical latitudes. High
altitude does this T5O0 feet. And
nights are cold enough for a coat
at all times.
In summer there are nice little
imetabled rains each day for
which one usually needs rubber coat
and shoes and umbrella. However,
these mannerly rains are so anus
ingly punctual that II is possible
to pick their time for lingering and
merely outwait them.
Dressy clothes depend upon your
adventures, exactly as at any other
school. If there is to be dancing
or dinner, you'll need the same
afternoon-ish clothes you would
use at home for hotel dancing
informal" Only for dinner in
private homes is the long dress
really needed and that depends
upon whether you 60 armed with
letters of introduction-or prefer
the carefree adventure and looking
on.
The boys probably will date you
It's wise to remember that Latin S
blood does run at speed in ex-
cess Of Anglo-SaXon coursings. And
besides, when in Mexico, do as the
Mexicans do. Which means no
trotting about at night alone or un-
chaperoned Americans do, how
ever, take their bit Of leeway and
Latin bows have been quick to un-
derstand it our way. 1t is altogether
a matter of common sense and
caution-Which goes for New York
and Chicago exactly as it does for
Mexico City. 1t is amazing how
the impact Of two ways of living
meet and melt and emerge with
only benefit to all
Food in Mexico can be fun-and
very good. Tamales and enchilades
are typical in the way that stew
and hash are popular in the United
States. And, of course, Mexicans
didn't find ham an" or the "chok
malt" in their traditions. Yet,
even these the conventionalist can
| find at American restaurants. But
as student relaxes into real Mex
/ lean life and cuts loose from the
tourist touch he will begin to dis
cover no end of little native res
taurants which serve delectable
foods and at prices that help a
budget, too-for, like any large city
Mexico is filled with interesting little
places to eat.
Since gringos are not acclimated,
there are two precautions which
will guarantee their rabust health.
One is to omit water, unless bottled,
at all times. True-SOmetimeS ho-
tells and restaurants serve the
purest. but one can never be posi-
tive, and a blanket rule may save
an almighty tummy ache. The
other rule is to avoid lettuce, rad
ishes, Strawberries and every plant
which touches the soil and is not
peeled. Dysentery turks in the
fertilizer and gringos are very sus-
ceptible. Again, there are many
safe exceptions but it is better for
a short six weeks to be safe-ab-
solutely-than sorry.
|
Costs can be held down to an
exciting low" as soon as the stu
dent gets her Mexican feet. The
tourists life is necessarily expensive.
And possibly summer students en-
tering Mexico for the first time
would 90 well to put themselves
under the mothering wing Of a
first-class hotel. For hotels in
Mexico are accustomed to treating
gringo tourists like Traveller Aids