Overall, New Mexicans are a pretty laid back bunch. However, there are certain things that bug us. Some of the items on this list even make us cringe. So, if you’re an out-of-state visitor to the Land of Enchantment, keep these pet peeves in mind during your stay.
1. Not knowing what "red or green" means.
Sure, there are many red or green things in the world but in the Land of Enchantment, we’re talking about chile.
2. Sending food back for being too spicy.
We’re rightfully proud of our cuisine. If you’re not sure whether you can take the heat, order chile on the side until your heat tolerance improves. But don’t try and send the food back. Where do you think you are, anyway?
3. Oh, that’s right. An embarrassing number of Americans don’t get that New Mexico is a state rather than part of Mexico.
No, you don’t need a passport to visit. Yes, English is spoken here. Yes, you can drink the water. And, no, we definitely don’t want to be transferred to the international department.
4. Thinking we’re Arizona’s identical twin.
There's more to the Southwest than Phoenix. While there are some areas of overlap, Arizona is definitely not interchangeable with New Mexico. Come see for yourself why the Land of Enchantment lives up to its name.
5. Expecting us to pay for parking.
We'll pay for street parking but we feel like we're being cheated when we have to shell out cash to leave our vehicles in a parking lot. Unless we're in the very center of a city or attending some big event, New Mexicans are big fans of parking for free.
6. Orange barrels...
...Because you know that construction zones are never a short term thing here. You'll be staring at these same barrels for years. Literally. And the helpful sign stating how much the project costs doesn't make you feel better about it.
7. That moment when a rock hits your windshield.
Due to the prevalence of dirt roads in New Mexico, this happens a lot. Unfortunately, cringing in your seat for the millisecond before it hits doesn't miraculously change the rock's trajectory. How many times has your windshield been repaired?
8. Watching water being wasted.
Fix that leak, turn off the tap, and conserve this precious resource. We feel very strongly about this one.
9. Hearing alien jokes.
Unless you're an extremely original person, we've heard it all before and it wasn't that funny the first time around. This goes triple if you're talking to someone from Roswell.
10. Criticizing stark beauty.
When it comes to beauty, everyone has their preferences but don't dismiss our dramatic landscapes.
11. Acting like there is nothing more to New Mexico than Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Yes, odds are your flight arrives at the Sunport, but there’s a whole southern half to the state that’s well worth exploring. Pictured is Las Cruces, which is actually our second biggest city. Get out there and see the diverse scenery that New Mexico has to offer.
12. Texans.
We know, we know, tourist dollars. There are doubtless plenty of Texans who make ideal guests, but when Texans behave badly everybody notices.
13. Seeing a U-haul with out-of-state plates.
It’s not transplants that upset New Mexicans with deep roots in this state exactly. It’s transplants who want to turn our state into whatever place they moved from.
14. Saying there is nothing to do here.
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