Conversations at the Dentist's Office: What Amy Jones Teaches Us About Yucatecan Courtesy (Part 1 of 3)
By: Whiteline Crew
A few days ago, we sat down to chat with one of the most beloved figures in our city’s expat community: Amy Jones, better known as The Merida Ambassador and co-founder of Life in Mérida. The meeting was an extension of what we experience every day at our clinic—a gathering among friends where Dr. Memo, Amy, and Ime (part of our editorial team) shared laughs in a cross-cultural conversation that felt very familiar.
Amy reminded us that, to feel at home in Mérida, you have to learn to “slow down.” During this first part of our conversation, Amy talked to us about a basic concept that forms part of the advice she naturally gives to members of the expat community who contact her: “Conversational Foreplay.”
"You have to start with 'good morning,' 'good afternoon'... You can't just jump right in. I call it 'conversational foreplay,' which means easing into the conversation to get to the point, because otherwise, people think you're being too pushy,", Amy told us with a laugh.
She, who has been living here for seven years, admits that at first our culture of efficiency makes us feel like we’re wasting time, but the reality here is different: “We don’t want to waste time; we want to be practical, but here that can come across as rude.”
The Art of Not Getting Straight to the Point
For those coming from cultures where efficiency is the golden rule, Mérida’s pace can seem confusing at first. Amy explained to us that here, trying to be “too practical” and jumping straight to the point in business or when handling paperwork can come across as aggressive or even rude. It’s best to take it easy during your first interactions with the locals.
"Conversational foreplay" is simply the courtesy of acknowledging the other person before asking them for something. It’s that obligatory small talk about the weather, family, or traffic before getting down to business. As Amy jokingly told us, in Yucatán, the shortest distance between two points isn’t a straight line, but a good chat beforehand.
A lesson in coexistence
Amy made it clear to us that integration isn’t about grand gestures, but about understanding these small local customs. Just as we do in our practice, where we take the time to get to know each person’s story before any procedure, life in Mérida invites you to slow down and enjoy the process of connecting.
If you manage to master the art of taking a break and making small talk, you’ll not only get what you need, but you’ll also start to build that network of trust that makes living in this city such a special experience.
"If you don't take that moment to pause, you're closing doors before you've even opened them,", Amy points out.
In the second part of our interview, Amy Jones tells us about her "support network" in Mérida: key contacts for the expat community in Mérida.
Now that you're in Mérida, take care of your smile.
We are passionate about being part of the fabric of this city.
Although we specialize in dental care, our primary commitment is to the well-being of our community. If you’re new to Mérida and want to meet a team that perfectly balances professionalism with Mexican warmth, come visit us.
There's always time here for a little "small talk" before we get down to business.
— Dr. Memo Trujillo