Observations

As a journalist, I try to pay attention to my surroundings.Traveling to a foreign country has given me extra incentive to hone those skills. In no particular order, here's a few things I saw in Mexico over reading break.

Americans and Canadians are the fattest people on the beach. Europeans are fairly far behind and native Mexicans the skinniest.

Women have to realize that wearing a thong is a right, not a privilege. The same goes for men and Speedos.

Only people under 25 take advantage of all-you-can-drink bars, but everyone takes advantage of all-you-can-eat self-serve ice cream.

Just because you (OK, me) can eat 50 Global Thermo-Nuclear Hot Wings at Hooters does not mean you, er I can handle the mildest homemade salsa.

If global warming kicks in and Vancouver's rainfall stays the same, the Lower Mainland is going to look exactly like the Yucatán.

Minimum wage in Quintana Roo is $4 US per day. A $2 tip to the busboy, maid and waiter puts a smile on their face. But to really become friends you have to wear a soccer jersey. Club America is OK, the Pumas are not and Cruz Azul and Chivas rule.

If you've ever had sushi in Japan, you know most Canadian-made Japanese food is not up to par. No surprise, but the Mexican version is no better.

Paying bus drivers a percentage of their fares leads to them racing each other from bus stop to bus stop. This tends to scare Canadians who aren't use to doing 80 km/h though a school zone neck and neck with another bus full of terrified passengers.