Each state has its own cultural identity that sets it apart from all the others. While we believe New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment, there are a few aspects of life here that others might consider odd. Here are 14 bizarre things about New Mexico you might be able to relate to:

1. You’ve had to convince someone, who’s usually working in some kind of customer service capacity, that you live in the United States.
Flickr/Dave Winer
Does the following conversation sound familiar?

"It’s fine that you don’t ship internationally because New Mexico is part of the United States."

"Are you sure?"

"Very."
2. You’ve been told you speak excellent English.
Flickr/Martin D
There are circumstances in which that could be a compliment. But, when someone says this because they assume that Mexico and New Mexico are the same place, it's really tempting to break out a map. (You can use the one in #1.)
3. However, you do know variants on the word “road” in more than one language.
Flickr/teofilo
Even people who couldn’t count to ten in Spanish automatically translate words like "camino" and "paseo."
4. You’ve corrected a map app or your GPS while driving…
Flickr/ morgan schwartz
…Because it’s butchering the names of pretty much every road and town.
5. You’ve driven down a road so washboarded that your teeth shook.
Flickr/Jasperdo
And you didn’t make a big deal out of it because it’s at least a weekly occurrence.
6. You’ve encountered a pothole big enough to be a roadside attraction.
Flickr/Caribb
It’s probably related to the abundance of orange barrels and lack of work crews!
7. You’ve never put away your sunglasses.
Flickr/vintage_queen
Attribute this to the many days of sunshine throughout the year and the glare that comes off snow in winter.

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8. You’ve woken up to this:
Flickr/Jean Constant
But, by mid-afternoon, it looks like this:
Flickr/SnapDoc
9. It has rained… only over your house.
Flickr/Lee Ruk
Blessing or a sign of wrath? Either way, it’s kind of unnerving.
10. You’ve had to remove a cactus thorn from a pet’s foot (or from your own).
Flickr/Jan
Goat heads are the worst.
11. You’ve wondered who the heck decides the difficulty rating of hikes in New Mexico.
Flickr/Bookis Smuin
Because "easy" often feels more like this.
12. You’ve worn hiking boots to a restaurant...
Flickr/Andrew Bowden
...And haven’t thought twice about it.
13. You’ve eaten chile for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Flickr/Alan Levine
Apparently, people from other states consider this bizarre. They don't know what they're missing.
14. You’ve been asked if you do meth.
Flickr/Thibault
Look, reality TV might be super popular, but "Breaking Bad" is FICTION. As in made up.

Proud to be a New Mexican? You should be! Check out all 12 Reasons Why New Mexico Truly Is The Land Of Enchantment.

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Bizarre Things About New Mexico

Leah | December 17, 2020

What stereotypes are there about New Mexico?

Some people think some pretty weird things about New Mexico, creating stereotypes that may or may not be true. Outside of everything purported by a certain TV show, many people think everyone in New Mexico lives in an adobe house or similar. While there are many beautiful adobe houses in the state, there are plenty of other types of houses, too. Some people think New Mexico isn't part of the United States - untrue, of course - and that everyone there speaks Spanish. While many residents here do, a lot of them say they speak "Spanglish" instead, with a mixture of both languages.

What is New Mexico known for?

When it comes to living in New Mexico, here are some of the perks the state is known for that you'll get to enjoy. The Land of Enchantment is known as exactly that: a place full of beautiful places, culture, and more. The landscapes are gorgeous, whether you're gazing over the rugged desert or hiking the snow-covered peaks. New Mexico is also known for its amazing cuisine. New Mexican food is one-of-a-kind, and absolutely delicious - especially if you love chile. People also know of the state for its affiliation with UFO sightings. Towns like Roswell, New Mexico embrace that to the fullest for all the visitors to enjoy.

Do New Mexicans have any strange habits?

People from New Mexico may be perceived as a bit different, whether it be things like their obsession with good chile or some unusual phrases they may say. Most New Mexicans have an answer for a question out-of-staters probably have never heard at a restaurant: red or green? Their response might just be "Christmas style," only adding to the confusion of those who are not from the Land of Enchantment. Speaking of food, New Mexicans usually have zero hesitation to buy food out of a car, whether it be on the side of a road or in the parking lot. Fresh chile, tamales, burritos - it doesn't matter if it's being served out of a trunk, they'll buy it without much second thought.

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