My wife Ashley as Jennifer Rumson and myself as the Mexican Julio in "Paint Your Wagon"

I posted several times on Facebook  “Jason is pretending to be a Mexican named Julio Federico Juan Valenzuelo Valveras.”  Most people just thought I was just being goofy, but I actually have been pretending to be a Mexican named Julio Federico Valenzuelo Valveras in a local production of “Paint Your Wagon,” a musical that is set during the gold rush.  I thought I would share with you the challenge of a pasty white-boy in becoming Mexican.

Practically a Latino

Luckily I am highly qualified to play this part thanks to the two years of Spanish class I took in high school in which learned near fluency (ie. I know enough to get laughed at by a Spanish speaker and that is all).  This has allowed me to fake a Mexican Accent so well that a fellow cast member, and mother of real children, told me I sound just like Handy Manny, whom we can all assume is performed by a truly amazing, high quality native of Mexico.  I would say I sound a bit more like Antonio Banderas, but I failed to find anyone that would back me up on that statement.   Anyhow they picked me rather than a real Latino, which says a lot (unless you find out that no real Mexicans tried out for the role).

Familiar with Mexico’s Customs

Another qualification is that I have have helped several local Mexicans ship FedEx packages to Mexico.  Alright, so that one is a little weak you might be saying, well I bet I am more familiar with Mexico’s customs than you.  Not cultural customs, but the equally important imort and export customs.  For instance, did you know Mexico will not allow anything shipped that was made in China!  I’ll bet you didn’t… not even the Mexicans I serve know that. (more…)