Perhaps, the best I may recommend is taking an interpreter, maybe a 
relative or a friend who speaks spanish, with you. Something  that I 
want to add about the phone calls, well, I don't know if this applies 
to all ranchos in Jalisco, but I believe that in some small pueblos 
people may be suspicious about giving information to a stranger on 
the phone. Joseph, can you tell us if you have had people reluctant 
or even hostile while asking for their ancestors' info? The idea of 
calling people is acceptable, but I would rather go to the pueblo and 
talk to the posible primos in person. Well that is my opinion based 
on my own experience. I grew up in Zacoalco and noticed that 
Jaliscienses (or jalisquillos as we are sometimes called), are at 
first a little bit suspicious of foreigners but as we get to know 
them, we are friendly to everyone. Some americans and italians living 
in the area visit my parents' restaurant every once in a while and 
even though my dad does not speak any english or italian, he always 
tries to be the best host he can be.

Steve


--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, craigtwatson@a... wrote:
> What can be done about those that don't speak the language?  I am  
such a 
> person.  It will be difficult to research the family by making 
calls  etc.  Even 
> if I visited the parish where my greatgrandfather attended, I  
wouldn't be 
> able to ask to see burial records, grave records, christenings'  
etc.
>  
> Irene Garrett Watson