Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Another large part of life in Mexico is the Roman Catholic Church even those who
are not Catholic by choice are deeply influenced by the beliefs and tendencies of
the church.
Another big difference between Mexico and the U.S. is the school
system in the U.S. a high school diploma is almost required to do anything, but in
Mexico, not all students go on to high school. In fact, more middle school graduates
go into Professional Technical training or directly to a job, than go into high school.
Because of this, their University system is also structured differently. For instance,
students that graduate a technical school are more likely to go straight to a job than
to go on to college and of those that do further their education, not all go to a
University, some go to a more refined private institute, or directly to a Masters
program.
Source 4 The Food and Culture around the World Handbook (handout from class)
(This is another source of cultural and historical information, but more
regarding food)
Food:
The primary influences on food in Mexico stem from a combination of
popular European styles and some more obscure countries; Africa, India, China. This
is because of the long and colorful past of the land that is not Mexico. Being
sandwiched between the U.S. and Central America, the land that makes up Mexico
has long been a very desired location. It has been invaded and conquered by
numerous small and large countries, including: the Aztec, the Mayan, Spain,
Napoleons followers, and the French. But in the end, the people of Mexico did earn
their independence, becoming the United States of Mexico in 1917, with their own
constitution and government they elected their first president and have been
steadily growing their wealth and stability ever since. However, as stated above, the
people of Mexico have been influenced by many cultures, and even with their
independence, they have not lost that influence. It is still quite apparent in their
food, religion, language, and interpersonal customs. Their meals are usually based
with corn and other vegetables, which is fairly unique, and almost foreign to
European cuisine. The choice of spices and seasonings is also quite vivid as they
generally favor much bolder tastes than the U.S.
The National Dish in Mexico is Mole poblano which is turkey in a chili sauce with
chocolate, seeds, nuts, and raisins. This is a very different kind of combination than
youd ever see in the U.S. The combination of sweet and savory foods is not very
popular in European countries, and is usually only seen in mimics of foreign foods.
However, in Mexico it is quite common to pair such unlikely foods on a day to day
basis. Another minor difference between the U.S. and Mexico is the meat of choice;
in the U.S. you could ask almost anyone and they would say Beef, maybe chicken,
but in Mexico it is undoubtedly pork.
Source 5 World Citizens Guide
(This contains a lot of good information about being a good traveler)
The difference:
Culture shock is unavoidable, however there are ways to lessen the
blow getting out of your room/hotel, talking to the natives, following locals to get
the flow of things, and trying new things will all help to better accustom you to the
new environment. Also, try not to think of home too much, but it is ok to bring
something that reminds you of home, just a small token, to make you feel more
comfortable in this new place. Its also important to remember that you are in a
different country, and it isnt just like the U.S. dont expect the same reactions to
your actions, or the same treatment. Most other nations value their elders a lot
more than the U.S. so be aware of that and make an effort to abide by such ideals.
Your behavior:
Be polite, respect others, and dont discuss politics/religion unless you
know it very well, are aware of the current standing of it in this country (Mexico),
and are ready to respond to many questions. Know the facts of where you are;
whos in charge of the country, what is their system of government, what is the
most common religion, what is the language, is there gender inequalities? Also
watch what you wear, in many countries, it is not ok to reveal as much skin as we
do in the U.S. In Mexico, men should not wear shorts in public, unless they are in a
resort; women should not show skin above their knee, below their collar bone, or
above their shoulders in public, unless in a resort or among family. Business wear
may be different there; in Mexico, formal attire is basically required for any business
meetings or dealings.