A Guide to Hosting a Mexican Exchange Student By James Miller (“Clip”)

Greetings and Courtesies  Informal Greetings  Same sex greetings  Starts with hand shakes  Move to hugs, that become longer as relationship is established  Men to Women  Shake hands to start  Move to light kisses on the cheeks  Hug when relationship is established  Conversation  Good topics  Soccer  Food  It is considered rude to join a conversation that you were not asked to  Do not remark negatively on the country or the flag (“Mexico: Greetings) (“Clip”)

Mexican Etiquette  Gift Giving Etiquette  Good informal gifts are flowers or sweets.  Flowers  White considered uplifting  Red considered negative  Gifts  Open immediately.  Wrapping is not mandatory  Mexican Dining Etiquette  Table manners  Keep your hands visible when eating  Rest wrists on the edge of the table  Mexican Guests  Consider arriving on time or early to be rude  Believe men should give toasts (“Mexico-Language”) (“Clip”)

Typical Daily Structure  Light Breakfast (before work or school)  Coffee, fruit  Mid-morning (optional)  warm tortilla-based snack or a bread roll.  Comida (between 2 and 4 pm)  Most important meal  3 to 4 courses  Soup  Rice or pasta  Meat with tortillas and refried beans  Dessert  Dinner  8 pm to 10 pm  Sweet rolls, coffee, and milk. (“Mexico.”) (“Clip”)

Religion in Mexico  Mexico’s population by religion  83% Roman Catholic  8% Protestant  3% Other religions  5% non-practicing  The constitution and other laws protect religious freedom  Government generally respects religious freedom (“Mexico.”) (“Clip”)

Mexican Holidays  Religious Holidays  Christmas, December 25  Longest Christmas celebration in the world, December 16- January 6  Three Kings’ Day, January 6  Climax of the Christmas season  The Three Kings deliver gifts to the children  Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), November 2  Celebrates the departed  Picnics at family members gravesites  Secular Holidays  Cinco de Mayo, May 5  Celebrates Mexico’s victory over France during the 1862 Battle of Puebla  Independence Day, September 16  Celebrates Mexico’s independence from Spain (“Mexico: Holidays”) (“Clip”)

Mexico’s Climate  Mexico is divided equally (North & South) by the tropic of Cancer  North of is a temperate climate  South of is a tropical climate  Mexico has a wet and dry season  Wet season from June to November  3 geographic regions  Yucatan Peninsula and coastal plains  Weather effected by surrounding water  Northwest  Desert  Plateaus and high mountains  Year round snow not uncommon (“Mexico: Climate”) (“Clip”)

Government Structure  Federal Republic  Democracy  Federal Level  Constitution  Executive, Legislative, & Judicial Branches  Armed Forces Primary Roles  Antidrug operations  Counter insurgency  Disaster relief  Police  Local, State, & Federal Officers  Primary roles  Public safety  Anti-drug operations  Anti-guerilla operations (“Country”)  Emergency dial 080 (“Mexico: Emergency”) (“Clip”)

Education in Mexico  Compulsory education  6 to 15 years old  primary and secondary education (basic education)  Preschool education  3 years  Primary education  6 years compulsory  Secondary education level  4 years compulsory  Academic or technical focus  Higher-secondary education  non-compulsory  Who pays for schooling?  Public schools  No charge for basic or preschool tuition  Parents pay  Books, materials, uniforms (“Mexico: Structure”) (“Clip”)

Mexican Health Care System  Public  Mostly depends on government institutions  Private  Only accessible by the wealthy  Folk health-providers  Herbalists  Found at local markets.  Curanderos: "healers"  Traditional healing methods  Medicinal plants.  Spiritual healers  Religious practitioners first  Mexicans  Familiar with self-treatment  Tend to consume medication in large quantities (“Mexico.”) (“Clip”)

Immunization Requirements  No immunization is required for travelers to the United States  Recommended  Hepatitis B  Routine  MMR  Measles  Mumps  Rubella  DPT  Diphtheria  Pertussis  Tetanus  Poliovirus (Mexico: Immunization) (“Clip”)

Works Cited “Clip Art.” Office.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 30 November “Country Profile: Mexico.” Library of Congress. Federal Research Division, July Web. 28 November Mavor, Guy. Culture Smart Mexico. Kuperard, “Mexico.” Countries and Their Cultures. Advameg Inc., 2014.Web. 25 Nov "Mexico: Climate." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 30 November "Mexico: Emergency Numbers." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 29 November "Mexico: Greetings and Courtesies." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 30 November "Mexico: Holidays and Festivals." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 29 November "Mexico: Immunization." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 30 November “Mexico-Language, Culture, Customs, and Etiquette.” Kwintessential. Kwintessential, Web. 28 November "Mexico: Structure." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 30 November “Transportation in Mexico.” Go Mexico. About Travel, Web. 25 November 2014.