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

2. 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”)

3. 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”)

4. 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”)

5. 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”)

6. 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”)

7. 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”)

8. 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”)

9. 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”)

10. 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”)

11. 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”)

12. Works Cited “Clip Art.” Office.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 30 November 2014. “Country Profile: Mexico.” Library of Congress. Federal Research Division, July 2008. Web. 28 November 2014. Mavor, Guy. Culture Smart Mexico. Kuperard, 2005. “Mexico.” Countries and Their Cultures. Advameg Inc., 2014.Web. 25 Nov. 2014. "Mexico: Climate." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 30 November 2014. "Mexico: Emergency Numbers." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 29 November 2014. "Mexico: Greetings and Courtesies." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 30 November 2014. "Mexico: Holidays and Festivals." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 29 November 2014. "Mexico: Immunization." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 30 November 2014. “Mexico-Language, Culture, Customs, and Etiquette.” Kwintessential. Kwintessential, 2014. Web. 28 November 2014. "Mexico: Structure." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 30 November 2014. “Transportation in Mexico.” Go Mexico. About Travel, 2014. Web. 25 November 2014.