In the Mexican American culture family is the center of social life. Daily life is constructed around immediate family and events. Families gather for just about any occasion, extended family gather for birthdays, funerals, births and holidays, sometimes for no particular occasion at all. Mexican Americans get together to go to church, shopping, have dinner, go out dancing and watch games on television, there’s always an excuse to call family and get together. The elderly are extremely important in Mexican American families and are taken care of at home.
The search for identity in Mexico has been a continuing exploration of many different cultures and realities. Although Mexico has an established democratic political system, cultural uniqueness has been in flux since the invasion of Spain in 1492. The Aztec culture was well instituted and was a direct decedent of the Olmec civilization that formed the Mexican identity over a thousand year reign. However over a two year attempt at genocide by the Spanish conquers the Mexicans have been struggling with an inability to recapture their roots ever since.
Mexican cuisine is a fusion of indigenous Mesoamerican cooking with European, principally SpanisH elements. The basic predominant native foods such as corn, beans and chili peppers, but the Europeans introduced a large number of different foods,such as beef, pork, chicken, goat and sheep, farm products especially cheese and various herbs and lots of spices. Mexican cuisine is as complex as any of the great cuisines in the world, such as China, France, Italy and Turkey. It is crea...
United States and Mexico has a lot of differences and similarities between the two cultures. United States is different from Mexico because in Mexico the epidemics of obesity in adults are growing at a faster rate and has surpassed the United States. In Mexico the health condition rates are 32.8% compare to United States 31.8% of people who are overweight. One of the biggest problems with Mexico’s obesity rates comes from their “traditional high calorie foods that are fatty and fried.” (Grillo, I. 2009, August 29). Mexico consumes more “Coca Cola products than anywhere else in world. There are a total of 635 eight ounces a bottle per person each year.” (Grillo, I. 2009, August 29). Most citizens in Mexico said that “in many villages...
Mexico’s has a rich history, culture, economy, and government. Prior to the Spanish arrival, Mexico was habited by Indian groups with varying economic and political systems. The communities that lived in the north comprised of gatherers and hunters. However, agriculturalists populated the rest of the country. They were a dense population and were characterized by varying cultures (Miller, 2015). The county has developed tremendously since the Spanish conquest. The government has also changed continuously over the years.
Mexican food and culture has had a long standing relationship of sorts that adds tremendous personality to the study of this race. The study of Mexican history an...
Through the interview process I was able to identify that a large amount of Mexican culture is based on relationships. These may be relationships with friends, relationships with family, or relationships with a church congregation as a spiritual family as well as a heavenly father. These relationships are what can make a network of people all who hold similar beliefs and customs leading to what makes up a culture.
Mexico is country rich in history, tradition and culture; it is made up of 31 states and one federal district. It is the third largest country in Latin America and has the largest population with more than 100 million people; making it the home of more Spanish speakers than any other nation in the world. Many of Mexico’s rural areas are still inhabited by native people whose lifestyles mirror their ancestors. In addition, many pre-Columbian ruins still exist throughout Mexico, including the ancient city of Teotihuacán and the Mayan pyramids at Chichén, Itz, and Tulum. Throughout this article the basic life that an average person in Mexico goes through will be described. Also there will be deep detail on five major aspects that mold and describe Mexico. The first major topic is Tradition, culture, and identity where holidays, food, traditions, and religion are a day to day thing. Next is sports and recreation with baseball, Charreria, bullfighting, and soccer. Another main role for Mexico is there education. Through education there are many ups and downs throughout the educational system. Their overall rate of passing and grades is surprisingly high but the bumps and bruises come in when funds are mentioned. Public safety is main concern for the Mexican government. Law and Criminality causes major unrest and is very common in Mexico. The drug war is also a big factor that affects the health of natives which brings me to my last topic. Disease and Health is one of the BIGGEST concerns for Mexico. The main reason is because their high disease rate. With a high disease rate, many people die a day from things that could be prevented.
There were many people who lived in Mexico before the Spanish came. In this essay I have told you about those people. About how Spain came to rule Mexico. And about how Mexico became how it is today. Mexico is a country with a deep culture that shows all these things.
Camilla's point that Mexican Americans have had a long constant battle in America is very true. I agree with Camilla' that because Mexican Americans have had to endure so much they have been able to form a strong sense of culture. Growing up in Los Angeles I have always been around Mexican American culture. However, not until the readings did I realize the hardships Mexican Americans have had to face and how those hardships have been represented through their art. It is important for all Americans to be taught the hardships Mexican Americans have faced either through books, videos or art. Once Americans become aware they will realize the beauty of the Mexican American culture.
In conclusion, for many, Mexico is simply a country on a map. Even becoming a place that they wish to keep from and forget. For others like me, however; it was a place that hasn’t only reconnected me with my culture, but a home where I had the good fortune of reuniting me with my loved ones. Also, having had helped me come to terms with myself, my trip allowed me to find myself and recover what I had left
With the advancements in technology today, the process of learning has become easier. Instead of just reading, one can look at video documentaries or web sites to acquire information they need or want. In my Latinos in the U.S. class, we have access to all types of information in our quest to learn about Mexican-American history. By reading Zaragosa Vargas= Problems in Mexican-American History, looking at the Chicano Park web site and viewing part one of the Chicano! video documentary, I have encountered a variety of representations of Mexican-American history. However they are not all of the same quality for the video and web site do not give as much information as the readings in Vargas= book or the class lectures and discussions do. Both the video and web site touch on a very small portion Mexican-American history, however, they only refer to the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo established in 1848 and that Mexicans are of Aztlan heritage.
Crouch, Ned. Mexicans & Americans : Cracking The Cultural Code. NB Publishing, Inc., 2004. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
When we hear discussions or read articles about drug wars, killings, and illegal immigration into the United States, many of us immediately think of Mexico. As a nation, Mexico is a much greater country than these commonly referred to issues. Mexico is a country with a broad history, deep family culture, and an economy fueled by oil and tourism. The United States Department of State (USDS) offers a broad range of information on countries outside the US, including Mexico. I found a wealth of information about Mexico through the USDS Background Note provided on their website located at www.state.gov. I will outline for you the key information found in this report, and others, related to the Mexican economy, culture, and more.
Mexican American history began in the16th century under Spanish colonialism. The Spanish had a goal of conquest and colonization. Evidently, that goal was successfully accomplished because when the Spanish first arrived in 1492 Mexico’s population was fourteen million, but by the end of the 16th century it had drastically declined to one million. Numbers decreased because of the cruel treatment, forced labor, and disease brought by the Spanish. The Spanish eventually controlled most of the territory in the Southwest and over three hundred towns had been established for the purpose of control and conversion. The Spanish imposed conditions on the natives of Mexico that would belittle them. They aimed to convert them in order to make them re...