!Viva! Mexico: three Mexican teens welcome you to their sun-filled land. !Bienvenidos!The first thing you notice about Mexico is how friendly the people are. They are also extremely polite. Mexicans don't just say hello when they see you, but "Good morning, ma'am" and "Good evening, sir." Teens greet you with a kiss on the cheek. And when a waiter brings food to your table--even in a small, informal cafe--he makes sure everything is perfectly arranged. Many towns look the way they did hundreds of years ago, when Spain ruled Mexico. After falling to Spanish invaders in 1521, Mexico finally won independence in 1821. In the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende San Miguel de Allende is the seat of the municipality of Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, a historic town founded in 1542 that has become an attractive tourist destination for wealthy Mexico City residents and has a large American and Canadian expatriate community comprised primarily (SAN mee-GEHL day ah-YEHN-day), the narrow, winding streets are paved with cobblestones. Churches and homes are red, orange, yellow, and just about every shade of blue--pale, powder, midnight, and turquoise. Blending of Traditions Paola Manon, 13, lives in the rocky hills of San Miguel San Miguel (sän mēgĕl`), city (1993 pop. 118,214), E El Salvador, at the foot of San Miguel volcano (6,996 ft/2,132 m). It has textile, rope, and dairy-products industries. The region produces cotton, henequen, and vegetable oil. with her parents and her brother, Diego, 19. The family moved from the capital, Mexico City Mexico City Spanish Ciudad de México City (pop., 2000: city, 8,605,239; 2003 metro. area est., 18,660,000), capital of Mexico. Located at an elevation of 7,350 ft (2,240 m), it is officially coterminous with the Federal District, which occupies 571 sq mi , seven years ago. "This is a beautiful place," says Paola about San Miguel, which is a four-hour drive from Mexico City. "We have lots of stories and myths--and lots of celebrations." Religious celebrations are popular in Mexico. In the 1500s, Spanish missionaries began to spread Catholicism--often violently--to millions of indigenous (native) people. Today, 90 percent of Mexicans belong to the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. . Their rituals often include native, or Indian, traditions. Paola especially enjoys Easter week In the Anglican and other Latin-rite churches, Easter Week is the week beginning with the Christian feast of Easter and ending a week later on Easter Saturday. In Eastern Orthodoxy, this week is known as Bright Week. , when young people go from house to house for ice cream and tamales (tah-MAH-lays)--usually strips of pork or chicken rolled in cornmeal corn·meal also corn meal n. Meal made from corn, used in a wide variety of foods. Also called Indian meal. Noun 1. and steamed in corn husks. Paola also loves birthday parties--and the Indian tradition of the pinata. Blindfolded blind·fold tr.v. blind·fold·ed, blind·fold·ing, blind·folds 1. To cover the eyes of with or as if with a bandage. 2. To prevent from seeing and especially from comprehending. n. 1. children try to break open the colorfully decorated jar, which then sprays candy and other treats to the floor. A Busy Schedule When I visited Paola last June, she was finishing the seventh grade at a small private school started by her parents. The quality of public education in Mexico Education in Mexico (Spanish: Secretaría de Educación Pública or SEP). Educational standards are set by this Ministry at all levels except in autonomous universities chartered by the government (e.g. UNAM). is generally poor. So parents who can afford to pay tuition send their children to private schools. In addition to studying such traditional subjects as math, history, Spanish, and biology, Paola is learning how to use the computer, write stories, make movies, and paint. In her spare time, she studies flamenco flamenco, Spanish music and dance typical of the Gypsy, or gitano. Flamenco dancing is characterized by colorful costumes, intense and erotic movements, stamping of the feet (zapateado), and clapping of the hands (palmada , a type of dance that originated with Gypsies in southern Spain. She also likes to hang out with her friends in the town square, where people gather in the evening to listen to traditional mariachi (MAR-ee-AH-chee) music. What does Paola want to be when she grows up? "A fashion designer!" she says. "I love clothes!" Life in the Big City Santiago de Zulueta, 14, dreams of being a pilot, like his dad. Santiago lives with his parents and his brother, Carlos, 16, in Mexico City. His grandmother lives next door. Like Paola, Santiago speaks English very well. The day I visited his home he was reading Captain Underpants--in English, of course. Santiago also showed me a music studio that he and his brother created. Santiago plays the electric guitar, Carlos the drums. They often practice songs by their favorite bands: Iron Maiden iron maiden hollow iron figure in the shape of a woman, lined with spikes that impaled the enclosed victim. [Ger. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 491] See : Punishment and Metallica. The streets near Santiago's home are clogged with traffic--as most streets are in Mexico City, a sprawling metropolis of more than 20 million people. Worries about kidnapping are common, so young people often cannot leave home without a parent or other trusted adult. "When I was a kid, we used to play in the streets," says Santiago's mom, Vera. "We had more freedom." According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a U.S. security firm, there were as many as 3,000 kidnappings in Mexico last year. In the past, most victims were very wealthy, but now members of the middle class are also being targeted. Corruption in the police force has added to feelings of unease among Mexicans. "If a thief pays off a policeman," says Santiago, "the policeman lets him go. In some neighborhoods, there is no security even though police cars are always patrolling." But Santiago says he likes Vicente (vee-SENN-tay) Fox, Mexico's President: "I don't think he steals money the way past Presidents did." A member of the National Action Party (Partido Accion National, in Spanish), Fox came to power in December 2000, promising to improve the lives of all Mexicans. So far, his efforts have proved disappointing. Unemployment remains high, and wages are low. Many people, including children, struggle to survive by selling flowers, gum, and cigarettes on street corners. But most Mexicans agree that after 71 years of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, or PRI PRI: see Institutional Revolutionary party. (Primary Rate Interface) An ISDN service that provides 23 64 Kbps B (Bearer) channels and one 64 Kbps D (Data) channel (23B+D), which is equivalent to the 24 channels of a T1 line. ), reform will take time. The PRI had almost complete control over Mexico's political system, leading to widespread abuses of power. "Like the U.S. getting rid of the Mafia, it took a while to bring change," says Marjorie Rojas, Santiago's teacher. "[President] Fox can't work miracles." Among Family and Friends Despite stubborn challenges facing Mexico, Santiago, Paola, and other teens are enjoying life in a country of breathtaking landscapes, colorful traditions, and friendly people. Here, family comes first. "We try always to stay together," says Santiago's mom. "It's not like the U.S., where young people move out of their homes. We have many traditions and an old style of living, passed down by parents and grandparents grandparents npl → abuelos mpl grandparents grand npl → grands-parents mpl grandparents grand npl ." Carlos Cane, 14, gets together with his extended family each Sunday for the comida (lunch), the main meal of the day in Mexico. Last November, on El Dia de los Muertos Día de los Muer·tos n. See Day of the Dead. [Spanish : día, day + de, of + los, the + muertos, pl. of muerto, dead.] (the Day of the Dead), Carlos made a shrine in honor of his grandfather. "You need to remember [a loved one's] favorite things," says the seventh-grader from Mexico City. The annual celebration, an Aztec tradition, enables Mexicans to honor their ancestors. It also helps bind families together. But Mexican warmth extends even to strangers. "We're very happy to have visitors," says Paola. "If you want to study in Mexico, you can come to this school. You are welcome here." It is an invitation hard to refuse. A VISIT TO MEXICO www.scholastic.com/ juniorscholastic LESSON PLANS OBJECTIVE Students should understand * Mexicans support the democratic reforms of President Vicente Fox, but the nation still faces many difficult economic and social problems. WORDS TO KNOW bienvenidos: welcome, in Spanish * !viva!: long live!, hooray! * hola: hello TEACHING STRATEGY Explore what students know about life in Mexico today. Ask: "What are the hopes and concerns of Mexican kids your age?" BACKGROUND On September 15, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla Gallaga Mondarte Villaseñor (May 8 1753 – July 30 1811), also known as Cura Hidalgo ("Priest Hidalgo"), was a Mexican priest and revolutionary rebel leader. , a Catholic priest from Dolores Dolores (or Delores) was a common given name (until the 1960s in the USA); it is cognate with the English word "dolorous" (meaning sorrowful) and equivalent in meaning. , Mexico, urged the townspeople to revolt against the oppressive Spanish government
Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world and a major North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. economic partner. Trade with the U.S. and Canada has tripled since the North American Free Trade Agreement North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), accord establishing a free-trade zone in North America; it was signed in 1992 by Canada, Mexico, and the United States and took effect on Jan. 1, 1994. went into effect in 1994. CRITICAL THINKING CAUSE AND EFFECT: What is the major lasting influence from the Spanish colonization still present in Mexico? (Today, most Mexicans belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Catholicism was first introduced in Mexico by Spanish conquerors and missionaries and often spread through violent means.) ACTIVITY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: Hispanic Heritage Month lasts from September 15 to October 15. The national independence days of several Latin American nations are celebrated between those dates. Have students select a country to profile. STANDARDS SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8 * People, places, and environment: How standards of living and economic opportunities vary among segments of Mexico's population. * Culture: How Mexico's religious, social, and popular culture is a combination of Spanish, Indian, and U.S. traditions and influences. RESOURCES * Kalman, Bobbie, Mexico: The People (Crabtree Publishing, 2001). Grades 5-8. * Dolan, Sean, Mexico (Raintree Publishers, 2003), Grades 5-8. GROLIER WEB SITE KEY WORD * Vicente Fox WEB SITES * Mexico www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html * Mexican Independence www.mexonline.com/personl.htm QUICK QUIZ * Select the word, phrase, or number that best completes each sentence. --6. About 40 percent of Mexico's population --. A. lives below the poverty line B. cannot read or write C. A and B are correct. --7. One example of the Spanish colonial influence still present in Mexico is the --. A. widespread belief in Catholicism B. popularity of Spain's royal family C. adoption of Spain's Constitution --8. El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is an important holiday that --. A. celebrates Mexico's national independence B. was adopted from Aztec traditions C. marks the beginning of Mexico's presidential campaign season --9. The--is included in many Easter celebrations in Mexico. A. comida B. pinata C. tamale Tamale (təmä`lē), town (1984 pop. 136,828), capital of the Northern Region, N Ghana. It is a road junction and agricultural trade and education center. --10. The--separates Texas and Mexico. A. Gulf of California Noun 1. Gulf of California - a gulf to the west of the mainland of Mexico Sea of Cortes Mexico, United Mexican States - a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810 B. Colorado River Colorado River River, south-central Argentina. Its major headstreams, the Grande and Barrancas rivers, flow southward from the Andes Mountains and meet to form the Colorado near the Chilean border. It flows southeastward across northern Patagonia and the southern Pampas. C. Rio Grande Rio Grande, city, Brazil Rio Grande (rē`  grän`dĭ), city (1991 pop.
ANSWERS 6. A 7. A 8. B 9. C 10. C SKILLS MASTER !VIVA MEXICO! Mexico is a land of great diversity, its natural landforms range from snow-capped Snow´-capped` a. 1. Having the top capped or covered with snow; as, snow-capped mountains s>. Adj. 1. mountains and tropical rain forests to forbidding deserts and lush grasslands. Mexico was ruled by the Aztec Indian empire until Spanish invaders conquered the region in 1521. Today, Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world. Most of its people are mestizos--of mixed Spanish and Indian ancestry. Mexico's culture is a combination of Indian, Spanish, and U.S. influences. Complete the crossword puzzle below. First read "!Viva Mexico!" on pp. 10-13. The starred clues (*) refer to the article and map on those pages. |
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