SurvivalGuide

Basic words andsentences in Spanish

Hi: HolaGood morning: ¡Buenos días!Good evening: ¡Buenas tardes!Good night: ¡Buenas noches! I am (name): Yo soy…How are you: ¿Cómo estás?What’s up?: ¿Qué onda?I am fine: Estoy bienThank you: GraciasPlease: Por favorWelcome: BienvenidoBye: Adiós See you: ¡Nos vemos! I am hungry: Tengo hambreI am not hungry: No tengo hambreCongratulations: ¡Felicidades! Let’s eat something: Vamos a comer algoLet’s drink something: Vamos a tomar algoHow much is it?: ¿Cuánto cuesta? I don’t want: Yo no quiero

I want: Yo quieroCoffee: CaféWater: AguaMoney: DineroBread: PanSoda: RefrescoLook: VerVery good: Muy bienExcellent!: ¡Excelente! Would you like some help?: ¿Necesitas ayu-da? You are so kind: Eres muy amableHow old are you?: ¿Cuántos años tienes? How long have you been here?: ¿Cuánto ti-empo llevas aquí? What is his/ her problem?: ¿Cuál es el prob-lema? How can I go to...?: ¿Cómo puedo llegar a...? I love you: Te amo / Te quiero

NUMBERS1: uno2: dos3: tres4: cuatro 5: cinco 6: seis 7: siete 8: ocho9: nueve 10: diez 11: once 12: doce 13: trece 14: catorce

15: quince 16: dieciseis 17: diecisiete 18: dieciocho 19: diecinueve 20: veinte30: treinta 40: cuarenta 50: cincuenta 60: sesenta 70: setenta 80: ochenta 90: noventa 100: cien

200: doscientos 1,000: mil 10,000: diez mil 100,000: cien mil 1,000,000: un millón

What time does it OPEN / CLOSE?

The currency is Mexican Peso (MXN). The salary you will earn will be enough for you to cover basic expenses here if you are a GIP trainee. However you must know you will be paid only after the first month of work. We suggest that you bring US$ 600 (US$1,00 was worth approximately $13.30 in aug/12) for your first month’s expenses. You can bring U.S. dollars or traveler’s checks and exchange them in the airport.

Credit cards are accepted in many places, but you should also carry some money with you. VISA and Mastercard are the most popular credit cards in Mexico.

Once you are in Mexico, you will open an account in the bank your LC will indicate you to receive your traineeship payments.

fINANCIALINFORMATION

oUR COINS

Electrical current supply is of 240volts, wall sockets have got two flat parallel slots and a ground hole. It is convenient to travel with an adaptor to avoid problems related to the usage of electrical equipment.

electricity

Our bills

Mexico counts with an extense net of public telephones, from different companies. Most work with prepaid phonecards that are sold in magazine booths, apartment stores and retail in pric-es that range from $30 to $200 pesos.

You can call local, national, international and cell phones numbers with these cards.

• For international calls you must press 09+ country code + city code + local number. • For national calls you must press 01 + city code+ local number.

Mexico’s code is 52. If you are calling from outside the country you must dial 00 + 52 + (city code) + local number.

Main city codesMexico City, DF 55Aguascalientes, Ags. 449Chihuahua, Chih. 614Cd. Juarez, Chih. 656Cordoba, Ver. 271Cuernavaca, Mor. 777Culiacan, Sin. 667Guadalajara, Jal. 33Guanajuato, Gto. 473León, Gto. 477Mérida, Yuc. 999Monterrey, N.L. 81Puebla, Pue. 222Querétaro, Qro. 442Villahermosa, Tab. 993

Remember you must come with Medical Insurance, valid in Mexico, for the total period of your internship.

If you need a doctor, just call an AIESEC member. If you need to get to a hospital in a hurry and there is no one from the LC, then you can call your insurance number and ask for help (ambulance). They will probably ask you for your insurance number, name and address, so you have to keep that in mind in case of emergency!

Telephony

medical services

Most trainees will have access to the internet at their workplace and maybe at their host house.Anyway, many coffee shops and restaurants have wireless for free service for costumers.

INTERNET ACCESS

COST GUIDEConcept

Movies ticketTheater ticketLaundry (One T-shirt)Subway ticket (Mexico City)One trip on Metrobus (Mexico City)Cover at a clubBeer (at a bar)Soda can in a supermarketHamburger, fries and sodaFamily-size pizzaThree-course meal (economic restaurant)Big Mac combo (medium size)

MXN

604002035

200408

501305065

USD

418

1.500.2

0.25153

0.603.75

103.754.35

sOCIAL HABITS• Possibility of not attending social activities without informing.• Kissing a guy or a girl you just meet in the dancing club is normal and acceptable for Mexican culture.• Romance Relationship (you are not allowed to kiss others after en-tering a serious relationship).• Most Mexicans do not take seriously punctuality for social events. One hour late for a party is normal.

SAFETY TIPS

hYGIENIC HABITS

• Don’t leave objects at eyesight.• Don’t carry too much money or valuable items. Exchange your money in specialized currency exchange places. Here you can use a credit card almost anywhere, a safer choice for purchases.• Avoid opening your wallet on public places and buses and counting your money.• Avoid standing alone in deserted streets, especially at night.• In case of stolen or loss documents, go to the Police Department, provide the second “way” of the documents, in case you find them, warn the Police Department where you registered your loss.

• Brush and floss after each meal.• Usually, shower before going to party or social activities.• Take at least one shower a day

Keys to a successful internship period

Open mindYou will like some things about each other, and you will dislike others. Don’t judge, experience it!

FlexibilityYou will encounter many differences when you compare your cultures and life style. Flexibility and tolerance will help you to understand and appreciate these differences and accept them as part of the exchange experience. Again, don’t judge, just experience!

CommunicationThe key to any successful relationship is communication. You must be willing to communicate in all ways as possible, using facial expressions and gestures if it may help. It’s good to have Spanish to English dictionary around. Making all efforts to communicate as better as possible will not only improve your fluency in other idiom but also make the living together period much better for everybody.

Courtesy and appreciationThe most valuable compensation you are all going to have after this period together is the relationship developed. Small gestures will go a long way toward making people feel that you are grateful and appreciative of their efforts.

InvolvementExpect to make a genuine effort to establish a deep relationship. You can sit down with your buddy and LC members and talk about some programs that you can make together in order to have some fun, and also talk about cultural differences, dreams, fears, expectations, etc., intense moments that will turn this period into a magical experience for everybody.

Culture shockCulture shock is to be expected in some form during the program. You may experience the following: panic, disinterest, nervousness, impatience and criticism. It’s important for you to know that Mexican people are very kind, so you can expect that your host family/roomies will probably make every effort so you can feel at home. So, if you experience any of these feelings, talk things over with the host family/roomies, they will certainly help you to feel better.

Personal expensesYou’re going to be responsible for covering personal expenses such as entertainment, cloth-ing, toiletries, eating out, travel, etc., so, you’re required to have at your disposal an amount of money to cover all that.

Obeying the lawsWhile in Mexico, you’re required to obey all the governmental laws covering immigration status requirements, state and local laws, as well as the rules preestablished between you and the company you’re working for and AIESEC.

WorkYou’re here to have an internship experience at your interest area, and there’s a company counting on you, so, it is your obligation to attend work regularly and make all the necessary effort to accomplish what your job description demands. Your host family/roomies are aware of that and when necessary will talk to you about it so you can keep your obligations in mind.

DAILY LIFEIf you open it, close it. If you turn it on, turn it off.If you unlock it, lock it up.If you break it, admit it and have it fixed or replaced. If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone and ask someone.If it is broken, don’t try to fix it; ask someone who can.If you want to borrow it, ask permission. If you borrow it, return it.If you value it, take care of it. If you make a mess, clean it up.If you move it, put it back.If it will brighten someone’s day, say it. If you hurt someone’s feelings be the first to say: “I’m sorry, let’s talk things out.” If someone hurts your feelings, say: “Let’s talk things out.”

Tequilazo – SummerAIESEC in Guadalajara organizes every year a trav-el to Tequila, Jalisco, the place where original Tequi-la is made. It is opened for any AIESEC member and of course to trainees. They visit some touristic places in Guadalajara, a tequila Factory, the muse-um of tequila and Tlaquepaque.

CervantinoThe Festival Internacional Cervantino takes place each fall in the city of Guanajuato, located in central Mexico. This is a small colonial-era city with history of having a large cultural scene.

Being named after Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, the Festival has a special emphasis on artistic creations in the Spanish language, with the original tradition of performing this writer’s “entremeses” plays upheld by the University Theater of Guanajuato. The event attracts artists from all over the world each year in order to present typical as-pects of culture from each country.Acts include those from genres such as opera, music, dance, theatre, street spectac-ulars, visual arts, film and literature along with various aca-demic events.

AIESEC in Guanajuato organizes every year one weekend during Cervantino Festival to assist to some of the artistic events and also know the principal places of this magical city.

aiesecreceptionweekeds

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR STAY!