CULTURE RESEARCH

Aulia Hakim

Claudia Novena

Deasy N. Fajri

ah

• Mexico is bordered by the United States to the north and Belize and Guatemala to the southeast.

• Mexico is about one-fifth the size of the United States.

• The word "Mexico" is derived from Mexica (pronounced "Me-shee-ka"), the name for the indigenous group that settled in central Mexico in the early 14th century and is best known as the Aztecs.

Language Spanish as official language.

Mexican-Spanish as daily language. Indian language (Nahuatl) as origin

language.

IconMexican national culture is the Virgin of

Guadalupe, which illustrates the pervasive influence of Roman Catholicism in the

national culture

CUSTOM

• About 60% of the modern Mexican

population is mestizo (Indian-

Spanish), 30% is Indian or

predominately Indian, 9% is

Caucasian, and 1% is other

• Rubber time

• ‘Truth’ is only used where there is no

potential for hurt or any chance that

it would cause offence to the other

person

Meeting and Greeting• Shake hands or give a slight bow when introduced. • Bow when greeting a Mexican woman. Shake hands only if she extends her hand first.

Body Language• Mexicans generally stand close together when

conversing. Don't show signs of discomfort, which would be considered rude by your Mexican counterpart.

• Mexicans often "hold" a gesture (a handshake, a squeeze of the arm, a hug) longer than Americans and Canadians do.

• Don't stand with your hands on your hips; this signifies anger. It is considered rude to stand around with your hands in your pockets.

C o rp o rate C u ltu re

• Punctuality is expected of foreign business people. Your Mexican counterpart may be late or keep you waiting. Thirty minutes past the scheduled meeting time is considered punctual by Mexicans.

• Spanish is the language of business. You may need to hire an interpreter (preferably a native speaker who understands the language as it is spoken in Mexico).

• Meet with top executives first. Top-level Mexican executives may not attend subsequent meetings, which often take place with middle-level management and technical people. Don't feel insulted; this shows that discussions are proceeding positively.

• Negotiations move slowly. Be patient. For Mexicans, the building of a personal relationship comes before the building of a professional one.

C o rp o rate C u ltu re

• Deal-making almost never occurs over the phone (and rarely by letter). Mexicans prefer to do business in person.

• Your local contact person or representative is very important and should be chosen very carefully. A low-level representative will be taken as an affront by status-conscious Mexicans, who will assume that you are not really serious.

• Be persistent! Don't give up if you don't receive a response to your phone calls or letters right away or if your meetings are continually postponed or canceled. If you give up, your Mexican counter parts might assume that you weren't serious in the first place.

Gifts

• Giving gift is not always necessity doing business in Mexico, but gifts are much appreciated.

• Flowers should always be given when visiting a Mexican home. It's OK to have them sent beforehand, or to bring them with you. If you have them sent, make sure that they arrive before you do.

H elp fu l H in ts

• Any attempt to speak Spanish is appreciated by your Mexican counterparts and is seen as a gesture of goodwill. Demonstrating knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture wins friends.

• Mexicans are very proud of their independence and have a very strong sense of national identity and pride. Never compare the way things are done in Mexico with the way they are done in the United States.

• Little things count. Not saying good-bye, for example, may well offend and adversely affect your relationship to a much greater extent than it would in the United States.

• Women should prepare for some difficulty when doing business in

Mexico. Because some Mexican businessmen may not have had

many dealings with women in positions of authority, you should

demonstrate your competence, skill and authority.

• Mexican men, business colleagues included, will pay foreign

businesswomen many compliments and may even be flirtatious.

• Foreign businesswomen should not invite Mexican businessmen to

dinner unless their spouses also come along. If invited out to dinner

or to socialize by a male Mexican colleague, a businesswoman

should make it clear that no opportunity for romance exists.

• Appearances are important.

Especially for Women

The heart of most Mexican dishes: corn, hot peppers (chili), and beans.

Corn is the most important ingredient.It is consumed in all possible forms:

1. As a cooked or roasted corncob called elote 2. As a cooked grain of corn3. As porridge called atole 4. As wrapped and steamed dough with filling called tamal 5. As a tortilla, a thin, round "pancake."

TASTE & SMELL

Tequila, which is made from agave cactus that is well suited to the climate of central Mexico.

Soda is a very popular drink in Mexico, as the country has a well-

developed beverage industry

TASTE & SMELL

El desayuno (Breakfast)• Between 7:00am and 10:00am• Breakfast in Mexico can range from a simple cup of coffee

to a huge spread featuring “huevos rancheros” (corn tortillas filled with fried eggs and a sauce of chili, tomato & onion).

• Popular breakfast foods include sweet breads, tropical fruits, toast, granola and yogurt.

La comida (Lunch)• Between 1:30pm and 4:00pm• In Mexico, lunch is the main meal of the day- expect to

eat a lot!• La comida typically consists of an appetizer, a soup or

salad and the main course: seafood, meat or poulty, rice and/ or beans and of course some hot tortillas.

• Get ready to chat before, during and after eating, as lunch tends to be a leisurely meal

La Cena (Dinner)• Between 8:00pm and 9:00pm.• Eaten in the evening, la cena is the lighter meal of the day

in Mexico, often consisting of soup or tacos.

• Giving tips its usual in Mexican restaurant• Mexicans eat small portions during dinner

time• Lunch is the biggest meal in the Mexican

culture

• One of Mexico’s most important holidays, “El Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead), places a huge emphasis on food. Families bake or buy special sweet bread known as “pan de muertos,” or bread of the dead.

• Sugar skull, typical of those eaten on El Dia de los Muertos

• Woman’s wardrobes :1. Skirts2. Sleeveless tunics called huipils3. Capes known as quechquémitls 4. Shawls called rebozos.

One distinguishing article of traditional men’s clothing is a large blanket cape called a

sarape. Boots are also a wardrobe staple.

• Some traditional clothing, now typically worn for celebrations and special occasions

• Sombreros and The Charro suits worn by Mariachi bands that are popular costumes during Carnival.

Mexican Family Values• The family is at the centre of the social structure.• Outside of the major cosmopolitan cities, families are still

generally large.• The extended family is as important as the nuclear family since it

provides a sense of stability.• Mexicans consider it their duty and responsibility to help family

members. For example, the will help find employment or finance a house or other large purchase.

• Most Mexican families are extremely traditional, with the father as the head, the authority figure and the decision-maker.

• Mothers are greatly revered, but their role may be seen as secondary to that of their husband.

Hierarchial Society• Mexican society and business are highly stratified and vertically structured.• Mexicans emphasize hierarchical relationships.• People respect authority and look to those above them for guidance and decision-making.• Rank is important, and those above you in rank must always be treated with respect.• This makes it important to know which person is in charge, and leads to an authoritarian approach to decision-making and problem- solving.• Mexicans are very aware of how each individual fits into each hierarchy--be it family, friends or business.• It would be disrespectful to break the chain of hierarchy.

'Machismo'

• Machismo literally means 'masculinity'.• There are different outward behaviours to

display machismo.• For example, making remarks to women is a

stereotypical sign of machismo and should not be seen as harassment.

• Mexican males generally believe that nothing must be allowed to tarnish their image as a man.

• Mexico introduced chocolate, corn, and chilies to the world

• Mexican children do not receive presents on Christmas Day. They receive gifts on January 6, the day on which Mexicans celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

• Mexico is located in the “Ring of Fire,” one of the earth’s most violent earthquake and volcano zones.

• The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog and is named for a Mexican state

FACTS

• Modern Mexicans are a unique blend of many ancient civilizations, including the Olmec, Zapotec, Toltec, Maya, Aztec, Inca, African, French, and Spanish.

• This country has 20 annual celebrations.

• The country of Telenovela like Amigos X Siempre, Rosalinda, Marimar, etc.

CELEBERATION & FESTIVAL in MEXICO

• Carnivals of Mexico Los Carnavales de Mexico The festive tradition arrived to our country toward the end of the 19th century; hence, the beginning of the carnivals. And it was precisely in the port of Veracruz, a land known for crazy parties, where the Veracruzanos celebrated

• Celebrating the Day of the Dead Since pre Columbian times, El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead has been celebrated in Mexico, as in other Latin countries. It is the day in which the living remember their departed relatives.

• Christmas in MexicoWhat a wonderful season December is in Mexico: Piñatas, Pastorelas, Posadas. The first of nine posadas is held on December 16. In Mexico City they go to the Alameda Park, where dozens of photographers and vendors gather to offer their goods.

• Common Misconceptions About the Day of the Dead It is not the Mexican version of Halloween. Mexicans have celebrated the Day of the Dead since the year 1800 B.C.

• Day of the Dead Offering in English The sound of the rain, the smell of wet earth, the heat of fire, the color of the sky glowing in the afternoon and the taste of hot coffee: all sensory experiences . As we go through our life on earth.

• December 12 Fiesta of Our Lady of GuadalupeOn the day before the great celebration, thousands and thousands of people start to arrive. Many of them make the trip from their place of origin by bicycle.

• La Ofrenda Ofendas are an essential part of the Day of the Dead celebrations. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. Food is specially prepared for the souls.

• May 3: Day of the Holy CrossHoly Cross Day is celebrated everywhere in Mexico on May 3. Curiously, it has become the feast day of masons. Here's the story why?Faithful Catholic Spaniards used to adorn a cross with flowers on this day and place it on top of their houses. Later, the Spanish missionaries brought this tradition to our country.

• http://www.fcschools.net/ESL/lessons/mexicounit/Culture.htm

• http://www.livescience.com/38647-mexican-culture.html

• http://www.infoplease.com/country/mexico.html

• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Mexicoweb/factfile/Unique-facts-Mexico16.htm

• http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/mexdead.html

• http://www.inside-mexico.com/culturetraditions/traditions.htm

Sources

GRACIAS!THANK YOU