Mexico beyond the stereotypes
Leaders of the Mexico booth at the CulturalFest Expo talk about their perspectives on their home country.
CulturalFest, FIUTS' annual celebration of all things global on the University of Washington campus, is coming up on February 14 and 15. Over the next few weeks, we'll be profiling some of the many student volunteers who make CulturalFest happen, asking them each the same series of questions to learn more about where they're from and what they hope to share about their country or culture.
The CulturalFest Expo will feature booths from 37 different countries and regions around the world.
Today, we're featuring a profile from Tracy and Michelle, the leaders of the Mexico booth!
Where are you from?
We are from the Southeast region of Mexico and our culture varies as we have grown up in urban and touristic oriented cities within Mexico.
What will visitors to your booth get to learn about Mexico?
At our booth, visitors will be able to learn about three different aspects of our culture : 1) food experience; 2)stereotype vs reality experience; and 3) art and influences experience. We want to give a glimpse of contemporary realities from our culture.
Tracy
What's something that you'd like people to know about Mexico?
Something important we would like people to know about our country is that it encompasses so much more than a place where violence is everywhere and more than a place to go on vacation. We want to express how our life style and customs are reflective of a contemporary lifestyle, and how we are so similar and not different from other cultures in this and other continents.
If someone was going to travel to Mexico, where would you recommend they visit?
If you ever travel to where we are from go to the fantastic Southeast beaches and try the original Oaxacan cheese, eat on the markets and visit the beautiful Mayan ruins.
Tracy at the home of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo
What books, movies, or websites would you recommend to someone who wants to learn more about Mexico?
If you want to know more from where we are from, we would suggest visiting blogs, travel posts and reviews from back pack travelers who can give you ins and outs of details that would otherwise not be reflected in major travel agencies websites. Visit airbnb.com to check out contemporary housing and learn about Mexican architecture and housing styles. Visit Facebook groups and youtube channels that showcase clips and events informing the public about film and music festivals happening every year!
When you first arrived in Seattle, what was something that surprised you?
One of the things that was most surprising involved noticing the duration of relationships in the U.S., learning about consumerist culture, and noticing the somewhat lack of warmth when greeting people you meet for the first time. Having to change almost our entire wardrobes to adapt to the weather and learning about the stereotypes that are prevalent regarding Mexican culture: We rarely eat burritos!
Thank you!