Yazhil Ojeda

WELCOME TO MEXICO OUR COUNTRY Official Name: Estados Unidos Mexicanos, better known as México. Capital City: Mexico City. Government: Federal Republic. President: Enrique Peña Nieto. Population: Over 122 million people. Time zone: UTC/GMT -5 hour. Currency: Peso mexicanos, $1Cad = $14.2 MXN. The name comes from Nahuatl, a dialect spoken in our country, which means: navel of the moon. Was the 9th most visited country around the world in 2015. Mexico’s size is 756,066 square miles. It is almost three times larger than Texas. Mexico City has the highest elevation and is the oldest city in North America. It is also one of the largest cities in the world. Is the 14th largest country in the world. Most Mexicans are a unique blend of many ancient civilizations, including the Olmec, Zapotec, Toltec, Maya, Aztec, Inca, and African, French, and Spanish. Is the most populated Spanish-speaking country in the world. The Chichen Itza Pyramid in Mexico was named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Is a country populated by young people, with over 30 million of them. 65.54% of the population is under 15 years old. HISTORY The earliest evidence of human life in central Mexico dates from 20,000 BC. and the first signs of civilization from the year 1,500 BC. The Olmecs - B.C.) were the first greatest civilization in Mexico. They worshiped an unnamed god that was half jaguar and half human. They established many cities along the eastern coast of Mexico. Some of Mexico’s rural areas are still inhabited by indigenous people whose lifestyles are quite similar to those of their ancestors. In addition, many pre-Columbian ruins still exist throughout the country, including the ancient city of Teotihuacán and the Mayan pyramids at Chichén Itzá and Tulum. The Valley of Mexico, Teotihuacán (a name later given to it by the Aztecs meaning 'the place where people become gods') became the first truly urban society in the Western hemisphere around 300 AD. But Teotihuacán was abandoned in mysterious circumstances around 750 AD, and the Mayan centers were also in decline by 800 AD. A Spanish expedition led by Hernan Cortés landed on the Gulf coast near Veracruz on the 21st of April in 1519. Centuries later after the Spanish invasion, the French Revolution and the American Independence coincided with a decline of Spanish power. A Creole priest, Miguel Hidalgo, raised the cry 'Mexicanos, Viva Mexico!' on the steps of his parish church in Dolores on September 16th 1810, that date is recognized today as marking the Mexican independence. In 1861 Napoleon III took Mexico City where he installed a Hapsburg archduke, Maximilian, as 'emperor' for a brief period. Benito Juárez, a Zapotec Indian and the only indigenous person ever to be president of Mexico, enacted reforms in 1867 aimed at reducing the power and wealth of the Catholic Church: church property was confiscated, marriages and burials became secular ceremonies and priests were forbidden to wear their robes in public. Starting on November 20th 1910, the greatest political event of the 20th century took place, the Mexican Revolution. Which started as a movement of middle-class protest against the long-standing dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. L ANGUAJE OUR FOOD Spanish Is the national language of our country. In addition, there are over 60 indigenous languages that although spoken by a small number of the population, are all still recognized as national languages. The most spoken indigenous languages are Nahuatl, Maya, Mixtec and Zapotec. Mexican food is primarily a mix of indigenous Mesoamerican and Spanish food; elements of the latter were added after the Spanish conquest over the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. The basics are corn, beans and peppers. Europeans introduced a large number of other ingredients; the most important was meat from domesticated animals (beef, pork, chicken, goat and sheep), dairy products (especially cheese) and various herbs and spices. When you taste the diverse cuisine of Aguascalientes, you will experience this extraordinary heritage firsthand. Dishes from other parts of Mexico such as enchiladas (tortillas in a spicy bean sauce), mole (traditional chilli and chocolate based sauce), pozole (spiced corn-based soup) and lechon (pig) have become traditional dishes for hidrocalidos to eat. New and exciting flavors were added such as grapes, guava, chillis and peach. You can taste delicacies such as pork ribs with guava sauce, campesina soup, tacos, sombrero soup, cheese and butter tamales and corn cake to name just a few. We have some superb spicy dishes, but we recommend that you take it easy for the first few days until your stomach has grown accustomed to its new environment. You might see the following food everywhere once you get to our city: OUR CITY Tortillas Tortillas can be made of flour or corn. Often served alongside as bread would be in your country, tortillas are also used in many typical dishes, rolled and baked for enchiladas, fried for tacos or grilled for quesadillas. Frijoles A good source of protein beans of different varieties which are most commonly boiled. Guacamole Avocado mashed with onions, chilies and cilantro. Salsa A salsa is actually just a sauce, although is most commonly associated with the red or green mix of tomatoes, onion, chili and cilantro. Menudo soup A traditional Hidrocalido dish, made with beef stomach in a red chili base. Usually, lime, chopped onions and chopped cilantro are added, as well as crushed oregano and red chili peppers. It is located in North Central Mexico. Its name means “hot waters” in Spanish and originated from the then abundance of hot springs in the area. The correspondent name for its habitants is hidrócalido o aguascalentense. This state originated around the times of colonial Spanish influence. It is located in the middle of the country and is now beginning to make a name for itself as an industrial power within Mexico. The state was once a major silver miner and a major source of railroad transportation, the latter due to its strategic location, midway the three most populous areas, namely Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Today the car industry is growing at a rapid pace in Mexico, it is especially important in this state, which has two Nissan factories, which combined produce more than half a million cars per year. Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes and it is its most populated city, with almost 1 million habitants. It is located in North Central Mexico. It is part of the region called Bajío, which is a very safe area in Mexico. Aguascalientes has repeatedly been recognized as one of the cities with the best quality of life in Latin America. Nowadays, Aguascalientes is a vigorous service city that is experiencing an ongoing social and economic revitalization process. Cristo Roto Located in the municipality of San Jose de Gracia, the Cristo Roto is a statue that is aimed to reflect the suffering of indigenous peoples during the colonial era. With 28 meters tall including its base, it is the country's fifth largest statue. You can access only by boat, taking advantage of the visit to enjoy the ride itself, water sports and other tourist services there. PL ACES TO VISIT Museo Nacional de la Muerte Palacio de Gobierno (Government building) Built in 1685, it is the only seventeenth-century building that still stands in the city. Behind the facade of red volcanic rock and balconies carved in pink stone, you will find two patios adorned with famous murals of Chilean artist Oswaldo Barra Cunningham. The story of Aguascalientes is told through out these famous murals, another reason worth a visit. Also known as MUMU, its goal is to show the death and funerary art iconography from different historical periods of the country. To achieve this, you can see exhibitions of different cultural events related to death in Mexico throughout its history. It also has temporary exhibitions where, through different artistic expressions, they also have as a central topic, death. Plaza de Las Tres Centurias Isla San Marcos Within its 44 hectares you can find various activities such as taking a boat ride on the artificial lake, visit the largest mechanical clock in Latin America or go to the Megavelaria, home of the San Marcos National Fair. If you visit during the San Marcos Fair and you like extreme emotions, you can take advantage of the largest roller coaster in Latin America over 120 meters long, 36 high and four loops (available only during the fair). Their three emblematic buildings were built in three different centuries: XIX, XX and XXI, therefore it is called Plaza of Three Centuries. As a tribute to the railroad tradition of the city of the late nineteenth century, it is now a major tourist and recreational area. You can enjoy its main attractions: the steam locomotive known as La Hidrocálida, the Dancing Water Fountains, the Monumental Clock and Monumental Flag. Boca de Túnel For ecotourism and adventure lovers, you do not have to miss this park located between rock formations and a huge lagoon. It has 13 suspended bridges, the longest of them with a height of 105 meters and 15 meters long. In addition, you will find activities such as zip lining, horseback riding or a 11 kilometers track of bike ride. Museo José Guadalupe Posada It was inaugurated in 1972. It is the first art museum to exist in the state. It pays tribute to the famous Mexican engraver Jose Guadalupe Posada, a native of the state. The museum has a large collection of his work. There are also works by artists such as Jose Fors, Tamayo, Mimo Paladino, among others, and is home to the National Engraving Contest. Do not forget to take your picture with La Catrina, the actual original metal engraving 1912. El Sabinal Recreational Eco Park of 160 hectares considered an ecosystem with a unique vegetation, the most representative species are juniper, willow, Pirúl, tepozonas, among others. Raccoons, armadillos, and a great variety of aquatic birds make their fauna. In this place you can go camping and picnicking, as well as having the opportunity to go inside the trunk of a tree, since the Sabines have over 400 years of life, the thickness of their trunks, its huge roots and leafy branches offer a unique spectacle in the region. OUR UNIVERSITY It is located in North Central Mexico. Its name means “hot waters” in Spanish and originated from the then abundance of hot springs in the area. The correspondent name for its habitants is hidrócalido o aguascalentense. This state originated around the times of colonial Spanish influence. It is located in the middle of the country and is now beginning to make a name for itself as an industrial power within Mexico. The state was once a major silver miner and a major source of railroad transportation, the latter due to its strategic location, midway the three most populous areas, namely Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Today the car industry is growing at a rapid pace in Mexico, it is especially important in this state, which has two Nissan factories, which combined produce more than half a million cars per year. Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes and it is its most populated city, with almost 1 million habitants. It is located in North Central Mexico. It is part of the region called Bajío, which is a very safe area in Mexico. Aguascalientes has repeatedly been recognized as one of the cities with the best quality of life in Latin America. Nowadays, Aguascalientes is a vigorous service city that is experiencing an ongoing social and economic revitalization process. At UTR, students are offered two types of degree tracks. First, they can achieve an Associate’s Degree at the end of 2 years and 4 months of study. To complete this degree, students spend the last 4-month term interning at local companies as a means of completing their enhancement project. Once students have completed the Associate Degree, they are then able to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree by completing an additional 1 year and 8 months, for a grand total of 4 years of classes. As of September of 2015, UTR had over 700 students enrolled in the 5 different majors offered: Mechatronics, Information and Communication Technologies, Human Resources, Business Development, and English Language Pedagogy. SUMMER COURSE ACTIVITIES THINGS TO CONSIDER Download Uber if you don’t have the app so you can request a ride anytime you find yourself in need for one in the city. We have two types of public transportation, bus and taxi which both are fairly cheap. A bus ride will cost you $6.00 pesos. A taxi will start the tariff at $10.30 pesos and usually any trip around the city will cost you about $20 to $30 pesos. There are a lot of discounts given to students, especially transportation discounts. Buses that travel to another city will give a 50% discount to students and teachers during holiday season, which might come in handy if you are staying more days after the course ends and want to get to know more about Mexico besides our trips. Tipping has become customary in Mexico, and it’s always appreciated and expected in return for quality service (or quality entertainment). A tip of at least 10-percent, or 15-percent in higher-end establishments, is expected. With average daily temperatures just below 80 degrees F, late summer and early fall is one of the wettest times of year in Aguascalientes. Average rainfall in July is 3.37 inches while August and September average just below 2 inches. Overnight temperatures dip into the 50s. Enjoy your stay!