Our Story
3 Day Conferences
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: Once per month
9am-2:00pm at Vía Orgánica in the upstairs classroom
$1,100p for Early registration at G&G BOOKS or Drop-In Spanish or
$1,200p at Conference. 30 min brunch break 11- 11:30
MEXICAN CULTURE 205:
***DAY I
1. Conference Theme: 50ACG. Cold Gringos, Mexi-Gringos & Fringos. Meet my best friend, México.
2. Pop Evaluation/Top 10 Mexican Values vs. Top 10 United Statesian Values
How they affect behavior, attitudes, judgments, & communication
BRUNCH BREAK 11- 11:30
3. Language, Happiness, & Control: Spanish vs. English
How its built-in values affect us. Esperar; Grief; Control; Age. Gringos as unleashed dogs & hamsters.
***DAY II
4. The Guiding Forces of México: her 2 Founding Mothers & Women’s Roles in México
How the contrasting images of these 2 figures creates a love-hate attitude towards women
5. Relationships in México, Men’s Roles, & El Machismo
Family structure; marital, parental, romantic, professional, homosexual, & cross-cultural relationships
BRUNCH BREAK 11- 11:30
6. Chingar, Chingón, &La Chingada: Mexican Life Philosophy
This powerful Mexican word/concept influences every aspect of life in México. Water for horses
7. La Educación vs. Studies in México
What is la educación? The traditional Mexican school system: memorize; don’t question. Don’t show off.
***DAY III
8. Manners & Rudeness in México
Why Mexicans are appalled at foreigners’ blatant lack of common courtesy; The Mexican Manners Game!
BRUNCH BREAK 11- 11:30
9. Honesty & Trust in México
What is the Word & a lie? Who is to be trusted, distrusted, and to what extent?
10. What Constitutes Success in México
How success is measured & recognized & how to be a more successful MexiGringo. ¡Canta y no llores!
EVALUATION
About your instructor: Michelle Garrison, originally of Seattle, Washington, has lived in central México since 2006 and holds a Master’s degree in Multi-Cultural Education from the University of Washington. Mother of two bilingual children, Garrison presently teaches Spanish, owns GARRISON & GARRISON BOOKS in San Miguel de Allende, trains teachers in Classroom Management methods in San Miguel & Querétaro; & offers behavior therapies for children & adults with her large street dogs, Anton & Jacques.
* Culture books are available for purchase at Conference.
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What participants are saying about Mexican Culture 205:
"Some friends and I attended Michelle' s excellent overview of Mexican Culture (and how it differs from the North American, or United States culture) and after living in San Miguel for eleven years, I now finally understand many important things about our different world views.
Michelle is a lively, charismatic teacher who presents her topics in ways you will not quickly forget. The course was given in a side room at Mama Mia's and the entire conference is a great value.
You will learn more than you thought you would and be better able to deal with life in San Miguel."
Cheers, Heather Hanley
"I will second what my classmate Heather wrote.
The class not only sheds a lot of light on Mexican culture, but overlaps with other Latin cultures and even helps us understand better how we Gringos think. It was an enlightening experience and could have gone on for hours and days more as far as I'm concerned.
BTW- who knew Mamma Mia's had such good breakfasts?"
-Michael Moore
"Let me make unanimous the applause for the Mexican Culture class just completed yesterday with Michelle Garrison. My career was teaching, so my requirements are more demanding than average when sitting in a class. Michelle knows how to bring alive information with first hand examples. In her case they are funny, vivid and experiential from her time living here, and from her own learng process in adapting to the Mexican culture. Experience is multi sensory, and when she teaches using this experiential approach, it is easier to remember. The classes were several hours long, and never for a moment boring. I think she is a born teacher. I would attend any class she offers."
-Natalie Hardy
