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Find an Au Pair > View Au Pairs > Featured Country > December 2011 - Mexico

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Featured Country - Mexico

Quick Facts

Location: North America
Population 113,724,226
Country comparison to the world: 11

Language: Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%

Religions: Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1%

General Attitudes

Spoken by more than 95 percent of the population, Spanish is the official language of Mexico and was introduced through conquest and colonization. Mexicans have developed a particular sense of uniqueness, which is expressed in the popular saying “como México no hay dos” (Mexico is second to none). This sense is also expressed in numerous elements of popular culture such as food and music.

Diet

Mexicans generally have a light breakfast before they leave for work or school. Halfway through the morning, people may eat a warm tortilla-based snack or a bread roll. The most important meal of the day is served between two and four in the afternoon (the comida) and dinner is served at night. Mexicans frequently eat outdoors. Homely restaurants serve inexpensive fixed menus known as comida corrida.

Family Life

Mexicans are free to choose their marriage partners. People usually marry after a period of formal engagement that can last several years. A marriage ceremony consists of a civil registration and a religious wedding. Afterwards, the couple holds a huge and costly party with family and friends. The divorce rate is relatively low. It is legally easy to divorce but the social pressure against it can be formidable. Households consisted of an average of 4.6 members. A significant number of households consist of "extended" nuclear families, which often exist on a temporary basis. Women generally hold fundamental responsibilities in the household; men are still the principal authority.

The average number of children per household has decreased in recent decades and was just over two in 1995. Infants are mostly cared for at the parental home. Some are cared for at a private nursery from the age of three months. At the age of four, children are officially required to attend a kindergarten for two years. Children in Mexico are rapidly integrated into the activities of adults, but they are also strongly protected and not actively encouraged to discover their surroundings on their own.

“Mexican Au Pairs are family-oriented. They possess strong values, they care!, they are friendly, they like to pamper and they like the feeling of belonging which makes them adapt to a strange environment faster than other girls.” - Ana Escamilla Torres, Go Au Pair’s International Representative in Mexico

Etiquette

Generally speaking, Mexicans shake hands when they meet or in the case of two women meeting or a man and a woman meeting, kiss each other on the cheek once. In the case of close friends and on special occasions, such as New Year's Eve, Mexican men and women embrace each other, pat each other gently on the back, and then shake hands. This abrazo expresses confidentiality and the crucial value of trust.

“The advantages for an American family of having a Mexican Au Pair are multiple. Their kids will be watched. Mexican girls are responsible and care for the rest of the family. For years Americans have hired Mexican workforce and they are known as hard workers, respectful, thankful for the opportunity and well-adapted. Mexicans are also well-known for their love for life.” - Ana Escamilla Torres, Go Au Pair’s International Representative in Mexico

In honor of our featured country, families who match with an Au Pair from Mexico in December, will receive $100 off the program fees

Learn about other countries Au Pairs come from.

Source

Countries and their cultures

Countries Profile - U.S. Department of State

CIA - The World Fact Book