Check out this cool article about studies, misconceptions, & advantages when it comes to being bilingual.
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/04/135043787/being-bilingual-may-boost-your-brain-power?sc=tw&cc=share
Category Archives: Chido Xtra
Mexican Manners
Now another installment of a section I like to call “Mexican Manners”. One of the many fun, interesting things when it comes to learning about other cultures is studying manners and customs. If you want to impress Mexicans friends/acquaintances, this section will provide some tips for you.
Today’s Tip is: WATCH YOUR BACK.
I think this is a custom observed in most Hispanic cultures, not sure if it’s observed in other cultures, though. I’ve been with people who aren’t Hispanic and don’t follow the “watch your back” rule. They didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just a custom they don’t observe. In Mexican culture though it’s an important rule. Why? Because, it is considered very rude to have your back turned to someone. This is called “dar la espalda” = give someone your back. It’s considered as a sign of ignoring someone, a physical affront…etc. In all fairness, there are times when you must turn away from someone to talk to someone else, and certain situations when due to positioning, having your back face someone can’t be helped. For politeness sake though, it’s best to keep the location of your back in mind and try to position yourself at an angle where you’re not directly turning your back to anyone. Or if you do turn your back, excuse yourself & try and try not to do it for too long.
What Spanish Speakers are watching: Funny commercials
If you tune in to the Spanish tv stations, chances are you’ve seen this commercial. For those who have not, glad to share it with you guys. It’s a Degree ad featuring Andrés Guardado from team Mex/ left midfielder with Deportivo La Coruña, Spanish League.
(For more info on Andrés: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Guardado , http://www.goal.com/en/teams/spain/127/deportivo
The commercial’s storyline is simple, yet very silly & entertaining : Some crazy fans break into Andrés’s home and snatch his deodorant. Andrés swears by his Degree & can’t do without it, so… The chase begins! Throughout the commercial the whole city unites for one goal: Successfully play keep away with Andrés’s deodorant xD Why? Because the products slogan is : “Players should sweat, fans shouldn’t”
ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL
BEHIND THE SCENES :
Lol at Andrés driving the forklift. His driving it has nothing to do with the ad, but I bet he asked the director if he could and of course, how could they refuse? =)
ANDRES’S STUNT DOUBLE
Ha! The stunt guy has a twin, so Andres says, “so now there’s 3 Andrés Guardados” Funny.
That’s so Mexican
Over time I’ve seen and heard the “that’s so Mexican” jokes going around . You know the type, the derogatory, stereotyped ones. Sadly these “jokes” are all too often propagated by Mexicans themselves. So this post category will be dedicated to things that are “so Mexican” and so POSITIVE! For example often times jokes are about Mexicans and their attitudes on life, such as the “cut corners, do it the Mexican way” joke. Well, did you know, in Mexican and Hispanic culture the following saying exists : “Pobre pero, honrado” = Poor(concerning wealth), but decent/honorable.” This saying is used as a reminder to be true to one’s self and be proud of who you are and where you come from. You don’t need to be fake to fit in. It’s important to be rich in spirit. No one, regardless of social status or wealth can ever look down on you as long as you’re and upstanding person.
This saying is so popular that there’s even been movies with this saying as their tittle. In novelas there’s the example of the maid being accused of stealing the boss’s gold watch or what have you, upon being accused she’ll respond “Seré pobre, pero honrada” = I may be poor/just a maid, but I’m honorable.
Super Chido TWEETS
Interested in learning more about Mexico, its geography and culture? Want the inside scoop on cool Mex pop culture & current events? Wanna learn the names, stories, and other interesting facts about Mexican states? Feel like having fun with Spanish? Too busy? On the go? Don’t have time to visit the blog? Don’t fret! You can get your quick fix for all things chido! Cool pics, music , vids and cool links is what you’ll get when you tune in to our tweets @SuperChidoYmas Hope you’ll follow & put some chido in your time line =)
Cool Aztec Names
I’d been dying to do a post like this, thought it’d be super fun to share with the readers! I had already done a post on the meanings of last names in Spanish, so I went in search of names in Mexican indigenous languages next. I searched the web, and I found this cool list of Aztec/Mayan names. Sorry if there are any discrepancies, feel free to add your two cents on the subject if you’d like. You can do so by visiting the comments section. I’m learning along the way too =) Ok, so a million thanks to my source all credit goes to them. I only excerpted some names & tanslated their meaning. You can find the complete list by following the link =D
Source : http://mx.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070317122716AAbQUdd
TLEXOCHITL= Fire flower
METZTLI / MEXTLI= Moon
CUAUHTÉMOC = descending eagle
TONALLI= Day, energy, warmth
TOPILTZIN= our dear little boy, our prince
TLAZOHTZIN= he who is loved
IZTACOYOTL= white coyote
TEOXIHUITL = Turquoise divinity, beautiful one
EHÉCATL = Wind
ATLANXOCHITL= The most beautiful flower of the sea.
CEYAOTL = Warrior
CITLALTONAC = Dazzling star
CITLALTZIN = little star
QUIAHUITL = rain
TLEYOTL = heart of fire
YAOCIHUATL= woman warrior
There are so many gorgeous and inspiring names, but if I had to pick just one… I guess I’d like to be named: QUIAHUITL( rain) because I adore the rain, it’s so romantic. Plus I’m from So Cal where we don’t get that much rain, so it’s all the more precious to me . Then again, CITLALTZIN (little star) is such a cute and pretty name too. But with a name like TEOXIHUITL (Turquoise divinity, beautiful one) wow who wouldn’t feel like a godess?! Lol So super hard to choose, all the names rock!
Happy 100th UNAM
An institution with a rich & deep history, a educational & cultural mainstay that is well worth getting to know is turning 100, Mexico’s famed UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
FACTS ABOUT UNAM
*Established Sep of 1910 two months before the beginning of the Mexican Revolutionary War
*Based primarily in Mexico City
*Has Nobel prize recipients among it’s alumni: Alfonso Garcia Robles(for Peace), Octavio Paz (Literature), Mario Molina (Chemistry)
*Main campus is a world heratige site.
*Served as a sanctuary for exiled republican Spaniards, and refugees of Latin American dictatorships.
“Murals in the main campus were painted by some of the most recognized artists in Mexican history, such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros.”
“Generally considered to have the largest enrollment among universities in the Americas.”
UNAM’s soccer team Los Pumas participates in the first division of the Mexican Soccer League.
” The club became two-time consecutive champions of the Apertura, and the Clausura in 2004. Their home ground is the Estadio Olímpico Universitario stadium.”
“UNAM students and professors are regarded throughout Mexico as very politically-aware and sometimes intensely politically active”
The list of those who have attended the prestigious university includes: heads of state, humanitarians, writers, physicians, sports stars and diplomats.
The school currently has : a radio station, its own TV channel, and a philharmonic
Source: quoted lines are info from Wikipedia
UNAM ALUMNI (just to name a few):
Miguel Alemán Valdés (president of Mexico)
Rodolfo Neri Vela (the first Mexican in space),
Hugo Sánchez Márquez (one of Mexico’s most acknowledged football players)
Carlos Slim Helú (businessman and engineer and the richest person in the world)[39]
Jorge Calles-Escandón, M.D. (endocrinologist, a specialist in thyroid biopsy, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, insulin pumps at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, USA)
Alfonso Caso(archeologist)
UNAM Philharmonic plays at Uxmal ruins. Sorry if the vid’s a little off it’s a home video someone posted. The music’s awesome though, so I just had to post it.
Official UNAM soccer team mascot Goyo the Puma!
UNAM soccer cheer: “Goya, goya, cachún, cachún, ra, ra, cachún, cachún ra, ra, goya UNIVERSIDAD!”
MORE SITE WITH INFO ON UNAM
http://www.unam.mx/index/en (Official site)
UNAM TV: http://www.tvunam.unam.mx/
UNAM Pumas (soccer team site) http://clubpumasunam.com/index.php/portal/inicio/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Autonomous_University_of_Mexico
Night of the Bicentennial Celebrations Mexico (Videos)
The “Colossus” being raised. The “Colossus” is a statute representing every Mexican.
In case you missed the awesome Bicentennial party, you can get the inside scoop and find pics & vids of the extraordinary celebration at http://www.bicentenario.gob.mx/
Mex Bicentennial Flickr channel
Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo on Mexican Money
Today the Banco of Mexico known as Banxico placed new 500 peso bills into circulation which depict celebrated Mexican artists: Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo. The new bills are equiped with special security measures and are the final in a series of new bills that first began to be released back in September ’06. The front of the bills will have Rivera’s self portrait and the reverse will have his wife’s, Frida Kahlo’s self portrait.
Among the special features which will serve to distinguish authentic bills are: three dimensional threading, a section of the bill will be color changing, micro script, and a watermark.
It’s been a MegaSuper Chido year
Can’t believe I totally spaced!! Yesterday August 14 was the site’s birthday! It’s been one whole year since I started the blog. I never thought I’d get so many visits or that I’d make it this far =D Writing for the blog has truly been a super chido experience! Thanks to all those who have taken interest. I hope that whether it be at this blog or wherever, you keep learning about all that is Mexican culture and remember to spread Chido love where ever you go!
Can’t believe I totally spaced!! Yesterday August 14 was the site’s birthday! It’s been one whole year since I started the blog. I never thought I’d get so many visits or that I’d make it this far =D Writing for the blog has truly been a super chido experience! Thanks to all those who have taken interest. I hope that whether it be at this blog or wherever, you keep learning about all that is Mexican culture and remember to spread Chido love where ever you go!
★MeGaSuPer Chido y + 