Mexican Culture 205: 3 day conference (part 1)

Mexican Culture 205 (Part 1):
Nov. 6 to 9th – 9 AM
Via Orgánica in the classroom upstairs.

$1,100p for Early Registration at G&G BOOKS (Hidalgo 26) or SPANISH 205 (Geek & Coffee: Tues & Thursdays 11:30 & 12:40) or $1,200p at conference or $450p/day for 1 or 2 days only.

DAY I:
1. Conference Theme: 50ACG. Cold Gringos, Mexi-Gringos & Fringos. Meet my best friend, México.

2. Pop Evaluation: How Mexican are You?

BRUNCH BREAK 11- 11:30

3. Top 10 Mexican Values vs. Top 10 United Statesian Values
How they affect behavior, attitudes, judgments, & communication

DAY II:
4. Language, Happiness, & Control: Spanish vs. English
How its built-in values affect us. Esperar; Grief; Control; Age. Gringos as unleashed dogs & hamsters.

5. 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

BRUNCH BREAK 11- 11:30

6. Relationships in México, Men’s Roles, & El Machismo
Family structure; marital, parental, romantic, professional, homosexual, & cross-cultural relationships

DAY III:
7. Chingar, Chingón, &La Chingada: Mexican Life Philosophy
This powerful Mexican word/concept influences every aspect of life in México.

8. To Give or Not To Give? & Am I getting the Gringo Price?
Beggars, special pricing, and what to do about it.

BRUNCH BREAK 11- 11:30

9. Manners & Rudeness in México
Why Mexicans are appalled at foreigners’ blatant lack of common courtesy; The Mexican Manners Game!

10. Honesty & Trust in México
What is the Word & a lie? Who is to be trusted, distrusted, and to what extent? Are sales people taking advantage of me because I am foreign?

11. What Constitutes Success in México How success is measured & recognized & how to be a more successful MexiGringo. ¡Canta y no llores!

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, coaches parents & teachers in effective discipline techniques in San Miguel & Querétaro; & offers behavior therapies (personal coaching) for children & adults.
Culture books are available for purchase at Conference.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
“Hola Listeros,
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.
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.”
-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 learnng 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