June 8th, 2020

Writing Guide: Culture Shock

UAEM
B Sc. in Geography
Project: Writing guide
Professor: Ph D. Myrna Navarro
Team No. _____
Members of the team:
TASK 1. Read “14 Culture Shocks That Foreigners Experience When They Arrive in Mexico” and match the
columns of the culture shock with an example.
No. Culture shock No. Example
1. “There´s food everywhere”. ( ) “Pásele a lo barrido. Lo invito a comer. Ándele,
qué le ofrezco. Un vasito de agua, un taquito”.
2. “Sweets aren´t sweet” ( ) Si un mexicano dice que pica, es porque pica
mucho, y si un mexicano dice que pica mucho,
es mejor no probar el platillo.
3. “My idea of spicy is not the same as this country´s” ( ) “Sí, sí, pasamos. Córrele, rápido, rápido,
ándale”.
4. “People in small towns are too kind” ( ) No es lo mismo desayunar en Veracruz que en
Monterrey.
5. “I Like it very much that people here enjoy music ( ) Dulces mexicanos enchiladas.
without feeling embarrased”
6. “People cross the street wherever and they don´t ( ) Esa música guapachosa está buena para
respect traffic lights” hacer el quehacer.
7. “Breakfasts are very elaborate”. ( ) Provecho / provechito.
8. “Cultural differences between one state and the ( ) Desayuno estudiantil: jugo, café, fruta, huevos
other are astonishing” al gusto, pan o tortilla.
9. “The accents are different depending on the region” ( ) Pásele güerita.
10. “When you´re having something to eat, people walk ( ) Puestos de tostadas, tacos, pambazos,
by and say something”. hamburguesas, hot-dogs, enchiladas.
11. “The real meaning of the word right now” ( ) El niño ya anda trabajando de cerillito en
Bodega Aurrera.
12. “People here refer to you by your physical traits”. ( ) Ahorita regreso / ahorita ya está la comida.
13. “The differences between social clases are very ( ) Polanco y Tepito.
noticeable in Mexico”
14. “Young people have more liberties” ( ) Variantes dialectales a lo largo del país.
Español mexiquense, español tabasqueño,
español defequense.
TASK 2. Complete the following examples, related to Mexican culture, using the modal expression given and a short
explanation.

1. Obligation when you visit a friend in his/her house in Mexico:

In Mexico, you have to __________________________________________________.
People must __________________________________________________________.
2. Prohibitions in public places in Mexico:
When you go to church, you can´t ________________________________________.
When you drive, you aren´t allowed to _______________________________________.
3. One place you recommend to visit in Mexico City:
You should ___________________________________________________________.
4. One rule if you talk to old people in Mexico:
You must ____________________________________________________________.
5. One meal you strongly recommend to eat in Toluca:
You should ____________________________________________________________.