1. Identify five interesting cultural norms of the country.

Within its own borders, Mexico is very diverse.  When Spain invaded the country in 1521, it governed the land’s native Indians (Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, Mayans, and others), Spanish settlers, and mestizos (Indian & Spanish mix) for 300 years.  After Mexico’s independence in 1821, other foreigners settled in Mexico too, adding to the country’s multicultural diversity.

Mexico is a very class-conscious society where social stratifications are well-defined. Upper class Mexicans will not dirty their hands with tasks they find beneath them. A sense of fatalism is quite strong among many Mexicans, who feel that their path through life is largely preordained. Macho attitudes are inculcated in Mexican males almost from birth, and machismo plays a pervasive role in shaping Mexican culture.

The 5 major cultural norms of Mexico are:

1) Indirect speech is the style of communication in Mexico.  Mexicans rarely make straightforward statements about a topic, speaking instead rhetorically and elaborately in generalities.  Speaking itself is an art, so enjoy the conversation! After all, it  is one of the Romance languages and is music to the ears.

2) Positive social and professional relationships are what matter in Mexico.  Mexicans are social people who value interpersonal fellowship more than goal-oriented exchanges.  The better your relationships are with Mexicans, the more you’ll receive.

3) Interpersonal conflict and confrontation are discouraged.  Conversations begin politely although informally and gradually ease into the topic.  Mexicans tend to be agreeable and pleasant, and expect similar responses.

4) When first meeting, two Mexican men typically shake hands.  When two women or a man and woman meet, they kiss each other once on the cheek.  As men and women become more familiar with each other, they greet with a gentle hug, a pat on the back, and then shake hands.

5) Traditionally, Mexican men and women are raised with distinct social rules that prepare them for gender roles as adults.  Men are expected to exemplify masculinity and dominance, while women are expected to embody femininity and submission. Observing these gender role expectations while traveling may enhance your interactions.

Side by side they follow norms like Mexico moves at a more leisurely stride. i.e. Take the fast pace down a few notches, in Mexico proper greetings are essential in Mexico, which involve an initial exchange of pleasantries with everyone and a general inquiry about each other.  Anything less is considered rude and impolite.

Mexicans are spirited, friendly, hard-working people who, when given respect, will bend over backwards to please you.

2. Make a list of major local, multinational and transnational organizations operating in that country.

Local Company: A company which provides goods or services to a local population. Though most often used when referring to a locally-owned business, the term may also be used to describe a franchise or corporate branch operating within a local area.

Major local companies in Mexico:

1. PYOSA, chemicals2. ALFA (BMV: ALFA)3. Grupo Carso (BMV: GCARSO)4. Grupo Salinas / Grupo Azteca5. Siemens, S.A. de C.V6. Hydra Technologies, aircraft, UAV7. Barcel, unit of Grupo Bimbo8. Cervecería Baja California, brewery9. FEMSA, beverages (BMV: FEMSA)10. Grupo Bimbo, food (BMV: BIMBO)11. Grupo Continental, bottling (BMV: CONTAL)12. Grupo Lala, dairy13. Tequila Cuervo La Rojeña, tequila (Jose Cuervo)14. Falco Electronics, electronics. electronic parts15. Grupo Omnilife, Nutrition and Skin care16. Kyoto Electronics, consumer electronics

Multinational Company: A corporation that has its facilities and other assets in at least one country other than its home country. Such companies have offices and/or factories in different countries and usually have a centralized head office where they co-ordinate global management.

Major multinational companies in Mexico:

1. Google2. SAS Institute3. Net App4. Microsoft5. W. L. Gore & Associates6. Kimberly-Clark7. Marriott8. Diageo9. National Instruments10. Cisco11. Autodesk12. Monsanto13. BBVA14. American Express15. Hilti16. Telefónica

17. Accoar18. Quintiles19. SC Johnson20. FedEx Express21. Atento22. Mars23. McDonald's24. The Coca-Cola Company25. Novartis

Transnational Company: A commercial enterprise that operates substantial facilities, does business in more than one country and does not consider any particular country its national home. One of the significant advantages of a transnational company is that they are able to maintain a greater degree of responsiveness to the local markets where they maintain facilities.

Major transnational companies in Mexico:

APEC NAFTA CAFTA

3. Discuss the life of an expatriate (e.g. benefits and challenges) in Mexico.

“An expatriate (sometimes shortened to expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of the person's upbringing.” (Wikipedia, 2014).

For an expatriate in Mexico life is full of some advantages and problems. Some of them are discussed below:

Benefits of living in Mexico:

An expatriate can live in Mexican cities and towns at the same lifestyle level as in the U.S. and Canada for less money. Cost of living is cheaper there. So lots of Americans are seen to live and work there.

An expatriate living in Mexico will have the chance to know the culture and language of that country.

Living in Mexico will surely enhance the CV of the expatriate as he gets the chance to know a new country and their management system and practices.

Real estate taxes are lower. Taxes are a fact of life, we all know that. But real estate taxes, which are a significant expense in the rest of North America, are low here. The annual property taxes for a home that costs $100,000, for example, generally cost between $50 and $150. (International Living, n.d.)

An expatriate living in Mexico will help to increase the business performance of the host country with his knowledge and skills.

Because of the new knowledge and skills gathered in Mexico, an expatriate is likely to be promoted after his return to the home country or any other host country.

Challenges of living in Mexico:

Mexico has always been notorious for drug cartels and other security issues. So it is better to get some idea about the safety and security of the country before moving there for an expatriate.

Language is another problem in Mexico. Even though upper class and corporate Mexicans can speak in English, for everyday life it is better for an expatriate to get some level of knowledge about Spanish language.

Mexican food even though very tasty and spicy, is hard for most expatriates to adjust. An expatriate may have trouble to understand the politics of Mexico which in turn may

affect some business decisions. An expatriate needs to cope up with a huge time difference, different climate, schedule

and guidelines. Adjusting to these takes lots of time. One personal issue for an expatriate in Mexico is loneliness. If an expatriate moves

without his family, he is sure to miss them. In most of the expatriate this problem is severe and this may hamper the professional life of that person.

4. Would you be interested to take an international job offer in that country? Justify your decision?

What country is best for me? Well, that of course, depends. It depends on a lot of factors, including personal preferences, your motives for expatriation, your financial circumstances, and whether you plan to work or start or run a business while abroad, or simply retire on a pension or Social Security.

Working in Mexico brings with it many challenges, first among them the actual job search. In 2013, Mexico had an unemployment rate of 4.9%, and unskilled workers in particular have a hard time finding jobs. However, there is no reason for you to give up on your dream. Certain professions are on the rise, and skilled expat professionals are always welcome.

In many ways, Mexico today is like the U.S. was 50 years ago. Before big government, big business, and special interests whittled away the lifestyle our parents took for granted. It is full of overlooked retirement havens where one can retire in luxury without spending a fortune.

In 2013 San Miguel de Allende, this central Mexican City was voted as No. 1 City to live in by CNN.

It is a city of "pure magic;" a "heaven where souls vacation." The atmosphere, architecture, food, and open spaces are something to remember while one visits this place.

Considering the low costs of living and wonderful Climate as factors than Mexico is probably the best place to live for any expatriate. Mexican peoples are very flexible. If anyone wants to lead an adventurous life than definitely Mexico is the destination.

Now we will consider few factors below to answer this question :

Economy of Mexico: Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is roughly one-third that of the U.S.; income.GDP Per Capita Income of Mexico is $16110 where in Bangladesh it is only $2810.

Currency and exchange: The currency in Mexico is the Mexican peso (MXN). US$1 = 13 MXN (as of January 2014).

Climate: Mexico's weather varies significantly by season and by region.

Mexico Health Care : Health care in Mexico is first-class. Private clinics and hospitals are staffed by expert physicians (many of whom trained in the U.S., Europe, or in Mexico’s own world-renowned teaching hospitals), and medical care and prescription drugs will cost you only a fraction of what you would pay in the U.S. Comparing to any European countries or even US one can get world class medical facilities in Mexico with half of the amount.

Cost of Living in Mexico The quality of life improves in Mexico. Things take longer. So one needs to learn to slow down. Goods and services cost less.So one can afford the kinds of luxuries only the very wealthy enjoy up north—like a maid, a cook, and a gardener. Here’s a sample monthly budget for two people:

Housing (rental of a three-bedroom home) $600

Utilities (electricity, gas, water, phone, cable TV, Internet) $120

Groceries $400

Entertainment (dining out and other activities) $250

Health care (two people on IMSS insurance, plus $70 per month for incidentals) $150

Household help:

Maid: Three times a week $150

Gardener: Three times a week $100

Incidentals $100

Monthly total $1870

Everyone’s lifestyle requirements are different. You could live on less. It’s possible to rent a place for $300 a month (or even less). If you don’t need a cable TV or Internet, you can save on those expenses.

Taxes in Mexico: As an expat in Mexico, the taxes one will pay depend in part on his/her situation.

Income Tax: If one owns a property in Mexico they will have to give real estate taxes. If one rent out that property or own a business, have a job, or have interest-bearing bank accounts, he will owe income tax.

Property taxes:

If one have any residential property than he will pay residential property tax every year. One has to pay a 2% acquisition tax when you buy the property.

Is Mexico Safe? Finally, let’s take a look at the elephant in the room: Mexico’s drug-related violence. In the last three years, most of the worldwide news reports on Mexico have ranged from bad to appalling.

For the most part, however, these casualties continue to occur where crime has always been frequent—along the U.S./Mexico border and in a few other pockets, such as parts of Sinaloa and Durango states, that have a strong cartel presence. Ciudad Juárez is considered the most dangerous city in this regard.

The rest of the country remains relatively untouched by drug violence. It’s unlikely that you will see, much less be affected by, and drug crime unless you’re involved in the production, sale, or purchase of illegal drugs. The incidence of non-drug crime in Mexico is very low, and generally consists of petty crimes of opportunity, such as pick pocketing.

In most of Mexico, including vast parts of the colonial highlands and the Yucatán Peninsula, you are much safer than in U.S. cities of comparable size.

Pros and Cons in living Mexico:

Pros:

Close to the U.S. Rich culture and history Friendly people Great for students Retirees and entrepreneurs Relatively inexpensive.

Cons: Safety concerns in some locations due to ongoing violent conflict between drug cartels; economic growth is highly dependent on U.S.; Mexico's tourism industry has been seriously affected by the increase in violent crime or its reporting, though we have many contributors who travel and live in the country without incident for years.