By Paul Paez/reporter
NE students got a taste of Mexican culture and history Nov. 19 during a bilingual presentation.
“El corazón de México es Morelos … un estado muy pequeño pero con mucho corazón, y con lengua y cultura dentro del país de México.
“The heart of Mexico is Morelos … a small state in the center of Mexico, but a state full of heart, with a rich history, language and culture,” said Dalel Cortés during The Heart of Mexico: Language, Culture and History.
Cortés, who serves as the Mexican Institute of Spanish and Culture’s executive director as well as the Mexican state of Morelos’ director of tourism, described the rich history, culture and natural beauty of places in central Mexico, especially the city of Cuernavaca.
NE Spanish instructor Jaime Palmer introduced Cortés in both English and Spanish while interacting with the audience regarding the meaning of several sentences from one language to another.
The presentation, which brought a large audience, featured photographs, videos and statistics describing the area of Central Mexico. Cortés talked about the rich history of Xochicalco, the Spanish colonization, the art of trading finished goods and the effects the media have influenced in the Spanish language. She said the media could help other cultures within Central and South America to better communicate with each other.
“People who speak Spanish around the world can understand a more neutral language with no extreme accents as spoken in the heart of Mexico,” she said.
NE student Amy Stiffler was drawn to Cortés’ description of the region’s environment.
“I think she sold me on springtime weather all year around and the culture, and the bartering,” she said.
Student Kristy Lockwood said she was most interested in the people and the bartering technique.
“Morelos is in the center of Mexico where everything collides: the history, the culture, the people,” she said.
Cortés visits NE each year to update students on Morelos’ political and social scene.
She said language shouldn’t be a barrier in understanding others.
“Siempre conocer otras culturas no sabre el corazón y nos damos cuenta que somos iguales aunque hablemos diferente,” she said.
“Always knowing other cultures opens our heart and shows us that we are all equal although we speak differently.”
