Hispanic Culture

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Latino vs. Hispanic?

Monday, December 8th, 2008

First of all there is a different between Latinos and Hispanics…the first source is always best: definitions.

From the dictionary:
His
?pan?ic

1. Spanish.
2. Latin American: the United States and its Hispanic neighbors.
3. Also, Hispano. Also called Hispanic American. an American citizen or resident of Spanish or Latin-American descent.

Latino is more south american and Hispanic is more central america. puerto rico dominicans etc.
spain is european and r called spaniards. not hispanics not latinos.
reason hispanic came too is because most central americans r a mix of spaniards native americans, whites etc.

Spanish
1. of or pertaining to Spain, its people, or their language.
2. the Spanish people collectively.
3. a Romance language, the language of Spain, standard also in most of Latin America except Brazil. Abbreviation: Sp, Sp.

La?ti?no
a person of Latin-American or Spanish-speaking descent.

The term “Hispanic” is still preferred by most and will continue to gain popularity here in the United States.

Hispanic student numbers surge

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (UPI) — A study says the number of Hispanic students in U.S. public schools doubled from 1990 to 2006 to about 10 million children. 

The Pew Hispanic Center in Washington said Tuesday that the growth spurt accounted for 60 percent of the overall growth rate in public schools enrollment and the trend was likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

“In 2050, there will be more school-age Hispanic children than school-age non-Hispanic white children,” Pew said in a written statement.

Pew cited U.S. Census Bureau data projecting a 166-percent growth rate in the population of Hispanic school-age children while non-Hispanics will increase 4 percent.

Hispanics make up about 20 percent of public school enrollment nationwide. However they make up nearly half of the students in California and more than 40 percent in Florida, Arizona and Texas.

The study also noted that 84 percent of Hispanic students were born in the United States, although 70 percent speak a language other than English at home.

Hispanic Education continues to be an important issue in America, we cannot lose this battle.

Value of Education Varies Among Ethnic Groups

Monday, November 24th, 2008

According to the new study “How America Pays for College,” only 54 percent of Hispanic parents surveyed said that college is an investment in a child’s future versus 81 percent of Whites and 85 percent of Blacks. Fifteen percent of Hispanic parents said they were willing to stretch financially for the best opportunity for a child versus 50 percent of Whites and 66 percent of Blacks, according to study results, based on a telephone survey conducted last spring by student loan giant Sallie Mae.

 

“One of the things we need to work on for next year’s study is that the number of Hispanics we have are relatively small,” said Dr. Bill Diggins, strategic consultant for Gallup and lead researcher on this survey. “We need to boost that up. There were some differences across race and ethnicity — primarily among Hispanics. Interestingly, Hispanics seem to be much more debt averse than both African-Americans and Whites. They’re paying approximately one-third less in total college costs than Whites and African-Americans.”

 

Overall findings suggest American families place a high value on college education. Three-quarters of the 684 students ages 18-24 interviewed strongly agreed that one of the reasons they are attending college is that they will enjoy a better quality of life. Ninety-four percent of the 720 parents agreed that sending their child to college was an investment in their child’s future. Three quarters of parents and 87 percent of students agreed they would rather borrow to pay for college than not be able to go at all.

 

The survey shows that 58 percent of families reported ruling out schools because of cost at some point during the application process, with 43 percent doing so even before considering a college. The survey also showed that some families might not be fully investigating whether or not a college is affordable and what financial aid options exist before eliminating it from consideration.

 

While nearly nine out of 10 families (89 percent) with annual income below $35,000 filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), this number drops to only 76 percent for families with annual incomes between $35,000 to $50,000 and 73 percent for families in the $50,000 to $100,000 range. Researchers did not inquire why these families did not fill out FAFSA. They noted that earlier this year Congress passed a simplified version, which will take effect for lower income families immediately and over the next five years will be available for everyone.

 

The survey did not separate out single-parent households.

 

The survey also showed 70 percent of students and parents said they did not consider the student’s expected post-graduation income as a factor in their borrowing decisions.

 

This past May, Sallie Mae, which manages nearly $172 billion in education loans, and Gallup conducted a study of 1,404 undergraduates and parents to investigate “How America Pays for College.” The survey, which was conducted as telephone interviews, was really a look back on the past year, not a projection into the future. Researchers say they will utilize this initial data as a baseline for future surveys, which they anticipate conducting annually for the foreseeable future.

 

“Our goal is to foster a national dialogue about how best to help American families maximize the benefits of higher education,” said Tom Joyce, senior vice president of Sallie Mae.

 

“We recently launched the Education Investment Planner, a free online comprehensive tool that enables families to estimate the total cost of a college degree, build a customized plan to pay for college and estimate the salary a graduate would need to keep repayment of student loans manageable,” he added.

 

 “You need a lifetime of planning,” said Joyce. “This is a significant life cost. The old model of how to plan for this probably no longer applies.”

 

The complete survey can be found and downloaded at www.SallieMae.com/howAmericapays.

 

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Source: Diverse education

How to Connect with Hispanics

Monday, November 17th, 2008

To connect with Hispanics, Address them as young, passionate, family-driven. Why? Because the hispanic population continues to grow. At the growth rate of the U.S. population overall, Hispanic shoppers who tend to pay cash and prepare family meals for home consumption are a coveted segment. Some 45 million U.S. Hispanics already comprise 15% of the nation, and will expand to 52 million by 2013, forecast the U.S. Census Bureau and Nielsen 2008 Universe.

Two-thirds of them are under age 35, and they’re 10 years younger on average than the U.S. populace, so their lifetime spending value makes them a marketer’s dream. Their collective buying power is expected to grow from $900 billion today to $1.3 trillion by 2010, in just two years.

Basic Hispanic Culture

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Losing face happens everyday with Hispanics and people do not know that they make them lose face. On a plane ride from New York City I was riding with Fist Generation Hispanics that were clearly from Mexico. The family was separated but wanted to be together for the flight. My wife and I noticed this and offered to trade seats so the family can do so.

Turns out one of the seats were double booked and they need to tell the Hispanic woman to get up until the problem was handled. The airline attendant was trying to communicate but couldn’t. She started to become frustrated and even raised her voice at the woman. The woman had done nothing wrong but be Mexican and speak only spanish. This to stay the Mexican woman was nervous and humiliated in front of everyone on the plane. It was not the Mexican womans fault that her seat was overbooked, it was an airline glitch and the Mexican woman took the heat. They thought she didn’t know what she was doing and had just sat down in someone elses seat.

The Mexican woman lost face and i’m sure Continental Airlines lost a customer for life. Why? They didn’t know the basic Hispanic culture that you do not yell at Hispanics in public. When you make Hispanics lose face, you lose more from them, you lose all future connections with that individual. When you help them save face, you gain respect and sometimes a friend for life or customer. Always reach your hand out to Hispanics and they’ll repay two fold for being generous and helpful.

English Spanish Speaking Hispanics

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
When people see Hispanics people think that they came from Mexico. Some even think that most were born in Mexico and they came to the United States illegally. That is not the case, well not always. Obviously the first generation Hispanics had to come from somewhere and if you live in the southern United States, it is highly likely that they did come from Mexico. But there are so many central American countries that are also represented.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that everyone is from Mexico. Oh and not every Hispanic speaks spanish so not everyone can translate for you. English and Spanish Speaking Hispanics and out there and both speak either or both languages. You will find some Hispanics that are not in tune with the Mexican culture and you will find some that are assimilated in the American culture. Neither is better than the other, they just had different life experiences.

Also more Hispanics are getting educated now that Hispanic Grants keep becoming available and for students all across America.

Hispanic Cultural Workforce Differences

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

North Americans in the workforce are distinctly known for being direct and to the point. It often is perceived by the Hispanic culture that the North American in general is rude and uncaring. In a leadership role, it is essential that the leader treats each of his workers as an individual first and foremost. This means using such courtesies as acknowledging everyone in the room. It took many years for me to get used to greeting everyone in an office with a handshake and a good morning as I entered into the Latino work environment and there are Hispanic Cultural Workforce Differences.

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Hispanic Relationships

Sunday, October 12th, 2008

Do you know any Hispanics? Do you work with Hispanics?

If you do you will notice that Hispanics are Relational people. There is an unspoken joke that somehow, someway, all Hispanics are related. At times when Hispanics meet new Hispanic people they tend to find something in common with them. My wife’s cousin married my first cousin and though not blood related, i’m related to my wife through the kids of both of our cousins. So Hispanic relationships tend to build faster than most others. That is why immigrants do well when they arrive in the U.S., they just look for another Mexican and hit it off and they help each other out by building Hispanic relationships.  

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Hispanics Treat Customers Like Family

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

Hispanics just have a natural inclination to connect more warmly and personably with customers and prospects than the broader range of people. This is why it is crucial for companies to hire Hispanics to be on staff. Hispanics will give certain cultural ideas that will flow naturally. That is why the trend is that Hispanics treat their customers like family.  Businesses need to gain some insight on how Hispanics relate to customers and in return boost sales.  

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What Hairstyle to use for Quinceanera

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
A typical gathering, with boys in tuxedos, and...

Image via Wikipedia

A rich part of being a Hispanic women is when you turn the age of fifteen. When a girl turns quince she is starting to become a beautiful woman. The tradition is for Hispanic families to celebrate this time by having a Quinceanera party for the girl turning fifteen.

One of the questions that comes up is what hairstyle to use for Quinceanera parties. The proper thing to do is to look at what others have used, search the internet for picture and styles. There is however a great book for discussion called 25 updos. This ebook has helped many ladies plan their quinceanera hairstyle and their wedding hairstyle as well. The book is probably the price of a meal but the information is well worth more than that. So pitch in with some of your friends because I guarantee you will want to always use this as a source for prom, hot dates and especially your Quinceanera.

Give it a try and thank me later so now start planning what hairstyle to use for Quinceanera.

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Hispanics shine as entrepreneurs

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

ASHEVILLE

- Today is the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through Oct. 15. The observance was authorized by Congress in 1968 to celebrate the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central and South America and the Caribbean.

The Citizen-Times will feature stories related to Hispanic heritage throughout the month
Ask Luis Portillo how long he’s been an auto mechanic, and he gives a straightforward answer: “All my life.”

He’s had the dream of owning his own shop about that long, and he’s pretty close now. One of a growing number of local Hispanic entrepreneurs, Portillo, 40, opened TESA, an auto repair shop on Swannanoa River Road, last September. Click to continue »

Hispanic Food Comida

Thursday, September 11th, 2008

Comida or Food is important to Hispanic families. Food is a huge part of the culture. Here is America we call it Mexican Food. The main side dishes that you see in the culture is rice and beans. Many people have their own way of cooking such meals but Hispanics really know how to cook them.

Hispanics know how to sort of the beans and cook them to perfection. They also know what to add to the beans to have them taste so good.

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Hispanic Food

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Food is important to Hispanics. In fact a lot of our paychecks go to food. First Generation Hispanics work for the home and for the food, there is no retirement fund, college fund, savings accounts.

You must understand that Hispanics have their own style of foods. Hispanics can have dinner at a Mexican Restaurant and walk away knowing that the cook was of Mexican descent. They just have that vibe about Hispanic food.

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Hispanic Culture

Monday, September 8th, 2008

1st Generation Hispanics are closely in tune with their culture. Whether they are from Mexico or El Salvador, they live in the U.S. but their hearts and their minds are still back home in their native country. That is why in America there are so many languages being spoken. There is also more and more exposure to flags of other countries. The reason behind this is the First Generation mindset of not letting go of the inner culture.

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Hispanic in America Today

Saturday, September 6th, 2008

Wow, isn’t is amazing how many Hispanics there are in America today. Just take a look around and you will find them in our schools, workforce, and government. What a great day for America since it is now starting to look like the melting pot that everyone says it is.

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