Mexico is Latin America’s most visited tourist destination and a large producer of oil, silver, copper, and agricultural products. It is also home to the world’s largest pyramid, the pyramid of Cholula.

Film director Guillermo del Toro, artist Frida Kahlo, and actress Salma Hayek were born in Mexico.

Mexico has a progressive taxation system, meaning that tax deductions depend on your salary range. Additionally, different taxation schemes are applied to residents and non-residents.

The Mexican culture still bears the traces of the Mayan and Aztek influence, as well as aftermaths of the European colonization which took place around the 15th century.

Today, however, Mexico is an independent country, and takes pride in it. Two annual holidays, Cinco de Mayo and El Grito de Indepencia, celebrate freedom of the Mexican people from the French and Spanish influence.

Another notable holiday is the famed Day of the Dead, which is not as dark as it sounds. It is the day to unite with your family, honor the spirits of your ancestors and pay a visit to a cemetery. On this day, bright and colorful parades are held in bigger cities which are a must-see if you have never been to Mexico before.

Mexico has an extensive shoreline with access to the North Pacific Ocean, the gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The Sierra Madre mountain ranges are a continuation of the Rocky Mountains in the USA.

The mountainous regions of the country are located above sea level, with lower temperatures and humidity. Rainfall is significant all across the country: most territories get about 40 inches of rainfall every year.

Public healthcare in Mexico is supervised by the Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social and the Seguro Popular insurance. All companies and their employees pay contributions to the public healthcare sector, and every working person has a public healthcare coverage. Most public hospitals are well-equipped and have excellently-trained English speaking doctors. The hospital staff and administration, though, may not be English-speaking.

Most immigrants in the country go for private healthcare plans, which means higher fees, better equipment, wider choice of procedures, shorter waiting times and more English-speaking staff.

Kindergartens

Generally, there are three types of kindergartens: public, private, and indigenous. Kids attend kindergartens between the ages of 3 and 5. Even though it is part of formal education and public kindergartens are accessible for every resident, many families prefer home tuition for kids.

The official language of public kindergarten and school tuition is Spanish. There are also a number of private international organizations which offer programs in English, German, or French languages. These are typically located in bigger cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, etc.

Schools

The formal cycle of school education consists of 12 years: primary school for ages 6–12, junior high school between 12 and 15, and high school from 15 to 18. This education is compulsory for all residents, however they can choose between public and private options.

Public schools offer programs in Spanish only, are free of charge and often receive less funds than needed. Private schools, concentrated in major cities, offer higher standards of education. However, when looking for a private school, it pays to be cautious and see that the school has proper accreditation.

Numerous international schools in Mexico teach students based on foreign curricula and offer different languages of tuition: English, German, or French. At the same time, they entail significantly higher tuition fees.