![\"Alheli](\"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/international-testimonials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/10\/Photo_AlheliVelez_Mexico.png\")
<\/p>\nIn today’s International Testimonial we will meet Alheli Velez. Alheli is doing her Master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law & Business Law and she is from Mexico. More precisely from Guadalajara. Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco. And Jalisco is known for being the birthplace of mariachi, tequila and charrer\u00eda (that is like Mexican rodeo).<\/p>\n
I dare to say Dia de Muertos!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not a tradition to be sad, but rather colorful and festive and about remembering with affection. It is believed that in the 2nd day of November our loved ones who have passed come back in spirit to reunite with us for one night. So on the days prior we make an ofrenda<\/em> (offering) consisting of many different elements with a specific meaning, even the colors have a reason. It is a celebration filled with love and a touch of nostalgia yet always accompanied by the joy of knowing our loved ones will always be remembered. The quietness! The first thing I noticed at the airport is that it was so silent, like it was empty, and to me it felt very peaceful. Also, the fact that people like to follow the rules even if nobody is watching. At the end of the day, we understand that rules are there for a reason and following them allows everyone to high-quality facilities. Everything just makes sense!<\/p>\n It\u2019s impossible to choose one but here are my top three:<\/p>\n Chilaquiles:<\/strong> It\u2019s a traditional breakfast dish consisting of using yesterday\u2019s leftover tortillas, fry them to make tortilla chips (called totopos) and then we coat them in a tomato sauce made with various types of chili peppers. Every family has its own recipe for chilaquiles sauce. I usually like to serve them with scrambled eggs, but it is also very common to eat them with steak, chicken, or any protein of your choice.<\/p>\n Pozole:<\/strong> It\u2019s origins go back from the pre-hispanic civilizations, it is believed that it was a sacred dish for the Nahuas and some people say it some rituals may have included the flesh of sacrificed enemy warriors. Now we prefer pork meat and chicken haha. Carne en su jugo:<\/strong> Also a staple from my hometown. It\u2019s sort of a beef and green tomato (called tomatillo) soup with thinly sliced beef, beans and sometimes crispy bacon pieces. The warmth! Not only the weather haha, but the people are very friendly, and you can chat with your neighbours casually. We are very cheerful people! You\u2019ll always be in good company, and we\u2019d love to share our culture with you. We like making people feel right at home! That might feel a bit uncomfortable for Finns at times though, because we really like physical contact. I think the football World Cup helped us clean up our reputation a little bit thanks to the people\u2019s hospitality and cheerfulness.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a little list to show a bit of diversity: \u201cEl Rey\u201d by Vicente Fernandez<\/strong>: An anthem of Mexican Ranchero music. Translated as \u201cThe King\u201d it talks about a very proud man who through ups and downs he keeps his dignity and stubbornness saying, \u201cI am still the king\u201d. Most Mexicans know this song by heart, and we usually sing it at parties when drinking. (Also from Jalisco by the way).<\/p>\n \u201cMe pregunto\u201d by Belanova<\/strong>: 2000\u2019s Electropop, formed in Guadalajara. This song captures the grief, loneliness, and confusion of a breakup through melancholic lyrics set against a bright, upbeat dance rhythm. Belanova was one of my favorite groups as a child and now they\u2019re having a comeback on mainstream media! It\u2019s funny how all their songs have a very bright rhythm but the lyrics are very touching (I cried a lot during their concert).<\/p>\n \u201cMejor Despidete\u201d by San Venus<\/strong>: Pop punk\/Midwest from my hometown. It\u2019s a raw, emotionally heavy song that captures the painful acceptance of a failing relationship and the necessity of saying goodbye. Their concerts are full of very deep emotions and crowdwork. It\u2019s very cathartic to see them live and they helped me a lot during a very hard time of my life. Here\u2019s another list of fun facts about Mexico:
\nIt has its roots in pre-Hispanic cultures, and thanks to syncretism with the Catholic church, we have what is known today as the Day of the Dead. The ofrenda<\/em> consists of a structure with three or seven tiers (depending on the version you can set up at home) and is decorated with colorful papel picado<\/em>\u00a0and cempas\u00fachil<\/em> flowers (the scent is believed to help souls find their way to the offering); we also include the favorite foods and personal items of our loved ones. We usually place a photograph of one or more family members on the highest tier. In some parts of Mexico, people even visit cemeteries to decorate the graves, spending the entire night celebrating with family while enjoying traditional dishes and pan de muerto<\/em> (a round bread flavored primarily with orange blossom).<\/p>\n
\nThis year, I hope to create a small offering for my grandmother and my lifelong pet.<\/p>\nWhat surprised you the most with Finland or Finnish people?<\/h3>\n
Can you share your favourite recipe from your home country?<\/h3>\n
\nIt\u2019s basically a rich chicken broth made from nixtamalized (alkaline-processed) cacahuazintle corn kernels, it\u2019s a white variety of corn with very big kernels.
\nIt\u2019s a staple comfort food and it\u2019s usually served on major celebrations like Christmas, Independence Day and birthdays. You can also find it on random weekdays with your local Mom & Pop\u2019s restaurant.<\/p>\n
\nFun fact: There is a Mexican restaurant called \u201cKarne Garibaldi\u201d that holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest food service in the world. 13.5 seconds from the moment the order was placed to when a full meal was served on the table<\/p>\nIf you had to give us one reason why to visit Mexico, what would it be?<\/h3>\n
Tell us one artist from your home country that we have to listen to:<\/h3>\n
\n\u201cQuerida\u201d by Juan Gabriel<\/strong>: A classic, the real Mexican legend. It\u2019s one of the greatest hits from the 80\u2019s pop. It\u2019s a ballad with an orchestral arrangement and it mixes the theatrical vocal delivery of \u201cJuanga\u201d yearning for his lover.
\nFun facts: He has more than 1,500 songs written under his belt ranging all the way from ranchero, mariachi to pop and ballads. In such a misogynistic or \u201cmacho\u201d pop culture, his flamboyant style and makeup became a very disruptive presence on mainstream media and he was the first pop artists to sing at Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, which at the time was reserved for classical music and for the cultural elite. Juan Gabriel was for the people by the people, and his story is definitely worth looking at (there are a couple of documentary series about him on Netflix).<\/p>\n
\nThey also have a collection of EP\u2019s called Medicamentos para invierno (Winter medications) and it explores themes of mental health, isolation, and pharmaceutical metaphors (Alprazolam, Sertraline,Quetiapine). They recently participated in the Vans Warped Tour in Mexico City and we are very proud of them!<\/p>\nIs there something else you would like to share about Mexico?<\/h3>\n
\n1. Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana, Mexico.
\n2. It\u2019s not only desert, that\u2019s mostly northern Mexico. In fact, we are one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and yes, we do have snow (mostly on the mountains).
\n3. Jalape\u00f1os are native of Xalapa, Veracruz (original pronunciation could be \u201chalapa\u201d or \u201chalapenjo\u201d in finnish phonetics)
\n4. Western hats (Stetson) were inspired on the mexican vaquero and charro culture, and western rodeos were inspired by mexican charrer\u00eda.
\n5. Tequila has such cultural importance and tradition to just be a fun party drink; you can enjoy very good tequila even in Canc\u00fan. (I can give a whole class on this topic).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"