Newcomers of Monterrey

"When you are far from home,
nothing is more important then a circle of friends"

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Life in Monterrey

    We understand when making a move to another city or country can be difficult. And, yes, it will be a 'culture shock' to some of you. We would like to touch a little bit on how it affects you and how to cope with it.  See below for related information.
    So what does Monterrey have to offer you? Well, surprisingly enough there are many things to see and do. Not only is Monterrey noted for its excellent food but it has really beautiful sites and attractions to explore.  There are beautiful malls for shopping and movie theaters. Many movies are in English with subtitles. The Mexican culture is set aside from all other cultures.

Day Trips

Grutas de Garcia (Garcia Caves)-   An extensive cave system located northwest of Monterrey in the Villa de Garcia. A scenic train-like vehicle lifts visitors to the caves' entrance hundreds of feet above, on the hill slope.  
The Cola de Caballo (Horse tail) waterfall - on the mountains near the towns of Santiago and El Cercado, about 35 km south. 
Bioparque Estrella - A well maintained safari park that has over 800 animals from around the world. You can enjoy a petting zoo, paddle boats and their gift shop.
Plaza Sesamo - Just 5 minutes from downtown near Fundidora park. This family oriented theme park with rides for kids and adults and a water park complete with slides. Truly a fun place!
Los Cavazos (7-mile Fee Market) - This lines both sides of the Carretera National - the highway to Villa de Santiago, about 30 minutes outside of Monterrey. There are many small, family-owned restaurants which serve Mexican local food. There are also Mexican and local handcrafts, furniture and more. The prices are very reasonable.

                                                Sightseeing around Monterrey

Santa Lucia -   This new riverwalk was finished in September 2007. The architectual design is spectular. There are playareas located throughout and a boat starting from the Historical Museum ending in Parque Fundidora.
Museo de Arte (Marco)-
The museum contains a permanent collection of contemporary  Mexican and Latin American Art, plus traveling exhibits. www.marco.org.mx
Museo de Historia Mexicans - The permanent exhibit features a large room devoted to Ancient Mexico. www.museohistoriamexicana.org.mx
Planetario Alfa
This complex is sponsored by the parent company of Nemak.  It has beautiful gardens, a planetarium and 2 IMAX movies playing at all times.  www.planetarioalfa.org.mx   
 
Parque Fundidores  
The Park has a 3 km walking path around a former steel factory complex.  Speed limit applies so is not good for cycling but is great for rollerblading or walking/running. www.parquefundidora.org
Chipinque - Chipinque is the mountain that forms the south border to San Pedro and has the M shape.  There are amazing trails for hiking that boast spectacular city views.  Mountain biking is also possible.  http://www.chipinque.org.mx

Culture Shock and How It Affects You

  Most people who live abroad for an extended period experience difficulties in adjusting to the new culture; this is commonly called "culture shock". In order to understand culture shock, one must remember that our ability to function in the world depends on our capacity. When at home, it's easy to get along well with everyday habits that require little thought. For example, how much to tip, where to park your car and what the street signs say. Abroad, the reverse is true and simple tasks become difficult because we don't know how to behave, our actions and words don't get the expected responses, and we don't understand the messages we are getting. This disorientation that can cause severe stress is culture shock. Fortunately, culture shock is predictable and manageable and, if you are prepared for it, you can do a great deal to mitigate its effects.

How to Cope with Culture Shock

    Since culture shock is a cycle of adjustment, people who make the effort to learn as much as possible about their temporary home country before they leave and who arrive abroad with an open mind, eager to learn as much as possible, often find it much easier to adjust. To make the transition easier, people should not wait for others to make the first move but should start reaching out right away.  This is where the Newcomers of Monterrey steps in. We have dedicated sponser sisters that help discuss and help cope with adjusting to your new surroundings. Please contact them at boardmembersofmty@gmail.com

*Local Resturants

Mexican                                   Japanese

    Casa Grande                             Ikkyu

    El Papalote                               Kampai 

    Las Palmas                               Meiji-En

    El Tio

    La Escondida                       Italian

    La Catarina                           Silvanos 

Argentinean                         Don Pasquale        

    Las Estancias                        La Parola
    El Gaucho

    Las Pampas                         American

    El Argentino                           Chilis

International                              Applebee's

    Salute!                                     Carl's Jr.

    Hawaii Cinco Cero                 IHOP

    Pangea                                     Bennigan's

    La Leche

    Sierra Madre Brewing Co

These are suggested establishments from our members.

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