There is a common misconception that if you speak Spanish in the United States you are automatically Mexican. However, this ignorance enrages the Latino community.

This misconception has become so deeply rooted that every year when Hispanic Heritage month arrives, I have to roll my eyes. Every place I have been to makes this period of time seem like it’s just a Mexican celebration.

Now, I do not have anything against Mexicans. I am just stating that for the rest of us Latinos — we feel underrepresented during this month.

Hispanic Heritage Month was formerly known as Hispanic Heritage Week, it began as an observation of the Hispanic culture in 1968 by president Lyndon Johnson, then expanded to a 30-day period in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.

This 30-day period begins Sept. 15 and ends Oct. 15 because most Latin American countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala have their independence days within this period of time.

Latin America refers to more than Mexico – it is Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

A previous Shorthorn article stated that UTA kicked off their Hispanic Heritage Month celebration with a mariachi band and taco plates — not every Latin country listens to mariachi or specializes in tacos.

Aside from mariachi, examples of Latin American music include salsa, bachata and reggeaton. Salsa is popular Cuban, Puerto Rican and Colombian dance music that features instruments such as trumpets, conga drums and maracas.

Bachata originated in the Dominican Republic as a more romantic style of music. Reggeaton is a music that derives from Panama that has the Dem Bow rhythm, making it Latin American hip-hop.

Although tacos may be delicious, they do not fully represent Latin American food. A majority of Mexican food has a spicy base to it and includes foods like tacos, tortillas and beans. Did you know that Latinos eat plantains, yucca (cassava) and they season their meats with spices such as garlic, cumin and other nonspicy peppers?

Next time there is an event, why not incorporate other Latin music or traditional foods. They should play a variety of music that represents the whole Latin community or serve a variety of foods like pupusas, a Salvadorean dish, or some tostones, Puerto Rican fried plantains. After all, it is a Hispanic celebration.

It is not too late to change this in the UTA community. We have two more weeks to represent other Latin cultures.
While I know that this will continue to be a problem in America, Hispanic Heritage Month should represent all of the different Latin countries — not just Mexico.

[readon1 url="http://www.theshorthorn.com/opinion/column-hispanic-latino-don-t-mean-mexican/article_b261aa60-4376-11e4-b6b2-0017a43b2370.html"]Source:www.theshorthorn.com[/readon1]

Oatmeal is a breakfast favorite, and for good reason: It helps curb appetite (keeping you full until lunch), decreases risk for both colon cancer and high cholesterol and is incredibly easy to whip up in the morning.

You may be accustomed to spooning up a hearty dish of sweet oats, topped with raisins, brown sugar, maple syrup or fruit. But oats' neutral taste makes a prime canvas for more inventive flavor pairings.

Savory oats -- svoats, if you will -- are a brilliant way to enjoy the classic stick-to-your-bones breakfast food. They're delicious topped with a poached egg (but, really, what isn't?). Their meaty texture complements an avocado's creaminess. They welcome a reckless dousing of Sriracha. And, svoats are a great way to get in a serving of vegetables or two. Yep, svoats are on their way to winning the title of "World's Most Perfect Breakfast Food." Here are 13 ways to cook them up:

 Photo buffs with a taste for the good life can indulge their interests with a five-day Leica Akademie excursion at Real del Mar on Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta.

The Destinations in Focus photography workshop is sponsored by German optics and camera company Leica in conjunction with Exclusive Resorts, a luxury destinations company. The one-on-one workshop includes outings to markets and surf destinations, plus critiques and editing.

Guests stay in private two- to four-bedroom villas with infinity pools, hot tubs, outdoor showers and concierge services.

Date: Oct. 1-5

Price: Rates start at $2,999 per person. Price includes accommodations, breakfast, welcome and farewell dinners and access to Leica state-of-the-art equipment, daily shooting experiences with an instructor along with review and critique of images and airport transfers.

[readon1 url="http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-leica-photo-workshop-mexico-20140912-story.html"]Source:www.latimes.com[/readon1]

One of the most visited coastal destinations in Mexico, Riviera Nayarit will work with EarthCheck to embrace sustainable development across the destination. EarthCheck is the world’s leading sustainability program for the travel and tourism industry and works with destinations from around the world.

The Governor of the People, Roberto Sandoval Castañeda toured areas of the state capital and the town of Xalisco, which were affected during this weekend by the floods caused by the weather phenomenon "Norbert".

Last evening an earthquake occurred off the coast of Jalisico.  Initialy reported as a magnatude of 6.1, at 8pm local time it was at Magnatude of 5.6.

WestJet announced an increase in its flight frequency from Vancouver and Calgary to the Vallarta-Nayarit International Airport beginning in October in order to prepare for the upcoming winter season.

 This is a story for vacationers heading to the golden sands of Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and other spots on the Mexican Riviera. It will give you a little history of the Spanish conquest of western Mexico - and perhaps some interesting nuggets to share with other tourists during your stay.

Chances are you've heard of Hernan Cortes, the great Spanish conquistador who - with just 500 soldiers - snatched what's now the country of Mexico away from the powerful Aztec emperor Moctezuma in 1521. But you likely never heard of Nuño de Guzman, one of Cortes' top captains. Maybe Cortes had a better public relations man, but Guzman was almost as big a conquistador, having led the invasion of the better part of western Mexico and who for a while served as governor of a couple of states.

More than 2 million retired Americans have chosen Mexico as their new home, a figure that continues to increase thanks to the pleasant climate and favorable economic conditions, Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara said.

During Friday’s inauguration of the 1st National Forum for Retired Americans: Expectations and Solutions of Life in Mexico, the official said that Mexico offers such products as medical tourism, rest and relaxation tourism, and business tourism.

She said that retired Americans are a segment of great importance for developing the economy of the nation’s tourist destinations, and added that more and more Canadians also opt for retirement in Mexico.

Guevara said that the favorite retirement locations are Mexico’s northwestern states and the Yucatan Peninsula.

At the same forum, the president of the International Community Foundation, Richard Kiy, said that 53 percent of retirees making their home in Mexico are under age 65 and choose Mexico for the favorable living conditions and stable economy.

He said that Mexico being near their home country does influence their choice, as does the possibility of purchasing a home at a much lower price than in the United States.

He said that 34 percent say the economic recession has not affected their retirement plans nor their quality of life.

The study indicated that 93 percent of retirees say that drug-related violence, which has claimed nearly 50,000 lives in the past five years, is not a problem that would keep them from moving to Mexico.

[readon1 url="http://www.theyucatantimes.com/2014/09/more-than-2-million-americans-and-canadians-choose-mexico-for-retirement/"]Source:www.theyucatantimes.com[/readon1]

From Punta Mita to Mismaloya, visitors to Banderas Bay can find an amazing selection of fine dining restaurants throughout the areas around Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. But what about when you’re looking for something delicious on a budget? Let’s talk about some of the best cheap eats you can find in the area.

A great place to start is on the Puerto Vallarta Malecon where you’ll find a huge selection of yummy street foods sold by local vendors. Roasted corn, crepes, tacos, pastries and desserts, grilled shrimp and chicken, and freshly cut fruits and vegetables served up with lime and chillies are all available for just a couple of dollars less.

Fish taco lovers shouldn’t miss Marisma, a popular chain with locations in downtown Puerto Vallarta, Fluvial Vallarta and Marina Vallarta where for less than $5 you can leave felling very satisfied after a meal of 3 tacos washed down with a beer or freshly made lemonade.

Another popular location is El Coleguita in the Puerto Vallarta Marina, where the constant line of diners waiting for a table speaks to the quality and great prices on their menu. All meals start with a shot of house tequila, tostadas and fresh salsa, and a tasty seafood soup. Then choose from their large menu of fresh seafood items and finish with a complimentary dessert and Kahlua, with most meals averaging about $11 per person or less.

An affordable cost of living is one of the reasons that buying a second home or retiring in Puerto Vallarta are such popular choices. So get out and enjoy some of the least expensive and most delicious cuisine in the city!

[readon1 url="http://sarahelengornrealestate.com/blog/2014/august/delicious-inexpensive-dining-around-puerto-vallarta/"]Source:sarahelengornrealestate.com[/readon1]

Spending five days on a trip that combined an all-inclusive resort with a quaint Mexican pueblo and funky seaside beach towns was, well, pretty much idyllic.

This was all possible with a direct charter flight to Puerto Vallarta and a short drive — easily doable by local bus, taxi or rental car to Riviera Nayarit, a region north of Puerto Vallarta that includes about 300 kilometres of coastline. It’s here you can navigate coastline steeped in what I imagine Puerto Vallarta was like 50 years ago, including authentic Mexican villages, fishing towns, cobblestoned streets, colourful outdoor markets and beaches that ranged from secluded to popular surf hangouts. You’ll also find everything from the classic Mexican taqueria to upscale Four Seasons Resort in Punta Mita, golf courses, organic restaurants, art galleries and yoga studios — all against a backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountains and lush jungle forest.

 The courses have a duration of two months and deal with topics in physical and mental health of the operators, road regulations and mechanical maintenance of the units.

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco to September 3-in the municipality of Puerto Vallarta, authorities have focused on training drivers of public transportation to improve the service offered to users.

"Today we have about 510 drivers with their certification and with their records in hand, a register of more than 1,000 drivers, now we have another important group within the campuses which were recorded", said the delegate of the Secretariat of mobility, Gustavo Ulloa Gómez.

Within the courses themes are addressed as the physical and mental health of the operators, road regulations and mechanical maintenance of the units.

The training will be compulsory for operators of truck units and 109 hours spread over two months.

The new training model aims to dignify the figure of the driver of public transport and goes beyond just teach them to drive.

[readon1 url="http://www.televisaregional.com/guadalajara/noticias/ultimas-noticias/Capacitan-a-choferes-del-transporte-publico-en-Puerto-Vallarta-273754081.html"]Source:www.televisaregional.com[/readon1]