DASNR
International
Student of the Week

Home Country: Mexico

 

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country located in North America, bordered at the north by the United States, and at the south by Guatemala and Belize, in Central America. It is the northernmost and westernmost country in Latin America, and also the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world.

The site of advanced Mesoamerican or Amerindian civilizations, the land that currently makes up Mexico existed under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. The first century of independence was tumultuous, culminating in the decade-long Mexican Revolution, followed by roughly seventy years of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states. Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that the opposition defeated the (PRI) and Vicente Fox of the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in as President on 1 December 2000.

Mexico is a powerful and influential neighbor of the United States, in terms of trade, culture, diplomacy, with a history of emigration of Mexicans into the U.S. since the early 1900's.
Source: Wikipedia Online


Mexico

 

Alberto Grado
November 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the Department of Animal Science...

 

This week's International Student of the Week is Juan Alberto Grado from Chihuahua, Mexico. He is in the Animal Science department and is working on his PhD in Animal Reproduction. He is from Chihuahua, which is located in Northern Mexico and happens to be the largest state in Mexico.

When he is not busy studying or doing homework, he enjoys going to rodeos to watch the roping and he also likes to do things out on their ranch. He came to the United States because he has always been interested in what the US would offer as far as more opportunities, lab equipment and technology. He came to OSU due to the major amount of beef production in Oklahoma and because the University of Chihuahua (UACH) has an agreement with OSU which makes it easier to accomplish.

His future plans include going back to Chihuahua to follow up with the beef production knowledge that he gained while being here at OSU. He also would like to teach part-time while doing both research and extension on the side.

He brought his wife Gabriela and his four children with him to OSU. They are all enjoying Stillwater and have adapted well. Gabriela, when not taking care of the house and children, is taking English classes that are offered through the family resource center here on campus. They are all very happy to be in the US, at first it was a little difficult and the environment was so very different, however, they appreciate the politeness of everyone they have come into contact with.

Some advice he would give to other international students would be “try to learn fluent English so you are able to communicate and do not be afraid because the opportunities are endless,” said Grado.

His advisor is Dr. Leon Spicer.

Alberto and Gabriela's Children are (left to right) Raul Alberto (7), Sandra Marcela (4), Alexa Gabriela (5) and Aida Rebeca (13).

Interview by Taryn Fast, International Ag Programs




Basaseachi Falls in Chihuahua


Copper Canyon in Chihuahua

The Animal Science Campus at the University of Chihuahua,
where Alberto will work after finishing his doctoral degree at OSU.