The night is filled with different aromas, flavors and colors:…

On March 16 an e-mail from the Dean of Students, Robert J. Naples, appeared in my inbox. The e-mail issued a warning about traveling to Mexico due to the recent drug-related violence in the border cities such as Tijuana, Nogales, and Ciudad Juarez. The Dean’s warning appeared to be more than a mere suggestion – it implicitly discouraged students from traveling to Mexico.

Carlos Slim is the first Mexican to top the Forbes list of billionaires, one of the few from outside the United States or Europe. He controls the majority of Mexico’s telecommunication and his telecom business Telmex is described as one of the highest in cost. The 70-year-old son of a Lebanese immigrant attests to being incredibly frugal by living in the same modest home that he has resided for over three decades in Mexico. He uses Mexico City public transportation and can be seen eating at his restaurant chain, Sanborn’s.