I'm currently writing a write-up on poverty in Mexico, and I'm focusing on political transparency. Based on the research I've done so far, there seems to be quite a fair bit of information here, so I'm a bit confused and need some explanation. There is this collective of organizations called Colectivo por la Transparencia - is it a non-governmental organization? What about the Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Informacion? Is it operated under government legislation, or is it a fully autonomous organization?

Thanks bro. Yeah it seems there's quite a bit of throwing about in the constitution. Too bad official reports seem to be fairly positive about "transparency" from 2003-2008, and I can't quote you either D:

Owells, work still has to be done, and official statement is still official statement. It'll be up on Wikipedia by next Friday.

Yeah might be going to Mexico for summer school. Fingers crossed that I don't have to change my location before May (which is when the trip starts) :P

Yeah, those same reports keep saying we're winning the war on drugs. *rolls eyes*

Sorry.

I'm not the only Mexican that hangs around here, so I suppose they can chime in and say something else.

I have a question: have you heard of Tec de Monterrey in Queretaro? Is it one of the top Universities in Mexico?

I've heard of it, but I'm from the North (Baja California). I have no idea if it's one of the top ones or not. ^^;

Ah that's cool, thanks for the help bro.

By the way, would you call the public sector (i.e. governmental sector) suppressive?

By the way, do random people really just join in the street festivities? I'm genuinely curious, and also because I'm indicating it as one of my reasons for wanting to go to Mexico :P

-edit- Oops, I meant for this as an edit to the upper post.

Maybe I can help too. El Tec (Short for Tecnologico De Monterrey) is one of the top Universities in Mexico overall (My mom studied there). But the educational level, facilities, and cost vary from campus to campus. For example, here in Puebla, we have two campus Tec Puebla (For the upper class) and Tec Milenio Puebla (For the upper middle class who can't pay the tuition fees of the first).

About your other questions:

Yes, the public sector is VERY suppressive in several aspects. They often try to suppress freedom of speech:
http://hugodelao.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/mvs-radio-dismisses-carmen-aristegui/
http://agentcantina.blogspot.com/2010/10/presunto-culpable-documental.html

They suppress (or blackmail) people and businesses with lots of bureaucracy, taxes and asking for bribes instead of doing their job. But most of the time they don't give a rats ass about you. That is, until you have something they want, do/say something that makes them look bad or simply you don't play their game...

On a lighter note. Yeah it''s true what you heard about street festivities. Random people do join to see what's happening. Especially when they are religious. For example when they celebrate the saint (santo patrono) of a church. One time last year, I went downtown to send a package to the postal office and the streets were blocked because of this. So i had to go on foot and join the crowd to be able to get there.

Hope this helps.

What do you mean by "street festivities"? Like Mardi Gras?

Thanks man, all that information is really helpful, and affirms a few statements I've come across before too.

By the way, just want to inquire a bit about finding some employment there: how feasible is it for an Asian exchange student to maybe earn a few thousand pesos in a short stay there? Is it possible for a 1-month temporary position in the service sector? And what kind of part time work do people usually take up there?
Yup

I live in Queretaro. Last time I checked, the UAQ (Universidad Autónoma de QUerétaro) and the regional Technologic Institute got the Tec beat in quality (and definitely in accesible fees), but that may be just a sense of pride towards the higher education institution I go to (UAQ).

Eh, I might just be talking out of my ass, have not seen the ratings for a couple of years.

Edit: All things considered, the UNAM is the top university in the country.

Where I live (Puebla) we don't have street festivities, I think that's more common in rural towns or just not big cities, unless there's a parade or something like that, where people just cram into the streets to watch it, like the saying: "Al pueblo, pan y circo" (Bread and Circuses).
Personally, I think making a tumult in the middle of the street is seen as bad by the society here, like when they're doing a kind of political commotion, it just disturbs regular people trying to get on with their lifes (transporting to work, school, etc,)
So, festivities are usually celebrated indoors, at home or even at schools, where a Funfair or a "kermesse", or any type of celebration is more likely to take place.

Noted guys, many thanks again for the feedback. :)