August Gardner
West Virginia University College of Law, Rising 3L
May 21, 2008
Musings on Mexico

When I decided to come to Mexico, I had no idea how much of an impact it would have on my life. I had never traveled abroad before and was quite nervous about flying. However, I was determined not to let my inexperience get the best of me. I have now been in Mexico for three whole days and am enjoying every bit of it. The people, the culture, and the history are unbelievable. In this short blog I plan to give a brief synopsis of all the crazy and wonderful things I have experienced in my short stay in the city of Guanajuato (what many call the city of frogs).

It all started when I boarded a plane in Pittsburgh on a rainy Sunday morning. I was apprehensive about flying and was even a bit disturbed when I went through airport security and was asked to throw away my lotion and body spray. However, my discontent was short lived because my life changed the moment I walked on the plane. Once, in the air, the clouds were a beautiful bright white and blue. The scenic view was somewhat heaven like. As a group we transferred planes after arriving in Texas. The next flight would take us to our final destination, Guanajuato, Mexico. Little did we know the flight attendant would make this a trip to remember. She tried to put everyone at ease by using her witty humor, which definitely worked on me.

Today, it is Wednesday, May 21, 2008 and it has been three days since my arrival in Guanajuato. Our days are spent by having daily lectures at the University, by both American and Mexican Professors. The subject of today?s lecture explored the similarities and differences between American and Mexican corporate law. The American government established the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1933, to regulate corporations and to help protect the American public from fraud on the market. Similarly, Mexico has sought to use the American corporate model to establish new reforms for its business law.

Specifically, the Mexican Securities Act was amended in order to regulate corporate governance; promote full, fair and prompt disclosure; protect minority rights; and promote transparency of stock transactions. In the past decade, we have seen Mexico?s public market move from being practically nonexistent to one that seeks to promote open investments and subsequently, foreign trade. Mexico seems to be moving in the right direction in theory anyways. Although, it may take some time for the new corporate governance laws to be fully implemented, Mexico is doing its best to become an economic force. If this pattern of progressive change continues Mexico might just become an essential player on the world scene. I genuinely look forward to what tomorrow may bring.