Social Studies: Neighbourhoods and Community

Vocabulary and key concepts from the social studies unit on neighbourhood improvement and life in city vs. country locations.

Las Palmitas

A neighbourhood overlooking the city of Pachuca, located $90\,km$ north of Mexico City.

Enrique Gomez

The project director and muralist who led the effort to paint $209$ houses in Las Palmitas; he was also a former gang member.

la bella airosa

The nickname for the city of Pachuca, meaning 'the beautiful airy city' because of the strong wind.

Drab

A term meaning not colourful.

Has participated

A term meaning has taken part.

Swirls

Curved shapes, often used to create patterns in art.

Nickname

An informal name for a person, place, or thing.

Rival

A term meaning competing.

Neighbourhood

An area of a town or city that people live in.

Residents

People who live in a particular place.

Mural

A picture that is painted directly on a wall.

Transformed

Changed completely in a way that improves something.

Gangs

Organised groups of people who are often involved in crime.

Muralist

Someone who paints large pictures or murals on a wall.

Trust

The belief that someone is good and honest.

Community spirit

The sense of involvement and belonging that develops when local people work together towards common goals.

Volunteer

A person who does valuable work to help the community without being paid.

Community group

An informal and friendly group, such as a sports club or music group, created for locals.

Like a fish out of water

An idiom meaning to feel uncomfortable or out of place in a particular situation.

In two minds

An idiom meaning to be undecided or to have conflicting opinions about something.

The best of both worlds

An idiom meaning a situation where you can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at once.

The middle of nowhere

An idiom describing a place that is very remote and far from towns or shops, such as Mansur's farm which is $15\,km$ from the nearest town.

Give a hand

An idiom meaning to help someone with a task.