A surname is a family name shared by members of a family, usually passed down through generations. In many countries it comes last, but naming systems vary widely around the world. Understanding surnames matters for travel, paperwork, and sending money. Here is how surnames work across cultures.
If you are a US citizen flying to Mexico, you need a valid US passport book. If you travel by land or sea, you can use a passport book, a passport card, or another approved document. Requirements differ by how you travel and can change, so confirm before your trip. Here is what to know.
Mexico Independence Day is celebrated on September 16 each year, marking the start of the country's fight for independence from Spain in 1810. In 2026, the main celebrations center on the evening of September 15 and the day of September 16. Here is the history behind it and how families mark the occasion.
Send money to Europe with MoneyGram. Explore options for the UK, Germany, Spain, and more, including direct to bank and cash pickup.
Send money to Asia with MoneyGram. Explore options for India, the Philippines, China, and more, from cash pickup to bank and mobile wallet.
Send money to Africa with MoneyGram. Explore options for Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and more, including cash, bank, and mobile money.
It usually happens when you least expect it. You're walking through the grocery store when you spot a snack you grew up eating. Someone passes by speaking your native language, and for a second, it feels like you're back home. A familiar song comes on during your commute, or you catch yourself checking the time. Then you picture your family sitting down for dinner thousands of miles away.
Every family has a meal that tells a story. Ask someone about the food they miss most, and chances are they'll tell you a story before they tell you a recipe. They'll remember who cooked it, who gathered around the table, and what the house smelled like long before they remember the ingredients.
You're trying to remember everything your family mentioned over the past few weeks. Your mom asked if you could bring her favorite vitamins. Your nephew has probably outgrown the shirt you bought him last year. Someone wants a specific chocolate they can't find back home. Another relative is hoping you can squeeze one more “small” thing into your suitcase.
Banamex, formally Citibanamex, is one of Mexico’s oldest and most widely used banking institutions. Because so many families in Mexico bank with Banamex, many US-to-Mexico money transfers eventually need to land in a Banamex account.
If you’re sending money to family in the Philippines, there’s a good chance they already use GCash. It’s one of the country’s most popular mobile wallets, used for everything from paying bills and buying groceries to sending money, topping up mobile data, and managing everyday expenses.
If your recipient in India has a bank account, sending directly to that account can be one of the simplest ways to get money there.
