NORTH AMERICA

UNITED STATES OF
 COUNTRY PROFILE
• THE U.S. IS A COUNTRY OF 50 STATES COVERING A VAST SWATH OF NORTH AMERICA, WITH
ALASKA IN THE NORTHWEST AND HAWAII EXTENDING THE NATION’S PRESENCE INTO THE
PACIFIC OCEAN.

• MAJOR ATLANTIC COAST CITIES ARE NEW YORK, A GLOBAL FINANCE AND CULTURE CENTER
• MIDWESTERN METROPOLIS CHICAGO IS KNOWN FOR INFLUENTIAL ARCHITECTURE AND ON
THE WEST COAST

• LOS ANGELES' HOLLYWOOD IS FAMED FOR FILMMAKING.

• STATES: CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, TEXAS, HAWAII, PENNSYLVANIA, WASHINGTON, GEORGIA, NEW
JERSEY

• PRESIDENT: JOE BIDEN

• POPULATION: 327.2 MILLION (2018)
CAPITAL OF USA

• WASHINGTON, D.C. AS THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES AND CAN BE

REFERRED TO FORMALLY AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OR MORE INFORMALLY
AS D.C. OR WASHINGTON.

• THE WASHINGTON, D.C. SEATS THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.
LANGUAGE
• ALTHOUGH THE COUNTRY HAS NO OFFICIAL LANGUAGE, ENGLISH IS THE MOST COMMONLY SPOKEN
LANGUAGE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

• AMERICA, BEFORE GAINING ITS INDEPENDENCE, WAS A BRITISH COLONY. THE COUNTRY THEREFORE
INHERITED MUCH OF ITS CULTURE AS WELL AS LANGUAGE FROM THE BRITISH.

• A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY’S POPULATION HAS BRITISH ANCESTRY WHICH, ALONG WITH OTHER
FACTORS, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO ENGLISH STANDING STRONG WITHIN AMERICAN LANGUAGE AND
CULTURE.

• ENGLISH IS USED IN OFFICIAL PLATFORMS ACROSS MOST STATES, AND ALMOST THE ENTIRETY OF THE
POPULATION HAS BASIC KNOWLEDGE REGARDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE USAGE.

• STILL, OTHER LANGUAGES ARE GAINING TRACTION AS BEING FREQUENTLY USED WITHIN AMERICA’S
BORDERS, AND WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT INFLUENCES ON THIS TREND.
POLITICAL SYSTEM

• THE UNITED STATES IS A FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, IN WHICH THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (THE HEAD OF STATE AND HEAD OF
GOVERNMENT), CONGRESS, AND JUDICIARY SHARE POWERS RESERVED TO THE
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHARES
SOVEREIGNTY WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENTS.
CULTURE
• THE CULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS PRIMARILY OF WESTERN CULTURE
(EUROPEAN) ORIGIN AND FORM, BUT IS INFLUENCED BY A MULTICULTURAL ETHOS THAT
INCLUDES AFRICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, ASIAN, POLYNESIAN, AND LATIN AMERICAN PEOPLE
AND THEIR CULTURES.

• IT ALSO HAS ITS OWN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS, SUCH AS DIALECT, MUSIC,
ARTS, SOCIAL HABITS, CUISINE, AND FOLKLORE.

• THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS AN ETHNICALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE COUNTRY AS A

RESULT OF LARGE-SCALE MIGRATION FROM MANY COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY.

• MANY AMERICAN CULTURAL ELEMENTS, ESPECIALLY FROM POPULAR CULTURE, HAVE

SPREAD ACROSS THE GLOBE THROUGH MODERN MASS MEDIA.
DEMOGRAPHY
Population 329,492,804 (2020) 3rd in the world
 • Density 36 per Km2 (94 people per mi2)
Growth rate 0.59 % (2019–2020)
Birth rate 11.990 births per 1000 people
Death rate 8.880 (12,900 as of April 8, 2020 due to COVID-19)
Net migration rate 954,806
Life expectancy 79.11 years
 • Male 76.6 years
 • Female 81.7 years
Fertility rate 1.78 (2020) children born/woman
GASTRONOMY

Deep-Dish Pizza

Apple Pie

Hamburger Texas Barbecue

 TO U R IS T
ATTRAC T IO N S
 UNESCO WORLD  HERITAGE SITE
MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL
 MOUNT
• MOUNT RUSHMORE
RUSHMORE NATIONAL
NATIONAL MEMORIAL MEMORIAL
IS CENTERED AROUND A SCULPTURE
CARVED INTO THE GRANITE FACE OF MOUNT RUSHMORE IN THE BLACK HILLS
IN KEYSTONE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

• SCULPTOR GUTZON BORGLUM CREATED THE SCULPTURE'S DESIGN AND

OVERSAW THE PROJECT'S EXECUTION FROM 1927 TO 1941 WITH THE HELP OF
HIS SON LINCOLN BORGLUM.

• THE SCULPTURE FEATURES THE 60-FOOT (18 M) HEADS OF PRESIDENTS GEORGE

WASHINGTON (1732–1799), THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743–1826), THEODORE
ROOSEVELT (1858–1919), AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809–1865). THE FOUR
PRESIDENTS WERE CHOSEN, RESPECTIVELY, TO REPRESENT THE BIRTH, THE
GROWTH, THE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

• THE MEMORIAL PARK COVERS 1,278.45 ACRES (2.00 SQ MI; 5.17 KM2) AND IS 5,725
FEET (1,745 M) ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
 GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
• GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, IN ARIZONA, IS HOME TO MUCH OF THE
IMMENSE GRAND CANYON, WITH ITS LAYERED BANDS OF RED ROCK
REVEALING MILLIONS OF YEARS OF GEOLOGICAL HISTORY. VIEWPOINTS
INCLUDE MATHER POINT, YAVAPAI OBSERVATION STATION AND
ARCHITECT MARY COLTER’S LOOKOUT STUDIO AND HER DESERT VIEW
WATCHTOWER.

• LIPAN POINT, WITH WIDE VIEWS OF THE CANYON AND COLORADO RIVER,
IS A POPULAR, ESPECIALLY AT SUNRISE AND SUNSET.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
• YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK IS IN CALIFORNIA’S SIERRA NEVADA
MOUNTAINS. IT’S FAMED FOR ITS GIANT, ANCIENT SEQUOIA TREES, AND
FOR TUNNEL VIEW, THE ICONIC VISTA OF TOWERING BRIDAL VEIL FALL
AND THE GRANITE CLIFFS OF EL CAPITAN AND HALF DOME.

• IN YOSEMITE VILLAGE ARE SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, LODGING, THE

YOSEMITE MUSEUM AND THE ANSEL ADAMS GALLERY, WITH PRINTS OF
THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S RENOWNED BLACK-AND-WHITE LANDSCAPES
OF THE AREA.
 CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
• CAHOKIA MOUNDS STATE
HISTORIC SITE (1982)
• CHACO CULTURE (1987)
• INDEPENDENCE HALL (1979)
• LA FORTALEZA AND SAN JUAN
NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE IN
PUERTO RICO (1983)
• MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
(1978)
• MONTICELLO AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE (1987)
• MONUMENTAL EARTHWORKS OF
POVERTY POINT (2014)
• SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS (2015)
• STATUE OF LIBERTY (1984)
• TAOS PUEBLO (1992)
• NATURAL
CARLSBAD CAVERNS ATTRACTIONS
NATIONAL IN1994)
(1979,1992, USA
PARK (1995)
• MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK
• EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK (1979) (1981)
• GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK • OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK (1981)
(1979)
• REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE
• GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS PARKS (1980)
NATIONAL PARK (1983)
• WATERTON GLACIER INTERNATIONAL
• HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK PEACE PARK (1995)
(1987)
• YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
• KLUANE / WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS / (1978)
GLACIER BAY / TATSHENSHINI-ALSEK YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK (1984)
•
FA MO U S PEO PLE
MICHAEL JORDAN
• WIDELY CONSIDERED THE GREATEST
BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL, JORDAN
JOINED THE CHICAGO BULLS IN 1984,
RAPIDLY ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS A
LEADING NBA PLAYER KNOWN FOR HIS
HIGH SCORING AND LEAPING.

• JORDAN HELPED THE BULLS WIN THE

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1991, 1992
AND 1993. HE WAS ALSO WON TWO
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS AS PART
AMERICA'S DREAM TEAM.
WHITNEY HOUSTON
• ONE OF THE MOST AWARDED AND THE BEST-SELLING FEMALE
MUSIC ARTIST EVER. HOUSTON FIRST CAME TO PROMINENCE AS A
TEEN MODEL AND MOVED INTO MUSIC FULL TIME AFTER SHE
SIGNED A RECORD CONTRACT IN 1983.

• HER DEBUT ALBUM "WHITNEY HOUSTON" WAS RELEASED IN 1985

AND IN 1986 WAS THE NO. 1 SELLING ALBUM (BILLBOARD).

• HER SECOND ALBUM "WHITNEY" WAS ALSO A MAJOR SUCCESS

WITH A RECORD 7 NO. 1 HITS.

• SHE MOVED INTO FILM ROLES WITH "THE BODYGUARD" IN 1992.

THE FILM'S SOUNDTRACK CONTAINING HER SO-CALLED
SIGNATURE SONG "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU".

• WHITNEY CONTINUED TO PERFORM WHILE HER PERSONAL LIFE

BECAME MORE CHAOTIC AMID ALLEGED DRUG-TAKING UNTIL SHE
DIED IN 2012 IN AN ACCIDENTAL DROWNING. SHE IS REMEMBERED
FOR HER HUGE VOCAL RANGE AND HER USE OF THE MELISMA
TECHNIQUE.
NEIL ARMSTRONG

• A NASA ASTRONAUT AND COMMANDER

OF THE 1969 US APOLLO 11 MOON
MISSION.

• DURING A LANDMARK TV BROADCAST HE

BECAME THE FIRST MAN TO WALK ON
THE MOON SAYING "THAT'S ONE SMALL
STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR
MANKIND."
DO ’ S A N D D O N 'T S
 DO’S AND DON’TS IN USA
• NOT LOOKING SOMEONE DIRECTLY IN THE EYE WHEN SPEAKING CAN BE SEEN AS EVASIVE; THIS IS IN
CONTRAST TO MUCH OF THE REST OF THE WORLD, WHERE LOOKING SOMEONE DIRECTLY IN THE EYE MAY BE
RUDE.

• NOT LEAVING AN APPROPRIATE TIP OR GRATUITY AT A RESTAURANT (TYPICALLY 10–20% OF THE BILL) WILL
MAKE ANY DINNER GUESTS AT YOUR TABLE FEEL EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. IN THE U.S., TIPS REPRESENT
A LARGE PORTION OF A WAITER'S INCOME AND YOUR GUESTS MAY FEEL EMBARRASSED IF THE TIP WAS
CONSIDERED TOO SMALL. TEN PERCENT CAN BE CONSIDERED A REBUKE TO THE WAITER, 15% IS CONSIDERED
AN AVERAGE TIP, AND 20% IS TYPICALLY GIVEN FOR SATISFACTORY TO EXCELLENT SERVICE. TIPS HIGHER
THAN 20% CAN BE CONSIDERED OSTENTATIOUS BY DINING COMPANIONS (THOUGH UNDOUBTEDLY
APPRECIATED BY THE WAIT STAFF).

• TIPPING IS ALSO CUSTOMARY FOR TAXI DRIVERS, BARBERS AND HAIR STYLISTS, FOR THOSE WHO DELIVER
FOOD TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE, FOR CASUAL HANDYMEN (NEIGHBOR TEENS WHO CUT THE LAWN, AND THE
LIKE) AND SOME OTHERS. TIPPING FOR FOOD DELIVER USUALLY IS TWO TO FIVE DOLLARS (AS OPPOSED TO
BEING A PERCENTAGE OF THE FOOD COST).

• IT IS CONSIDERED IMPOLITE TO ASK PEOPLE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY EARN. IT IS NOT CONSIDERED RUDE TO
ASK SOMEONE WHAT HE OR SHE DOES FOR A LIVING.

• IT IS CONSIDERED IMPOLITE NOT TO COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WHEN SNEEZING OR COUGHING. WHEN
 DO’S AND DON’TS IN USA
• AT AN INITIAL INTRODUCTION, IT IS CONSIDERED AWKWARD TO ASK SOMEONE IF THEY ARE MARRIED OR HAVE
A BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND.

• AT AN INITIAL INTRODUCTION, IT IS CONSIDERED AWKWARD TO ASK SOMEONE THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS.

• IT IS CONSIDERED IMPOLITE TO ASK A WOMAN HOW OLD SHE IS OR INQUIRE ABOUT HER WEIGHT.

• STRANGERS IN AMERICA INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER GENERALLY IN A FRIENDLY, INFORMAL WAY. THIS
VARIES FROM REGION TO REGION. IN THE SOUTH, FOR EXAMPLE, GREETINGS SUCH AS HUGGING AND PATTING
ON THE BACK ARE CONSIDERED FRIENDLY. HOWEVER, IN THE NORTHEAST, INTERACTION TENDS TO BE MORE
RESERVED AND SUCH GREETINGS ARE SEEN AS OVERBEARING. MANY FOREIGNERS WHO TRAVEL TO AMERICA
THUS UNJUSTLY FIND AMERICANS SUPERFICIAL. ALTHOUGH AMERICANS TREAT ONE ANOTHER IN A VERY
FRIENDLY WAY, THEY NEVERTHELESS UNDERSTAND AND MAINTAIN THE LIMITS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ACQUAINTANCES AND FRIENDS. CONVERSELY, FOREIGNERS WHO CANNOT
INTERACT WITH AMERICANS IN A RELAXED, CASUAL MANNER, MAY BE PERCEIVED AS AWKWARD, ALOOF,
RUDE, OR EVEN ARROGANT.

• IT IS CONSIDERED A RUDE VIOLATION OF PERSONAL SPACE TO STAND WITHIN AN ARM'S LENGTH OF ANOTHER
PERSON, UNLESS YOU ARE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS. IN CROWDED SITUATIONS IT IS TOLERATED, BUT MAKES
SOME AMERICANS UNEASY.
 DO’S AND DON’TS IN USA
• PROFANE WORDS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON BROADCAST TELEVISION OR RADIO, AND GENERALLY ARE SEEN AS
LOWER CLASS TO USE IN COMMON DISCUSSION, BUT MANY PEOPLE USE THEM REGULARLY IN FAMILIAR
DISCUSSION.

• EMITTING ANY ODOR OR SMELL, WHETHER DUE TO LACK OF HYGIENE, DIET, OR APPLIED PERFUMES, IS
CONSIDERED A VIOLATION OF OTHERS' PERSONAL SPACE. ONLY IN CLOSE PERSONAL PROXIMITY IS THE
DETECTION OF PERFUME OR COLOGNE TOLERATED.

• GETTING THE ATTENTION OF WAITERS, SERVERS OR STORE WORKERS WITH GESTURES OR BY SNAPPING
FINGERS, IS CONSIDERED OFFENSIVE. IT IS BETTER TO MOVE TOWARD A SALES CLERK AND SAY SOMETHING
ALONG THE LINES OF "EXCUSE ME . . ." IN A RESTAURANT, SIMPLY MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH THE WAITER,
OR EYE CONTACT WITH A SLIGHT SMILE AND NOD SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO SIGNAL YOUR NEED - IN CROWDED
SITUATIONS, EYE CONTACT AND RAISING THE HAND CASUALLY ABOUT SHOULDER HIGH WITH INDEX FINGER
EXTENDED UP IS FINE.

• CALLING A SOUTHERN PERSON A "YANKEE" WILL BE TAKEN AS AN INSULT. BASEBALL FANS IN

THE BOSTON AREA MAY ALSO FIND THE TERM OFFENSIVE DUE TO THE INTENSE RIVALRY BETWEEN
THE BOSTON RED SOX AND NEW YORK YANKEES BASEBALL TEAMS. THIS RULE DOESN'T SEEM TO APPLY TO
THE BRITISH, HOWEVER, TO WHOM ALL AMERICANS ARE "YANKS".

IN MOST BUSINESS SETTINGS, PHYSICAL CONTACT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO A HANDSHAKE AT THE BEGINNING
 DO’S AND DON’TS IN USA
• IT IS CONSIDERED POLITE TO BRING SOMETHING FOR THE HOST OR GROUP WHEN INVITED TO A DINNER IN
SOMEONE'S HOME. A BOTTLE OF WINE IS VERY TYPICAL. BRINGING A DESSERT IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT ONLY
AFTER CHECKING WITH THE HOSTS (TO ENSURE THEY HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF MAKING
DESSERT THEMSELVES).

• IT IS CONSIDERED IMPOLITE TO GIVE CASH AS A GIFT, EXCEPT TO CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS. A FEW EXCEPTIONS
INCLUDE GRADUATIONS, BAR MITZVAHS, AND BAT MITZVAHS. WEDDINGS CAN ALSO APPROPRIATE SITUATIONS
FOR CASH GIFTS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSER THAN ACQUAINTANCES. GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE GENERALLY
CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE IN ALL GIFT GIVING SITUATIONS.

• IT IS USUALLY IMPOLITE TO REFER TO HOW SOMEONE LOOKS AT ALL—-MENTIONING SOMEONE'S WEIGHT IS

VERY IMPOLITE. COMPLIMENTING SOMEONE ON LOST WEIGHT CAN BE ACCEPTABLE IF REMARKED UPON
HONESTLY.

• REFERENCES TO SOMEONE'S ETHNIC OR RACIAL IDENTITY ARE INAPPROPRIATE UNLESS THE SUBJECT IS
BROACHED GENERALLY.

• IT IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED IMPOLITE TO BEGIN EATING ONE'S DINNER BEFORE ALL SEATED HAVE BEEN
SERVED. IF ONE'S FOOD HASN'T ARRIVED AND IS LIKELY TO TAKE A LONG TIME (OR ALREADY HAS TAKEN A
LONG TIME), IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT PERSON TO INVITE THE OTHERS TO BEGIN EATING.
 DO’S AND DON’TS IN USA
• ONE MUST ADDRESS THOSE SIGNIFICANTLY OLDER THAN THEM AS MR., "SIR", MRS., "MA'AM", "MADAM", MS.
OR MISS. FOR EXAMPLE, IT WOULD BE RUDE TO ADDRESS A FRIEND'S PARENT BY THEIR FIRST NAME UNLESS HE
HAS INVITED YOU TO DO SO. CONVERSELY, ADDRESSING SOMEONE NEAR TO YOUR OWN AGE GROUP BY TITLE
IS USUALLY CONSIDERED STAND-OFFISH UNLESS IT IS IN A PROFESSIONAL SETTING.

• SCATOLOGICAL, BODILY FUNCTION AND SEXUAL TOPICS ARE CONSIDERED OFF LIMITS EXCEPT TO CLOSE
FRIENDS. AMERICANS HAVE A CULTURAL HISTORY OF CONSERVATIVE BEHAVIOR, AND JOKES ABOUT THESE
SUBJECTS IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND RUDE. FULL OR UPPER BODY NUDITY IS FORBIDDEN FOR FEMALES, BUT
MALES MAY REMOVE SHIRTS IN INSTANCES OF HARD WORK OR EXTREME HEAT. NURSING MOTHERS ARE
ALLOWED IN PUBLIC, BUT IT DOES MAKE SOME MEN UNCOMFORTABLE. MALES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH
SMALL CLOTHES ON THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY OF MEN, BUT SEXUALLY MATURE WOMEN ARE
ENCOURAGED TO WEAR REVEALING BATHING SUITS IN A BEACH OR POOL SETTING BEFORE MIDDLE AGE.

• MANY AMERICANS EMBRACE INFORMALITY AND WOULD CONSIDER TAKING FAUX PAS TOO SERIOUSLY A SIGN
OF SNOBBERY. IN GENERAL ONE MUST JUDGE THE SITUATION AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY (THIS IS MOST
LIKELY TRUE FOR MOST COUNTRIES PLACED ON THIS LIST). GIVING REFERENCE TO A LIST OF THIS TYPE, AND
TO HOW PEOPLE "SHOULD" ACT TO AN AMERICAN CAN CAUSE A RESPONSE OF MILD AMUSEMENT TO MILD
OFFENSE DEPENDING ON THE PERSON YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH. A PLAIN T-SHIRT AND JEANS IS ACCEPTABLE
DRESS IN ALMOST ALL PUBLIC CONTEXT.
MEXICO
COUNTRY PROFILE
• Mexico, formally known as Estados Únidos Mexicanos (United
Mexican States), is a country with rich traditions and a strong culture.
• Mexico has the 10th largest population in the world and is the 13th
largest country in terms of total land area. Spanish is the national
language of Mexico, although over 50 different indigenous languages
are spoken.
• Mexico is the country which introduced the world to chocolate.
CAPITAL OF MEXICO
• THE CAPITAL OF MEXICO IS MEXICO CITY (CIUDAD DE MÉXICO), AND IT IS LOCATED IN THE
VALLEY OF MEXICO.

• IT IS THE OLDEST CAPITAL IN THE AMERICAS, AND WAS FIRST BUILT BY THE AZTECS IN 1325,
KNOWN AT THE TIME AS TENOCHTITLAN.

• IT HAD TO BE REBUILT AFTER THE AZTEC POPULATION WAS DEVASTATED DURING THE SIEGE
OF TENOCHTITLAN IN 1521 BY THE SPANISH DURING THEIR QUEST TO CONQUER MEXICO.

• IT WAS OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS MEXICO CITY BY THE YEAR 1585.

• AFTER THAT, IT BECAME THE FEDERAL DISTRICT (DISTRITO FEDERAL) IN 1824 WHEN IT WAS
CHOSEN TO BE THE LOCATION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

• THE NAME FEDERAL DISTRICT WAS DROPPED ON JANUARY 29, 2016, IN FAVOR OF MEXICO CITY.
LANGUAGE
• MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN MEXICO.
• THE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES ARE FROM ELEVEN DISTINCT LANGUAGE FAMILIES,
INCLUDING FOUR ISOLATES AND ONE THAT IMMIGRATED FROM THE UNITED STATES.

• THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES 68 NATIONAL LANGUAGES, 63 OF WHICH

ARE INDIGENOUS, INCLUDING AROUND 350 DIALECTS OF THOSE LANGUAGES.

• THE LARGE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IS MONOLINGUAL IN SPANISH. SOME

IMMIGRANT AND INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS ARE BILINGUAL, WHILE SOME
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE MONOLINGUAL IN THEIR LANGUAGES. MEXICAN SIGN
LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN BY MUCH OF THE DEAF POPULATION, AND THERE ARE ONE OR
TWO INDIGENOUS SIGN LANGUAGES AS WELL.
POLITICAL SYSTEM
• THE POLITICS OF MEXICO TAKE PLACE IN A FRAMEWORK OF A FEDERAL
PRESIDENTIAL REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC WHOSE GOVERNMENT
IS BASED ON A CONGRESSIONAL SYSTEM, WHEREBY THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO
IS BOTH HEAD OF STATE AND HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, AND OF A MULTI-PARTY
SYSTEM. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTS THE UNITED MEXICAN
STATES AND IS DIVIDED INTO THREE BRANCHES: EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND
JUDICIAL, ANAHIS TERM AS ESTABLISHED BY THE POLITICAL CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES, PUBLISHED IN 1917. THE CONSTITUENT STATES OF
THE FEDERATION MUST ALSO HAVE A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT
BASED ON A CONGRESSIONAL SYSTEM AS ESTABLISHED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE
CONSTITUTIONS.
• THE CULTURE OF MEXICO REFLECTS THE COUNTRY'S COMPLEX HISTORY AND IS
CULTURE
THE RESULT OF THE GRADUAL BLENDING OF NATIVE CULTURE (PARTICULARLY
MESOAMERICAN) WITH SPANISH CULTURE AND OTHER IMMIGRANT CULTURES.

• FIRST INHABITED MORE THAN 10,000 YEARS AGO, THE CULTURES THAT
DEVELOPED IN MEXICO BECAME ONE OF THE CRADLES OF CIVILIZATION.
DURING THE 300-YEAR RULE BY THE SPANISH, MEXICO A CROSSROAD FOR THE
PEOPLE AND CULTURES OF EUROPE, AFRICA, AND ASIA. THE GOVERNMENT OF
INDEPENDENT MEXICO ACTIVELY PROMOTED SHARED CULTURAL TRAITS IN
ORDER TO CREATE A NATIONAL IDENTITY.

• THE CULTURE OF AN INDIVIDUAL MEXICAN IS INFLUENCED BY THEIR FAMILIAL

TIES, GENDER, RELIGION, LOCATION, AND SOCIAL CLASS, AMONG OTHER
FACTORS. IN MANY WAYS, CONTEMPORARY LIFE IN THE CITIES OF MEXICO HAS
BECOME SIMILAR TO THAT IN NEIGHBORING UNITED STATES AND EUROPE, WITH
PROVINCIAL PEOPLE CONSERVING TRADITIONS MORE SO THAN THE CITY
DWELLERS.
GASTRONOMY

ELOTE

CHILAQUILES
GUACAMOLE
TOSTADAS

ENCHILADAS
 TO U R IS T
ATTRAC T IO N S
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
SAN JUAN TEOTIHUACÁN
 SAN JUAN TEOTIHUACÁN
• TEOTIHUACÁN IS A TOWN AND MUNICIPALITY LOCATED IN THE STATE OF MEXICO.
• IT IS IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE VALLEY OF MEXICO, 45 KM NORTHEAST OF MEXICO CITY AND 119 KM FROM THE
STATE CAPITAL OF TOLUCA.

• TEOTIHUACAN TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE ANCIENT CITY AND WORLD HERITAGE SITE THAT IS LOCATED NEXT TO
THE MUNICIPAL SEAT. "TEOTIHUACAN" IS FROM NAHUATL AND MEANS "PLACE OF THE GODS."

• IN NAHUA MYTHOLOGY THE SUN AND THE MOON WERE CREATED HERE. THE SEAL OF THE MUNICIPALITY
FEATURES THE PYRAMID OF THE SUN FROM THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE, WHICH REPRESENTS THE FOUR CARDINAL
DIRECTIONS.

• THE BUILDING IS TIED TO A CHARACTER THAT REPRESENTS WATER WHICH IS LINKED TO AN ARM THAT IS JOINED
TO THE HEAD OF AN INDIGENOUS PERSON WHO IS SEATED AND SPEAKING. THIS PERSON REPRESENTS A GOD.

• MUCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE AREA HAS BEEN TIED TO THE ANCIENT CITY, MOST RECENTLY INVOLVES
CONTROVERSY CONNECTED WITH COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE SITE.
TULUM
 TULUM
• TULUM (SPANISH PRONUNCIATION: [TUˈLUM], YUCATEC: TULU'UM) IS THE SITE OF A
PRE-COLUMBIAN MAYAN WALLED CITY WHICH SERVED AS A MAJOR PORT FOR COBA, IN
THE MEXICAN STATE OF QUINTANA ROO.

• THE RUINS ARE SITUATED ON 12-METER (39 FT) TALL CLIFFS ALONG THE EAST COAST OF
THE YUCATÁN PENINSULA ON THE CARIBBEAN SEA IN THE STATE OF QUINTANA ROO,
MEXICO.

• TULUM WAS ONE OF THE LAST CITIES BUILT AND INHABITED BY THE MAYA; IT WAS AT
ITS HEIGHT BETWEEN THE 13TH AND 15TH CENTURIES AND MANAGED TO SURVIVE
ABOUT 70 YEARS AFTER THE SPANISH BEGAN OCCUPYING MEXICO.

• OLD WORLD DISEASES BROUGHT BY THE SPANISH SETTLERS APPEAR TO HAVE

RESULTED IN VERY HIGH FATALITIES, DISRUPTING THE SOCIETY AND EVENTUALLY
CAUSING THE CITY TO BE ABANDONED.

• ONE OF THE BEST-PRESERVED COASTAL MAYA SITES, TULUM IS TODAY A POPULAR SITE
FOR TOURISTS.
 CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
• CHAPULTEPEC WOODS, HILL AND CASTLE • VALLE DE LOS CIRIOS (2004)
(2001)
• FLORA AND FAUNA PROTECTION AREA OF
• HISTORIC TOWN OF ALAMOS (2001) CUATRO CIÉNEGAS (2004)

• CHURCH OF SANTA PRISCA AND ITS
SURROUNDINGS (2001)
• PRE-HISPANIC CITY OF CANTONA (2001)
• GREAT CITY OF CHICOMOSTOC-LA
QUEMADA (2001)
• HISTORIC TOWN OF SAN SEBASTIÁN DEL
OESTE (2001)
• DIEGO RIVERA AND FRIDA KAHLO'S
HOME-STUDY MUSEUM (2001)
• HISTORICAL TOWN THE ROYAL OF THE
ELEVEN THOUSAND VIRGINS OF COSALA
IN SINALOA (2004)
• HUICHOL ROUTE THROUGH THE SACRED
SITES TO WIRIKUTA (TATEHUARI
HUAJUYE) (2004)
• LACAN-TÚN – USUMACINTA REGION
(2004)
• BANCO CHINCHORRO BIOSPHERE
RESERVE (2004)
 MAN-MADE ATTRACTIONS
• TECOAQUE (2004) • LAS POZAS, XILITLA (2008)
• CUETZALAN AND ITS HISTORICAL, • ARCH OF TIME OF LA VENTA RIVER (2010)
CULTURAL AND NATURAL
SURROUNDING (2006)
• RING OF CENOTES OF CHICXULUB
CRATER, YUCATAN (2012)
• HISTORICAL CITY OF IZAMAL (IZAMAL, • LAS LABRADAS, SINALOA
MAYAN CONTINUITY IN AN HISTORICAL
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (2012)
CITY) (2008)

• LOS PETENES-RÍO CELESTÚN (2008)

FA MO U S PEO PLE
CARLO SANTANA
• NAMESAKE AND LEAD
GUITARIST OF THE LATIN ROCK
BAND SANTANA.
• AFTER REACHING A GLOBAL
AUDIENCE AT THE WOODSTOCK
CONCERT IN 1969, SANTANA
RELEASED A STRING OF HITS,
MANY OF WHICH INCLUDE HIS
SIGNATURE LATIN AND AFRICAN
RHYTHMS NOT USUALLY
PRESENT IN MAINSTREAM ROCK.
SALMA HAYEK

• MEXICAN AND AMERICAN FILM ACTRESS,

DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER WHO BEGAN
HER CAREER IN MEXICO BEFORE HER
BREAKTHROUGH ROLE IN THE 2002 FILM
"FRIDA" AS FRIDA KAHLO FOR WHICH SHE
WAS NOMINATED IN THE CATEGORY OF
BEST ACTRESS FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD,
BAFTA AWARD, SCREEN ACTORS GUILD
AWARD AND GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD.
 THALIA
• ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND FAMOUS
MEXICAN ARTISTS IN THE WORLD, THALÍA HAS NOT
LIMITED HERSELF TO SPANISH, ALSO SINGING SONGS
IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, PORTUGUESE AND TAGALOG.
SHE HAS OFTEN BEEN REFERRED TO AS THE "QUEEN
OF LATIN POP" AS A RESULT OF HER SUCCESS.

• IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS AWARDS OVER THE

YEARS, SHE HAS SOLD MORE THAN 45 MILLION
RECORDS IN A CAREER THAT BEGAN WITH A SELF-
TITLED DEBUT IN 1990. IN ADDITION TO HER MUSIC
CAREER SHE HAS ALSO BECOME A WELL-RENOWNED
ACTRESS IN THE LATIN WORLD, PARTICULARLY FOR
HER ROLES IN TELENOVAS AND IS THE BEST-PAID
TELENOVA ACTRESS IN THE WORLD.

• AS A WRITER SHE HAS WRITTEN FOUR BOOKS, AND IS

A RADIO HOST, WITH HER OWN SYNDICATED SHOW. IN
DO ’ S A N D D O N 'T S
DO’S IN MEXICO
DON’TS IN MEXICO
CANADA
COUNTRY PROFILE
• CANADA IS A COUNTRY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF NORTH AMERICA.
• ITS TEN PROVINCES AND THREE TERRITORIES EXTEND FROM THE ATLANTIC TO
THE PACIFIC AND NORTHWARD INTO THE ARCTIC OCEAN, COVERING
9.98 MILLION SQUARE KILOMETERS (3.85 MILLION SQUARE MILES), MAKING IT
THE WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST COUNTRY BY TOTAL AREA.

• ITS SOUTHERN BORDER WITH THE UNITED STATES, STRETCHING 8,891

KILOMETERS (5,525 MI), IS THE WORLD'S LONGEST BI-NATIONAL LAND BORDER.

• CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AFTER RUSSIA.

HOWEVER, ITS POPULATION IS ONLY ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OF RUSSIA'S.
CAPITAL: OTTAWA

• IN 1857, THERE WERE A FEW CITIES COMPETING TO BE THE CAPITAL CITY.

• TO SETTLE IT, QUEEN VICTORIA CHOSE OTTAWA BECAUSE IT WAS
CENTRALLY LOCATED BETWEEN THE CITIES OF MONTREAL AND
TORONTO, AND WAS ALONG THE BORDER OF ONTARIO AND QUEBEC (THE
CENTER OF CANADA AT THE TIME).

• IT WAS ALSO FAR FROM THE AMERICAN BORDER, MAKING IT SAFER FROM
ATTACKS.
LANGUAGE
• CANADA IS AN OFFICIALLY BILINGUAL COUNTRY, WHICH MEANS IT
HAS TWO OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: FRENCH AND ENGLISH.

• IN PRACTICE, HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF CANADIANS SPEAK

ENGLISH, A SMALL MINORITY SPEAK BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH,
ANOTHER SMALL MINORITY SPEAK ENGLISH AND SOME OTHER
LANGUAGE, AND THE SMALLEST MINORITY OF ALL SPEAK ONLY
FRENCH.
POLITICAL SYTEM
• CANADA IS A PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY AND A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY IN
THE WESTMINSTER TRADITION, WITH A MONARCH AND A PRIME MINISTER WHO
SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE CABINET AND HEAD OF GOVERNMENT.
• THE COUNTRY IS A REALM WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS, A MEMBER
OF THE FRANCOPHONIE AND OFFICIALLY BILINGUAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
• IT RANKS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN INTERNATIONAL MEASUREMENTS OF
GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, CIVIL LIBERTIES, QUALITY OF LIFE, ECONOMIC
FREEDOM, AND EDUCATION. 
• THERE ARE THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT- FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL, MUNICIPAL-
EACH WITH DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
 CULTURE
• THEY LOVE HOCKEY "HOCKEY" IN CANADA MEANS ICE-HOCKEY, AND IT'S A NATIONAL
PASSION THAT ECLIPSES ANY OTHER FACET OF LIFE. YES, IT'S CONFUSING THAT SUCH
POLITE, PEACEFUL PEOPLE ARE OBSESSED WITH ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL SPORTS ON THE
PLANET, BUT ICE-HOCKEY IS THE GAME OF CHOICE.

•  THEIR COFFEE IS TERRIBLE THERE'S AN INCREASING FOCUS ON GOOD, LOCALLY SOURCED

FOOD IN CANADA VIA THE "100-MILE DIET"; HOWEVER, THEIR COFFEE IS UNIFORMLY
TERRIBLE. CANADA'S MOST POPULAR COFFEE SHOP IS TIM HORTON'S, A CHAIN FOUNDED BY
A FORMER ICE-HOCKEY STAR THAT DISHES UP A VERY AVERAGE BREW.

• EXPECT STRAIGHT TALK.  INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE SOMETIMES SURPRISED WITH

THE ‘STRAIGHTFORWARD’ TALK, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS MADE BY CANADIANS. 

• HONESTY IS AN IMPORTANT VALUE TO CANADIANS AND IT IS COMMON FOR THEM TO GIVE A

STRAIGHT ANSWER AND NOT SPEAK AROUND AN ISSUE OR ‘BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.’ 
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A SIGN OF DISRESPECT OR RUDENESS.  GENERALLY IF A QUESTION IS
ASKED, AN HONEST, DIRECT ANSWER IS BEST.  
DEMOGRAPHICS
• IN 2019, CANADA HAS AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 37.41 MILLION, WHICH
RANKS 39TH IN THE WORLD.

• CANADA IS THE WORLD'S SECOND LARGEST COUNTRY BY TOTAL AREA

(BEHIND RUSSIA) AND THE LARGEST NORTH AMERICAN COUNTRY. CANADA
EXTENDS FROM THE PACIFIC TO THE ATLANTIC AND NORTH TO THE ARCTIC
OCEAN.

• THE UNITED STATES-CANADIAN BORDER IS THE LONGEST LAND BORDER IN

THE WORLD.
GASTRONOMY

NANAIMO BARS

BUTTER TARTS
POUTINE

CANADIAN BACON

MAPLE SYRUP
 TO U R IS T
ATTRAC T IO N S
 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
 GROS MORNE NATIONAL PARK
  GROS PARK
• GROS MORNE NATIONAL MORNE NATIONALIS PARK
IN NEWFOUNDLAND IMPORTANT TO THE
WORLD, GEOLOGICALLY, BECAUSE THE ANCIENT ROCKS HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND HOW THE OCEANS AND CONTINENTS WERE CREATED. THE
PARK IS A NATURE LOVER’S PARADISE FEATURING LOWLANDS ALONG THE
GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE AND THE ALPINE SETTING OF THE LONG RANGE
MOUNTAINS.

• THE PARK IS POPULAR WITH WILDLIFE VIEWERS WHO’LL SEE EVERYTHING

FROM TINY SONGBIRDS TO GIANT WHALES; BLACK BEARS, MOOSE AND DEER
ARE COMMON.

• MOST VISITORS COME HERE DURING THE SHORT SUMMER SEASON. THE
EXCEPTION IS THE PEAK WINTER SEASON (FROM FEBRUARY TO APRIL), WHEN
THE PARK EXPERIENCES ANOTHER MINI-BOOM IN SNOWMOBILING AND
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING.
ATHABASCA FALLS
 ATHABASCA FALLS
• JASPER NATIONAL PARK IN THE ALBERTA PROVINCE IS THE LARGEST OF
CANADA’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN PARKS BOASTING BROAD VALLEYS, RUGGED
MOUNTAINS, GLACIERS, FORESTS, ALPINE MEADOWS AND WILD RIVERS.

• ONE OF THE TOP ATTRACTIONS IS ATHABASCA FALLS, A BEAUTIFUL

WATERFALL THAT THUNDERS THROUGH A NARROW GORGE. EVEN WHEN
THE WATER LEVEL IN THE UPPER ATHABASCA RIVER IS LOW, HUGE
QUANTITIES OF WATER POUR OVER THE FALLS. SEVERAL VIEWING
PLATFORMS AND TRAILS WHERE IT IS SAFE TO PHOTOGRAPH THE
PICTURESQUE SCENE ARE LOCATED AROUND THE FALLS.

• MOTORISTS CAN CROSS OVER THE FALLS BY TAKING HIGHWAY 93A INTO
THE TOWN OF JASPER.
NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO
 NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO
• MANY AMERICANS THINK OF NIAGARA FALLS AS BEING ONLY A
WATERFALL IN THE UNITED STATES, NAMELY NEW YORK, WHEN IN
ACTUALITY, NIAGARA FALLS IS THREE FALLS ON THE BORDER
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

• HORSESHOE FALLS IS THE LARGEST FALLS AND IS LOCATED MAINLY

ON THE CANADIAN SIDE, WHILE THE SMALLER AMERICAN AND BRIDAL
VEIL FALLS ARE MOSTLY ON THE U.S. SIDE. COMBINED, THE THREE
FALLS HAVE A HIGHER FLOW RATE THAN ANY OTHER IN THE WORLD.

• ABOUT 20 MILLION PEOPLE VISIT HERE ANNUALLY, WITH MANY OF

THEM TAKING A BOAT RIDE ON MAID OF THE MIST, THE FALLS’ OLDEST
ATTRACTION.
DO ’ S A N D D O N 'T S
 DO’S AND DON’TS
• HANDSHAKING PREDOMINATES AS THE NORMAL MODE OF GREETING. CLOSE
FRIENDS OFTEN EXCHANGE KISSES ON THE CHEEKS, PARTICULARLY IN FRENCH-
SPEAKING AREAS.

• PUNCTUALITY IS GREATLY REVERED IN CANADA. HOWEVER, PEOPLE ARE MORE

RELAXED IN THE FRENCH SPEAKING REGION.

• DO NOT EAT WHILE WALKING IN PUBLIC. PLAN YOUR TIME SO YOU CAN STOP IN
A CAFÉ OR RESTAURANT TO ENJOY YOUR SNACK.

• CODES OF PRACTICE FOR VISITING HOMES ARE THE SAME AS IN OTHER WESTERN
COUNTRIES: FLOWERS, CHOCOLATES OR A BOTTLE OF WINE ARE COMMON GIFTS
FOR HOSTS, AND DRESS IS GENERALLY INFORMAL AND PRACTICAL ACCORDING
TO CLIMATE. IT IS COMMON FOR BLACK TIE AND OTHER REQUIRED DRESS TO BE
INDICATED ON INVITATIONS.
 TRIVIA
• THE FIRST NBA GAME WAS PLAYED IN CANADA BETWEEN THE NEW YORK
KNICKS AND THE TORONTO HUSKIES IN 1946.

• CANADA OFFICIALLY BECAME ITS OWN COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT

COUNTRY IN 1982 WITH THE CANADA ACT.

• THE NAME “CANADA” COMES FROM THE WORD “KANATA” USED BY THE
IROQUOIS, A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE WHO LIVED IN QUEBEC IN THE
16TH CENTURY.

• EACH CANADIAN EATS AN AVERAGE OF 190 EGGS PER YEAR.

• CANADA HAS AN “APOLOGY ACT” THAT ALLOWS APOLOGIES IN COURT TO
BE CONSIDERED A SIGN OF EMPATHY, NOT GUILT
FA MO U S PEO PLE
 AVRIL LAVIGNE

• AVRIL RAMONA LAVIGNE IS A MULTI-FACETED CANADIAN

SINGER-SONGWRITER.
• AVRIL LAVIGNE CAME TO LIMELIGHT AT A VERY YOUNG
AGE AND WAS SIGNED BY ARISTA RECORDS WHEN SHE
TURNED 16.
• HER GRUNGY POP-ROCK SOUND APPEALED TO TEENS
WORLDWIDE.
• THE SKATER-GIRL COMBAT TROUSERS AND UNIQUE LOOK
MADE HER EXTREMELY POPULAR WITH THE AMERICAN
TEENS, WHO ASSOCIATED THEMSELVES WITH HER.
• BEST KNOWN FOR MIXING ROCK, PUNK AND A
REBELLIOUS STYLE, SHE APPEARED ON STAGE ALONG
WITH SHANIA TWAIN AS PART OF AN AWARD CEREMONY
AND GRABBED ATTENTION.
• SHE ALSO CAUGHT THE EYE OF PETER ZIZZO, AN
AMERICAN SONGWRITER/PRODUCER WITH HER HOME
VIDEO THAT FEATURED HER SINGING KARAOKE.
 CARLY RAE JEPSEN 

• CARLY RAE JEPSEN IS A CANADIAN SINGER,

SONGWRITER AS WELL AS AN ACTRESS.
• THERE ARE VERY FEW CELEBRITIES WHO SHOT
TO FAME WITH THEIR DEBUT PERFORMANCE
AND NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT CARLY RAE JEPSEN
SURELY COMES IN THAT TOP LIST.
• YOUTUBE WITNESSED A SENSATIONAL
DELECTATION WITH CARLY RAE’S SINGLE ‘CALL
ME MAYBE’.
• IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A PATH-
BREAKING SONG WORLDWIDE.
• HER SONG RULED THE CHARTBUSTERS IN
DOZENS OF COUNTRIES FOR A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME.
 BRYAN ADAMS
• BRYAN ADAMS IS A RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL SINGER-
SONGWRITER WHO HAILS FROM CANADA.
• SOME OF HIS BEST KNOWN SONGS ARE ‘HEAVEN’,
‘EVERYTHING I DO’ AND ‘HERE I AM’, TO NAME A FEW.
• HE HAD AN INNATE INTEREST IN MUSIC AND FROM HIS
EARLY CHILDHOOD, HE MANIFESTED HIS TALENTS IN
MUSIC.
• AS A TEENAGER, HE WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS
MUSIC THAT HE WORKED AS A DISH WASHER TO
ACCUMULATE MONEY TO BUY A GUITAR. HE REHEARSED
REGULARLY AND EVEN WORKED WITH SOME BANDS AT
BARS AND CLUBS.
• HE GOT A BREAK AS A LEAD SINGER IN THE NEWLY
FORMED BAND ‘SWEENEY TODD’ WHEN THEIR LEAD
SINGER NICK GILDER OPTED OUT OF THE BAND TO
PURSUE A SOLO CAREER.
• HOWEVER, THE TURNING POINT IN BRYAN’S LIFE WAS
WHEN HE GOT ACQUAINTED WITH SONGWRITER JIM
VALLANCE.