Even though rural areas cover a vast majority of the American territory, less than 20% of the total population live in rural areas. (Andrew Kaufmann / George W. Bush Presidential Center). Each country has its own identity, and not to mention many sub-identities. The native peoples of North America are diverse in culture, language, and ecological adaptations to varied environments. I will take note of the investors exploring new or evolving sectors in Mexico or Canada. Southern Texas feels pretty different from say Oregon or Connecticut. Unlike so many countries around the world, the United States is in the privileged position of sharing 7,500 miles of peaceful borders and common values and objectives with our neighbors. Both people and products are moving so frequently across our three countries that building partnerships is not just about being neighborly, but is absolutely critical. Americans live fast paced lives. Around a million Americans live in Mexico, while 34 million Mexicans and Mexican- Americans and some 3 million Canadians and Canadian-Americans live in the United States. Ambassador to Mexico from 2002-2009. We also miss the many areas where we are working together. More than goods get traded across borders. Regardless of where they are from, Americans have a reputation as some of the friendliest people on e… Technology has helped spur this cultural convergence, but it also stems from demography. For a number of years, including as a member of the Bush Institute’s North America Working Group, I have advocated for a greater focus on North American competitiveness. Lifestyle in North America. In many ways, I’ve lived a North American life. Cultures of North America reflect not only that of the continent's indigenous peoples, but those cultures that followed European colonisation as well. Americans/American Culture To help you compare and contrast what you observe of American culture and your own, mark the similarities and differences between your culture and what you have read about in this book. In 2016, I will be focusing on these connections. 2. All Rights Reserved. America’s cities are home to the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty (New York City), Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco) and the White House (Washington D.C.). There is no official language of the United States, according to the U.S. government. Considering that both countries are business magnates in their own right, it can seem quite surprising to find that there are differences in the way business is conducted in both cultures. Beyond the unfortunate headlines, there are beautiful beaches, remote deserts, ancient ruins, canyons, rainforests, and world-class art and culinary scenes. The British are judged on which supermarket they shop at and the hierarchy often goes like this: Waitrose/M&S, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Aldi. Driving Everywhere. I grew up in Brownsville, Texas, and like many other towns along the border, I’ve watched it change dramatically over the years. This year, I will be watching the entrepreneurs, companies, and universities that are forging exciting partnerships across the region. The culture of North America refers to the arts and other manifestations of human activities and achievements from the continent of North America. If we focus our priorities through this one lens, we run the risk of hurting our economies, energy sectors, and other relationships. Counsel, White & Case LLP, Mexico City; Bush Institute Economic Growth Initiative Advisory Board; U.S. Yet, we all identify as Americans and clearly understand the common threads that tie us all together. Apart from the U.S., Canada is also major part of North America, and there are subtle but specific differences in its culture from the American culture.