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There's no denying it: the Earth is huge! With its seven continents and vast oceans, our planet is worth exploring and uncovering every bit of its hidden wonders. Thing is, travelling can be a bit confusing, especially when going somewhere with a different culture, language and habits than yours. This guide will only help if you are traveling or willing to go in North America, which regroups the following countries: Canada, the United States of America and Mexico.

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God Bless America: I think everyone has a good idea at what the USA englobes within its borders; fifty states (New York, California, Texas, Montana...) and outside territories like Alaska and Hawaii. There is so much to see over there, the possibilities are endless, which is why one needs to know a little on this country's history and institutions and so on.

- The official spoken language is English, but in some parts like New Orleans, there are some French speakers (with a heavy cajun accent, though) as well as other prominent tongues like Spanish in Florida or Los Angeles.

- The head of state is a president, for their political system is a federal republic. The current President of the United States of America is Donald J. Trump, a former television personality and business man.

- The monetary system is the USA is the american dollar. Green bills are used for dollars, but there are also cents (one cent, five cents, ten cents) and quarters (twenty-five cents).

- Touchy subjects include talk about the current president, gun control, racial/gender discrimination and the LGBTQAI+ community.

- Attractions: Disneyland , Mount Rushmore and The Grand Canyon to name a few.

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God Bless Maple Syrup: Nothin' better than the land of flannel shirts and cold weather, eh? As the northern neighbor of the USA, Canada is the world's second-largest country after Russia and has much more to offer than stereotypical bizarre speech patterns and unusual over-friendliness of its inhabitants (such as myself).

- This country actually has two official languages: English and French (both of which I happen to speak fluently).

- Since this country opted for a parliamentary system and a constitutional monarchy, the current Prime Minister of Canada is Justin Trudeau (whose father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, had also possessed such a title), and the current Governor-General (the Queen's representative in Canada) is a former female astronaut by the name of Julie Payette.

- The money used over there is the canadian dollar. The value of one dollar has the physical form of a gold-like round coin, locally called a "loonie", whereas the two-dollar coin is a "toonie". Bills are used for five dollars, ten dollars, twenty dollars, fifty dollars and a hundred dollars.

- Foods to try: Beaver tails (which are like flat cinnamon buns, better in winter) and poutine (a mix of fries, gravy and cheese chunks).

- Touchy subjects include politics in general, the historic feud between French and English Canadians and the relations with the Indigenous demography.

- Attractions: Niagara Falls, Upper Canada Village and the Parliament to name a few.

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God Bless Cinco de Mayo: Is there any other place that is packed with the spiciest peppers, grooviest salsa music and unlimited varieties of food? Maybe, but Mexico still is a place worth visiting, and much can be learned on the lifestyle, language, culture and of course, dances.

- Spanish is their official language, but there are also aboriginal dialects present.

- Because Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador is the country's president, that means that Mexico's political system is a constitutional republic and a federal presidential one.

- Currency is valued as pesos.

- Foods to try: Mole poblano (a red sauce usually served on chicken or turkey), chiles en nogada (poblano chillies stuffed with a mix of chopped fruits, meat and spices) and chilaquiles (a breakfast dish that constitutes a slightly fried tortilla cut in triangles with eggs, salsa, chiken, cheese and cream).

- Touchy subjects include gender roles, politics in general and Trump's wall on the American-Mexican border.

- Attractions: Monte Alban (an Aztec archeological site), San Miguel de Allende and El Tajin to name a few.

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And that concludes my North American travel guide! Add this book to your library so you'll be notified about new posts by me and the many other incredible writers here at SCG!

MaeShaanaP