This paper comprises of results of an interview of a Mexican, Jose Sanchez as the interviewee, and an American citizen, as the interviewer briefly explaining some of the cultural differences existing between the countries of Mexico and the United States of America. The topics discussed with Jose Sanchez and the American individual included such aspects as the national holidays observed in Mexico and those observed in the United States of America, the educational system of the two countries, and the religions practiced. The interview also revealed information and differences on such diverse topics as gasoline prices in the two countries, the health care systems, and the retirement plans.

A brief overview of the national holidays of both Mexico and the United States of America revealed that both the countries observed holidays such as December 25 for Christmas, May 1 for the Labor Day, January 1st as the 'New Years Day', February 2 as Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of the Lent (fasting period observed by the Christians across the world) and November 1 as the 'All Saint's Day'. Jose Sanchez, the Mexican interviewee provided a list of some of the national holidays of Mexico which included February 5 as the 'Constitution Day'; February 24 as the Flag Day; March 21 as the 'Birthday of Benito Juarez', May 5 as the 'Celebration of Mexico's victory over the French army at Puebla in 1862'; May 10 as the Mother's Day; September 16 as the 'Independence Day' commemorating the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence from Spain; October 12, as the "day of the race", commemorating Columbus' discovery of the New World and the founding of the Mexican (mextizo) people; November 1, the President's state of the nation address to the legislature, which also coincides with 'All Saints' Day, observed by the believers of the Catholic religion; November 20, observed as the 'Revolution Day', which commemorates the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

Some other Mexican holidays as informed by Jose Sanchez included the January 6, observed as the "The Three Kings Day". This holiday has a particular importance in the lives of the Mexican children, as they receive gifts from their parents and loved ones. Unlike the United States of America and other countries of the world where gifts are usually given on the eve or morning of Christmas, "The Three Kings" holiday of Mexico is a traditional celebration and Mexico children eagerly await the coming of this day for the gifts they will receive.

Another important holiday that is equally celebrated in both the countries is the "Holy Week", which falls in either months of March of April, and falls a week prior to the Holy event of Easter. Particularly celebrated by the Christian community across the world, this holiday comprises of an entire week, during which Mexican as well as American families take their families on outings, and holidays. Since it is one of the year's longest holidays; it has a unique place on the list of holidays celebrated by both the United States of America and Mexico. (Maxweb, 2004)

The interview with Jose Sanchez also revealed information on the Mexican system of education, which according to the interviewee has been divided and due importance given according to the various historical eras of Mexico. For example in the earlier part of the 19th century, Mexico's reliance on the agriculture industry allowed the Mexican rulers to adopt a system which would enable average Mexicans with basic writing skills and keeping records of the harvest and their produce. With the coming of the Industrial Age in the later part of the 19th century, the education system was made a public domain, everybody was entitled to receive education as per the choice and needs of the average Mexicans. However, the information age comprising of the present era has totally shifted priorities in the Mexican education system. Thus, as of today, the Mexican education has been 'tailor-made' to suit the educational as well as the vocational needs of the average Mexicans. Some of the salient aspects of the Mexican education system today include free education for children aged between 6 and 14 years, and secondary and university education bring primarily under the private sector, somewhat limited.

Mexico, thus has yet to achieve respectable levels of literacy, with growth of populations as being one of the largest contributors, that is complimented with the inability of the various Mexican governments to cope with the educational needs of her exploding population. Brief statistics to this effect reveal that of the more than 90 millions inhabitants of Mexico today, some 36 percent have little or no primary education. In addition only 19 percent have completed primary education, with only 2 percent of the population having completed a university degree.

In comparison, the United States of America is perhaps one of the few countries where education beginning from the K-12 to the university levels can be state sponsored, hence the percentage of literacy as well as the number of graduates and post raduates continues to rise every year. This is in spite of the fact that thousands of Americans are added to the population, and another thousands migrate to the United States of America from their home countries for both education and better future prospects (Saleem, 2004; AbiSamra, 2001)

The Interview with Jose Sanchez, the Mexican interviewee on the topic of religion revealed that Roman Catholics comprised of thelargest community in Mexico with more than 89 percent followers. This is followed by believers of the Protestants with 6 percent of the population, and 5 percent comprising of other religions (CIA, 2004)

On the other hand, a brief at the United States of America reveals that though the Christian community is by far the largest of all the religions practiced in the country, other religions such as the Muslims, Buddhists, Protestants, Catholics also comprise a greater proportion of the US population. A brief comparison of the two countries however reveals that unlike the predominantly atholic followers of Mexico, the religions of Christianity and Muslims are perhaps the fastest and the largest growing religions in the United States today.

One of the diverse topics that was part of the interview with Jose Sanchez was that of Gasoline prices, which in Mexico have risen to USD 0.77 per Gallon as compared to approximately 1 USD in the United States of America. However the low gasoline prices do not imply that the Mexican economy is enjoying a healthy status. On the contrary, the Mexican economy is awash with inflation and the Mexican governments have failed to apply measures that would bring down rising inflation levels, or provide incentives for the average Mexicans. The United States, in comparison enjoys the status of a stable economy, even though its debt levels are tremendously high, yet consistent policies favoring the average Americans have resulted to keep the prices of gasoline in the United States at a stable level.

One of the most differing results obtained during the interview with Jose Sanchez, the Mexican interviewee was the health care system of both the countries of Mexico and the United States of America.

The Mexican health care system similar to other areas of the economy faces somewhat similar treatment, that of neglect, inability to provide basic health care facilities, and lack of access to specialized health care to the average Mexicans. This trend perhaps owes its credit to the somewhat explosive rate of population, lack of interest on the part of successive Mexican governments towards the provision of average health care facilities including specialized health care. As of 2004 estimates surveys on the population of Mexico, it was found that the population had cross the 100 million mark, yet there existed little evidence to show that parallel growth in the health sector has been addressed. Although the population rate as of the 2004 estimates was 1.18 percent, birth rate at 21.44 percent per 1000 births, and death rate at 4.73 percent per 1000, Mexican health care system cannot be placed as being anywhere near that of for example that of United States. Hence, the need for a truly gigantic effort on the part of both the public sector as well as the private to revamped the entire Mexican health care system, so that the basic health needs of the growing Mexican population can be accounted for.

On the other hand, United States of America enjoys one of the most diverse, yet easily accessible and affordable health care systems in the world. Although there are areas in the US health care system, such as the health care of the elderly, that is under severe criticism, but this too is because of the growing number of elderly in the United States. On the average, however, the US health care system offers one of the most advanced and highest quality health care systems in the world. To provide and broaden the scope of both basic and specialized health care, successive US Administrations have duly played their role. A prime example to this respect are the 'Health Savings Accounts', ' offering affordable and flexible insurance options for both small businesses as well as individuals; 'Prescription Drug Benefit under Medicare', and 'Expanded Community Health Care' programs created by the present Administration under President George W. Bush (Healthcare, 2004)

A brief overview of the ethnic populations of the two countries reveals that the Mexico largely comprises of Mestizo, who are a cross breed of the Amerindians and the Spanish, with more than 60% of the total Mexican population. Amerindians follow them or predominantly Amerindian comprising of some 30%, whites 9%, other 1-%. In the United States the two largest ethnic groups to dominate the entire US populations are the whites and the African Americans. Hispanics being third, and Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian and Europeans forming smaller segments of the US population follow them.

Both Mexico and the United States of America enjoy a high literacy ratio of more than 90 percent, perhaps some of the highest in the world. Yet the Mexican population is moving towards a trend where both opportunities for the average Mexican population and ability of successive Mexican governments are witnessing a gradual decline.