The United States Of America

[Luci]

Ok, here in Europe we hear a lot of times that americans suck, are dumb, rude, etc. I rejected that of course since I've never been there and I'm not fond of judging people that I don't know . However, a friend of mine went to the US this summer and she got some REALLY stupid questions (for example a 13 year old asking whether we have electricity in Europe... Or a woman asking whether we have ice cream...) So I was wondering, what do they teach those kids in the states?! Seriously! Do you only get american history or something? I mean, in primary school we had to learn ALL the countries and their major cities plus their history. And that was only primary school. So since I've never been to the states, I have no clue what it's like there... And by the way, why do you guys call yourselves americans? I mean, canadians are also americans, just like mexicans and all the other people that live on that continent. If anyone knows the answer to that question...? Just to make it clear: I am not offending anyone, I just don't know anything about how your country works (only your states, major cities, history and law system ) ow, speaking of your law system, is it just the rest of the world, or do you also think that you guys have gone too far? I mean, you can sue someone for practically anything!

[Ynot]

probably just trying to be funny, tbh if a really fat american came over here, I'd probably ask him if they had gyms in the states

[fly by night]

Hey Lucy your not alone, some americans still think that all Canadians live in igloos lol Well speaking for myself being an american raised mostly in Canada I can say I had the opportunity to go to highschool in both countries. In Canada we studied world wide history and affairs while in the USA it seemed we concentrated mainly on ...well USA. Dont take me wrong this has just been my experience from the only highschool I attended in the US.

[Tornado Joe]

Well?... do you or do you not have icecream?! I think this has been mostly a case of just being around uneducated people - every country has them. As for the "Americans" thing, I'm not sure where that originated, but I don't think it's what we called ourselves. It may have been a label other countries put on us. Not sure. I've heard other countries refer to us as "Yankees" or "Yanks" as well. I guess it's easier to say "American" than "United States of American". The country's name itself derives from the fact that it's in America, so I suppose that's also part of why we have no other way to distinguish our countrymen from the rest of the continent. While Mexicans and Canadians are also "American", you could use the term "Latin American" for Anything south of the US border. Interestingly enough, in South America, the term "Norteamericano" is used to refer to Americans - eh... "United Statesman" (and not Canadians) even though, like you say, Canadians are technically north americans as well. So, we're not the ones who coined the term. One other thing to consider is that there are still many people who never get the chance (or will) to travel - and why should they? This country has pretty much everything you need for survival and entertainment (beaches, mountains, deserts, large cities, country roads....). I strongly recommend travel to other countries, though. If not to find out whether they have electricity or icecream, but to either appreciate where you live or find some other place you'd rather live.

[Keeper]

I know EXACLY what you are talking about. My mother was on the phone once, and she acidently recieved a call from the USA. THe person she spock to seemed shoced that my mom was white, and that we have actually got cities. They where even more shocked to find out that we dont ride elephents to work ( ... I wish ) Please not that I'm not insulting Americans, but seriasly, your not the only people with technology and culture. More than half the things you have were made in Europe and other countries. p.s. Why do you call black people African Ameriacan?

[DuB]

p.s. Why do you call black people African Ameriacan?[/b] Because they came from Africa. Black are not "native" to North America. We brought them here to be our slave bitches. But anyway, "African American" is the most recent "politically correct" label for blacks. In the past they've been negro's, "colored people," etc. But apparently those were too offensive. And to answer what I guess is the main question: In school (at least in my state) we are taught "World History" and "American History" in about equal proportions. But since "the world" is a much larger place than just the USA, we end up learning a whole lot more about ourselves than the other countries. And yeah, our law system is pretty ridiculous, but what are ya gonna do? As for the stupid thing... look, the USA is big. BIG. We have LOTS of rural areas in our country... much MUCH more than we have urban areas. And people who are born and raised in rural areas tend to be, well, not quite as educated as the urbanites. Am I stereotyping? Yes, I am. But I still assert that this is generally true. So basically, I do believe that we have a higher percentage of "stupid people" in our country than lots of the tiny-ass industrialized European nations, and personally I blame it on the sheer size of our country. The education system might have something to do with it too, but I'm not about to go there (not exactly an expert, I just went to school, lol).

[Ynot]

I really want some icecream, now but none of that Euro-icecream that shit's full of old armpit hairs give me some good solid texas icecream comes in 4 gallon buckets

[Keeper]

I live in South Africa. One of the largest "exporters" of slaves in the old days. I get the African part Its the American part. Even if they had never seen america in there whole lives, they are still called african americans. what gets me is that inspit of that, they still think that in SA we are all Xhosa, Zulu, Kho-Kho and "Coloured"

[Amethyst Star]

You're bound to have your ignorant and/or stupid people in every country. I think one of the problems we might have in our education is that when we study "world history," we study what happened many, many years ago and not so much the state of the modern-day world. When some people think of a country that they may have learned something about, they often think of it in terms of history (wars, old political documents such as treaties or whatnot, etc.) I guess some people also consider the space between countries to be part of it; "The further away a country is, the more different it's going to be from my country." People just need to take time to look beyond the borders and realize that a lot of countries aren't that different from the US of A. .... Just like Russia is not a land forever trapped in a blanket of snow. Oh, and it happens within the country as well, mainly between the states. Apparently some people from a big city thought that people from Spokane, Washington rode to school on horses and hunted buffalo on the weekends...

[Seeker]

I had preconcieved notions of Europe before I started to travel there. I was under the impression that it was heavily industrialized and that it was all cities with little open land. Thank god I was wrong! Some of the most beautiful landscapes I've seen are in Germany and Europe. One interesting fact Keeper. It was at their own insistence that we began refering to them as African American. When I was very young, they were called Negros, sometime in the late 60's, it changed to 'Blacks", not it is "African American". Personally, all of it bothers me. Why not just call them what they are..................... 'citizens' I have many friends of many different ethnicities. I don't have 'Black friends', 'White friends', 'Latino friends', 'Asian friends'. To me they are all friends.

[Keeper]

.... Just like Russia is not a land forever trapped in a blanket of snow.[/b] ... Its not?

[AlternateReality]

we learn world history, but we have not done any recent history for any country. the farthest most teachers go is probably WW2

[Ynot]

just out of interest (and general shit stirring) how's america's role on WWII taught in schools?

[NeAvO]

... Its not? [/b] Most of it is snow and uninhabitable but some of it has nice weather. just out of interest (and general shit stirring) how's america's role on WWII taught in schools? [/b] After the last few threads lets not go there . Anyway, yeah, every country is going to have ignorant views on another country. I try to keep an open mind when it comes to comparing cultures ect but there will always be that one person that stereotypes.

[badassbob]

That's just not fair! How come people from the US don't have to learn about other countries as much at school. I hate learning about other countries when I could be learning more about my own (not in a racist way, I'd just prefer to find out more about my own country than others - I find it more interesting). I just spent two solid terms at school syudying the Cuban missile crisis, communist Russia, and the American west. I went to Arizona last year and I was asked if we had tall buildings in Europe! I was also asked if American accents seemed at all different to us! Most of the people I met were pretty cool though - probably the most friendly people I've ever met.

[NeAvO]

I went to Arizona last year and I was asked if we had tall buildings in Europe! I was also asked if American accents seemed at all different to us! Most of the people I met were pretty cool though - probably the most friendly people I've ever met. [/b] The American tourists that I've met come off as really friendly people, kinda different to the usual grumpy English person .

[Ynot]

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/messagep...id=0&from=2

[fly by night]

This is something funny I noticed. I lived in California for 6 months and when I was there right away my brother and his friends picked up on my Canadian accent. They would especially notice that I would say EH at the end of many of my sentenses. This just made me laugh as I told them to stop bugging me. When I returned to Canada 6 months later, that is the first thing I picked up when I started talking to my friends. I asked them..why r you saying EH all the time?. They would just look at me funny and laugh about it. How come there,s no 5 pin bowling in the states..only ten pin? Some of the differences I find in canadians and americans: americans eat candy bars canadians eat chocolate bars americans drink soda canadians drink pop americans call part of the road a pike canadians know pike as a fish americans drive on freeways canadians drive on highways These r just things I picked up and in no way written to offend anyone. some words we spell different..why I don,t know? color,colour center,centre check,cheque

[Secret Neo]

If you really wanna see this topic subject for yourself, I'd suggest watching Talking to Americans with Rick Mercer. Very funny!!

[AlternateReality]

we have highways. the question about ice cream is a good one. there was a snow cone thread in senseless and like 4 people didn't know what that was.

[badassbob]

Some of the differences I find in canadians and americans: americans eat candy bars canadians eat chocolate bars americans drink soda canadians drink pop americans call part of the road a pike canadians know pike as a fish americans drive on freeways canadians drive on highways These r just things I picked up and in no way written to offend anyone. some words we spell different..why I don,t know? color,colour center,centre check,cheque [/b] All of these differences apply to Britain as well - except the highways one, that would be motorways over here.

[DuB]

In Oklahoma we call it "pop" not "soda." We also say "highways" not "freeways." And I don't know what that "pike" business is all about. Is that short for turnpike? But we don't say "eh" very often if ever, and we don't spell words all funny with the U's and whatnot .

[Secret Neo]

We also say "highways" not "freeways." And I don't know what that "pike" business is all about. Is that short for turnpike? [/b] highways and freeways are different anyway. Highways are 2 lanes while freeways are 4+ with off ramps and much faster is some cases. and iunno bout the pike thing either.

[DuB]

Um, no, I'm afraid it's just regional vocabulary. My home town has several highways with 3-5 lanes, off ramps, and the works, and they are all known as "highways," whereas there is nothing that we call a freeway.

[Casualtie]

Ok, here in Europe we hear a lot of times that americans suck, are dumb, rude, etc. I rejected that of course since I've never been there and I'm not fond of judging people that I don't know . However, a friend of mine went to the US this summer and she got some REALLY stupid questions (for example a 13 year old asking whether we have electricity in Europe... Or a woman asking whether we have ice cream...) So I was wondering, what do they teach those kids in the states?! Seriously! Do you only get american history or something? I mean, in primary school we had to learn ALL the countries and their major cities plus their history. And that was only primary school. So since I've never been to the states, I have no clue what it's like there... And by the way, why do you guys call yourselves americans? I mean, canadians are also americans, just like mexicans and all the other people that live on that continent. If anyone knows the answer to that question...? Just to make it clear: I am not offending anyone, I just don't know anything about how your country works (only your states, major cities, history and law system ) ow, speaking of your law system, is it just the rest of the world, or do you also think that you guys have gone too far? I mean, you can sue someone for practically anything! [/b] well usually in elementary-middle school students learn main stuff like reading and writing and math. there is so general teaching of history and science but nothing too in depth and usually it only pertains to american history (revolution and basic government stuff). i didn't take any kind of "european" history until sophomore year in high school, but of course at 13 i knew europe at electricity. the lady asking about ice cream is probably just mis-informed about stuff. she is probably very close minded and doesn't really care whats going very much outside our borders. probably didn't even vote. canadians aren't americans unless you are looking at american literally. american is refering to someone from the united states of america. that would make mexicans mexican and canadians canadian. with our judicial system, i do think we take things too far. some people can be as rediculous as sueing mcdonalds because they spilt mcdonalds hot coffee on themselves while driving their car. i guess its the americans way of sticking it to the man. but since we're on this topic i'd like to share this story: there was a man who sued a company because he broke his leg when he fell out of the air conditioning duct of their building. irony=it was during the middle of the night, while he was planning on robbing the very same building. americans call part of the road a pike canadians know pike as a fish americans drive on freeways canadians drive on highways [/b] pike is also known as a fish in america. fishing is not as common to americans as driving is though. probably why when you say pike, americans recognized the part of the road (i don't know what a pike is and i'm american). america has freeways and highways as i'm sure canada does. freeways are safer high speed roads, mostly less populated. highways are usually more crowded than freeways and usually connect major cities.