Jingoistic America

Emac44 · 01-10-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

My wife actually thought that one time. She knew where the US is on a map but she did not know exactly how large the place was. We were planning a trip and she wanted to look at all the major stuff on the West Coast in like 3 days. Me and my buddy had to cut out a small map of Germany and place it on the west coast to show her how big the place really was.

She comprehends it now...

its ok adler my wife is a filippina and when she first came here she had no clue how big Australia was until we flew from Singapore to Brisbane. it took 4 hours to fly from the far north of Western Australia to Brisbane. Wife was surprised at vastness of the country she didn't know Australia was 2/3 desert. She asked me how far was this desert. I replied how long is a piece of string. Even now she still has problems recognizing the distance between capital cities in each state of Australia. good thing have google earth map on computer so she can see for herself by switching on the computer and taking a look see. oh the joys of a modern technology household

. by the way my wife my 14 yr old son and i are off to Cebu Philippines on the 19th January 2007 arrive on 20th. has 2 reasons. my wife can see her family who she hasn't seen in awhile but also my son gets and education of a type. he has never been outside Australia before. so he will see first hand for himself an Asian Country. he wants to learn so i teach him as best i can. travel is still a good teacher better than a book and classroom etc. my son wants to learn Asian Languages and is interested in Geography and history. no idea where he gets it from. yes i do from his father and do i encourage him to learn as much as he can handle. you betcha i do. do i want a son who doesn't understand what his neighbours are saying and doing no i bloody don't. he will be educated to be aware of what occurs outside his own country

davparlr · 01-10-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Yeah the few years that I did in the Public Schools in the states it was pretty much the same. You had World History for 9th, US History for 10th and US Government (which was History for 11th) and then no mandatory history.

I did most of my schooling in DOD Schools over here in Europe and I have to say I noticed a big difference in the type of schooling. The DOD schools are set up like a public school but are like private schools (only children of Military Personel or Government DOD personel can attend, all other American Citizens have to pay to go to the school) and I found that the studies were more indepth.

Interesting. My sister, the one in Alaska, taught in the DOD school system in Frankfurt, for the Army, I believe. She did that from mid or late 60s to about 1973. She was there when the Army facility was bombed.

Question, how much non-European history is taught in Europe. Is Asian or West Hemisphere history taught for more than a year combined? How knowledgable is the typical European with the history, geography, and politics of California, a state that has a larger economy than all of EU nations except three, Germany, Britain, and France (Britain and France are probably pretty close). Will they know the capital? How about the states it borders? I'll bet they all know the "Governator"! Will they know anything about the other states like New Hampshire? More than say, a typical American will know about a European nation like Denmark?

I do think the US can improve on its world sensitivities and certainly improve in Science and Math, etc. But, in a way, I feel that the Europeans are a bit arrogant in thinking that, if an American is not intimately familar with European life, he/she is ignorant and self absorbed.

Okay, here is US geography question.

What state is the easternmost state, the northernmost state, the southernmost state, and the westernmost state. Americans cannot use the Atlas!!!

Matt308 · 01-10-2007, 09:01 PM

Good post, davparlr.

And may I ask where you derived your name. It will help me remember it.

mkloby · 01-10-2007, 11:02 PM

Crap davparlr, - trying to think of where the E/W split is. This all depends on that.

I'll go w/ south - Florida (key west I think)
North - Alaska
East - alaska
West - alaska

Matt308 · 01-10-2007, 11:23 PM

mkloby · 01-10-2007, 11:31 PM

Stupid hawaii! Least you know I didn't cheat

Emac44 · 01-11-2007, 06:49 AM

At least you do not have to learn to spell aboriginal names for some places in Australia but if you think that is bad try our welsh cousins and our new zealand mates across the tasman with some of their name places in Maori. if you can spell the name places you are doing alright now try and pronounce them. here is a short welsh name place near my home EEBW VALE its pronounced EBBUU VALE

davparlr · 01-11-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emac44

At least you do not have to learn to spell aboriginal names for some places in Australia but if you think that is bad try our welsh cousins and our new zealand mates across the tasman with some of their name places in Maori. if you can spell the name places you are doing alright now try and pronounce them. here is a short welsh name place near my home EEBW VALE its pronounced EBBUU VALE

I think the Welsh takes the cake on unpronouncable words!

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 01-11-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davparlr

Interesting. My sister, the one in Alaska, taught in the DOD school system in Frankfurt, for the Army, I believe. She did that from mid or late 60s to about 1973. She was there when the Army facility was bombed.

Question, how much non-European history is taught in Europe. Is Asian or West Hemisphere history taught for more than a year combined? How knowledgable is the typical European with the history, geography, and politics of California, a state that has a larger economy than all of EU nations except three, Germany, Britain, and France (Britain and France are probably pretty close). Will they know the capital? How about the states it borders? I'll bet they all know the "Governator"! Will they know anything about the other states like New Hampshire? More than say, a typical American will know about a European nation like Denmark?

I do think the US can improve on its world sensitivities and certainly improve in Science and Math, etc. But, in a way, I feel that the Europeans are a bit arrogant in thinking that, if an American is not intimately familar with European life, he/she is ignorant and self absorbed.

Okay, here is US geography question.

What state is the easternmost state, the northernmost state, the southernmost state, and the westernmost state. Americans cannot use the Atlas!!!

I am not a 100 percent sure on that. I will have to ask my wife. I think it varies form state to state and I can only say for Germany not the rest of Europe. I do know my wife said that 2 years was dedicated to just European History and geography, one year was dedicated to just German History, and 2 years (My wife went to a Gymnaisum wich is until grade 13 and is a higher level of learning and required to go to if you wish to attend college, therefore 5 years of history) was dedicated to world history and geography.

I will have to ask her though exactly what they learned and studied.

Udet · 01-11-2007, 11:10 AM

I´ve been told of high school guys up in states such as Idaho and Nebraska who would not know where Mexico is.

FLYBOYJ · 01-11-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Udet

I´ve been told of high school guys up in states such as Idaho and Nebraska who would not know where Mexico is.

Maybe.....

You also have some folks show up at the Canadian border in July with Ski racks on the top of their cars....

My first 2 years in HS was in NY. I was barely squeaking by, the academic load was pretty well rounded. I moved to California in my senior year and it was like night and day. Overnight I became an honor student.

I think a lot of it is geographical....

davparlr · 01-11-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkloby

Stupid hawaii! Least you know I didn't cheat

You got it. Alaska is the most Northern, Western, and Eastern (thanks to the Aleutians), Hawaii is the most Southern.

davparlr · 01-11-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Maybe.....

You also have some folks show up at the Canadian border in July with Ski racks on the top of their cars....

My first 2 years in HS was in NY. I was barely squeaking by, the academic load was pretty well rounded. I moved to California in my senior year and it was like night and day. Overnight I became an honor student.

I think a lot of it is geographical....

I think that, since No Child Left Behind program was started, workload of the kids have been increased. Even here in California.

davparlr · 01-11-2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Udet

I´ve been told of high school guys up in states such as Idaho and Nebraska who would not know where Mexico is.

I suspect that the geographically challenged people are a normal distribution curve over all societies.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 01-11-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Udet

I´ve been told of high school guys up in states such as Idaho and Nebraska who would not know where Mexico is.

That is a bit over the top. I seriously doubt that. All Americans know where Canada and Mexico are. Whoever told you that was pulling your leg and if you believe it you are very gullable.