USC Clueless Families?

[panamania79 2]

When I was pregnant with my daughter, my mother asked if Germany had diapers because she could send some if they didn't.

[Shad and Dani 3]

People get surprised when I tell hem that we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Russia. Hullo, pilgrims came from Europe to America, not the other way around.

My mother-in-law thought I would have no clothes when I first got here. Where did she take this idea that Russian people are so poor that they wear the same clothes every day? Was she surprised when I showed up in my mink coat.

Russian women do love their fur!

[Shad and Dani 3]

I have made it a habit of saying -- I am from India rather than I am Indian.

Whenever I say the latter I am being asked which tribe I belong to

I am not sure if its good or bad, but most of the time people can't really tell that I am from India untill I let them know. The other day I was asked by a lady at the grocerry store if I am from Hawaii

I once told my grandmother I found a great Indian restaraunt. She said, "where on the Cherokee reservation?" It's been a family joke since.

[R and F 34]

Most people where I live have never heard of Morocco. And when you tell them it is in North Africa they say, "oh, he isn't black then?"

[Brad and Vika 129]

If somebody doesn't know where my country is ,all they need to do just ask. I will do my best to explain where to find it,but don't try guessing...Oh Lithuania it's Transilvania right? Soo do you guys still have vapires in your country?...

The funny thing is that Halloween isn't really celebrated in the Balkans. I've been wanting to travel to Romania forever to see Dracula's castle, but Bulgarians could care less about going there. Plus they complain about all the Romanian gypsies

Actually, the Castle Bran (I think that is the name of Dracula's Castle) is really not that big a deal. Less than an hour to go through it, and hours to get there. And vampires in Lithuania? Too funny

Dracula or (Vlad's) real castle is in the Valley of Peles, deep in the mountains. If you want the gift shop you can visit Bran Castle...

Apparently I visited the gift shop Honestly, it was very much like that, with a small circus right outside the front door, and I did manage to resist any urge to buy one of those goofy Dracula coffee mugs, etc.. None of our Foundation staffers made any distinction for me between Bran and anywhere else. I found the Black Church in Brasov to be more interesting, historically speaking.

[merijan 0]

I have enjoyed reading all of the posts. And I have to say Americans in general ( and I include myself in past years) are very ignorant to the geography, the politics and culture of the world outside our own. Except of coarse if u live in California, we do know where Mexico is since our state is actually greatly influenced by it.

I think when I went to college (for one year) I met arabs and that is when I first began to have knowledge of the middle east, and from there I took interest in many other countries and politics. I never even knew about so many places, and the politics between our countries , etc. I think for us in US we dont care about anyone outside our own world because it never effected us on our own ground before 9/11 .Even after that I am surprised how little people still know.

I was wondering if those from other countries can tell us do u get a better understanding and education concerning goegraphy, and politics of other countries?

[andreea 0]

OK, clarification. Never in history Vlad the Impaler -whom is te inspiration for count Dracula-lived in Bran castle. Dracula is a novel character invented by Bram Stoker. Dracula comes from the romanian Drăculea, which means the son of Dracu, who was in fact his father and got this nickname because he was decorated by hungarian king with the Dragon decoration.

the castle was built during the hungarian domination, was used by Sigismund of Luxemburg, was then in the posesion of Valahia and donated to Queen Maria Habsburg for her contribution in the romanian principates union. comunists took it afterwardsand let it rot, and in present days is the property of romanian royal family,who r not sure if to make it a museum or sell it.

there is no romanian to refer at the castle as Dracula castle, unless they give a tour to a foreigner who's here to see that. Transilvania is full of Dracula castles, houses, dungeons, etc, and that only because it seemsit sounds good for the foreign tourists. we don't even celebrate halloween here, but is full of americans searching for vampires in these "hot spots". Bran castle is asociated with Dracula since the movie "Interview with a vampire " was filmed there.

but of course, for those who like bloody stories, they can anytime come and pretend they walk where Dracula was killing virgins.

enjoy life,

Andreea

[Shad and Dani 3]

OK, clarification. Never in history Vlad the Impaler -whom is te inspiration for count Dracula-lived in Bran castle. Dracula is a novel character invented by Bram Stoker. Dracula comes from the romanian Drăculea, which means the son of Dracu, who was in fact his father and got this nickname because he was decorated by hungarian king with the Dragon decoration.

the castle was built during the hungarian domination, was used by Sigismund of Luxemburg, was then in the posesion of Valahia and donated to Queen Maria Habsburg for her contribution in the romanian principates union. comunists took it afterwardsand let it rot, and in present days is the property of romanian royal family,who r not sure if to make it a museum or sell it.

there is no romanian to refer at the castle as Dracula castle, unless they give a tour to a foreigner who's here to see that. Transilvania is full of Dracula castles, houses, dungeons, etc, and that only because it seemsit sounds good for the foreign tourists. we don't even celebrate halloween here, but is full of americans searching for vampires in these "hot spots". Bran castle is asociated with Dracula since the movie "Interview with a vampire " was filmed there.

but of course, for those who like bloody stories, they can anytime come and pretend they walk where Dracula was killing virgins.

enjoy life,

Andreea

Anyone want a Dracula tour? Cha Ching! Business idea!

[Bulgarican 0]

we didnt have the problem for finding where the beautiful BULGARIA is

[Lyuba 0]

People get surprised when I tell hem that we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Russia. Hullo, pilgrims came from Europe to America, not the other way around.

My mother-in-law thought I would have no clothes when I first got here. Where did she take this idea that Russian people are so poor that they wear the same clothes every day? Was she surprised when I showed up in my mink coat.

Russian women do love their fur!

We most certainly do!!!!

[Chocolot 0]

The world map, from aussies perspective

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Yes, thats the deep country side. Some country side people still use wells because water tastes way better, and horses. Soviet times just stayed with them. You painted the picture very darkly here.

Not every country is as beautiful as Germany. And i mean it. Would love to go back to Germany myself.

Yeah, I remember stopping at a farmer's house with my little group of tourists and locals and the farmer just had to let us try the water from his well. My Lithuanian was poor, so I didn't get all of what was being said, but yeah, the water was a must try. It was cold and it was fairly warm out, so I was happy to have it for that alone.

The countryfolk I met seemed pleased enough and though poor, not impoverished. I don't recall forming any negative impressions, at any rate. The thing that was most impressive was the lack of obvious pollution where I was running around. It was a really good experience for me. Like I said, I would go back, no problem.

Most all countries have their selling points. I must admit, I have never been to the one that sells Germany in the minds of most foreigners, Munich, and I lived there for 3 years. I remembered how upset all the other Americans were at my exchange course that Oldenburg was aboslutely nothing like Munich or Barvaria.

[Kevin&Leilei 1]

I just tested myself. I was able to identify 107 countries on an unmarked world map.

[Teacher Mark 53]

I just tested myself. I was able to identify 107 countries on an unmarked world map.

That's impressive. Where's the test?

[panamania79 2]

My family was not as clueless as was everyone else. Let me tell you no one in Western WI had any idea where Morocco was - many thought it was Monaco and asked how rich he was. But as soon as I said it was in North Africa they said "oooooh AFRICA?? have you been there? Did you see any elephants or giraffes??" Yes because in Africa everything is the same....