Dear Europe - Where is Missouri?

Dear everyone who lives in Europe.

I want to test a theory. You see, I've got the idea kicking around in my head that the majority of Europeans probably can't accurately place the location of the various states that compose the USA, and moreover aren't neccesarily aware of the cultural, linquistic, and climatic differences unique to each state.

So, I want to test the theory. And come to think of it, I guess the question applies to everyone who isn't American.

Can you find Alaska on the map? Kansas? Nebraska? New Jersey? Maine? Nevada? Hawaii?

Does the US register as one uniform mass of culture and climate? Or is there a perception of individual states and regions distinct from one another?

everyone can find california, texas and new york.

not sure what you're trying to achieve really. i'd say most people in most countries have a better idea about american geography than most foreign countries. we're 'educated' by movies and such all the time, so whilst lots of english people won't be able to place missouri, even less americans would be able to point to yorkshire on a map.

The same can be said for any country though, however that particular country is divided.

I must make comment. I must.

The thing I find most interesting about this little theory is the fact that it is being undertaken by a Midwesterner - now, I'm one as well, and have encountered many times a) Midwesterners just have this... feeling that to the rest of the nation, the *middle states* are a big blur and nobody really knows about us or b) Actual Americans think South Dakota is in Canada.

I suppose the thing I feel is the real grit of my comment here is this: do you, as a midwesterner, feel on some level that you exist in some sort of *grey* area of the US, as possibly the pancreas exists in a grey area of the human body for many people, in that we know it's there, but not *exactly* where? I'm also not saying you're wrong in this feeling, I suppose I'm just as curious as you are to see how people respond.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that most Europeans would have an easier time pointing out Missouri on a map than most Americans. And that includes the people actually living in Missouri. I say this as someone who went to college - yes, college - with people who couldn't point out Texas on a map. This despite the fact that they lived there, probably had all their lives, and that Texas is probably the most recognizable state on the map.

A short time after moving to Missouri I was carded for a beer purchase. I presented my Iowa ID to the clerk who then had to call a manager because "We usually only accept ID from bordering states."

I can place Alaska and Hawaii. And New York, Florida and California. Other than that though, I can't even name that many states.

And Canadians ought to know more about the USA than Overseas folk.

I can only agree. I'm European and I was kinda shocked about how little many kids in highschool knew about their own country.. and even less about the rest of world. questions like: "Oh..so you're from Germany..where in the U.S. is that?" or "Germany? That's right next to China isn't it?" Well I had some good laughs though


and coming back to your question: I can point out any country whatsoever in the whole world, including all your funny little U.S. states.

The only states I really have trouble placing are some in the midwest and a few of the New England states. I could probably identify a third of them just by outline.
I can also name all the states that start with 'M' in under 30 seconds.

Can you point out Carmen San Diego?

I can name all 50, given about half an hour. I know the state capitals of maybe 20. Pointing states out on a map, I'd get about 20. Missouri probably not one of them, though. Sorry.

nope i said countries and states not cities or counties..wer lesen kann ist klar im vorteil..

yea well find powys

I get told all the time out here from foreigners that they're American Geography sucks.

Definitely east of Missouri.

Missouri? I've got a vague idea. Alaska, yes; New Jersey, I think so. Some are easier than others. I agree with what almostfamous said about people from outside the US getting at least some of what they know from films and tv... and that's part of the problem, because - and I haven't done any research to back this up, it's just an impression - most (big) American films and shows seem to be set in New York, or LA, or one of the other big famous places that everyone knows and recognises.

Everytime I was in the US, people confused Switzerland and Sweden, which was quite funny... still, I must admit that apart from Alaska, California, Texas, NY, Illinois, Wisconsin, both Dakotas, Nevada, Arizona, Louisiana, Florida, and Hawai, I have some problems to point American States on a map precisely... sorry about that... and I get really confused with the initials used for every state... that's quite difficult to remember.

Edited because I can't even spell right my own fucking country... silly me.

[Edited on May 22, 2006 by gigglestar]

Understanding of how other people perceive the world.

when i was about 13, we had to take a Maine studies class (since that's where i live) in school. it was required to graduate; you had to pass it at some point between eighth and twelfth grade. we started the unit by just writing the names of all the states on the map, which had to be redone until the answers were all correct. i only had to retake it once because i mixed up Minnesota and Missouri (i kept second-guessing myself, i definitely know which is which by now). it was appalling how many people had to retake it multiple times. maybe it was just having a states puzzle as a kid or something, or having to memorize them all by region when i was in third grade. i don't think it's hard to remember where they are if you're an American. not knowing means you've either never seen a map or you're just lazy and ignorant.

i don't expect foreigners to know where all the states are, since, as other people have said, i don't know where specific locations in other countries are (though i had to learn the provinces of Canada once...i don't remember some now but i at least have a general idea of which ones are where).

i just get annoyed when fellow Americans assume that i should be saying "ayuh" every few words and dropping my R's because i'm from Maine. i've only ever met one person who does that and it's a fake accent - he's a regional comedian (and not a very good one, either). and when they think all we eat is lobster. the only time my family ever eats it is when relatives visit. and i think it's overrated.

Say "ayuh" with pride. It's a good word.

Hell, most Americans probably can't even find Missouri on a map. I saw a news report that showed a lot of people who couldn't find New York state on a map, and they were asking people in New York City!

I might expect someone from Maine to say "ayuh" a lot, but I think that's Stephen King's fault.

i have no expectations of how people from maine are supposed to sound. i didn't even know there was a maine accent. and i'm american.

i think the states are so far apart you really don't know what's up with things like accents unless you're from there. i know the stereotypical new york city accent, the valley girl california slang, the texas southern stuff and that's about it.

i mean really, unless you are from a specific location you're going to only know what you hear on TV and in the movies, which is pretty much the 3 variations of american accents i listed above.