What's your country like

[gimli7410]

does anyone kno why americans make fun of canadians all the time. personally ithink they are mad because we beat them in the war of 1812.

[Dúnedain]

Originally posted by gimli7410
does anyone kno why americans make fun of canadians all the time. personally ithink they are mad because we beat them in the war of 1812.

Ummmm if you say so, check your history, there was no defeat, yes the Americans went after Canada and a good portion of the fighting continued on the borders. The US was repelled a number of times, however the British was involved in some of that as well. Ultimately the war was halted due to a treaty in Ghent, so to say Canada beat them is a bit far fetched:

http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bi...rd=war+of+1812

http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bi...rd=war+of+1812

[gimli7410]

we still burnt the white house. i think...

[theonering]

the UK:
rain

[Ragnarok]

I am american and I live in the USA but I think the USA is corrupt.

[Coney]

Originally posted by theonering
the UK:
rain

Yup..........rain for the last 13hrs here

On the plus side......I don't have to mow the lawn Sunday (garden flooded again)

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Ragnarok
I am american and I live in the USA but I think the USA is corrupt.

how so? And is it any more corrupt than any other country? And who makes it corrupt - the people who live here?

[Baby-K]

Originally posted by Coney
Yup..........rain for the last 13hrs here

On the plus side......I don't have to mow the lawn Sunday (garden flooded again)

Will send ye some of our sunshine........ Got plenty of that here in SA.

Erm, I guess I could say a few things about my country, but Andúril was here first But I could say a few things about Jozi (Johannesburg), would have to think about what you'd find interesting though....like Jozi's the only city in the world with 2 Nobel Peace prize winners who have addresses in the same street (Nelson and Desmond Tutu), it's the world's largest urban jungle & looks like a rain forest when viewed from outer space. Recently hosted the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

On another note SA has recently brokered a peace deal to be implemented in the ongoing civil war in the DRC. SA has the most democratic constitution in the world and reports are that Palestinian authorities are discussing the possibilities to implement parts of our constitution in their countries. Also SA was the first country ever to totally disarm re weapons of mass destruction.

[Lalaith_Elf]

um what can i say about england..... hmmmm.... cold wet cold and even more wet....

[Ruinel]

Originally posted by Dúnedain
Ummmm if you say so, check your history, there was no defeat, yes the Americans went after Canada and a good portion of the fighting continued on the borders. The US was repelled a number of times, however the British was involved in some of that as well. Ultimately the war was halted due to a treaty in Ghent, so to say Canada beat them is a bit far fetched:

http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bi...rd=war+of+1812

http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bi...rd=war+of+1812

Didn't the Brits own Canada at the time? So, then... wouldn't it be more proper to say that it was a fight between the US and Brittish Owned Canada. After all, the Canada today is a separate and independent country... just as the US was once a colony of England, but is no longer.

Sorry, but I have to get this dig in about Canada: they still pay taxes that go to the queen of England. BWAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!! What a bunch of morons!!!

[Coney]

Originally posted by Ruinel
Sorry, but I have to get this dig in about Canada: they still pay taxes that go to the queen of England. BWAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!! What a bunch of morons!!!

Sshh, don't tell 'em............

[Ruinel]

Originally posted by Coney
Sshh, don't tell 'em............

You're right... they probably have no idea. BWAHAHAHAHAAH!!!

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Ruinel
You're right... they probably have no idea. BWAHAHAHAHAAH!!!

Most will try to deny it. They don't like to admit that they're only a free country up to a point and that they still ultimately report to England.

And yes - the only reason why we were at war with Canada during 1812 waas because we were at war with England. The British invaded the US through Canada and tried to reclaim America - but failed for the second but not the last time. They attampted again during the Civil War by supporting the south - hoping they could come in afterward and claim the pieces.

[Ruinel]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
Most will try to deny it. They don't like to admit that they're only a free country up to a point and that they still ultimately report to England.

And yes - the only reason why we were at war with Canada during 1812 waas because we were at war with England. The British invaded the US through Canada and tried to reclaim America - but failed for the second but not the last time. They attampted again during the Civil War by supporting the south - hoping they could come in afterward and claim the pieces.

HA! And the teacher thought I was sleeping during History class!

If I lived in Canada, I'd organize a march on the Capitol in Ottawa every day and protest until that was changed. But they're so compliant, I can't see that happening.

[Bombadillo]

Originally posted by Ragnarok
I am american and I live in the USA but I think the USA is corrupt.

Yup. That is the people, not the president.

Well over the summer I'm going on a trip to Europe as a student ambassador, for the second time. THe object of this program is to clear up any misconceptions other-countriers might have of the US. Of course some bad rumors of us are true, but eh...
I felt kinda obligated to post here, being an ambassador and all.

People to People Student Ambassadors Program

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Bombadillo
Well over the summer I'm going on a trip to Europe as a student ambassador, for the second time. THe object of this program is to clear up any misconceptions other-countriers might have of the US. Of course some bad rumors of us are true, but eh...
I felt kinda obligated to post here, being an ambassador and all.

People to People Student Ambassadors Program

Well you obviously have your work cut out for you. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the US and the citizens. Some things are true of course - but it's funny how many of the things they complain about in regards to the US is the same way it is in their own countries.

I think the best way to dispel the misconceptions though is for people from other countries to come to the US - instead of them thinking they know what the US is like from what they hear and perceive from media.

Are you traveling all over Europe? Which countries? You'll have to report back on how it goes. Since you've done it before - what was your past experience like?

[Bombadillo]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
Well you obviously have your work cut out for you. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the US and the citizens. Some things are true of course - but it's funny how many of the things they complain about in regards to the US is the same way it is in their own countries.

I think the best way to dispel the misconceptions though is for people from other countries to come to the US - instead of them thinking they know what the US is like from what they hear and perceive from media.

Are you traveling all over Europe? Which countries? You'll have to report back on how it goes. Since you've done it before - what was your past experience like?

Whew, when I saw you were the last person to post I was worried you'd be defending America against me, because I said the people are corrupt.

But I'm glad you asked. Two summer ago I went with 34 other kids to Spain, France, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and the Vatican City, for 21 days total. This summer I'll be visiting Switzerland, Austria, France, and Italy, also for 21 days. Which is pretty cool; me and Johnathan might meet by chance.

Last time it was pretty fun. (I'm going again.) But it focused a lot on education, even more so than culture or communication. This year I'll have a cooler, more lenient adult leader, and a smaller group of students. So it'll be really fun.

Plus by keeping a really simple easy journal of the trip, I can get more college credits, so it's worth my while either way.


BTW, you mentioned that people shouldn't always listen to the media. Yeah, not always... France is much worse than you'd think. Pretty much everything is true about France, except for the rumor that they started wearing deodorant hundreds of years ago.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Bombadillo
Whew, when I saw you were the last person to post I was worried you'd be defending America against me, because I said the people are corrupt.

Nope - I knew what you meant.

And there are corrupt people - no country is perfect and no single person is perfect.

But I'm glad you asked. Two summer ago I went with 34 other kids to Spain, France, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and the Vatican City, for 21 days total. This summer I'll be visiting Switzerland, Austria, France, and Italy, also for 21 days. Which is pretty cool; me and Johnathan might meet by chance.

That'll be cool. You and Jonathan don't have any plans to meet? You're not scheduled to go to Sweden though I guess. Anyone from anywhere pretty much has an open invitation for me to show them around if they're ever in the area. I like to show people around and it makes it a lot easier to get around NY and the NJ area if you know someone anyway.

By the way - I've always want to go to Italy, Spain, Austria in particular. I would like to see ALL of Europe and I have always wanted to go to Russia - especially St Petersburg.

Last time it was pretty fun. (I'm going again.) But it focused a lot on education, even more so than culture or communication. This year I'll have a cooler, more lenient adult leader, and a smaller group of students. So it'll be really fun.

Plus by keeping a really simple easy journal of the trip, I can get more college credits, so it's worth my while either way.

Did you learn anything new about the countries? And what were your impressions of them and the people. Do you know what the other peoples' impressions were of America before and after your trip?

BTW, you mentioned that people shouldn't always listen to the media. Yeah, not always... France is much worse than you'd think. Pretty much everything is true about France, except for the rumor that they started wearing deodorant hundreds of years ago.

My friend Italy had told me not to wrory about the French - they stick their nose up to anyone who isn't French. She said they're rude in restaurants and if you can't speak their language perfectly - they're pretty obnoxious about it.

Also - when I was studying French - I went looking for french message boards and people to talk to. Repeatedly I saw - "Will talk to anyone other than an American" posted. Or people would ask - "Are you American?" And I'd say "Yes" and then they'd say - "Bye". That was 2 years ago - before the UN stuff or Iraq o 9/11.

[Earniel]

Originally posted by Bombadillo
BTW, you mentioned that people shouldn't always listen to the media. Yeah, not always... France is much worse than you'd think. Pretty much everything is true about France, except for the rumor that they started wearing deodorant hundreds of years ago.

And how many times have you been there to form an opinion like that?

[Bombadillo]

Originally posted by Eärniel
And how many times have you been there to form an opinion like that?

Just once, for a week, but it was enough. Why, are you French? Sorry; I've got French roots if it means anything to you. Most people I encountered in France were real jerks (at least). And I've been told Paris is the grand climax of their arrogance, but I'll find out for sure in a couple months.