I have to add that people in Europe/UK don't seem to have any idea how big it is unless they've been here.
I wear my University of Michigan stuff wherever we go. I had a lady ask me in a pub in London if Michigan was close to Minnesota, and I told her it is. She then asked me how long it would take to drive from where I live to some destination in Northern Minnesota, and the answer was 15 hours or more. At freeway speeds.
"I thought you said Minnesota is close!"
And it is. It takes us 45 or 46 hours drive to get to parts of Texas. California or Alaska are more remote to us (California in more ways than just geography).
I have to agree that China or India will be driving the world next. American culture is already on the wane. We are showing all the signs of the next "fallen empire," right behind the British. Did I mention that our kids are learning Mandarin?
I also believe in learning the local dialect when you travel somewhere, even if it's just "please" and "thank you." It just seems polite to address people in their native language when you are actually in their country.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-07-18 10:30 am (UTC)I wear my University of Michigan stuff wherever we go. I had a lady ask me in a pub in London if Michigan was close to Minnesota, and I told her it is. She then asked me how long it would take to drive from where I live to some destination in Northern Minnesota, and the answer was 15 hours or more. At freeway speeds.
"I thought you said Minnesota is close!"
And it is. It takes us 45 or 46 hours drive to get to parts of Texas. California or Alaska are more remote to us (California in more ways than just geography).
I have to agree that China or India will be driving the world next. American culture is already on the wane. We are showing all the signs of the next "fallen empire," right behind the British. Did I mention that our kids are learning Mandarin?
I also believe in learning the local dialect when you travel somewhere, even if it's just "please" and "thank you." It just seems polite to address people in their native language when you are actually in their country.