Myths in America about Europe | 99 comments (99 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Myths in America about Europe (none / 0)

Several years ago the economist had results from a geography quiz given to citizens of various countries. Europeans generally scored higher than Americans, but not by much.

Speaking of Minnesota, I haven't met a European (who isn't living in the US) who knows where Minneapolis is (my response after they ask where I am from). About 1/10 have even heard of it. I always follow with "it's 500km northwest of Chicago," and maybe 1/4 claim to have an idea where Chicago is.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Wed Sep 10th, 2008 at 05:23:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Myths in America about Europe (none / 1)

Minneapolis has about 370,000 people, so do you know where Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, Wuppertal or Bochum is?
I don't expect anybody to know exactly where Norway is, but that it is a European country, I think is something. That it doesn't have a huge number of population, say less than 100 million, too. And a country is more important than a state.

Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den Menschen
Volker Pispers

by Martin (weiser.mensch(at)googlemail.com) on Wed Sep 10th, 2008 at 05:35:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Myths in America about Europe (4.00 / 2)

Minneapolis has about 370,000 people, so do you know where Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, Wuppertal or Bochum is?

Yes and no. Minneapolis-St.Paul metro has a population well over 3 million. We're talking a place that's significantly larger than Frankfurt, and roughly the size of Munich.

by MarekNYC on Wed Sep 10th, 2008 at 05:45:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Myths in America about Europe (none / 0)

Did Munich grow a lot recently? When I lived there, about 10 years ago, I think it was slightly over 1 million.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Wed Sep 10th, 2008 at 05:51:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Myths in America about Europe (4.00 / 2)

Metro region. The city is 1.3 million. Depending on which metro standard you use, the metropolitan region is either 2.6 or 4.6 million. The latter is stretching things a bit. For M-SP it seems the equivalent numbers would be 3.1 and 3.6 million.

by MarekNYC on Wed Sep 10th, 2008 at 06:02:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Myths in America about Europe (none / 0)

Chicago is the 3rd largest metro area in the US, so the lack of European knowledge of that city surprised me more than anything. Despite the actual size of the Twin Cities as pointed out by Marek, I'm not surprised by lack of European knowledge.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Wed Sep 10th, 2008 at 06:21:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Myths in America about Europe (none / 0)

My general take has been that most Europeans know where NYC, LA, Miami are. Next comes DC, then SF and Chicago. Beyond that things tend to get a bit vague.

by MarekNYC on Wed Sep 10th, 2008 at 06:47:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Myths in America about Europe | 99 comments (99 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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