It may well be the US education system. When my step kids were in school (admittedly some time back) I was horrified at how little history and geography they were taught. And we were living in area that supposedly had good schools.

I cannot judge a whole system based on one person's experience.

The US education has produced some great minds even if some of them might be lacking in history or geography.

One thing I do wish was different with the system is the lack of emphasis in learning a second language. If this were the case maybe students would be better in history and definitely better in geography.

rkkwan,

Ditto, To knowing when to "Not open your mouth" or "Not touch a keyboard"

Kudos for YYZ

"Why are you visiting Toronto?" "To see the Blue Jays."

Although I am more of a Yankees fans (which I keep to myself) on the chance he denies me entry into Canada because of it.

In less than 5 minutes, I am on my way to enjoying Ontario!

We've had many encounters with US and Canadian border guards (as my father lives just north of the Canadian border and my sister lives just south of it.)

About 20 years ago, my sister and her husband became guardians of a little girl who was part native. She had been removed from a fairly difficult home situation (mother was a heroin addict etc) and was still getting used to living with my sister and her husband (who were loosely related to her). One day my sister and my niece were crossing the border into the US (we lived in Canada, my sister and her family lived in the US). Not surprisingly, the border guards are pretty careful about little kids crossing the border with adults who aren't their parents. So my sister wasn't surprised to get some fairly extensive questioning, and she showed him all the paperwork. But he was quite snarly about it and it didn't help that he was scarily unattractive. He then decided to question my niece. Again, not a problem in principle. But he was quite gruff with her, too. At one point he asked her "Who's your mother?" Which was a tough question for this traumatized 5-year old to answer. She piped up "X (my sister") is my mother now." He then said rather snidely, "You don't look like your mother." My niece responded very sweetly, "I'll bet you don't look like your mother either."

As they drove away, my niece asked my sister, "Why are the border trolls so mean?" (She mistook the word "patrol" for "troll".)

Out of the mouths of kids ...

Kudos for "GUA".. Guatemala City

"Buenos dias" and two minutes later I am on my way with a smile from the Immigration Officer to enjoy the land of the Mayans

Customs: How long were you in the Ukraine abd why?
Me: Vacation. About 10 days. Returning because I was beginning to look like my passport. (said with smile)
Customs: ( Looking at passport and then me) Your're right you do!

southeastern,

Funny, nice