Is Bahia a region in Brazil - bordering Atlantic ocean? I have some CD music from that area - love it!

If I say, I was born in Belarus, I get a blank stare. This is the reason for a map of Europe in my cubicle :)

No blank stares from me, Faina--I've been to Belarus. :-)

I have to say I think we Canadians get it the worst. When I say I'm from Canada, they ask if I know so-and-so who lives in Toronto. When I say that I live in Edmonton, Alberta, They usually ask if that is near Toronto. Apparently most people think Toronto is the only city in Canada...

Kind of like LCBoniti's LA reply: When I say I'm from a suburb of Detroit, people either comment on the Motor City or the Murder City (the latter for Americans).

I prefer to just say I'm from Michigan, so I can point to my hometown on the palm of my hand--one of the perks of being from a mitten-shaped state!

If I say I'm from Kansas, the typical reaction is "Oh yes, Wizard of Oz!" I agree that people just want to find a common ground, so the first reaction is a goofy stereotype. I'm guilty of it too.

People are also amazed to learn that many, many Kansans do not live on farms, and have, in fact, studied evolution.

Amanda <Apparently most people think Toronto is the only city in Canada...>
In France we'd rather say Montreal or Quebec, not Toronto. :-)

Not across the big pond, but in a tiny town in western Arizona,near the Mexican border, on a golf course. Waiting for the foursome in front of us to finish, two gentleman playing behind us came up near the tee, and asked us where we were from. Upon stating Massachusetts, he asked us, in a southern drawl "Why do you people keep electing that boy Kennedy"? We told him. He got miffed, we teed off.

Nirvana, Gardyloo? Really? Oh, LOL! I say Portland, Oregon, and the Brits don't know that very well. So, I say Seattle, and sometimes I mention Vancouver, B.C. (thinking they may have studied Canadian history.) I have been told that some Brits know Seattle because of "Frasier"! I did meet one Brit who actually knew there are two Portlands in the States, and that surprised me.

I could say Oregon is north of California, but I'm tired of living in that state's shadow.

I always tell the truth--New York City. And proud of it! People always react well from this, either telling me how they've always wanted to visit NYC or they tell me about a trip they took their long ago.

Wally: Your method would be fun way to start a conversation! Years ago, while in school in Avignon, I tried to explain I was from Iowa. Blank stare. So I said "Sud (south) de Minneapolis. That worked for a few people. But it seemed that every French person thought that it was a barren wasteland between New York and California. Now when I stay in B & B's in Europe, and say that I live in South Dakota, most of the proprietors are so pleased: they have never had anybody from South Dakota!

LCBoniti,
Thank you. In a way it's a revealing screen name, isn't it? Not hard to guess my age ;;)

I don't get it.

When I'm in China, I LOVE telling people I'm from California. Why? Because they all immediately want to shout out "Schwartzenegger!" This is very hard to pronounce for Chinese speakers (they call him by another name) and it is just hilarious to watch them try to say his name in "English." (Not that I'm making fun of Chinese people... but we're talking about the annoying people who know only one thing about where we're from, so... :)

In Europe, I generally pretend that I don't speak English at all. I actually started doing this when I found that many people assume that I do NOT speak English (I look Russian or Czech), and I discovered that it was a great way to get around unnoticed and see the "real" side of life. I mainly use body language and simple words with that confused "Am I saying this right?" look.

L84SKY - I'm there with you!

capecodshanty - I love it!

When in Ireland, we heard a lot of comments about Bush, "the gangster" as they called him. When we switched to saying we were from Arkansas, we heard "Slick Willie". Big difference though because they loved Clinton. I am going to start saying that I am from the Ozarks...wonder where that will lead? :)

Diane

Budman, don't know if you get the same response from fellow Americans, but when I tell people I'm from Jersey I usually get either "Oh, like the Sopranos" or "What exit haha".

To which I proudly respond, "153."

Christina

I know EXACTLY what you mean, Tracy. I grew up in Clinton County! We lived in various parts of the eastern US for several years and have been in the Chicago 'burbs for over twenty years. But I still find myself being careful to say Chicago *suburbs* or *near* Chicago. I think that old resentment is still with me! I also find myself reluctant to say I grew up near St. Louis. People usually assume that means Missouri. I don't have anything against Missouri. It's just not where I grew up!

P_M, I hope you didn't yodel there :))

I was in Istanbul for about 9 days last summer. Not one person asked me about George W Bush, even if they knew I was living in the U.S. Most people were more interested in whether or not I wanted to buy a carpet.

I did meet an Iraqi women, now living in Cairo, who asked me what I thought about the war in her country. We had a long talk whilst dining at the cafe at Topkapi Palas. She was very pleasant and not at all combative. I found the conversation refreshing.

Mrs. E Worthington-Manville