Faina, that's right! I had forgotten about that. And a question for you. You live/work in SF don't you? I have an inlaw from a Russian family (her Mom was born in Trieste Italy during WWII, a camp I believe and her Dad in China.
Great family and lots of interesting stories. They had been in SF for a long time. Last name i Shkouratoff.
Have you ever heard of this family?

Before I moved to Switzerland for a year (I had done very little travelling prior to that) I had a vague notion that all of it would be mountainous and cold in the winter. Where I lived was in the farthest reaches of the Black Forest (so, rolling farmland)and we had some 50 degree weather in February.
I love exploring new places and having misconceptions "debunked". Like the fact that New Orleans natives sound to me like they're from New York City, and certainly do not have the "southern drawl" accent that is usually portrayed in the movies (which makes me want to scream!) No one in Louisiana really has that drawl type of accent, nor do they from the more metro areas of Texas, yet that's what's always heard on made for TV movies, etc. I love hearing all the different accents people have and phrases they use in different parts of the country--they even vary within the same state. I love that! I would love to study linguistics!

I have discovered that many people in the midwest, south, and far west think that the northeast is uniformly crowded and congested. They do not expect to find parts of western New Jersey, Conn., or even western Mass. where there are lakes and farmland, and they certainly do not understand how very rural northern New England is, especially away from the coast. I think they expect it all to be the Boston-Washington megalopolis, and would be suprised to know that you can get seriously lost and never see another human being if you're wandering around, say, the wilderness of northern Maine.

cfc, yes that is true. On an emergency drive (plane breakdown plus weather stand still in several airports cancelled all back end flights from NYC to Chicago) in March 2001- my companion and I doubled up on renting a car to return with a young woman and her boss trying to get back to Sears Tower.

Everyone took turns driving, but my companion (engineer retired at 56)- drove the most. The comments on all sides, but especially from him were of this ilk. "Wow! this is kind of like the spring fed lake country in Michigan- only more groomed." (Pennsylvania countryside)

He often flew to Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore for GM and thought of the eastern USA as big congested city territory and little else. I often tease him because he had to look down and see all the "other" that was there. Plus this is the same person who knows almost every inch of the Western USA- but knew almost nothing of the South or East. (Skiing one reason.) But it is funny how those closed mind misconceptions can limit where you choose to travel.

Rereading my post now a few days later, I think it would be prudent to mention that it was not my mother complaining about slave labor at Biltmore House. Rather, it was a girl in the school group ahead of us who had perfected the art of the stony glare and was making her observations to a girl who would periodically remark, "God, I am like SO high right now."

My first trip abroad was to Portugal. I had only about a weeks notice, but thought my Spanish would get me through. I didn't realize they had their own language! Yes, I do laugh at myself over that.

We were a military family so moved a LOT. When we were in Florida and moved to Idaho I had people ask me if it hurt when snow flakes fell on you. When we lived in the northeast people could not understand how on the west coast the states are much larger and you cannot just drive through 3 or 5 states in one day.

Many years ago I had a client who insisted that Canada was part of the USA. This happened in Portland, OR and none of us at our business could make this person understand.

Uhm, speaking of travel misconceptions:

Author: jor
Date: 10/07/2004, 06:09 pm
Message: .... Years ago when I traveled through Europe on the Eurrail Pass train and ferry travel program England was the only country which did not honor the pass. Ireland, on the other end of England even accepted it....

Which end of England would Ireland be on? Last I recall Ireland was an island not physically connected on either end with England. Unless you meant Northern Ireland which of course is part of Great Britain but is not England.

atilla, I do not believe for one second that any American ever asked you or any other Canadian if you live in Igloos or if you park the dog sleds next to the igloo. Who is this person or persons who claims they were asked these rediculous questions? They are either liers or they do not exist. It never happened and you bought into it.

Well, jor, I don't want to argue with you on this at all, but questions such as these DO get asked, I don't make things up just to get a reaction. And as I stated in my previous post, there are actually some Americans who know more about Canada than Canadians do.

The thread is about misconceptions, and whether you want to believe it or not, there is a misconception about Canadians living in Igloos. If you read Meesthare's post on this same thread, she stated the same thing. I happen to know that she lives in a completely different part of Canada than I do, yet, both of us have had this same jaw dropping experience.

I was merely trying to explain why you might get the "Canadian Quiz" while travelling, no harm meant.

dunno jor, way before the outsourcing hoohaa - I was constantly amazed by complete ignorance about India(is it in Indiana). Some really strange questions. On the other hand - some of the things people in India believe about the US are astonishing too

But that is why we travel right? To get rid of some misconceptions of or very rarely reinforce others(like some places in the south I would never ever go back

If questions like this are being asked I have no doubt that it is asked by Canadians posing as Americans. The kind of Canadians who give the Canada Quiz to Americans.

This goofy question about dog sleds and igloos would be equal to Canadians asking as if Americans hitch up our donkeys next to our adobe mud huts. Think about how believeable that would sound.

You must be right, Canadians pose as Americans all the time. Shocking!

Could that be because Canadians want to be Americans? I heard it several times. It must be true.

I have no doubt that it was an American posing as a Canadian who told you that.

This has been a great thread to read... I think to some degree we are all guilty of having misconceptions when we've never been somewhere.

Sadly, I honestly can believe people would ask about Igloos and other questions that would seem idiotic to most people. There are just a lot of people that don't travel and/or know very little about history, geography and climates.

I took that us map quiz about 20 times and kept failing. I know everything but the eastern side of the country because I've been there there the least!

The Canadians who don't want to be Americans want to be ruled by Britain. What's with that Victory Day and those Brit Royals on your money. Nasty.

hahaha jor, you crack me up. Victory day? I'm assuming you mean Victoria Day and the Royals on the money are actually American actors made to look "aged". Like fine wine.
Have a good weekend!

No, I think jor means Victory Day.

Here's a link about Victory Day or otherwise known as Victory in Europe Day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwt...rmany_05.shtml

Oh, heck, could also be Victoria Day in Canada. Too much history on the brain this week