10 Things Most Americans Don’t Know About America

Byrnzie

cincybearcat wrote:

unless you are actually living there for some time, you won't really get a decent picture.

I'm not so sure about that. I think it depends a lot on the individual. Some people can soak up a place/get a feel for it from the moment they arrive. Most of my initial feelings about a place have turned out to be pretty accurate. As Redrock said above, some people can spend a few years somewhere and still not know anything about it because they live an ex-pat bubble, or whatever.
Personally, whenever I arrive in a new place I walk....and walk...until I've pretty much got my bearings and gotten a feel for the place. I like to think it only takes me a day or two to familiarize myself with any city.

Byrnzie

cincybearcat wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

Traveling the United States isn't all that diverse, like redrock states above. You can't defend traveling one country and getting the kind of experience in it that you get from traveling abroad. The same language is spoken across the U.S., making it far from diverse. Same with the culture in general. Society is pretty much much the same across the country. Not traveling abroad doesn't have any reasonable defense when talking about what we're talking about in this thread, based on the OP: Learning more about your own country by stepping out of it.

You know I don't think that is entirely true. A New Yorker can gain some perspective by spending some time in Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, etc. And Vice versa. SO I think there is a lot to be learned by that.

I do think there are some things that can't be learned/seen until you leave and see some place else. But as I said, unless you are actually living there for some time, you won't really get a decent picture.

The U.S is like five countries in one. The South may as well be another country from any East Coast, or West Coast city.
And a place like the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, is a World away from any city.

tybird

Byrnzie wrote:

tybird wrote:

And they have options like high-speed rail...or even rail for that matter. For example, my options for rail destinations from my city are New Orleans (8 hour trip by rail), Atlanta, the Carolinas and Washington D.C. (close to or over 20 hours by rail). That is one train going south and one train going north daily. New Orleans and D.C. are the first stations where I could make any connections to other trains. Any connection through NOLA would require spending the night there. I love traveling by rail, but it is not the efficient way to travel the U.S.

How long would it take someone in the U.S to fly to, say, Belize, or Cuba?

Cuba?? I don't believe that there are any direct flights to Cuba from the U.S.
Travel embargo, dude....unless it's changed very recently....you not supposed to be able to use a US passport to visit Cuba.

Going to Belize would not be a problem in dealing with time....probably 3 hours or so from Houston....flying to Belize would be problem dealing with the dollar amount.

tybird

Byrnzie wrote:

cincybearcat wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

Traveling the United States isn't all that diverse, like redrock states above. You can't defend traveling one country and getting the kind of experience in it that you get from traveling abroad. The same language is spoken across the U.S., making it far from diverse. Same with the culture in general. Society is pretty much much the same across the country. Not traveling abroad doesn't have any reasonable defense when talking about what we're talking about in this thread, based on the OP: Learning more about your own country by stepping out of it.

You know I don't think that is entirely true. A New Yorker can gain some perspective by spending some time in Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, etc. And Vice versa. SO I think there is a lot to be learned by that.

I do think there are some things that can't be learned/seen until you leave and see some place else. But as I said, unless you are actually living there for some time, you won't really get a decent picture.

The U.S is like five countries in one. The South may as well be another country from any East Coast, or West Coast city.
And a place like the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, is a World away from any city.

My point exactly....at least five countries....and that's not counting the various natural habitats. My point is not there is anything wrong with traveling to foreign countries. It is a great and wonderful thing, but not everyone can afford it. In fact, everyone may not be inclined to even do it.

cincybearcat

Jeanwah wrote:

I'm not buying it, and in addressing the OP's point, one can't learn much of a differing perspective about one's country from never leaving one's country. That's my point. Yeah, states might be different and we can learn a little something from each one, but they're no Kenya compared to Japan! I'm sorry, but using that defense as saying that we're a diverse country is, in my opinion, garbage. The U.S. is not that diverse at all, considering how diverse other countries are to each other! If we really need to argue about reasons why we shouldn't travel abroad, then count me out, because that's not my thing. I just can't relate to the idea of not wanting to see what else is out there.

Who's arguing about not traveling? Seriously you seem he'll bent on making this an argument.

I disagree that the us is not diverse. I think you ignoring that is ridiculous. And you keep talking about going back to the Ops point, yeh we all get that. I just think it is not 100% right or fair.

brianlux

I've traveled around much of the U.S. and it's true that there is a degree of diversity here in the states but the one time I went to Europe- that was diverse. And my sister's stories from her travels to places like Russia, Myanmar, India, parts of Southeast Asia, remote parts of Africa etc. give me an even much more clear picture that the U.S. is only diverse in a relatively small way. The world is much, much more diverse than the U.S. is by itself.

For those of us who can't afford to travel all over the world, I do think it's important to at least see that we are basically various hues of a one color in a many colored pallet.

polaris_x

people are seriously comparing "diversity in the states" to traveling abroad ... that's a joke ... you want proof? ... see "mexican food" ... outside of some major hubs like Queens, NY ... what passes off as "mexican food" is yet another american bastardization of culture ... america believes in melting pot ... that means assimilation ... sure, there are people from all walks of life living in the states ... but you don't get remotely any part of their true culture experiencing it in the states ...

one only needs to visit another country to see that ...

cincybearcat

polaris_x wrote:

people are seriously comparing "diversity in the states" to traveling abroad ... that's a joke ... you want proof? ... see "mexican food" ... outside of some major hubs like Queens, NY ... what passes off as "mexican food" is yet another american bastardization of culture ... america believes in melting pot ... that means assimilation ... sure, there are people from all walks of life living in the states ... but you don't get remotely any part of their true culture experiencing it in the states ...

one only needs to visit another country to see that ...

Holy shit, seriously? Is reading comprehension dead or do people always have to take things to the extreme?


Just want to add so it's clear. Of course traveling to very different countries and far of places will provide even more insight, etc. Where did anyone say it didn't?

Jason P

Byrnzie wrote:

How long would it take someone in the U.S to fly to, say, Belize, or Cuba?

I just checked Expedia for airfare from Chicago to Belize City ... it was $666. :think:

:twisted:



Airfare to Costa Rica is around $600 roundtrip a month from now.
Lima, Peru is $1200
Rio de Janeiro is $1100
San Francisco is $400
Hong Kong is $1900
Naples, Italy is $1400
Paris, France is $1700

I might look into a trip to Costa Rica. The ticket isn't super absurd and the cost there should hopefully offset the ticket expense.

polaris_x

cincybearcat wrote:

Holy shit, seriously? Is reading comprehension dead or do people always have to take things to the extreme?

Just want to add so it's clear. Of course traveling to very different countries and far of places will provide even more insight, etc. Where did anyone say it didn't?

i'm responding to the folks that said the US is like 5 countries in one ... and to the point that americans generally don't know about other cultures ...

Jeanwah

Byrnzie wrote:

The U.S is like five countries in one. The South may as well be another country from any East Coast, or West Coast city.
And a place like the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, is a World away from any city.

Says the person who lives in China... :roll:

It's not as diverse as you may think. Regions are definitely different topographically and cuisine-wise, society is basically the same. Everyone has at least one tv set and cell phone, speaks English and/or Spanish (thanks to immigrants from Mexico - not a bad thing imo), values Walmart, individualism, capitalism and American Idol, hates the president and socialism, is status and money-obsessed, lacks empathy, may have a weight problem, is over-worked, stressed out and is likely fearful of anything radically different. These things are the American way. We're not that diverse at all.

tybird

Jeanwah wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

The U.S is like five countries in one. The South may as well be another country from any East Coast, or West Coast city.
And a place like the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, is a World away from any city.

Says the person who lives in China... :roll:

It's not as diverse as you may think. Regions are definitely different topographically and cuisine-wise, society is basically the same. Everyone has at least one tv set and cell phone, speaks English and/or Spanish (thanks to immigrants from Mexico - not a bad thing imo), values Walmart, individualism, capitalism and American Idol, hates the president and socialism, is status and money-obsessed, lacks empathy, may have a weight problem, is over-worked, stressed out and is likely fearful of anything radically different. These things are the American way. We're not that diverse at all.

This attitude is no better than the ones railed against in the article submitted by the OP. I guess if you assume things are a certain way and don't take time to investigate....your assumption will always be correct.

tybird

Jason P wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

How long would it take someone in the U.S to fly to, say, Belize, or Cuba?

I just checked Expedia for airfare from Chicago to Belize City ... it was $666. :think:

:twisted:



Airfare to Costa Rica is around $600 roundtrip a month from now.
Lima, Peru is $1200
Rio de Janeiro is $1100
San Francisco is $400
Hong Kong is $1900
Naples, Italy is $1400
Paris, France is $1700

I might look into a trip to Costa Rica. The ticket isn't super absurd and the cost there should hopefully offset the ticket expense.

One warning about Costa Rica....them there are some crazy fucking drivers, eh :twisted:

I am so glad that I was part of a group, and we had a bus with a local driver.

Jeanwah

tybird wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

The U.S is like five countries in one. The South may as well be another country from any East Coast, or West Coast city.
And a place like the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, is a World away from any city.

Says the person who lives in China... :roll:

It's not as diverse as you may think. Regions are definitely different topographically and cuisine-wise, society is basically the same. Everyone has at least one tv set and cell phone, speaks English and/or Spanish (thanks to immigrants from Mexico - not a bad thing imo), values Walmart, individualism, capitalism and American Idol, hates the president and socialism, is status and money-obsessed, lacks empathy, may have a weight problem, is over-worked, stressed out and is likely fearful of anything radically different. These things are the American way. We're not that diverse at all.

This attitude is no better than the ones railed against in the article submitted by the OP. I guess if you assume things are a certain way and don't take time to investigate....your assumption will always be correct.

It's not an attitude, it's American society. Just pointing out that we are not as diverse a country as you think.

cincybearcat

Jeanwah wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

The U.S is like five countries in one. The South may as well be another country from any East Coast, or West Coast city.
And a place like the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, is a World away from any city.

Says the person who lives in China... :roll:

Hahaha, this is priceless. Aren't you the one saying that to get perspective of a country you have to leave it and visit other places?????

Now, you're discounting his opinion because he lives somewhere else???? Oh the irony, the hypocrisy....this is terrific. My favorite post ever!!!!

JonnyPistachio

tybird wrote:

Jason P wrote:

I just checked Expedia for airfare from Chicago to Belize City ... it was $666. :think:

:twisted:



Airfare to Costa Rica is around $600 roundtrip a month from now.
Lima, Peru is $1200
Rio de Janeiro is $1100
San Francisco is $400
Hong Kong is $1900
Naples, Italy is $1400
Paris, France is $1700

I might look into a trip to Costa Rica. The ticket isn't super absurd and the cost there should hopefully offset the ticket expense.

One warning about Costa Rica....them there are some crazy fucking drivers, eh :twisted:

I am so glad that I was part of a group, and we had a bus with a local driver.

OMG, the bus drivers are insane! :shock:
We were going from Central regions to the west coast. It was normally a 5.5 hr drive. He did it in 4 hours. We almost had one head-on collision while passing a car, and we passed an ambulance with its lights on. :fp:

Jason, btw I dont think CR is inexpensive. I was surprised to see many things were similar in price, but I was in several touristy areas and only a few real good local spots.

Jason P

JonnyPistachio wrote:

Jason, btw I dont think CR is inexpensive. I was surprised to see many things were similar in price, but I was in several touristy areas and only a few real good local spots.

Well, screw it then.

I'm going to the Sierra Nevada range! I like the culture of black bears, mountain lions, and great horned owls much better then people anyway.

Jeanwah

cincybearcat wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

The U.S is like five countries in one. The South may as well be another country from any East Coast, or West Coast city.
And a place like the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, is a World away from any city.

Says the person who lives in China... :roll:

Hahaha, this is priceless. Aren't you the one saying that to get perspective of a country you have to leave it and visit other places?????

Now, you're discounting his opinion because he lives somewhere else???? Oh the irony, the hypocrisy....this is terrific. My favorite post ever!!!!

Well let's see if he's even been to the 5 countries in one, before you laugh too loud. I'm not the one claiming I know what China is like... Oh, the hypocrisy!

chadwick

i would go along with what byrnzie said earlier about the u.s. being 5 countries in one. it is kinda that way actually. years ago when i was a cross country truck driver i experienced all the diversity this country has to over and to an extreme. one would suggest this country is several lands in one close together place.

south
east coast/northeast
midwest
badlands
high plains
west coast/pacific northwest
southwest

i count 7 (or more) totally different regions where all the people are totally unique to one another. they truthfully be in different worlds from one another. and it is so severe the intensity is mindboggling as to where the fuck am i?

you're in the united states, beeotch

MotoDC

polaris_x wrote:

people are seriously comparing "diversity in the states" to traveling abroad ... that's a joke ... you want proof? ... see "mexican food" ... outside of some major hubs like Queens, NY ... what passes off as "mexican food" is yet another american bastardization of culture ... america believes in melting pot ... that means assimilation ... sure, there are people from all walks of life living in the states ... but you don't get remotely any part of their true culture experiencing it in the states ...

one only needs to visit another country to see that ...

:fp: Can we add this post to the list of "10 Things Canadians Don't Know About America"?

Anyhow, of course traveling through the States isn't going to get you the same experience as actually visiting all the "original" countries/cultures represented in the States, but it's not nearly as far off as you suggest.

I admit I skipped a couple pages of this thread (though only a couple), so maybe I missed something, but are people really claiming the US isn't diverse? I mean, I just don't...what? Really? Jeanwah, did you just google "American stereotypes" and paste it into your post? It's pretty hilarious that you don't think your own attitude is reflected in your post, as if your post is some statement of unassailable fact.

If we were painting Muslims or Jews or Canadians or Chinese with such broad strokes, some of you on this board would be flipping the fuck out or at least laughing your asses off at the ridiculousness of it. Either response would be appropriate, as it is here.