[miss marmelstein]

Oh yeah? Just tell me how much ordinary Italians or middle-class Brits knows about the U.S.? I'm embarrassed at my well-heeled Italian relatives lack of interest in not only the U.S. but every other country and region EXCEPT the one in which they live. And I have a friend who is a school teacher in Bristol, England. He recently told me he thinks Washington, D.C. is in New England. From my fairly constant trips to the UK and Europe, I don't find any of this unusual.

ALL people are inwardly directed.

[gcruse]

I'd heard of Americans abroad in Europe with Canadian flags on their backpacks as some sort of protective coloration.

Then I heard that as far as Europe is concerned, Canada and the US might as well be the same country.

Heh. Those unprovincial elites like me and thee can only roll our eyes.

[NZerFromHK]

I have the same experience here in New Zealand. In this country LA is regarded as a refuelling town for Air New Zealand flights enroute to Old London Town. Even New York can sound flyover city in Kiwis' eyes. The only country that matters to them beyond Australia and the (South) Pacific is Britain and perhaps bits of Europe.

[Jameison]

"Just tell me how much ordinary Italians or middle-class Brits knows about the U.S.? "

Few.
And what little they know is the totally out of whack anti-American rubbish fed them by Pravda-BBC.