She Thinks Europe is A Country

Sad!

On the other hand, my teenaged (at that time) German cousin once wrote me a letter and asked how the weather was in the U.S., so lack of understanding of foreign countries is not entirely unique to the U.S.

Funny...but sad!

I don't think Kelli had a lot of "formal" education. :)

Of course I was once working in Singapore where I met a very nice young lady planning her first trip to the US. She was coming for two weeks. Week 1, was at Disneyland in California and then she planned to drive to Orlando for a week at Disney World. Aside from the fact that ALL she wanted to see was Mickey Mouse we had a really hard time explaining to someone whose entire country is the size of Manhattan exactly HOW long it would take to drive from LA to Orlando!

This reminds me of something I have experienced several times recently. When I tell people (presumably reasonably educated) that I am going to New England next month, they say that it's great that I'm going back to Europe again. When I tell them New England is not in Europe they are puzzled, wondering where it could be then. Even when I say it's in the Northeastern part of the U.S. they are confused. After I mention the New England Patriots they finally get it!

Maybe she should run for governor of Alaska...

I teach grade 6 in Saskatchewan and I KNOW that we teach all about the differences between continents and countries, as well as the main European countries that immigrants to Saskatchewan have come from. Having said that, it is such a hard concept for kids to grasp (and by this video, evidently this applies to country music singers too!). But, for an adult to be so ignorant of the world around her is really upsetting.

What many are missing is that this question is included in the curriculum for third grade geography.

Later she was asked in what family is the piccolo....woodwinds, strings or percussion. She said percussion because it and piccolo both started with a "p."

Well, bless her little heart. Not all of us can be pretty AND smart.

Her reaction to a country named Hongry really exceeded my expectations.

Some people videos are best watched on mute.

Europeans probably do know more about us than we do of them, but I think the scale of the US still surprises them. Once someone asked where Indiana is located (I never expect them to know). I told them we were close to Chicago. They then asked how close. I said about 250 miles. They were rather surprised that I considered that close. Another time an Englishman told me he was planning to drive from the california to the east coast until he figured out that it was equivalent to a drive from India to England.

I can't believe that anyone could be that ignorant of basic geography. Did she not graduate from high school and take the same curriculum as the boy that was standing next to her?

This reminds me of some of the contestants on Jay Leno's "Jaywalking" segments. I'm almost convinced those are staged, as no one could be that uninformed!

As the saying goes "Ignorance is bliss".

There are times when I actually envy people like her! I would love to be able to walk around not knowing about things like global warming, global recession, bank bailouts, the difference between republicans/democrats, the federal deficit, who the vice president is, endangered wildlife, poverty, armed conflict, lack of health care......

Hopefully in my next life I will be a dog and can take naps all day, and have no worries.

Some Americans are unaware that we have a state called "New Mexico." Before I traveled to Europe I had friends who went to Europe every summer. I couldn't figure out why they went again since they had been there already. Travel can be a political act and it can also be educational. My impression of Europeans I've talked to is that they know more about us than we know about them.

I admit I like to give the impression that California is a country. When asked where I'm from, I say "California." Nobody ever says, "Oh, you're American!" I'm considering changing that to "I'm from Northern California" so that nobody will think I have ties to Hollywood.

Well, we recently had an Alaskan politician running for the second highest office in the nation who apparently didn’t know which countries were in NAFTA and thought that Africa was a country. What's the difference?

Swan, that is so funny...when people ask where I am from I also say California. I think I will also revise my answer to say I am from Northern California.

Hey Swan and Andrea -- when I travel I am repeatedly asked "what part of the States are you from. I of course reply that I am Canadian, but what is funny is that when I was in Poland, traveling with a Polish person, he asked me why do Americans always say what state they are from and Canadians never say what province they are from, only that they are from Canada? I don't know the answer other than most people know where each state is but I don't think many people know the provinces (outside of us, that is).

Funny! A person that I chatted with online asked me if I was going to see a fellow acquaintance from Holland who was visiting Canada. I asked where in Canada is he in right now? They replied, "He's in Toronto." I had to explain to them that Canada is large and getting to Toronto from Winnipeg would take alot of time by car and flying would be a bit costly as well the rail travel in Canada is not that good.

It ain't just geography! Last year, in a quiz given to California high school students, 1/3 of them thought that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in retaliation for the US dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Nearly half of them thought that during the European campaign in WW2, our enemies were Germany and Russia.
Yikes!

First, granted she should know more about the different countries. But it's kinda sad when adults have to spend time cutting a person down for their lack of knowledge. The public school systems is lacking a lot, the pass kids on even if they are failing some subjects. I know that Kelli didn't have a easy childhood.

Robin, maybe someone with that little knowledge shouldn't go on a game show where the focus is on knowledge.

I loved what David said! "Maybe she should run for governor of Alaska... "
Kellie is such a hick! When she was on American Idol, we all laughed at her because she is so dumb! Part of her image. I like how that little boy was laughing at her! Yes, that's very sad someone can be that bumb.

Wow - tough crowd here. Not certain but I suspect that Kellie is smart like a fox. She's an entertainer folks and apparently a fairly good one. I'd bet that most here would trade her checkbooks in a heartbeat - but - she wouldn't. You might be correct, but naaah, smart like a fox! Anyone hear of a Gracie Allen or Ed Norton, etc?

When my wife meets new people and they learn that she's from Belgium, reactions range from a polite but puzzled "Oh, that's nice." to comments like "Oh really, you don't look African." This clip surpises me not one bit.

Nancy, I agree with you. She shouldn't have gone on the game showbut still way cut her down? Why not cut down the school system she went tothey are a big part of her lack of knowledge don't you think?

Robin,
I think that Kelli didn't spend a lot of time IN the school system she was "supposed" to attend. My impression of her is that her family was not into the "value of education" (Seem to recall her family was more into "jail"?)

Carol, Kelli's mother left her when she was very young, her father was in jail. She was raised by her grandparents. She graduted from Stanly High School in 2004.

I would just like to add that Kellie was playing for charity. She was willing to go in front of millions of people and expose her lack of education for a cause. A little credit should go her way.

This whole thing reminded me of Dolly Parton, who could play the "dumb blonde" to perfection when it suited her. She was once asked if she felt denigrated by dumb blonde jokes, she replied that she wasn't a natural blonde!

Robin, yes, it's too bad that she was raised by her grandparents. But I don't believe she didn't learn anything (apparently) because of the school system she was connected with. Lots of people are raised by their grandparents, and lots of kids have parents in jail, but I would guess that the vast majority of high school graduates know that Europe is not a country and that France is one.

Ken...yes I thought the same too with Jaywalking. Jay one time, asked Americans questions about Canada, like what's the capital city of Canada. There were some funny responses. LOL

Nancy, another post said that she didn't spend much time "in" school. She must have spent time in order to graduate. I did not say because she was raised by her grandparents. Her grandparents did a good job.
Like Larry said, she is probably smart. She was studing to be a paralegal befor American Idol. The whole point is, is it necessary for adults to make fun of or cut a person down (especially when they are young)for their lack of knowledge in a area.

Swan and Andrea -

Make that three of us who tell people we are from California.

Had a great evening in Ruffin, Wales, at the Medieval Feast they have there about ten years ago. Fifty of us in the hall, with 40 of them Americans from Pennsylvania on a tour. They got most of the attention, leaving our table with rejection syndrome. An English guy out celebrating his birthday with family muttered under his breathe, "Damned Americans", to which I heartily agreed. "But aren't you an American"?, he asked. "No!!", I replied. "I'm from California"! Spent the rest of the evening having a better time talking with this Donchester group till they had to ask us to leave.

By the way, who is she exactly?

Hmm, I think she was on one of those reality talent type shows,,right? A singer? Sorry, not too up on those song and dance type shows.

You know, she really may have just been "playing dumb".. I assume that if a person has graduated high school, and is apparently planning on becoming a para legal that they are in fact not really stupid.
It may just be an image these choose to project( hey, can't think why,, except its obviously made her some money , LOL)

She was on American Idol a few years ago and is now a relatively successful country singer.

When I was in bootcamp for the Navy someone asked where I was from. I told them I was from New Mexico. They replied, "Why are you in the United States Navy?" And when I would go back in to visit relatives (mid to late 1960's) when I was a young teenager and said I was from New Mexico, on more than one occasion kids I met thought we rode horses and lived just like the cowboys in the western movies!

Who cares what she knows, really? She's the most adorable thing I've ever seen. I'd rather watch her sing than almost anyone.

Among celebrities, I'd wager she's hardly exceptional. Can you imagine what responses you'd get if you asked the average NFL player that question? You know - the ones that played COLLEGE football and are now paid millions??

And there's a remote chance that whole thing might have been rehearsed. Her trademark is the "sweet naive" thing, after all. It was entertaining - and maybe that was the goal.

And though she probably doesn't deserve credit for this, it is true that Europe often functions as a single country, the countries like states within a nation.

There's a different between being smart and having knowledge. She may be a smart and successful singer but not have much knowledge. I think it's sad but unfortunately, not all that unusual these days. Wish education was more highly valued by everyone in this country.

My local PBS station aired Rick's "Budapest" show today......and one of his new tours is "Prague and Budapest in 8 days." Coincidence or cosmic force in the universe trying to tell me something?

Must be time to go make some Goulash....

(Goulash....that's a food?....sounds scary to me!!!!)

Ok Geography buffs, here you go:

http://www.geographyzone.com/new/index.php?t=1&b=0

This is a pretty good site, perhaps if schools used this instead of textbooks (i.e. - the idea of making learning fun) we could avoid videos like this.

Having said that, fess up now: How many of you found the Marshall Islands on the first try? :)

Frank II,

It's good that your PBS affiliate is at least airing Rick's shows at the moment. Travels in Europe has been somewhat "sparse" on the Seattle affiliate lately (usually only on Mondays).

Hopefully that means there will either be a marathon or a bunch of new shows coming up shortly.

Cheers!

Ken, Rick's TV show is aired every Saturday on my local PBS station (The Budapest show is from 2004, I believe.). No new shows that I know of....they would be announced on this website.

Steve, it says something that, even with the largest number of participants, the US still ranks 102 on the leaderboard for that game! Kelly's not alone.

She has never heard of Hungary and I have never heard of Kellie Pickler, I guess we're even then.

As a high school teacher I do have lots to say on this topic, but I'll keep it brief. Many students scrape through with 50% in each class learning barely enough to pass the tests. Many don't care about education and don't see the point while they are in school. I am not surprised.

When talking last year to my patients (I'm a dental hygienist) about preparing for my Italy trip, I told them I was studying the language so I could get around better. TWO people in one week asked me "What language do they speak in Italy? French?" UGH!! I wrote to my Italian friend and told him that, and he sent me this very link to "Do You Think You're Smarter Than a Fifth Grader". I am constantly amazed by people.....
I also had a patient inquire as to where my hygiene room computer's desktop photo was taken. I said, "The Italian Riviera!" He said, "Oh; what country is that in?" I said, "Well, it's the Italian Riviera." He said, "You said that. But what COUNTRY is it in?" I said, in a bit of disbelief, "ITALY!" (Kind of like how the Mexian Riviera is in Mexico, the French Riviera is in France, and so on.......) Sheesh!

Robyn,

Reading your comments was a good reminder that it never fails to amaze me how ignorant of the world some people are, and how sometimes they don't "engage their brain" when conversing. I would have thought a comment like "The Italian Riviera" would be somewhat obvious and self expanatory, but apparently not to some people.

Incidentally, I also have a screen saver of the Cinque Terre (Manarola) on the desktop of my work computer. If you'd like to see the one I'm using, send me a PM.

Cheers!

To be fair to the young lady, if there is one continent in which keeping track of different countries and borders is difficult, it is indeed Europe! Compare Europe in 1909, 1959 and 2009, and that's just over the past 100 years, never mind all the centuries that preceeded it.

Yes, I guess we should give her some slack. After all, Hungary is one of those "newer" countries. It's only been around since the year 896 AD.

Just a few points / observations here:

Yes, a student does need to take responsibility for what they are studying and I'm inclined to blame the student, not the teacher when a student does not know something they should, however to simply label someone as "dumb" is not nescessarily correct. I think a more accurate term would be disinterested. I'm sure we all can relate to at least one or two classes we took in school that bored the hell out of us where we simply did just enough to get by.

So, my question is this: Do you think the schools and/or instructors themselves are at least partially to blame for the WAY they teach certain subjects?

I can attest to the fact that if I'm interested in a subject I will put in more effort to learn it (though of course as I've gotten older I've developed more discipline and will still put forth the effort to learn those things that aren't nescessarily interesting but important).

I can remember two history courses I took in school. One was fun, exciting, interesting and I learned a lot. The other, well, I had to bring the "no dose" to class.

No offense here... just looking for some feedback.

Steve,

I asked a small group of grade schoolers that I was teaching, "Who is responsible for you learning this stuff?"

They replied, in all innocence and seriousness, "You are." They truly believed the teacher could just pour stuff into their brain, I guess.

Alice

Alice, where in the world do you think they got that idea? Maybe from parents who are too busy with their own lives and expect the schools to raise their kids for them?