I'm from St. Louis. (Springfield, Hannibal: home, living, architecture)

[welshearl]

From what I gathered living in the Southwest, St Louis is unknown and not on the radar. Denver and Dallas are the major cities to know. I think St Louis is only thought of and considered in a regional sense.

[glamatomic]

Really?
That's odd to me- because even in Australia and the U.K we were aware of St. Louis. I've never heard of anyone not familiar with it. Although it doesn't gain the attention of somewhere like L.A or New York, even from a foreign perspective people seemed to know that it was a somewhat major city in the U.S. although I think the Judy Garland film had a lot to do with that!

[BioMechanical]

Originally Posted by glamatomic

Really?
That's odd to me- because even in Australia and the U.K we were aware of St. Louis. I've never heard of anyone not familiar with it. Although it doesn't gain the attention of somewhere like L.A or New York, even from a foreign perspective people seemed to know that it was a somewhat major city in the U.S. although I think the Judy Garland film had a lot to do with that!

People from Australia and the U.K are probably better at geography than Americans

[welshearl]

Originally Posted by glamatomic

Really?
That's odd to me- because even in Australia and the U.K we were aware of St. Louis. I've never heard of anyone not familiar with it. Although it doesn't gain the attention of somewhere like L.A or New York, even from a foreign perspective people seemed to know that it was a somewhat major city in the U.S. although I think the Judy Garland film had a lot to do with that!

That's probably because people in Australia and the U.K. are more cultured than the average US citizen.

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by glamatomic

Really?
That's odd to me- because even in Australia and the U.K we were aware of St. Louis. I've never heard of anyone not familiar with it. Although it doesn't gain the attention of somewhere like L.A or New York, even from a foreign perspective people seemed to know that it was a somewhat major city in the U.S. although I think the Judy Garland film had a lot to do with that!

People in UK have to know where we are. London keeps borrowing our philharmonic conductor. Last summer they borrowed our whole orchestra. And, soon, our conductor will be on his way to Sydney. Just be sure you send him back, please!

Then, there is the pharmacist I once knew who thought Canada was a third world country. But that's another story.

Now, if you want some real fun and have a very good atlas, look up Saint Louis in the index. You'll be amazed.

But, seriously, it really is a case of how much geography is studied and too many schools do not teach geography any more. So people are insular and never get beyond their back yard.

[glamatomic]

Well, actually in retrospect it shouldn't surprise me...

One American once asked where I was from originally... I said Australia... they asked what State it was in...

[glamatomic]

Originally Posted by Hazel W

So people are insular and never get beyond their back yard.

That's true. When I first moved to St. Louis and was single I went on a couple of dates with a guy who had a good job, nice house, etc etc... and he'd never been to Chicago. In fact, he'd barely ventured out of Missouri and he was in his 30s.

One of my very, very good friends here in St. Louis too, hasn't really ventured more than an hour or two away in his entire life (he's 29). It blows my mind since St. Louis has a plethora of incredible cities and sights 'on it's doorstep' (by Australian standards... I mean within a day's drive) and so few people take advantage!

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by glamatomic

Well, actually in retrospect it shouldn't surprise me...

One American once asked where I was from originally... I said Australia... they asked what State it was in...

Since Australia also calls itself OZ, you could have just said "Kansas".

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by glamatomic

That's true. When I first moved to St. Louis and was single I went on a couple of dates with a guy who had a good job, nice house, etc etc... and he'd never been to Chicago. In fact, he'd barely ventured out of Missouri and he was in his 30s.

You have to understand. Once you find Missouri, there is nowhere else to go.

[welshearl]

Originally Posted by glamatomic

That's true. When I first moved to St. Louis and was single I went on a couple of dates with a guy who had a good job, nice house, etc etc... and he'd never been to Chicago. In fact, he'd barely ventured out of Missouri and he was in his 30s.

One of my very, very good friends here in St. Louis too, hasn't really ventured more than an hour or two away in his entire life (he's 29). It blows my mind since St. Louis has a plethora of incredible cities and sights 'on it's doorstep' (by Australian standards... I mean within a day's drive) and so few people take advantage!

People here seem to not venture far away which is sad. I remember a lady who had moved to St Louis years ago from Ohio and a group of us were talking about Branson and Springfield and she thought we were talking about Springfield IL. She had lived in St Louis for 12 years and she didn't know there was a Springfield MO. She had had heard of Branson but thought it was in Arkansas and didn't know where Arkansas was.