Hello petal. They do not teach the kids international geography over here. You could be forgiven for thinking geography might be important if you are the global superpower, responsible for most of the world's trade and military campaigns.

Back before America got a spotty face and started feeling funny when girls with bumps walked past, Brits were in a similar position of economic and military strength as the USA is now. We displayed an arrogant disregard for geography and massive indifference to local customs, lifestyles and traditions and made everyone put up a picture of the Queen, wear bowler hats and drink tea. Normally, failure to drink tea resulted in execution of these uncouth savages. America has just replaced the picture of the Queen with the dollar bill, bowler hats with baseball caps and tea with Starbucks. Failure to drink Starbucks also results in execution, I think.

80% of Britains have passports compared with 20% of Americans. I contest this statistic is misleading, as most of the disparity stems from the fact that England fits easily inside Michigan, has a population of 60 million and the merry folk of the shires and dales have to go somewhere that speaks a different language (i.e. need a passport) to actually get a little sunshine. In fact, I'm pretty sure that a large percentage of the wars and Empire building embarked upon over centuries was primarily in search of a nice beach. (Doesn't really explain the Falkland Islands conflict, but I'm guessing it has something to do with penguins.)

The U.S. of A has deserts, jungles, mountains, plains, snow, sun, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, poisonous snakes, Mickey Mice, lots of nice beaches and loads of space, so it is understandable that many of them don't feel the need to ever leave these shores. Except, of course, to escape the snakes and earthquakes.

Many Europeans can name most of the countries and cities in Europe, but probably have no clue where Minnesota is. Many Americans can name most of the States and capitals in the USA, but have no clue where Newcastle is. So I suppose in the end we are equals in our geographical xenophobia.