This is true- but Americans and others do this all the time generalizing or mischaracterizing place names. I mean- even this is an example. I do it myself but try to be mindful- it’s common for people to say things like “Americans do this…” or “America is….” Etc- but… South America? Central America? If we say “North America” are we talking about Canadians? Mexicans? I mean- we all know when say “America” or “Americans” we are talking about the “United States of America” but- Canadians are “Americans” too technically- they live in “North America” and that’s sort of like saying “Europeans” to mean the French but not the Brits.
On the subject of odd hypocrisy and perhaps some justification….
One that gets said a lot is that it’s annoying to many how Americans give state names or city names- “I’m from New Mexico” or “I’m from Ft. Worth” and a common comment there is that the listener is supposed to somehow know the country etc. But…. Let’s be honest. Europe is tiny by American standards. Your countries are the size of our states. So it may be ignorant- but- US states have different cultures and languages and literally different climates. They have different laws and customs. It’s in the name- “United States.” The USA is basically the EU of North America- there’s a central government that sets foreign policy and sets rules everyone who joins has to agree to follow, currency is shared and stuff like that- but each state beyond that can and does so what they want mostly and even fight among each other for jobs and money, water rights and other things.
So it’s like… to most of America the state of California is like it’s own country with paradoxically liberal and draconian laws and culture. Florida and Texas are so batshit that people who know nothing else about the USA but spend time online know crazy stories about those places. So yeah- it is maybe a bit ignorant to say “I went to Europe,” but I don’t see it as different than saying “I went to the US…” Hawaii? Alaska? Idaho? Florida? Louisiana? These are like totally different places and even have their own vocabulary and dialects or languages. You’ll pay tax at the store in Connecticut but not in Oregon. You can carry a gun in your car in Texas but not New Jersey. All sorts of stuff. So yeah- I’d agree that Americans (see? I did it…) do this and it can be ignorant- but it’s not like an American thing. People say they “went to America” all the time.
I’d also say there is some conversationalist to it- like- if you ask where I went and I say “I went to Europe..” you can decide you don’t want to go much deeper on the topic and just say something like: “oh that’s cool. Have fun?” Etc. But it also invites you to converse- “oh? Where’d you go in Europe?” If I went to multiple places it’s much easier and more concise to say “I went to Europe” or “I traveled in Europe” than “I went to France and Germany and then Spain.” It also, at least to my American ears- sounds less pretentious than to enter a conversation listing a bunch of foreign countries you traveled to. So there can be another aspect to it. And of course this may be American of me or not- but we tend to care about city. California is a big ass state. Even in America. The east coast has like 6+ states in the same land mass as just California in the west with the 2 other west coast states.
Southern California has Disney land, universal studios, Hollywood, Sandiego and most of the California “beach culture” outside of Florida. Northern California has the state capital, San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, the great redwood forests and a bunch of other stuff. And there are big giant parts of California that are just farms or deserts and little towns you couldn’t tell weren’t on the middle of the country if you didn’t know better. Rural areas and small towns and such. New York State has New York City which is what it is mostly known for- but that’s one city in the whole state. New York has farms and mountains and such. Florida has Disney World and the beaches etc. but it also has the pan handles and swamps and NASA sites etc. Nevada has Las Vegas and Reno/Tahoe which are what most people think of or care about but the state has whole other huge areas too.
So I mean- “going to California” can mean a beautiful warm beach or a frigid gray beach or a snow covered mountain or a vast desert of a sprawling redwood forest with trees the size of high buildings that you can drive a car through. It can be huge cities or amusement parks or marshes or it can be a major world city or a seemingly endless tracks of farm land with barely a human in sight. The culture and environment from Los Angeles over a 1 hour plane ride to San Francisco is a huge change. Being “from Georgia” doesn’t tell me a lot but if you tell me your from Atlanta I have a better idea of where you came from. Austin Texas and Dallas Texas tell their own stories versus El Paso or Galveston. And even within an area WHERE can make a big difference. Saying you grew up “In Net York (city) is something- but saying you grew up in the Bronx or Central Park West tell different tales.
And I know much of the world is like this- but that’s sort of the point. A lot of Europeans sometimes get upset when Americans don’t know or don’t use very specific language to refer to Europe or countries and places within it- but also often get upset when Americans use what is perceived as overly specific or familiar language to refer to America. And again- america is a big ass country. So while many Americans are pretty ignorant about the world beyond their everyday life and where they live (city/county/state etc) that’s actually true the world over as well- go to China and find all sorts of people who don’t even know much about other places in China. Go to Italy and you’ll find the equivalent of “red necks” etc. who don’t know or care to know what is beyond their little slice of life and culture they are happy with.
But those Americans who do get around a bit and have knowledge of other places- we have a lot of ground in our own country to remember. 50 states plus “territories.” Countless cities and counties and neighborhoods. Where the “rich people” live and play on different coasts or states, where the “tech companies are from,” where the “worst” areas are, where the “liberals” or “conservatives” are, what states are “gun friendly” or “affordable” or are more or less safe or welcoming of certain sexed rights or religions or races and ethnicities or religions on the whole- and within those states what cities and counties may be better or worse. Where are the tornado's? Hurricanes? Earthquakes? Locust swarms? Killer bees? Deadly snakes? Fire storms? Droughts? Where doesn’t have water or electricity most often or right now?
So I mean- ideally the “average” American could at least name most of the countries in continental Europe- but…. We also have our own big ass country and we happen to have two neighbors AND groups of what indigenous peoples are left after over a century of abuse and inhumanity levied against them- so I’d say it probably behooves the “average American” to prioritize learning as much about the names and locations and languages and cultures in the same country, then perhaps the same continent- before moving across 3,000 odd miles of ocean. Of course if someone is planning to or finds themselves regularly going to or interacting with people from a far off place- it would be wise and courteous to extend the effort to learn a little bit at least.
I’d say by and large you’ll find 3 types of Americans on the matter-
1. the type that knows their US and/or north American geography pretty well and tends to have a decent of not broad knowledge of world geography or at least places they hold the most internet or connection to.
2. The type that has either focused on domestic or foreign geography and has a good knowledge of one but a poor knowledge of the other due to their choice of priority.
3. The Americans who don’t even know American geography well- might not know the number of states or that some states are part of the U.S. these folks don’t even know what I’m their own country- so I mean… I’m not going to say it’s a lost cause with those folks but I am going to say that at some point ignorance is so profound or so willful that a wise person will choose another hill to die on and let nature run it’s course as it may.
Possibly because of it's much smaller size compared to the USA? A lot of Europe (Eastern Europe anyway) could fit inside some of our larger states. Also, when I went to Europe, I visited 11 cities in 4 countries. So instead of saying I want to cities 1-11, I say "When I went to Europe...".
"Europe" is different enough from the US to kind of be lumped together to indicate that the person took a long trip to somewhere very different. If the person listening asks "Where all did you go? What was interesting?" etc., then you can explain in greater detail.
A lot of people aren't interested in anything other than themselves and won't ask. So, refraining from great detail in the initial sentence saves time.
I worked in Europe for three years, and when I'd be back in the US on a business trip, people would ask "How was Europe?" Anything longer than a one-sentence reply was greeted with blank stares. About 80% of people want the answer to be "Fine" or "Busy" or "Crowded" or "Got to try different foods," but nothing more. The 20% who want to know more ask for more details.
I think there is a bit (understatement) of cultural differences in Europe though, all over. Come to the UK, where we are open, loving and welcoming. Go to Belarus, the only country in Europe that has the death penalty. Then go to Greece. Has that country ever heard of winter?
lol. True- but the same can be said if the USA- wether they give the death penalty- wether they allow abortions, wether recreational drugs are legal- we have states where they execute children and the mentally unfit, and then we have states that don’t allow executions. Some states allow you to walk around or drive around with a gun in plain view or concealed- others barely allow guns at all legally.
We have places where the climate is “Mediterranean” year round, deserts, places that are near constant winter and ice and snow, rain forests and tropics. The slang and customs and cultures vary place to place too- New York is known for fast no nonsense ways, much of the south is known to be slow and laid back and polite. So each state is ALMOST like a country and the USA is similar to the EU in that it sort of moderates between states and standardizes some things.
Fly to any city in Europe, pick any direction over land, start walking. 7 hours later, good chance you're in another country. Fly to Houston, Texas... ,walk 7 hours, still in Houston; rent a car, DRIVE for 8 hours going West... still in Texas.
Why do Europeans act like Americans are one continent. seriously there is south America and north America. also there are other countries in north America, Mexico, Canada, and United States. even then you have stats inside USA. It is so insulting. I went to America, really was it springfield, springfield, or paris.
One that gets said a lot is that it’s annoying to many how Americans give state names or city names- “I’m from New Mexico” or “I’m from Ft. Worth” and a common comment there is that the listener is supposed to somehow know the country etc. But…. Let’s be honest. Europe is tiny by American standards. Your countries are the size of our states. So it may be ignorant- but- US states have different cultures and languages and literally different climates. They have different laws and customs. It’s in the name- “United States.” The USA is basically the EU of North America- there’s a central government that sets foreign policy and sets rules everyone who joins has to agree to follow, currency is shared and stuff like that- but each state beyond that can and does so what they want mostly and even fight among each other for jobs and money, water rights and other things.
1. the type that knows their US and/or north American geography pretty well and tends to have a decent of not broad knowledge of world geography or at least places they hold the most internet or connection to.
2. The type that has either focused on domestic or foreign geography and has a good knowledge of one but a poor knowledge of the other due to their choice of priority.
3. The Americans who don’t even know American geography well- might not know the number of states or that some states are part of the U.S. these folks don’t even know what I’m their own country- so I mean… I’m not going to say it’s a lost cause with those folks but I am going to say that at some point ignorance is so profound or so willful that a wise person will choose another hill to die on and let nature run it’s course as it may.
A lot of people aren't interested in anything other than themselves and won't ask. So, refraining from great detail in the initial sentence saves time.
I worked in Europe for three years, and when I'd be back in the US on a business trip, people would ask "How was Europe?" Anything longer than a one-sentence reply was greeted with blank stares. About 80% of people want the answer to be "Fine" or "Busy" or "Crowded" or "Got to try different foods," but nothing more. The 20% who want to know more ask for more details.
We have places where the climate is “Mediterranean” year round, deserts, places that are near constant winter and ice and snow, rain forests and tropics. The slang and customs and cultures vary place to place too- New York is known for fast no nonsense ways, much of the south is known to be slow and laid back and polite. So each state is ALMOST like a country and the USA is similar to the EU in that it sort of moderates between states and standardizes some things.