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Americans have no idea of the world beyond America’s borders. That’s the common cliché when it comes to their knowledge of geography.
This prejudice is a thorn in the side of TikTok user Julia Fomby. That’s why she’s focusing on Europe on social media – and bringing Switzerland into the game. “Europeans always say that the Americans can’t even show Switzerland on the map. Can you indicate on the map where Vermont is? “Tell me the capital of Kansas,” she complains in her video post uploaded a week ago.
“You can’t even name the capital of Switzerland”
The young woman received a lot of ridicule and criticism for this apples-to-oranges comparison. Also from Swiss Tiktoker Lou – she gives the American a geography lesson in a video – and is also going viral.
“That’s not a fair question,” she says. “If you expect Europeans to know a state in America, you can also expect Americans to know a state in a European country.” Fomby has certainly never heard of the Swiss cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden or Graubünden, she continues. “You probably can’t even name the capital of Switzerland.”
Her video response on Tiktok was viewed more than 400,000 times and liked more than 57,000 times. She takes success calmly. She tells Blick that she is “not surprised” that her video went viral.
Attempts at justification will be fatal
Fomby does not want to accept the heavy criticism. But in her attempt to justify herself, she completely embarrasses herself. First, she makes it known that she firmly believes that European countries have just as few differences as American countries. “You’re all white and tall,” is her reasoning.
She makes a comparison: if she were to drive from Madrid to Prague, a 22-hour journey, she would encounter a very different place culturally, linguistically and politically. The same – she claims – also applies to the US. “California and South Carolina are different.” Not only are the cultures different, the language is also not the same – just like in Spain and the Czech Republic.
The reactions to the Tiktok, which has now been removed, then went through the roof. “Ah yes, the two famously different languages of California and South Carolina. “English and…English,” one user wrote. But at least the incredible failure made a lot of people laugh.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
