Welcome to Gaia! ::

About the american system: We learn world geography, and contrary to popular belief, most americans know more about the rest of the world than their own country. However, I understand where you're coming from. Really, in world history, all we learn about are wars and some nice facts about Great Britian we didn't need to know. Government and Economy hint on the governments of other countries, but mainly it's only a mentioning thing. So, yes, we learn about history, but not your government, which is probably what's getting to you.

Just so you know, I can't even name all 50 states, much less point to them on a map. But I do know that Canada was taken by the French and then the Britians, capitalizing on fur trade. Get what I mean? wink

A: Immigration. Hrr... I know that a lot of countries have it tough, and America seems like the great big golden gates of heaven. However, USA is getting overpopulated(atleast, in the big cities) and because of the intense immigrants from South America we are now the largest continent that speaks Spanish. (or was it 2nd largest? I'm not sure).
My view on immigration is harsh. I say it should remain the way it is, although the citizenship tests should be easier("Recite the preamble"? Wtf.) We shouldn't give out a mass amnesty, because that will just influence more illegial immigrants, hoping that they can run from the law until they get "magically accepted".

A2(first impressions): It depends on the vibe. See, if the first impression was bad, like, they insulted me heavily, I wouldn't give them another chance. Even worse would be insulting my friends. Most of the time, if someone insults me, they insult the rest of the general population(Being as I'm part of the "General" population) So unless it was something other than a mass insult to me or my friends, no, they wouldn't get another chance.

Q: Hrm...
Why did you drink alcohol for the first time?(Drinking it to only get drunk, I mean)
And if you haven't drunk(or like this question better) do you believe the legal drinking age should be lower/higher? Why?(For any country..)

1. American Education vs Canadian Education.

In the state of Indiana you are required to take either World Geography or World History, U.S. History, and Government to be able to graduate. This totals up to six credits, a credit for each class per semester the class is taken.

The way my World Geography is being teached right now is that we focus mainly on the European/Asian continents and then bits of Africa and South America with tidbits of Australia in there.

Honestly, until highschool I had never known a thing about Australia except it was a continent and I have never learned a thing about Canada in school. I know you guys have provinces instead of states but..:: shrugs :: I know nothing of your economy, legal system, school system, which provinces speak French or what have you.

2. Drinking

My mother used to put a tiny bit of wine cooler into my bottle to make me go to sleep as a baby and I took my first voluntary drink of alcohol my freshman year of highschool while we stayed in Italy for spring break. The teachers knew about it so it was ok. :: shrugs :: I had half a cup of red wine and a full cup of white wine then promptly fell off the back of the hotel bed giggling and laughing swearing that I could see demons. ^^;

Strangely I never passed out, threw up, or had hangover the next morning. I did hurt the next morning but that was because Sara had been sleeping in my bed for the entirety of the week and kicked me onto the floor. >.> Bad sleeping makes for a grumpy kitty.

I knew some really mean-spirited friends in juniour high. Some poor American girl entered a group Messenger IM, and for some reason my friends actually were able to make her believe that we lived in igloos (dial up internet access didn't clue her in), and that the richest of us lived in straw huts. She kept asking what we fed our pet penguins and how we fended off polar bears.

This is when I laugh, but get dissapointed in Canadian-american relations. We really are quite the beautiful country.

I'm not sure I agree with you. You can buy a gun at 18 and kill someone just as easily. Of course, accidents are more likely to happen while intoxicated...
I think I might just end up arguing myself out of my point, so I'll stop there and concede. The more I think about it, the more I think you're right.

I think joining the military gives you a much greater chance to harm others than alchohol does... considering part of it involves, oh, killing people?

That's the last one I can find anyway.