Geography Question: Is Turkey part of Europe or the Middle East?

[werk]

I always assumed that it was because the USA was the only nation that used the word America in its name.

When I travel abroad, I always say I'm from the United States or the USA. I've never had anyone act like they didn't understand. But when I say I'm from America, they ask where. Saying you are from America seems the same as someone from Japan saying they are from Asia.



FWIW, I'd consider Turkey to be part of Europe (aren't they a member of NATO?), and I'd call it near-east instead of middle-east...but I don't know anything

 

[glass]

Because it's in the name United States of America - therefore we either become the United Statesians (ew!) or Americans.

A bit like people from Northern Ireland being called 'British', despite not being from Britain, because otherwise the only available adjective is 'United-Kindomsian' or something equally horrific?


glass.

 

[ssampier]

Because it's in the name United States of America - therefore we either become the United Statesians (ew!) or Americans.
Actually it's a holdover from the English habit of calling us colonials, but since Australia was also a colony at the same time, they began calling us those colonials in the Americas...later shorthanded into Americans, it just kind of stuck after that.

I am going to call myself a "Colonial" instead of an American from now on. I wonder how many strange looks I can muster?

(I really have to get a life - I know far too much trivial history than any one person should know. )

We should setup a tag-team Jeopardy. I can answer the pop culture questions

 

[jonesy]

When I travel abroad, I always say I'm from the United States or the USA. I've never had anyone act like they didn't understand. But when I say I'm from America, they ask where. Saying you are from America seems the same as someone from Japan saying they are from Asia.

If someone told me he was from America, I'd ask 'where' even if I knew he meant the States. Because it's a large country. In which case it would be comparable to someone saying he was from the EU.

 

[Mycanid]

Whoa ... gone for a few days and KAPOW! the thread grows faster than one could expect. Hmm. No worries Umbran.

I guess my main mode of classifying the countries in question is culture and psychology of the people as a whole, as opposed to present day shifting borders and what not, and it was on that basis that I have been approaching the question, which may have been confusing some of you....

But I agree with Thayan that if I or anyone else were to go on it would get into the realm of "no politics/no religion" and ... well, you of all people know about dealing with that, eh?

Cheer up Thunderfoot! Druids gather all sorts of useful information! Only non-believers regard it as useless trivia ... don't be overwhelmed by the rest of the world on this one! Stand firm! Oneward and upward! etc., etc. and all that druidic cant stuff....

 

[johnsemlak]

When I travel abroad, I always say I'm from the United States or the USA. I've never had anyone act like they didn't understand. But when I say I'm from America, they ask where. Saying you are from America seems the same as someone from Japan saying they are from Asia.

I've lived abroad for 13 years, in several different countries, and have never been misunderstood if I called myself American (though I do try to avoid the term) and I'm almost always refered to as American by non-Americans. However, I haven't had any experience in Latin American countries so it may be different there.

I do agree that the term 'American' is not very correct and I prefer to avoid using it.