I've lived in California since 1973, and I'm still not used to it. Out here, people think going "back east" is a drive to Reno or Las Vegas - and they seem to have the impression there is nothing worth anything east of Nevada. If you look on a map and see what's in the thousand-mile space east of Nevada, maybe you'll understand...

I think there is much more of an awareness of Europe and Canada in the Eastern and Midwest United States. Here in California, people are aware of Mexico and Asia, but their concept of Europe is a bit foggy. To the minds of Californians, Canada is Victoria, Vancouver, and a vast wilderness.

Yes, there are Californians who have traveled extensively, and they have a much broader world view. I also remember a time in the 1970's when I wasn't able to afford to travel, and my focus was on my little family in an apartment in Los Angeles. We had lived in Berlin for 20 months just before that, and we travelled all over Europe on a very limited budget. Our stay in Los Angeles also lasted 20 months, and all we could afford was a couple of trips to Sacramento and a vacation in Santa Barbara.

So, yeah, I guess it happens that Americans have a limited world view. I think it's caused by geography and financial limitations. Is that a horrible thing?

-Joe Offer-