Happy October 12th!

[CX]

Which is weird considering that there's more separation between North and South America than there is between Europe and Asia.

[JadziaKathryn]

There are some people who argue that the Chinese discovered America - 'discovered' being after the original settlement of course. I've heard it argued that the Chinese found the coast of California in the 400s. Supposedly a Chinese anchor from that period was found.

[Pitseleh]

Which is weird considering that there's more separation between North and South America than there is between Europe and Asia.

Yeah. And according to my US geography lessons, Central America is in North America, but it doesn't feel like that somehow...

[blacknblue]

If central america is in north america, how come people in mexico refer to us as norteamericanos?

[Pitseleh]

Mexico is in North America. There's no two ways around that... I guess the whole "norteamericano" thing is mostly cultural. They are north americans too, whether they feel that way or not. This made me think about NAFTA. Mexico was in there...

[Asso]

In Italy Mexico is ... ZORRO! (No offence!)

[panyasan]

In Italy Mexico is ... ZORRO! (No offence!)

Didn't Zorro lived in California? Spanish speaking California?

We normally would say 'America', when we mean the States, North-America would be Canada and U.S., Central America countries for like Costra Rica and South-America for countries like Brasil. In my case, try to explain the difference between Holland and the Netherlands. And I don't even mention the classic "I love Kopenhagen"-line...

[Alelou]

In my case, try to explain the difference between Holland and the Netherlands. And I don't even mention the classic "I love Kopenhagen"-line...

Um ... so what is the difference between Holland and the Netherlands. I mean, I know the latter is more accurate, but...?

[Asso]

In Italy Mexico is ... ZORRO! (No offence!)

Didn't Zorro lived in California? Spanish speaking California?

We normally would say 'America', when we mean the States, North-America would be Canada and U.S., Central America countries for like Costra Rica and South-America for countries like Brasil. In my case, try to explain the difference between Holland and the Netherlands. And I don't even mention the classic "I love Kopenhagen"-line...

Oh yes! CALIFORNIA! Sure! BUT ZORRO IS GREAT!

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

In my case, try to explain the difference between Holland and the Netherlands. And I don't even mention the classic "I love Kopenhagen"-line...

Um ... so what is the difference between Holland and the Netherlands. I mean, I know the latter is more accurate, but...?

Holland is a region (now administratively divided into two provinces) in the Netherlands.

[Alelou]

Ah. Well, at least Holland has SOMETHING to do with the Netherlands.

Countries can take on rather odd names in other languages. Scotland is Ecosse in French, isn't it? I wonder where that came from? The Romans? In Scots Gaelic I believe the name for the place is "Illan" or at least sounds something like that.