People from other countries - they’re just better than us, aren’t they?

Some of the things that make Britain Great are not obvious at first glance.
One example: in some other modern European countries, bribery is the norm in certain situations eg to get good medical care. Apart from knowing remarks about local government officials, estate agents etcetera, bribery is not a part of British life , so far as I know.

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May I be ULTRA-clear for the avoidance of doubt?: The famous "Balkan Wars" of the early 1910s, which contributed to the outbreak of world war one, involved Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey, and land that became Albania and Macedonia. Later Romania pitched in.
So I repeat my point: "Balkan" is NOT a synonym for Yugoslavia. These countries did not all become part of Yugoslavia - and not all parts of the former Yugoslavia are in/near the eponymous Balkan mountains.

I've not only read history of the region, I've also written it.
Perhaps if you'd actually read what I wrote before replying you'd understand what I was saying about the actual meaning of the term "Balkan".
I can assure you that in World War One there was NO confusion between the Italian Front and the Balkan front...for example. But your average Rick Steve's traveller today...

I also recommend Maria Todorova's work on why the term is frequently offensive. She is Bulgarian and frankly her thoughts on this count for more than yours do.

Have you been to Ukraine or Gaza...?

Because living in the US doesn't mean I'm clueless about the rest of the world. We have the internet now, ya know.

I've lived elsewhere, and was educated outside of the US. I have many relatives and friends living in the UK and various European countries and also Australia and NZ.

Since I have observed the US for many years I'm in a position to comment on vocational ed here too. Many high schools offer a wide range of vocational subjects that are available even for kids on an academic track. You can get a state license in hairdressing, barbering, phlebotomy, certified nurse assistant, and several other practical licenses in the local high school here.

If you read any history of the region, you will note the term used frequently, especially in relation to both world wars.

The term 'Balkanisation' is derived from the region and also its political dynamics.

She defended herself here and said it's not gonna be useful. I mean who will never need to deal with shapes and geometry in the real world

GCSE Maths is seen by a step down by Asian students in international schools.

I hope you put that poster right?

I might use it this way myself - for example I hope to make a future trip to Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, and i call this "the Balkan trip." But it can cause offence if you include the wrong places (it doe snot mean Yugoslavia, as you clearly know), so in general I would avoid it.

Bingo. And all youngsters are creative, artistic their own way, read books....still read books

What is happening in this thread?

"The Balkans" is NOT a synonym for former Yugoslavia, which is how it's often used, including here. It refers to places around the Balkan mountains, most of which weren't Yugoslavia. The mountains are in Bulgaria.

I know the Czech Republic well and can tell you that Prague is actually SCRUFFIER than the little towns in the middle of nowhere. There is a big graffiti issue on stations issue in Czechia, but otherwise most towns are extremely well kept. They also DO leave bikes unlocked - though I wouldn't try this in Prague.

I quite agree when it comes to where I am from.
I think I know only 2 people of my age where I am from, who have only GCSE level (state mandatory education). Everyone goes further to 3 year NVQ or 4 years Alevels. These also don't concentrate just on the topic. We still continue general education (geography, history, languages, maths, pe, it, citizen education - no idea what it's in english, some have chemistry etc). It's mix of college and practical (usually 1 week in, one week out). It's very much expected to continue education after 15 when we finish basic one and really absolute majority does.
You can do it for any job really. Shopkeeper, baker, chef, waiter, flower shop assistant.
It's still common requirement to have that level of education on job ads, sometimes still a specific one to industry, and with only mandatory education levels you would be really lucky to find a good job. So shop assistant ad will usually say"nvq, alevel education" or even "nvq, alevel shop keeper qualifications".

If all that makes sense.

Well aa you live in the USA ( i think) how would you know?

I am never attempting to make a joke on MN again.

The Balkans is the historic name for the region. It has never been that unusual.

In other words, 'You've been badly hurt. Come back and risk that again.'

They are few and far between.

Vocational training (not necessarily 'apprenticeships') is much more woven into the expectations of people elsewhere.

If anything, I going some European countries have young people who are mostly very conservative in their dress sense or dress like their parents or lots of mountain/hiking clothes i.e. very practical. Are you fashionista teacher then, are you qualified to state this? So you teach fashion?

How ridiculous! Britain is well known for its fashion heritage and this has always been present at a high end level - Saville Row tailoring and street fashion usually mirroring the British music and creative scenes. I'm not sure where you live or teach but there aren't any hints of the 'American' Kardashians in the wardrobes of the teens around here and it same for my late nineties -00s youth and my Mum's sixties fashion. Your comments are so out there and smack of reading about the UK in some trashy newspaper as only the culturally unaware would not know about the historical link to fashion in the UK!

To be fair to the OP, she never said where she came from. I was going to ask... because 'Britain' if it was the answer, is not a country... but it's the usual goady post of saying something outrageous and then buggering off. So I can't be arsed to engage any further with this thread if people are going to just treat this forum with complete disdain.

English father , French mother

Of course not all don't but in over 40 years of travelling/studying/living and working it's definitely something I've noticed a lot. Are his parents English?