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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be fed up with Americans naming their towns ...

37 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 24/04/2008 08:29

after everywhere in Europe.

I'm trying to sort out a canoeing/kayaking break for myself.

So I'm trying to find canoe rentals in Oslo, or Geneva, or whatever. And I keep finding out about Oslo, Texas. Or Geneva, Tennessee.

OP posts:
hana · 24/04/2008 08:31

well, these places have been named since they were established! it's not a new thing....

why not go to a swedeish/etc tourist board website and take it from there

NotQuiteCockney · 24/04/2008 08:34

I know, I know, but it's still tiresome.

I just tried "yellow pages, norway" and got stuff in Norway, .

I've been looking at their tourist sites, but not always finding what I want.

I'm trying to book a weekend away, and my destination keeps moving around, it's been Oslo, Copenhagen, Madrid and Geneva, lately. Might try for France via the Eurostar ...

OP posts:
Callisto · 24/04/2008 08:35

Just google 'google sweden' and then click 'pages from Sweden'.

Callisto · 24/04/2008 08:35

Or 'google norway' etc.

sprogger · 24/04/2008 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotQuiteCockney · 24/04/2008 09:56

Yeah, fair enough.

Oh, haven't tried clicking 'pages from X' - will try. I think I'm sorted anyway.

OP posts:
FluffyMummy123 · 24/04/2008 09:59

Message withdrawn

purpleduck · 24/04/2008 10:03

lol cod

as hana said, its the same in Canada

I reckon when the pioneers came over, there was absolutely nothing there, and they named their towns to remind them of home.

I'm sure they are sorry you are inconvenienced....?

SoupDragon · 24/04/2008 10:04

I tried to get Mount Everest on Google Earth for DS1s homework once. Apparently it's in America .

expatinscotland · 24/04/2008 10:06

Australia and New Zealand have a fair number of places named after places in Scotland.

What's with that?

expatinscotland · 24/04/2008 10:07

Mount Everest is a white, British name for Chomolungma.

SandyDennyWasAGreatSinger · 24/04/2008 10:14

i think it's sweet - you can cross the atlantic and be in Norfolk or New Hampshire or Birmingham. Speaking from experience it's quite nice when you're feeling a bit homesick yourself to realise that Boston or maybe Newark is only down the road

expatinscotland · 24/04/2008 10:18

Like Mt. McKinley. My ARSE. That peak is Denali and always will be!

purpleduck · 24/04/2008 10:18

I am from a town in Canada called Didsbury.
There is one by Manchester - I always think of those brave little souls who travelled from there to Canada, and made my town.

Makes it all more interesting I think

littlelapin · 24/04/2008 10:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

expatinscotland · 24/04/2008 10:21

Of course, there's always British Columbia.

Where did the Quebecois come up with their names? Did they pinch them from France?

MrsBadger · 24/04/2008 10:24

when I google for local plumbers etc I always get results for the one in Virginia .

My town has been here one thousand one hundred years longer.

americantrish · 24/04/2008 10:24

lol. i just think it's funny.
and yes, YABU.

:D we, americans HAVE plenty of original city and town and village names!! (lol!)

cupsoftea · 24/04/2008 10:25

google with pages to the uk or go to the google for the country you want & click the pages from circle.

bran · 24/04/2008 10:27

Why not make your google page the one for the country you're interested in, and then click the Norway only or Sweden only button?

MrsBadger · 24/04/2008 10:27

DH and I have a private giggle about this in films, though, when the little text thing appears that says eg 'Paris, France' and we say 'as opposed to Paris, Idaho'.
But even within the same film locations in the US always say their state, so the titiles will run
Paris, France
Langley, Virginia
Washington DC
Odessa, Ukraine
You'd swear they think Europe is federal

zazas · 24/04/2008 10:31

I recently wanted to go to Northumberland for the weekend, so found the Northumberland website, sent off for the information and 3 weeks later a big fat envelope of gumpf arrived from Canada! Thought it looked nice in the pictures

NotQuiteCockney · 24/04/2008 10:31

Hmm, Quebec places, I'm not sure, will dig. Quebec does have St-Louis-de-ha-ha, and nobody knows why, which trumps most other place names, imo.

Yes, I'm late for registering my annoyance, but I posted this in AIBU for a reason.

How do we make them stop, then?

(My bigger grievance - Last year I went to my high school reunion. I kept having to say I live in London England. Stupid fucking Canadians. I should not have to qualify London. It's London. Canada has a Stratford. With an Avon river. And swans. )

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 24/04/2008 10:32

It just keeps happening, I thought I'd try to do sea kayaking in Scotland, picked a likely looking location, used google maps, and, ta-da, I can go kayaking in the Bay of Fundy.

OP posts:
sprogger · 24/04/2008 10:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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