How's your geography?

[ecuagoddess]

Try living in a STATE that people constantly think is not part of the U.S.

Yes- people actually ask if they need a passport to come to Hawaii and what kind of money they need to exchange to.

I definitely know where the Poconos are- I had my senior class trip there and I went to Penn State!

 

[phorsenuf]

I know where the Poconos are too. Went camping there once. Very pretty.

When I was in the army I had to go to Ft. Jackson, SC for basic. People would ask me where I was from. I would answer New Hampshire and it was amazing how many people didn't know where that was. I had one person ask me if it was the capitol of New England. I gave up and started saying Boston.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Yes. They are in PA on the northeastern side next to NJ. Many people from NYC commute from there.

That's what amazed me about the phone call. This woman definitely had a NYC accent. I have lived in NJ all my life (with a short trip to CT) and have worked in NYC for 20 years. I know a lot of people that keep vacation homes in the Poconos. I was more shocked that she didn't know they were even part of this country!

And as for NM not being part of this country - !!! Were people sleeping during US geography class??? Wow! I don't expect everyone to know the details of all 50 states but I think they should, at a minimum, know the names of them! Wow. My bar must be set too high.
For the record I just asked my 10 yo what country NM was in. She just looked at me like I was crazy and said "Uh, the US." She didn't supply the duh but it was in her tone. So phew!!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I know where the Poconos are too. Went camping there once. Very pretty.

When I was in the army I had to go to Ft. Jackson, SC for basic. People would ask me where I was from. I would answer New Hampshire and it was amazing how many people didn't know where that was. I had one person ask me if it was the capitol of New England. I gave up and started saying Boston.

OK, that's even sadder!

And yes, put me on the list of those who know where the Poconos are.

I live "in" Boston now, too, but I used to live closer to the Poconos and have been there.

 

[HelenePA]

Yes. They are in PA on the northeastern side next to NJ. Many people from NYC commute from there.

Yep NYC is way to expensive so people come live here where its much more affordable! I hear the weather for the commuters when I'm up that early watching the news

 

[golfgal]

While the Poconos are fairly famous it isn't really a "geography" issue. Not everyone in the world knows where the Poconos are. Do you know where Eagle Mountain is--without googling?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

While the Poconos are fairly famous it isn't really a "geography" issue. Not everyone in the world knows where the Poconos are. Do you know where Eagle Mountain is--without googling?

Is Eagle Mountain a mountain range? The Poconos are a moutain range and as I stated in the beginning, based on the woman's accent, the Poconos are definitely in her region.
If she didn't know where the Grand Tetons were or the Cascades, well okay I would cut her some slack. But to not know a mountain range that is a 90 minute drive from the area that she is sitting in is just plain crazy. And BTW, you can't watch local television without some sort of Poconos commercial playing. They have a huge tourism board and we are hammered with skiing, snow tubing, romantic getaway, etc. commercials.
I wouldn't expect someone in Europe or even Canada to know where they are but this woman kind of shocked me. Like I said, maybe I said my bar too high.

Now I'm off to google Eagle Mountain and educate myself.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Eagle Mountain is a town and part of the Lake Mountains of Utah. And in my eyes, it doesn't count for my question because it's a town and not a mountain range. IF I have the right Eagle Mountain, it would be equivalent of me asking if everyone knows where Wilkes-Barre is located. And I would never expect that to be something people know.

 

[golfgal]

Eagle Mountain is a town and part of the Lake Mountains of Utah. And in my eyes, it doesn't count for my question because it's a town and not a mountain range. IF I have the right Eagle Mountain, it would be equivalent of me asking if everyone knows where Wilkes-Barre is located. And I would never expect that to be something people know.

It is the same thing as not knowing where the Poconos are and you are assuming her accent is NY and even if it is, it doesn't mean that she is familiar with PA. The Eagle Mountain I was referring to is in MN. Just because it is familiar to you doesn't mean everyone in the world should know.

How about the Mall of America, that is pretty famous, do you know what town that is in without looking it up?

 

[Tinijocaro]

I do know where the Poconos are, but when planning my honeymoon, I learned that Hawaii is NOT in the Gulf of Mexico as is pictured in most geography books.

I am geographically challenged!

 

[fraggle551]

Yup! I live on Long Island though, so many many people vacation there. Im a big fan of the waterpark there!

 

[NMAmy]

THIS!!!

Lots of people I have met in various places seem to think Arizona and Texas border each other with nothing in between. I remember a couple of times calling a CC company being transferred to the international department because the CS rep didn't know that New Mexico is in fact a state and not the country Mexico.

I worked for a bank that took over a portfolio of out of state loans when I lived in New Mexico. I got a call from one woman who asked if she had to send her payment in pesos and another woman told me indignantly, "Well, I don't know how you do things in YOUR country but in the United States, we..."

DD goes to college in New Mexico and I've had someone at the post office tell me I'd need to fill out a customs form to mail her a care package.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It is the same thing as not knowing where the Poconos are and you are assuming her accent is NY and even if it is, it doesn't mean that she is familiar with PA. The Eagle Mountain I was referring to is in MN. Just because it is familiar to you doesn't mean everyone in the world should know.

How about the Mall of America, that is pretty famous, do you know what town that is in without looking it up?

Nope, but I know it's in Minnesota, and I know I want to go there and to that other big Mall in Vancouver

Does anybody know where to find Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagaugchaubunagungamaugg?

 

[shortbun]

I would excuse someone for not knowing where or what 'the Poconos' were. I'm very geography literate. The problem I have is people not knowing N/E/S/W and thinking they can drive to Hawaii. My son will have NO geography classes in school at all prior to college and then, they will be electives. I insisted he participate in the Geography Bee in elementary school for several years. At least he got a lot of information there but it was supposedly limited to G/T students. Why oh why would we cut geography from our cirriculum???? Crazy!!

 

[MiniGirl]

Eventhough I was born and raised in Louisiana, I know where the Poconos are. I mean I have flipped through a Brides magazine or too. LOL!!! I also lived in NYC for a time, so I was in the region.

I'm pretty good at geography though. I traveled a lot as a kid; and of course, as a flight attendant, I traveled a lot, too. Maps are very cool though. I haven't met a kid yet that doesn't like finding places on a map. I use that to my advantage. We have a world map and a map of the US on the wall of our family room AND a globe on the table. Whenever we are watching a show and a place is mentioned, my kids will get up and look for it on the map if they don't already know where it is.

I think geography is quickly going the way of spelling. LOL!!! Why learn it when you can always look it up if you should ever even need to know the info?

ETA: I'm not being judgemental or feeling superior to those who don't know their geography. I don't blame anyone for not knowing things they have not been taught. My criticism is more with the fact that people are no longer taught this.

 

[DizBelle]

I do know where the Poconos are, but when planning my honeymoon, I learned that Hawaii is NOT in the Gulf of Mexico as is pictured in most geography books.

I am geographically challenged!

You've seen geography books that have Hawaii in the Gulf of Mexico?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Eventhough I was born and raised in Louisiana, I know where the Poconos are. I mean I have flipped through a Brides magazine or too. LOL!!! I also lived in NYC for a time, so I was in the region.

Oh! Louisiana! Home of Lake Ponchartrain - according to a contestant on The Amazing Race Family Edition a few seasons back... one of the GREAT LAKES!!!!

The problem I have is people not knowing N/E/S/W and thinking they can drive to Hawaii.

See my avatar? You can indicate all the states you've visited. Know why Hawaii's NOT on there? It's actually for RV owners/users and, as the creator points out... you're right, shortbun - Hawaii ISN'T drivable

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

I do. I have a weird birthmark that looks like the 6 continents + Greenland. (No Antarctica, but I'm not sure why.)

So I like to say I was a born geography expert.

The Poconos are definitely in Norway.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I live in Maryland and have been to a wedding in the Poconos so sure I know where it is.

It's the holy land for old Jewish comedians.

No darling that's the Catskills, those are in NY.


OP I'm curious about the area code. I went to college in Bloomsburg so close enough to the Poconos. I "think" the area code at the time was 710? We're talking early 90s here so if that's not correct then i know its close. I'm dead sure it was 7 something. Did they add a new 1? I know while I was in college 610 came out and that went from my house almost all the way up to Bloomsburg which left 215 just in the philly area.

But to answer your question I know where the Poconos are

 

[bethbuchall]

No darling that's the Catskills, those are in NY.


OP I'm curious about the area code. I went to college in Bloomsburg so close enough to the Poconos. I "think" the area code at the time was 710? We're talking early 90s here so if that's not correct then i know its close. I'm dead sure it was 7 something. Did they add a new 1? I know while I was in college 610 came out and that went from my house almost all the way up to Bloomsburg which left 215 just in the philly area.

But to answer your question I know where the Poconos are

According to Wiki, area code 570 split off of area code 717 in December, 1998.