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Saturday, September 10, 2016

Answers: Travel

Today I'm back to answering questions asked in response to my Your Turn post.  Our topic?  Travel, one of my favorite things to do--in Iowa!  We'll also cover languages and general knowledge of the world.
Anonymous asks: What do Americans know about Europe? What do you learn at school only geography connected with continent or others, too?
I was homeschooled, and I learned a lot of European history.  The history of Europe is the history of Western Civilization, so it was very important in my studies.  

Most of my history books took the story-line of civilization back to the first European immigrants to the New World with a focus on the United States. Before the 1500-1600s, the story is focused on Western Europe.  Further back it focuses on the Holy Roman Empire, then (progressing backward in time) Rome, Israel, the Greeks, Persians, Babylonians, Egyptians, and the Fertile Crescent.  

Current events and politics in Europe and in general, internationally, are topics we Americans have a little more trouble with, because our news sources are very um... self-centered!  But, I try to keep up, and I know others do too.

Ashley asks: Have you ever been to another country? If so, which one? 
No, not yet.
Photo credits: Wikipedia
Carrie asks: If you could go anywhere in the world - where would you go & why?
Mildred asks: If you could travel any where, where would you go and why? 
I wrote about this in February of last year in this post.  My thoughts have not changed at all...so I will copy my response here.  I'm assuming this is an expenses-paid trip.
Let's start our journey with Thailand, where my mother was born.  We'll visit the beautiful white sand beaches in the south, stop by to see my cousins in Bangkok, and then head up to Lamphun, a province in Northern Thailand where my grandfather worked farming rice with oxen, and which, it is said, his ancestors once ruled.  

After enjoying our fill of sunshine in the land of smiles, we can visit the United Kingdom.  ScotlandIreland, and England are places from which many of my progenitors hailed, so we can visit cemeteries and see the beautiful land where they walked.  If by any chance we get tired of visiting cemeteries, I'm told London has its attractions.  Hopefully it will be foggy just like in all the old movies, and we'll stumble upon the answer to a long-unsolved mystery.  
Steamboat Rock cemetery.  (Photo from this post.)
Next, we'll journey to Germany and see Colditz Castle where the most ingenious re-captured escapees and troublemaking U.S. POWs were held during World War 2.  We'll tour other castles, cathedrals, museums, and palaces, and surprise my cousins there (one of my cousins married a German and lives there--my not-as-numerous Dutch, German, and/or Austrian ancestors are way back: so chances are I won't find any of their graves). 
Finally, we'll head to Venice, Italy, to find out if it's really as fascinating a city as it's famed to be.  We'll try some authentic Italian food--pizza, lasagna, and fettucini!
If we're not too exhausted after that, we can visit Spain and perhaps Peru, so I can practice my Spanish!
Anonymous asks: Where did you learn Spanish and which level do you think you have achieved until now?
I first took Spanish in home-school/high-school.  Then I studied it on my own from books and on busuu.com.  I read through several books of the Bible in Spanish, and I also spent hours chatting with native Spanish speakers online and talking on Skype.  But that was years ago.

At present, I can read Spanish and understand it tolerably well.  I can listen to it and understand a little, but pitifully little.  And, unfortunately, my speaking skills are hardly better than my listening skills.  

Enrique Bracamonte asks: Which is, in your opinion, one of the most beautiful States in the USA?
Iowa.  I'm totally unbiased. ;)

Anonymous says: I'd like to know how many States do you visit in the USA, and if there is one of them that you would like to visit.
I've visited 21 states, so if I visit one more before my next birthday, I will have a state for every year of my life.

As to which one I'd like to visit... how about Hawaii in the middle of January?  On the more practical side, my 22nd state will probably be one bordering a state I've already visited.  
See post on visiting my 21st state: Illinois.
Anonymous asks: Hi, Bethany, which in your opinion is the most beautiful city in your country, and where can you find the best cooking art? Have you traveled a lot, and what city or town do you like the most?
I don't know where you can find the best cooking art.  It's a big country, and I haven't been anywhere on the East Coast.

You can see the extent of my travels over my lifetime above.  I've traveled some, but not a lot--and many of my travels were done when I was quite young.

I like Wellsburg, Iowa the best because it is a nice small town. The people are friendly. I recognize the faces and can wave at the drivers in other cars...and they'll wave back!  I consider it my hometown.

Martha asks: If you could go back in time, what period would you visit? 
Let's try a short visit to each century.  I wouldn't want to stay long in any of them because life was so hard...but with short visits I could learn a lot of forgotten history...and write a whole series of interesting posts!
Thanks to all who asked!
How would you answer these questions?

29 comments:

  1. Bethany interesting answers ...

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  2. Wowww Beth, you impressed me by telling that you were homeschooled. You are such a clever girl, WELL DONE to your parents and bless you all! Liuba x

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  3. I loved reading all your answers hehehe Have a blessed Sunday, Liuba x

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  4. Lovely photos, Bethany, and I enjoyed reading your responses here!

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  5. You've really thought out your answers. Very well done. You are an amazing young women!

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  6. Wow, you've done a lot of traveling! I think traveling would be fun if it weren't for the stressfulness of airports.

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    1. I actually have never been in an airplane in my life! It does sound interesting though... We did a lot of truck+camper camping when I was younger.

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  7. One state for every year born would be killer cool. Here's hoping you get to visit where your mom came from as well.

    All interesting stuff, too.

    Happy New Week.

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  8. Home schooling is quite an undertaking. Kudos to your parents, they have obviously done well!!

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    1. I'm glad they did it. It was a lot of fun for me, especially getting to pick out most of my own schoolwork in high school!

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  9. Good answers! I love your travel plans!

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    1. I wonder if I will ever be motivated enough to give them a try. :)

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  10. Great post! I really enjoyed reading your answers. And I hope you do make that trip one day to where your mom was born. There is something very special about visiting where our families originate from.

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  11. If I counted up right, I think I've visited 20 states...which isn't too bad given how many years of life I've spent away from the country. 21 already at 21 years old is quite good! Maybe you'll hit all 50 by 50! My grandma has been to all 50 states--the last one was Alaska, and she went there for her 40th wedding anniversary, so it took her 59 years to see them all. I think it's true that most history curricula focus quite a great deal on European history--once I got to college I focused on Asian history because it's a pretty big interest of mine.

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    1. Twenty states is great considering how many countries you've visited as well! That is awesome that your grandma made it to all 50!

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  12. Very interesting, Bethany! It is so nice to get to know you better. God bless you!

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  13. Great answers Bethany and I admire your knowledge and love of learning! Let's take a hike together in N. Ireland and then visit, say, South Carolina, as I'd like to add it to my list of States visited!!

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  14. O sol é para as flores o que os sorrisos são para a humanidade.(Joseph Addison)
    Belas e inteligentes respostas...amei sua criatividade!!!
    Um doce abraço, Marie.

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  15. Hi Bethany, thanks for your responses. You're welcome to Peru, there are beautiful cities here. I think the whole world is beautiful and each country has wonderful locations. The picture of the Steamboat Rock cemetery is awesome. The colours are fantastic.

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    1. I think the cemetery in Steamboat is the most beautiful cemetery I have visited so far.

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