What we don't know about your country

[L4hlborg]

Is there something in your country that we foreigners don't know? Any inventions, that we think that come from somewhere else, any famous people from there, that people generally mistake to be from somewhere else, etc?

Here is one from my country, Finland. People seem to generally think that the molotov cocktail was a Russian invention. It was actually developed in Finland, against Russian tanks during WW2. We didn't really have any anti tank equipment, so we had to use logs and snow to stop the tanks, then scorch them with molotovs.

If there are any stories like that you would like to share, please do.

EDIT: I was slightly mistaken. It was named in Finland, invented in Spain. Thank you for correcting me.

 

[Insert Comedy Here]

Australia, the deadly looking animals will kill you.

The cute looking animals will kill you horribly.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Did you know...
Not everyone in England wears a top hat?

 

[captainwolfos]

Well, we Welsh have always been referred to as 'sheepshaggers'. While this may be true for some of us, did you know that there are actually more sheep in our neighbouring England than in Wales?

This does seem to make sense considering the proportion issue there is that England is of course bigger than Wales.

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

Did you know...
Not everyone in England wears a top hat?

More's the pity. Would be awesome if we wore more top hats and suits with tails

Contrary to popular belief, not every farmer in Wales does naughty naughty things with their sheep.

 

[Cuniculus]

In America, we hate other Americans more then any other collective group of people on the planet.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Well, we Welsh have always been referred to as 'sheepshaggers'. While this may be true for some of us, did you know that there are actually more sheep in our neighbouring England than in Wales?

This does seem to make sense considering the proportion issue there is that England is of course bigger than Wales.

There are also more people in England as well as more Sheepshaggers in Wales .

I can be mean, a decent chunk of my family's Welsh, as is my most famous ancestor.

Contrary to popular belief, not every farmer in Wales does naughty naughty things with their sheep.

Some do it with their cows too.

 

[Sh0ckFyre]

The American economy blows.... Oh, wait, everyone knows that. In some states, having sex with animals and corpses is legal.

 

[Soulgaunt]

Is there something in your country that we foreigners don't know? Any inventions, that we think that come from somewhere else, any famous people from there, that people generally mistake to be from somewhere else, etc?

Here is one from my country, Finland. People seem to generally think that the molotov cocktail was a Russian invention. It was actually developed in Finland, against Russian tanks during WW2. We didn't really have any anti tank equipment, so we had to use logs and snow to stop the tanks, then scorch them with molotovs.

If there are any stories like that you would like to share, please do.

Wait, the Molotov Cocktail is from Finland?
Awesome!
Sadly, I live in America, land of the we-don't-care-about-other-countries-unless-we're-bombing-them, so I wouldn't know what other people think of my country!

 

[Zacharine]

We named the Molotov Coctail, expanded for the glory of Finland.

As the Russians were bombing our capital, Helsinki, minister Molotov of Russia told in various interviews and communiques that they are simply dropping bread to the hungry, oppressed workers of Finland. Hence the russian bombs gained the nickname Molotov's Bread.

Now, since us Finnish are nice people with sense of propriety and hospitality, naturally we had to repay this kindness showed to us by minister Molotov. So, since Molotov gifted the bread, we had to gift the drink. It was delivered in large quantities to the Russian troops, coming to liberate us and lead us to a new age of prosperity, by offering their tank crew stout drinks as thanks.

Hence, Molotov's Coctail.

 

[Incredible Bullshitting Man]

Did you know...
Not everyone in England wears a top hat?

Now you´re just trying to pull a fast one. Everyone knows you guys wear a top hat and a monocle, and that you sip tea.

We, on the other hand, don´t have polar bears. We´re not that far north.

 

[chstens]

Norway, there are no polar bears on the mainland, and the winter lasts from november to march. And we have the longest coastline in Europe, 21,975 km!

 

[L4hlborg]

Norway, there are no polar bears on the mainland, and the winter lasts from november to march. And we have the longest coastline in Europe, 21,975 km!

Basically, there are no polar bears in any mainland of the nordic countries. Just so that everyone knows.

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

Contrary to popular belief, not every farmer in Wales does naughty naughty things with their sheep.

Some do it with their cows too.

And their tractors, don't forget the Fergs.
I'm a farmer, I'm allowed to say these things

Well, we Welsh have always been referred to as 'sheepshaggers'. While this may be true for some of us, did you know that there are actually more sheep in our neighbouring England than in Wales?

This does seem to make sense considering the proportion issue there is that England is of course bigger than Wales.

Damn you ninjas, always out to get me!

 

[Sigel]

In America, we hate other Americans more then any other collective group of people on the planet.

That is kinda true. I see a lot of it here in FL,the tourist state. Native Floridians don't like people from up north because they feel they ruining this state, even though Florida's economy is based on tourism. "shrug" I don't care myself personally. I am not from this state and will be moving shortly to another one.
Fun thing about Florida though, around this time of year, there are baby snakes, toads, frogs and lizards everywhere.

 

[Voodoo Child]

In Australia, our fire hydrants aren't above the ground.

 

[Sigel]

Did anybody know that here in the UK, the monarch is the owner of all whales (not the country, the actual species)? It's true, all whales are owned by the king or queen of the United Kingdom. Which means those damn Japanese fishing bastards had better watch out during the next state visit to Asia...

And here's the proof [http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?ActiveTextDocId=1517624], if anyone was wondering. Dates back to 1322, apparently.

I read that some where, but doesn't it refer to and only apply if the whale beaches themselves on your shores. The head of the whale belonged to the king and the tail of the whale belonged to the queen.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Most people think tullips come from my country, Holland.
But they originate from Turkey.

 

[Mardy]

It's pretty much legal to whale on Faroe Islands, to a extent I think it was.

 

[chstens]

Norway, there are no polar bears on the mainland, and the winter lasts from november to march. And we have the longest coastline in Europe, 21,975 km!

Basically, there are no polar bears in any mainland of the nordic countries. Just so that everyone knows.

Exactly, but some people (I am lookng at you, america) seems to think that polar bears wander our streets.