It’s pretty bad when fourth graders are asked to find Rhode Island on the map and point to Georgia, but I am amazed at the amount of people who think West Virginia is in the western part of Virginia. They don’t know it is a state all by itself. Even a commentator from ESPN called WVU, Western Virginia University. Stupid goof-ball head. Someone asked my daughter one time how we like our beaches. Say what?
- See, we are like a little tea-pot…
Why can’t people take a look at maps once in a while? I am an atlas geek. When I was little, I would just sit and look at the maps that came with the National Geographic. I just loved following roads and noting weird towns along the way. Which brings me back to the strange names we have in our mountain state. Which, again, does not have a beach.
A lot of places in West Virginia have Indian names. I am sure that is the case in many states. They were here first, after all. It was nice to keep the names. Names such as Seneca Rocks, Pocahontas County, the Monongahela River, Kanawha county, and even a state park called Tu-Endie-Wei.
Just like every other state, we have our share of weird names, such as Albatross, Algeria, Alaska, Amigo, Black Betsy, Box, Buttermilk, Buzzard’s Glory, Coffee Town, Cow, Crack Whip, Cucumber, and Pinch. I live near Hog Lick Hollow. I guess you can tell I am not living in a city.
West Virginia became a state in 1863. I think that is long enough for people to realize it is a state. But, they don’t. I just think people don’t care where things are. Even John Denver got it wrong when he wrote, “Almost Heaven, West Virginia.” We don’t have the Blue Ridge Mountains or Shenandoah River…both in Virginia….sigh…
I remember being embarrassed a long time ago when I found out the Winter Olympics were in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For some reason, I thought Calgary was someplace in India. Pretty hard to have winter olympics in India. I mixed it up with Calcutta. And I was about 30 at the time, so I knew better.
I wonder how many people would do well with a geography quiz. Try taking this quiz and let me know how you did.
See how there is a line separating Virginia from the blob of mountains to the west? Well, that is in fact, West Virginia. Not Western Virginia, but WEST by GOD VIRGINIA, whatever the hell that is supposed to mean.
So, next time you want to go to Virginia Beach, don’t forget to ask the person at the front desk if there are any good restaurants in the western part of the state. We are well known for our pepperoni rolls.
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Posted by Jamie Dedes on October 24, 2010 at 11:05 am
Pepperoni rolls in “West” Virginia. I’ll remember. Sounds yum! Do I have that right?
Posted by TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 23, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Are u positive you are not a long lost sister? Positive?…… I love Geography! At one time, I even considered being a Geography Professor for a career. It boggles my mind how LITTLE our High Schoolers know about Geography! I live in Texas. I once read that like 40% of HS Students in Texas think that New Mexico is actually a part of Mexico and that it is not part of the US! I used some unique pscyhology on my 13 yr old. He is a huge sports nut. He can name off about 200 College football teams. As part of him memorizing the team names and mascots, I made him memorize where the schools are actually located. Just by using his football knowledge, he can pinpoint ever state on the map and can even pinpoint the exact location of each college. He has been able to do this since he was 10. I would bet that most of the High Schoolers in this area would be lucky to pinpoint any more than 20 states on a map. Can you tell I have a peeve about Geography?
Posted by Jumping in Mud Puddles on October 23, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Hey, maybe..lol..I am adopted..lol..I know, I love geography. Every year I make a big bracket for March Madness and Call it Math Madness and use math and Geography with it. I teach where the teams are..lol…They pick a couple teams and have to find out where they are located on the map. I try to use map skills every day. I am so tired of them looking at Florida when I ask them where Washington D.C. is located. I mean, really…sigh.. On the first day of school they have to draw a picture of West Virginia and then label the Ohio River and the states that surround WV. And then I bring it out on the last day of school and we make fun of them..lol..I had no idea that Mexico was to the east of WV, and so is Indiana. I just shake my head. They think our Tygart River meets to form the Mississippi in our city. Wow..just wow..lol
Posted by Monotone The Elderish on October 23, 2010 at 12:25 am
lol 44/50…. got Delaware and Rhode island mixed up….
Posted by Jumping in Mud Puddles on October 23, 2010 at 7:59 am
Good job, though. The midwest states always stump me. I just sit there…lol
Posted by Jumping in Mud Puddles on October 22, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Ok, I got 49/50. I tried to go quickly and missed Wyoming. When did they move Wyoming? Seems to me that it should be switched with Colorado. Just sayin..