Why You Love Your Homeland

[TMA_1]

Well the topic sentance says it all. Why do you guys love your homeland? It could be your town, or country if you wish. Discuss why you love it in any way you wish. From great historical sites to the community all around you. I would love to hear about all the charished things in cities and countries from abroad. :-)

I love my state. Washington is a very serene and beautiful bit of territory at the very northwest corner of the states. The ecology of it is so diverse. I live right by some very gorgeous arboreal forests, but only about two hours away I could visit a temperate rain forest. Or if I crossed the glacier laden Cascade Mountains, I could walk endlessly through the most peaceful deserts. The coast of Washington is very damp and moody. Being something of a romantic at heart, I absolutely adore this.

It just seems to me that Washington, though having its better days in some ways, is one of the best places anyone could live. The small city of Bellingham, where I grew up, is so welcoming and vibrent with culture that you could lose yourself for days and still feel at home. It mixes elements of the largest city with the smallest town. It is definitely a jewel of the northwest. It is also one of the cleanest cities in the United States.

Well, lets hear it from you guys. What do you like about your homeland? And if by chance you have nothing good to say about the place in which you live, tell us where you would like to go if that would suit your fancy. :)

[lowzeewee]

Singapore is my homeland, because the government is forcing me to say it with a 9mm bullet 10 centimetres away, ready to spring forward into my skull. No, actually, I like Singapore because it is quiet, peaceful and I can get whatever and wherever I desire to have and be. There is all the international talk about the infamous chewing gum ban and a lack of mainstream pornography available here, but firstly, I have tried chewing gum before and don't miss it and secondly, who needs porn magazines when you have the internet just one click away?

The education system is rather harsh and demanding - often leaving the less intellectually-inclined behind - but it is necessary to sow and reap talents for the sake of surviving as a tiny island-state with little resources at our disposal. Education, determination, creativity and a bit of luck and spirit is key to growing success. The government always tries its best to help every citizen at large get by and the more I read of the world's many poor countries in utter shambles, the more I believe that the government is doing a good job and that I am very fortunate to be a Singaporean.

I don't give two hoots about the total lack of credible and visible political opposition, totalitarian governence, single-party state-ness or supposed lack of democracy, because it doesn't affect me in any way. Most government policies implemented are beneficial to the people, and nowadays money can get you almost anything and everything you wish for, so it's not a matter of political freedom but a matter of getting rich quick. I feel at home in Singapore, even with rude and inconsiderate fellow citizens(tell me, which country has only kind and courteous citizens?) surrounding me, because I am treated like a 'first-class citizen'. There has been sustained peace and security for as long as I can remember in my 15 years and 9 months as a Singaporean. The country is governed well and the vast majority of the population has a roof above their heads, three meals, constant clean water supply, electricity and are more than capable of surviving.

Still, there should be a sizeable political opposition voice around in parliament, and as far as I am concerned, I do not see anything wrong with the present justice system. Law and order is maintained. Capital punishment should carry on as per normal. I am not suffering, and life is great because I see a purpose in whatever I do, and every Singaporean is instilled with national pride and a sense of belonging, which is why I find this country interesting when compared to other parts of the world. No, it isn't just pure propaganda though... Home is where the heart is, and Singapore is where I belong. :)

[i do not have any plans to emigrate, because I am already perfectly settled here and love this country, despite its occasional shortcomings. Whenever I am overseas, I never really feel comfortable and always get this feeling that I am viewed as a 'third-class citizen'.

[Edric O]

There's something about living in a big city that's very similar to living in any other big city. Honestly, as far as I have seen, the only major difference between Bucharest and any large city in Europe (or the US for that matter) is that the people speak a different language.

When people ask me about "Romanian culture", I try to explain to them that, as far as I'm aware, it doesn't exist any more. Well, at least not in Bucharest. I can't think of anything I love about my home city because I can't think of anything that is special about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that as if it were a bad thing. I don't dislike it here. But I don't particularly like it either.

The places that I truly love are much smaller than anything that could be considered a "homeland". I love the house I grew up in, for example, and other very specific locations like that.

[chatfsh]

Having lived in various parts of the world and having experienced and appreciated various cultures.  I can confidently say, there

[Mihail]

The replies here make me think alot of elementary school in the USA, where we had to write all kinds of reports and so on and so forth. :P

Well, Latvia has changed alot over the past 50 years, but more importantly, over the last 15. Latvian culture was diminshed because the so-called Russification(Just a fact, I don't want to come off as rascist) of the Soviet years, with Latvians in '89 representing only 53%(!) of the whole population. But now Latvian culture has rebounded, with folk festivals being held regularly and many people attending. There are lots of nature parks in Latvia, with all sorts of flora and fauna. There is a renewed interest in the new Latvians of the early 20th century, writers and poets like Aspazija(Pronounce the 'j' as a 'y'), Rainis, Kri

[Dante]

I don't consider myself British, or at least not first. I am Scottish first, British second, European third. I am not English.

Some people find it a bit hard to understand why many Scots like to disassociate ourselves from England. There are various reasons why we try to distance ourselves from our large, pushy neighbour, none of which are relevent. But a side effect of having such an antagonist as England on our border is that many Scots have a great deal of defensive pride in a country that is, to be honest, not all that special.

We have among the highest rates of cancer and heart disease in Europe, as well as violent crime. Our much-vaunted Parliament is a joke, as well as a black hole for funds. Our population is constantly shrinking, our education system is miserable; and most awful of all, we remain slaves to the will of the Blair in London. Speaking of London, if every person in that city were to move away, Scotland's entire population could move in and still leave about two million spaces free.

Scotland has a great history, but so do most nations. Unfortunately, we don't really have much of a culture of our own anymore. Culture, unlike what some of those in the Southern cities may think, is not simply a bias against England. The Scottish culture was squashed and prohibited during the days of the clearances (when thousands of us were replaced by sheep, thanks to English landowners), and so never had a chance to develop. Nowadays it is represented by drunkards and idiots in tartan hats with false red hair.

It might surprise some people, after this tirade, to discover that I love my country. I don't much like it, but I love it anyway. I may not be able to speak the Scottish language - gaelic - at all, and I wear tartan very rarely, but this is the country of my birth and it belongs to me as much as I to it. The population may not be perfect but in comparison it isn't so bad. The scenery, away from the fields, can be beautiful. I think I just don't appreciate it so much because I'm constantly surrounded by majestic mountains, dense forests, varying beaches, etc. You get used to it after a while. The government is a shambles, but at least we aren't governed by a mad theocratic dictator. Our history is a bloody and a proud one.

So while I will admit that various places are more desirable in some ways than my homeland, for me there is no place quite like Scotland. My nationality is part of my identity, and I defend that which is mine.

Could be worse. I could be English. ;) 

[nemafakei]

The main attraction of Rutland, where I live at present, is the fact that it's easy to make jokes about how small and backward it is. The county is about 12 miles across, and has one train station. There are only two towns, no cities, the rest are villages or hamlets. Our police station is open Monday to friday, 9 to 5, and if you commit a crime in Rutland, you are taken to Oakham castle (This is what passes for a castle), which serves as a court on Mondays. The border of Rutland appears to be drawn to avoid at all costs including the market town of Stamford, presumably on the grounds that it seemed wrong for a county of Rutland to have a town as big as Stamford (Pop. 19,900).

Where I grew up to begin with was the Costwold hills in Gloucestershire. I much prefer hills - you get to see more scenery with them. If you're at the bottom, you see the fields ascending up towards the sky - while if you're at the top, you have the miles-around view. You just don't get the variation with flat or 'gently sloping' areas.

[veK]

I don't really like my homeland but right now I'm happy that I can stay in Hamburg instead of moving to another city.

Hamburg is definitely the best we got in this country. It's the second biggest city after Berlin but it doesn't feel that much like a big city, because there are so many parks and small "beaches" a bit outside the port and the "alster" right in the middle of the city. it's a huge lake...

it's a very green and comfortable city and I really like it here (moved here 4 years ago).

[alchemi2]

My homeland is Leeds, Yorkshire, England. I like my city because it has every facility you could ever want, it is reasonably clean and combines well the old and new. Leeds for a city of it's size (roughly 800,0000 people) is a very green city and the countryside proper is literally a 10- 20 minute drive in any direction. From the lush moorland to open fields or heavy woodland, Yorkshire has it all. The people for the main part are friendly and helpful. Leeds truly is a multicultural city with a large racial mix and unlike a lot of cities, there is a real mixing of peoples in areas rather than set areas where the majority is of one colour or creed.

I consider myself to be English rather than British, purely as this is the country of my birth, not a country I've joined. Unlike the Scots, Welsh and Irish, i love being English because of the freedoms i enjoy and the culture we have now, i don't live for the past but for the present and the future. I will support any British sportsman or team with equal vigour but England first, which strangely the aforementioned will not do.

[Timenn]

There's something about living in a big city that's very similar to living in any other big city. Honestly, as far as I have seen, the only major difference between Bucharest and any large city in Europe (or the US for that matter) is that the people speak a different language.

I would say it quite short sighted telling that all cities look the same.

I have been to plenty of capitols (Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, London, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon and Budapest) and each city had a different layout, different ways of life, different buildings and different culture. It is amazing that 24 hours by train (or 4 hours by airplane) can take you to such different worlds.

Why I love my homeland,

there are plenty of things I dislike about the Netherlands and the Dutch, but there are also enough things I am proud of. Loving an entire country is a pretty big thing in my opinion, I would rather side with a city.

My city is Amsterdam, though I do not live there. I was born in a small town just next it to it and lived there my entire life (which still isn't very long) Still most of my business is in Amsterdam, I study there, I work there and go out there.

For a capital Amsterdam is small, only 750,000 inhabitants, but then, all Dutch cities are small. But the small size makes it perfect, you can easily cycle to the centre within 20 minutes, it is never too crowded and you can always happen to encounter familiar faces there.

I like it that Amsterdammers often let others know their opinions, even if this may lead to ocassional hostilities (though riots actually never occur (*cough* except for football... *cough*))

Amsterdam is a true nation's capitol, and it is my home.

[Caid Ivik]

Bratislava is my hood, all is balanced and producing an air for me ;D There started a trend to "modernize" her last years, by building thousands of large shops and reconstructing every road and square, while results differ from plain ugliness and impractical stupidity to some quite nice structures. One friend is working on a psychogeographic atlas of the city, perhaps it'll be on the net for show.

[Cyborg]

I live in Bergen which is nicely located on the western coast of Norway. However, with Bergen, I don't mean the city, but the municipality Bergen. My home is 20 minutes away from the city, which, by international standards, is more like a town; not a city ( although it's the second largest "city" in Norway...  ;D ).

Do I like living here?

No, I don't. I'll be moving whenever I get the chance. I'm feeling too lonely here.

On the other side of my street is a "gangster hood," and most of the potential friends are people I naturally dislike.

[Khan]

London's the greatest city in the world. What more can I say? ;)

[Ford]

Uhm... what can I say about P'yongyang? Somewhat boring I suppose.

[Mihail]

A member from North Korea! This is very interesting. Would you mind answering a few questions? :)

[Ford]

Would you mind answering a few questions?

Well, I'll have to consult with the Party first.  ;D

[Mihail]

I'll take that as a yes. ;) Is it really as bad as they say it is in N. Korea? I mean, all you hear about on the news is Kim Jon Il living in luxury and everyone else starving since all of the budget goes to the military. Is it true? What about the wealth/living standards of people? I take it you have a computer. Is it common for people to have a computer and internet access in N.Korea?

Sorry, I'm just curious. It's not often that we get someone posting from inside a brutal dictatorship. ;)

[veK]

London's the greatest city in the world. What more can I say? ;)

no it's not. it's a great city for sure, maybe even the greatest in england or the whole uk - but not in the world :)

[nemafakei]

May I ask how you get internet access through Sweden from Pyongyang, Ford? Is this a privelege granted to a few, or to many?

[gunner154]

May I ask how you get internet access through Sweden from Pyongyang, Ford? Is this a privelege granted to a few, or to many?

*yawn* ::) :- >:( ;D

[nampigai]

in my mind there's no place more beautiful than the swiss alps, there's not a moment where they aren't, when thunder storms are rolling over, og the night makes them to siluettes or the sun is rising above them.

[GhostHunter]

I'm glad I posted this after my trip rather than before.

What can you say about Chicago, and America in the whole?

Having traveled to 40 or so of the states, and every major city but those in Texas, and Seattle, I can tell you Chicago is absolutely gorgeous. The city holds this civilized/up-beat nature to it, with friendly and overall extremely nice residents.

That and there's nothing that quite compares to it. Keeping in mind it's not on a ocean, obviously, but Lake Michigan which provides it with endless coastline -- a culture Chicago in itself has exploited to its potential.

On the other hand, the weather is irritating at times. Perhaps the European visitors heard the term "Chicago winter." Due to where the wind comes in from Canada in central America, the winters can be brutually tough. For instance, the state of New York, which is at a much higher geographic position actually gets a weaker winter than that of Chicago. Even better, is the exact opposite. Summer can be difficult as well. Just got out of a week and a half heat wave of 100-105F. My favorite was going onto Yahoo weather and seeing "95 -- feels like 107."

As for America in itself, I'm a proud resident. I loved New Zealand, and the people, and my trip as a whole (scraping together enough cash to go back to stay with a group I met in NZ during winter break), but I came back with a greater appreciation of this country as a whole.

Being serious for a moment, a lot of the stereotypes of Americans are incredibly backwards, or just a blatant lie. For instance, the work ethic of your average American is greater than probably anywhere else in the western democracies you'll encounter. My mother, for instance, has days where she goes to work at 6am and comes home at 9pm, and something like a 8-9 hour work day, with incredibly small amount of paid vacation (especially in comparison to European countries). In fact, Americans annually work 199 more hours than in 1970 alone.

But what makes that great? Your average Joe doesn't complain. Americans get up, do the job, and come home, proud of what they posses and what's around them. I mean that's where the SUV/Truck/Car image comes from: We like displaying our status, and what (typically) hard work achieves in this society. But I mean it's never in such a note where everyone is always bragging about it -- another trait I love. Especially in regards to family, we typically as a society would work a 10 hour day just to support the family we help raise, and that cultural structure additionally makes me proud.

Yet again, on the other hand, Americans by nature tend to be pretty narrow-minded in terms of thinking outside of our borders. But then again, we haven't had any intervention in last 50 years that has struck much pride. And besides, what I hear from Europeans isn't making me think the other socities are much better.

[veK]

about chicago winter:

when I was visiting california last december I saw so much snow covering chigaco on the news when I watched some television that evening. airplanes couldn't start and land due to the snow and heavy snow-storms. that was really weird because it was very warm in california (of course) and I was about to enjoy one of the hotel pools after watching the news... while at another plcae in the same country people were freezing and fighting the snow chaos...

[Cyborg]

That's mind blowing, Vek... :P

We have the same thing in Norway. Some places, the ground is frozen all year, while here in Bergen, we have normal winters.

[nemafakei]

It's to do with the sea. Sea temperautures change much more slowly than land temperatures, and it warms coastal areas in the winter, while cooling them in the summer.