1. Americans are said to be very patriotic. How can this patriotism be
   seen in their everyday life? For example, at least in some schools in
   Canada, the students and staff stand up for their national anthem every
   morning. Would this be the case in the U.S. as well?

2. What is the relationship between the United States and Canada like? Is
   it popular among  Americans to go to Canada on vacation, and vice
   versa? Do many Americans move to Canada? Are Canadian tourists and
   immigrants in the U.S. greeted with a smile or frowned upon? Is a
   passport enough to cross the border?

3. Geography has always been hard for me, and, even though Finland is a
   relatively small country, I don't know the map of Finland very well.
   How well do Americans know the map of the United States? Do they know
   the names and locations of every state, and their capitals and major
   cities, etc? Are they expected to learn these at school?

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1. I have sometimes heard or read a claim that there is a place -- a small
   town or a village -- called "Finland" in the US. Is this true or just a
   myth? Do you know if there are any other Finnish place-names in the US?

2. The US relies heavily on private cars as a means of transport, with a
   notable exception of New York. I gather that even in major cities like
   Los Angeles public transport can be almost non-existent. Moreover,
   people tend to think of using public transport as a sign of poverty and
   low social status. Considering the rising price of petrol and
   diminishing oil resources, do you think that the general attitude
   towards public transport could change in the US in the future?

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1. I have always had the impression that Americans speak only English and
   do not know other languages at all. But in American teen movies and tv
   shows, high school students are always complaining about their Spanish
   or French lessons. Is it compulsory in the USA to learn the basics of
   Spanish or some other language?

2. The British have always been very proud of their literature and authors
   such as Shakespeare and Marlowe and literature is a very important part
   of their culture. I have noticed that American students have to read a
   lot of books in their English lessons (contrary to Finland), not only
   by American authors but by foreigners also. Could it be said that
   Americans are equally if not more proud of their literature?

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1. How does the educational system in the US differ from the one in
   Finland in the Universities and Colleges? Could the Master's degree in
   Finland and a university graduate in the US be compared to each other?
   How are people selected to colleges? (Just based on their SAT scores?)

2. Finnish students are well aware of the US; some aspects of the States
   and their history are even taught in school. In comparison, how much
   are American students taught about European history, geography, etc.?

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1. What is the status of translated literature in US, and are the
   translations usually of high standard?

2. In TV shows and movies one sees a lot of American weddings that often
   last days with rehearsal dinners and brunches, etc. Is that based on
   reality when it comes to an "average" wedding, or is it just the upper
   class and the wealthy who celebrate weddings like that?

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1. Are there any estimates or figures on how many states an average
   American visits during his/her lifetime?

2. There seem to be only two political parties in the US, the Republicans
   and the Democrats. Are there any others? If so, how come a country with
   such a vast population doesn't have more variety of opinions?

3. The so-called 'Ivy League' universities are among the top U.S.
   universities. Can a university ever be excluded or included to the
   original group of eight schools?

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1. We always hear about American dream, but what is the average salary in
   the United States? And what salary is needed to have a "normal life"?

2. How many Americans leave the United States and forget their American
   nationality? What is the main reason of leaving for these emigrants?

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1. I heard that college students can be "undeclared", meaning that they've
   not chosen their major subject yet. How does this work exactly? What
   are the entrance exams like if you don't apply for a specific subject?

2. I recently read in the Helsingin Sanomat website that the Texas House
   of Representatives is likely to pass legislation allowing university
   staff and students to carry a concealed handgun in campus areas.
   Similar legislation already exists in Utah and Colorado. Do you know
   how common it is in those states to exercise this right?

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1. One sometimes hears college students describe themselves as being
   "pre-law" or "pre-med". Are they referring to simply being in the
   process of applying to law/medical school or is there really a degree
   you have to complete before going to study medicine or law?

2. Among the "core American values" described by Robin Williams and James
   Henslin is "religiosity" and the idea that "every true American ought
   to be religious". Does religion still play a big part in the everyday
   lives of average Americans? Is it be possible for a non-Christian or an
   atheist to gain political power of any kind?

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1. I found pictures of abandoned buildings in Detroit and began wondering
   whether it is common that everything seems to have just been left there
   (for example books in the libraries)? And also how common are these
   abandoned theaters, libraries and other such buildings in the USA?

2. Can a law allowing university students and professors to carry
   concealed weapons on campus really make American schools safer places
   like the lawmakers in Texas believe?



1. Do the major television channels in America also show programs that
   have been made outside U.S., for example in Europe or in Asia? Are
   Americans overall interested in watching foreign TV-series and has any
   foreign program gained a great amount of popularity?

2. I have watched an American TV-series about teenagers who live in
   Manhattan and who have wealthy, powerful parents. In the series, the
   characters can solve nearly every problem by mentioning their family
   name. They can even get accepted to 'IVY League' schools thanks to
   their ridiculously large trust funds and good connections. Could this
   also happen in real-life? In America, can you get through everything
   with enough money and the right background?

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1. Are internships a required part of a degree for all college or
   university students in the United States? From watching American movies
   and TV shows, I have gotten the idea that for students who study
   politics or law, internships are a very important part of their
   studies, and some people have started their career by interning at the
   White House. But is this the case for all undergraduate students, or
   are internships only done by students with a certain major? How long do
   internships usually last for?

2. Is it common not to have a lock on the bathroom door in the United
   States? With this I mean bathrooms in private homes, not in public
   buildings.

3. What is the reason or logic behind having the license holder's address
   on a driver's license? Isn't it a huge security risk in case your
   license gets stolen or lost? This question is just one example of the
   many possible security risks concerning publishing people's personal
   information that Americans do not seem to understand the same way that
   we in Finland do.
   (see also 'A New License, for More Than Just Driving')

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1. I've heard in the US sheriffs are elected by popular vote. Is this
   true? If so, why?  Also, what's the difference between sheriffs and
   other higher-ranking police force officers?

2. I've had the impression the UN is not very popular among most
   Americans, even though the US is one of its main contributors. Is this
   true and if so, why?

3. What exactly is the function of school boards in the US? And why the
   Texas school board seems to be the most powerful one?

4. There's been a lot of talk about standardized testing. What kind of
   standardized tests do American school children take? How important are
   they in terms of higher education and employment?

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1. How much do Americans appreciate the Ivy League universities? Is
   studying in one a realistic goal for students in "ordinary" (not fancy
   or expensive) schools or is it only a dream for them?

2. Finland and Sweden have a very competitive relationship: we Finns want
   to beat the Swedes in everything; or if we can't, it is important that
   at least someone else than Sweden wins. We have a lot of jokes about
   Sweden, too. Does the USA have this kind of relationship with other
   countries?

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1.  Why are cars so important to the Americans?

2.  What is the historical background of Hawaii belonging to the States?

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1. How has the G.I. Bill of rights changed over the years? What are the
   most significant benefits it brings to veterans of modern day wars?

2. I read somewhere that complete or partial adult illiteracy is
   surprisingly common in the U.S. but I can't remember any figures. Is
   this true? If yes, do you know any details? This has also sometimes
   been a subject of parody in popular culture (eg. the Simpsons: the
   hillbilly family), so I guess there has to be some reason for it.

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1. First, I just saw an episode of The Simpsons where they went to a place
   called the 'Five Corners': a place where five states meet. After trying
   very hard to find such a place on the map, I googled it and found out
   that there is no such place, but it is supposedly based on the 'Four
   Corners'. What can you tell me of this Four Corners? Is it a popular
   tourist attraction?
   (cf. Indian Country' Map)

2. Second, is the American world view more black and white than the
   European world view, or is that just a common myth?

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1. How does legislation work in the US? Who has the biggest/final say in
   the decisions made? How much power does one individual American hold;
   are there ways for individuals to influence the decision making? (And
   as I'm ignorant of the world situation, what party is the most popular
   one in the US at the moment?)

2. We talked about illegal immigration and immigration as such during the
   lessons. I wonder how "normal" Amercians feel about immigrants? Here in
   Finland there's a constant battle between those who think we should
   help the people who seek safety and those who think that immigrants
   should return to where they came from. Is there the same sort of
   situation in the US? To me the Americans seem more open minded, and as
   there are a lot more nationalities in such a vast country (compared to
   Finland), I wondered if the situation there would be different.

3. How is the relationship between the US and the rest of the world? With
   Europe, Asia and particularly Russia? Are the effects of the Cold War
   still creating a gap, or have the countries warmed up to each other?

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1. In the U.S, does one's academic background have great importance when
   applying for a job? If so, does it matter which university you
   graduated from? (That is to say, does university prestige have an
   influence on the job market?)

2. I've heard that, in general, the price of fresh vegetables and fruits
   is quite high in the U.S (in comparison with Finland, for example). Is
   this true? I was personally surprised to hear that, because I thought
   they would bring in the products from, for example, South America.



1. My first question is about the common law system. "I'll sue you!" is a
   common phrase in the parodies about the Americans and big corporations
   are known to fight constantly with their competitors about the rights
   to a certain product, slogan, color of the logo, et cetera. But how
   common is it for a normal American John Doe to sue for example his
   neighbor about something small like cutting down a tree that was on the
   border of their lots?

2. The second question is about the foreign languages taught in schools.
   In Britain the children aren't really interested in learning foreign
   languages, but since the U.S is a lot more multicultural than Britain
   it might make sense that the children would be more encouraged to learn
   different languages. So are the children in schools (in general)
   learning foreign languages or are foreign languages considered not
   useful for the future? And if possible, could you please tell what are
   the most common/popular languages that are taught?

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1. Are all Americans as fiercely proud of their home states as Texans seem
   to be of theirs? Are there any states in particular that are known for
   their cultural pride?

2. Recently, I have heard my American friend talk of a government shutdown
   in the US. What exactly does this mean?  What would a government
   shutdown mean for an average American?

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1. Who are the biggest national heroes in the US?

2. In Finland, pupils are not taught very much about the Sami people,
   their culture or their history and much of the discrimination they have
   experienced is left without mention. What is taught in US schools about
   the Native Americans and the way they were treated by the settlers?

3. Do groups like Ku Klux Klan and Nation of Islam have real political
   power in the US and is it possible to identify their members?