In Europe, mostly along the Southern and Eastern fringes, there exists some confusion. Is IKEA from Switzerland ?, does Sweden make chocolate ?, do moose and reindeer pose a threat to those who ski in the Alps ?
In South America, there is no such confusion. Everyone agrees that the wonderful country of Swedzerland is a rich, politically neutral North Central European nation. They make safe cars and noisy clocks, but their greatest invention, in the culinary realm, is obviously the chocolate moose.
Part of this misunderstanding is due to names. These two countries have very similar names in Spanish : Suiza and Suecia...which is which ? My Colombian ID labeled me as Swiss from Suiza.
The other part of the misunderstanding is that South Americans are notoriously bad at geography. It apparently runs in the hemisphere. One man asked me if France was next to Argentina. If you squint.
Recently, when crossing the border between Bolivia and Argentina, the official took a look at my Swedish passport, written in Swedish, English, and French.
''Ahh, your country is Swedzerland ?''
''No, no, Sweden, Suecia...Suueeciaaa.''
''Okay, Swedzerland,'' and he starts typing my new home nation onto his keyboard.
''No, not Suiza. Suecia. Vengo de Suecia. Ese Oo Ay C E Ahhh.''
South Americans are generally very friendly and are eager to start up conversation with foreigners. But it's at this point in the conversation that most give up.
''Pauline, how is France doing during the crisis?''
''And Andrei, is it very cold in, uh, in your country ?''
In South America, there is no such confusion. Everyone agrees that the wonderful country of Swedzerland is a rich, politically neutral North Central European nation. They make safe cars and noisy clocks, but their greatest invention, in the culinary realm, is obviously the chocolate moose.Part of this misunderstanding is due to names. These two countries have very similar names in Spanish : Suiza and Suecia...which is which ? My Colombian ID labeled me as Swiss from Suiza.
The other part of the misunderstanding is that South Americans are notoriously bad at geography. It apparently runs in the hemisphere. One man asked me if France was next to Argentina. If you squint.
Recently, when crossing the border between Bolivia and Argentina, the official took a look at my Swedish passport, written in Swedish, English, and French.''Ahh, your country is Swedzerland ?''
''No, no, Sweden, Suecia...Suueeciaaa.''
''Okay, Swedzerland,'' and he starts typing my new home nation onto his keyboard.
''No, not Suiza. Suecia. Vengo de Suecia. Ese Oo Ay C E Ahhh.''
South Americans are generally very friendly and are eager to start up conversation with foreigners. But it's at this point in the conversation that most give up.
''Pauline, how is France doing during the crisis?''
''And Andrei, is it very cold in, uh, in your country ?''
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