&gt; “It’s my hypothesis that the reason Europeans are so much more geographically aware than we Americans is that they have these maps that make their surroundings understandable and we don’t,”<p>Being from Oregon myself, and having spent years in Italy, I quickly realized that most people in Italy have no idea where I&#x27;m from - and it&#x27;s not a small place by any means.  Even the relatively small population is on par with some smaller European countries.<p>So I don&#x27;t think it&#x27;s that Europeans are &#x27;more aware&#x27; - it&#x27;s that they&#x27;re more aware of Europe.  I think it&#x27;s pretty normal to be mostly aware of your immediate surroundings.