When I lived in the Dominican Republic, Everyone asked me, 'Where are you from?" I responded "Texas". They looked at me quizzically responding..."Nueba York?" No, TexasNot New York. I'm from Texas. I tried to explain that texas was a state and therewere50 of them. . Back and forth it went. Most could not conceive the America was anything other than New York City where family and neighbors had immigrated to. When travelling in Europe in the 80's people asked if had an oil well or rode a horse because I was from Texas. "No. No horses and no oil wells." It's common all over the world for people to believe the idealized images of a people or country they see in movies/TV as true...its not just not an american phenomena.