Harriet Vane Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 (edited) UPDATE on Ds' decision in post 88. _______________________________________ Ds is going to do a country study this semester. He wants one that is "totally different, that no one has ever even heard of." Part of our problem in choosing is that we love travel and other cultures and have been proactive in studying and watching travel shows. Everything I suggest feels to ds like "everyone" has heard of that. So, with that in mind, please suggest a country and make a case to ds as to why it is totally different and totally obscure. Or you can choose one of the countries I have listed below and make a case to ds as to why it is totally different and totally obscure. Micronesia Andorra Liechtenstein Monaco San Marino Vatican Greenland Finland former USSR countries (Which would you do and why?) Cyprus Edited to add: Basque. Does this count as a country, or is it just a region? Thanks !! Edited September 18, 2012 by strider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Burma? There hasn't been much travel to it recently, for political reasons, so maybe fewer shows? Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Here's a page that might help. http://www.rankopedia.com/Most-Obscure-Country/Step1/23509/.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Don't like most of your choices - some are city states and not technically countries, and I would sure hope people have heard about Finland and Greenland and Cyprus. As for the former Soviet republics: I would select Kyrgystan. It is small, not as big as its neighbors; it has interesting landscape; one of my favorite authors is from there (Aitmatov). Option number 2: one of the smaller African countries, Togo for example. I chose this because I know nothing about it, I personally would choose Bhutan. Small, remote, in a beautiful area of the world, not really open to Western culture until recently. This is a place I'd actually love to visit (the otehr ones- not so much) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Edited to add: Basque. Does this count as a country, or is it just a region? The Basque people sure like to think of it as a separate country, but in reality, it is just part of Spain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 How about something like Magareva (part of the Gambier Islands)? It is part of French Polynesia (which is well-known), but if he focuses on some of the lesser-known islands, would that work? Moldova? How about places w/ limited recognition as sovereign states? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 It's pretty, super friendly, loads of history and really different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 USSR? Go to Georgia. It's pretty, super friendly, loads of history and really different. But surely everybody heard of Georgia? Is that where you're from, roadrunner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSinNH Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 The Maldives.....they are a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean. They have a rich history and culture due to their position as a colony to several countries. Up until recently, the main industry was tourism, but they have had some major political upheaval lately. It would be interesting to research how the ousting of their president will effect the tourism trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I was going to say The Maldives, too. Or maybe Malta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Yes :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma2three Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Lesotho is a pretty interesting country that most people haven't heard of. It's landlocked within South Africa, but has a giant lake that supplies a lot of regional water for southern Africa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 My kids thrive on picking the weird countries when given an assignment. Central African Republic Ghana Bolivia Just let him "randomly" pick and live with the consequences. It's part of the FUN of homeschool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nyssa Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I was going to say Georgia too! Roadrunner-- Gogo, shen martla kartveli khar?? Ow! Dzalian miquars Sakartvelo!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shalom22 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Estonia. I don't have an argument, but my daughter loves it and wants to live there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne115 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 The Republic of Kazakhstan - My daughter was adopted from there. When she tells people where she was born, most of them have never heard of it. Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 [ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Burkina Faso Bhutan Kiribati Guinea-Bissau Suriname Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saw Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Principality of Sealand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 You guys are awesome!!! Thanks for the great ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Bhutan? Or how about The Gambia (a country within a country)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Malta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 How about the new country of South Sudan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFG Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 My first thought was Mauritania because that was a country I had to study once and I had never heard of it. If you want really obscure how about Niue? Vanuatu? Tonga? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 My ds did a project last year on Bhutan for the homeschool geography fair. It's a fascinating country up high in the Himalayas and is absolutely gorgeous. Few people have heard of it. My ds chose it because while looking at a poster of world flags he decided that their flag was the most interesting one of all: As another poster mentioned, Lesotho would be another good one. I'm familiar with the country because a very close friend was stationed there in the Peace Corps about 10 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Djibouti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 My son suggested Palau. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palau Now my suggestion of Luxembourg sounds so ordinary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Moldova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganCupcake Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I was going to suggest Bhutan because its' king talks about how gross national happiness is important as the country develops, as well as gross national product. Also, Djibouti is interesting because the name sounds cool. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Djibouti Our oldest dd was about 10yo, and studying for the homeschool Geography Bee. I heard the talking globe say, "Djibouti". I immediately asked, "Where in the world is Djibouti?" Her answer, "Oh, it's by Eritrea." Another great homeschool moment. I was completely lost. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Kyrgyzstan! Or any of the other Muslim former Soviet republics (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, or Turkmenistan). Believe me, no one ever talks about those countries. I think Uzbekistan is probably the most interesting out of the group (and likely has the most resources), although all are fascinating. If you go with one of those, I could point you toward some different resources that you wouldn't find in your local library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaTotaler Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Kyrgyzstan! Or any of the other Muslim former Soviet republics (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, or Turkmenistan). Believe me, no one ever talks about those countries. I think Uzbekistan is probably the most interesting out of the group (and likely has the most resources), although all are fascinating. If you go with one of those, I could point you toward some different resources that you wouldn't find in your local library. The bolded is exactly what came to mind when I read your subject line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 How about the new country of South Sudan? :iagree: This is what I was thinking too. It would be heavy on current events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Liechtenstein. We have a trade deficit with them and they only have 36,000 people in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Our oldest dd was about 10yo, and studying for the homeschool Geography Bee. I heard the talking globe say, "Djibouti". I immediately asked, "Where in the world is Djibouti?" Her answer, "Oh, it's by Eritrea." Another great homeschool moment. I was completely lost. :001_smile: :thumbup1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Djibouti (pronounced ja-bootie) Seriously. It's in Africa, and NO ONE has heard of it, but it's where my DH has spent over half of the last year :) ETA - I can't believe it was already in the thread!!! I didn't even bother looking before I posted because NO ONE ever knows what I'm talking about...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 The Basque people sure like to think of it as a separate country, but in reality, it is just part of Spain. Just had a Basque exchange student here for a month - she'd be quick to point out that the Basque Country (and it is called "The Basque Country" in spite of not being one) includes part of France as well as Spain. I hadn't even realized that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 USSR? Go to Georgia. It's pretty, super friendly, loads of history and really different. I have this book (Home Baking by Alford and Duguid) and they have all these lovely pictures from markets in Tblisi and such, with the cutest little old men in sweaters holding vegetables and such. I kept talking about how cute they were and my husband was like :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 I have this book (Home Baking by Alford and Duguid) and they have all these lovely pictures from markets in Tblisi and such, with the cutest little old men in sweaters holding vegetables and such. I kept talking about how cute they were and my husband was like :001_huh: I love that book (all of their books, actually), and my husband doesn't get it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Canada. Who knows anything about that place? Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carpe Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Djibouti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carpe Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Canada. Who knows anything about that place? Bill :lol: I can't decide if this is funny because it's ridiculous, or because it's surprisingly true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubiac Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Botswana -- a successful and functional sub-Saharan African country. Also, it's just fun to say BOTSWANA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma2three Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Canada. Who knows anything about that place? Bill Ha, this is so true. I know so much more about most of the countries listed on this thread than I do about Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 How about the country of New Mexico? (Remember that debacle related to the Atlanta Olympics?) :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 I love that book (all of their books, actually), and my husband doesn't get it either. I have the same reaction to your blog. I started murmuring about going to Uzbekistan and other such places. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 How about the country of New Mexico? (Remember that debacle related to the Atlanta Olympics?) :tongue_smilie: I remember that. Or how about Hawaii? I've been told it's a nice country. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 My ds did a project last year on Bhutan for the homeschool geography fair. It's a fascinating country up high in the Himalayas and is absolutely gorgeous. Few people have heard of it. My ds chose it because while looking at a poster of world flags he decided that their flag was the most interesting one of all: As another poster mentioned, Lesotho would be another good one. I'm familiar with the country because a very close friend was stationed there in the Peace Corps about 10 years ago. I was totally going to throw in my vote for Bhutan too! Fascinating country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Republic of Georgia! My parents visited a former exchange student and she showed them around Tbilisi. The photos are incredible and there is a lot of history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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