Tell about your country/town

[PkR]

I've always been quite surprised by the fact that no one ever created a topic like this, so I decided to create it myself.

You know, SFGHQ is a great mixture of cultures in its own way. We got people from the USA, the UK, Australia, Brazil and many other countries here. I guess everyone has a place he/she hasn't been before. So I suppose making a topic in which you tell others about your country would be a good idea.

The structure is free - basically, anything that makes your country different from others will go. A description of your town/place where you live is also welcome. Any photos are appreciated.

Anyone wants to begin? I'll post about mine a bit later.

[Salomon]

Well I live in New England (in Billerica, voted Best Sports Town in America but I don't play sports so it doesn't matter) but I go to college in downtown Boston. I couldn't live in any other climate because winter's my favorite season. People here drive like maniacs and we like to say "wicked awesome" and pa'ked the ca' in ha'va'd ya'd. Unless you're from here, you would never be able to pull off a Boston accent and we know if you're faking (I couldn't even watch Mystic River) and we have every almost everything here: the city life in Boston, farm life in Vermont, suburbs in Mass, mountains in NH, beaches in Maine, islands on the Cape and we never have to drive more than 5 hours to get to those places. But it does get boring and I sometimes wish I lived in California.

and we love our clam chowda!

[Mark the Echidna]

Hmm... Ok...

So let's begin! I live on a city called Belo Horizonte, which is the third largest city in Brazil. Its name means "Nice Horizon" in Portuguese. The average climate of the city is not really cold nor really hot. But, since the city is built over various hills, the highest areas (Which are the borders of the city, and are also located near some small forests)... Are colder. I live in one of this areas, so during night it sometimes gets cold here (At least for someone used to a tropical climate XD). The city is located deep inside the country, so we don't have beaches... We do have a large human-made lagoon, called "Lagoa da Pampulha", but it is, though the situation is being slowly reversed, incredibly dirty, and you can't swim on it (You used to on the '50s).

This photo shows the "Praça da Liberdade", portuguese for "Liberty Square". Other important squares include the "Praça do Papa" ("Pope's Square"), which was built when the pope came here in Belo Horizonte.

Our city is on a state called "Minas Gerais", which basicly means "General Mines" in portuguese, since it used to be a HUGE gold and other minerals mining spot. The shape of our state looks like a long-nosed head... And our state flag looks like the japanese flag, but with a Triangle (Which is awesome):

The words are in latin and mean "Freedom even if late", since our state started the revolution that freed our country from Portugal in the 19th century. The triangle shape is said to represent the french revolution priciples, "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité."... The white background is said to represent the desired peace and the red foreground is said to represent the revolutionary flame.

Our state is the origin of many of our national heroes, including Alberto Santos-Dumont, who's credited here for the invention of the airplane, instead of the Wright brothers. (What, by some historical points of view, is right, and by others, isn't)

Our state is also plenty of historical cities, like Ouro Preto. Taking this old stuff apart, our state has also some technology centers, like Google's new technological office (I always plan going there, but never get to XD). Our food is also pretty good, neither too spice or to tasteless. People say our chicks are awesome... While there are certainly some awesome chicks, I don't see them that much, since I study on a technical school, and there we only have a few (ugly) girls.

Our state is also full of myths and weird incidents, like the "Varginha Incident", that involved some UFO and Alien sightings.

Our country is quite large, but over the years I have visited all the regions, except the North one, which is where the Amazonian Fainforest is located. Someday I plan visiting it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belo_Horizonte

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minas_Gerais

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varginha_Incident (LOL)

[Gamerdude]

I can imagine what Smidge was/will be thinking when he reads this topic...

[Mark the Echidna]

LOL. BTW, Smidge, check your inbox.

[PkR]

Thanks to those who have posted.

As for me, I live in Russian Federation, which is one of the largest countries in the world. And it's full of contradictions - like lack of exployees and a great number of unemployed at the same time.

My town is quite small (population is a bit more than 300 000). It's completely different from both capitals (Moscow and St. Petersburg). Here is a photo taken from my balcony:

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/bc.jpg (626KB)

This is how the center looks like. My town is a calm and nice place. I can't say we have all the most modern things here (like high skyscrapers, for example), but life here is pretty comfortable. People here are usually nice and friendly (especially to those who came from a different city), but they have a bad habit - they like to argue. These endless discussions of every imaginable topic drive me mad sometimes.

As for the rest of the country, I can say it's very different everywhere! For example, I visited Kalmykia (south-west republic of Russian Federation) and saw something between European and Asian culture. They have a bit of both. Anyway, they still look different from what I see in my town.

...

OK, here is another photo of my town:

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/1889.jpg (300KB)

This place is near Naberezhnaya street (Embankment street) on the bank of our river Tsna. Looks beautiful in summer.

I can imagine what Smidge was/will be thinking when he reads this topic...

...Excuse me? O_o Did I do something wrong? I guess this topic can't be used for "identity theft" or whatever.

[Guest Shadix]

Holy crap, Russian? Freaking awesome. :3

What part of Russia is that in btw geographically, the east coast part on the sea of Japan or the area West of the Urals? I seriously doubt you could be living in a place that nice in Siberia.

Also, isn't Russia THE largest country in the world period? (from land size perspective)

[Salomon]

Forgot to add pictures!

These are the mills where I live. There are about 3 mills in every town around here and Lowell has like 10 or more. I work at a the mill musuem there. Lowell was actually the first and greatest textile center in the US but in the 1980's it was the worst place for crack in the country (we had our own HBO documentery) It isn't as bad now but I wouldn't go to certain parts at night.

[Mark the Echidna]

...Excuse me? O_o Did I do something wrong? I guess this topic can't be used for "identity theft" or whatever.

Nor did mine, but it got locked, anyway...

BTW, your city seems pretty nice, PkR. And hell yeah, how I do understand this contradictions.

[PkR]

What part of Russia is that in btw geographically, the east coast part on the sea of Japan or the area West of the Urals? I seriously doubt you could be living in a place that nice in Siberia.

Tambov is 500 kilometres south from Moscow (takes about 11 hours on a train). It's close to the capitol, but so different from it... Generally by the pace of life - it's much slower and more calm here.

I have a friend who lives in Syberia. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of this part of Russia, but he said Syberia is also a nice place. Though, they sometimes get about 50 degrees below zero (Celsius) in winter, but air in Syberia is pretty dry, so it feels like -20 or even higher instead of -50. Still cold, though.

And yes, Russia is the largest country in the world by land. But "It isn't size that matters" © Serious Sam.

Mark the Echidna, I simply love your city because it's soo big ^^ And Salomon, the first picture of yours looks very unusual to me, as I've never seen so strange building combinations. Anyway, it's very nice.

[Asuma]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta

I hate living there. It's so boring. It barely snows. I doubt we get some this year.

[Mark the Echidna]

Mark the Echidna, I simply love your city because it's soo big ^^

"It isn't size that matters" © Serious Sam. XD

And Salomon, the first picture of yours looks very unusual to me, as I've never seen so strange building combinations. Anyway, it's very nice.

Really? I actually saw many pictures of Russia that looked like that. Guess we really should stop having country stereotypes...

I hate living there. It's so boring. It barely snows. I doubt we get some this year.

It never snows here. I have never seen snow... So what's the complaint? XD

[PkR]

"It isn't size that matters" © Serious Sam. XD

Well, that's right, but my head's spinning whenever I see tall buildings like those your city is full of. The tallest building in my town has... 16 floors, I believe.

Really? I actually saw many pictures of Russia that looked like that. Guess we really should stop having country stereotypes...

Maybe these places are specific for separate regions of Russia and I haven't been there yet. Because of its size, Russia is very different everywhere.

It never snows here. I have never seen snow... So what's the complaint? XD

Believe me, snow is not always as nice as you think XD We get a lot of snow every winter, but your shoes and trousers quickly become dirty and you come home like you've been thrown into a puddle ^^; This happens very often, especially in the early spring, when snow starts melting. And after meltdown it becomes very muddy, so you'll spend a lot of time cleaning your footgear

A couple of pictures of Tambov in winter:

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/winter1.jpg

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/winter2.jpg

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/winter3.jpg

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/winter4.jpg

Above the whole town:

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/above.jpg

And one of the contradictions of Russia:

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/bank.jpg

In Soviet period Tambov looked like this:

http://bluefox.hazard-games.com/gorsad.jpg

[Aaron C-T]

I hate where I live. It's like the suburbs, but I'm down South so people think it's the city. Brookyln was cooler.. I'm done. ^.^;;

[MrKsoft]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage,_Indiana

I'm surprised this place actually HAS a Wikipedia entry... we're an unknown place, but I think it's a cool little town. And it's barely 15 minutes from my house out to the beach. Not a thing I can complain about.

[Mark the Echidna]

The tallest building here is called "Edifício Acaiaca"... It has 29 floors. It's not thaaaat tall. We have some stupid laws here which make it impossible to have skyscrapers.

[Eraysor]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street%2C_Somerset

Me and Nitemare live here. It's only a village but it's larger than Glastonbury next door, which is a town. And yes, that's the Glastonbury from the Glastonbury festival, biggest music festival in Europe. Street has a massive shopping centre that takes up at least 1/4 of the entire place, along with two swimming pools, 3 primary schools, a special needs school, a secondary school, a college and a theatre and lots of other crap. And yet it's just a village.

[Guest Shadix]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin%2C_Texas - Since we all are being lazy XD.

[Mark the Echidna]

You Americans and your Xacto Knife sliced states and cities.

[Asuma]

Where the ranches? XD

I would kill for snow....I'm serious...

[Guest Shadix]

=D, thats because nobody anyone cares about lives up in the cube parts.

MY CITY > YOUR CITY (Except for all the gays and *tries not to summon you know who*)

[wesker]

I live in NY... 'Nuff said.

[Koray]

Since I live in a place no one cares about, I will tell you about my town.

It's actually two towns. Bay Ridge, and Dyker Heights. Both are right next to each other and have no distinct borders or anything, most people think they are the same place.

It is the outermost point on Long Island, New York. Nested in Brooklyn on the Narrows.

Comprised of mainly Italian and Irish people, recently lots and lots of chinese people are coming. It's kinda sad.

Also, it's hardcore and people will cut you in the face. Not really. We have great pizza and cool parks and stuff.

It's better than pretty much everyplace ever.

That's it.

[Andrew]

http://www.bcl.com.au/images/76211V.jpg

http://www.kettering.edu/alumni/images/GrandHyattMelbourne_lg.jpg

http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/homepages/arcak/Showcase/Scan4228.jpg

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's alright. I live in what we call the "Western suburbs" and its still very city-like, though the city (Melbourne City) is bloody huge. Where I live right now, it's everchanging with who is living here. Couple of years ago, it was all Greeks, Maltese people, now, we're getting lots of immigrants and refugees. But hey.

Oh yeah, and my primary school is right down my street.

[Terid Kane]

This is Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. It's not as big as Belo Horizonte, but it has a nice plain terrain, where you can see lots of beautifull government constructions. The city's structure is different than any other city in Brazil. It has the shape of a plane, and the residences are equally distributed in the South Wing and in the North Wing. The government buildings and the major attraction places (like the zoo) are distributed in the Center. There are three major roads that connects both wings and the center, making it easy as hell for you to get in any place of the city by bus. The nightlife is also great, with lots of discos, shows and girls. All in all, it is a nice place to live, but the people here are really, and I mean REALLY unfriendly.