a little OT, but since you brought up the "what do you call your country"...
I was at my grandmothers for, I believe, thanksgiving last year. I was sitting between my two cousins at the table (just the 3 of us at this table). The older one commented on my letters and called it a 'frat'. So I was like "I'm not in a frat..." that confused him so I explained its a fraternity "Same difference" "Well if you call your fraternity a frat, what do you call your country?" He looks at me for a second or two... "Um, America?" Said it again & he still didn't get it... His younger brother & I got a good laugh out of it though
PS Alphafrog... LOVE the sig file