Anyone from Maryland?

[faith]

Is there anyone from the state of Maryland in USA? Or anyone who lives close?

Im from Finland and Im kinda obsessed by Maryland. (Just picked it from the map and decided that there I wanna go some day.

I would like to know some things about Maryland. Such as weather, schoolsystem, cities, things to see etc etc I would just like to talk to someone from Maryland!!! So I hope I can find someone...

//Laura

[amuse]

live in pennsylvania, don't know a thing about maryland. sorry! but it has some beautiful scenery, and the baltimore harbor is fun as a touristy thing, also to see the renowned aquarium (have only made it to san francisco's and new jersey's, yet to see marylands fish). so you could stay there, and enjoy that state, or road trip across the street to d.c., or up a tad bit to pennsylvania, delaware, virginia, upstate new york and the gorges of ithaca...good luck finding out from someone who knows something about it! it seems pretty rural outside of baltimore from the few times i've been through. almost quiet, though of course that changes the closer you get to the capitol.

[emily655321]

I know someone who lives in Maryland, but he lives right next door to Washington D.C., so I assume it's not that rural. Really...all I know about MD is that D.C. is -- for all intensive purposes -- in it, and that my friend lives there. :p Sorry I can't help.

[faith]

Well, thanx anyway. But maybe theres someone else?

[papayahed]

I drove through Maryland once. Beautiful State, We stopped on the side of the road to watch the sun come up over a hill.

[faith]

Sounds great papayahed!

[simon]

Maryland: the land of Mary. And that is merely the beginning of my imaginary knowledge.

[faith]

Yeah, actually Ive read a book about imigrants that came to Maryland. It was called Mary's land. (Very good by the way, but I dont remember the author, cos she had a very complicated name.) So I pretend to know the beginning of MDs historys...

By the way: does Maryland belong to the north or the south? I concider that pretty unclear.

[emily655321]

It kind of depends what you mean by "south;" I had assumed all "southern" states had been Confederate states during the Civil War (1861-1865), but it turns out that MD was both a Southern state and a Union state.

Here is a brief summary of the history of the Mason-Dixon Line; the border that is traditionally known as the separation between the Northern and Southern states...
http://www.fact-index.com/m/ma/mason_dixon_line.html

Also this (an exerpt from http://freespace.virgin.net/john.cletheroe/usa_can/usa/mas_dix.htm):
The fact that the original Mason-Dixon Line ran along the Maryland/Pennsylvania border might lead one to think that Maryland was a Confederate state during the American Civil War. It wasn't - Maryland fought on the side of the Union. However, Maryland was a slave state and many Marylanders served in the Confederate army.

http://coxcharacters.free.fr/maps/map18_.jpg

[amuse]

look at my beautiful PA! i'm right there in the southeast corner! (see me? :D )

[faith]

THANKYOU EMILY! I really learned a couple pf new things about Maryland reading your links!

[emily655321]

Oh good. :) I'm glad I could help.

[homiezindahouse]

hey emily, go get a new picture. That picture.... the man's stare is creeping me out every time. He has like a dirty look on his face.

[emily655321]

Hehehe. Is this one better? ;)

http://members.xoom.virgilio.it/_XOOM/azraeel/images/Arancia6.jpg

[faith]

Theres yet one thing i would like to know!!!!! About the US education system in general. (I guess its about the same in all states.) Weve studied the US education system in English class, but I still dont really get it. Were do Americans go after High School? College yes, but Ive heard u go to college just for 3 yeas. Is it really tro that u can have a proper education in jusy 3 years. Or is there somewhere u can go after college??? Im just wondering cos here in Scandinavia people are closer to 30 when they complete theri education (if they go to university that is).

[ravana]

em, don't change it! I like that picture - the man and his stare very much.

[emily655321]

Aww...not even change it for a picture of me? :D I've been asking my friends if they can shrink one I took to avatar-size for me.

Laura -- College varies based on what people want to study. Some local schools offer 2 year programs for people who are going to make a career doing more manual labor, but still want to improve their basic math or english for the job. Most common is a 4 year program, after which you get a Bachelor's Degree. If a person wants to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a college professor, or a scientist -- something like that -- they have to continue for another 3 years at least, I believe, and get their Master's Degree. Oftentimes people studying classical music or literature will continue to study for their Master's as well. To get one I think has mostly to do with taking certain tests, and submitting a certain amount of work for review, so people can spend years and years working towards their Master's. For instance, I think to be a High School teacher (maybe? I don't remember where I heard this), a person doesn't need a Master's, but must show proof that they are studying to get one.


[edit] P.S. -- What happened to my Vampire Alex picture? I like that one. :D

[emily655321]

Sorry Ravana! Alex is lovely, but I feel like a change. :)

[Koa]

I want Alex.:( You're not scary enough :D

[emily655321]

*Sniff* What a cruel thing to say...

;)

[emily655321]

Alex may come back. I'm starting to get creeped out seeing my face everywhere. :p

[faith]

Thanx Emily!!!! Our teachers seem to be a giving us students the wrong information. ...well, now I know how it really is, so it doesnt matter what they said... Thanx! :)

[faith]

Hey, but one more question! Whats the differens between college and university? Is university better than college? I dont know why Im imagining that. Do u study for Bachlos's and Master's degrees at the same places?

[amuse]

i think uni's are bigger/have more comprehensive programs, more research opportunities/more grad opportunities.
like in '87 i went to california state university, chico for theatre, but my younger brother is at university of california, davis for medicine. state universities are smaller than universities (it's like the difference between penn state, and u penn), sort of between a college and a uni. i recently graduated from a junior college; we had great instructors/programs, but it was definitely small, and though one of the top 3 in the nation, there just isn't the variety of courses etc. to be found at uni.

you can get associate degrees at junior colleges; bachelor and master degrees at state universities; and bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees at universities.

[emily655321]

I've actually always wondered the same thing. As far as I can understand, a University is technically the large organization that grants degrees, and has several college buildings -- one that teaches sciences, another that teaches arts, etc. But a college can also exist independently, not associated with a University. I don't understand exactly how that works, but I think basically a university is like a college but it's very big, so it needs to be broken up into smaller sections.

[faith]

Ok, thankyou!!!!!!!

[ravana]

I want Alex.:( You're not scary enough :D

Em, Koa is right!
Well, when will we see our lovely ALEX again? Pleaseeeeeee!

[emily655321]

LOL All right already. :D Back by popular demand, our handsome little droogy.
But I'm going out to take pictures today. If one turns out scary enough, I might avatar it. ;)

[ravana]

Em, I've already thanked you for Alex at the thread "Ask the person below"

he-he, good luck! I hope there wouldn't be any scary one :banana:

[faith]

Now Im back again with yet an other question about Maryland! Does anybody know any books or films that are set anywhere/somewhere in Maryland?? Please help me! Id rreally like to read/watch something about Maryland!!! Thanx, Laura *Faith*

[nome1486]

I went to www.imdb.com to search for films set in Maryland, and I found one recognizable movie that was set and filmed entirely in Maryland: The Blair Witch Project. I don't know whether or not you've heard of it, but if not, I won't tell you much about it other than that it's a thriller/horror movie that mostly takes place in the woods, and it was an independent film. This movie works best as a spooky film if you know as little as possible about it before you watch it. I couldn't find any others that seemed to have a lot of scenes in Maryland; in As Good As It Gets there's a part near the end where some characters go to Baltimore, but it wasn't actually filmed in Maryland (but it's a good movie, anyway).

As for books, I searched a little more online and found a series of books set in Maryland by a romance novelist named Nora Roberts. The first one is called Sea Swept. I haven't read any of her books, but if you like romance novels you might like her because she's pretty popular.

I thought I'd add a little more information to what distinguishes a college and university. What I've heard is that a college is a place that only offers undergraduate (i.e. Bachelor's) programs, and a university offers both undergraduate and graduate (i.e. Master's) programs. I'd also agree with what everyone else said.

P.S. Whoa, I just noticed your name is Laura, same as my sister's. Not that big of a coincidence, but I thought I'd mention it.

[faith]

Blair Witch Project, is set wholly in Maryland. That sound kinda good. Too bad its a horror movie, 'cos Im quite much "an anti horror person"... But As Good as it Gets sounds familiar actually, too bad it wasnt actually filemed in Maryland, but maybe I could see it anyway. As for books, Ive sertainly herad of Nora Roberts. I kinda like romance novels and have actually concided reading a Nora Robets. I would better try Sea Swept then

THANKYOU FOR THE HELP NOME!!!! Does anybody else have any suggestions about films/books?

[Moravia]

From:
http://www.dreamlandnews.com/
John Waters was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1946. For those of you who don't know, Maryland can be a pretty strange place to grow up. Luckily for John, 1960's Baltimore had a few saving graces. Here he would meet the men and women willing to work in front of and behind the camera on his self-written, self-produced and independently financed movies. Although Baltimore has become a bit yuppified over the past 20 years, you can still visit Bob Adams' Fells Point thrift store Flashbacks for an autographed picture of the Egg Man, or check out Waters' Walk of Fame in front of the Senator Theater.

Films:
1. Dirty Shame, A (2004) (completed)
2. Cecil B. DeMented (2000)
... aka Cecil B. Demented (2000) (France)
3. Pecker (1998)
4. Serial Mom (1994)
5. Cry-Baby (1990)
6. Hairspray (1988)
7. Polyester (1981)
8. Desperate Living (1977)
9. Female Trouble (1974)
10. Pink Flamingos (1972)
... aka John Waters' Pink Flamingos (1972)
11. Multiple Maniacs (1970)
12. Diane Linkletter Story, The (1969)
13. Mondo Trasho (1969)
14. Eat Your Makeup (1968)
15. Roman Candles (1966)
16. Hag in a Black Leather Jacket (1964)

Consider Hirspray first.

[Moravia]

I have been chastized by a friend for recommending John Waters' twisted sense of humor. I don't know if "cult movie" translates in Finnish. But that is Waters' genre.

Other more innocent movies are:

"Sleepless in Seattle", with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, is set in Baltimore, Maryland and Seattle, Washington.
"Home for the Hollidays", with Holly Hunter, is set in Balimore as well

[faith]

Thanx Moravia. I just wonder if any of the Waters movies can be foun in libraries/video rent places here in Finland. Gotta check... Are they really all set in Maryland?

As for Sleapless in Seattle, I saw it some time ago. Too bad it focused more on Seattle... Home for the Holidays I havent hear of.