I am working for three weeks in Switzerland, at the University of Geneva. One of the administrative assistants just left the country to spend three weeks with her family visiting national parks and landmarks in California and Nevada. This makes me wonder about the impression of the United States that Europeans take away from that experience.  Many have told me that they have only ever visited New York City, cities of California, and the national parks.  Sometimes they add New Orleans (if they are francophone and hoping to rediscover their language in the New World) or Miami. Only very rarely do people mention that they have visited my hometown of Chicago.  But when they do, they sweep their arms around, sketching the skyline and complimenting the architecture.