On Thursday evening, 5^th March 2009, masses of Jacobs students gathered at Mercator Common Room for the long awaited USA Country Information Day to find out one thing:

“Who is going to be the next best American region?”

The North East region was the first candidate; its amazing cities, the acrimonious rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox and, of course, the Ivy League Universities (ie the Mecca of many Jacobs graduates).

The Southern region, famous for its musical diversity from rockabilly to blues and Creole, was the next on stage. Florida, as the old people's sunshine state and the home country of various boy groups, received special attention. So did Puerto Rico, a future state of the US that is, just like College IV, currently under construction.

The Midwest also turned out to be a highly interesting region, with a very “light” emphasis on religion and a weird passion for building churches on every free square meter. Now we definitely know Jesus loves us (as long as we belong to the Southern Baptist Church, of course.)!

Last but not least, the Wild West demonstrated those dreams of ours: Hollywood to meet Brangelina; Las Vegas to party, marry and divorce within 48 hours; the Golden Gate Bridge to try out bungee jumping; Yellowstone National Park to explore nature and California to shake hands with our dear Terminator/Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Everybody can have his/her personal favorite regarding which of the four regions deserved the title of “The Next Best American Region”, but afterall, the winner is the UNITED States.

Before the mass started a fight over Noodles, Chickens, Brownies and other delicious food that was offered, our American fellows reminded us of all the good things the United States did for the world: Jeans, Coca Cola, Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King, Windows, the Simpsons, McDonald's and the hope that after eight years of darkness under the Bush Administration: Obama.

It was a great evening--entertaining and enriching. Special Thanks go to the organizers and participants; you were awesome!