Wave Your Flag

[Teresa]

We are excited to announce a new series of medals.

Wave Your Flag



This medal is an opportunity to choose to receive a flag of your choice. The flag can be any flag that you choose – the country where you were born, the country where you grew up, the country where you currently live, or the country you would claim if you could. For the US and Canadian members, the option is also available to choose from your state, province, or territory. The only limitation will be based upon which flags are available.

The flag images will come from Mazeguy’s four-page collection. There are three pages of country flags (215 countries if my math didn’t fail me) along with all 50 US states, 13 Canadian provinces and territories, and 10 random flags. We will let you choose any of these flags which will be included on your profile with the rest of your medals.

One reason we want to make this series of medals available is because of the diversity of the Boolprop members. We represent many countries around the world, and it will be interesting to see the many flags flying on our forum.

In order to receive the medal, please write 3-5 sentences about the country you select and why you want to fly that flag.

Please note that this is a one-time award, so make your choice carefully.

This challenge will remain open indefinitely. Medals will be added once a month; possibly more often if we have a high response rate.

[Siem]

The flag from my country, The Netherlands.
It's not a big country, but I do like it.
It has so much more to offer than what most people associate it with.
Even though it is just a small country, the diversity in culture is big, from fast paced people in the cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, to the slower paced places below the rivers. We even have a second language which is only spoken in one small northern part of the country.

[Rosanna]

There are a few flags that could have applied to me pretty well, but hands down I would say Massachusetts. I was born here, go to school here, work here. I don't have the Boston accent but still defines me pretty dang well. I'm much more of that fast-paced/constantly stressed/ambitious/not cold but not overly warm and friendly/liberal/sarcastic New Englander than somebody from the South, Midwest, or West Coast. #masshole

[Teresa]

<<Texas

I wavered between several flags - my home (Texas), my birth country (USA), or my heritage (Ireland). In the end, Texas wins out.

Texas is not just the place where I was born, or where I live - Texas is in my blood.
While I don't live on a ranch or farm, I do live in the country.
This is a picture my daughter took of our dog watching a storm come in. The fact that you cannot see neighbors, really means there are no neighbors. They aren't just hidden by the trees.
(OK, well there is one or two houses that you would be able to see if the trees weren't there)

Spoiler:

There is a lot of truth in this list:

• Our ninth biggest city is bigger than the state of New York’s second biggest city -- and our ninth biggest city is a suburb.
• Don’t ask us if we’re part of the South or the Southwest - We honestly have no idea.
• Any barbecue you consumed outside Texas was not Texas barbecue - Even if the restaurant had “Texas” or some Texas city in its name. Actually especially then.
• We don’t care how good your regional burger chain is - We’re still going to like our regional burger chain better.
• We didn’t ride horses to school, and we don’t all drive pickups - For some topical transportation humor, try making fun of our SUV addiction or mass transit systems.
• We say “y’all” because it’s more pleasing to the ear than “you guys”
• Dallas and Ft. Worth are further apart than you think - these are legitimately two different cities. Don’t be surprised when you book a hotel in one and discover you can’t walk to the other.
• Everything’s farther apart than you think - From Texarkana (east side of Texas), it’d take you just as long to drive to Chicago as it would to drive to El Paso (west side of Texas).
• It doesn’t matter how hot it is, we will tell you we’ve seen hotter.
• Yes, we are lousy at driving on snow and ice - Most people are lousy at things they only do once every three years. (Note: this does not include the Panhandle, where it gets cold as hell.)
• When we say “Don’t mess with Texas”, we really mean it - But not in the way you think -- this is a long-running anti-litter campaign that successfully reduced trash on Texas highways by 72%.

A list about Texas

[singinghymns]

TEXAS

My sister, Teresa, summed up Texas pretty well, so I will just give my feelings about this great state of ours.

Texas is home. The air here feels different than in any other state, and I can't tell you why. Having traveled all over the world, I have been impressed and awed by the beauty of these other countries and the other states within the US, but there is a tangible feeling when you cross back into Texas territory. Though Irish is predominant in our history, and there is a Heinz 57 collection of other nationalities, I identify more strongly with Texas.

[nicholaplaysthesims]

The United Kingdom is my home, always has been and always will. Though the nation has it's difficulties I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. My home is in the North West of England, where the weather isn't perfect but we have a lot to offer. My local town is famous for rubgy (and unfortunately football too) and also for a few lovely pastry treats (can't beat a good meat and potato pie!). I've traveled a lot, to places in this country and further afield, but nothing beats the feeling of coming home to what you know and love best. England, UK is the only place I could ever imagine living.

[Chase]

Washington (USA):

While I was born in Oregon and spend a lot of time there now, I have lived in Washington since I was 5
Washington is the home to Bill Gates, Boeing (although the corporate offices recently moved to IL), Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Amazon, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and the majority of America's apples, hops, and raspberries!
It's a very diverse state, demographically and ecologically! It is home to beautiful cities like Seattle, and my hometown, the capital, Olympia! There is the BEAUTIFUL Columbia Gorge; there are stunning, windy beaches; and there are impressive snow-capped mountains! I get nervous when I can't see at least two mountains from any hill! Trees! There are so many trees! Life is very green here!
Living in Washington means living with constant cloudiness and rain, socks and Birkenstocks being commonplace, legal marijuana , a diverse crew of politicians (some in the West are among the most liberal the country, while those in the East are more conservative), the constant threat of a mega-earthquake the likes of which humans have never seen before (holla @ that Juan De Fuca plate! ), intense UW/WSU rivalries, some of the country's worst bottlenecks all located on I-5, driving through torrential rains with the same ease one would drive on a beautiful day, no income tax, driving across the Columbia so as not to pay sales tax , and high gas prices! I love it all!!!

[Teresa]

Medals have been awarded to here.

I am really enjoying reading what everyone is writing.

[Thaitanic]

Thailand!

Whilst I was torn between where I live (England) and where I was born (Thailand), I eventually decided on Thailand. I chose Thailand because every time I visit, I feel like I am properly home - even if home is temperatures I'm not really used to and pesky mosquito bites. It was in Thailand, and with the Thai people, that I found peace in religion as a Buddhist and also in Thailand and with the Thai people that I have felt consistently welcomed. In my home village, we can drop from house to house and everyone will take you in and offer you a place at their table (or, more accurately, mat). And there is no place much more peaceful that the village in the morning, when it's just about turning into daytime and you can sit on the cool tile floors and surround yourself with old memories and good books - and given the choice between English food and Thai food I'll choose that any time. I love England as the place I live and the home of my first language, but there's something about stumbling through a conversation with my Thai family and being offered food ten minutes after your last dinner that just makes the Thai flag the flag I want to wave - and hell, it's in my name.

[Sam]

United Kingdom!

I've always lived in the UK - I was raised in a small seaside town on the east coast that no one has heard of. It's a bit run down, but I still love it - live by the sea was always pretty great, and I definitely miss walking along the seafront when I'm away. We're also not too far from the marshes, farmland and woodland, so there's plenty of open space and I love love love walking around it all.

I now live in London, for university, and it's a complete change. Rather than the small, open town I'm used to, I'm now boxed in. But there are some amazing things sitting right on my doorstep here - theatre, history, landmarks! I love taking the tube, and being able to navigate my way around when my friends/family come to visit. I never thought I'd have an opportunity to know central London as well as I do now.

The UK definitely has its problems, it's far from perfect, but it's home and it's wonderful and I love it.

[Teresa]

Medals awarded to here. I am calling it a day/night.

[Heather]

Going with the Canadian flag, even though I could technically choose the Ontario one, just because it's not as detailed and therefore looks better scaled down. I'm all about aesthetics. Choosing it because I was born here, and will probably live here for the rest of my life, though other areas of North America are lovely, too. I like having a Canadian flag on my luggage/bag when I travel because it's fun meeting other Canadians outside of the country, and the same thing applies online.

I'm not sure what else to write; I'm not an overly patriotic person. I kind of just like the sense of familiarity I get from seeing that people live in the same area as I do, kind of like running into an old classmate on the bus.

[Thaitanic]

You don't know how long I've been waiting to do that.
Medals awarded up to this point!

[Bouncer]

The state I call home, Minnesota!

I used to think Minnesota was boring, however a mix of what is leftover of the Big Woods and House on the Prairie (I live on the line between the two sceneries of where Laura Ingalls Wilder had grew up on in her earlier years. Next to the ever known Mayo Hospital was founded in Southern Minnesota, along with Dr. Mayo had built the home that fifty years later was the home of the Jolly Green Giant family (American green peas and large corn cobs would not have happened without their research in the Minnesota Valley).

Just with those facts, but my ancestors had seen Minnesota as a home. My German, Swedish, and Polish ancestor had found their way to the Minnesota area because of how familiar it was to their own homeland when they settled down.

All those facts may help I like cultue and a bit of history... In reality though the state is known for its Bounty Waters up North and its Spam Museum down south. Along with our growing mix of cultures in our Twin Cities!

[Ani-Mei]

Well now where to begin?

I was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada although now it is part of the Mega City of Toronto that was created in 1999. I am a third generation Canadian, my mother's side is Irish, my dad's side is British and German. Although through the magic of geneology I found out that my father's family originally came from Scotland and immigrated to Ireland, oh about two or three hundred years before coming to the New World. My cousin found family records of my mother's family in Ireland dating back to the 1600's. My great-great grandparents were scheduled to come here on the Titanic in 1912 but could not afford the ticket so they took the one after it. Had they gotten on the Titanic I would not be here now. Also my family is linked to General George S. Patton (now you all know my last name keep it secret k? )

[Teresa]

Well now where to begin?

I was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada although now it is part of the Mega City of Toronto that was created in 1999. I am a third generation Canadian, my mother's side is Irish, my dad's side is British and German. Although through the magic of geneology I found out that my father's family originally came from Scotland and immigrated to Ireland, oh about two or three hundred years before coming to the New World. My cousin found family records of my mother's family in Ireland dating back to the 1600's. My great-great grandparents were scheduled to come here on the Titanic in 1912 but could not afford the ticket so they took the one after it. Had they gotten on the Titanic I would not be here now. Also my family is linked to General George S. Patton (now you all know my last name keep it secret k? )

And the winner is...? (Which medal do you want?)

[Emily Whalers]

I am a proud Canadian. I love this weirdo country so very much. I could gush for days, but I'll keep this short and sweet. Hockey! Poutine! Beavers! Moose! Cultural Mosaic! Woo!

[Ani-Mei]

Canadian flag since that's the one I identify with the most.

[ZaleISBI]

Oregon! My home sweet home.
I've lived here nearly my whole life... aside from some college in Idaho and some foolishness in California. The Beaver state, with it's own TV show Portlandia. A coastline with unrivaled beauty, mountains, desert, rain forests and more! We have more breweries per capita than any other state, so come for the scenery and stay for the beer.

[candiedgala]

I'm from Canada!
I love our healthcare. I think that's the main reason that we never seriously think about moving.
I like that there are so many different cultures here. It makes for great food!
I love the freedoms that we enjoy that some other places don't, for instance, homeschooling.
I love BeaverTails. They are a popular food cart thing. It is a slab of yeasty dough about two hands big that is fried and then they put topping on it like fudgey maple icing or cinnamon apples.
I love our new Prime Minister.