At Tilton School, (in the US), we did indeed learn geopgraphy. We had a
session where we had to learn every country, capital, major mountain range,
and major river on the planet. Including the individual names of all major
islands for nations such as Japan. By major river, I mean anyhting the size of
the Rhine or Rhone or larger, not just stuff like the amazon and all. We had
four tests, which consisted of being handed blank maps showing a quadrant of
the world and a pen. I got three hundreds, and one 87 (that one was on Africa,
as I found the names there to be a bitch to recall). And I still forgot
everything a month later. As stated elsewhere, that kind of info only sees use
during game shows. If I were to actively try and reach an area that was not
fluent in English, it would be a major undertaking, requiring days of travel
or a plane and the like. I do indeed know quantum physics better than I do
geography, because at least my friends and I like to discuss that. Of course,
it's sad when a US citizen can't find America on an unlabeled map, but that's
a different discussion.