A freelance writer with Iowa roots has launched an on-line column designed to be a forum to promote international understanding about life in America. Elizabeth Grant, a Boone native who lives in Chicago, says “dear-lizzie-dot-net” has only been on-line two weeks but has already gotten more than 13-thousand hits from people in 42 nations. Grant says the website has two main sections.
Grant says “The first is a column that I’m writing where people from around the world can write in with questions about American life and American culture and I will answer those as they come in, and then the site also features Americans.” She says Americans can expound on their own backgrounds, interests, beliefs and attach photos. Grant says she’s not attempting to speak on behalf of the entire United States but she’d like to help people in other countries better understand ours.
Grant says “I’m going to do my best not to include my own personal political beliefs or my spiritual beliefs or anything like that because this really is about showcasing our freedoms and I think one thing all Americans have in common, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or something else, is that we really treasure our freedoms, even though sometimes we do take them for granted.” Grant, an Iowa State University graduate, says she’s getting a range of questions about life in the U.S. from her global audience.
Grant says they’re curious about our foods, the size of our homes, what the job market is like and even whether she knows Amish people. “I give my personal answer and then I try to give information and sometimes I give links where they can go and learn more about the actual statistics about things.” Grant says the on-line column aims to “humanize Americans and give the world a more accurate view of Americans and American life at a time when it’s most needed.” For more information, surf to “www.dearlizzie.net”.