User blog comment:NefkaAlice/Has anyone actually read a history book for fun thanks to Hetalia?/@comment-2195068-20101004004318

Actually, I've always enjoyed history, and whenever my teachers or the library is throwing out old history texts I swipe a few. My shelf is full of them. Though Hetalia has definitely helped me, one, to remember some of the timelines a bit better. It also helped me get more into US history. I've always found World History much more interesting. (Largely because, let's face it, there's what? Less than 500 years of solid US history? So much less going on. But one is expected to remember specific dates better. I'm not good with dates, I prefer just the larger picture.) But now I can focus on US history, too! (Though we're taking Government and Economics rather than any history this year, so I haven't been able to put any of that to use. lol.)

One thing it's hurt, though... I sometimes find it harder to focus, because I'll be doodling Hetalia characters in my notebook, or thinking about them when I should be remembering specifics about certain people. XD (Geography has gone up dramatically, though.)

But I will always remember one day. My friend has a vast collection of general knowledge, and is... well, the kind of condescending braggart who likes to hold it above you. But once he mentioned Sealand, also noting that he was sure I had no idea who he was talking about. (And, no, Kibbles, it's not an amusement park) And I just rattled off everything I knew about Sealand. He just looked at me and said "... how... you shouldn't have known that..." XD