This does not surprise me
Last year I was told I was Australian and asked what it was like living in Australia.
The reason I was told this is because New Zealand is part of the Australian mainland and when I explained it was three main islands a considerable way to the east I was advised to go and check an atlas because I was mistaken.
People are woefully ignorant of geography.
Recently I exchanged views with a person who did not know what other states bordered their own, I spared the embarrassment of telling them.