I'm european and i'd like to know what do you think of Europe, did you go there? What country do you like, why? Do you think Europe is your mother or else? Do you think Europe is inferior or equal of america?
2006-09-01 02:24:38 · 10 answers · asked by Jacala 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Surprisingly, I have spent the better part of the last two days trying to get a bead on this very question. I am traveling to Frankfurt tomorrow where, among other things, I am supposed to participate in a light hearted discussion of US and European views of each another (Another fellow is taking the European perspective).
I have spent a lot of time surfing the web. I looked at poll data, at news articles, blogs, everything I can find to help understand the American view of Europe. You know what? There isn't one view, because there isn't one unified American community that speaks in a unified voice.
I do find a lot of ignorant remarks flowing both ways across the Atlantic -- mostly from folks who have never actually visited the Europe or the US they are criticizing. A lot of opinions are based on momentary political issues, where there has lately been a lot of fodder for debate. Other opinions are based on experiences, but are so subjective as to not be very illuminating (“We had a rude waiter in France, so all French are rude.”) Others are just folks repeating stuff that other folks have said, whether it is true or not. A few are just spouting to be part of the fun.
As someone who has traveled fairly extensively in Europe (and Asia and South America and Australia), I can honestly say that people are people wherever you go. My only bigotry is toward idiots who seem to know no nationality, creed, color or gender.
I love Europe. The food is great, the views are breathtaking, the history is rich, the people are mostly friendly, language can be a hassle (if it's one I don't know), but you can generally get your meaning across.
I fell in love with Paris the day that I was taking a taxi from CDG to my hotel in the city and we stopped at a crossing to watch a young woman guide a bunch of little kids, all dressed like Madeline, across the street – all holding hands. I fell in love with with Germany when my hotel offered me a breakfast menu with three options: an American breakfast with eggs and bacon, a continental breakfast with breads, fruits and meats, and a Bavarian breakfast with pretzels, beer, sausage and cheese (the latter sounded like something I would eat in college many years ago!) I like Britain for many more reasons than I can enumerate here -- most of them have to do with the wealth of meaning and nuance that the Brits can breath into the English language. Portugal offers fish cooked a 1001 different ways – all of them delicious. Spain crackles with excitement and vibrance.
Italy, Greece, Ireland and many of the Eastern European countries remain on my short list of places to go. Shortly, I will be visiting Sweden and Iceland for the first time. This trip, I look forward to my first trip to Slovenia.
Frankly, I feel a bit badly when I go somewhere and see the same US brands there as here: McDonalds, Coca Cola, MTV, Levis, etc. I like diversity and it blows my mind to get off an airplane in Singapore and see everyone crowded around a TV showing an episode of the Simpsons! That said, I can also appreciate the small effort made by these brands to fit in: in Dubai, McDonald's offers something called a McArabia (like a Greek Gyro, but with hamburger patties in the folded bread) -- weird, but tasty. At least, they are trying.
I have been told by the Europeans that Americans have no culture. That is probably a correct observation from where they are sitting. Our culture is only a couple of hundred years old; theirs goes back a lot further -- and I respect that. But, our music – rock, pop, and jazz – is everywhere I turn. And movies and TV, especially comedies, seem to know no national boundary.
I used to take a lot of umbrage with the one or two folks I would meet each trip who would take meeting with me as an opportunity to deride America. God knows, we have a history that you could criticize all day if you wanted to. I don't know a single country that doesn't, by the way. Then, I noticed that when they were done with me, they would proceed to beat up on each other -- over silly things like the regional football (soccer) team they favored or other nonsense.
I have come to the conclusion that it is in our nature to find fault with each other. It is in our better nature to find ways to get along and to appreciate what makes us different and special.
My two cents.
2006-09-02 12:08:52 · answer #1 · answered by Jtoigo 1 · 7⤊ 1⤋
I have never been to Europe, but European history is awesome. Central Europe would probably be my favorite. Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungry all fascinate me. And of coarse I would have to include England, France, and Russia. I think Europe gave a lot to human history both good and bad, their immigrants certainly helped to create what is now the U.S. But just like a parent and a child there will always be differences, especially when the child is now an adult.
Just as you get angry with us we do the same with you, because our experiences are different so of coarse we will not see the same on all the issues. However in general the U.S. and Europe, I think have had and still will be very good partners in the world. So no hate here from this American, just a lot of interest in your history and who you are.
2006-09-01 03:06:12 · answer #2 · answered by BRY1970 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most of us don't think of Europe as being our mothers, if we do, it is more in the sense of the child outgrowing the mother.
We think in some ways Europe is inferior, in some ways superior and some ways equal.
I personally love Europeans and find them interesting, since of course, except for the Indian blood I have, that is my ancestry. I only have a problem with the ones that look down on us for various reasons.
2006-09-01 02:40:31 · answer #3 · answered by sweet smile 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have never been, but I would LOVE to go! I'm sure Europe has its problems, but I also get the impression that Euros are a lot more laid back than Americans.
Asking if I think Europe is "inferior" to America is like asking me if I think Italian food is inferior to Mexican food; I like both of them equally, but for different reasons.
2006-09-01 02:31:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I've seen lots of pictures and had friends who've gone there and I would like to do it for a month or more one day.
Most if Italy, some of Greece, Germany, France, Austria, Denmark and Sweden are among the places I'd be interested in going to.
Also Romania where my family came from, but that's more Baltic then European.
2006-09-01 02:35:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Personally I think of moving there and think highly of Europe. Both continents have their problems but my biggest complaint is the way our federal govt deals with "racism". They hire minorities because they are minorities and NOT because they are qualified for the job... and in many cases they are hiring them over and above a qualified or more qualified person. We can NOT make up for the past...we can only use what we learn to not to allow it to happen in the future.
This does not mean we should give minority personel free jobs over qualified people because of past dealings. Free education, jobs, health care, loans and 4th generation welfare does nothing but hurt the minorities in the first place as they don't learn to strive to be better. Honestly... who would want to work if they could get a free living? Not many!
2006-09-01 02:34:59 · answer #6 · answered by MadMaxx 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I went there when I was 19. We went to Italy, France, Switzerland. The only thing I could not get used to is the W/C; it took me awhile to figure out what that was and also when we went to the Matterhorn I had to stand up to use the bathroom!
2006-09-01 02:29:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think europeens are great people, they're friendly, cultivated, smart...but of course I'm not exactly american.
Jarod from Eire lol
2006-09-01 06:57:33 · answer #8 · answered by JarJar Odd 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No offense, I've heard that Europe smells a little funny, but I'm not going to take anyone's word on it. I actually think it's cool, England mostly cuz it speaks English. I'm also taking my 5th year of French, but I don;t know crap! But as for your question, I think the best looking guys come from Europe (and South America) Man, those English boys ( and Spanish from Spain) are gorgeous! Cheeri-O!!!! and the Italian are saucy!
2006-09-01 02:30:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 12⤋
they think only of European ladies
2006-09-01 02:27:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋