Which country do you feel the closest to ?

Question

Hello.

I am French, and I like "yahoo answers" because I can prospect from Paris the values of other peoples like British, or Americans.

What pretty amazes me is that, thanks to your common language, you seem very closer than us to the American culture regarding politics or entertainment (continental people I mean, but I only speak as a French).
I have the feeling you share more interests with the American people.
My question would be : why ? Because you are obviously only 20 miles away from Normandy and 4000 miles away from New-York.

Do you think you can stay isolated from continental countries, and keep dreaming about the USA as your eternal colony ?
Don't you reckon we respect and like you much more than Americans who kind of despise you ?

I am a in favour of the USEurope but I feel sad when I read your questions to observe that your values might be so distant from ours.

Answer 1

There are a lot of people in America, from a lot of backgrounds - it's hard to generalize just based on a political situation from and outsider's perspective on America. (I live abroad too, so I know how America looks to the rest of the world.) Yahoo Answers, and other forums like this on the Internet give not just one perspective or image, but hundreds. Those which are the most vocal or stand out the most to you allow you to see America a little more... objectively.

Another reason is that most of the people on Yahoo Answers are probably teens and very young adults, so their opinions very rarely reflect the political situation, too.

Anyway, I will always be a Hungarian, no matter what my nationality and place of residence is. :)

Answer 2

I assume that you mean which country other that our own, (Britain in my case) we are closet to.

Well you will be glad to know that there is one Brit right here that feels closest to France. However I have lived in France for 3 years a long time ago. I learnt then that the French are warm kind people that have close family ties and values. You just have to watch a French family in a restaurant where even the 3 year old will sit at the table quietly for hours.
I can never understand the British feeling toward France but then I think that it is ignorance ( a survey done shows that the cheap holidaymakers and drunks go to Spain and the wealthy and more informed Brit goes to France).
You may know that The Dordogne is already being called Dordogneshire because of the amount of British living there.
I bought a French newspaper translated into English in Sarlat last time I was there. There are now over 250,000 Brit's living permanently in France and more come every year, I don't think that they do not like the French.
The truth is that many of the people that reply to questions here are either ignorant or just have not travelled. Some British also have this problem that they find it difficult to speak their own language and are really in the deep end when asked to speak another.
I spend all my holidays in France and even go over for weekends and day trips for shopping.

Answer 3

You live in the "city of light" and you worry about the relationship between the British and we Americans?

Please remember that a great portion of what is North America is Canada and Canada is still part of the British Commonwealth. We also share a common language. This makes it much easier for us to understand one another. Speaking different languages can often lead to misunderstandings.

By the way Americans love the French. Anytime we want to express something truly special we do not use English we use French. Like "Déjà Vu" and "viva la difference".

Answer 4

Take Quebec for instance. They are closer to the USA than they are to France but who do you think they ally themselves with. Not America, that is for sure. I lived in Buenos Aires for a year and they think of themselves more as Europeans. I say this to show that your proximity to a place doesn't mean all that much. Also I have not met many British people but I'm first generation Irish. I don't agree with stereotyping so I do not share this opinion but I know that many of the Irish find the French pompous and snooty.

Answer 5

I don't think the majority of Americans despise the Brits we have a good friendship with the USA. I personally think France is a fantastic place and visit regularly, I love Paris a truly beautiful city the wide boulevards the splendid cuisine and wonderful monuments. I consider myself European however, I'am also very proud to be British and hope that we can remain on good terms with the US.

Answer 6

My allegiance is to England - but you miss the point.

Down at ground level, when you talk to ordinary people, you find that they have very similar values and beliefs, likes and dislikes - no matter what their Nationality

I have worked with English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, French, German, Spanish, American New Zealanders, South African, Kenyan, Chinese, Japanese... the list could go on.

It is up there at political level that the differences are overstressed and overstated.

Answer 7

you do not actualy belong in the u.s.e. spiritualy speaking, you belong with us brits and americans and canadians, is it not true that the sons of britain and the sons of france colonised canada
we are cousins. just because europe is on your doorstep, your heart should be across the atlantic and the channel, would you court a girl with two noses and six chins, just because she lived next door or would you go for the pretty one down the street, if the u.s.e. ever fall out with the u.s.a. you will have to go to war with the sons of france that are in canada. the e.u. is only cosmetic it has no heart and soul.

Answer 8

As an American I can tell you this. Americans remember who their friends are and so do the English. Since the end of WW II,
much of Europe has turned its' back on the English speaking countries who destroyed a vicious enemy. Time and time again, the English have shown tremendous support to America, and we cherish their friendship and loyalty.

Answer 9

Its only because we speak the same language that it appears so. We actually dislike Americans much. You can tell by the number of Britons buying houses and farmyards in France, Spain, Italy and Greece. Very few buy any houses in America. It would be like living in McDonalds. And if you go by what Prince Charles said yesterday, that stuff should be banned.

Answer 10

I'm an American and I don't despise the British. I actually love them. I don't agree with a popular humanistic worldview of liberalism, socialism, paganism, and moral relativism but I still like them and many other Europeans.
My first allegience and with whom I feel most closely are my fellow Christian brothers and sisters.
There's really only two countries and/or races - Believers of Christ and Non-Believers. One's racial make-up is secondary.