Posted on 11/18/2013 7:14:50 AM PST by A'elian' nation
Recently there was an interesting article about what foreigners thought of American culture - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3090848/posts
Just thought I’d share my observations of times I lived in Europe. Here's a scattering of what I discovered.
All payments are electronic. Your salary, your bills, your insurance, your rent or mortgage, etc. You constantly have to check online to see where you are financially.
Hospitals are stark and bare. No beautification or art work. But hospital rooms have windows you can open and patients can buy beer in the cafeteria.
Electrical bills are paid in advance. You are billed for electrical usage that the electric company assumes you will be using for a half year at a time. If at the end of the six months you use less or more - compensation is then made.
Breakfast is not a big deal in Europe. McDonald’s doesn’t even open until 8 or 9 am.
Going to the bank is like going to the morgue. Deathly quiet. There is no friendly banter among clerks or clientele. Not like down here in the South anyways.
Shopping in stores is almost equally reserved. You are hardly ever approached with “Can I Help You” which I kind of liked.
Stores are only allowed to have SALES twice a year - usually late summer and then again after Christmas. All stores are required to have their sales on the same days so as not to give marketing advantages. Except for the middle Eastern tobacco shops and 7-11 type stores, the major merchants must close at the same hour.
Dogs and cats are allowed Everywhere - stores, banks, restaurants. Was always constantly amazed at how well behaved the dogs were even in the presence of other dogs.
A liter of gas costs almost what a gallon of gas costs here. Then again European cars get much better on gas mileage. I liked the Smart cars for city driving. It always amused me how many cars could parallel park on a street due to their small size. Polizei cars were also ridiculously small.
Oh man, the bread and the beer. Why can’t Americans make good bread or beer? I could just about live on Olijven brot ( olive bread ). And the delicate confections at the konditoreis ( bakeries ) make our typical donut shops pathetic. A konditorei shop window is a true work of art. Marzipan anyone?
The chocolate. Need I say more
Walmart type stores are only found in the burbs. In the city there just isn’t a store that has everything. You have to go to different stores to get things like paper clips and clothespins. Then again, all the small mom and pop food and craft shops were fascinating, and you could see the pride in their work. I loved the little Giuseppi-like toy store with hand crafted toys. Kids use their imaginations more; not so much emphasis on electronic toys.
Bakeries that open at 5am in the morning. You can get warm REAL bread. It was quaint to see the lines of people waiting to get into some of the better bakeries so early in the morning.
Eggs and milk are generally not refrigerated, although you can get them in the refrigerated section.
The farmers’ markets on weekends are awesome. This is where you to go to stock up on food for the week.
The doggie shops where you take your dog to do his doo doo business amused me. Unfortunately, not that many go there for that purpose.
The cobblestone streets. How cities do not get sued by little old ladies trying to navigate the uneven stones mystifies me.
The TV commercials and advertisements are so much more sophisticated than typical bludgeon hammer American commercials that insult your intelligence. Sexier too. Commercials are usually shown only at the beginning or end of a program.
The cafes. You can drink coffee and read your book all day. No free refills though. Restaurant prices are much more expensive than in America, but grocery items are considerably cheaper. Free wine samples in aisle 9 are often available.
* You won’t find items on grocery shelves with price tags in the better stores. All items are electronically priced and displayed.
They just don’t understand Americans. They see us as some alien wild west culture. They do not understand our distrust of government. They expect government to protect them. We expect to be protected from government.
Churches are more like museums than places of worship. Such beautiful cathedrals with magnificent sounding pipe organs, and so unattended. Churches get state support.
Transportation is never a problem. The trains are clean and efficient with cathedral-like train stations. Bikes are everywhere. Pedestrians beware.
Don’t try to take pictures of shops with a merchant or customer in the picture. It’s an invasion of privacy. I have some pictures where middle fingers are prominent.
The carnivals and fairs are a feast for the eyes and palate. The winter Christkindlemarkts are a delight of the senses. I miss the giant thinly rolled up pannenkoeken - pancakes.
The giant marionettes of Royal de Luxe. If you haven’t heard of them, head to You Tube right away. This Nantes based street theater company takes over whole towns and mesmerizes them for a week at a time.
Europe has Legoland and the Alps. Sigh.
Europe has roundabouts. That almost cancels the above Sigh.
Be prepared to recycle - paper, glass, plastic, etc. Even colored and clear glass.
Universities do not have team sports. Soccer is the international mania. The nationalistic fervor during the Weltmanschaft is stirring. You really get swept up in it. A nation’s loss is palpable. A win is utter frenzy.
The European Parliament in Brussels has to be the most undemocratic institution on earth. It is a Regulator’s Heaven.
Take a GPS to Europe. Road signs are few and far between. And no billboards - just giant bird killing windmills.
Holland’s favorite Christmas tradition is St. Nikolaus and the Zwarte Piet ( black elves). I’m sure that would go over real well here.
You just don’t see that many fat people in Europe - at least in northern Europe. They just eat smarter.
“The most impressive thing that Germany does... is build roads really well. Particularly repaving jobs... they’re done to last decades upon decades”
I’ll give them that. And cars and their bathrooms in residences have industrial strength fixtures which is awesome. I’ve been there a few times and my personal view is other than engineering and you can take your dog to a restaurant Germany sucks. After 3 trips I can see how the Nazi’s got started. Sorry its true.
Europe would be a heck of a lot better without all of the Muslims.
This is very true, or the pickpockets and the Romas.
On my flight back to the US last week, Air France changed my seat at the last minute. When I looked over to my previously assigned seat they had put up a curtain that blocked the last 4 rows. They sat 8 fully Bukhara women in the seats, BEHIND THE CURTAIN!
My advice for everyone in Europe, no matter the city.....Dress like a local, walk with purpose, don't talk to anyone who has a clipboard and asks if you speak English, and when you see a Felafel sign, walk the other way.
No different than New York City.
“We have ONE in our fair city.....I call it the ‘circle of death’”
The correct term is: “The Circle of Evolution”, wherein all are tested and the unfit are crushed.
‘Specially Libtards in the likes of the Smart Car.
PS There are rumors that ‘Evolution’ bags some cyclists there, too.
They’re only really fun when there’s no traffic.
Luckily as a retiree I can avoid most times when they’re busy LOL.
CC
If you love socialism so much, why don’t you stay there?
No ice cubes, everything served room temperature including milk and beer... yechh!
Not too many people have refrigerators at home so you are always shopping for food and standing in lines.
They have different power outlets over there so nothing you bring from U.S. plugs in unless you buy some special adapter plug.
And all those different languages. It's like every country has to have a different word for everything. Even in England, they have special words like bollocks, knackers, lorry and loo.
“Of course I am mostly Irish so I tend to laugh at most things, even the parts of life I am told by others aren’t supposed to be funny.”
I am mostly all Irish and I also usually look at the humorous aspects of things. They are a bunch of Socialists in Ireland too even my in-laws in Dublin but at least they are cheerful about it. And the food and booze and music is great. :-)
Good descriptions. Consistent with what I’ve seen their.
Ironically, they have their “Wild West Western” cousins to thank for all of their electronic payment of everything. Most of the non-”Wild West Western” world has had limited capability to make major leaps in technology. The integrated circuit, the microprocessor, the microcomputer/PC, and the Internet (with MAJOR contributions from the Brits and CERN) were invented in the U.S. (I remember talking with a Frenchman when the Internet was just sweeping the U.S., and he was lauding the limited Minitel government monopoly system then in place throughout France, with remarks that it did everything he could think of that could possibly be needed already, so what was the big deal about the Internet, France would never need it because they had Minitel, etc.)
Perhaps Europeans are simply content enough with their little Giuseppe shops, bread, beer, and chocolate. That and the fact that socialism has fundamentally paralyzed much of their innovation and advancement beyond the surface pleasures of life.
“Oh man, the bread and the beer. Why can’t Americans make good bread or beer?”
I agree with most of your thoughts but disagree with the beer assessment.
I spent some time in Europe this summer, and was really disappointed by the beer selections. I feel that the US has a greater variety and is generally less expensive (I did really enjoy London Pride and Marzen though.).
Just my 2 cents ;-)
Of course they're stark and bare. They're all under the influence (and purse strings) of a huge, nationalistic healthcare system. While water fountains and gardens are probably overkill, I find that a hospital with a little "cheerfulness" places patients in a much better state of mind for recovery. The functional windows and beer are "shiny objects," and certainly not for the patients.
Electrical bills are paid in advance. You are billed for electrical usage that the electric company assumes you will be using for a half year at a time. If at the end of the six months you use less or more - compensation is then made.
Sounds efficient. And, like an interest-free loan to the utility company.
Breakfast is not a big deal in Europe. McDonald’s doesn’t even open until 8 or 9 am.
I don't think breakfast is a "big deal" in the US, but having some kind of nutrition available before one heads off to work is important. Whether that's a bagel with cream cheese, a piece of fruit, or a coffee and sandwich from McDonald's or Starbucks, that's up to the consumer.
Going to the bank is like going to the morgue. Deathly quiet. There is no friendly banter among clerks or clientele. Not like down here in the South anyways.
How positively un-capitalistic.
Shopping in stores is almost equally reserved. You are hardly ever approached with “Can I Help You” which I kind of liked.
At most US department stores, you get more of that too. Clerks are too busy with other tasks, and shopping is more self-serve. At better stores in the US, you can still get some service, if you require.
Stores are only allowed to have SALES twice a year - usually late summer and then again after Christmas. All stores are required to have their sales on the same days so as not to give marketing advantages. Except for the middle Eastern tobacco shops and 7-11 type stores, the major merchants must close at the same hour.
God forbid a business should try to find a "marketing advantage." Again, speaks to their socialist' nature, and utter disdain for capitalism and prviate enterprise.
Dogs and cats are allowed Everywhere - stores, banks, restaurants. Was always constantly amazed at how well behaved the dogs were even in the presence of other dogs.
Sounds positively un-civilized.
A liter of gas costs almost what a gallon of gas costs here. Then again European cars get much better on gas mileage. I liked the Smart cars for city driving. It always amused me how many cars could parallel park on a street due to their small size. Polizei cars were also ridiculously small.
Transportation in Europe is not about freedom; i.e., the freedom to travel about and do as one wishes. Travel in Europe is getting from Point A to Point B. There is no pleasure in it, and if they don't have cars, they can always take the train, or other form of mass transport. While I wish we had more trains here in the US, if only as another travel option, I would not want to sacrifice my ability to drive.
Oh man, the bread and the beer. Why can’t Americans make good bread or beer? I could just about live on Olijven brot ( olive bread ). And the delicate confections at the konditoreis ( bakeries ) make our typical donut shops pathetic. A konditorei shop window is a true work of art. Marzipan anyone?
I think our bread and beer are perfectly fine. If we find something else outside the US, we'll import it. Geez. Of all the things to drone on about.
The chocolate. Need I say more
European chocolate, especially Belgian chocolate, is over-rated. Seriously. Again, if we find one we like, we'll import it. If not, we'll take our Hershey's and be done with it.
Walmart type stores are only found in the burbs. In the city there just isn’t a store that has everything. You have to go to different stores to get things like paper clips and clothespins. Then again, all the small mom and pop food and craft shops were fascinating, and you could see the pride in their work. I loved the little Giuseppi-like toy store with hand crafted toys. Kids use their imaginations more; not so much emphasis on electronic toys.
Lovely. And inefficient. Such a waste of time, as if people have nothing better to do than shop in ten different stores, as apposed to what they could buy in one.
Bakeries that open at 5am in the morning. You can get warm REAL bread. It was quaint to see the lines of people waiting to get into some of the better bakeries so early in the morning.
Ah yes, Europe is nothing without their innate desire to "queue up," and stand in another line.
Eggs and milk are generally not refrigerated, although you can get them in the refrigerated section.
Warm milk, and fermented eggs. Sounds yummy.
I could pick out more things. I spent a good deal, enough time in Europe, when I was in the service. As the dying cradle of Western Civilization, there are some good things there. I'm not trying to sound provincial, but I was always glad to get back to the US. I appreciate what we have just fine.
Once America was discovered who came and who stayed in Europe?
Those with courage and ambition came to America; those who did not mind being a peasant and being lorded over remained...
Your description is funny but accurate. I was in Germany one time, flicking through TV channels in the hotel, came across “Hogans Hero’s” (in German)....I figured some of them must have a sense of humor!
Thanks for sharing. I love reading about different cultures, especially first hand experiences from Americans. I’m under the impression that many places in Europe have an abundance of cynical, snobby/stuffy types. Hence, the reserve. Always gravitated towards England, (Great Britian, UK, whatever the heck they call it now lol) probably because it’s where my ancestors lived.
Question: Who do you think is truly happier on the whole, them or us?
Lived in Cologne for over 3 years and all of this rings absolutely true. But just try to name your child “Moonbeam”.
Your post made me laugh out loud.
Yeah, big time.
Talk about groupthink. Massive, massive group think. Michael Lewis observed that they also have a think for the human anal track and that which comes from it.
Once he pointed it out, I saw and heard it everywhere.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.