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.
“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. “
I lived on the local economy, while in Germany in the military. Let my hair grow as long as possible. Wore locally purchased clothes and shoes. And I spoke the language.
Way back then American shoes were a dead giveaway. I got a pair of european chukka boots, suede, really cool then and now.
The best answer to those who suggest that if you like Europe you oughta move there, is to ask them how they like the all-American achievement Obamacare!
Of course, right up until they start sexualizing kids, pretending prostitution is okay, putting porn on TV ads, euthanizing people for being depressed and that kind of crap.
You might have loved to appreciate Europe in 1939 too
Most TV commercials are not pornographic. Just classier and wittier, and they look like some creative artist produced them unlike the clownish, cartoonish, and dumbed down commercials we are subjected to. Think beer and insurance commercials - duh!
Their commercials do not preach to you. They are way more subtle in their appeal to the senses.
Speaking of pornography, I guess you haven’t seen any of those Carl’s hamburger commercials we have huh ?
Now and then there are programs here highlighting commercials around the world. Makes for fun watching.
Well, we wouldn't want that....
And charging $17 for a cup of coffee. $16 of which is taxes.
Nearly 290 kph !! Schellfahren !!
I agree with you on the dehumanizing trend of society.
But it’s not just Europe. It’s right here too
America had its eugenics movement too. Margaret Sanger.
And it is rearing its ugly head again here.
You know it is possible to enjoy the Lincoln Memorial and the Eiffel Tower without dwelling on the sliding to Gomorrah.
I saw one. I wanted to try Carl Jr’s before I saw it, not any more
Asian TV is pretty much direct in your face too.
By sophisticated I mean not being screamed at or lectured to or treated like a moron.
I still say commercials in Europe subtly appeal to the senses. Their product almost becomes a work of art. They try to make the product itself appealing instead of hammering some message into your head. The product speaks to you, not some idiotic actor.
I just was struck by the difference immediately. I’m not saying in every case, but enough to notice the heightened intelligence in making the commercial.
And most are way funnier. I happen to like subtle slapstick anyway. Try these on for size:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arZzw-0IkGw
No, of course not. lol
“And charging $17 for a cup of coffee. $16 of which is taxes.”
And you get to pay for refills too.
Germany is putting a third gender option on birth certificates, which is ridiculous. “I have decided my baby is a tranny”... ugh
France finally got around to banning incest just a few years ago, so much for sophistication
Schnellfahren.
But the trucks and camions have to stay in the right lanes. Not allowed to pass.
Miles and miles of camion caravans.
Many from Poland.
I love Germany, but I have many problems with their politics.
Foremost for me is the outlawing of home schooling. Why that Hitlerian law is still in existence is frightening. I fear for the fate of the Romeike family appealing for asylum here.
Ohhh, Europe. It's not for the faint of heart.
Or the thirsty.
bump
Lived in Europe for a total of ten years out of the past 20.
Agree with most of the author’s points.
However - Europe doesn’t have freedom of speech. The UK, Netherlands, Denmark, France, Italy, Austria, etc have all put their citizens/subjects on trial for speech crimes in recent years. The worst offense is giving offense to Muslims.
Speaking of which, the saddest phenomenon is the suicidal immigration practices of Western European countries. Formerly pristine safe countries like Sweden and Norway have in the span of one generation made their cities into Muslim rape and robbery free-for-all zones. Sweden is now the Rape Capital of Europe. Sweden. Really.
Yes, sadly the EU has hate speech tribunals just like Canada.
Switzerland, which is outside the EU, seems to be showing the way in regard to Auslanders. Only 6% of the Swiss support joining the EU.
Britain also has a “British Out” campaign going on geared for 2017.
Geert Wilders’ Partij voor de Vrijheid, is my personal hero over there, and is making progress. It is now the 3rd largest party in the Nederlands.
And Marine Le Pen in France captured 18% of the vote in the last elections.
I actually feel that Europe is more aware of having gone too far in its multi-culturalism than we are. Germany’s Angela Merkel also has said that multi-culturalism is not working.
CC
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