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You're not going to find a whole lot of difference between what's considered good manners in Europe and the US. Europeans are more reserved and quieter compared to Americans but actual obnoxious behavior stands out equally in both places.
But if you're interested in cultural differences, here's a few:
Since you mentioned Italy, you may want to know that the hand symbol for "fine" or "ok," which we form by enclosing the thumb and first finger, is the hand symbol for f*** you in Italian.
Italian children tend to stay up much later than American kids because as a hotter country people used to take siestas during the heat of the day and stay up later in the cooler nights.
You're not going to find a whole lot of difference between what's considered good manners in Europe and the US. Europeans are more reserved and quieter compared to Americans but actual obnoxious behavior stands out equally in both places.
But if you're interested in cultural differences, here's a few:
Since you mentioned Italy, you may want to know that the hand symbol for "fine" or "ok," which we form by enclosing the thumb and first finger, is the hand symbol for f*** you in Italian.
Italian children tend to stay up much later than American kids because as a hotter country people used to take siestas during the heat of the day and stay up later in the cooler nights.
Actually that sign for fine isn't used much and most people here would understand what it means just by watching at American movies.
That sign means "to shag" when you move the hand (while doing that gesture) forward and backward, often with a continuous whistle.
About Italian children, it is a wide generalization: when I was until 12 I had to go to bed at max 10 PM.
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rozenn
what kind of fast food restaurant gives you eating utensils, let alone expects you to use them
In Germany, at least when I still lived there, McDonalds (of all places being fast food ...) supplies small plastic *forks* with their fries !
*We* never used them !
But ... , they also sell beer, and that *custom* we did take advantage of !
On the other hand, unlike the wasteful custom of getting
an almost unlimited supply of packets of tomato ketchup in the USA,
in Germany you have to pay for it !
Another *custom* where an American may get a bit *upset* about ...
Here a few more ...
Tipping in Bathroom areas.
You may find a plate at the door/entry, with a few coins on it already.
It is NOT there for you to make change but to leave a small tip for the *cleaner*.
Driving on the highways.
Left lane hogging is frowned upon.
Passing is only *on the left* (right hand drive),
or vice versa, depending on what country you are in.
Flicking your high beam is considered un-civilised, altho the locals often do it also ...
They will NOT flick you, unless you are a left lane hogger !
Do not use your fog lights unless there IS fog !!!
If your car does have also rear fog lights, do use those also !
I'm looking for different norms. Not loud and obnoxious. My kids don't act like that in America.
Have been in China I know there are different norms depending on which country you're in.
I don't want to debate it -- I was just hoping people in Europe might clue me in on a few differences.
Alley
I'm American and lived in England for 5 months, and visited Germany to reunite with my family since the Wall fell. In England, it's considered unusual and an invasion of personal space if you take to strangers in line at the cash register (in queue at the till in British English). It's not that they will tell you off for talking to them, it's just that they'll try to, politely, kill the conversation as fast as possible. This only applies to Brits in Britain. Brits living or visiting abroad tend to be more open.
In Germany, the same thing. Also, move fast, especially when getting on the train. Everybody pushes past you if you aren't aggressive yourself. This is not considered rude (unless you stand right in front of the door, blocking exiting passengers)
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed
Everybody pushes past you if you aren't aggressive yourself.
This statement applies especially to driving in Paris ...
Let's say you drive there, and there is a lot of traffic.
You want to change lanes.
The way to do it is to turn on your blinker on and slowly start to push to the right lane, or left.
The driver slightly to the rear of you WILL let you in, but ...
Only if you do not hesitate !!!
Conversely if you see a car slightly in front of you to the right or left , and that driver wants to change lanes, please do let him/her in !!!
I know ..., completely against American Freeway driver usage ...
In England do NOT make the V for victory sign because it signifies a woman's genitals to them. It's better to just not do any version of it--you might get mixed up!
I'm not sure if your joking (in which case my apologies) or if some English person has been pulling your leg but the V for Victory sign (as used by Winston Churchill) means.....V for Victory. It doesn't, and never has to my knowledge, represent female genitalia.
If you reverse it though (so the back of the hand is facing away from you) it has the equivalence in the UK of giving the one fingered salute in the US.
OP, in more or less any situation you could think of in the US, what you would consider to be well behaved children is the same in Britain and probably the rest of Europe.
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yorkie Bar
I'm not sure if your joking (in which case my apologies) or if some English person has been pulling your leg but the V for Victory sign (as used by Winston Churchill) means.....V for Victory. It doesn't, and never has to my knowledge, represent female genitalia.
If you reverse it though (so the back of the hand is facing away from you) it has the equivalence in the UK of giving the one fingered salute in the US.
If you really want to know, better read up on this then ...
The best thing to do in any country foreign to *you*, would be to not make any hand or finger signs.
A politely nod will do in most cases !
This is very good advice!
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little kids are usually fast food lovers, but perhaps someday during your Europe trip they can try something else.
