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Ok, so you lived in the UK but how much of our country have been out to see lately? If you are going to claim to have such superior knowledge (always a dicey thing in forums with a diverse group of backgrounds) , it probably helps to be current on both sides...
Seeing as I live in one of the fattest cities in one of the fattest states in America, I'd say I have a pretty good idea of the extent of the problem.
I got plenty of strange looks from waiters when I tried to communicate that I just wanted a glass of water. (And why are there no waitresses in Europe???!!!)
In some parts of Europe, such as France, waiting tables is a respected, highly paid and unionized profession.
Of course that doesn't explain the preponderance of men, but the attitude to it as a job is very different than in the US.
When I came back from studying in Spain, I had major reverse culture shock. Everything European was better -- from the cuisine, work attitude, politics, and so on. I was called "anti - American" frequently....
Now, 7 years later, I still love a lot about Europe, and also a lot about the States. I've accepted that you can't compare apples to oranges and just celebrate the good about both.
When I came back from studying in Spain, I had major reverse culture shock. Everything European was better -- from the cuisine, work attitude, politics, and so on. I was called "anti - American" frequently....
Now, 7 years later, I still love a lot about Europe, and also a lot about the States. I've accepted that you can't compare apples to oranges and just celebrate the good about both.
p.s. I noticed the Americans = fat too!
I know what you mean! After I got back, I was bemoaning the fact that America has no cities that are 500 or 1000+ years old with rich histories. But then after awhile, some cloud of "I love America" came over me and I really started appreciating more of the awsome diversity we have right here in our backyards.
I know what you mean! After I got back, I was bemoaning the fact that America has no cities that are 500 or 1000+ years old with rich histories. But then after awhile, some cloud of "I love America" came over me and I really started appreciating more of the awsome diversity we have right here in our backyards.
I don't know, we have lots of Indian pueblos which are over 1000 years old not to mention Sante Fe which has been inhabited continuously since 1050...plus a few cities on the east coast which are about 400 years old. But does older automatically mean better? Europe has a rich history but doesn't seem to have much of a vision for the future. America's history is basically only 400+ years old but we are so oriented on the future, we could often care less about our own past (let alone learn lessons from it).
Somewhere between the two extremes there must be a happy medium.
I don't know, we have lots of Indian pueblos which are over 1000 years old not to mention Sante Fe which has been inhabited continuously since 1050...plus a few cities on the east coast which are about 400 years old. But does older automatically mean better? Europe has a rich history but doesn't seem to have much of a vision for the future. America's history is basically only 400+ years old but we are so oriented on the future, we could often care less about our own past (let alone learn lessons from it).
Somewhere between the two extremes there must be a happy medium.
What Europeans seem to forget is that there were people here when they arrived; the history of this continent did not begin when they arrived. That kind of arrogance disgusts me.
I don't know, we have lots of Indian pueblos which are over 1000 years old not to mention Sante Fe which has been inhabited continuously since 1050...plus a few cities on the east coast which are about 400 years old. But does older automatically mean better? Europe has a rich history but doesn't seem to have much of a vision for the future. America's history is basically only 400+ years old but we are so oriented on the future, we could often care less about our own past (let alone learn lessons from it).
Somewhere between the two extremes there must be a happy medium.
Being oriented on the future probably means more efficient (and more profitable) business ventures, and improving military technology.
Things that may advance the quality of life receive very little interest or support.
Unlike Europeans, Americans place very much importance on the supernatural, such as being prepared for the Second Coming. Religious fanaticism is in Europe's past. Having lived in Germany for many years this difference I noticed immediately when I returned to America.
Being oriented on the future probably means more efficient (and more profitable) business ventures, and improving military technology.
Things that may advance the quality of life receive very little interest or support.
Unlike Europeans, Americans place very much importance on the supernatural, such as being prepared for the Second Coming. Religious fanaticism is in Europe's past. Having lived in Germany for many years this difference I noticed immediately when I returned to America.
Well, you can be oriented on the future and still be quite inefficient. I think the whole thing is more of a mindset. In America, you advertise something as new and improved - we often think new is automatically better.
In Europe, something new is looked at with a skeptical eye until it has been proven (and even then it may be rejected). Thus, they sometimes miss out on potential inovations, etc. Not sure about the whole supernatural thing - I've lived abroad for quite awhile and Europeans' thinking does not seem too different, they are definitely less vocal about it.
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