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I visited Europe in the 1980s and was treated very well by Europeans. Germans and English were especially friendly people. Never got the feeling they did not like us, but then again there was no internet back then to communicate to us "ugly Americans" how much we are disliked. I think if you are a traveler anywhere and you treat the people your visiting with respect you will not have issues. I would love to see Europe again, wonder how the last 30 years have changed it?
I visited Europe in the 1980s and was treated very well by Europeans. Germans and English were especially friendly people. Never got the feeling they did not like us, but then again there was no internet back then to communicate to us "ugly Americans" how much we are disliked. I think if you are a traveler anywhere and you treat the people your visiting with respect you will not have issues. I would love to see Europe again, wonder how the last 30 years have changed it?
You're always welcome to Europe, and you'Re right about treating people with respect brigns mostly good reactions.
I'm now around 40 and would say that Europe changed a lot in the last 30 years, at least the two countries I better know: Spain and Germany, in both them happened some important things in the last three decades.
I like americans and find them friendly, relaxed and open. Sometimes a bit noisy or unpolite, but I just think it is the cultural differences so it is not a big deal.
Actually, it's already very good and getting better. The bad ones, though, are really, really,..., really horrid, beyond description. I've only heard many od words from "Europeans" i know about their travels to the US - the people, as well as the places. In these conversations, Americans are depicted as friendly, open, extremely helpful and gracious...but have some very strange customs due to the fact that they do not appear to be "well regulated". As an American who has lived and worked in Denmark for 20 years, I find this to be the highest praise of all.
Actually, it's already very good and getting better. The bad ones, though, are really, really,..., really horrid, beyond description. I've only heard many od words from "Europeans" i know about their travels to the US - the people, as well as the places. In these conversations, Americans are depicted as friendly, open, extremely helpful and gracious...but have some very strange customs due to the fact that they do not appear to be "well regulated". As an American who has lived and worked in Denmark for 20 years, I find this to be the highest praise of all.
not well regulated? what does that exactly means?
I also think Americans are open and friendly. I'm looking some TV reports on Spanish people who move to other countries and tell about their experiences and life in their new home cities. I realized that people around react very differently to the cameras in some countries. Many Europeans look like they don't care about what's happening there with the cameras and go on with their lifes, but Americans will often come to the camera men and greet the people who are being interviewed. I find this very funny and friendly.
European friends who have settled in the US have told me that when they go back to visit family in Europe, they are surprised at how Americanized it has become back home. Much of "American culture" (popular music, style of dress, films, fast food) has been appropriated by Europeans, such that many places in Europe now feel distinctly American, and the English they speak on the Continent is often (usually?) with an American accent. I also admit that in my own interactions with European youth in Europe, I found that many of them knew American music and lyrics better than I did, and knew details about American film actors and actresses more than I did.
It is shocking and painful for me (as an American) to go to places like Prague and see things like a Hard Rock Cafe right in the historic city center. It feels like there is no way to escape American culture in Europe. Even small villages might have a McDonald's.
All that to say it feels like Europeans love American culture even if they are not crazy about most Americans themselves.
European friends who have settled in the US have told me that when they go back to visit family in Europe, they are surprised at how Americanized it has become back home. Much of "American culture" (popular music, style of dress, films, fast food) has been appropriated by Europeans, such that many places in Europe now feel distinctly American, and the English they speak on the Continent is often (usually?) with an American accent. I also admit that in my own interactions with European youth in Europe, I found that many of them knew American music and lyrics better than I did, and knew details about American film actors and actresses more than I did.
It is shocking and painful for me (as an American) to go to places like Prague and see things like a Hard Rock Cafe right in the historic city center. It feels like there is no way to escape American culture in Europe. Even small villages might have a McDonald's.
All that to say it feels like Europeans love American culture even if they are not crazy about most Americans themselves.
But it's the same the other way around, in the US you see lots of European brands as well: cars, watches, clothes, jewelry, etc. Nearly all the worlds luxury quality brands are European. In addition, they even copied the Eiffel tower and a part of Venice in Las Vegas so a Hard Rock in a European city is really not that shocking. When I visited the US I did not want to see any of those things either, it just didn't match my expectations.
In general you should avoid the tourist places, if you go to small villages in France, Spain or Italy you'll see there is no American influence there.
I only go to McDonalds in France and Italy only when I am in a hurry to catch a train or everything is close except those places.
I had an early morning train to catch and I had no choice but to go visit a McDonalds to eat something quickly in Milan and was quite surprise how nice it look (it look almost baroque or rococo style) and how they actually have decent pastries (they actually look like homemade) and their coffee is authentic Italian style unlike the weak filter American crap I use to get in America.
France and Italy, in particular, localize their McDonalds to meet French and Italian expectations of food, so they have more salads, localize beef options, serve alcohol, and decent desert options in their McCafe sections.
It was actually decent compared to American McDonalds, but I still only go over there in exceptional situations when visiting over there. When I have time, I go to authentic French and Italian cafes though.
But it's the same the other way around, in the US you see lots of European brands as well: cars, watches, clothes, jewelry, etc. Nearly all the worlds luxury quality brands are European.
Eh, not exactly the same thing. 99% of people don't wear luxury brands, not all luxury brands are European, and when it comes to European luxury brands/fashion you are basically talking two cities- Milan and Paris. And NYC is the third global fashion heavyweight.
You can't compare Gucci to McDonalds or Prada to Hollywood or Dior to CocaCola and claim they have equivalent cultural influence, for better or worse.
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what does that exactly means?
