European Differences

I had a blog reader comment on this difference thing between various Europeans and Americans.  After traveling around for twenty years of life in Europe....I will offer the following observations.

The most pro-US and friendly place you end up?  Italy.  I admit....you might not run into alot of Italians who do speak English, but you just can't find that many Italians who are anti-US.  Got yourself lost?  An Italian will do his best to layout the direction to get back on course.  Comedians?  Yes, Italians are born comedians and probably have the best sense of humor of any nation in Europe.

In second place?  Denmark.  The Danes have had this fascination with America for 200 years. Danes packed up and ventured to America in the 1800s.  I'd make a guess that sixty percent of the country speaks some English.  It's difficult to find any Dane who'd be anti-American.  They might confess some dislike of Bush, but forty percent of Americans would do the same thing.

In third place?  Netherlands.  The Dutch are pro-International and would just about welcome anybody but the Nazis.  After WW II, there was a huge popular view of Americans and it really hasn't changed much.

In fourth place?  England.  There is this love-hate relationship of the British for Americans.  They can list forty reasons why they have something against America, and then raise a toast to Ronald Reagan or Jerry Lewis.  A Brit could carry on for hours about American TV shows, American confusion over global warming, or talk negatively about American whiskey (it just isn't as good as anything produced on the Isle), then they'd turn around help you fix a flat or find a decent hotel.

In fifth place?  The Germans.  Presently, about sixty percent of German society has something against America.  They'd like to discuss it with you....even though you'd prefer to eat their food, drink their beer, and sip their wine....all in peace.  The other forty percent of the friendly Germans?  They will confess they've had this fantasy of leaving Germany for thirty years and would love to move to Idaho.  This group is pro-US....to the point, that they'd like to be an American.

In sixth place....the Greeks, the Austrians, and Spaniards.  None of them have a really positive feeling about Americans, and frankly...I don't think Americans really care.

Finally, in seventh place....the French.  Here's the thing...the French hate most any visitor to their country.  You could be some alien off a UFO, and most French folks would question the necessity of you visiting France.  The French hate the Germans because of the Nazi invasion.  The French dislike the Spaniards because they are "cheap".  The French hate the British because they drink alot and are snobs.  The French hate the Dutch because they are lousy drivers.  The French dislike the Americans because we mostly have no style, no grace, no fancy nature, and often amazed that a sit-down dinner cost of $44 per person.  Here's the thing though....if you start getting out into the country of France, away from cities....you start to get this feeling that you've arrived in Tupelo, Mississippi.  Folks pretty much accept an American there and there's no anxiety about "visitors".  The issue is that there's not much to see in the country....except wheat fields, apple orchards, and strawberry fields.

To be honest, Americans that show up in Europe....really don't have an idea about the European culture.  We end up sipping some mighty fine wine and beer....eating some decent meals.....and seeing an awful lot of interesting stuff.  Frankly, we don't know a damn difference between Van Gogh, de Bray, or Rembrandt when it comes to painting.  If you asked us to identify the thirty-two different national cheeses of Belgium....we'd be at a loss.  If you wanted to note fancy French Dijon mustard....we'd confuse it with French's mustard that we buy at Piggly Wiggly.  We might be pleased with Audis, but we might say it's as good as a PT Cruiser.

The plain truth is that Americans travel for reasons vastly different from the typical European.  We've come to see different things and mostly just get bragging rights when we go back to Red Bay and talk about the fancy towers in London or the fine cheese we ate in Switzerland.  I'm sorry if Europeans wanted us to be extremely amazed by life in Europe, but after you've toured Beverly Hills, New York City, and New Orleans....it's hard to be amazed about anything.