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What do you (USA) think of Europe

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YoungDaysMedia
Posts: 1591 - Karma: 1,400
Just be honest, always was curious as to see your general view on Europe, and if you came over what made an impression on you (not only ski related)

Also kinda wana know what kind of stereotypes you have regarding us
Oct 13 2012 1:57PM
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Errl
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 451
It's pretty awesome. The only "stereotype" I have of Europe is that they all have a strong dislike for Americans. But I hope that not to be true.
Oct 13 2012 2:00PM
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Lucas
Posts: 4877 - Karma: 1,520
I went to France one time. They're huge assholes.
Oct 13 2012 2:01PM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
They are quite progressive for my tastes.
Oct 13 2012 2:01PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,844
YEAH THEY ALL ARE! EVERY ONE OF THEM!
Oct 13 2012 2:01PM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6195 - Karma: 2,278
Lived in germany for 2.5 years... if i could have bread flown in to seattle daily from the bakeries.... i would be in heaven.

and i miss zee alps
Oct 13 2012 2:03PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
I've never been to Europe, but I'd really like to take some time when I get older and travel all over the continent. It seems pretty awesome. I can't say I've ever had something negative to say about Europeans...not really sure why so many of them blindly hate Americans without ever having been here or met anyone from America. I don't assume that all French are arrogant, pussy assholes, or that all Brits have terrible teeth and are ugly simply based on stereotypes presented in the movies, so I'm not sure why all Americans are "fat, lazy, and stupid" according to so many Europeans. Anyway...back to the point: I'd really like to travel Europe and experience the differences in culture and lifestyle, from the cities to the countryside and then back again, doing touristy shit some days and trying to find some locals to show me the secrets on others.
Oct 13 2012 2:04PM
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Jblz
Posts: 556 - Karma: 206
i feel like they're still friendlier to us than canadians
Oct 13 2012 2:05PM
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YoungDaysMedia
Posts: 1591 - Karma: 1,400
sadly that is kind of true, pretty sad though its basically like judging an entire country because of a few dicks

oh and a way overused stereotype we have over here is that ''all americans are fat'' ^^

i will agree with the comment about french people being dicks...the old people in france are the biggest assholes (i stress this) in Europe. however i have loads of french friends and can honestly say, they know how to party



Oct 13 2012 2:08PM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6195 - Karma: 2,278
i was there for the US army, got in about 5 fights with drunk guys that hate you solely cause your american, and were military.

some love us though
Oct 13 2012 2:10PM
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YoungDaysMedia
Posts: 1591 - Karma: 1,400
i strongly recommend doing a tour of these countries (UK-France-Italy-Austria-Germany-(at least 1 balkan country, would recommend Croatia)-and finishing with Switzerland))

The difference in culture as soon as you cross the borders is crazy, if you do this trip with a few friends and stop in the major cities, i assure you, you will leave satisfied
Oct 13 2012 2:11PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
From an American studying abroad for the semester in Nantes, France, I can tell you that the French are far from assholes. Paris is almost a different country from the rest of France. All of the French are not very fond of Parisians because of the keep-to-yourself cultural attitude. Its really not that they're being mean, its just their culture.

Anyways, I'm having a fucking amazing time. I've been here in France for a month and a half now. Heading to Holland on Tuesday for the Amsterdam Dance Event, basically a week of electronic music shows. I'm so pumped to go to my first rave in the city where so much electronic music was born!

If you guys don't have plans for next summer, save some money, find the cheapest trans-atlantic flight you can, and spend a month or two travelling across Europe. These countries are amazing!
Oct 13 2012 2:13PM
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Amadeus.
Posts: 3050 - Karma: 382
It is amazing. I love it so much more than the U.S. and I hope I can move over there sometime in my life.
Oct 13 2012 2:15PM
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YoungDaysMedia
Posts: 1591 - Karma: 1,400
Oh ye i forgot to mention one thing too, in most of Europe (in switzerland where i am)

Beer = 16 years old

Hard liquor = 18 years old

:)
Oct 13 2012 2:16PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Europeans don't hate Americans, what the fuck? And French people are probably the friendliest people I've ever met.
Oct 13 2012 2:33PM
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Bread_Fish
Posts: 760 - Karma: 71
Half of my family lives in Ireland so I get to go up there pretty often. I really like it there as far as the people and area. I probably wouldnt want to live there, because there really just isnt as much things to do for fun as in America. The one thing is I did some surfing there this past summer and that was fucking awesome, but you could do that on the west coast of America just as well. I dont know as far as all of Europe, just Ireland, but the people there are pretty cool.
Oct 13 2012 2:43PM
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Dwarftosser1
Posts: 2602 - Karma: 951
I fucking love Europe, I could defiantly see myself moving there someday.

The big cities are nice but it's the small towns and countryside that really get me. When I was staying in Bastogne the owner of the hotel I was staying at was nice enough to give me the key to the building because I would be out late at night and he and his wife would be asleep by nine haha. You just don't find that kind of hospitality and trust in America.
Oct 13 2012 2:56PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,844
assumptions are so stupid, and it looks like this thread will be full of them
Oct 13 2012 3:02PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
the biggest impression was how everything seemed to be 'kept up' and old. nearly everything in the american west is less than 50 years old so it was awesome seeing the old churches/streets/buildings etc

also the public transport was amazing
Oct 13 2012 3:04PM
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sklermang
Posts: 2981 - Karma: 1,953
Very different style of dress from what i've seen. my overall impression is that european dudes dress more feminine than americans and consider their taste to be superior nonetheless. to that end a popular stereotype of certain areas of europe is that the people there are elitest and consider almost all aspects of american culture to be inferior. also i think local swiss government is run much better than local gov't here. thats my $.02, having stayed in oxford for a month and lausanne for a couple weeks.
Oct 13 2012 3:04PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
I dunno man...I see tons of Americans wearing skinny jeans and dresses...er...I mean "tall" size shirts. It doesn't get much more feminine than that.
Oct 13 2012 3:07PM
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Jblz
Posts: 556 - Karma: 206
and it looks like you proved my point... they are friendlier on ns at least
Oct 13 2012 3:10PM
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coolflash8
Posts: 3171 - Karma: 2,046
in my area the steroetypes are hot chicks, WAY too much smoking cigs, cold, rainy, techno, football, balotelli, but overall positive
Oct 13 2012 3:13PM
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Lucas
Posts: 4877 - Karma: 1,520
Loling at everyone taking this comment seriously. It was more of a joke abou how lots of countrys will say that all Americans are dumb and fat.
Oct 13 2012 3:19PM
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Hoppy
Posts: 685 - Karma: 95
We just hate on the stereotype, we know Americans are nice people really.

Also, the French are cool people unless they're in a bureaucratic roll or have a little bit of power, THOSE GUYS ARE ARSEHOLES.
Oct 13 2012 3:22PM
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ObiWanKablowme
Posts: 421 - Karma: 539
i went to Greece this past summer. only experience in Europe. it was amazing though, and the people were super friendly and spoke a surprising amount of english.
Oct 13 2012 3:25PM
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YoungDaysMedia
Posts: 1591 - Karma: 1,400
this

Public transport in switzerland is the one of the best i have ever seen ( i spent 10 years in the UK)

however there is one exxeption...French trains are on average 45min late, and there is a strike every other week
Oct 13 2012 3:27PM
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Jane6
Posts: 5359 - Karma: 4,505
threads for stereotypes

and I cant speak for any other country than my own, but Americans/Canadians are super liked over here.
Oct 13 2012 3:33PM
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Errl
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 451
I wish public transportation was as prevalent in America as it is on your side of the pond.
Oct 13 2012 3:35PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,844
are you retarded?

k man i just looked outside and saw a black squirrel THEREFORE ALL SQUIRRELS ARE BLACK IM A FUCKING SCIENTIST
Oct 13 2012 3:35PM
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klayer_9
Posts: 2037 - Karma: 188
this



I think Europe is pretty cool. I haven't been there in a few years but I did like it over there.

Oct 13 2012 3:37PM
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FerrisBueller
Posts: 8280 - Karma: 5,173
never have i ever been off north america
Oct 13 2012 3:46PM
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Skavengers303
Posts: 964 - Karma: 192
I think that was the point of the thread? what stereotypes we have towards Europe?
Oct 13 2012 6:02PM
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Tikayt
Posts: 1031 - Karma: 1,543
I live in France and I gotta tell you that French people are not the nicest people on the planet... Don't get me wrong though, not every french guy is an asshole, not every person you meet is an asshole, thanks god !! I guess it's like everywhere, if you meet people in a foreign country, you can get your opinion, if not, you just believe TV or your parents.

Oct 13 2012 6:06PM
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wesley.
Posts: 6483 - Karma: 1,049
The only "stereotype" I've noticed is that a lot more Europeans seem to smoke cigs
Oct 13 2012 6:10PM
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Skavengers303
Posts: 964 - Karma: 192
I met many germans, british, swiss, and italians this summer. here is a couple assumptions about Europe that they gave me

1.every country enjoys hating the french
2. Europeans enjoy history primarily so they can use it to make fun of their European neighbors
3. they have greater food
4. they have hotter chicks
5. hitch hiking is way easier

Oct 13 2012 6:11PM
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whoa-dere
Posts: 10596 - Karma: 7,100
i hear farts smell like you
Oct 13 2012 6:20PM
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PlaygroundRapist
Posts: 1307 - Karma: 26
Click for larger image
Oct 13 2012 6:22PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,292
Went to greece. Twas an experience. Really makes you appreciate america.
Oct 13 2012 6:31PM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,341
Europe is fucking sick. Ive only had the opportunity to visit maybe 7 or 8 countries, however every one was an experience and a blast at that.
Oct 13 2012 6:36PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,292
If you went to athens, how about them subways? Nicest shit ive ever been in, puts american subways to shame.
Oct 13 2012 6:38PM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,341
the entire train system throughout europe trumps any public transportation anywhere else. its a shame we cant enjoy the same luxury of cheap transportation across the country.
Oct 13 2012 6:44PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Yeah, whenever I go over to the continent it's ridiculous, wish we had such a good system in britain.
Oct 13 2012 6:45PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
I think Europe is pretty awesome. If it wasn't for my friends/family/mexican food I would have probably never moved back.

Given, I've only done the western/central part, but still love the place.

The only thing I really noticed is that it's harder to make friends there. After living in 3 different states in the US and living in around 8 different cities, I've never had issues making friends and finding things to do on the weekends. You walk into a bar and just start talking to people, it's pretty easy.

In the countries I've been in in Europe, it's been a lot harder. From the few friends I've met, apparently you should never accept a drink from a guy unless you are ok with sleeping with him that night. Smiling at people is generally a come on.

I'm not saying the people in Europe are less awesome, just way harder to get to know. I spent 4 days in Annecy at IF3... the only people I met were Canadians; I'm still confused by this. It was weird. 5 months in Switzerland and the only friends I made were started by awkward first meetings thanks to Couchsurfer.

The one thing I don't like about Europe though is Customer Service. Screw asking anyone in a train station for help. Once you have a first class ticket and are on the train, they are helpful, but asking basic questions like, "hey, where do I make reservations?" seems pointless. This was my general view of asking anyone who was working for help. Restaurants/Bars I don't really care. It's places where there is an Information sign and the information they provide is shit. I didn't find 1 single person who was genuinely helpful except for in first class cabin.

Stereotype: If I go to europe by alone I'm going to be kidnapped and sold. This is what a lot of people seemed to think. Yet here I am... back in the US. 6 months of traveling alone and I was not raped or traded for drugs.

Oct 13 2012 6:57PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Oct 13 2012 7:03PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10622 - Karma: 7,397
yeh europe is pretty cool.
Oct 13 2012 7:05PM
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Lansfield
Posts: 2708 - Karma: 321
Well hey I'm a "you guys" not from 'merica. But Europe is cool lots of snow and hot girls and weird accents
Oct 13 2012 7:08PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
Europe is full of pussies. Absolutely no reason to travel outside of the USA
Oct 13 2012 7:12PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
from a western european:


i know you guys probably think of me otherwise from quite a few threads, but these are long ago and arent so much about the "typical" american, but more about the dumbshit fuckheads in the US who just happen to get more media coverage than any other nations fuckheads.


i would say that a lot of europeans do not have a real image of americans in their minds. back from the old days, from our parents, you kind of get this vibe of america being THE land of the free, the definition of a western country. technical and moral leadership for the rest of the world.

but i feel like this has changed. a lot of people were unhappy with the iraq and afghanistan wars and how the US treated countries who werent in for these blind revenge wars (germany for example didnt participate in the iraq war).



and currently, europeans are fed up with the speculation of US institutions (private and governmental) against the EURO and i think that also a lot of people direct some sort of hate towards the US for fucking up the banking sector in such a way that it lead to this catastrophic finance crisis a few years back that affected all our lives.


from a daily life standpoint, i think a lot of people around here are more american than you guys think. basically, you watch american shows like 50% of the time the TV is on, for a lot of people it could be close to 100%. every trend spills over to us, every major american brand becomes major in europe it seems.

and there is probably the underlying factor OP is looking at. as most people do, some europeans blame surrounding factors a lot more than we do our actions. we "blame" americans for all these trends. we blame you for "destroying" our culture, languages, health (fast food, technology making any body movement unneccessary) and that is probably that.

i personally have none of that. if a "culture" (whatever that may be) gets pushed away, it probably isnt good enough. i am one heck of a fan of so many americans things, most notably the NFL.


--------------------------
and apart from that, europe is so differentiated and there are so many smaller cultures with a high level of pride, so i cannot speak for too many of them, and my points basically refer to south germany/austria, eastern switzerland and even northern italy.
Oct 13 2012 7:14PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
^this is directed at the first few people in this thread, not so much at the OP
Oct 13 2012 7:15PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Lucky you didn't encounter me, I would have done both.
Oct 13 2012 7:15PM
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