Larry

My wife and I love traveling in Europe. We have been to 9 countries in Europe on 6 different trips. WE LOVE EUROPE BUT FIND THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE VERY UNFRIENDLY AND COLD! <BR> <BR>Funny thing is to each other they seem so friendly and outgoing, especially in southern Europe. We try to speak to them in their language, smile and defer to them if possible. But basically without exception we find most people there to be extremely cold and a bit haughty. <BR> <BR>Once we got back to the USA people seemed so nice in comparision. <BR> <BR>Is it me or have other American tourists experienced the coldness of European people. <BR>My vote for the coldest people in Europe goes to Rome (not Paris). Your vote.

Just Curious

Larry, just wondering, which State are you from?

Liz

No, I find them reserved with strangers, as am I. I much prefer that to the inanity of "Hi I'm Cindy and I'll be your server today" type of pseudo-friendliness.

bob

Liz is correct, for example the France have a distrust of any stranger, Franch or American.

Larry

To answer the posters question I am from North Dakota. <BR> <BR>Still looking for feedback on unfriendly Europeans.

Lee

Larry, I'm not altogether sure of what you mean. Typically, the Europeans are more formal by tradition, I suppose, where we Americans are more casual by nature. They are friendly, though. <BR> <BR>When living in Germany, I didn't use my landlord's first name until he used mine and that was a custom. It was over a year if I remember. <BR> <BR>The Europeans open up a little when you greet them during the day, which they prefer to do in shops, restaurants and on the street. In Mexico, I noticed that every morning you would shake hands and exchange pleasantries with everyone from the hotel doorman to everyone you met at work. <BR> <BR>Once, when asking some directions while under the Eiffel tower, a policeman gave me the finger when he discovered that I was an American. I don't think that he was being all that formal.

sandra

I spend many months of the year in europe and find europeans to just as friendly as i do any other people, perhaps they are more reserved then americans. I prefer that to the hi I am jusy and I'll be your server stuff. I prefer to not be on a first name basis witht he waiter. I don;t wnat to know your history and i don;t want to wait for my meal while you tell the next table about your 1st ommunion. <BR> I also find other service people particullary in paris to be great such a shop clerks and hairdressers, and cab drivers while in London i find the chatty cab drivers to average me about 10 gbps a ride as tey chat and drive you around in circles..

Florence

Bonjour Larry, <BR> <BR>For Europeans, what passes for friendliness in other parts of the world("Hi, my name is ...", a waiter coming to your table saying "Hi guys, how's everything" - I nearly choked on this one and I can't wait to see my mom's reaction next October when I take her to Arizona -, talking about one's family, business or income to a total stranger, being on a first name basis within 2 minutes of meeting someone for the first time) is considered unsuferable familiarity, and we are taught from a very early age that familiarity breeds contempt. <BR> <BR>This doesn't mean we don't like foreigners (well, some Europeans do, obviously) or that we are cold, just that we tend to be reserved. <BR> <BR>There is also a phenomenon similar to the Japanese approach: you're treated differently depending on whether you're considered to be a member of the community or just a "passing bird", in which case you'll be treated politely but without any particular warmth, and I agree this is an uncomfortable feeling.

Book Chick

Hi Larry, <BR>I find if you encounter a professional person in a business context, they're usually very professional toward you & don't necessary act with the same conversational open air that an American shopkeeper, restaurateur, etc. may have. <BR> <BR>However, so many Italians were so very kind, friendly & approachable during the time I was there that I have to say I really regretted leaving the country. (And I'm sa fair-skinned blonde who arrived with rather halting Italian language skills, so I'm sure they knew immediately I was not European.) <BR>Ciao, <BR>BC

Southern Boy

Larry, <BR> <BR>The Europeans, even in France, are a heck of a lot friendlier that I found the people of New Jersey to be! <BR> <BR>During the five years I was doing hard time there for my comapny, I found them to be the rudest,least friendliest people on the face of God's green earth! <BR> <BR>They get up unhappy, stay that way, do their best to make you unhappy and they then call it a "Jersey" attitude. <BR> <BR>Heck, I'll take the French anytime!

ilisa

Hey, this Jersey girl resents that!

elvira

I think Americans have confused the definition of unfriendly (not disposed to friendship) with reticent (restrained or reserved in style). I've never found that Europeans are not disposed to friendship, but they are restrained and reserved in style. <BR> <BR>Semantics'll do you in every time. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Southern Boy

Ilisa, <BR> <BR>You should, you're getting a bad rap from the rest of them. NJ, is a beautiful state, particularly where I lived near the Delaware River. <BR> <BR>Too bad the natives haven't gotten the message that friendly is OK, that when you say hello, you're really not trying to take advantage or steal from them, that holding a door open is not a criminal act....etc.

Susan

I totally disagree. I've visited China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Russia, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, England, Italy, Germany and found people to be warm and friendly everywhere. Of course, there are also nasty people everywhere. <BR>I lived in France years ago, and in those days found Parisans to be kind of snotty, but have been back to Paris twice in the last 3 years and found a total change in attitude. They were polite, welcoming and friendly. Just my own experience, of course.

Tony Hughes

Well Hot Dog, we have a weiner! Susan gets the prize for being correct. <BR> <BR>Larry, as I would say to you in Scotland, what a lot of pish! People are people the world over, some are friendly, some less so.

Nor Curly Nor Mo

I find European strangers reserved. I find European friends warm and largely loyal. <BR> <BR>I find American strangers friendly and superficial. I find American friends to be undependable if distance or money is involved.

€uroland

sorry, but I think that americans talk to much. Once in flight from Frankfurt to Florence, there was an American lady, sit next to me, and I was talking to my wife in my countrie language, and she, in a polite way, asked were did we came from, because she didnīt recognize our language. After that, she couldnīt stop asking things. She became...boring, but never rude. <BR> <BR>

nancy

only in the winter.

Capo

Hi Larry. Guess it depends on what one's definition of "cold" is. As Liz said, I find many people in Europe to be reserved but, to me, that's not the same as cold.

Larry

Thanks to everyone for their responses. What I consider very cold behavior is reserved to others. Though thinking back at my times in Europe since I wrote the orginal message above I am still convinced that most Europeans I have met are COLD, not reserved. <BR> <BR>I also disagree that just because someone is familar or friendly in America, this makes them a phoney. We need to open up to each other! Especially Europeans. <BR> <BR>Now Thailand, that is where people are really nice and friendly.