jnn1964

Have any of you read 'Ciao America: An Italian Discovers the US'? It's a comical telling of the time he spent living in Washington DC. He makes a lot of the same comments people have made here - American efficiency in daily tasks, but a lack of knowledge about other cultures.

kismetchimera

jnn1964,
I just placed an order with Amazon..Thanks

jnn1964

kistmet - I think you'll enjoy it. I read the whole book in one sitting!

Grasshopper

Kismit, You compel me to go buy stock in Amazon!

ira

Hi Kasper,

>Hubby insists on leaving every door wide open, on purpose. Although the actual purpose escapes me right now, I am pretty sure there is an explanation.<

The Air Conditioning won't work properly if all of the doors are closed.

ira

>...My point about N. American wastefulness ....<

It has been my experience that, given any chance at all to do so, everyone aspires to the same level of excessive consumption that they see in the US.

My favorite example of this is how the Europeans have grown more dependent on having their own automobiles.

As far as the US using 20% of the World's resources [it's actually 20% of the World's energy consumption (some of which comes from local resources)] we also account for almost 30% of the World's GDP.

kasperdoggie

Hi Ira,

We don't have central air, so that can't be it In fact our window units work much better with doors closed. I think one explanation of closing bathroom doors at night involved banging into the said door in the dark. Which does not explain leaving it open during daytime. Although I do not fight that one much as I can imagine banging into a closed bathroom door in the dark must be as pleasant as falling into an ice cold toilet in the dark if someone left the seat up It's a compromise we agreed on - doors open, toilet seat down

The keeping bedroom doors closed has a different reason, it would appear. The cats do not like closed doors and make their opinion known. Cats were there before me so I am not going to complain. They are elderly and set in their ways, so what the heck, I try to remember. But I swear it is instinctive for me to close doors behind me and same goes for the rest of my family (the Russian side, that is).

twoflower

kasperdoggie: interesting hypotheses, but may I suggest the first 2 points you mention are personal differences rather than cultural ones? Regardless of country or culture, my experience is that some people leave doors open to the infuriation of their partners, while others are meticulous to the point of obsession about closing them; and some people tour the first-time visitor through the house while others consider it naff to do so.

kismetchimera

Grasshopper,
thats great idea!! lets invest some moneys in their stocks..

cigalechanta

WHOA!!! Everyone's reality is not the same. I grew up in a poor family, a cold water flat and a coal stove. We kept all the doors closed to concentrate the heat in the one room that we were in.

adoptionisfab

What about healthcare? In Europe it is seen as a birthright, in the US you are lucky to have it. Laurensuite does have a point, many Americans do expect people to speak English. I have been embarrassed when I have been with people who are irritated that someone did not understand them. I think people who travel frequently are not that presumptuous.

In 2000, I was in the UK the top story was about Zimbabwe’s Land Acquisition Act. When I came home it wasn’t on the news at all. That is just one silly example but it opened my eyes. I think Europeans have a better understanding of the worlds current events.

There is no worker protection in the US, my company just fired many people all over 40 and nothing can be done about it.

I think there are a lot of good things here at home but also a some things to be learned from Europe.

kasperdoggie

Hi twoflower,

Personal differences are certainly a very reasonable assumption and I never even thought about the first 2 points (doors and house tours) much since they don't irritate but rather amuse me.

But I started to wonder after having read one of the Poly Platt's book (I think it was "French or Foe?&quot where she mentions (amongst others) these very differences between French and North Americans, or Anglo-Saxons as she calls them...

smueller

The British are more atuned to the events in Zimbabwe because of the relationship that existed between them during the UK's colonialist past. Just as the French are more atuned to Algeria or the Dutch to Indonesia. This type of awareness has nothing to do with cultural appreciation or sensitivity.

On another subject, I don't think that Americans expect all foreigners to speak English, only Europeans. They're a relatively educated part of the world, so we have higher expectations of them. When we travel to Asia or Africa, we don't expect everyone to speak English.

Neil_Oz

"They're a relatively educated part of the world, so we have higher expectations of them."

I hope smueller is speaking with tongue in cheek. If not, that has to be the most outrageously arrogant and insular statement I've seen here for a long time.

As Americans are almost as well educated as Europeans, presumably it would be reasonable to expect all Americans to speak at least one European language.

ThinGorjus

I was born in England, but have been living in the US for 25 years. My mother and I have commented in the past that the major difference between Americans and Europeans is that Americans wear their hearts upon their sleeves. As a lad, I was amazed (to the point of blushing) at times the way Americans would blurt out personal things about themselves. For example, a school friend told me his father was a recovering alcoholic. Coming from England, I had never before heard anyone utter anything so personal. We would never say such a thing to someone outside of our family, and even then it would have been considered "uncomfortable."

I can also say that in England, bragging about your education or income is considered louche. Here in the US, it is de rigeur. We Europeans are more likely to "hide our lights under a bushel." (I really doubt someone like Martha Stewart could ever make a go of it in England. She would turn far too many people off.)

Also, if you have ever noticed, we English use the word "sorry" a lot, as though we are always in the wrong. In the US, the other guy makes the mistakes.

LoveItaly

ThinGorjus, interesting post you had and one I can personally relate to as although I have from one set of Grandparents going way back to NewHampshire and moving to SanFrancisco after the Civil War all the others were Europeans.

I was raised consequently in what I consider not a "typical American home". And one thing I learned very early in life was "we don't hang the dirty wash out on the line". Meaning that personal family problems were not discussed outside the home. In fact they were not much discussed inside the house either if the truth be known.

Fortuntaly our "dirty laundry" was not much. An uncle by marriage that received an "early retirement" which he enjoyed because then he did have a bit more time to enjoy his lunchtime cocktails. A cousin who almost flunked fourth grade (she still isn't too bright by the way). An aunt by marriage who did not keep a proper house (but oh her cooking was fantastic). Just stupid minor things. But not to be discussed outside the house.

Meanwhile I had schoolmates tell me about their parents that got drunk every night, their older sister who shall we say was a bit on the loose side. The uncle that tried to molest them.

I always had close friends, and they are friends to this day. However I was in my late 20's when I was told that I had always been considered a snob. Why?
Because I didn't talk about family secrets etc. I was shocked. And actually guess we were rather boring because truly there was not much to talk about. Well there was G.Grandfather who evidently had a redhead mistress his entire life in SF but what kid cares about that. Besides I never knew him. Still wonder how his life was in SF?? Great I guess. Pictures of G Grandmother appears as though she had an upper class life but didn't look to happy but then how many women were back then.

Anyway, I have shared more on Fodors then I have with anyone else my entire life. Too funny. And an intereting experience for me. And have made a few dear friend from Fodors that I have shared things with that two years ago I couldn't have imagined doing with anyone.

Oh that "sorry" bit. Yes, lived with that too. And I tend to do that to this day. Bump into me and I will say "sorry". Guess it could be interpeted as though I am sorry that they bumped into me. I do notice that not to many people are very good at even saying "sorry". It bothers me at times. But again, differences are interesing.

crefloors

LoveItaly: Your G. Grandmother was probably as happy as anyone..in those days people did not smile when having their picture taken. I have several pictures of my G. Grandmother and my grandmother, and they aren't smiling in any of them. I was taught the same as you, family business stays in the family. Boy has that changed these days...well, exept for Las Vegas..What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas..LOL

LoveItaly

Hi Crefloors, I was sipping a glass of wine and almost spit it out when I read your post (will confess to having a cigaret too). Finally over that darn virus!

Yes, sure GGrandmother was as happy as other women. And all nine of her children (including my Grandmother who was her youngest) were surronding her
and none of them were smiling either.

But GGrandfather (the one who evidently had the redheaded mistress), oh Crefloors was he smiling. Too funny!

And you are right, never thought of that. Tell the world anything and everthing, unless you are in Vegas.

Take care dear one.

Neil_Oz

Off-topic as usual, but one of the many traits we Australians inherited from the English is the odd habit of saying "sorry!" when someone treads on your foot, knocks you over with their supermarket trolley or bumps you into the path of a speeding bus.

Others are a firm belief in the inviolability of a queue (line) and, while it's a religiously-held belief that the English are the world's greatest whingers (whiners), we're pretty good little moaners ourselves. (And there are people who'd whinge if they heard me saying that, believe me.)

I can certainly relate to ThinGorjus' comment about the American propensity for sould-baring. But then, I'm an ageing and grumpy Anglo-Saxon male whose long-suffering wife has almost given up trying to get me to reveal what she imagined to be my "feelings" (the truth is, I haven't got any). In fact, though, even she keeps her lip buttoned pretty well. Why cater for others' voyeurism?

Generally, the only Australian males who do that are effete creatures who drink latte and have read too many American personal makeover books.

Maybe that's a clue to some cultural differences between Americans and The Rest (back on-topic!). One Australian academic opined that the reason why the self-help industry is overwhelmingly American is Americans' religiosity - an ingrained belief, born of the strength of evangelistic sects, that you really can redeem your imperfect self. The rest of us are mostly resigned to (even happy with) our sinful natures. Doesn't stop us buying the books, but I've yet to see anyone persist with their recipes for "success".

I read somewhere that the difference between the Americans and the English is that Americans believe life is serious, but not hopeless, while the English believe that it's hopeless, but not serious.

travelinwifey

I've enjoyed your comments Neil I have only met Ozzies visiting the US, would love to see your beautiful country one day. Of the ones I have met I would say Australians are in the top running for the nicest folks