What do Europeans Like About America?
 

I read a good amount of American stereotyping on this board so I'm curious: <BR> <BR>1.) What do Europeans like about America and Americans? <BR> <BR>2.) What do Europeans like to do and see when they visit the States? <BR> <BR>Thanks.

Hello Hans, <BR> <BR>I travel to the U.S. about 3 times a year. I like sitting in a bar and to be able to have easy conversations very fast. Everybody seems to have been to Germany, knows somebody who had, the Grandma is from Germany etc. I never found people who were unfriendly or rude and that`s a very pleasant thing and different from a trip to France f.e. <BR> <BR>I like driving the Highways and Interstates more than the Autobahn-less stressing. <BR>I like the thousands of possibilities for outdoor activities, like swimming with Dolphins. <BR>I like the fact that it`s different from Europe but not so strange that you have to worry about shots, the language or where to buy a tooth-brush. <BR>There are many more things I like... <BR>I hate the cheese, the bread, the low-fat products and too much ice in my coke... <BR> <BR>Miriam

I think that Germans go to: <BR> <BR>Florida. It's no tourist destination which interests me but I guess that the Germans go out of the same reasons as the American tourists. <BR> <BR>West coast, taking the tour from LA or SF to Nevada, Grand Conyon, and the phantastic national parks. <BR> <BR>New York, mainly as a city tour. A tour through the New England states is normally only taken if the tourist has been at the West coast before. <BR> <BR>Personally, I'm impressed by the sheer beauty of the (in comparison to Europe) untouched nature and the width of the country. Don't get me wrong, I would visit a city like SF if it was only two hours by plane from my home but it's not that impressive that I wouldn't look first at the alternatives closer to me. But there's nothing in Europe comparable to the nature and the landscape. <BR> <BR>And then there are many Germans which are fascinated by the USA and its culture. Cruising down the highway with Elvis on the radio, stopping for a burger and feeling very different from being in Germany.

I'm an American and love to vacation in Europe, but would not want to live there. What I love: the "oldness" of it! I love standing in a building and seeing that it was built hundreds and hundreds of years ago--there's nothing in the US to compare with that. And of course the history and culture behind all those great buildings. Europe is also more laid back than the US--the people are not as frenetic as we are here most of the time (of course, I live in the NY Metro area). I love the food, the wines, especially in Italy. I like talking to Europeans, or trying to anyway, with the help of a phrasebook or hand signals! Sitting at a sidewalk cafe and just people watching... <BR>What I don't like: the l-o-n-g plane ride to get there, people who stereotype Americans as loud and uncultured, and (sorry) Europeans who don't shower regularly!

DUH Cindy the topic is what do Europeans like about America <BR> <BR>Not what do Americans like about Europe!

I like the large hotel rooms ;-) <BR>and the nice people of course! <BR> <BR>And I cannot wait to go back to NYC next year.

Let us know when you plan to be here Ursula, I'm sure we can organize a NYC and environs get-together to coincide with your visit.

Hotel rooms: size, aircon, price <BR> <BR>Service: Anywhere you go, shop, hotel, restaurant, the service is always good, and usually very friendly. Partly its an issue of training, partly because thats what is expected and grumps maybe wont keep their jobs, but in the main it really seems to be that people are willing to make the best of their job and enjoy it whatever it is. <BR> <BR>Scenery: The sheer diversity of stunning landscapes available <BR> <BR>Travel: Ease of driving, price of petrol <BR> <BR>Many many others... <BR> <BR>Oh yes, Boston Lobster Feast and FAO Schwartz, Cheap outlet shopping, and bras from KMart...

Ess, thanks a lot and I will. :-) <BR>I shall be staying with Swiss friends living in Soho. So the only thing is, I shall have to look for a good deal for the flight. At this moment, Swissair/Delta offers ZRH-NY RT for some SFr. 600.-. <BR>But with all the trouble they are facing now (speaking about SR), I am not sure they will repeat that offer. But I can also pay a bit more. Don't worry. Have not been there for a long time and I start getting excited like you people when coming to Europe! <BR> <BR>See, Americans are nice, really and very easy going in general.

among other things, I like the cleanliness of America. The first time I saw a carry it in, carry it out park I was amazed. And then I saw that the Americans actually do carry out their rubbish, leaving parks tidy.

David, <BR> <BR>I don't know where you're from or where you've been in the US, but I think we Americans litter alot. Most cities and towns I've been to in other countries are much cleaner. Of in the tourist areas, people are employed to pick up the trash, but there's still alot of cigarette butts, wads of gum on the sidewalk and fast food bags.

Americans are extremely friendly and hospitable. <BR>The best things about the US is nature, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Painted Desert etc. I hope big business is not allowed to destroy all the wonderful wild places.

If the American President George Bush has his way, all of the beautiful scenery in America will be destroyed in the name of energy and oil.

<BR>Kavey....bras at K-mart!?

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In my travels within the US, I don't believe that I've ever been to a national park without running into Europeans especially Germans. I would have to surmise that the Nature represented in the US is one of the more desired destinations. <BR> <BR>

After reading some opinions on visiting Euro Disney near Paris-how about the Germans and French visiting Death Valley during the summer? Now THATS crazy!!! (give me Disney-Paris anyday over 120 degree heat on vacation!) <BR>Patti

Mac <BR> <BR>Decent bras in my size in the UK are at least £20 UK. In KMart I can get a good bra for less than $10 US. <BR> <BR>And in the UK all bra manufacturers assume that if you are my size you will want horrible uncomfortable underwiring in the bra, which makes it uncomfortable and difficult to machine wash. In US bras are often designed without underwire yet still supportive, but more comfort and machine wash and cheap and so on.... <BR> <BR>So yes, bras at KMart, a big part of my visits to the US... <BR> <BR>YOu might like Victoria's Secrets, but give me KMart any day!

Steve--- when you consider the amount of garbage that every American generates a day, proportionally, we litter significantly less than you might think. My job as an Environmental Engineer takes me all over looking at towns, rivers, lakes, and streams, and, I wholeheartedly agree with posters above, the natural beauty of this country is unbelievable. <BR> <BR>Now, let's go back to our European friends :-D

We get lots of visits from relatives in Germany and they want to shop, shop, shop! They buy designer jeans by the armload. Having been over there to visit, I can see why. Their clothing is very expensive. I also hear a lot of positive comments about how friendly, helpful and open we Americans are.

I live in Europe and visit the US about three times a year. <BR> <BR>I like to visit but I would not like to live there <BR> <BR>What I like <BR>- It's inexpensive. A weekend in New York including flights from London is not much more expensive than a partying weekend in London <BR>- Most people speak an understandable form of English <BR>- The variety - different caosts cities etc <BR>- Generally the people are freindly and approachable <BR> <BR>I like to go to the beach, shop and relax. I recharge my batteries for my hectic life at home.

Hi Jude, Interesting to hear that a European visits us in the US to recharge their batteries. Especially after all of the threads that have promoted Europe as much more laid back and a much slower life style than here is the US. Maybe we(N. Americans) see Europe as much more laid back because we are on vacation there? <BR>Comments from both sides of the Pond??? <BR>Regards <BR>Art <BR>

Art- You don't have to look far to find horror stories about driving in the U.S. (road rage, congestion, drunk and drugged drivers, etc.), but after a week on the road in Ireland the good ol' U.S. of A. seemed pretty tame! The drivers there seemed like they were all on their way to a four alarm fire, and on roads that are about as wide as my driveway!

I remember visiting a German friend and his wife in the Bavarian town of Kempten back in the late '80s. We drove around the area -- called the Allgau (sp?) -- one day and I remarked how aesthetically pleasing it was that all the houses had a similar look (white with red roofs that blended beautifully with the lush green of the countryside.) <BR> <BR>My friend's wife, who's an architect, replied that she found it boring and longed to visit America where she assumed (or perhaps knew) that we had very little of this kind of uniformity with our houses.

I'm originally from Ireland, but live in the States (8 years now). What I like about the U.S.: <BR> <BR>My wife; <BR>That achieving success at work is based on my knowledge and skills, rather than what school I went to or my religion; <BR>The weather; <BR>Large appliances (more beer in the fridge!); <BR>Pizza; <BR>Bruce Springsteen; <BR>The big highways; <BR>Less biogtry; <BR>My new house (not too big, but bigger than what we're used to in Ireland) and garage (we haven't figured out yet that garages should be attached to the house!); <BR>People are less judgmental here; <BR>Satellite TV (now I can see all of the football (soccer) I want); <BR>College basketball; <BR>Cheap Levis; <BR>24-hour diners; <BR>Pancakes; <BR>That I've made friends from all over the world while living here; <BR>Freedom of the press (it becomes so important to you after you've seen censorship. Yes, they do have censorship in Ireland and the United Kingdom); <BR>How big this country is. My wife and I would like nothing better than to take 3 months off and drive around the U.S. Maybe the next time we move back to Ireland for awhile, we'll take the time. <BR> <BR>People do litter more in Europe than the U.S. It pains me when I go hiking in Ireland, and I see trash way up the side of mountains. It absolutely kills me. People just dump their trash every where. <BR> <BR>There are many, many things I miss about home, and there are things I dislike about the U.S., but I won't go into them here. Besides, what I like about the U.S. far outweighs my dislikes.

To ###, Yes there is road rage here in the US, drive by shootings etc. Actually my first view of road rage was in Germany in the 60's. A German driver was cut off (don't know if it was intentional or not) and he went out of his way to get back at the perpetrator. Also in the 60's there was a law passed that you could be arrested if you pointed your index finger at your forehead (Do hast ein fogal, or You are crazy) as one person was shot to death after he had done that to another driver.

Kavey, This is my very first post on this board and I'm American. I have to tell you to try Target as well. Hanes Her Way is a super brand. You'll find them in all major U.S. cities. Happy travels.

I just want to say thank you for this thread. It is so interesting and nice to hear the things that Europeans appreciate about the United States. The U.S. isn't perfect (noplace is) but sometimes I think we get an inferiority complex about the U.S. in comparison with European countries. Vive la difference.

We live in a tourist-oriented community and work as volunteers at local spots and so have a lot of contact with tourists, especially those from abroad. We are constantly amazed at their remarks about things we take for granted. For example, they are surprised at the concept and practice of volunteerism. Working for free? Working for fun? Never. Cleanliness: foreign visitors are amazed at how clean our town is because local citizens ("The Litter Lifters") volunteer to keep sections of streets and highways clear of any trash. Freedom: foreign visitors say over and over again how helpful our police are. They marvel at the absence of "verboten" signs in our parks and forests. Low-cost gasoline. Convenient shopping hours in our stores. Free parking. Drinking fountains with (gasp!) free drinking water.

My sister in law from Germany says she likes America because we have endless varieties of potato chips!

My wife and I absolutely love England, particularly the English people. We have found them to be nothing but polite and friendly people. We were eating in a pub one day in York, and were forced to eat at the same table (because the pub was so full) with an English lady and her adult daughter. We began talking about how much we love England, and they countered that they really enjoyed America. I asked her what she liked about America, and they both stated together, without missing a beat, "Ranch dressing!" Oh, what we American's take for granted.

Ooh, a nice thread about the US! <BR> <BR>Is it OK to wear fanny packs and white sneakers? You bet it is. Even Hawaiian shirts are OK. There are no fashion police! <BR> <BR>I love this thread. Yes, vive le difference! We should both visit each other and enjoy what we do not have at home. Come to the US for Doritos, ranch dressing and peanut butter! Go to Europe--well--that is not the point of this thread. <BR> <BR>Folks in Europe: The best part of the US is the national parks between the Mississippi and California (the part in the middle). Utah, which I am sure does not get a lot of European tourists, has 7 spectacular National Parks (but no liquour by the drink in restaurants--don't ask me; ask the Mormons). <BR> <BR>Incidentally, I don't live in Utah but do recomend it as a tourist destination. I live in the Washington, DC, suburbs (You know, the Washington in the EAST) and, if you get to my neck of the woods, I would be happy to introduce you to Maryland crabs. <BR> <BR>Email me. <BR> <BR>We love Europe because we don't have all that "old stuff" but we have a lot of "stuff" to see here too. <BR> <BR>Not to mention the Grand Canyon. <BR> <BR>Again, thanks for a great thread.

What is it about ranch dressing? When we met our daughter in Madrid after her study abroad, the delightful widow she had lived with invited us to her apartment for dinner. Our daughter asked us to please bring some ranch dressing with us for Fe as she loved it so much.

Lauren, Utah has 11 national parks, the most of any state. Don't forget the ones in Calif, Wyoming as well. By the way, In Utah, I ran into several German tourists in Brice, Zion, Canyonlands etc. <BR>

Eleven National Parks in Utah? They must have added a few since I was there OR I can't add. America's best state for scenery!

Top it.

Hello Hans, a very interesting thread! <BR>I just came back from Cape Coral, Florida, and found out(when we bought a lot) of our future neighbors there, 25% are Germans! I guess they like my favorite state, yes? <BR> A couple from Germany(a lawyer in the entertainment industry there), are so extremely happy about the warm and sunny weather, they just had to build a "tiki" bar! <BR> I guess they will be rockin' the area big time! <BR>FYI, there were quite a few people chilling out on Fort Meyers beach last week, that were from other countries. I can not imagine a more "Margaritaville" like, laid back area, IMHO. <BR>Judy :-) <BR>

We were eating at a Disneyworld Epcot Pub and met some people from London...I asked them what it was they liked about the US...immediately he said the first think he did was rented the largest car he could rent and drove...they both thought the hotels here were absolutely the largest they had ever seen and 'so cheap!'. . .

"Freedom of the press (it becomes so important to you after you've seen censorship" <BR> <BR>Hmm, although I enjoy many things in the US, newspapers are one of the things I miss. There are just so many newspapers in the UK all coming from different political directions. In the US, there are essentially no national newspapers and because of the interests of big business, and the ubiquitous hyphenated-Americans, a degree of unofficial sensorship prevails. I think that many Americans would be interested to see how newspapers in other countries report the Arab/Israeli conflict to name only one issue. <BR> <BR>Try having a look at a news website e.g. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...ne6/papers.htm

SallyMae <BR> <BR>Welcome to the board... and thanks for posting. I will definitely keep an eye out for target in July when I am next in US (San Francisco). I think I have come across Hanes before, I have some socks by them from my last visit... <BR> <BR>Many thanks!!!