You're back from Europe. You had a great time. You noticed that the Europeans do something much better than we do it in the U.S. What is it?
May 1st, 2004, 05:35 PM
#81
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A European friend was asked what he liked about America. He replied, "I can be myself here. In my home country, I was judged by who my father was, what he did, where his family came from. And because I came from a poor family and could not afford a good education, I was always looked down upon by others."
So, you see, we can take pride in attracting such a person and allowing him to throw off the social shackles of his European upbringing. Freedom, my friends -- Europeans could a lot more of it. Think about it.
So, you see, we can take pride in attracting such a person and allowing him to throw off the social shackles of his European upbringing. Freedom, my friends -- Europeans could a lot more of it. Think about it.
May 1st, 2004, 11:49 PM
#83
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Oh, where to start?
I love the bathrooms. No stalls but little rooms unto themselves. I think the women's bathrooms are cleaner because European mothers don't tell their girls not to sit on toilet seats. Where did we get this crazy notion that it's better to stand over it or try to protect yourself using a thin piece of paper to cover the seat?
Children in Central Europe were much better behaved then American children. I saw many and they looked perfectly happy and well adjusted without having to run up and down screaming. While on a train a toddler got up to run down the aisle but the mother called her back immediately and praised her. The child sat down on her seat and seemed happy.
The dogs too are much better behaved then some American dogs. I don't know that I could trust my dog to ride the metro without getting into a scrap.
I love the bathrooms. No stalls but little rooms unto themselves. I think the women's bathrooms are cleaner because European mothers don't tell their girls not to sit on toilet seats. Where did we get this crazy notion that it's better to stand over it or try to protect yourself using a thin piece of paper to cover the seat?
Children in Central Europe were much better behaved then American children. I saw many and they looked perfectly happy and well adjusted without having to run up and down screaming. While on a train a toddler got up to run down the aisle but the mother called her back immediately and praised her. The child sat down on her seat and seemed happy.
The dogs too are much better behaved then some American dogs. I don't know that I could trust my dog to ride the metro without getting into a scrap.
May 2nd, 2004, 05:20 AM
#86
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mcgeezer; mothers DO tell their daughters not to sit on the toilet seat. This is why the Vatican, and other places, have no toilet seat; no one uses them. (see recent post about this).
As for the toilet 'cubicles' you get in the US; I was once startled to find these at Jean Georges in New York. The wall didn't go all the way down, and there was a very shiny marble floor, in which you could see the reflection of the person in the next cubicle. I'm sure this was unintentional, but it was very strange indeed.
As for the toilet 'cubicles' you get in the US; I was once startled to find these at Jean Georges in New York. The wall didn't go all the way down, and there was a very shiny marble floor, in which you could see the reflection of the person in the next cubicle. I'm sure this was unintentional, but it was very strange indeed.
May 2nd, 2004, 05:30 AM
#87
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Anyone who thinks that at least some Americans don't "judge others" by who their "father is" or how much money they make, etc., etc., has been on another planet, or perhaps in Europe, too long.
Europeans have far FAR superior public transportation than we do BUT they also aren't as polite as we are when it comes to waiting in lines.
Europeans have far FAR superior public transportation than we do BUT they also aren't as polite as we are when it comes to waiting in lines.
May 2nd, 2004, 05:48 AM
#88
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Better family values, due to the closing of stores on Saturday night and not re opening till Monday AM. Lifting the Blue laws and Woodstock destroyed this country. Go to a park in Europe on A Sunday and look at what us baby boomers childhood used to be like.
We know go to walmart on Sundays.
As far as the driving, that is all about respect, driving in Italy could be one of the most fun things to do.
Also no preseratives in most of the dairy products.
Let me start another post based on the opposite.
We know go to walmart on Sundays.
As far as the driving, that is all about respect, driving in Italy could be one of the most fun things to do.
Also no preseratives in most of the dairy products.
Let me start another post based on the opposite.
May 2nd, 2004, 06:50 AM
#90
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The Woodstock statement is definetly way over but your not getting the point on the stores.
Go to your local park and see how many families are present. Than go to your local mall or walmart and look.
Next time your over there look at the parks on a Sunday it brings back childhoods memory.
Go to your local park and see how many families are present. Than go to your local mall or walmart and look.
Next time your over there look at the parks on a Sunday it brings back childhoods memory.
May 2nd, 2004, 06:56 AM
#91
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A person can choose to not shop at Walmart, always have a big family dinner and try to take the kids to the park on Sunday. I did it as a kid and still do it with my family. But I sure like the option of running down to the store for a bottle of wine if I was too busy on Saturday.
May 2nd, 2004, 09:53 AM
#93
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Spending 2 weeks in Denmark last May there were alot of public holidays where everything was closed. The parks had tons of families, i was impressed. Here you have the options so doing the family thing is sometimes put on the backburner.
May 2nd, 2004, 10:25 AM
#94
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dont generalise us europeans!we are not all the same..some are more cold like in the north,some are more temperamental..some toilets have toilet paper,some dont..some are dirty,in some parts of europe they are generally cleaner..some people are loud like in italy,some are very quiet like in finland..some are liberal,some old fashioned..etc..so you have to visit ALL countries in europe to give to try to find something in common but thats very hard,cause people are just so very different.
May 3rd, 2004, 11:04 PM
#96
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1. Pride in food preparation - use of traditional methods as opposed to modern "fast" methods (e.g. Germans takes 6 weeks to naturally smoke bacon).
2. Sane priorities re work vs. living - working hours leave time for recreation and family life - and yes Thanksgrandma, they still do achieve (more than us, in fact)
3. Driving standards and road courtesy. No further explanation necessary?
4. Other standards, courtesy & manners - most places won't let you in with a baseball cap on, and if they rob you they'll try to do it without shooting you!
5. Public transport - faster and more efficient.
6. Economy of language - as in the term "public transport" as opposed to our more cumbersome "public transportation".
2. Sane priorities re work vs. living - working hours leave time for recreation and family life - and yes Thanksgrandma, they still do achieve (more than us, in fact)
3. Driving standards and road courtesy. No further explanation necessary?
4. Other standards, courtesy & manners - most places won't let you in with a baseball cap on, and if they rob you they'll try to do it without shooting you!
5. Public transport - faster and more efficient.
6. Economy of language - as in the term "public transport" as opposed to our more cumbersome "public transportation".
May 4th, 2004, 10:31 AM
#99
The parks here are mostly enjoyed by the very old, the homeless, and very young children. In europe, everybody loves their parks and take advantage of them. The children, the dogs are better behaved.And like me, they shop one place for bread, one place for fish and so on, and I hope that never stops. I like the way you are greeted by other guests in the dining room or in passing on a path. I love the simple, yet beautiful look of their paperback books.
I love the packaging of perfume, candies, cookies, always artful.
Too many other things to post.
I love the packaging of perfume, candies, cookies, always artful.
Too many other things to post.
May 5th, 2004, 08:01 PM
#100
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While I enjoy vacationing in Europe, I have no yen to live there permanently. The one thing they do do better, however, is health insurance.
You know, there are a lot of shoppoing malls in Europe these days. Just as in North America, many people prefer them to the parks. The reason tourists do not see the malls is that they are in the suburbs and tourists do not go there.
It is only a matter of time before the predominant religion in Europe will be the same as that in North America: Shopping!
You know, there are a lot of shoppoing malls in Europe these days. Just as in North America, many people prefer them to the parks. The reason tourists do not see the malls is that they are in the suburbs and tourists do not go there.
It is only a matter of time before the predominant religion in Europe will be the same as that in North America: Shopping!
