Aby The Liberal

46 Responses to “Europe vs America - Culture”

1. # Meddy on 06 Jul 2009 at 4:08 pm

   Americans eat very rudely ….

   1 American eat = 3 + others

2. # AverageJoe on 08 Jul 2009 at 1:33 am

   I found this article very insiteful. As an average american, I did not realize the differences in such small things between our society and a European society. I am unhappy to know that american conservation leads to overindulgance.

3. # Sansky on 10 Jul 2009 at 5:28 pm

   This is a really very nice article, good to know about the Europeans. I would say Europeans are classic they have more respect. I love European movies and music which is not famous here in India as much as american music and movies.

4. # Captain V. on 13 Jul 2009 at 8:16 pm

   I wouldn’t blame Indians for preferring American movies and music over European ones. As Anglophones (English speaking), Indians would find American movies and music easier to understand than European ones. Outsourcing and India-to-US immigration also familiarises Indians to American culture, making it easier American movies and music to find their way to the Indian market.

5. # Portlander on 17 Jul 2009 at 8:30 am

   For the record, America (not unlike Europe, I presume) is very different depending on where you go. For example: New England, the South, the Midwest, and the Left Coast are effectively four “nations-within-a-nation.” I take a bit of an issue with the generalization of 300 million people over four time zones’ worth of land.

6. # Miles on 18 Jul 2009 at 2:56 pm

   Can you really assume that the cultures of two large continents/states are so easy to compare? East coast and West coast Americans are often pretty different in their attitudes, not to mention northerners and southerners. Even those distinctions are often false…
   Don’t even get me started on Europeans. When people like you start talking about “Europeans” they usually mean middle class French and Brits living in European urban centers. What about the Hungarian farmer?

   This may seem like I’m taking your post too seriously but I think it matters…

7. # Captain V. on 23 Jul 2009 at 2:47 pm

   @ Portlander: “For the record, America (not unlike Europe, I presume) is very different depending on where you go. For example: New England, the South, the Midwest, and the Left Coast are effectively four “nations-within-a-nation.”

   The ‘nations-within-a-nation’ concept is an overtly exaggerated American cliche. A nation made by people who share a common history, culture, language or ethnic origin. The ‘nations’ you mentioned above share the same common language (American English), the same culture, the same history and even the same ethnic makeup (A WASP majority with a smattering of other ethnic minorities). There differences between US states are no significant than the differences between the regions of France or oblasts of Ukraine. Nations differ in more than differences of accent, talking style and political leanings.
    

   @ Portlander: “I take a bit of an issue with the generalization of 300 million people over four time zones’ worth of land.”

   The ‘generalisations’ I made above would fit the average American, whether he/she is in New England, New Jersey, Los Angeles or even New York. The general attitudes towards eating, money, sex, patriotism or socialising remains pretty much the same all over US. The few exceptions to my observations are first generation immigrants and to a smaller extent, second generation ones as well.
    

   @ Miles - “What about the Hungarian farmer? “

   Cultural differences aside, a Hungarian farmer is not very different from a French urbanite. What I observed above applies to the Hungarian farmer as well, in his own way. A Hungarian farmer, on an average, would be slimmer than Americans. His food portions would also be proportionate to his physical activity. He would have a less warped attitude towards alcohol and sex than Americans. He would be a lot less materialistic and a lot more cultured than the average American.

8. # Sue Denim on 30 Jul 2009 at 5:52 am

   As for nation-within-a-nation what about Texas and/or the confederate states?

   Same language but with histories in part unique from the rest of the united states.

9. # hermansack on 13 Aug 2009 at 7:34 pm

   The bottom line here is Americans are stupid and Europeans and other nations just don’t like them. Fat and Stupid.

10. # anurag on 21 Aug 2009 at 5:57 pm

    i have never been to america or europe but based on my general perception through media the article seems to make sense….for instance american media seemed to be overtly christianized while europeans take more rational atheist and/or secular view…to me these differences(in article) are quite significant and i think they possibly stem from the fact that europe has already gone through what america(comparatively a new country) is going through now. It takes time for a culture to mature and see truth. things are not as simple as the equation money = happiness. it takes so much more on so many more levels to be happy. this knowledge comes through time and intelligence alone.

11. # Adam on 23 Aug 2009 at 11:59 pm

    I have to say that Captain’s observation is quite accurate even though there are differences between east and west of US, conservatives and liberal, or mid-class and low-class, or white and minorities. But American’s mentality is somewhat close to what Captain’s description. There are far more fat people in US than anywhere else if you travel to Europe and Asia to compare. Food in US is just too cheap and too easy to get for everyone in US including those very “poor” people. Eating becomes one of very limited life pleasure for those people. But I also have to say that that is common in US but not everyone like that.

    Many Americans also live with a style. More Americans travel around the world and take cruiseship each year. If Captain can put some solid numbers into his article, it would be even more convincing.

    I have also worked for an Europen high-tech company in the past for many years. I have to say that the company in Europe will have very low productivity in summer since there are always one third or even half of employee going on vacation in June, July, and August. It is good or bad depending on your mentality. Americans are too easy on what they eat and how much they eat while Europeans are too easy on their jobs and works.

    This is a fact and that makes American different from European, doesn’t it.

12. # CJ on 28 Aug 2009 at 12:21 pm

    What exactly has the good captain observed? You generalise about America and Americans. Growing up in New Orleans we were always were given an “ample” portion of food, not massive amounts like you claim. In fact, my family would appear to be the picture on the right of the family sitting together designated as Europeans and not the ones on the left. With the exception of my Dad having once owned a panel truck for business we have always chosen economical cars, not big ones. Your alcohol argument is downright silly. Recent information on alcohol indicate the younger you start a child sampling liquor the more likely he will have problems later in life. Incidentally, you have the same percentage of Alcoholics in the UK, in France as you do in the US. You have higher incidences of Alcoholism in other European countries. So where’s your binge theory now? You haven’t been observing very much. Another example of inaccuracy is that the percentage of obesity/overweight children in America is 15%, in Italy it’s 36%, Spain 30%, UK 22%, France 18%, Sweden 18%. So again your knowledge about what you’re writing is poor.

13. # Frank Li on 04 Sep 2009 at 11:55 am

    The picture on the left is just one of countless examples that proves just how culturally ugly and arrogant Americans are, not to mention obesity for many Americans. Also from the look of that picture, American people have no sense of shame whatsoever, because even obese people feel that it is necessary to wear cloth that would reveal a lot of revolting flesh.

14. # Richard on 07 Sep 2009 at 11:02 pm

    C’mon, the photos you chose to illustrate “Having dinner, the American way. Europeans having dinner” are preposterous! The first is a snapshot of teens mugging for the camera in a restaurant; the second is clearly a posed shot. Even if I chose to give you the benefit of the doubt by interpreting those photos as showing participants in a veggieburger eating contest, and a polygamist talking to his two wives at dinner while ignoring his son, your naivete and bias is still appalling.

15. # Italian Bomb on 09 Sep 2009 at 11:41 pm

    Shouldn’t we be useing words like “American Consumers and European Consumers” it’s “American Comsumers” and “European Comsumers” that eat at restaurants, not “Americans” or “Europeans”. I shake as i imagine, while realizing that Italians are politicaly european, makeing them selves less cultural by happaly eating at a restaurant!(I guess I’ve graduated from being a “smart ass” to a “terrorist” thow haven’t I.)

16. # Porlek on 14 Sep 2009 at 3:12 am

    I have been to the US and I have been to France. In the US the portions we got were huge, in France they were small. In the US the food was very nice, though unhealthy. In France the food was healthier but not as nice (believe it or not - how the French have a reputation for food when they eat Horse, Frogs and Snails I’ll never know). My point is this: If I was American I would want to eat more, if I was French I would probably eat only what I had to consume for survival.

17. # Leo on 29 Sep 2009 at 9:30 pm

    I think this article, just as many on this site, is biased and unfair to the Americans. I was not born in the US and came her an an immigrant. I mostly deal with educated people here, and most of them do not conform to the “stupid”/”ugly” stereotype that the author presents here. It is true that Americans are less formal then Europeans. That is evident in how they dress and eat. But any large American city has plenty of first rate restaurants where one often can hardly notice the difference between the Americans and European tourists. Remember that the “ugly” Americans that people notice in Europe are the ones that stick out. There may be thousands of educated travelers from the US that “behave” like the Europeans, are polite, etc., and people simply do not notice those Americans. People always notice the obnoxious and the impolite, and the loud ones. For example, British tourists have a very bad reputation in many European countries. Yet, on my many trips to Great Britain I have not seen any people that fit this description. As far as “sophisticated” Americans are concerned, I suggest people read the guide books of Rick Steves. He is also a proud American, but if you see him on the streets of Rome you would hardly notice….

18. # Shawm on 01 Oct 2009 at 12:41 pm

    I find Europe’s general lack of Dunkin Donuts to be both disturbing and unpatriotic. I believe the US has a moral obligation to install democratic and free Dunkin Donut franchises throughout Europe, for the betterment of all Europeans.

    And for freedom.

19. # ostrix on 14 Oct 2009 at 2:08 pm

    Something tells me this post was written by a European ))))

    I’m not American myself and cannot say much about Americans from personal experience. But I’ve traveled pretty much, have been to the states and Europe, and my personal (general) conclusion is: If you’re after money and career opportunities - there is nothing for you to do in Europe (unless you have connections or belong to some elite class). So, if you are a smart, ambitious nobody and you want to make money, lots of money, plenty of money - you’ll find your place under American sun. If you’re after pleasures, culture, leisure and a cup of really good coffee in the morning - go to Europe. Europe has got its unique charm, its historical and cultural value.

20. # Máté on 30 Oct 2009 at 6:45 am

    I would say, partially true. Europeans are definitely more devoted to a healty lifestyle and using less natural ressources in the course of their lives. I think a lot depends on where the Americans live. Somebody living on the east coast, who had the opportunity to visit Europe for say 3-5 years would probably behave differently as being influenced by the experience.

21. # irish chicago on 02 Dec 2009 at 4:59 am

    I find these pictures insulting
    if i put two europeans eating like animals and to americans eating politely does it start off your outlook of the article differently. I think so

22. # Capria on 03 Dec 2009 at 1:15 am

    I like your essay, but I object to your use of photos. It’s not a fair representation of either… well, what DO you call it when you compare a country to a continent?

    Regardless, it’s not fair representation to pluck an amateurish snapshot of college students to represent all of America, and use a staged, professional photograph of a “family” (they are likely unrelated paid models) to represent Europeans. That’s not fair to the citizens of those great countries (I’m not referring to Europe as a country, I know very well that it is a continent of several wildly varied countries) and it’s not fair to your readers, and honestly, I don’t think it’s fair to yourself. You’ve presented a wonderful argument in clear and passionate writing, and I KNOW you’re obviously biased towards Europe, but I think, and it seems I’m not alone, that you’ve undermined your credibility with this… lack of subtlety in your choice of illustration.

23. # Captain Sasha (formerly Captain V.) on 07 Dec 2009 at 9:51 am

    Porlek - “My point is this: If I was American I would want to eat more, if I was French I would probably eat only what I had to consume for survival.”

    Alternative viewpoint. If people get used to the taste and smell of cowdung, they’ll want to have more of it on a daily basis. They wouldn’t be able to figure out how anyone is able to eat foods that doesn’t smell or taste like cowdung. Difference of tastebud preferences…
     
    Response to the comments of Richard, Leo, irish chicago and Capria.
    The photo was meant to be in provocative humour, not unlike many of the imagery Americans use in their sites to take potshots at foreign people. Your outrage at it stands as a testimony to the American public hipocrisy - the inability to take a joke at themselves, while at the same time, quite happy making one at other’s expense.

24. # Sam on 21 Dec 2009 at 7:26 pm

    “Europeans work to live, Americans live to work.”

    I completely agree with that. In fact I’ve seen it said to an American before and they reacted in the expected way, ignored the observation and chose to verbally attack the person who made it for unrelated things, as if insultng them somehow addressed or disproved it.

25. # Captain V. on 04 Jan 2010 at 9:06 am

    @ Sam - “..ignored the observation and chose to verbally attack the person who made it for unrelated things, as if insultng them somehow addressed or disproved it.”

    Thats an American for you. When cornered in a debate or an argument, insult and malign the debator. For instance, if the argument is a critique of Americans as people or nation, the choice of labels would be “Islamic/Arab terrorist”, “Euronationalist”, “Nazi sympathiser”, “Commie” and so one. The choice of the label depends on how good your argument is.

26. # Megan on 07 Jan 2010 at 12:20 am

    I don’t think it’s neccessarily a wholly American trait for one to malign/insult said debator in an argument. I don’t think the whole of America indulges in such behaviour regularly either.

27. # Captain V.on 07 Jan 2010 at 1:30 pm

    @ Megan - “I don’t think it’s neccessarily a wholly American trait for one to malign/insult said debator in an argument.”

    Well, religious hardliners and ultranational extremists do it too. So I guess you are right, it is not just Americans.

28. # Collega’s « Laura on 09 Jan 2010 at 11:04 pm

    [...] http://www.abytheliberal.com/world-culture/europe-vs-america-culture [...]

29. # caroline on 14 Feb 2010 at 12:48 pm

    @CJ: I’m sorry but are you sure about those obesity numbers??? I live in Belgium and I go to Spain and Italy and France quite often and I rarely see obese people there or at home! It’s not like obesity doesn’t exist in Europe but it’s much more frequent in America. I went to (North) America a couple of times and yes, it’s true that you don’t only have McDonalds and KFC or whatever, but the places where you can eat really decent healthy food are usually too expensive to go eat there every single day, so people go to McDonalds because it’s much cheaper (but very unhealthy). In Europe we have many more healthy but affordable food, like lots of small shops where you can just buy a salad or a sandwich. The fast food restaurants we have here are the ones that have their origin in America. We don’t have fast food restaurants of our own, we have healthier alternatives. And I was shocked to see the food you have in your restaurants sometimes, your desserts have enough calories for the whole day and that’s just dessert!! Plus, even if those numbers were true, then the contrasts are much bigger in America anyway; you have more anorexic or obese people, so it’s much extremer than in Europe.

    and to the writer of this article: I think you are right about many things (to the people who think the pictures above the article are incorrect: when I go to America, I always notice how Americans’ eating habits are so different from ours; I’m not saying we are better or anything but Europeans do eat more, um, decently. so maybe the pictures weren’t chosen very well but there lies great truth in those pictures!) but not about the alcohol. Yes, we do get to know alcohol with our family, but that doesn’t stop many European kids from bingedrinking until they are in a coma. I watched a report from kids in Belgium that bingedrink and then vomit until their jaw is detached!! Alcoholism at a very young age happens here too, and I don’t think it happens more often in America. Plus we can buy it much earlier and I think 21 is a much better age to start drinking alcohol because then (at least some people) are more mature then than at 18 or 16 (the age for beer is 16 but heavy liquor is 18) and stop drinking when they feel they have reached a border.

30. # Amar on 19 Feb 2010 at 12:36 am

    I am not an American and been living in USA for considerable time. Based on this experience, I think I can put across my thoughts on the issues that you raised.

    I agree that Americans, in general, lack general awareness about the world - hell, they lack awareness even about their own country. Having said that, I wont discount the fact that they go on to pursue things that they like. Americans, being plentiful and well-off, can afford this. This is unlike the Indian and Chinese people, who have to work hard to accumulate that awareness and knowledge in order to survive.

    Developing and nurturing stereotypes is a tendency of human being and no one is free of it (the kind of words I am using in this sentence, says it all). I studied in USA in a very vibrant collage-town and I was expecting inter-cultural mingling. However, I was surprised to see just a few Black-White couples, considering they form the main social fabric of USA.

    Now coming to the topic of American attitude towards others, I have noticed heavy stereotypes towards Indians, Chinese, Thai, Middle-Eastern countries etc. without having any concrete knowledge about these countries and their cultures. They have a mind-set towards these countries and if they find anything that “conforms” to the mind-set, they are very happy. Anything otherwise, worries them.

    The movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is a classic example - the movie used Bollywood’s ’70s formula, now grossly outdated in contemporary Indian cinema. However, the fact remains that the Americans view India as poor, backward country and the movie conformed to that idea. So many thought-provoking movies don’t even get a mention - but Slumdog did.

    The immigrants come to America with a sense of anticipation - ready to welcome change, experience new things and welcome them in their life. So, they adapt quickly. Americans on other hand are suspicious and will immediately start complaining when they encounter any deficiencies - power outages literally cripple Americans; they use so many processes that they have stopped using common sense - if a step in the process fails, the system falls apart. I am not surprised that the America tourist would want to live in chain hotels that have connection to USA, to use dollar as ‘real currency’ - everywhere, and be amused to see any deities other than Jesus as ‘who is that devil in funny costume?’.

31. # claus on 25 Feb 2010 at 8:47 am

    is hard to compare a country with others 50 ….but pretty much …this article is true ..even if it looks offended for americans, i came in usa 2 years ago from eastern europe to start a new life,… when you live and work with normal people you see that we are all the same , the difference is the educations from the government and mass media , In usa u can afford a lot of things but life itself is superficial , is plastic , not natural ,.. now i just want to go away from here
    america is just like a toy…u play with it but after that you put it away
    this is not a place to make a family

32. # Annette on 25 Mar 2010 at 3:39 am

    I’m American and it’s uncanny how your generalizations about Europeans sum up my wordldview and values perfectly. For instance, I am not perversely materialistic by any stretch of the imagination. Brand names, shiney things, gadgets and these gas-guzzling behemouths with big engines hold absolutely no appeal to me whatsoever. I buy most of my clothing secondhand as to not needlessly waste and out of refusal to support any unethical labor practices, i.e. sweatshops or child labor. My husband and I own a perfectly good small used car with great gas mileage but I actually walk to work everyday. As far as what I’m having for supper- organic butternut squash, not fried, or supersized if you can imagine.

    As for earning money as a means to an end, you’ve gone and described all-American me again. I value relationships first and foremost and have for as long as I’ve had the mind to contemplate such things. I passionately and unabashedly value experience, trying new things, culture, ever-long learning and enrichment and could not care less about status, wealth, having a flashy job or some laudable title. I do not live to work at all, never have and never will. The money I earn which is not allocated to neccesary expenses goes to cultural events mostly- this week alone I plan on attending yoga, a Bach concert, an art opening, a drum circle and am taking an online course just for fun. I spend extra on healthy, organic foods willingly.

    I have not eaten at a McDonalds since I was a child, I do not care a whit about Paris Hilton, Rihanna, Lady GaGa or Tom Cruise, am not Christian and as I write this, I am listening to a song called “Pampa Lirima’ which is traditional Andean music, like not from North America if you can imagine. I enjoy skinnydipping and sunbathing nude actually and absolutely find it laughable that some of the sanctimonious powers that be in my country had a conniption over Janet Jackson’s breast being shown on national television for roughly a nanosecond.

    Am I wealthy and formally educated? Not in the least. I am a working-class American woman with no formal education because I have not been able to afford it thus far, but I enjoy reading books and learning on my own. I enjoy travel tremendously and am over the moon when I’ve earned enough money to do so. I garuntee that my husband and I will fit in so seamlessly in London when we go this Fall and won’t be outed as Americans until someone notices our accents. We are so excited to immerse ourselves in English culture, to learn, to experience and to come away from it all enriched and bettered.

    I could go on but this is not meant as an autobiography as much as it is just an attempt to illustrate the fallacy of sweeping, polarizing generalizations. Yes, I agree with so much of what you’re saying here, but I am not like the Americans you describe, and none of my friends are either. I bristle at ‘ugly Americans’ abroad and here at home as much as (if not more than) the next person but also bristle at the fact that Americans who aren’t embarassments get lumped in with the brainwashed and dull-normal.

33. # Boxman on 25 May 2010 at 12:20 am

    Did you notice in the left picture how the girls were sporting American colors and holding up the flag, whereas the British family was just looking at one another while ignoring the son? Also, if you look closely at the food that the British family is eating on the right, they have giant portions, compared to the broiled chicken wing and rice I’m having tonight. Also in the article, it stated that Europeans take pleasure in traveling… could this have an alternate meaning?

34. # Badbury on 29 May 2010 at 12:25 pm

    The problem with stereotyping is that it is never valid for a whole nation, townsfolk or ethnic group but it does fit its majority rather snugly. Not all Englishmen are polite, have a great sense of humour and are wearing an umbrella, not all Frenchmen are rude or are dedicated to a joie de vivre and are carrying a flûte de baguette under their arm, not all Germans are … whatever they are and definitively not all Americans are rude, obnoxious, loud, fat and stupid. But some really are.

    I experienced an American woman being extremely … let’s say overenthusiastic towards a barman in England, because she ordered a soda and he brought - what the ignorant English as well as the other nasty Europeans call a soda - a carbonated water.

    Another American traveller whilst wearing a stetson was shouting for some time at a more and more intimidated looking receptionist in Germany: “Why don’t you people have the same (computer) keyboards as we have?” An American friend of mine who was standing next to me just rolled his eyes with disgust, walked over to his contryman and said: “Stop making a scene. By the way computer where invented in Germany!” He got a very big and grateful smile from the receptionist for that.

    A very good friend of mine from Germany once lived for some time as an au pair in the south of the US. The lady of the house once took her for a shopping spree to the next and obviously well-to-do small town where several BMWs, Mercedes and Porsches etc where parked outside. Madam then asked my friend: “Do you have cars like this in Germany?”

    I have actually plenty of anecdotes like this. However all tourists can be quite annoying, ask the French about the Germans, the Spanish about the British, look at Japanese travel groups but there is no tourist like the American tourist. They from time to time can be even extremely nice and easy going but mostly they are typically American.

35. # fast food obesity connection on 10 Jun 2010 at 8:20 am

    fast food obesity connection…

    When googling fast food obesity connection, I found some more interesting results on some of the later pages, I think it’s always worthwhile going past the first and second page on google if you’ve got the time….

36. # Inferno on 19 Jun 2010 at 3:06 pm

    It’s true man. American culture is rotten and miserable.

    Most of us are stuck in wage-slavery. We’re busting our balls, letting the system squeeze us dry for every drop we got. We get just enough money to stay in debt for our entire lives.

    And the worst of all… we don’t have time for each other anymore. We don’t have time to learn new skills and develop ourselves. It’s all work. It’s all survival. All the way until we’re too old to fight the fight. Feels like being in a third world shithole.

37. # nonentity on 25 Jun 2010 at 3:12 pm

    Having lived on four continents, and currently living in DC, I have to say that America is schizophrenic. you can’t judge it as a whole, because there are so many different cultures in its regions. The west is laid-back, open, more secular, liberal. The northeast is hectic, cold (in more ways than one), and never sleeps. The midwest is traditional, old, and not as worldly.

    However, Europe has problems far greater than the US. The US’s problems are in the limelight, but Europeans hide their problems. For example: US has had to deal with racism for its whole history. yet, the most racist countries on the planet, are the European ones. Racist not out of ignorance, like it is in the US, but out of arrogance. And let’s not forget the Holocaust, Inquistiion, crusades…some history you guys gush about.

    Again, having lived all over, I have to say the one country that has it right, is Canada. Even though most other canadians will say it is not representative of Canada, Toronto is the best city in the world to live in, in the best country in the world. I absolutely love the city. What’s not to love? Multicultural, peaceful, open. You can find anything you want there. Its a nicer, smaller, version of NYC.

    And to all you Europhiles, just to remind you…Toronto is in North America.

38. # Mikayla on 26 Jul 2010 at 5:50 pm

    Interesting article. I’d heard that European attitudes toward work and career were more laid back than those of the typical American. One of the execs in my company mentioned that the IT dev center in which I work is very likely to stay in the US rather than moving to Europe (though the bulk of work we do will be for Europe in the near future) in part because European workers were not as “dedicated,” which I interpreted as saying they are not as obsessed with their jobs over there as we tend to be in America. From what I’ve seen, collecting money and stuff is not the way to happiness–seeking positive relationships and enjoying music and travel and such is a much better way to be happy. I’d gladly take a lower paying or part time job if it allowed me to go kayaking more.

39. # Anonymous on 30 Jul 2010 at 2:40 am

    Hello,

    I enjoyed reading this article quite a bit.
    I am young- still a teenager and I live in America. When I attend college I plan on study anthropology, for the very reason I was reading this article (was that comma unnecessary?). I see the beauty in every culture; each day I find myself appreciating it all.

    There are flaws in every society and culture, but it’s not about that. It’s about how you personally choose to live. I want to get an education to become a journalist, or just seriously delve into anthropology. Through my years of studying each culture and opening opportunities where I need, I’ll be capable of, hopefully, finding a way to become a citizen where I choose. I do take pride in America, but I am not too arrogant to ignore the fact that another country may provide me with a better lifestyle.

    I adore learning about my country and others. I can’t wait to some day visit Europe (I am going to Greece & Italy next summer myself); if I immerse myself well enough, I may find that, for what I want to get out of in life, Europe is where I need to be.

    Until then, thanks for sharing a viable view on each…culture.

    By the way, I must agree- to an extent, Americans DO work to live. It’s busy, busy, busy, and loads of parents around me sighing: “I can’t do that because of my job, sweetheart”. Even my home is high stress due to work, which is saddening. I would bet that in most of Europe, the conversations do not illustrate how your job is thriving or how much money you’re making, but that is not the case in the US. Many conversations here do revolve around such topics. I don’t know if it is because we feel the need to share the stress, or if it is lack of social skills. Maybe through all the work it’s been building our country to where it’s established, we’ve forgotten the traditional European family/home lifestyle…

    I’m glad I’ve got God in my heart, because he is surely having fun leading me through the chaos of the world. I love it.

40. # John Galt on 10 Aug 2010 at 12:28 pm

    Yes, I do believe Americans work far more than many other people of differing nationalities, but is the really such a bad thing? At least, every summer vacation I am extremely bored, with no work.

    Anyway, Americans are just as capable of sitting down to a nice dinner as Europeans and Europeans are just as capable to eating unhealthily as Americans. Thanks for stereotyping, though.

    And I wish people would stop calling most Americans xenophobic. I’m just one example of many, but half my free time is spent on BBC’s Asia-Pacific tab or on TSR. Yes, we do seem to send our most culturally insensitive people out into the world, and when I figure out how to stop that I’ll let you now, but trust me, most Americans are intelligent, thoughtful, and caring people.

    I love my country and I really do believe we are a positive presence in the world.

41. # Paul on 12 Aug 2010 at 9:39 am

    Nothing can be of negative presence in the world than the US, with a little exception to Nuclear Bomb and other weapon of mass destruction. McDonald came from your proud American culture and most of the world’s unhealthiness came from Americans way of unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. I guess Americans are bored with no work during the summer because they do not know how to work for charities without monthly pay, I can think of thousands of things i could do during my summer, IF I have the time. Spending time reading about Asia-Pacific is a good thing, but it would be better if you choose a president that do not wish to mess with other nations problem while you still have your healthcare problem to take care of. Some of the Americans Teachers I met here just came to thorw bibles at our students and praise our King whom you read about only on WIKIPEDIA, my King has more than that!
    And yes I have met many nice Americans and I have plenty of friends in the US and they all understand that the US requires many excellent president and a new era of minding their own business.

42. # Aaron on 07 Oct 2010 at 11:01 am

    i haven’t read all comments, but I wanted to ask you lot, why the americans first learn to drive (with 16) and then are allowed to drink alcohol(21). I’m 18 and live in Switzerland and we are allowed to drink with 16 and drive with 18…(in EU, to buy the alcohole you have to be 18) I was just wondering, what they were thinking, as they set that law. In EU they start at least at the same age, but 3 years…… Before I start driving, I have to know how much alcohol I’m allowed to drink, that I still can drive the car. And what’s with the lawyers and laws?? How do you manage, to put your dog into the microwave till it dies, and even get money for it, because there’s no sing on the microwave that says “don’t put you dog into the microwave, it could die”. What is wrong with the americans… ?!? I hope someone can explain that to me, because i get very enoyed about the american stupidity

43. # Aj on 19 Nov 2010 at 8:13 am

    Are you motherfucking kidding with this stupid bullshit article?. First of all, you are an ignorant fool. Secondly, you are a very poor writerand need lessons.

44. # Justin on 31 Dec 2010 at 4:41 am

    I would agree with you on a lot. Except there are some towns and areas that buck this trend. Ann Arbor for example where I live is very educated, has a laid back attitude on marajuana (its not uncommon for people to just light up outside in plain view and the police don’t care), and alcohol, and the best part is less than 1/4th of the population is Christian and for the most part those that are are liberal, so you will rarely if ever see anything having to do with religion other than a church and there are not that many here. Health food stores are popular and its rare that you see anyone overweight, and people here for the most part hate materialists. Plus there is art gallories, museums, coffee shops, concerts, poetry readings, theater and this town sells the most book per capita in the USA.

    Not all of America fits your stereotype but too much of it does, thats why I will never live outside a “progressive liberal” area Oh and people like AJ are part of the problem.
    Peace

45. # Bob on 22 Apr 2012 at 4:12 pm

    Excellent article. Americans are tired and grey. Working till you die and nothing to show for all that hard work, work, work. Very few benefits, no health insurance, no pension, yet they still work, work, work. Clueless, most do not even have a passporte, and those that do, many do not use that pass porte. Good riddance.

46. # robert helmis on 25 Apr 2012 at 6:08 pm

    My father is from Europe. I grew up in America. I have traveled to 24 countries and have seen half the countries in Europe over the course of several trips. It’s true that Americans eat like pigs. Our food is so much better and most of the food in Europe is plain with less complexity and flavor. Greece is an exception, they have the best food anywhere. I agree that American are more loud in public. We are more enthused and excited about our world. Our percepion of things are more enlightened and we are more free when it comes to our behaviour. Europeans are more conditioned to behave a certain way and dress less casual because they are far less secure in the way they appear to others. While in most countries in Europe I noticed that people appear and are dressed respectively they are not social as we are. You cannot have a casual conversation with someone in a train easily in Europe but in the U.S.A. people are much more friendly. I agree that there are many uneducated people in America. There is a huge labor market and many jobs which don’t require a highly educated population. We have allot more going on and have the largest economy in the world and these people live quite well on their labor salary. Entertainment, fun and quality of life is what most of Americans are concentrated on. Theres also many highly educated people. Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer. Knock America if it pleases you but I think we are doing much better than most Europeans, have much more fun and eat much better food than Europe.

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