Comments on: The Four Things I Hate About Europe

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:39:24 +0000

Politeness! Give me a break. You can have Europeans eating out of your hand if you know how to deal with them. It really is quite simple. Just be over-the-top polite to them and they will do their best to return the favor.

By: Gaby

Gaby — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:37:12 +0000

politeness in America is a little overdone, I have to say. Now, I am not American, I’m latin and we are pretty damn friendly… but it’s completely different. As a retail store/restaurant employee I’ve been taken to the back of the store by the manager because I don’t smile at every customer that crosses paths with me, and it’s not because I refuse to, It’s just that it has to come natural.

I think the best service is made by the people that know how to read their table/customer. It is part of their work and some Europeans should really be more attentive.

and so true about convenience… I absolutely HATE places that close early. I guess I’m just spoiled… but life is to live outside… and working some sundays/evenings to get your turn to enjoy convenience the rest of them sounds damn good to me.

By: Blue

Blue — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:49:19 +0000

I come from SE Asia – Malaysia, to be exact. I’ve never understood when Westerners described the SE Asians as “warm and friendly” … that is until I went to Europe for the very first time last year. I was rather taken aback by how the Milanese (that was my first stop) interacted with me but very soon realized that that’s simply how they are. The Europeans are friendly people but they do maintain some kind of distance. I love Europe and am already making plans to go back there later this year.

Cheers!

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:17:59 +0000

You’re not being spoiled. As a Brit, I’m not a fan of mass Americanisation.

You say you ‘only’ get a waiter 2-3 times during a meal. Why would you want any more? I don’t want to be interrupted when I’m eating out. The only reason I need a waiter is to bring food and drinks. If something is not ok, I will tell them, I don’t need to be continually asked.

Unfortunately some UK restaurants are following the UK and waiters are becoming too intrusive during meal times in my opinions.

With regards to one stop shops, I think we have a lot more in the UK than mainland Europe (we have Tesco, Asda etc). I have mixed feelings about them. These shops cannot offer a personal level of service that you get on the High Streets in small towns. I am from a small town in Gloucestershire, and people always greet me with a ‘Hello’ when I walk in. If I know the people working in the shop, they may ask me how I am, but will leave me alone to look unless I ask them for help. You don’t get this service in the big stores. You also don’t get the quality. A local butcher provides better meat than a super market. Bigger stores also don’t provide a community feel.

That said, we do most of our shopping in a big store as most smaller shops are closed on Sunday and working a 6 day week, means thats the only day to shop.

I really agree with you on paying for things like parking, it drives me mad ad is killing our high streets off.

One last thing, this is not a rant and I’m not having a go at you. I’ve been to the States and loved it, it’s totally different and thats what makes travelling great. I just disagree on a few points thats all. I do agree with what you say below as well. Especially history. Europe has it in abundance.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:08:25 +0000

Thanks I was wondering what to give my sister who moved to Europe=) I will send her peanut butter cups, cheese its and cereal I remember was something she missed. You know the good stuff with marshmellows a lot of sugar etc.

By: Aaron K

Aaron K — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:18:34 +0000

Hey, I found this blog really funny. I’m originally from Canada and up there in our igloos we tend to think that the world loves us or something – there are even stories about how people from the US put canadian flags on their gear while travelling (I have not encountered this). The rational? You have to live in a box to realize that globally many people dislike North Americans just because their north american. Is it because the red neck texans must tote guns? The avoidance and derogation of the Kyoto protocals? Perhaps it was George Bush and the panic intelligent people feel when they realize he had access to nuclear missles? Hmm, Jerry Springer? I just.. don’t.. know

My experience is that most people globally, and especially Europeans can be biased towards north americans. Maybe its the somewhat generic attitude that many north americans have that “USA is the best place in the world to live” or the notion that somehow it is the cultural center of the universe but… many people globally find north americans arrogant. Perhaps your catching some of their bias…

Course it is still bias… mind you I find it a little alarming that after exposure to fine european cusine that your pineing for cheeze-ys.

I would give up this mecca of capital industrilist corruption for the humanistic cafes of europe any day. It may have its problems but it also has.. history.. culture.. and a senuality that does not exist in the western world.

Then again, I think that every person has a temperment and that different places innately suite them.

Like I personally love the relaxed attitude of a european evening. It is time to just exist. Drink some wine, enjoy tapas. Chase the leggy blond’s eyes at the table across from you. Walk down a cobblestone road and feel the ancientness. So I cant make it in time to best buy to purchase my next bigger LCDLEDTVSETEXTRAVAGANZA. Big deal, I’d prefer to slip back to that little old apartment nestled in the old side of town; turn on some flamenco music, pick some of my fresh basil and enjoy a glass of wine which I occasionally pour sips of into whatever I am cooking. The evening breeze carries with it memories of galacian fires and ancient roman civilization. There is a dignity here in peasentry and a love of existence for the sake of existence.

To me, that is life. to hell with cheezez/cheezums/or whatever those little orange balls of dehydrated bread fried in lard and kraft dinner cheeze mix are called.

No disrespect intended – its just that most of what you dislike about Europe is what makes me love it.

By: Lucille

Lucille — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:56:10 +0000

. . . . . It would be much easier, – if you would just consider, as the people in London say; – “Europe ? – now, – that’s an other cup of tea,” –
– The key is to; – A c c e p t the Continent, as it is. ( The atmosphere is, of course not the same, as where you went to Elementary School. )
– - do not compare and you would have a ‘winning-streak’ .
What do you think ?
Lucille / usartistic@hotmail.com

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By: imissgermany

imissgermany — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:27:00 +0000

in addition, here’s some stuff i love about germany:
1. fashion-almost every single woman dressed very nice in a way that they look like people we only see in fashion magazines in the U.S.; about 75% or more of the women are slender; they also wore minimal makeup; i went there in the fall so everyone dressed in layers of scarf, blouse, pea coats (a must for all german women), boots; hats; and yes, they do wear jeans BUT not with sweatshirts and sneakers like we do in the US; many times, I would spend time just people watching and amazed how nice they dressed
2. Coffee- is it just me or their coffee there is extra good? Go to any bakery and they serve excellent coffee macchiato or latte with whip cream
3. Food servings- definitely smaller than the US but you won’t be starving afterwards; maybe this is why it’s rare for someone to ask for a doggie bag after dining; unlike here in the US, many times, they will give you monstrous servings; i miss the currywurst w/ pommes frittes, turkish kebabs, and plain strussels
4. Walking-I’ve never walked so much in my life! It’s a good form of exercise though and maybe along with the smaller food serving, this is why I lost weight over there
5. History-being a history lover, I am just amazed of the castles, cathedrals, and other stuff I saw; Germany is very old and rich in history; we went to Aachen cathedral and just couldn’t believe that Charlamgne walked on the same hallways 1200 years ago, that was walking on; I also saw stone crosses that were built in the medieval times to stop the black plague
6.weather-well, sometimes I liked it sometimes I didn’t; I live in sunny southern Cali so sometimes, I enjoyed the gloomy, rainy, cloudy weather but hated it if it went on for more than 3 days; I also couldn’t get used to the idea that some businesses (even restaurants with indoor dining!) closed nov 1 until feb 28 the following year; life pretty much remains unchanged all year if you live in southern california and you have access to almost anything here 24/7 so in this case, it was a little rough.

Great post NomadicMatt! I agree with your post. Please share your dislikes/likes if you’ve been to Europe. Im very intersted to hear your thoughts!

By: imissgermany

imissgermany — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:57:14 +0000

just came from frankfurt, germany 2 weeks ago and loved it but you’re right, there’s some annoying things about germany atleast (don’t know about the rest of europe)
1. people are generally not friendly, talkative, or approachable
2. most of the food are actually good but not too much variety; ex. mcdonalds and burger king are only burger fast foods
3. not service oriented; you’ll see your waiter about 2-3 times only while dining and there’s someyimes only 1 waiter for like 10 tables
4. you have to pay for everything; parking space, bags in groceries, water at the restaurant; plus they don’t give you ice on your dinks or refills
5. motels/hotels, even with high ratings are not as nice unlike the US; don’t have high expectations
6. most businesses closed on sundays; usually any retail stores, malls, hair/nail salons and groceries; only stuff open are restaurants, bars, cafes, movies, bakeries, museums; on weekdays, they are open up to 8 pm; PLUS they really don’t have much of a one stop store such as WalMart, Target, or Costco. The only one I saw in germany was Metro.

Are we just being spoiled as Americans? What do you guys think

By: Des Miller (Scottish not European)

Des Miller (Scottish not European) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:36:09 +0000

Hi Matt.Yeah OK I suppose you are right in that aspect as I miss loads of things when I travel abroad.Going to NY in Jan for 6 months & I cant wait,never been there yet but America has to be my fav destination apart from the island I live on in Scotland.The old adage is “there is nae (no )place like hame (home”