posted June 03, 2015 12:08 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Faith:

You've never been there.

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posted June 03, 2015 04:23 AM            

Knowing you - I think Italy... Rome or Milan.. would be the best choice

posted June 03, 2015 04:26 AM            

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That's the paradox I find with America. People are superficially welcoming and friendly

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This surprises me ^.
I've never been to the US, but the Americans I've met seemed warm to me. I didn't find them superficial.
I find American culture much closer and more similar to Central European culture (which is my background) - than Australian culture (which is where I live).

quote:

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I missed the soul of Europe

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posted June 03, 2015 04:50 AM            

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I think one of the biggest reasons the U.S is so disconnected is how spread out it is. Europe is a lot smaller and you can get to other cities and countries more quickly.

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posted June 03, 2015 04:53 AM            

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Originally posted by ikja:
I will say that London is the best city in the world.
EVERYONE fits in and is tolerated.

Alright, I'm done now lol.

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This is pretty funny - re: London loll http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQKj6gkoJyE

posted June 03, 2015 09:04 AM            

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
Don't have to. I've met plenty of British people here at home.

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No, you're right, you don't have to do anything, but that is a very ignorant statement.

The UK is *not* little America.

The history, culture, architecture, social customs, government, cuisine, modes of travel, flora and fauna...everything is different.

Europe has a soul, as it's been said, and a long history. Some Americans don't even know how to appreciate "long history" because they've never been around it before and can't conceive of the feel of it.

And besides, the US is not like the US. The States are still diversified, too.

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As for some temperamental differences:

All the English women I've known and lived with are much quieter, more deferential, and self-restrained than Americans. (English men are more formal than Americans, too, but I found them more outgoing than the women.) English people won't open up right away or at all. Americans are friendly in our direct, smiley way, but the English are friendly in a more sensitive, considerate, real way. So I learned that if they are really friendly to you, it means you've passed their tests and they trust you, so the friendship is more likely to last.

They filter more up front and have higher standards of behavior, in other words, and their relationships may be more meaningful and deep because of that.

posted June 03, 2015 09:45 AM            

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Originally posted by Faith:
No, you're right, you don't have to do anything, but that is a very ignorant statement.

The UK is *not* little America.

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posted June 03, 2015 11:18 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:

WTF?!? I clearly said I was joking when I said that it's little America. However,I will say that in my experience people from English speaking countries (U.S, Canada, UK,Australia etc.) have more similarities than differences. I have met quite a few people from all of these places and most of them were indistinguishable from Americans in a lot of ways, except the accents of course. You have to remember that a significant amount of people in all of these places share a common heritage and thus have a lot of similarities.
The point is I want to go somewhere that is radically different from the U.S. Plus the UK just doesn't call to me like it does to some people. It's nothing personal. I think everyone has a different place they'd like to go. Chill out Mrs.Understandslonghistory

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I missed that you said you were joking. My apologies.

I don't care whether you want to go to the UK or not. I myself have no interest in returning.

But when you say you know all about a country because you know some people from there, that's pretty ignorant.

Also I really do not understand the assumption that linguistic similarities translate to social similarities. In college I was temperamentally more similar to my roommates from Turkey, Portugal, and Ghana than my English roommates.

That's why I became closer to them than my English roommates.

posted June 03, 2015 11:51 AM            

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Originally posted by Faith:

But when you say you know all about a country because you know some people from there, that's pretty ignorant.

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posted June 03, 2015 11:54 AM            

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Originally posted by Faith:

In college I was temperamentally more similar to my roommates from Turkey, Portugal, and Ghana than my English roommates.

That's why I became closer to them than my English roommates.

Also my German friends make more sense to me than the various Canadians

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posted June 03, 2015 12:01 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Faith:

Also I really do not understand the assumption that linguistic similarities translate to social similarities.

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posted June 03, 2015 12:22 PM            

I liked the lovely landscape and some historical places though.

I saw someone mentioned Italy. It's great for study abroad. I know Spain and I really like it...but beware you must know some Spanish haha

posted June 03, 2015 01:08 PM            

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
Well aren't you just a special snowflake? I personally have a thing for Eastern European culture and feel I would vibe well with people in those countries.

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Just telling you my experiences.

posted June 03, 2015 01:45 PM            

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Originally posted by Odette:

This is pretty funny - re: London loll http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQKj6gkoJyE

I've travelled to London as a child. I haven't been there recently though, and I've never lived there. I find London beautiful, but many people seem to complain about living there.

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I wouldn't necessarily classify it as 'beautiful' lol I think the landmarks are wasted on me. Other parts of the UK probably have the effect on me that London has on you.

However, I think as an ethnic minority... London is definitely a 'safe place' and that's probably why the far right movement is growing over here. I think that personally, when I travel abroad, one of the things I am most conscious about is my skin colour. I have to research where I am going and the places to avoid - that's sad. Imagine, in 2015?!?! However, that's why London is definitely a great city! The best city even!

posted June 03, 2015 02:10 PM            

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posted June 03, 2015 08:01 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
I'm not going to the UK. It doesn't really interest me. Too much like the U.S

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Actually it's not really. In some ways it TRIES to be, eg US style TV game shows with the audience "whoop-whooping" (just doesn't sound genuine coming from a Brit somehow!).

We have a chat show host (Jonathan Ross) who tries to be a bit like Jimmy Fallon but actually the styles are completely different and Jonathan is very (working-middle class) British (love Jimmy btw, wish his shows would stream over here.)

British people can be pretty down to earth/blunt and would probably say things Americans would consider a bit awkward or inappropriate. On the other hand the US has produced some of the funniest spoof movies ever.

posted June 04, 2015 11:42 AM            

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Originally posted by Jo B:
Actually it's not really. In some ways it TRIES to be, eg US style TV game shows with the audience "whoop-whooping" (just doesn't sound genuine coming from a Brit somehow!).

We have a chat show host (Jonathan Ross) who tries to be a bit like Jimmy Fallon but actually the styles are completely different and Jonathan is very (working-middle class) British (love Jimmy btw, wish his shows would stream over here.)

British people can be pretty down to earth/blunt and would probably say things Americans would consider a bit awkward or inappropriate. On the other hand the US has produced some of the funniest spoof movies ever.

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posted June 04, 2015 01:44 PM            

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Originally posted by Jo B:
Well...Europe has so much variety, culturally, linguistically. Each country has a different feel too. British sense of humor is pretty good. France has chicness and class, Italy style and passion. Spain passion and a slight craziness, The Greek Islands are beautiful. The more mediterranean you go the more laid back the lifestyle can be. They have siestas, dine out late and go to bed late!. Germany is clean and efficient. Holland is flat, people are friendly and will insist on speaking English to you if you go there. I know these are pretty stereotypical impressions but anyone outside of Europe really should do a European tour at least once in their life. Not to mention the heritage and history, the churches, buildings, cathedrals, beautiful environments. I still need to go to Rome! I went to Florence and Pisa as a kid, even walked up the leaning tower of Pisa when it was still open to the public (closed now because it's leaning a bit TOO much!). I studied the frescos in Assisi, years before the Basilica was destroyed by an earthquake. To me those memories are priceless.

San Francisco is the one American city I could happily live in as it has some of the feel and soul of a European city. I also love New York and have visited Chicago, New Orleans, LA (a lot), Niagara Falls, Colorado (Boulder), the Grand Canyon, Key West. Those experiences were amazing too.

For me America is fun and exciting and got my creative juices flowing although I do feel more grounded back here. Perhaps if I actually relocated properly there and put down roots I would feel differently. All the Americans I met insisted America was my true home. I'd still move there like a shot if I had the opportunity.

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Yeah, I totally miss European cultures. -sigh- They're so beautiful and have a great antiquity to them.

Spain a little crazy? What do you mean?

posted June 04, 2015 01:57 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Faith:
No, you're right, you don't have to do anything, but that is a very ignorant statement.

The UK is *not* little America.

The history, culture, architecture, social customs, government, cuisine, modes of travel, flora and fauna...everything is different.

Europe has a soul, as it's been said, and a long history. Some Americans don't even know how to appreciate "long history" because they've never been around it before and can't conceive of the feel of it.

And besides, the US is not like the US. The States are still diversified, too.

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As for some temperamental differences:

All the English women I've known and lived with are much quieter, more deferential, and self-restrained than Americans. (English men are more formal than Americans, too, but I found them more outgoing than the women.) English people won't open up right away or at all. Americans are friendly in our direct, smiley way, but the English are friendly in a more sensitive, considerate, real way. So I learned that if they are really friendly to you, it means you've passed their tests and they trust you, so the friendship is more likely to last.

They filter more up front and have higher standards of behavior, in other words, and their relationships may be more meaningful and deep because of that.

^^ Generally speaking. That's the best way I can describe it. I was only there for four months, not a lifetime.

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UK is similar to America, no doubt. UK is the mother country. UK is different from America but also too similar for me to find interesting.

Yes, English men do seem more formal and refrained. Some similarities tho, I can't explain what is similar though.