Most Europeans’ View of USA

Originally posted by Palynka
How would a French person, speaking only in French, would be treated in the US?

Like a cultural god.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Like a cultural god.

Hah, doubt it. It's true that the French, on first impressions appear snobbish, I found the same when I first arrived, but what has to be realised is that you were first of all in Paris, which is not a decent comparison, the Parisians are a completely differetn culture to the majority of French. Secondly, what is at first interpreted as snobberey is not in fact that at all. It is just an "I'm always right" attitude, which is a French thing, not a European thing, visit Dublin, London or Berlin to see that it's not representative of Europe, but also that this apparent snobbery is easily dispelled once you bother your arse to accept a few things.
I've worked in the service industry in Paris and I learnt that there is one GOLDEN RULE which will help any anglo-saxon, as they call us english speakers.
We in the anglophone world view a place of business as an extension of the public space.
The French view a place of business as an extension of the owners private space.
If you enter a place of business and don't say "Bonjour" to the room, it is considered exactly the same as if I had walked into your house unexpected, sat down in your favourite chair and asked for a beer.
The first mistake of any anglo-saxon such as ourselves is to consider the French as an extension of western culture. We should instead treat them as alien in their customs as feudal Japan.

Edit: The majority of this post is aimed at Whodey in fact. Sorry, clicked wrong.

Originally posted by whodey
I think you raise some interesting points here. America is the New World compared to Europe. As a result, Europeans have a richer history to draw from in which culture is more abundant. Conversly, Americans are seen as more brash and uncouth as you say as a result. Just you wait, give them another 500 years and they will become the cultural snobs that Eur ...[text shortened]... ured city that is hospitable any day over a snobish city that has an infinite amount of culture.

That's just Paris.

Dull a place as I've ever been.

Edit: The rest of France is nice though.

Edit again: I found Paris so uninspiring the first time that I went there again a month later because I felt that surely I missed something, after all, this was Paris. It was just as uninteresting the second time.

Originally posted by Wheely
That's just Paris.

Dull a place as I've ever been.

Edit: The rest of France is nice though.

Edit again: I found Paris so uninspiring the first time that I went there again a month later because I felt that surely I missed something, after all, this was Paris. It was just as uninteresting the second time.

Fair enough, the Parisians aren't for everyone, but you're right about the rest of France. Like I said, Paris is an entity of its own, most of us anglo-saxons (myself included) would find the non-Parisian French people as friendly and welcoming as could be expected.

Originally posted by Wheely
That's just Paris.

Dull a place as I've ever been.

Edit: The rest of France is nice though.

Edit again: I found Paris so uninspiring the first time that I went there again a month later because I felt that surely I missed something, after all, this was Paris. It was just as uninteresting the second time.

You missed it twice, then.

Edit - Of course, elitist sheep love to criticize it.

Originally posted by Wheely
That's just Paris.

Dull a place as I've ever been.

Edit: The rest of France is nice though.

Edit again: I found Paris so uninspiring the first time that I went there again a month later because I felt that surely I missed something, after all, this was Paris. It was just as uninteresting the second time.

what kinds of things were you looking for, in a city?

Originally posted by huckleberryhound
I have never bashed slimjim, although i sometimes find his xenaphobic arrogance noticable. I am intelligent enough to know that the worst aspects of an individual or group, are not iherant traits of a whole country....something others find harder to grasp.

Xenaphobic. ROTFLMAF!😵😵🙄

Originally posted by zeeblebot
what kinds of things were you looking for, in a city?

Life!

Rome, Istanbul, Edinburgh and even Brighton have Paris well beaten in my view.

Originally posted by Palynka
You missed it twice, then.

Edit - Of course, elitist sheep love to criticize it.

I'm an elitist sheep because I found Paris boring? I thought it was quite pretty apart from the Seine of course but that was about it.

Originally posted by Palynka
How would a French person, speaking only in French, would be treated in the US?

Well it depends. You know women dig that sort of thing. 😉

This reminds me, in my travels in Europe it seemed everyone, and I mean everyone except one or two, could converse with me in English. However, when I entered France it all changed. Then all of a sudden I was the only person in the city who could speak English. That is until I met someone in the subway system who was an attendant who spoke perfect English as we were looking for the correct train to take. I was stunned!! We then took the train we were instructed to take, but only to find out we had been lied to.

Originally posted by whodey
Well it depends. You know women dig that sort of thing. 😉

This reminds me, in my travels in Europe it seemed everyone, and I mean everyone except one or two, could converse with me in English. However, when I entered France it all changed. Then all of a sudden I was the only person in the city who could speak English. That is until I met someone in th ...[text shortened]... !! We then took the train we were instructed to take, but only to find out we had been lied to.

Any particular reason why they should speak English?

Originally posted by Wheely
I'm an elitist sheep because I found Paris boring? I thought it was quite pretty apart from the Seine of course but that was about it.

Like I said, you missed it. Twice. The concerts on the street by young bands, the cafes and bars in small squares and streets, the night gatherings outside in the "pointe" of the St. Louis island, the open-air summer dancing by the river Seine near the Arab Institute, the lighthouse boat (Batofar) where there are great concerts and DJ sets, the list goes on...

Of course, it's "cool" to say that Paris is overrated. After all, it's famous therefore it must be crap.

Originally posted by Palynka
Of course, it's "cool" to say that Paris is overrated. After all, it's famous therefore it must be crap.

You seem a bit obsessed with elitist sheepism.

Originally posted by Palynka
Like I said, you missed it. Twice. The concerts on the street by young bands, the cafes and bars in small squares and streets, the night gatherings outside in the "pointe" of the St. Louis island, the open-air summer dancing by the river Seine near the Arab Institute, the lighthouse boat (Batofar) where there are great concerts and DJ sets, the list goes on. s "cool" to say that Paris is overrated. After all, it's famous therefore it must be crap.

The concerts on the street by young bands, the cafes and bars in small squares and streets, the night gatherings outside in the "pointe" of the St. Louis island, the open-air summer dancing by the river Seine near the Arab Institute, the lighthouse boat (Batofar) where there are great concerts and DJ sets, the list goes on...

I swear, you should go to Brighton. Most major cities have your Parisian life and culture and more these days. A walk along the South Bank of the Thames in London in the summer from say, Rotherhithe to Waterloo Bridge, will expose you to far more varied and exciting events, shows, sales than any walk along the Seine or the Champs Elysee. Even the tiny little Norwegian city of Drammen has street life, street theatre, constant open air fares and live music, river walks, boating, bars, life etc etc. Paris reminded me of a city that once had all the culture and the class but stayed where it was while the rest of the world moved on and surpassed it.

Of course, it's "cool" to say that Paris is overrated. After all, it's famous therefore it must be crap.

I didn't know it was 'cool' to think Paris is dull. Is anybody who thinks Paris is dull lying?

Don't get me wrong, there are interesting places to see in Paris, Louvre and Notre Dame but, as a generalization, I found the street culture and night life less interesting than many places.

EDIT: I should perhaps mention Madrid too. The street musicians there are really impressive.

Originally posted by Wheely
[b]The concerts on the street by young bands, the cafes and bars in small squares and streets, the night gatherings outside in the "pointe" of the St. Louis island, the open-air summer dancing by the river Seine near the Arab Institute, the lighthouse boat (Batofar) where there are great concerts and DJ sets, the list goes on...

I swear, you should go ...[text shortened]... should perhaps mention Madrid too. The street musicians there are really impressive.[/b]

I live in Paris, I know what I'm talking about.

London is also fabulous, but that doesn't make Paris "boring". If you were looking for stuff in places like the Champs Elysées then you were in the wrong place.

Paris has all that you mention is great in other cities, why should it be then "boring" and "uninspiring"? Your opinion only means one of two things: You didn't know where to look or you're just going with the trend (among some circles) of bashing Paris because of its popularity.