European cultural shock

Well I do think we've all more or less heard about European countries customs / traditions.

So yes, I would say the shock is not as important as if you go to the other side of the planet!

I've been living in France, UK, Spain and of course there are differences but no big shock as if I would have gone to China for example

I agree with Julien. The fact is the European don't speak the same languages, and do have very different roots and cultures, but... the mentality is getting close.

Today, the Europeans agree on "basic values" such as no to the death penalt, yes to abortion and contraception, no to the war in Iraq, yes to more rights and more democracy inside the EU.
The Europeans, or at least the oldest, know what is having a war on their soil.

It's not the case in America. These values are not the same on this side of the Atlantic, especially in the USA. Eastern Canadians could be considered a bit as Europeans...

So, I would say: yes, there are many differences, yes, people have different languages, but they share more than they think. Let's remember the times (in the '60s)  when we had to stay for hours before crossing the spanish borders.

Also... you get used to travel very easily from France to Italy, Spain...

It's not so easy for me to go to the USA, where I'm now asked to let my fingerprints and to show the brand new biometric passport.

Olivi€R wrote:

no to the war in Iraq

I'm not sure on that point Olivier, I think most of the 25 European countries were for the war in Iraq ...

I don't think there is that much culture shock between the Euro countries to be honest, especially when comparing to Asia for example.

Sure, the Latin countries (Spain, Italy) etc are a bit different to the Northern Euro ones (UK, Germany), but even then it's not that different.

The only real big difference as far as I'm concerned is the languages.

Just a note on the US. My US home is up in the north-left corner where we didn't support the war, do support and work for civil rights, and, well, you get it. Those values DO cross the Atlantic - I carry them with me to my Austrian home. If I was, for some reason, dropped into Houston, Texas, I'm sure I'd find myself culture shocked out of my skin.

Also, since 9/11, no matter how we feel about the gov't response, we feel the shock of violence in our own country. We share this with Britain and Spain who also experienced terrorist attacks. It's not full blown war on our soil, to be sure, that's a whole other story, but for generations born after WWII this is our common experience.

When I travel in Europe, I notice big differences in the food. Also, in the way people stand in line. I was in Heathrow a few days ago, everyone was very mannered. Just yesterday (in Austria), we got nearly run over by a guy jumping us in line when the shop opened a new checkout stand.

GavinT wrote:

Sure, the Latin countries (Spain, Italy) etc are a bit different to the Northern Euro ones (UK, Germany), but even then it's not that different.

At first, it is not that different, yes. In my daily life, I can keep the habits of my culture. But at work, I have to adapt myself to the mentalities of my Italian collegues. And doing everything at the last minute, working late the evening (and beginning at 10 or 11 am), favoring oral communication so that there is no track of what has been said...  can become significant cultural differences.

pmandel wrote - Just yesterday (in Austria), we got nearly run over by a guy jumping us in line when the shop opened a new checkout stand.

Have seen that a few times here in Italy.  Once while standing in line to buy cigarettes, an older lady walks in, waltzes right up to the counter, ignores the line of about 3 people, and asks for a pack of cigarettes.

Julien wrote:

Olivi€R wrote:

no to the war in Iraq

I'm not sure on that point Olivier, I think most of the 25 European countries were for the war in Iraq ...

Je fais référence aux manifs monstres qui ont eu lieu un peu partout, et aux sondages d'opinion à l'échelle de l'UE qui montrait que pour la première fois une opinion pubique européenne voyait le jour.
Mais ce n'est pas le débat ici.

Olivi€R wrote:

Julien wrote:

Olivi€R wrote:

no to the war in Iraq

I'm not sure on that point Olivier, I think most of the 25 European countries were for the war in Iraq ...

Je fais référence aux manifs monstres qui ont eu lieu un peu partout, et aux sondages d'opinion à l'échelle de l'UE qui montrait que pour la première fois une opinion pubique européenne voyait le jour.
Mais ce n'est pas le débat ici.

Ehhhh??? Say what???!!

I think most people from the European countries were against the way.... it's just that some of governments didn't think the same way.