Post: #1

I always get asked by people, "Why are you here?"

So, I've found a few good points on answering:

Stay positive and avoid comparisons


I like the culture and people:
a. friendly people who take time to socialize, talk, and hang out. People can just meet to go for a walk and enjoy a conversation, no need for anything special...the human interaction is the important part.

b. Beautiful architecture and a long history, makes me feel excited to know some buildings have stood for nearly 1000 years

c. People dress well. There are markets to buy quality organic food, traditional homecooking. People respect quality and take the time do things right. That means real food and dressing up to go out and interact with people.

d. Festivals and town gatherings, plays at the theatre, local musicians, poetry readings. I love how people care about arts and culture. Its something my parents thought me growing up and I value it.

e. Respect for family and children. The whole community is friendly towards children and looks after safety. People get married and have families as a central part of their lives.
People make room for older people to have a seat on the bus.

Any others you wish to add?
I speak of Central and Eastern Europe.

Post: #2

It's just more sensible over there. Here in America, the baby boomer generation was raised to believe, and rightfully so, that the USA was the greatest and most powerful country in the world. Now the rest of the world isn't in post world war 2 shambles, this isn't quite the case, but the symptoms of self importance are still here.

I'm not hating on America, I think it stands for good and achieved amazing feats over the past decades, but there are a ton of silly hang ups people have. For example the ridiculous obsession over college rankings and the fortunes we pay would not happen in Europe. Europeans are also more globally aware making them more interesting in my opinion. Also it seems America is lacking an identity which is a refrshing thing to come across in many European countries.

Post: #3

(04-09-2013 12:38 PM)Van Zandt Wrote:  For example the ridiculous obsession over college rankings and the fortunes we pay would not happen in Europe.

Yeah, but you have to recognize that the reason the Europeans aren't paying fortunes for college is because they are getting taxed the shit out of in many countries. That's why you aren't going to see many doctors in Europe with 4 car garages. Health care is cheap and they are paying for everybody else's college. And you also have to realize, most the best universities in the world are in the US (a good chunk in England too). People come to the US from all over to study and also to start careers such as becoming doctors. Why? Because we pay them much more here. I guess it's all just a matter of preference. But those are some of the reasons why we have the university culture that we have.

Post: #4

I like that you emphasized that it is Central and Eastern Europe and not all of Europe.

Post: #5

I like Europe. It's just the people that live there suck.

Post: #6

(04-09-2013 01:41 PM)beta_plus Wrote:  I like that you emphasized that it is Central and Eastern Europe and not all of Europe.

I didn't notice that little detail. Then I have no clue what I'm talking about then. I was referring to Western Europe. I don't know how the system works in Eastern European countries.

Post: #7

(04-09-2013 01:42 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  I like Europe. It's just the people that live there suck.

All we know we imitate from American movies and TV.

Post: #8

(04-09-2013 01:41 PM)beta_plus Wrote:  I like that you emphasized that it is Central and Eastern Europe and not all of Europe.

aye,
Places like Poland, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine
Western Europe used to be like this, but they lost their way

Also, its funny how I posted the most important thing is "To stay positive and avoid conparisons", but no one understood that.

If you visit someone's country and they ask you why are you here, you have to list positive reasons for it.

Post: #9

My favorite thing is the proximity of countries. In most european countries, you are a sub $100 flight or train ride away from at least 5 other countries. Living in the US, you can only dream of cheap weekend jaunts to Canada and Mexico (perhaps with the exception of Miami to the caribbean).

Post: #10

I like Europe because we all hate each other.

Post: #11

1. The average food quality is much better than what you can find in the US, especially outside of major metro areas.

2. More people have style, though Europe is plagued with hipsters as well.

3. There is more and easier access to high art e.g. opera, art museums.

Post: #12

I like Europe because we were building highly advanced civilizations when Americans walked around in bear skins.

Even the beer brewed in my hometown is older then the US.

In others words: This looks like another pointless US vs Europe bashing thread.

Post: #13

(04-10-2013 07:22 PM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  I like Europe because we were building highly advanced civilizations when Americans walked around in bear skins.

Even the beer brewed in my hometown is older then the US.

In others words: This looks like another pointless US vs Europe bashing thread.

Did you even bother to read my post?

I wrote: "What do you tell people when they ask you -Why are you here?"

also I wrote- "Stay positive and avoid comparisons."

This is a thread about answering the questions why are you here? when you are in central and east europe(Poland,Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria). Many times people will ask "Why are you here and not London or New York?" I tell them the positive things about their country and lifestyle in general- without comparisons, without even mentioning my hometown, just positive comments! Just like I did in my first post of this thread, as an example.

Post: #14

(04-10-2013 05:38 PM)Greek kamaki Wrote:  I like Europe because we all hate each other.

word, I love Europe because I was born here and have lived here all my life. We also have hot womens