Mistissini

I have an offer of a trip to Europe, but I'm wondering what to do. In my
case, I get bored easily of museums/churches/monuments. I do not drink, and
I'm not into night clubs. I happen to be multiracial, and I'm afraid of
obnoxious comments from Europeans -- I've had bad experiences with Europeans
in the USA. Also, how would I go about obtaining healthy cuisine?
Europeans may want to tell me a racist joke that I should just go to
McDonalds, but I never eat there.

Mxsmanic

mistissini writes:

    > I have an offer of a trip to Europe, but I'm wondering what to do. In my
    > case, I get bored easily of museums/churches/monuments. I do not drink, and
    > I'm not into night clubs.

I'm the same way, but I nevertheless manage to enjoy Europe, which has
more to offer than museums, churches, monuments, and night clubs.

Your comment is rather like saying that you don't wish to visit the
United States because you aren't interested in rodeos, geysers, or deep
canyons.

    > I happen to be multiracial, and I'm afraid of obnoxious comments
    > from Europeans -- I've had bad experiences with Europeans
    > in the USA.

Europeans as a general rule don't share the deep American obsession with
race. There are some Europeans who might notice or comment if you have
an unusual and obvious racial background (e.g., Chinese and American
black or something).

I think that in Europe or anywhere else the aesthetic impression one
makes is what conditions the reaction of others, irrespective of actual
racial details. So if you are attractive in the eyes of locals, you'll
make a favorable impression; and if you are unattractive in their eyes,
you won't (and they may then be more likely to comment on your
ethnicity, if they perceive that to be the source of your
unattractiveness).

    > Also, how would I go about obtaining healthy cuisine?

Most cuisine in Europe is already extremely healthy by American
standards.

    > Europeans may want to tell me a racist joke that I should just go to
    > McDonalds, but I never eat there.

Telling you to go to McDonald's has nothing to do with race, whether it
is said seriously or in jest.

If you are carrying a large racial chip on your shoulder, as so many
Americans do, I suggest you remove it before visiting Europe, as it
tends to irritate them when Americans insist on seeing racism behind
every behavior.

--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

Mistissini

"Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > mistissini writes:
    > Your comment is rather like saying that you don't wish to visit the
    > United States because you aren't interested in rodeos, geysers, or deep
    > canyons.

That's the point. What is there that is interesting to see?


    > Europeans as a general rule don't share the deep American obsession with
    > race. There are some Europeans who might notice or comment if you have
    > an unusual and obvious racial background (e.g., Chinese and American
    > black or something)....and if you are unattractive in their eyes,
    > you won't (and they may then be more likely to comment on your
    > ethnicity, if they perceive that to be the source of your
    > unattractiveness).

Then, they do have an obsession with race. In the USA, people rarely
comment on my appearance.



    > > Also, how would I go about obtaining healthy cuisine?
    > Most cuisine in Europe is already extremely healthy by American
    > standards.

What about the deep-fried snickers bars they serve in Scotland? I read in
the New York Times that many supermarkets there don't carry vegetables.


    > If you are carrying a large racial chip on your shoulder, as so many
    > Americans do, I suggest you remove it before visiting Europe, as it
    > tends to irritate them when Americans insist on seeing racism behind
    > every behavior.

I do not have problems in the USA, but if people there think I am a gypsy or
an Arab, then there could be trouble.

Mistissini

"alain K." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > hi there, your comments concerning Europe is quite funny to me, beeing
    > french.
    > There is a billion things to see in Europe, among Eiffel tower in

As I was saying, I get bored easily of museums/churches/monuments.

    > France, champagne wineyards,

As I was saying, I do not drink.

    > Concerning food, you may try pasta, tapas, cassoulet,

Aren't they rich in calories?

    > with 3000 different wines.

As I was saying, I do not drink.

    > Now, I suggest you choose one or two countries (for ex. France and
    > Italy) and it will be a dream.

Do people in France/Italy have problems understanding questions as much as
you do?


    >Nobody cares here about your colour,
    > religion or opinions.

I've heard otherwise from Arabs and Gypsies who live there.

alain K.

"mistissini" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email protected]. com...
    > "Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > mistissini writes:
    > > Your comment is rather like saying that you don't wish to visit the
    > > United States because you aren't interested in rodeos, geysers, or
deep
    > > canyons.
    > That's the point. What is there that is interesting to see?
    > > Europeans as a general rule don't share the deep American obsession
with
    > > race. There are some Europeans who might notice or comment if you
have
    > > an unusual and obvious racial background (e.g., Chinese and American
    > > black or something)....and if you are unattractive in their eyes,
    > > you won't (and they may then be more likely to comment on your
    > > ethnicity, if they perceive that to be the source of your
    > > unattractiveness).
    > Then, they do have an obsession with race. In the USA, people rarely
    > comment on my appearance.
    > > > Also, how would I go about obtaining healthy cuisine?
    > > Most cuisine in Europe is already extremely healthy by American
    > > standards.
    > What about the deep-fried snickers bars they serve in Scotland? I
read in
    > the New York Times that many supermarkets there don't carry
vegetables.
    > > If you are carrying a large racial chip on your shoulder, as so many
    > > Americans do, I suggest you remove it before visiting Europe, as it
    > > tends to irritate them when Americans insist on seeing racism behind
    > > every behavior.
    > I do not have problems in the USA, but if people there think I am a
gypsy or
    > an Arab, then there could be trouble.



hi there, your comments concerning Europe is quite funny to me, beeing
french.
There is a billion things to see in Europe, among Eiffel tower in
France, champagne wineyards, Mont St Michel Abbey, Florence and Rome in
Italy, Grenade and Seville in Spain,Croatia cost in ex-Yougoslavia,
Black Forest in Germany, a.s.o.......
Concerning food, you may try pasta, tapas, cassoulet, with 3000
different wines.
Now, I suggest you choose one or two countries (for ex. France and
Italy) and it will be a dream. Nobody cares here about your colour,
religion or opinions.
Have a nice stay in Europe.
Alain

Petter Børkeeiet

Hi mistissini,
you have a slight problem with your attitude. You are asking about Europe
which is a fairly huge and have many different aspects. I come from Norway
and the culture / landscape / climate / philosophy / people / buildings etc
are completely different than in Portugal og Greece in the south. Or Russia
for that matter. If you tell the group where your ticket brings you it will
be a bit easier.

The best thing for you is to stay at home. Then you will not be disturbed by
other people.

//Petter
"mistissini" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]. com...
    > "alain K." <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > hi there, your comments concerning Europe is quite funny to me, beeing
    > > french.
    > > There is a billion things to see in Europe, among Eiffel tower in
    > As I was saying, I get bored easily of museums/churches/monuments.
    > > France, champagne wineyards,
    > As I was saying, I do not drink.
    > > Concerning food, you may try pasta, tapas, cassoulet,
    > Aren't they rich in calories?
    > > with 3000 different wines.
    > As I was saying, I do not drink.
    > > Now, I suggest you choose one or two countries (for ex. France and
    > > Italy) and it will be a dream.
    > Do people in France/Italy have problems understanding questions as much as
    > you do?
    > >Nobody cares here about your colour,
    > > religion or opinions.
    > I've heard otherwise from Arabs and Gypsies who live there.

Martin

"mistissini" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]. com...

    > That's the point. What is there that is interesting to see?

We don't know you. What kind of thing interests you? Where in Europe is
this trip going, anywhere in particular? Where in the States are you
from? What do you do for fun there?

    > What about the deep-fried snickers bars they serve in Scotland? I
read in
    > the New York Times that many supermarkets there don't carry
vegetables.

All supermarkets carry healthy food and vegetables. I don't know anyone
who has eaten a deep-fried snickers bar.

Martin.

Mistissini

"Petter Børkeeiet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:9mmRc.226$%[email protected]...
    > Hi mistissini,
    > you have a slight problem with your attitude. You are asking about Europe
    > which is a fairly huge and have many different aspects. I come from Norway
    > and the culture / landscape / climate / philosophy / people / buildings
etc
    > are completely different than in Portugal og Greece in the south. Or
Russia
    > for that matter. If you tell the group where your ticket brings you it
will
    > be a bit easier.

Someone here proposed the idea of going to Copenhagen. Are there things to
do there that still meet my parameters?


    > The best thing for you is to stay at home. Then you will not be disturbed
by
    > other people.

This has been a typical answer I have received from Europeans, but I was
seeing if any of them have smarter ideas.

Mxsmanic

mistissini writes:

    > That's the point. What is there that is interesting to see?

There's usually something to see that's interesting in unfamiliar
locales. Just seeing how daily life is different can be interesting.
If you feel that you must see Major Attractions in order to profit from
a trip, however, perhaps it isn't such a good idea to go.

    > Then, they do have an obsession with race.

No, they do not. The difference is very obvious, in fact. Americans
can't go for more than a short time without mentioning race in one
context or another; many Europeans never give it any thought at all.
The American obsession becomes quickly very tiring. They see race in
everything, and racism under every rock and in every shadow.

    > In the USA, people rarely comment on my appearance.

They are unlikely to comment on your appearance in Europe, either.

    > What about the deep-fried snickers bars they serve in Scotland?

They are not typical of European foods (indeed, I wasn't even aware that
such things existed--what is your source of information on Europe?).

    > I read in the New York Times that many supermarkets there
    > don't carry vegetables.

Every supermarket I've seen of any size (larger than a convenience
store) carries vegetables and fruits. Of course, in many European
countries, there are open markets where you can buy extremely fresh
fruits and vegetables if the produce in supermarkets isn't already
enough for you.

    > I do not have problems in the USA, but if people there think I am a gypsy or
    > an Arab, then there could be trouble.

Worries about racism tend to become self-fulfilling prophecies. If you
cannot free your mind of this preoccupation, perhaps you should stay in
the USA.

--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

Mxsmanic

mistissini writes:

    > As I was saying, I get bored easily of museums/churches/monuments.

What sorts of things do you find interesting?

    > As I was saying, I do not drink.

Neither do many Europeans. Even in France, mineral water is popular.

    > Aren't they rich in calories?

They are indeed. Are you obese?

    > Do people in France/Italy have problems understanding questions as much as
    > you do?

Are people in the USA as hostile as you are?

    > I've heard otherwise from Arabs and Gypsies who live there.

If you haven't been to Europe, how have you managed to communicate with
Arabs and Gypsies who live there?

Gypsies are not well liked in many areas, perhaps because they don't
seem to like anyone else and often see the rest of the world as
potential marks rather than fellows.

Arabs usually experience minimal friction, except in areas where they
conjure unpleasant associations. The massive immigration of Arabs into
France, for example (never establish a colony in a country whose
inhabitants you don't want as neighbors!), has engendered some animosity
towards unassimilated Arab immigrants and others who may behave like
them. In other countries it may be Indonesians or Indians, depending on
where that country's former colonies were (colonies being the source of
most immigrants, in most cases).

It's a bit like Americans who harbor feelings of suspicion and hostility
towards ... Europeans.

--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

Mistissini

"Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > No, they do not. The difference is very obvious, in fact. Americans
    > can't go for more than a short time without mentioning race in one
    > context or another; many Europeans never give it any thought at all.

Wasn't it you who said, "There are some Europeans who might notice or
comment if you have
an unusual and obvious racial background (e.g., Chinese and American
black or something).... and they may then be more likely to comment on your
ethnicity, if they perceive that to be the source of your
unattractiveness"?


    > The American obsession becomes quickly very tiring. They see race in
    > everything, and racism under every rock and in every shadow.

If Europeans never think about race, how come far-right parties specifically
opposed to immigrants are rising in popularity throughout Europe?

    > > What about the deep-fried snickers bars they serve in Scotland?
    > They are not typical of European foods (indeed, I wasn't even aware that
    > such things existed--what is your source of information on Europe?).

New York Times travel section. It said that babies are given soda instead
of milk, and nutrition standards among working class Scottish are lower than
some third world countries.


    > > I do not have problems in the USA, but if people there think I am a
gypsy or
    > > an Arab, then there could be trouble.
    > Worries about racism tend to become self-fulfilling prophecies. If you
    > cannot free your mind of this preoccupation, perhaps you should stay in
    > the USA.

I've heard that kind of line before, but I have been to countries where the
natives did make a big deal out of it.

Petter

"mistissini" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]. com...
    > "Petter Børkeeiet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:9mmRc.226$%[email protected]...
    > > Hi mistissini,
    > > you have a slight problem with your attitude. You are asking about
Europe
    > > which is a fairly huge and have many different aspects. I come from
Norway
    > > and the culture / landscape / climate / philosophy / people / buildings
    > etc
    > > are completely different than in Portugal og Greece in the south. Or
    > Russia
    > > for that matter. If you tell the group where your ticket brings you it
    > will
    > > be a bit easier.
    > Someone here proposed the idea of going to Copenhagen. Are there things
to
    > do there that still meet my parameters?

Copenhagen is a lovely place. There is an amusement park in the city centre
for all ages. The island C is situated contains also some beaches and a
pretty good but flat hiking area.

    > > The best thing for you is to stay at home. Then you will not be
disturbed
    > by
    > > other people.
    > This has been a typical answer I have received from Europeans, but I was
    > seeing if any of them have smarter ideas.

Not easy with your parameters...

Sjoerd

"mistissini" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
news:[email protected]. com...
    > I have an offer of a trip to Europe, but I'm wondering what to do. In my
    > case, I get bored easily of museums/churches/monuments. I do not drink,
and
    > I'm not into night clubs. I happen to be multiracial, and I'm afraid of
    > obnoxious comments from Europeans -- I've had bad experiences with
Europeans
    > in the USA.

You should go to Norway. There are many other trolls there.

Sjoerd

Mistissini

"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > We don't know you. What kind of thing interests you?

Math and Science interest me (the current applications, not the history).

    >Where in Europe is
    > this trip going, anywhere in particular?

The proposal is for going to Copenhagen.

    > Where in the States are you from?

I grew up all over the USA. I happen to live in the Midwest right now; I
moved here a few months ago.

    > What do you do for fun there?

I occasionally play basketball or walk through the park. I have a couple of
other hobbies, I know what the European versions of the hobbies are, they're
just less skillful imitations of the real thing in the USA, so I would not
go to Europe to see that. Otherwise, my life is filled with daily fun,
learning science or doing stuff on the internet.


    > > What about the deep-fried snickers bars they serve in Scotland? I
    > read in
    > > the New York Times that many supermarkets there don't carry
    > vegetables.
    > All supermarkets carry healthy food and vegetables. I don't know anyone
    > who has eaten a deep-fried snickers bar.

Supposing you're right, do supermarkets accept Euros? Are there parts of
Europe where storekeepers might decide to charge inflated "American prices"
or whatever?

Mistissini

"Mxsmanic" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > mistissini writes:
    > What sorts of things do you find interesting?

I occasionally play basketball or walk through the park. I have a couple of
other hobbies, I know what the European versions of the hobbies are, they're
just less skillful imitations of the real thing in the USA, so I would not
go to Europe to see that. Otherwise, my life is filled with daily fun,
learning science or doing stuff on the internet.

    > > Aren't they rich in calories?
    > They are indeed. Are you obese?

Do you think an obese person would be asking these questions?


    > > Do people in France/Italy have problems understanding questions as much
as
    > > you do?
    > Are people in the USA as hostile as you are?

Against stupid people? Of course.


    > > I've heard otherwise from Arabs and Gypsies who live there.
    > If you haven't been to Europe, how have you managed to communicate with
    > Arabs and Gypsies who live there?

Have you ever heard of the internet?

They tell me about stores that won't serve them, police officers who beat
them up for no reason.