Roland Hulme

There's a world outside of America??



It is easy to forget.

My wife, having lived now in France and England, is astonished by some of the things her 'smart' friends and family come out with.

Bob

not been to too many DMV or USCIS offices then?

Bob

but they sum you up by what you drive or the size of your house etc...but then again, it all depends on where you live, there was less of that up in Maine, unless you were in Portland.

guest5234

Well done you are one of the 0.4% that have actually travelled outside of the USA.

snowbunny

It's gotta be higher than 0.4%. Maybe 4%?

I keep telling people to go anywhere that requires a passport. Of course, we all need the time off work first!

(Yes I have been outside the US and cried when I had to leave London the first time)

Roland Hulme

I drive my '86 Lincoln Town Car and it frazzles their logic circuits.

"Is that.... is that his car? Is that, like, all he can afford? Or is it a joke? Or is he just being ironic? Didn't my grandad have a car like that? What the fluck?"

Mallory

What percentage of Europeans have travelled outside of Europe? (Since North America and Europe are roughly the same size, it could be a comparison). Surely, there are many Europeans, who have never been outside of the european continent.

You can't really compare Brits going outside Britain, because the continent is only 20 odd miles away.

cindyabs

On the other hand the US is not exclusively a unicultural nation, we are a melting pot so it IS possible to experience cultural influences from other countries without leaving this one..................

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for broadening horizons and getting out and seeing the rest of the world if you can.

Roland Hulme

For most of the chavs I encountered in Portsmouth, a day trip to Calais elevated them to the same position as Captain Cook, Christopher Colombus and Scott of the Antarctic.

But a LOT of Brits I know have never been outside Europe. I hadn't until I moved stateside.

fatbrit

In terms of culture difference, Europe is much wider than the US.

Roland Hulme

Today, one of my Asian colleagues came in with his lunch - freeze-packed vacuum sealed mini-squids, sealed in plastic packages like sweeties.

MY eyes bulged.

So while I think your comment might have some validity (there's certainly more LANGUAGE diversity) I think you shouldn't ignore the 'WTF' potential of multicultural America.

Just as you figure you've got them figured out and penned in those neat stereotypes we Brits love so much - out come the zip-packed seafood.

guest5234

For any Americans reading "Europe is not a Country" and I am being serious.

fatbrit

America is diverse; it just ain't as diverse as Europe. They talk about co-cultures in America, but these are never dominant to your American culture except in the case of first generation immigrants. In Europe, your own culture far outweighs that of your European identity.

Roland Hulme

Let's call it 'the United States of Europe.'

Then you get the picture.

Geographically, it's stupid to claim Brits are more well travelled considering they can cross into another country in a couple of hours. America is an enormous place and you can't fly 2000 miles west and still be in the same nation.

But comparing Europeans and Americans is slightly fairer.

Roland Hulme

I think that's fair enough. Again, you freak me out by writing a post I agree with.