Difficult to make friends in America?
Nov 19th 2012, 5:51 pm
#661
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
This is purely anecdotal but in my part of Massachusetts I have been surprised by the amount of people - friends, family - even random people I have met on the street or at stores - who have made some kind of trip to Europe from the US despite the cost and the lack of holiday - you would expect that from Cambridge MA but this is coming from a basically blue collar city with a lot of poverty. Being on the East Coast might have something to do with it as it's an easier hop.
Lot of people have taken some kind of packaged tour over to France, Italy, Ireland or the UK - few ended up in Germany as part of the military. Then there are second generation immigrants who go back to see relatives. Even the woman down the street I go to for a haircut went to Newcastle back in the 80s (she married a Geordie).
Lot of people have taken some kind of packaged tour over to France, Italy, Ireland or the UK - few ended up in Germany as part of the military. Then there are second generation immigrants who go back to see relatives. Even the woman down the street I go to for a haircut went to Newcastle back in the 80s (she married a Geordie).
Nov 19th 2012, 5:58 pm
#662
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
It is just not the same, even with the [limited] diversity, it is still within the same parent culture. Whatever the reason Americans may travel less, those that do not travel still miss out on the experience of being in a different culture, and all that that can teach us.
Nov 19th 2012, 6:00 pm
#663
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I think if I lived in Arizona, i wouldn't give a rats-arse about the rest of the world. Too far...
Nov 19th 2012, 6:03 pm
#664
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
A former NYer living in London always jokes that the Brits eat like war-time rationing is still in existence!
Nov 19th 2012, 6:50 pm
#665
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
It is just not the same, even with the [limited] diversity, it is still within the same parent culture. Whatever the reason Americans may travel less, those that do not travel still miss out on the experience of being in a different culture, and all that that can teach us.
You can travel nearly a thousand miles from NYC to Chicago and outside the big cities it all looks the same
Nov 19th 2012, 6:55 pm
#666
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I suppose even though we are too young to remember it, there is still a post-war attitude in much of Europe - I certainly remember being told by my grandparents to "eat everything on your plate and take only what you need." That went right through school, and now I do the same to my son.
To be fair, Son did a 5th grade Science Camp where they had "home-style" meals - the dishes were put in the middle of the table and children encouraged to help themselves. If they took too much or did not finish what was on their plate, they had team points deducted.
Nov 19th 2012, 7:15 pm
#667
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I suppose even though we are too young to remember it, there is still a post-war attitude in much of Europe - I certainly remember being told by my grandparents to "eat everything on your plate and take only what you need." That went right through school, and now I do the same to my son.
It was old-fashioned for a while, but I think that attitude is going to gradually come back thanks to rising food costs, environmental concerns and inequality of access to food in general. And there has been plenty of research that showed that the British diet of the 40s and 50s was far healthier than it is today, with restricted red meats and sweets, but far more veggies to fill you up.
Nov 19th 2012, 7:37 pm
#668
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
I've noticed portions in England on the increase (loads of chips on the side) and an increase in obesity in the UK.
I went straight from Japan to NY and was gob-smacked by the sizes of the sandwiches. The local Fairways was like an Aladdin's Cave- so many varieties of cheeses.
I'm on a diet at the moment due overeating all the delicious foods in the UK and the US!
I went straight from Japan to NY and was gob-smacked by the sizes of the sandwiches. The local Fairways was like an Aladdin's Cave- so many varieties of cheeses.
I'm on a diet at the moment due overeating all the delicious foods in the UK and the US!
Nov 19th 2012, 7:49 pm
#670
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
E.G - This is Vermont
This is New Mexico
This is illinois
This is New York State
I mean yeah - the country probably looks the same if all you do in different areas of the country is go to friggin Walmart. If not - very different.
Last edited by HumphreyC; Nov 19th 2012 at 7:51 pm. Reason: stuck some massive picture in there by accident
Nov 19th 2012, 7:55 pm
#671
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
Nov 19th 2012, 7:55 pm
#672
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
How do you figure out that one then?
E.G - This is Vermont
http://www.newenglandmagazine.com/wp...er-Vermont.jpg
This is New Mexico
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...-mountains.jpg
This is illinois
http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/researc...l_location.JPG
This is New York State
http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.c...son-valley.jpg
I mean yeah - the country probably looks the same if all you do in different areas of the country is go to friggin Walmart. If not - very different.
E.G - This is Vermont
http://www.newenglandmagazine.com/wp...er-Vermont.jpg
This is New Mexico
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...-mountains.jpg
This is illinois
http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/researc...l_location.JPG
This is New York State
http://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.c...son-valley.jpg
I mean yeah - the country probably looks the same if all you do in different areas of the country is go to friggin Walmart. If not - very different.
Nov 19th 2012, 8:05 pm
#673
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Posts: 228
Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
How do you figure out that
http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/researc...l_location.JPG
This is New York State
different.
http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/researc...l_location.JPG
This is New York State
different.
Not looking to insult everybody here, its just the way it is- you want to recomend some places Im open to suggestion dude
Nov 19th 2012, 8:07 pm
#674
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Re: Difficult to make friends in America?
Btw - who goes from NYC to Chicago via Vermont & New Mexico ffs ?