I’m from Madrid, Spain, and live in Austin, TX. I’ve noticed people in Austin are friendlier than in Madrid, but I’m not sure that says anything about Americans or Spaniards. Madrid is a 4 million people city while Austin doesn’t reach the million mark (I think). Big cities are less friendly. I went to NYC and found it unfriendly.
[quote]Petermus wrote:
The more money people have the more likely they are unhappy and eat nothing better than Macdonald’s… seriously the rest of the world is eating freshly grilled tuna,fresh veggies and fresh baked bread while we have a nasty burger and fries… messed up lol
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The rest of the world is eating grilled tuna, fresh veggies, and fresh baked bread?? While RICH Americans eat nothing better than McD’s? LOL! Dude, you’re crazy.
Oh, to be poor but noble and eating fresh, nourishing food from a simple charcoal brazier in the front courtyard of a cozy cottage by the sea, with white fluttery curtains and poor but sturdy furnishings!
[quote]EmilyQ wrote:
I think ephrem’s point about being on holiday is a good one. I live in a tourist area and probably occasionally strike visitors as rude, or perhaps cranky. That’s because those of you who visit here are sometimes in my way when you’re meandering around. People tend to forget that while they may have two weeks off work, not everyone does. If it’s the weekend and a pretty day I’m happy to meet new people and chat them up.
Another thought is that coming from a mid-sized city you may not be realistic about how people behave in a major city. It’s different. I’ve lived in places like Austin, TX and Richmond, VA…and they’re nothing like NYC or London. Smile a goofy tourist smile at a New Yorker and he’ll probably shove you onto the subway tracks.
Aside from that, I’ve been to various parts of Europe and didn’t find people unfriendly at all. But I’m pretty good about not engaging people who don’t want to be engaged.[/quote]
As someone who grew up partly in a major tourist trap, I think these answers probably account for 90% of what was felt. People on vacation think they’re friendly but often they’re so self-centered in their approach to their surroundings, like it’s a fucking theme park and I’m Mickey fucking Mouse, that they completely ignore the needs of those around them. And can you watch the goddamn road when you drive and make a little effort to go faster than 15mph on a 55mph limit road? Yeah the view is nice, but I have places to go douchebag. I guess I’m still a little bitter.
When I travel I make an effort to blend in as much as its feasible and not be a nuisance to the natives. For some reason I never seem to have problems wherever I go.
[quote]cblasco wrote:
I’m from Madrid, Spain, and live in Austin, TX. I’ve noticed people in Austin are friendlier than in Madrid, but I’m not sure that says anything about Americans or Spaniards. Madrid is a 4 million people city while Austin doesn’t reach the million mark (I think). Big cities are less friendly. I went to NYC and found it unfriendly.[/quote]
I agree that we had unrealistic expectations visiting the nordic countries, as we knew they were among the happiest, wealthiest and most peaceful countries on Earth, great economies, standard of living and such. We’ve been to NY, LA, Seattle, DC and other “big” cities and people were nice and friendly. We visited the Netherlands last year and people AND tourists were very nice and friendly so we thought we would have at least a similar experience this year. It didn’t happen but it still was a great trip as these countries are beautiful with tons of interesting things to do and see.
I like to think we were not obnoxious as it was suggested. And it’s possible they were not rude, just calculating their budgets in their heads, as things are fucking expensive 
But that is a whole different discussion!
[quote]eremesu wrote:
NateOrade wrote:
PonceDeLeon wrote:
Why Costa Rica? I went there in February.
I’ve read - can’t for the life of me remember where - that in South American countries that people are much more friendly when it comes to their interaction and body language.
i read something like that too. probably in a textbook. sociology or psychology.
i hope people do not think i am rude because i am unsociable. i really havent got the patience for phony small talk[/quote]
Just make it so awkward that the other person makes something up and leaves, if you practice you can get it down to under a minute before they are leaving, without making them think you are rude, and they dont come up for more awkward conversations after that.
[quote]Nich wrote:
what I found when I went to holland was about the same.
people were nice-ish when you wanted to buy things from them but I soon learned by a friends family that our political stance has made americans one of the most hated people in the world.
this is their viewpoint anyways but I think that kind of holds true because I saw adds and shows and all kinds of things where americans were shown to be backwords and stupid and,well obnoxious.
its not that europeans were rude I found several very lovley people in the country part of holland
in the cities it was more like any big city though.
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Though politics may have something to do with it, the Dutch generally, I hate to admit, are one of the more rude people in Western Europe. I’m Dutch and love my country, but whenever I come home from a vacation abroad, I feel embarrassed for our impoliteness. I’ve been to NYC several times, and in general people there are much less rude than in Holland.
I guess it has something to do with the overpopulation with leads people to be over protective of their ‘space’. Although, if that were true, Japanese should behave pretty rude too. So I just don’t know.
I have to say, in my experience with foreigners, Spaniards are the rudest people I have ever come across (the average Spaniard, anyway) but that’s another topic
Alright that’s enough.
Time to start talking about which foreign country has the hottest chicks.
And which one has the hottest chicks with the biggest tits.
[quote]NateOrade wrote:
Alright that’s enough.
Time to start talking about which foreign country has the hottest chicks.
And which one has the hottest chicks with the biggest tits.[/quote]
Purely unscientific, but my vote goes to Brazil.
For the the most part, yes. You go to Europe to see the castles, not the people.
It has been that way for as long as I can remember.
Come for the castles, stay for the Essex girls!
Or should that be…
Come for the castles, cum for the Essex girls!
[quote]NateOrade wrote:
PonceDeLeon wrote:
Why Costa Rica? I went there in February.
I’ve read - can’t for the life of me remember where - that in South American countries that people are much more friendly when it comes to their interaction and body language. [/quote]
Yes, you are right HOWEVER Costa Rica is not part of South America.
[quote]ronaldo7 wrote:
NateOrade wrote:
PonceDeLeon wrote:
Why Costa Rica? I went there in February.
I’ve read - can’t for the life of me remember where - that in South American countries that people are much more friendly when it comes to their interaction and body language.
Yes, you are right HOWEVER Costa Rica is not part of South America.[/quote]
LOL I knew I’d get something like that wrong. Whatever, it’s down there.
[quote]NateOrade wrote:
ronaldo7 wrote:
NateOrade wrote:
PonceDeLeon wrote:
Why Costa Rica? I went there in February.
I’ve read - can’t for the life of me remember where - that in South American countries that people are much more friendly when it comes to their interaction and body language.
Yes, you are right HOWEVER Costa Rica is not part of South America.
LOL I knew I’d get something like that wrong. Whatever, it’s down there.[/quote]
Sure but for future reference, don’t say something like that to someone from Colombia or Venezuela, Brazil(all from SA) or you’ll get some pissed of South American lol.
[quote]etaco wrote:
As someone who grew up partly in a major tourist trap, I think these answers probably account for 90% of what was felt. People on vacation think they’re friendly but often they’re so self-centered in their approach to their surroundings, like it’s a fucking theme park and I’m Mickey fucking Mouse, that they completely ignore the needs of those around them. And can you watch the goddamn road when you drive and make a little effort to go faster than 15mph on a 55mph limit road? Yeah the view is nice, but I have places to go douchebag. I guess I’m still a little bitter.
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Exactly. And see how cranky you sound?
(Are you European, by any chance?)
[quote]EmilyQ wrote:
Oh, to be poor but noble and eating fresh, nourishing food from a simple charcoal brazier in the front courtyard of a cozy cottage by the sea, with white fluttery curtains and poor but sturdy furnishings!
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Sounds great. Care for some company? I’ll bring the wine…
[quote]Kruiser wrote:
EmilyQ wrote:
Oh, to be poor but noble and eating fresh, nourishing food from a simple charcoal brazier in the front courtyard of a cozy cottage by the sea, with white fluttery curtains and poor but sturdy furnishings!
Sounds great. Care for some company? I’ll bring the wine…
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Well, that better be good French wine, or I’ll whack it into the sea with my polo mallet.
I have 2 brothers: one is an asshole, the other is a commander in the Coast Guard.
Both visited France several years ago. Upon their returns, I asked each how the French treated them. The asshole brother said, “They were rude. I think they short-changed me on train fare.”
The CG commander brother said, “They were polite. I had no problems with the French.”
Moral: They treat you the way you treat them.
its a cultural difference. Americans tend to be a little “louder” then everyone else and i think people in Europe are a little more personal as in they dont want to talk to everyone they come across
Some European natives dont care much for Americans. I dont say that to be mean, but a few bad apples might have spoiled it for the bunch. As someone previously mentioned, I think Europe in general has a different priority than America does. America creates an environment where people live to work. They bleed, and nearly kill themselves because of the economic pressure to lead the world. But this comes at a price, enjoying life. In Europe, they work less and anjoy life more. Family, friends, health, food, vacation is more important to them even though it means not being the economic leader. I know I went off a bit of a tangent there, but to answer your question I dont think Europeans are rude in general. Customer service in Europe is a whole different story. You are better off doing shit yourself, they are lazy and dont want to be bothered at work with things like doing work.