AMERICANS vs EUROPEANS: Biggest Cultural Differences You Didn’t Know
What culture is most compatible with you? (Quiz)
I talk about the biggest differences in mentality between Europe and America. From the "you can do it" optimistic attitude vs European realism (and cynicism), to the small talk culture, to nudity and individualism vs conformist culture of both places. I break up the differences by various countries and also add in Canada to the mix. Hope you enjoy!
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0:00 Intro
1:02 "You can do it" American attitude vs realistic European attitude
4:49 Small talk and positivity vs no talking to strangers
10:07 Nudity in America vs Europe
13:14 Individual vs community
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I think this was a wonderful and insightful overview. I have travelled a little and I noticed these traits. Thank you for your time and insights.
Thank you!
Random small talk is pretty common in Ireland but in France they’ll think your crazy
Continantel Europe support introverted qualities and value authenticity
In France, the North is very different from the South… I mean even the language was different only 100 years ago. The South is culturally closer to Spain, even if now everyone speaks French (with an accent still).
No, that is not correct. If you speak French, they are very open to it.
true, observed it as well….actually several people both on the street and even at bakery or in supermarket, in line, tried small talk with me and my friend..rly enjoyable trait, wish I was adequately able to answer without sounding like a potato. @@thomassenbart
you + are = you’re
As an American, sociable introvert, when I was in Europe this summer, I felt like I was midway between reserved northern and outgoing southern Europeans and easily adaptable to both. I was in a lot of social situations and had a lot of good conversations and met interesting people from all over Europe, UK, Australia, US, and Canada. At home, I don’t go out often, usually just to see a band. In Europe, I was going out frequently and staying out late. I noticed I’m far more sociable when travelling.
I think it’s true for almost everyone to be more social while traveling, there are factors like excitement, newance, adventure and greatly reduced social shame that is particularly evident in tourist girls which are renowned for their “openness”
That’s because it doesn’t trigger your mind’s anxieties. It’s like being able to feel freer and less inhinbited by moving out of your home town for many people.
@@jeanjacqueslundi3502and he may also feel safer🤔
@@arnodobler1096 Yeah, it’s definately true. I’m sure there’s ,many places in Europe that feel safer on average than America. But the person actually being more sociable….usually has more to do with a change of attitude when you are abroad. You feel less inhibited often…and being the foreigner affords you some leeway in how you approach people etc
@jeanjacqueslundi3502 true. What I meant was that it also made him more relaxed.
I remember I went on a date with a Russian girl. She gave me the whole peaches and coconut talk.
As a Latino raised in Nyc I’ve always gotten along with Eastern/Centeral European women. New Yorkers ( especially older generations ) are more direct, loyal & genuine than most Americans . While most Americans perceive New Yorkers as rude I prefer the directness & genuine loyalty of New Yorkers & Eastern European. Fyi my wife is Slavic.
Hopefullly you looked for warm, hospitable, family-oriented people
Is your wife Polish?
@@MCADHD-rf5kl Yup.
Thanks for that essential and educational video!
☺️
Portugal, Spain, France and Germany have the tall poppy syndrome too.
Italy: you are rich when you have a big family with surgeons, lawyers but also people in the country that prodce healthy oil and wine. My sister is in Germany, I’m sending oil and sausages she’s sending cookies and senf. Wherever you are, you need a family of loyal friends. We look through history, sometimes for a generation is hard sometimes you can collect money but most importantly homes for your nephews. We value middle class dignity, too much wealth is a sin, being low class is shameful. A good woman is a mother (the divine) or a generous aunt (minor divinity), a good man is not muscles, he’s is brain and social skills. When you approach good Italians they offer you to be part of the family, you fail when they understand you can’t be trusted. Men want to feel motherly loved from their partner and it takes a lot of patience for their childish behavior but on the long run we adapt, we understand sins and we are not afraid of a matriarchal organization of the house. Family (+friends ) is what matters, whose who doesn’t understand are gipsies
Why would a man expect “mother love” from a partner? She is not his mother and should never replace that role. Roles are completely different. Spouses are equal. Parents are above a man. For a man his woman is his best friend, a lover and a wife. For his children she is mother.
She would love her man as his wife, it’s totally different love from we as humans feel from our mother.
@@aryungurueva4083 because we want the one for our children, not really for our bedroom, that’s short time and replaceable 🤷🏻♂️
E: could you replace god with ” spiritual partner”?
I could relate to the part about smalltalk in some European countries. I’m German and my boyfriend is Spanish. For years and years, I was always told “you’re so negative, you’re so pessimistic etc.”. Realizing that complaining together is one of the most common ways of bonding with others in German culture – but isn’t in Spain – was a huge step in improving our communication.
Interesting!
Very interesting
Same here. I am from Belarus, then I lived in Poland for some years. I think subconsiously I felt (and still feel) that talking about problems and complaining means “being real and honest”, like as if it’s bonding me more with another person, while saying “I’m great, family is great, work is great etc etc” is a “fake answer” that means you want to keep the person on a distance.
Now I live in Spain and multiple close friends of mine of Spanish/Latin American background told me the same thing: “you make certain situations feel heavier than necessary”; “it’s annoying to hear so much negativity”.
While I, in comparison, saw their “I’m great :)))))” in situations that seemed clearly not ok as “toxic positivity”.
Like.. dude, you can just tell me the truth, you’ll feel better if you let it out…
Anyway, now I force the “fake positivity” and it feels, paradoxically, cold to me 🙂
lol. Its not fake, its choosing a certain energy. They are lighter energetically and more open. Being negative and heavy will pull them down.@@ari_jean
@@LisaSoulLevelHealing yeah, probably you’re right
I love the way you present your case …to the point and very understandable…I just Love all your videos…you do a great job 👏🏻…Alex🇬🇷
Thank you!
Wow. That’s an amazing “summary”, Marina! Finally I’ve got a perfect video I can share with friends who ask me why I initially wanted to live in Canada, but then ended up “finding my crowd” in the (supposedly) not-so-friendly Germany.
Hehe thanks and yes, I get it. I struggle with Canada as well 😂
Welcome to Germany 🇩🇪🙋♂️🍻
@@arnodobler1096 Dankeschön! 😊
@@paulotaviorod Bitte schön, gerne.
nice that you chose Germany! you’re also welcome in Austria btw 🙂
Two consistent things that always struck me on American MTV dating show „Next“ back in the Noughties, and which have been confirmed in real life as well: When a candidate said that he or she was still a virgin, the other contestants always praised them and were extremely respectful. But when someone mentioned that they were still getting money from their parents and were not able to support themselves financially, that was always the biggest red flag. Of course it was only a game show, where candidates tend to be acting (then again, real dating can involve a heavy amount of acting as well), but it revealed something about how sexuality and financial independence are treated among young Americans and Europeans. I reckoned that in Europe those things would be handled very differently. There is nothing shameful over here about receiving financial aid from your parents when you‘re in your twenties (in many Southern European countries it is actually preferred to getting money from the state). But being, say, 27 and still a virgin would not be something Europeans would confess proudly on a date, not even in the more traditional countries.
Wonderful video. Congrats Marina❤😊 As a Brazilian, I can also understand why we’re so loud and talk so much to each other. We’re not only Latin but a country formed by lots of immigrants
Yes interesting point!
I am a Canadian and the reason we all try to be nice and get along is we have this thing in Canada called WINTER, with extreme cold and miserable conditions. What does this have to do with being nice, well its hard enough to try to survive and make a living in this environment where you can be hours away from any civilization, so it becomes easier if we all help each other hence the niceness!
Because none of the European countries have winter themselves?
Winters in Canada are significantly more harsh.@@ghostid544
@ghostid544 Canadian winters are colder and longer. I’m European and live in Canada (unfortunately), and temperatures can go down to -30°C here.
7:50 as a Southern Italian living in the UK (Northern Ireland), this is something that confuses me very much.
If someone started talking to me in a pub or similar, I would expect this small talk to turn out into more stable relationships. I was disappointed when I found out that it was often not the case. And I agree, small talk with strangers is often about complaining.
As usual great job !
New York is very direct and to the point. NYC and eastern Upstate was a Dutch colony before it became British. The business culture is definitely derivative of the Dutch direct way. It permeated into the social structure; however, being a city that has had so much immigration, every little subculture has left its mark. THe city is also impacted by the sheer population density; it is definitely not like the rest of America.
that is very well noted. There are even video series on youtube about how much Americans know about their Dutch roots, especially New Amsterdam that we all know today was – New York city. I personally have never been in New York city or New York state, but I can highly suggest Amsterdam as someone”s holiday destination. Awesome city with lots to see and do in ALL seasons plus Dutch people, even the elderly, are the most fluent in English from all non native English countries/people. So – easy to get around, ask for directions, have a random talks and so.The city and the whole country, I would say, is very picturesque.
@@AmericanDreamer I know a lot about the Dutch roots and influences in America because I grew up in the Hudson Valley and have lived most of my life in NYC. There is evidence of it all up and down the eastern part of the state, from town and street names to architecture and culture. Albany, formerly Fort Orange, even has a Tulip Festival. Amsterdam is a lovely city and if you like it there, you’d probably enjoy a visit to NYC!
Im traveling through europe very heavily. Its definitely a challenge many times. For example, I was at a latin dance club in paris, by myself. Being from the united states, being by yourself and dancing quite heavily and intensely, means nothing. it doesnt matter if people are with you. I was jamming and realized all the parisiens energy changed because I was off the group, dancing very well, showing people up – we are not supposed to do that. It was a subtle energy shift. Right now, I am navigating how to be myself and shine, in a place that only wants you to shine in a certain way in the parameters they believe socially acceptable. Its very interesting. On another hand, I do a social dance where the women wait on the sides to be “chosen” by a man. Well, in France, the men make sure all the women get a chance to dance and i felt absolutely sure it would be a fun night and i would be asked to dance. And thats what happens, even i dont know anyone. They are very gentlemanly and inclusive and have concern for those in the place. I went to the same dance in america – so much social anxiety induced because of being ignored, people just stick with their friends, there is no consciousness of looking around to see if everyone is okay because they barely made it through the shark infested waters. Same dance, just an individualistic culture vs community culture. Socially, I prefer the european (in this case french) more inclusive culture for social life. I prefer money and business individualism of america. Just my personal opinion, i fly to europe just about monthly now for about 2 weeks at a time. Nice video 🙂
“how to shine”, why do you need to shine on another continent?😅 do sth else while you’re here. No one is waiting for your arrival and for you to “shine”😂
@NoctLightCloud American culture is naturally a commanding one, where being exceptional and showing it, is central. So, I don’t do it for others, I do it for me. However, I noticed that was not the thing to do, to draw attention to yourself at the expense of others. I thought I wrote it very clearly, do you understand now?
We shine, stand our wherever we go. We have a very commanding energy and attract attention, and are used to doing that in the states.
@@LisaSoulLevelHealing I do, but do consider that different folks, different strokes😆 Some people might even laugh at you if you feel like a princess and demand attention.
@@NoctLightCloud its not being special. Its being normal. And being a performer or exceptional dancer, and better than anyone else, is par for the course. Not special. Its natural. We have some of the best dancers in the world in certain genres, its as natural as breathing. Its normal. You think its exceptional, but we are simply existing, but to a self effacing culture where you are not supposed to stand out in comparison to others, sure, they might think its exceptional. Its really just our standard operating procedure.
@@NoctLightCloudyou can’t read, can you?
One thing is cultural norms of “you can do it”, another is actually be able to do it, which involves means, resources, income, family history etc. so, given that not everyone can actually do it, but the cultural norm is that you can if you want, you have quite a number of frustrated and/or stressed out people on the States.
Having lived in Portugal do you feel Portuguese people don’t speak to strangers? My experience in Portugal is that we always speak to strangers. Heck I was in Prague and heard Portuguese and immediately talked to the two ladies who told me if I needed something from back home, like as if Portugal had 50 people on the whole country! Also coming to the USA random Portuguese people just offered me Portuguese pastries, God forbid I missed Portuguese pastries! Then every time I meet a half Portuguese person or a person of Portuguese ancestry I make sure to go above and beyond to hock them up with anything I can, I always feel I am treated the same way! Every time I go I also have to go meet a Portuguese person who is the child of a friend of a friend of my mom! So I have all these “blind” dates! Fun!!! (This really happened at least four times for me: USA, Germany, Austria, within Portugal itself!)