European VS American; An 'Attitude' Comparison....

[somethinelse 0]

I think many of the European-type skydivers that I've had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of are much more laid back and clever in their approach to this sport, maybe, life in general...

Hey,I do appreciate my "fellow americans"... After all I am an American 'girl'.

BUT am very curious...What do you think about the camparison of "europeans-vs-americans" in being laid back and easy going?


p.s.
Dylan & Darren hope your 'hop-and-pop' across "the pond" was a smooth ride! We'll miss you irish boys...Have a good one.

Blues! - LILA.

[newsstand 0]

Well this is outside of skydiving because I wasn't doing it when I lived in Europe but I will say that when I was there (20 years ago) Brits were cool but a little formal. Germans were very formal but a clean country and very few places I was not willing to go to even in the middle of the night. However don't expect and organized lift line on the ski slopes. Austrians were some of the best people on the planet.

"Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

[MarkM 0]

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BUT am very curious...What do you think about the camparison of "europeans-vs-americans" in being laid back and easy going?

Hell, I can make that comparison between west coast, midwest and east coast Americans. I'm from the midwest and living on the east coast now(SE Florida, 90% of the people here are from NY/NJ) and I'd swear everyone here has ADD. But then I've been told I have a "Californian" attitude by these same people.

So, like, whatever.

[FallRate 0]

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But then I've been told I have a "Californian" attitude by these same people.

Some people can be so cruel.

FallRate

[airtwardo 6]

The Netherlands is like Ikea hell...

And the French act like we owe THEM money,
instead of the other way around!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Deuce 1]

I just got back from almost a month in England and Sweden.

(thanks again, Skreamer! I promise not to darken your doorway until I get my frequent flier miles back up!)

Swedes were like Northern Californians where everybody was blonde, pretty much, and had ice cream every day with lunch.

Met a ton of Hollish people, and mucho Finns. I like drinking with the Finns best, and drinking Finnish booze with this one Swede in particular.

The Herc Boogie is like any great boogie, but more "in ordnung". The rules are clear and simple, and the penalty is exactly as described.

I love the place (Europe) and the people. As a Yankee, though, I think the degree of socialism there takes better care of the majority, but holds back the truly gifted.

So, mondo entrepreneurs like Jari and Henri come to the US to make their fortunes, and bless us with their culture and ways.

My Euro freinds Gareth, Ben, and Iwan are evidence of how effort is better rewarded here, but "regular" guys like me would probably do better in a lovely more socialist European culture.

Sweden was very much like an organized California. The people are GREAT.

[gjhdiver 0]

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I love the place (Europe) and the people. As a Yankee, though, I think the degree of socialism there takes better care of the majority, but holds back the truly gifted.

So, mondo entrepreneurs like Jari and Henri come to the US to make their fortunes, and bless us with their culture and ways.

My Euro freinds Gareth, Ben, and Iwan are evidence of how effort is better rewarded here, but "regular" guys like me would probably do better in a lovely more socialist European culture.

Sweden was very much like an organized California. The people are GREAT.

I'd love to see how good well funded public education, good health care, low crime rates and social stabilty hold people back, but there you go. Now, as for Henri and myself, we came came here for two reasons. Jari probably just came because he saw something shiny and wandered off. First off, we were married to US citizens, and we wanted to work in skydiving, At the time we came over in the mid to late 80's the US was really the only place to be to do that. If it had been Australia, we would have gone there. The fact that you see so many people thrive form Western Europe here is precisely the result of our good fortune of having been brought up in societies where good education and health care was take for granted IMHO. Plant us in the more fertlie soild of a country with vast wealth and huge natural resources and for a European, it's a buffet.

You also have to look at the economies of scale. Sweden has less people in the whole country than in Greater London. It's dark for the half the year. The populace is continulally ravaged my savage moose attacks (apparently). If they didn't co-operate and educate themselves, they would be poor and totally isolated. Just look at the world level companies that that nation has produced in relation to it's population base. Ikea, Saab, Volvo, Eriksson, Nokia etc. That's makiing the most of your opportunites I'd say. Add inthe rest of the Scandinavian companies, and you have soem serious playes. I'd also like to give a shout out to my homies ABBA here.

Different environments require different solutions. The European model works well now. America hasn't been around long enough to get into that mindset, but it may be in it's far future once dwindling resources and growing populations impose it.

[rehmwa 2]

Normally threads about how everybody likes to stereotype groups and nationalities would go into the Speakers Corner.

Maybe for the next post you can request talk about the inherent IQs of the sexes and various races, that'll be nice and relaxing.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[somethinelse 0]

Relax,dude!

You are entirely TOO SERIOUS. Opinions are all open to the individuals personal experience.

Go with the flow. Mellow. It's gonna all be okay...
OK? So smile. And lighten up!

[mojoman 0]

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Ikea, Saab, Volvo, Eriksson, Nokia etc.

Nokia is not a Swedish company, but you are pretty close. Nokia is from Finland. Triva: Nokia started their business making wellingtons!

Blue Skies,
/David - Sitting in front of my IKEA table on my IKEA chair :-)

[Shydi 0]

I lived in Italy for three months...In general, Italians were warm, very outgoing, and friendly. In friendly, I mean that their culture is based on contact with people - Americans are so worried about their space and someone getting too close. Whatever. I loved that aspect of Italy where everything that they did was alive with emotion. I definitely think that American tourists that I ran into give us back home a bad name. When in Rome...I witnessed several exchanges where the Americans wanted it their way, not the Italian way. UGH! I do know that the Italian men (I hope I don't offend anyone) were very arrogant. I heard so many things before going over about avoiding them - oh man, I was missing American men!

I think that if I could sum it up, embrace the culture that you are surrounded by and that won't ruin a trip for the rest of us!

Dianna
PMS #223

[ozthebum 0]

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I think that if I could sum it up, embrace the culture that you are surrounded by and that won't ruin a trip for the rest of us!

IMHO that is the best way I've ever heard it described. I spent 3 years in England and got several oppertunities to bum around Europe for a couple weeks at a time. I got the chance to see both sides of the experance. For the few days that I was with a group of "ugly Americans", we got treated the way we deserved to get treated...with little respect. For all the time that I was on my own I used the limited non-English language skills I had (polite greetings, thank yous, directions, etc.), and I was warmly welcomed and treated great by 99% of the people I met. I don't know if those experances transfer over to the skydiving world, but I'd like to think we all react about the same...skydiver or not.

[ps5601 0]

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You also have to look at the economies of scale. Sweden has less people in the whole country than in Greater London. It's dark for the half the year. The populace is continulally ravaged my savage moose attacks (apparently).
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I didn't realise that the Sweeds were ravaged by Moose. I feel now that I had a lucky escape staying in a tent there! To make matters worse, the last I saw SOMEONE stole the sign warning of Moose!!!!!

It was good to meet you Gareth, cheers for the jumps

Blue skies

Paul

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[gjhdiver 0]

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I didn't realise that the Sweeds were ravaged by Moose. I feel now that I had a lucky escape staying in a tent there! To make matters worse, the last I saw SOMEONE stole the sign warning of Moose!!!!!

I know. And someone couldn't fit the damn thing in his luggage and had to leave it there.

Bugger.

[WrongWay 0]

The Swiss are awesome.

Italians and Frenchies hate us.

Germans think I'm German.

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.

[PLFXpert 0]

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Italians and Frenchies hate us.

Unless you're blonde and female it seems

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.