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TV Special: "What the World Thinks of America" (pg. 2)
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| biznology |
| quote: | Originally posted by DrummeRaver86
you said behoof...hahahahahaha....:toothless :tongue3 |
yah i think its behoov or something, but its still a word.
as for the discussion of moving, living and all that garbage i have talked to a number of people about that. (especially Swedes, Clubs)
there does seem to be an antisentiment about the US, especially in Europe. i do believe there are a lot of people in the US that dont get out much, so they have maladjusted viewpoints of what others in the world think of them and their country.
overall i think this is a distance issue as has been stated. a US citizen looking for the closest near-abroad country has really only Mexico or Canada (and poss Latin Am/Carribbean) to look towards, and thats often quite a distance from any one point in the US. Europe has a different scenario where travel internationally is regular, and much less of an ordeal. this, is due to distances largely.
strangely enough that doesnt really answer the question. because especially when talking to Swedish people you learn that many havent been to some places in Sweden, tho they wont think twice about flying to Thailand as is quite in fashion here. Personally i asked my roommie why she was flying around the world to Thailand, instead of the US or Latin America (not to be self centered, just out of curiousity). She said she hadnt considered it at all-
this is interesting to me because speaking to people from Europe they often have a preconcieved notion of what the US is, and how it operates. and IF they have actually visited the US, and thats a big if, they further build up notions about they entire country based on California, New York, Florida or elsewhere (depending where theyve been) that truly undermine the vast differences in people and landscape in a country of 300 million people.
thats why i thot Kings remark about how living in Cali would be 'more liberal' or more acceptable to a European. i dont necessarily agree as for me CA is *very* American in values, etc. despite possible liberal leanings.
then again i live where all the Californians move to when they get fed up- Colorado. so maybe im just bitter/biased| |
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| marcus82 |
OH!
repeated tonight (june 22nd) on CBC at 5 p.m. |
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| DrummeRaver86 |
| Damnit!! Anyone know if it's on in the U.S.? |
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| King of Clubs |
Hey Biz, hows it going? Are you enjoying Uppsala?
Yeah, there definetly is an antisentiment towards the U.S. here in Europe. And especially in these days considering the vast hate towards the U.S. foreign policy, George Bush etc..
In Sweden it's not that big and if you compare to southern Europe it's nothing.
I've been living in Florence, Italy this spring and a lot of people truly hates americans with a passion down there. One of my best friends is a guy from LA, who is a very cool, laid back guy. He was against the war and stands politically where all the rest of the people I hung out with does. But he had to take alot of down there just because he was born american. Sometimes in a bar we were asked not to speak in english, because it could start trouble. Once we were refused to buy pot from a guy, just because my friend was american.. There were alot of these kind of things happening. And Florence is kind of an american colony, there are tons of them there. I saw a huge fight between italians and americans once etc..
And if thats bad, you should see how its like in France!!
Its very sad. I really dislike the US of political reasons, but I would never hold that against an american person I met. I try to judge a person after their personal qualities and not by where they were born. Just for the record, I am friends with pro-bush americans as well.
I've beeen to the U.S. a number of times. New York, Florida, Chicago etc. but I wouldn't say that I have been given my whole perception of the USA from those journeys, more from meeting americans, reading, TV etx. And given the huge influence that the US has over Europe and especially Sweden, you cannot escape having an opinion on the country.
You are most probably right about California. I never even been there, but I always pictured it the most liberal part and the weather there beeing great also, thats where I'd choose to go if I ever went to the U.S to live.
And about Thailand, you have to realize how much you get for your money if you go there.. Its so cheap its crazy. Plus it's beautiful, the parties are great, the weather is incredible etc.. |
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| JohnSmith |
| very interesting. I will watch the show tonight, and state my opinion after. |
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| biznology |
| quote: | Originally posted by King of Clubs
Hey Biz, hows it going? Are you enjoying Uppsala?
Yeah, there definetly is an antisentiment towards the U.S. here in Europe. And especially in these days considering the vast hate towards the U.S. foreign policy, George Bush etc..
In Sweden it's not that big and if you compare to southern Europe it's nothing.
I've been living in Florence, Italy this spring and a lot of people truly hates americans with a passion down there. One of my best friends is a guy from LA, who is a very cool, laid back guy. He was against the war and stands politically where all the rest of the people I hung out with does. But he had to take alot of down there just because he was born american. Sometimes in a bar we were asked not to speak in english, because it could start trouble. Once we were refused to buy pot from a guy, just because my friend was american.. There were alot of these kind of things happening. And Florence is kind of an american colony, there are tons of them there. I saw a huge fight between italians and americans once etc..
And if thats bad, you should see how its like in France!!
Its very sad. I really dislike the US of political reasons, but I would never hold that against an american person I met. I try to judge a person after their personal qualities and not by where they were born. Just for the record, I am friends with pro-bush americans as well.
I've beeen to the U.S. a number of times. New York, Florida, Chicago etc. but I wouldn't say that I have been given my whole perception of the USA from those journeys, more from meeting americans, reading, TV etx. And given the huge influence that the US has over Europe and especially Sweden, you cannot escape having an opinion on the country.
You are most probably right about California. I never even been there, but I always pictured it the most liberal part and the weather there beeing great also, thats where I'd choose to go if I ever went to the U.S to live.
And about Thailand, you have to realize how much you get for your money if you go there.. Its so cheap its crazy. Plus it's beautiful, the parties are great, the weather is incredible etc.. |
hehe, yah Thailand is hella cheap, my roommate got back and told me about it. tho i still have her TV:whip: damn you TV3!
and im not saying that Thailand isnt beautiful, its just interesting how people in Europe will more likely search for a vacation elsewhere other than the states/N Amer before traveling there most of the time. I understand its often cheaper than going to North America, but then again if cost were the only issue many Americans wouldnt go to Europe either!
Yes, Sweden is nothing like S Europe it sounds like, and i have met many great people from that area that arent at all hostile like that. It has been a wonderful experience in Uppsala, tho i leave Tuesday morning! such a shame|colin |
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| DaveSaenz |
be·hoove ( P ) Pronunciation Key (b-hv)
v. be·hooved, be·hoov·ing, be·hooves
v. tr.
To be necessary or proper for: It behooves you at least to try.
v. intr.
To be necessary or proper.
On another note:
It's very hard (and expensive) for a person living in North America to pick up and leave for Europe unless you have family/friends in the country you're moving to. |
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| DrummeRaver86 |
| quote: | Originally posted by DaveSaenz
be·hoove ( P ) Pronunciation Key (b-hv)
v. be·hooved, be·hoov·ing, be·hooves
v. tr.
To be necessary or proper for: It behooves you at least to try.
v. intr.
To be necessary or proper.
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thanks for that Dave :happy2: |
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| dEsidEL |
I find living in Toronto, Canada to be just fine and after visiting several other US cities, would likely prefer to stay. I have a brother living in Boston now for a few years and he agrees however also agrees that it's hard to make comparisons like this because some factors just can't be measured. The only thing I gripe about is the winter here, which I hate. If the weather was like it was in in maybe California year round, I'd be more than happy here. I've considered emigrating to Barcelona one day... but I definately need to do more research about it first, let alone actually go there to visit first! Anyways, sorry about the off topic tangent ..
back to the show .. :D |
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| Dj_Irish |
I have had some limited experience of the US myself. Mostly Seattle though but I've been there a couple of times now. I have always had a great time there and met a lot of very cool people.
Anyways, usually I'm staying with an american couple whom I'm glad to call my friends and we've talked several times about travelling and various differences between europe and the US and when I read this thread I come to think about the differences in amount of vacation time during the year.
Here in Sweden everybody with a full time employment gets 5 weeks vacation. No matter if he/she only worked one year at the same company or six. In the US you start with one week and then it gradually increases with the amount of time you've spent at the company. To reach the equivalent of 5 weeks you have to stay with the same company for 15-20 years, or so I'm told (please correct me if I'm wrong).
So, to take the couple I usually stay at. They are both almost in their mid twenties and haven't worked long enough to get more than one week off. This one week is all they got and has to be spread out over the whole year for any occasions that might require a day off, say a short anniversary celebration. This doesn't leave them much time to go travelling very far. They both wanna go to europe but only when they have saved up enough to basically be self sufficient for a month or more (they might loose their jobs if they take a way for a month though). Getting that day off to celebrate their anniversary seems to be hard enough. Both their employers are pressing them to take minimum of vacation time.
Spending more than one day on getting to and from the vacation spot is really not desireable. Something a person with 5 weeks vacation have no problem doing. Interrailing or backpacking for a month is no problem with 5 weeks but for people with only one week it's impossible. If they wanna do this they have to do it before they get their first jobs, or inbetween jobs, or later in life when they earned enough vacation time at the company.
And regarding Swedes going to Thailand and not the US. Well, Swedes alwasy wanna go where there is sun and where everything is cheap. US has lot of sun in certain places but is not near as cheap as Thailand. Hence the hordes of drunken swedes in locations such as Thailand and various mediterranean islands (excludning Ibiza since nothing is cheap there :p )
Furthermore, if US people wanna get some sun, or snow for that matter, they can get plenty of that within their own country. Swedes cannot (Snow yes, sun no).
So the incentives for US people to go abroad is naturally lower then for people in most European countries and I think it's somthing to keep in mind when discussing this issue.
[/rant] |
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| occrider |
| quote: | Originally posted by DaveSaenz
be·hoove ( P ) Pronunciation Key (b-hv)
v. be·hooved, be·hoov·ing, be·hooves
v. tr.
To be necessary or proper for: It behooves you at least to try.
v. intr.
To be necessary or proper.
On another note:
It's very hard (and expensive) for a person living in North America to pick up and leave for Europe unless you have family/friends in the country you're moving to. |
Oops ... haha yea that was idiotic. Oh well what do you expect ... I get more absent-minded when I'm trying to post in between work :) |
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| DrummeRaver86 |
| quote: | Originally posted by occrider
Oops ... haha yea that was idiotic. Oh well what do you expect ... I get more absent-minded when I'm trying to post in between work :) |
oh boy...look what i started!:D |
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