2006-07-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

Being here in the US for the first time I really feel great and I’m glad to see that the US and the European citizens are not the stereotypes that are wide spread. Even though I come from Europe, I can not be accounted for a typical European cause I’m from the Balkans, and we’re a story for ourselves, so I can be considered for a neutral observer (if we could ever get neutral).

Smoking
It’s really odd that a country that produces the world’s most famous cigarette brands doesn’t “allow” its citizens to smoke. Technically, smoking is OK, but there people are too limited in places they can smoke at, and the climate for smokers is not really good, so it’s not a wonder that smokers in the US feel a bit suppressed. Unlike them, the EU is a bit more liberal concerning that question. As an explanation I’m only gonna say – France.

Alcohol
American kids are not allowed to drink till they’re 21, but they can own a gun at 18. Does this sound weird to anyone?
Kids from EU can “officially” drink at 18, and it really isn’t a big deal. But how can it be when in some countries prostitution and drugs are tolerated?

Food
American food to those who’re not used to it tastes like plastic and it’s too caloric. And Americans are trying to feed healthier, but people, a diet Coke won’t help you if you’re eating a big greasy hamburger with it!
Unlike the US food, European food has a taste, but pretty often you will have no idea what you’re eating cause Europeans tend to cook things to the point that you can’t even recognize what it is, or what it was. And sometimes it’s better to not now what you’re eating because often that what tastes OK will probably turn out to be chicken with pineapple, wine, bananas and pepper some other unthinkable combination. Sometimes it's just better to stick to the burgers.

Nationalism
Americans are great patriots. Europeans are too, but I’ve never seen a European wearing a shirt with their national flag (unless they’re on a football/soccer match, or are British punks). By default Europeans dislike America and its politics because the US is the major economical leader in the world, and every step they take in foreign politics makes an impact in the world. EU citizens feel kind of intimidated by the fact that some other country has such a huge influence on a global level.

And even though this is the typical picture, I’m really glad that I’m met Americans that smoke, or don’t mind smokers, European kids who think drinking has no point, and that don’t comply with all the “too liberal” stuff in their country, Europeans that justify America’s political and economical moves; because it all just proves how you just can’t label anyone by their nationality.

The Expressionist