Dr. Strangemonkey, do you actually think that Europe is closer to the West than the East coast? That seems odd. Or were you raised West Coast USA style, adapted to some European countries, then were advised against the east coast?
It just seems hard to believe to me. I suffered massive culture shock in the US. Everyone was just too... nice. Store Clerks weren't reading their newspaper and sighing, reluctantly getting up, when you wanted them to help you. *shivers* I just thought people were taken over by aliens or something
Also, it felt really odd seeing short 16 year old girls drive cars legally. Someone showing me guns wasn't too bad, until they freaked out when I held my finger to close to the trigger, yelling "You do NOT want to dry fire that gun!". Oh, yeah, I am from a country where guns are illegal, and I would know how to hold an unloaded gun. Oh well...
For all the people refuting my arguments - think about the meager distance I have to travel to get completely culture shocked. (edit) within (/edit) 1 hour of flying and I can expose myself to 12 vastly different cultures.
One more point I'd like to make is work ethic. In the US that seems to be universal, but in Europe... Industrious, Organized Swiss livin next to... well, I am not going to discriminate here, but I have heard several people from that country admit it themselves that work ethic is not that important.
Rav