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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dr. Strangemonkey" data-source="post: 574606" data-attributes="member: 6533">Well, given enough wine and the right audience I might indeed argue that Europe has more in common with the west coast than the west coast has with the east coast, but......the real issue is that the cultural adaption necessary between a move from the west to the east is, in some ways, more difficult than the adaptation from the west to a European culture.When I'm in Italy or visiting with Italians I know I am a stranger, a guest, and a foriegner.  This makes me cautious, tolerant, alert, and forgivable.  The difference is also so obvious and vast that I a lot of the adaptation becomes easily apparent from both sides.  We are better able to suspend our sense of judgement.   I also know that Italy and the western United States share a lot of culture and history that I can look for amidst the differences.When living in the east or with people from the east, the differences are more subtle and the status of my counterpart harder to discern.  This tends to create frustration, fear, and fanaticism - to bring in a little alliteration - and most importantly the tendency is for the sense of judgement to be applied more frequently than for it to be suspended.  The fact that I know the differences are often imposed on each other through our shared laws and environment can sometimes make this even harder.  The differences between similar individuals are also often harder to articulate and explain.  This may not be a universal experience of these differences but I've felt them and I know that others who have too.</blockquote>

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