Love and Hate

What do you love about the U.S.A and what do you hate about it?

What do you love about Europe and what do you hate about it?

Based on when I came to the USA 14 years ago I loved Oahu and San Francisco. I loved the Golden Gate Bridge, the wonderful Californian sweetcorn they sold on the farmer's market by Bay bridge. I love my friends I have met here on POE who are from the USA.

Again based on my visit I hated Hollywood - I had quite a few terrifying experiences there. At one time we were locked in a shop because the manager said the people outside were going to rob us (thank you to him though!). We were frightened to go out after dark and you had to climb over the tramps trying to walk along the stars!

Based on my trips to Paris, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain & Greece - I loved all the wonderful sights. I loved the antique markets just outside Paris. I loved the mountains I visited in Germany, Austria & Italy - and the wonderful road bridges and castles. I loved the slower pace of life in Greece. Of course I love Britain (although I never think of us as Europe!) I also love my friends from Europe that I have met on POE.

 I wasn't keen on some of the Parisians - they were not very friendly to us English. Always put in the worst seats in restaurants!  I was surprised about the lack of disabled facilities - no lifts in some of the Metro stations and I had only just got off crutches so I hated having to struggle up loads of steps. I hated some of the toilets - especially the ones that are just like a hole in a piece of wood! I hate being told what to do by Europe!

hi debbie, I've never visited the USA but I know people who love it and people who hate it. I think the thing that sometimes gets up the nose (so to speak) of non Americans is the way some Americans boast they are the Biggest and the best at everything. I have always found the Amerians that I have come across, both in England and on my world travels as very freindly and helpful. I remember once whilst serving as a Photograper in the Royal Air Force, we were serving in Norway on a large NATO operation/arial photo competion. It was our sqadrons job to set up the 'targets' prior to the start of the two week operation. (These were bridges, dams, powerstations etc in Norway). It was the task that eace day of the exercise a squadron from each NATO country would be given information of their targets, they would locate and photo., bring the results back to base for analysis.

We arrived to help set up the competition two weeks prior to the competitors, we slept in make-shift accomodation and ate Norwegion food, mainly fish and cheeses. other squdrons soon arrived, the Danes with their long hair, the Germans, the French, a sqadron from Britain etc,etc

Then the Americans arrived. They brought everything, including the kitchen sink and twice as many personal as us. Suddenly beef steaks etc. were on the menu etc, etc and the place became 'alive'.

The competition started. Relationships between all personel was exellent, though competitive. After a week the competition ended and results were anylised and announced.

I am proud to say that the Royal Air Force was the 'winner' (wasnt fixed honestly!) but the Americans took it well and we all had a big party and were 'friends' afterwards.

other nationalities I have met rate-

French, can be friendly but wont speak english unless you make some effort to speak French (cant really blame them for that!)

Germans, (and German speaking countries), - very aloof

Greek - Friendly

Turks, east european and middle eastern countries- mixed feelings, juries out on this one lol

chinese - reserved but polite

malaysion - friendly

Australian - Friendly but loud and can be uncouth lol

South African (White) - simular to Aussies, but a bit more aloof

Spain - sometimes friendly but juries out again.

Italian - nice culture but reserved and can be 'loud'

Irish - Nice and lovable, (if only they'ed forget the past troubles and move with the times)

Scottish - friendly but they resent the English sometimes (our present Prime minister is Scottish, for Gods sake!)

Welsh - hard working and loyal

Finaly, what do I think about the English?

mmmm! friendly, helpful, diverse, reserved, some are pompus some are 'down to earth', how-ever, theyll help anyone (usualy the underdog) in a crises. Love to play by the 'rules' and 'fair-play'

me? Just a friendly, patriotic northaner lol 

Hi Debbie.  What do I love about America? How long have you got!  My husband and I have had three holidays in the USA and each time we were impressed by the warmth of the people who we met (obviously there were exceptions, like the B&B proprietor who was grumpy and unhelpful LOL).  I can't enthuse enough about the beautiful scenery that we found and the variety of things to see and do.  The National parks are simply amazing-wildlife and beauty around every bend in the road!  We are returning hopefully next spring and are driving up from San Fransisco to northern Oregon then back down through Tahoe, Lassen NP and Yosemite NP-we can't wait!  The only slight downside for me was the horrendous traffic in LA and thus the problems getting around the city.  The freeways were jammed with vehicles and I did get panicky at the 'being closed in' feeling.

Now Europe.  Only as a child did I travel extensively but as an adult, have been to Corfu and Crete.  The Greek people are lovely and the pace of life slow and easy.  We really enjoyed these holidays and the culture that we learned about on excursions.

So, on balance, although Greece was lovely, if I have a choice, it will always be America for me.  Our experiences there have alwas left us wanting to see more and with luck, we will next year!!!

LOL! Ask me about the USA in September when I get back from NYC! IF the flaming swine flu doens't stop me from going (which I don't think will do)  

England is a boss country. It is being ruined by feral youth, gun culture and other violence. I blame the so called 'criminal lawyers' for defending the scum in the first place, and then the courts and prisons who 'pamper' them for their stay over at HMS. Prison should be hard labour, no t.v., no  luxuries etc, and yet they have it all in there. So, sack the government I say! 

I love our countryside, our cities with the old and new buildings; I love what remains of our Tudor buildings very much. The coastal towns, the mountains, harbours and castles. It's only a little isle but we have so much here. 

Well, I think most Ameircans are freindly enough if you can get them to slow down an bit...gross  competiveness is "new age" thing to me. As to Europe, well, our church sponsored an huge family form Germany one time..so we got to know those folks, and you can' t beat Germans for making the best out of next to nothing, my grandmother was also German during the depression days, I live across the street from two lititle adopted oriental girls and two russian boys, but we have had foreign exchange students in our area for many years now, from Germany, Holland, Japan..to name an few and I've worked with people from Finland, and Ireland, and knew people from England. Have itailian/canadian relatives amoung other nationalties. Portland State use to have an lot of foreigners from the middle east until 911 happened...they all left out of fear I think.  We also have an lot of hispanics. Somewhat diversified area. I find most Europeans are more traditional in their views. Hard working too..and it pays off well here I might add. There has been this thing about helping foreigners before people here will help their own kind. We were vernerable in that.. in seeing 911...we helped the very people that were out to destroy us. Until then we didn't have all this nonsense of "security" going on either. I seldom hate an country for something it's people do ...as people are individuals. I think at times that competiviness is an real problem in the world, it brings on more harm then good. I thought at one time maybe it could be resoved with "sports' but some of it has become very hard core and vulgar to say the least... It's not enjoyable when it gets like this. Only thing that has me bothered these days is "Texans" and I've known some in the past completely different then some of those of today. I just saw an video sent to me on the New World Order, and again, the first thing shown was Pres. Kennedy's assaination in Dallas. When is to much power "bad"?..,,when it can't be made accountable for it's actions.  

The USA - as much as I say I love England, I feel very blessed to have been born and bred in the USA and would never want to live anywhere else.  What I love about it here is the system of govt. we have here.  Yes, it' a bit screwed up at the moment and is subject to abuse and corruption like anywhere else, but it's the BEST so far, in human history.  Freedom is our hallmark.  Acceptance of other cultures is as well, our citizens are descended from peoples on every part of the planet.  People are still literally dying to come to America for a better life, which  is why the great migration started in the first place, all those centuries ago.

What I don't like is the moral slippage in American society today.  Capitalism is one of the values born of our freedom, but until the last 20 years or so, it was never so unbridled as it is today.  There was always a moral compass that said, yes, it's OK to grab the dream and work hard and perhaps become rich.  But there was always, for the most part, a sense of "do the right thing," and even perhaps a thought spared for the greater good.  Not anymore.  The culture now is get rich quick, I want it all and I want it now, who cares who gets hurt along the way, etc.  Americans have always been entrepeneurial, optimistic and hard working - that's why it's such a great nation today, but that sense of entitlement that people have here is not good, and part of the reason so much of the rest of the world hates us.

As for beauty - well, the song "America the Beautiful" ain't just whistlin Dixie.  lol

Europe - the only countries I've been to are England and Ireland.  London wasn't very friendly.  We rode the underground, and apart from the sound of the train itself, you could hear a pin drop.  NOBODY talks to one another.  Not even a smile or a hello.  I found it very bizarre. 

I lament that Europe is now so secular but I don't wonder why,  Religion has been a very divisive force there, but I regret the other, more hateful religions that are supplanting Christianity in Europe.  And yet I see the beauty born of it, especially in England in the form of the magnificent cathedrals and the lovely village churches.  For beauty and history, Europe is my favorite.   I wouldn't hang around on POE as much as I do if I didn't LOVE England.  If you love history and scenery, England has it all.  I don't think I'd like to live in a big city anywhere in Europe, but the small villages are very charming.  I would love to spend a year or two after I retire living there, or in Ireland, but America is my permanent home.

good on ya! Ruth Glad you love your country and so you should.I think your President is a good man and a man for the time. hope he gets the chance to proove it. 

I agree on your comments on London. The true Londoners of old are great people but it appears now to be full of immigrants and 'no-wheremen', overpaid commutors who dont represent the true London, i'm sure Ron will agree with me there, but still an interesting place to visit (once).

get away from the Cities and its a different world.

glad you like England anyway!