USA: I like, I dislike
By ely1984 on Friday, November 23 2007, 17:02 - Eurogeneration in America - Permalink
This post is also available in: German French ItalianA rich, explosive and extremely varied country, USA is, at the same time, a nation proud of its DNA, forged with blood and with an hard-and-fast Constitution. But also contradictory, sometimes cruel, always bearer of challenges, adventures and uncertainties, loads of uncertainties. These were the USA that I saw. Joking and being serious at the same time, here is a gallery of what I liked and what I didn’t.
I like
Washington subway: elegant
Animals throughout the city: funny 
Multietnicity when it means harmony
The flag: it rocks 
Offline ads for online web sites: modern
I dislike
New York subway: narrow, dirty, “well, what...?”
Regular coffee in Starbucks: are we sure that the roast is Italian???
Rats in the streets: still a problem in big cities like New York
The count down to cross the road: really unendurable (without having to talk about the omnipresent automatic drive that nullifies the breaks’ slow effect and makes your stomach jump).
Ounce, gallon, mile... grrrr. In the picture the graduates Giusy uses for cooking.
So what do you think? Am I too provincial? What are your impressions on America guys?
Adriano
Comments
Just read about your adventures in the US. So you like America in the end? Ha ha, yes, there are certainly lessons to be learnt, but also Europe has a lot to offer
Yes I liked a lot. I must say I still prefer Europe but we have so much to learn from the US. Moreover, I'll try to keep strong relations with people I met there! I've been invited for a conference in NYC next year to speak about cafebabel.com!
I've lived in the US for 4 years now. Based on my experience, my question is: what do you think about interpersonal relationships in the US? In 4 years here, I have yet to make a true friend, and do trust me when I say I did try. Believe it or not, there are clearcut differences between the American and European friendship styles. What's you take on this?
Honestly, I cannot give you a good reply as I just travelled around for three weeks and I visited 4 cities! So no time at all to make true friends. May I ask you where do you live in the States and what's your professional activity?
Having lived there birefly, I find that New York is really third world. I'll keep the bucolic greenery in smalltown America that I can escape to, thank you very much. It's the restorative after my travels, and I don't think I could live without it. That, and Yuengling.
As for making "true friends," most Americans (outside the context of the big city centers) would talk to anyone. I frequently hear the critique about being "too firendly" and "too trusting" from our Euro-betters. Then again, there's always something most of them seem to show some dissatisfaction for with Americans. After a lifetime of observing this, I'm amazed that anyone even listens to it.