Eh, yeah, my default assumption was that Americans are basically transplanted Anglo-Saxons, and that their attitudes will reflect those of the Bri'ish.
Literally 7x denser. Yes, “personal space” is going to be treated very differently here.
In Europe at least, there is more of a cultural correlation than one with population density. The countries in Southern Europe are much more sparsely populated, and yet they get in your face more than countries like Switzerland, Germany or Britain.
Which carried over to Latin America, but not to the US…
Noting that the largest proportion of European settlers in the US ended up coming from Germany, and Northern Europe more broadly, I guess may be somewhat relevant…
But I would say Australians are less… Cold, than the British, without the sort of… Veneer, that many Americans put on. Despite Australia being like a strange combination of US + UK + Canada…
It’s 100% a cultural thing. Which carried over to Latin America, but not to the US…
Sure, but Latin America is Spanish, while the US is more German/Anglo-Saxon as you said. What surprised me is that people think that Europeans have no sense of personal space. Actually, I remember the last time someone got in my space, and it was yeeeears ago - I remember precisely because it's so uncommon.
Despite Australia being like a strange combination of US + UK + Canada…
Having just spent several weeks dating an English girl, I would say we’re actually probably happier here. And certainly more outgoing (in general. Though it depends where in England, of course!)
And that’s coming from someone who does not like this country very much at all…
I think people here are much more open and upfront about things than the English/Welsh norm (this doesn’t apply so much to the rest of the British Isles), and I actually like that…
I think Australians have a lower bullshit tolerance, in general… But I guess it depends.
As she said to me, “This is like paradise to us” (which seemed ironic).
Even more ironic, as I’m about to move to Sweden - land of the cold, utterly direct, no-small-talk folk. Which, having dated a couple of Swedes… I’m genuinely somewhat nervous about.
Eh, yeah, my default assumption was that Americans are basically transplanted Anglo-Saxons, and that their attitudes will reflect those of the Bri'ish.
In Europe at least, there is more of a cultural correlation than one with population density. The countries in Southern Europe are much more sparsely populated, and yet they get in your face more than countries like Switzerland, Germany or Britain.
It’s 100% a cultural thing.
Which carried over to Latin America, but not to the US…
Noting that the largest proportion of European settlers in the US ended up coming from Germany, and Northern Europe more broadly, I guess may be somewhat relevant…
But I would say Australians are less… Cold, than the British, without the sort of… Veneer, that many Americans put on. Despite Australia being like a strange combination of US + UK + Canada…
So I’d say it is more complicated than just this.
Sure, but Latin America is Spanish, while the US is more German/Anglo-Saxon as you said. What surprised me is that people think that Europeans have no sense of personal space. Actually, I remember the last time someone got in my space, and it was yeeeears ago - I remember precisely because it's so uncommon.
Sounds like a nightmare to me.
Having just spent several weeks dating an English girl, I would say we’re actually probably happier here. And certainly more outgoing (in general. Though it depends where in England, of course!)
And that’s coming from someone who does not like this country very much at all…
I think people here are much more open and upfront about things than the English/Welsh norm (this doesn’t apply so much to the rest of the British Isles), and I actually like that…
I think Australians have a lower bullshit tolerance, in general… But I guess it depends.
As she said to me, “This is like paradise to us” (which seemed ironic).
Even more ironic, as I’m about to move to Sweden - land of the cold, utterly direct, no-small-talk folk. Which, having dated a couple of Swedes… I’m genuinely somewhat nervous about.
But it should be interesting.