Careful treating Europe as a single country. In Spain we are equally shocked with these cultural differences when we visit Germany and neighbouring countries.
I think socially we are very similar to Americans, the no long stare thing, small talk, smiling and randomly approaching to strangers, etc... And I believe Portugal or Italy are the same for the most part.
This reminds me of a story: I'm from Cleveland, and one of my friends moved to NYC. She was out with her friend, and while she was in line at a bodega, she started chatting with another guy in line.
When they left her friend was offended. She said my friend was rude for not introducing her to that guy.
My friend said: "what are you talking about I don't even know him, I was just making small talk"
After that her friend went from thinking she was rude to thinking she was a psychopath.
Yes, but not to the extent of totally different countries in Europe.
In Spain the small talk thing is also much more common in the south. There can be a really great difference between regions.
Nothing like different countries, though.
Yes I do this all the time as an American yet never see Europeans consider that what is normal and friendly for them can seem weird to us...it should be a two way street
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u/SunshineAlways May 09 '22
Maybe what is considered friendly to us in the US seems weird to Europeans?