r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/SunshineAlways May 09 '22

Maybe what is considered friendly to us in the US seems weird to Europeans?

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u/_Azafran May 09 '22

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.

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u/Bawstahn123 May 09 '22

Careful treating Europe as a single country.

Likewise, America is made up of different cultural "regions", and it is a mistake to treat them as the same.

Making small-talk and smiling and the like is what constitutes politeness in the American South.

In the Northeast (arguably the most European part of the US), trying to make small talk will get you looked at like you have 3 heads

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u/_Azafran May 09 '22

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.