customs Europe three
Stereotypes and Customs
Europe, three
All human beings share certain habits and behaviors, but customs vary from group to group. For example, eating is a biological requirement for all people, but table manners and customs of food preparation vary from group to group.
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Are the following customs, ideals and values true or still true? Why did or do these customs, ideals and values exist? What do you think about them? Are they good, bad, both or neither? How is it in your country?
Europe
1. The Belgians and Danes like to travel to Kenya, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand. Romanians and Bulgarians prefer to visit Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands.
2. Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Kosovo, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and Macedonia all want to join the European Union; many British want to exit the EU. The Norwegians and Swiss don’t want to be a part of the EU.
3. Switzerland has a national conscription; all men must join the army. They must remain in military reserves until age 55. Conscientious objectors will go to jail and will never have a proper career.
4. Britain has lots of psychiatrists and psychological counselors.
5. Poland is the most religious nation in Europe.
6. Many foreigners describe the Greeks as being very proud and nationalistic.
7. Turks say they are European, not Middle Easterners. Poles, Hungarians, Czechs and Slovaks say they are not East European, but Central European. Croats and Slovenes say their countries are not part of the Balkans but Western Europe. Moroccans say they are not part of Africa, but a Mediterranean nation. Egyptians say their are not African, but Middle-Eastern. Meanwhile, many Britons say they are NOT part of Europe, but a separate, distinct, island race.
8. The British say they are the best pop singers. Greeks claim to have invented gyros and stuffed vegetables, and Bulgarians say they make the best yoghurt in the world. Georgians claimed to have invented wine (fermentation).
9. In Italy, children live their parents until they get married–or longer if they don’t. In the UK, children often move out when they are 16 or 18.
