[Closed] Introducing a better understanding of European culture

So, where to start

A disdain for the English?

Seems to be a pretty common trait amongst most of the Europeans I've encountered, including many of the English.

Americans might struggle to understand this concept. I suggest you start with dentistry.

Well if they werent so racist that would be harder to do.

TBH i am not sure there is a european culture to explain

The Americans will struggle with the concept of having 4 or 5 weeks holiday a year.

I can only really speak for British culture due to the B word but:

The humorous or affectionate aspects of swearing at people.

Self deprecation and understatement.

Seething resentment and a deep seated mistrust of foreigners, officials and anyone more successful, fortunate or talented than oneself.

Try and get them to understand that Europe is made up of lots of countries with varied cultures and sub cultures.

Just look at England with the industrious hard-working south and layabout north.

Just tell them that we're all Socialists who believe in impossible things like free healthcare and don't understand Breaking Bad.

Just sign everyone in your new workpace up to this forum.

We'll soon learn 'em.

Take all their guns away?

European? does this include Britain?

If European, then just bring together an open working culture instead of rigid working practices.

If Britain, then just bring together backward looking change and efficiency reticent drones.

Well, this isn't exactly going as I might have [s]expected[/s] hoped 😆

In this context, Britain is part of Europe.

Rachel

lost a really long post and i'm not retyping it.

How you self-identify . Lots of Europeans/ US will identify by a town/ region/ country. This is less strong in the UK. Eg. Whats the local dish in guildford?

In summary brits are less interested in regionality/ national identity - partly to do with immigration & the empire. But reasonably well educated with regards to world history/ politics.

Americans are ignorant of world issues, as there education teaches locality for ages eg. my firend studied only Texas history/ geography politics until 14 then caught up on what else happened! They have much more european outlook on regionality/ nationality.

Europenas are well educated in world politics but also in regionality. Most brits (do i mean english?) couldn't tell you a local dish - most europeans and americans could.

Also all the above is really general. basques, flemish, northern irish all exceptions to above.

Ask an American to imagine the differences between California & (e.g) Louisiana.

That is analogous to the differences between countries in Europe. Each country has it's own mix of industry, ethnicity etc etc etc so it's hard to generalise on a European "culture".

Disclaimer - I work for a US company. They are not all imbeciles (even the Trump supporters).

Whats the local dish in guildford?

Hmmm, it's between a doner and a pizza, I'd say.

You could start with things like. We have telephones and internet (I do meet people who think these do not exist outside of the us).
That weekends are not for work. If someone does not reply to an email within 39 mins it is ok... not everything requires a phone discussion. Unions are not such a bad thing. Universal healthcare is not slavery. The rest of the world is not terrified of each other so doesn't need to be armed to the teeth. High fructose corn syrup is not a good substitute for sugar....

That Jesus or an approximation of him probably did not do your exams or get you your job even if you have prayer sessions at work...

I work in the us in a gun toting, trump loving, homosexual burning region (or at least building)...

Introduce them to a text considered 'serious science' and 'fact' in Europe, namely:

'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life' by a certain C Darwin.

Although perhaps use the abbreviated title as the full one my provide unwarranted justification of their current course

Possibly slagging off your employers nation might not be good opening move.
I think you could point out that there is no European culture. Europe is not one place, no matter what some would want but a collection of countries, often subdivided. The only common point is a currency.
Maybe tart with history in some way as we have it on a very different scale/Then start on each country.

f European, then just bring together an open working culture instead of rigid working practices.

If Britain, then just bring together backward looking change and efficiency reticent drones.

Typical load of self loathing tosh

What Matt said

There is no overall European culture so you are off to a bad start there if that is part of your job.

You could start with the US culture and explaining the parts of that culture that you won't see in Europe (or anywhere else) i.e. the American dream, the success of the individual over the success of society, the intolerance, no room for workers rights

Disclaimer - I work for a US company. They are not all imbeciles

Same here.

Good point about there being differing levels of awareness of the wider world amongst Americans. I've worked with some who've never left their own state and others who are tremendously widely travelled. The ex-military in my experience have been the open minded ones as they've been posted overseas (although US bases tend to be little bits of America they do get out). I currently work with a group that moved from Dallas to Las Vegas. They're all shocked by Trump - but you'd expect that as they're educated and in well paid jobs.

A serious point - many US managers do not understand European (inc British) employment law and practice. One of my previous employers repeatedly got taken to employment tribunals as US managers sacked staff without following process (all settled expensively before cases heard). They also recruited in France without understanding how hard it is to get rid of someone there.

In contrast, I got rid of one of my Las Vegas team for poor performance and US HR couldn't understand why I spent 6 months trying to improve their performance first.

It might also be good turning it round - get your US colleagues to explain the differences between California and Idaho, why the constitution is so important to them, why race is still such a problem after the Union won the civil war (hint - the Democrats used to be the bad guys).

I don't think there is a European culture , just lots of different ones.
So perhaps you could give them a list of amusing stereotypes?

btw ,We were tupied over to an American company. I don't feel lucky.
Best of luck with your job.

kerley - Member

There is no overall European culture so you are off to a bad start there if that is part of your job.

Even on a broad brush the Scandinavians compared to the Mediterranean are somewhat different.

Then look at things like the way that the brits, the germans and the dutch are essentially the same people - but the dutch have totally different social norms from either the Germans or the brits ( whose social norms are very similar).

So apart from from some broad themes like healthcare there is no cohesive european culture

tjagain - Member

So apart from from some broad themes like healthcare there is no cohesive european culture

No single European culture but many similar cultural practices as well as shared values and principles. Start there.

surfer - Member
Typical load of self loathing tosh

No self loathing on my part, just observation.

You don’t seem to have a much of an insight to the culture...

Sounds like management bullshit. French culture and attitudes are different to German are different to Polish are different to Ukrainian are different to......

A map
London is not the capital of Europe
Wines not defined by grape type
Vegetables
Proper coffee - even expressos ( 😉
Language
Culture
History
Well cut suits
Shoes not made by Nike or UA

What this thread is largely bringing out is not how Americans misunderstand Brits but how Brits misunderstand Americans.

What this thread is largely bringing out is not how Americans misunderstand Brits but how Brits misunderstand Americans.

Not really but you have sort of made a good point in that understanding the whole of Europe as one culture is like trying to understand the whole of America as one culture. Can't really be done.

are you talking actual culture (like the southern europeans eat later, are very family orientated, etc.) or BUSINESS culture?

Because the two are different.

eg: if an American thinks you are an imbecile in a meeting, he'll smile at you, thank you very much for the input, tell you how much he's looking forward to working with you and then once out of the door tell HR you're an imbecile and try to fire you within 2 weeks, with a free cardboard box for your personal effects as compensation.

If a Dutchman thinks you are an imbecile in a meeting, he'll tell you, then put forward plans for how to develop you to less imbecilic status, and if all else fails, find a way to manage you out with a large pot of cash for retraining.

And various other stereotypical types - hyperbole for sure but don't bother going to a technical meeting in Germany unless you have at least one PhD

Don't expect to do any business at an Italian's office. You can discuss, but the business will be done over lunch.

Take out good insurance before attempting to sign a deal in Russia - by good i mean one that will cover you for self inflicted liver cirrhosis.

In seriousness: http://businessculture.org/

From working extensively with people in Sweden and the US, as well as Britain, I've noticed that the US don't take holidays from work as seriously and they are very hierarchical at work. The Swedes don't really do hierarchy, and also do lots of hugs in my experience.

Just tell them to stay the hell out of Europe, and the rest of the world for that matter.

Its not thiers to [s]play with[/s] destroy.

And crack on with walling in the US.

Option 1: Take the job then refuse point blank to help them understand European culture, tell them it's not possible and they wouldn't understand.

Option 2: Take the job then continually offer contrasting insights into European culture, make the contradictions as glaring and deliberate as possible.

Both options give a reasonably accurate experience of European culture, particularly if delivered contemptuously toward an American audience.

My 2 pence ...

I worked for an American company for 7 years and my French wife did so for 12 - in our experience it was more about us adapting to the American way rather than visa versa. Perhaps normal as it was an American outfit and we both worked in US for sometime

Make sure you focus on European positives and avoid critism of the US (in general Americans are very proud of their country and genuinely believe it is THE best place on earth and the rest of the world would better off if it was more like the US)
Diversity, Europe whilst not a large landmass is hugely diverse in terms of culture and language, North to south, east to west. You can speak of areas which share certain cultural similarities, Scandanavians, “Southern europe” / Latin (France, Spain, Italy), “Germanic”
Work / life balance - as above Europeans are used to much more vacation and not living to work
Politics - quite different to US, much greater emphasis on state health provision, welfare etc (appreciate Americans will probably think this is a major fault with Europe)
History - this is a big positive for Europe and linking this to today’s culture could be interesting for your colleagues.

Good luck

No self loathing on my part, just observation.

You don’t seem to have a much of an insight to the culture...

Observation from where? Load of bigoted generalising bullshit. Spend some time exploring instead. I've traveled in, worked in and for organisations from all over. Not sure what your agenda is but let the adults speak. You may learn something.

Such as..

Europe whilst not a large landmass is hugely diverse in terms of culture and language, North to south, east to west. You can speak of areas which share certain cultural similarities, Scandanavians, “Southern europe” / Latin (France, Spain, Italy), “Germanic”

Done that, you seem to be rattled and stuck with your head in the sand.
Do your own research, you might find learning a new experience.

[img] ?output-quality=auto&output-format=auto&downsize=360:*[/img]
&
[img] ?output-quality=auto&output-format=auto&downsize=360:*[/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]