7/ Notice people’s attitudes such as how people think about time, personal space, how to treat foreigners, or just general notions of what is right and what is wrong. Pay attention to how people respond to inappropriate behavior. Note what clues you use to figure out the attitudes of the people in the new place. • Describe the attitudes you have noticed. • Compare what you have learned with your assumptions before you came. • Explain what insights this critique has given you about the new culture or how you need to behave.
The attitudes I've seen vary per country, but they all have their similarities. In The U.K. and Vienna, the people tend to be much quieter and more reserved. They go about their daily commuting, shopping and general activities in a way that makes everything seem almost rehearsed; they know exactly what they're doing, what they want and where they're going. In Prague and Ireland, though, this was quite a bit different. They were more open, louder, and seemingly laid back about their daily to-dos. In all four countries, though, they had a much more relaxed idea of personal space. They would get much closer than we do in the U.S., and would touch often as a sign of friendliness.
When it came to the treatment of foreigners, it depended on the city. In Prague, when they spotted a foreigner it meant business; they'd immediately attempt to sell you something or convince you to buy into a tour. In Vienna, they were friendly in their ways but tended to go about their business rather quickly. In the U.K., they were very friendly and willing to talk. They would often sit down and ask about the states, introduce you to the area and tell you where to go. The friendliest by far were the Irish natives though. They would walk out of there way to talk to you if you looked unfamiliar to the area, buy you a drink to have a sit down chat about Ireland and how you're enjoying it, and give you way too much information on the best things to do in Ireland-- I loved it.
Before I came, I had no clue that I would be greeted so warmly by the European cultures. For the most part, the natives were all willing to talk and very friendly about it. They loved telling me about their native lands, and asking about my own. It's really taught me a lot about foreign culture as a whole. Never make any negative assumptions and go into a country with an open mind. You never know what you'll learn, and you may just pick up some of their cultural traits for yourself.
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