Just got back from Europe

[Irongrip400]

Well, Italy and Germany.  I took two weeks over there for my honeymoon, and let me tell all the Americans on here that have never been.  Go.  It was almost like taking a college course, but you get something out of it, so much to learn.  I figured most people do honeymoons in the tropics, and I have a timeshare in St Maarten in Feb, that this would be the perfect opportunity to go over the Thanksgiving break, and week after. 

We landed in Rome and stayed for three nights, and took a private walking tour of the city, it was great.  then left there and went to Florence for three nights, and while not as great as Rome, it was still a beautiful clean city.  But bring your wallet, the place is expensive.  We then went to Venice for two nights, which was not enough.  Got tickets to the museums, walked through the Doge's palace, etc.  Place was awesome.  Smelled a bit at times, but great never the less.  then we stayed one night in Verona, which  I could have done without, but hey, it was a cool place too.  We left Verona on a train to Munich, stayed there for two nights.  It was awesome, the Bavarian people were great.  Went to a bunch of Christmas markets, and drank Gluwine.  I tell you what, the Germans take christmas seriously, not the commercialized bullshit we celebrate here.  Left there by plane and spent the last two nights in Berlin.  Did a walking tour there as well, saw all of the sites, it was great.  Went to two christmas markets there as well, got interviewed by some German news station, not sure why, maybe to make fun of Americans.

Just wanted to let everyone know it was the trip of a lifetime, I have a totally different outlook on the world now.  You realize how little the rest of the world cares about us, and that they have there own set of problems, and a different view on ours.  Met some very cool peolpe, and made some great memories, I highly recommend it.  On a side note, my wife and I were commenting on how well everyone was put together, no fat slobs, or sloppy dressers.  I guess it is from all of the walking, Americans are lazy.  And finally, how do you guys in Germany not have killer gas and shit your brains out from the food?  It was great, but I was farting nonstop, couldn't imagine hooking up with a chick and here having bubble guts all of the time from the food.  Any comments and discussion on this topic woulld be welcome.

[NYSTATEOFMIND]

good stuff

me and my girl went to Denmark, Sweden and iceland 2 months back. first thing i noticeed, VERY FEW FATTIES and everyone rides bikes. it was an awesome experince..looking to go to spain and italy at some point

[Irongrip400]

good stuff

me and my girl went to Denmark, Sweden and iceland 2 months back. first thing i noticeed, VERY FEW FATTIES and everyone rides bikes. it was an awesome experince..looking to go to spain and italy at some point

Yeah, bikes were everywhere, along with small cars, and I only saw two pick up trucks, one of which was a small one.  Saw a Dodge Ram in Berlin, dude was driving like a retard, figured him for an American.  I would say Italy is a must, I could have spent a week in Rome or Venice alone.  Florence there are alot of American college kids, exchange students.  Went to a bar, and left as I heard some slutty American chick talking with here trashy mouth, it is embarrassing that is the view they have of us.  Oh, and Jersey Shore, what a bunch of classless tools.  I want to go back maybe in a year and a half(summer 2013) and do two weeks again.  One thing I noticed, Germans are a tall people, I am 6'4, and usually am in the 99%, but not there.  I was above average, but there were some tall folks there.  Thanks for the feedback, just got back last night, and am stoked to be talking to someone about it who has been.

[_bruce_]

Nice that you enjoyed your stay.

[affeman]

Just wanted to let everyone know it was the trip of a lifetime, I have a totally different outlook on the world now.  You realize how little the rest of the world cares about us,

That's what I'm telling you trailerpark rednecks for years.

[reppingfor20]

good post, really shows how much of a shit hole the US is even though the people in this country are brainwashed into thinking it's the greatest country on earth lol.

[The Wizard of Truth]

I live in the dumping ground of europe 

[Xerxes]

Sounds like a nice trip, post some pics!

[johnnynoname]

Just got back from your Mom's house.....and, boy, are my dick and wallet empty

[che]

Just got back from your Mom's house.....and, boy, are my dick and wallet empty

Sounds like a nice trip, post some pics!

[garebear]

Sounds like a nice trip, post some pics!

Vintage GB right there.

[dustin]

Sounds awesome. Post some naked pics of your wife now.

That really does sound like fun though. My wife and I want to do something like that in the future too.

[johnnynoname]

Sounds like a nice trip, post some pics!

sadly, I lied

I haven't had sex in a while

selfpw3nd

[Tito24]

[Dr Dutch]

In Europa Tom would be thinner...

[Dipadidu]

In Europa Tom would be thinner...

In europe he would be still healthy

[reppingfor20]

In europe he would be still healthy

x2, american system bankrupts ppl for healthcare, i doubt most people could afford what they charge, it's theft! 

[freespirit]

x2, american system bankrupts ppl for healthcare, i doubt most people could afford what they charge, it's theft! 

Not much different here in The Netherlands.

[falco]

In europe he would be still healthy

No way! we also have Advil under another brand name!

[James28]

Yeah, bikes were everywhere, along with small cars, and I only saw two pick up trucks, one of which was a small one.  Saw a Dodge Ram in Berlin, dude was driving like a retard, figured him for an American.  I would say Italy is a must, I could have spent a week in Rome or Venice alone.  Florence there are alot of American college kids, exchange students.  Went to a bar, and left as I heard some slutty American chick talking with here trashy mouth, it is embarrassing that is the view they have of us.  Oh, and Jersey Shore, what a bunch of classless tools.  I want to go back maybe in a year and a half(summer 2013) and do two weeks again.  One thing I noticed, Germans are a tall people, I am 6'4, and usually am in the 99%, but not there.  I was above average, but there were some tall folks there.  Thanks for the feedback, just got back last night, and am stoked to be talking to someone about it who has been.

Glad you enjoyed it. Even though I'm British with Germanic ancestry, I still see myself as European first and British second. I'm as at home in Vienna as I would be in Milan, Helsinki, Bruges or Andorra and for some reason get ridiculously pleased if people had a good time here. Nobody I know has a bad view of Americans or anyone for that matter, despite the media's best efforts to create a rift where none exists. I can honestly say apart from a Canadian couple, I've only ever had good experiences with anyone from you neck of the woods. Visit again, there's countless awesome places still left to see. Hell, been roaming this continent tirelessly the past 10 years and still have boundless lists full of things to see and place to go.

[Immortal_Technique]

It's true, Americans are very fat. Us Brits aren't far behind though  Italians and French all seem sexy, stylish and trim as fuck!

[Dr Dutch]

Not much different here in The Netherlands.

This is not true, freespirit..

[freespirit]

This is not true, freespirit..

http://www.verzekerencompleet.nl/overige-verzekeringen/zorgverzekering-premies-100-euro-duurder-volgend-jaar/

http://www.homefinance.nl/algemeen/nieuws/zorgverzekeringen-in-2012-fors-duurder-1128.asp

[Dr Dutch]

http://www.verzekerencompleet.nl/overige-verzekeringen/zorgverzekering-premies-100-euro-duurder-volgend-jaar/

http://www.homefinance.nl/algemeen/nieuws/zorgverzekeringen-in-2012-fors-duurder-1128.asp

This is not in the same league as what reppingfor20 said....

[lovemonkey]

A similar thread I created in '09 to describe the other perspective

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=300870.0

Just a few quick general observations from a foreigner(some good, some bad):

-Walmart is a fucking hilarious experience, watching minorities and white trash with their dumb ass kids buying stupid shit. The employee's are even worse.

-Americans in general above the age of 25-30 look unhealthy which usually reflects their obsession with bad types of food. They are either very fat or look like they're full of toxins with their pale horrible skin.

-Girls are either bottom of the barrel or SMOKING hot. Such a diverse amount of ethnicity so there's no real "standard".

-Never knew that saggy old, washed out, unstylish jeans could be so in style. Almost everyone except for hot college students had the most bland and boring taste in fashion.

-Very unusual and interesting architecture. Everything has more color to it. You can tell that the country is still young since there is not a lot of old buildings around. Everything is built around vehicles. I knew I was in America when I saw a drive-through Dunkin Donuts. (I caught a NYPD officer in the act of buying donuts, made me smile)

-I love the college partying scene, explains a lot about blinky's popular thread.

-21 years drinking age and 16 years driving is off the scale retarded. I think a lot of americans agree on this.

-American people ALWAYS smile in front of the camera, never saw them taking a spontaneous photo... Everyone always had to pose pretending to be happy.

-Never seen so many disclaimers in my entire life. Half the commercials are devoted to disclaimers. Never knew it was so dangerous to take a simple cough medicine 

-All kinds of goverment info that I saw (signs, ads etc) presumed you were a retard. They always had to threat you with x amount of years in prison and fines if you broke this and that law etc. A lot of information or advises you got was to plant fear in you.

-People get fired a lot easier and quicker. Do your job properly or get kicked out.

-They ask you "wazzup" or "how's it going" not caring about the answer they get.

-Americans in general worry a lot about staying "PC" but behind closed doors I heard a lot of people saying "fucking n*ggers". Black people I met that didn't act "ghetto" could probably be counted on two hands. Nothing racist about it, just stating my experience. Everything jewish or holocaust is not to be joked about. 

-No one dared say they are American. It's always "I'm half Irish and quarter Italian blabla". The country has been around since the 18th century and most of the immigration happened a long time ago, time to say that you're american, no?

-They are usually very sociable and devote a lot of effort to make sure their guests have a pleasant stay.
 
-American traffic is very calm and even though I'm not aware of all the traffic rules there is, driving around was not a problem. Every sign and traffic information was worded out for you. I did see a lot of teenagers driving while texting and not paying attention. Michigan roads are fuckin terrible.




There's a lot more I could add, but that's the stuff that came out on top of my head. Of course it's easy to be very critical of another country when it's different from your own, but I've tried to stay pretty impartial and honest. Most of my stay was in the northern part of states... mainly Michigan, Ohio and New York. I thought it would be interesting for some of you people to hear a foreigners experience of america that is not based on what they see or hear on the television. I worked and lived there for 4 months. Successfully I might add.
In the end you realize we're all humans and whatever difference there might be in culture or political climate it's not what's important. I made a lot of good friends over there and had a blast for sure.