For the (other) Euro members: do you ever realize how lucky you are?

[DanG]

So I moved to Europe (specifically, Germany) a little less than two months ago. In America, I drove to work for about 45 minutes -- when there wasn't any traffic, that is -- and worked in a cubicle all day. My coworkers were great, my boss was great, the pay was great, and the taxes were WAY lower. But now that I'm here in Germany (in Freiburg), I walk a little less than 30 minutes to work through a historic city and I still can't get over it. I think it's because I'm used to a country where "old" is 200 years. When I go to one of my local supermarkets, I can buy an astoundingly tasty bottle of St. Emilion Bordeaux for €16. Strasbourg, France is an hour to the north by train, Basel, Switzerland is half an hour to the south. But when I talk to my friends here, who are all German, nobody understands. "You're in Europe... okay...?"

It's truly a privilege to get to live where modern civilization was born, but beyond the abstract historical aspects, it's just so beautiful. So the question is -- do you European Head-Fiers ever just stop and look around you and think, "I live in an amazing part of the world!" Will I eventually just get accustomed to living here and lose my wide-eyed childish amazement? Do you ever just think about the happy fortuity of your place of your birth? Or is it just our human nature to take what we have for granted, our base condition, if you will, for something normal, simple, boring?

[jonathanjong]

Yes, but you can't get cheap headphones...

[Edwood]

Originally Posted by jonathanjong

Yes, but you can't get cheap headphones...

LOL, I think that's the strongest argument in this headphone forum.

But, yeah. America is so vast compared to Europe. But at the same time, you can just hop in a car, plane, train and go 3000 miles and still speak the same language and not require a passport or any documentation (well, for now anyways). The United States has great appeal for those that love to travel and experience a huge variety of natural landscape and environments. Europe simply does not have the expansive natural beauty that we still have today. Granted, it takes a looooooot longer to drive to them, than it would in Europe.

Europe has more cultural history, but America has more natural history.

-Ed

[omegaman]

Funny you should mention Basel, I was there on Saturday, I had a few hours to kill on a connecting flight so I headed into town. It's a really nice town with lots of historic buildings ( and a good selection of bars that I made use of !!!! )

Its the first time I have been to that part of Europe and it was really scenic. I love Europe there is lots to see but I think you would feel the same if you moved to anywhere ( the far east for example ) where the culture and sights are different from where you are used to.

I was in Monaco on Friday, Now that is a place to see, The casino, The yachts, The cars, The women. Amazing...

You can get a good deal on cheap flights from Basel, It's worth checking out.

[taylor]

I know what you mean... about a year ago, I moved from my parent's house in the suburbs where I grew up (trees, strip malls, and housing developments - that's about it) to a small city just across the river from NYC.

Going from a nondescript town to a beautiful historic place is just awesome. I can walk a few blocks away to one of the many pier parks here, and can see the GWB on my left, the Verrazano to my right, and in between, everything from South Street all the way to Washington Heights.

[G-man]

Hey, Europe is great. there is no better place for natural, historical or cultural beauty (except maybe India, but then i am partial). but you get used to it. Especially when you have seen a lot of the world. I mean when i went to America, i was not really amazed by anything, and there was no culture. the most fun i had was with my cousins. The problem is the expense. London is one of the most expensive (if not THE most) places to live in this world.

So yes, we do marvel, but maybe not as much as you. I mean when i moved here a few years ago, i wasn't really amazed, and i still am not. But it is very awesome to have the worlds best museums, galleries etc within and hour of you. And that is good, since you sure as hell do not want to spend time inside you little hole of an apartment (i have seen students living with london. it aint nice)

[fjf]

I know what you mean. I remember an american lady that told me after a vacation in europe, astonished: "they have cathedrals a thousand years old, with buried bishops inside!". I think it was the bishop part that really got her. However, if you are in germany (beautiful country, BTW), the place where civilization was born is a bit south-east. It is called Greece. When they were discussing the nature of the universe, the germans were eating raw meat.

Originally Posted by DanG

It's truly a privilege to get to live where modern civilization was born, but beyond the abstract historical aspects, it's just so beautiful. So the question is -- do you European Head-Fiers ever just stop and look around you and think, "I live in an amazing part of the world!" Will I eventually just get accustomed to living here and lose my wide-eyed childish amazement? Do you ever just think about the happy fortuity of your place of your birth? Or is it just our human nature to take what we have for granted, our base condition, if you will, for something normal, simple, boring?

[jonathanjong]

Originally Posted by fjf

... the place where civilization was born is a bit south-east. It is called Greece. When they were discussing the nature of the universe, the germans were eating raw meat.

ROFL!

[Al4x]

id rather live where its cheap

[Wildsurfer]

America is so vast compared to Europe.

Actually the difference isn't so big. The European continent is roughly as big as the USA, and the European Union is half as big. I know we're talking here about the EU but it still is huge, travelling far far away from home when you live in Europe isn't that big of a problem

But at the same time, you can just hop in a car, plane, train and go 3000 miles and still speak the same language and not require a passport or any documentation (well, for now anyways).

Excuse me ? You can travel anywhere in Europe without a passport, we've had free circulation of people and goods for a looooooong time. You only have to bring an ID with you, just like you have to in your home country (and the US).
As for the language, from my point of view it is great to have different languages, and you'll always find somebody who speaks english. Never had a big problem being understood in Europe.

The United States has great appeal for those that love to travel and experience a huge variety of natural landscape and environments. Europe simply does not have the expansive natural beauty that we still have today. Granted, it takes a looooooot longer to drive to them, than it would in Europe.

I've got to give you this one, no country in the world has the natural diversity that the US has.
But if you consider a person from NY going to see the Grand Canyon, if a European person travels as much she can go the the middle east, russia, africa...

Europe has more cultural history, but America has more natural history.

I think you meant America has more natural diversity. Or you gotta explain me how could America have more natural history than Europe, this is not something you make


To answer the OP, I'm from Paris, and I'm in Sweden for a few months, and wonder how I could abandon my hometown or even Europe. For the exact reasons you said

[frequencyhz]

i think your answer is 'no', i'm moving to germany next year too, gotta start learning german soon...

[stewtheking]

In terms of the difference in age of culture, I heard a great story about some American tourists visiting the Bodleian library in Oxford. Stunning ancient architecture, and the tourists were understandably impressed. One asked a porter, who was standing nearby...

"Excuse me, but this building is just lovely, is it pre-war?"

To which he replied, in velvet tones;

"Madam, this building is pre-America."

Classic.

[Duggeh]

In the USA 100 years is a long time.

In Europe, 100 miles is a long way.

[Spareribs]

I love Europe. It's really special.

America, while it can be bland at times, has magnificent landscape out west. I love the west so much. Colorado, California, Nevada, etc....It's really great and the sense of freedom while driving out in the desert and mountains can be truley awesome.

Over all, I love western civilization or Asia and am grateful that I don't live in an oppressed country in a dangerous part of the world.

People are geat in Europe (from my experience). Beer and wine everywhere, great bread and cheese, beautiful women....gotta love Europe.

[Spareribs]

I do want to comment that while America is large and beautiful, unfortunately, many people have never traveled very far. I live on the east coast and I know many Americans who have never seen the west coast, mountains or deserts.

Sadly, I haven't been to Hawaii yet.