The Bad American Habits I Kicked in Finland

In my travels throughout Europe, I've noticed many cultural differences between Europeans and Americans. Very few I considered noteworthy. One distinct difference I noticed is that Europeans, on average, tend to spend far more time thinking and talking about Americans, than the reverse. I realize the article was written by an American, but it seemed to reflect that need many Europeans have to convince themselves that they're superior to Americans in so many ways, to the point where they compare stupid things like the aspects of personal greetings, conversational pauses, and drinking coffee.

As an European, it's interesting to see my habits put in an anti-thesis like this.

1. About the "awkward" silences, I remember my English teacher asking me once about me and my colleagues something like "surely you guys talk with each other" at which I subconsciously answered "why should we?" - I only understood what she was referring to only later, after getting in contact with some British folks (which despite not being Americans, appeared to me as very talkative too).

2. The theatrical nature of American (and British) way of being is probably the most outstanding (and often the first) collective feature an outsider notices. That way of being was something very funny to get acquainted with and even more funny to see myself transformed into when the circumstances asked it from me.

3. The stance on food waste is not shared across the entire Europe.

4. Where I am, the way one consumes coffee (and many other habits for that mater) is perceived as a cultural footprint rather than a good/bad thing. So this American habit isn't necessarily bad, needing to be kicked. It's only ...American!

I am an American and have lived in Europe (Northern Europe) for over four years. I don’t fear awkward silences anymore either, but, what I do miss is an easy going relationship with conversation. It seems to me as if Europeans can be socially awkward and I am not sure if I will ever entirely warm up to the idea of “the culture of comfortable silence.” Perhaps a balance between insentient chattering and enforced silence would be nice. I believe conversation is an art, it is important, and it is part of what makes us human.

Americans take too much pride in their mindless banter. It can be obnoxious.