The European Experiment
May 15, 2010 | 9:36 pmSo here I am. England. London. I grew up here. And i’m back, staying at my mom’s, taking care of her as she recovers from a knee operation. Translation: i have NOTHING to do for a week. And i’m not a tourist here. And i don’t particularly love this city (long story)… so what does one do? Return to my blog, for 1. But i had an idea for an experiment, you know me, ever the sociologist.
Let us compare european and north american cultures for a week. I grew up in the former and couldn’t deal with the laissez-faire attitude, I longed for the hyper-productive, go-go-go attitude of the latter, so i moved there. A decade later, and i look back at the other side of the pond and wonder if these europeans hadn’t actually figured something out. 5 weeks vacation is the norm. Good food. Historical patrimony and traditions. Sidewalk cafés…. hmm….
So this is my goal this week. Compare. Not to draw conclusions, after all, seeing the sizable population living in each, i’m thinking there’s no clear winner or looser. But to understand. Stay tuned…
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Of course, you gain some stuff by moving from one to another and loose some! Like free medical insurance compared to ability to visit lots of countries by few hours driving!
hehehe… how true. and to think… i could spend 4 hours in a car and reach… whoo-hoo, kingston, ontario!! … and u drive four hours and are smack dab in the middle of Milan, Italy!! UGH… so envious…
meanwhile, yeah, ur right, i get to wait 7 hours in an overcrowded hospital so someone can rush me through an doctor’s visit without truly listening to what my problem is in the first place. damn right such service should be free!
7 hours? was at a hospital last monday – waited 20 minutes. Was seen by not one but 2 doctors and put on iv for the duration to avoid dihidration. Sen thome feeling like I would live and all that … free. yes – The great north proud and free….
I do miss Europe – the old stones, the sense of past, the social networks, the fashion, the food, the beauty… but I don’t miss the unemployment rate. I don’t miss the constant complaining about politics. I most certainly do NOT miss the rent!!
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