The Europe Discussion Thread

[Wonderlicious]

As a Brit currently living on the actual continent (though only for five more weeks!), I just thought that a thread to do with the continent would be worth making. We already have a few Europeans on the board (from a variety of places...the UK, France, Germany, Malta, the Netherlands etc), and it would be nice for them to share some of their thoughts and ideas on the general subject of Europe; the usual "which country are you from and which countries have you been to?" questions, so to speak.

But to all you Americans (and people generally not living in Europe ), what are your experiences? Have you been to Europe? Or do you want to? If you have been, where did you go? And if you intend one day on going, where would you most want to go.

I know that for many Americans, the fact that so many countries with such distinct charm and personality yet within such a close proximity is one of the charms of Europe. Even if I had never had this sojourn under my belt, I would be still happy to live in Europe, and be in such close proximity to a multitude of countries and distinctive cultures. I know of a lot of Americans who move to somewhere in Europe (either temporarily or long term) and travel somewhere new nearly every week, and I can understand why they find it such a novelty. I spent a few months in Strasbourg in France, which is in the Alsace region. Alsace borders not only Germany, but also Switzerland, and Strasbourg itself is situated pretty much on the border itself. Having lived on an island all my life, it was such a novelty to be able to take a half-hour walk from where I live over the border into Germany (the neighbouring town of Kehl was not exactly Germany's greatest, but oh well). Even going on a train ride from Munich to Salzburg in just two hours felt magical, especially since it was my first proper visit to Austria (and I saw the garden where they filmed "Do Re Mi" ).

I haven't been to every place or country in Europe, if I seem like I'm implying that. I have yet to visit various parts of the former Eastern Bloc, even though some (such as Prague in the Czech Republic and Budapest in Hungary) are places I'd love to go to. I also haven't been to Rome, Athens, Madrid, Brussels and various other major cities. And the smaller states (Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, San Marino etc)...erm, can't say I've been there. However, I'm thinking of going Interrailing around Europe next year (essentially, using one special train ticket to go and visit various places...a great and greener way to get round much of the continent), so maybe one day, I can say that I've done them all.

[PeterPanfan]

I absolutely want to go to Europe at some point at my life, and hopefully live there for at least a year.

I would most want to go to: England, Italy, France, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Romania, and probably a few other countries.

[ajmrowland]

^All of the Above. I have been to England once, but that was when I was six-seven.

[KubrickFan]

Funny, for me it's the exact opposite. I'm from Europe (the Netherlands) and I would love to go to the United States, to go and live there . Probably have to do a proper study first, otherwise that would be a bit difficult, I think.
I've been to England (London for a week, it was great), Germany, France, Spain, Hungary and Turkey. Germany was only for a couple of days, France was for Disneyland Paris (duh ) and the other three were filled with a lot of Dutchmen, so that didn't really help.

[Mayhem]

I've been to just about every European country west of Russia (including the tiny ones!) in my travels, although the only countries I've been outside of Europe are the US and Malaysia. I would like to hit Japan and Singapore at some point, Canada and possibly New Zealand.

What do I think of Europe? It's so close and yet sometimes you feel so far away in terms of culture, opinion, attitude and outlook. Sometimes I feel closer to Americans instead. It's an odd one at that. I think many of my European acquaintances understand the dichotomy also.

[UmbrellaFish]

I've never been to Europe, but like so many other Americans, I'd love to visit someday. I'd have to go to Greece, in fact, if I ever lived in Europe for any period of time it would be here or the UK or Italy. I'd also love to see Austria, France, Spain, Germany, Denmark... the list goes on. I'm most interested in European history, too, so I'd fine a lot of enjoyment visiting the historic sites and monuments.

[Escapay]

Europe's on my Bucket List, and like Panfan, I want to be able to live there for at least one year in my life (though it'll suck that I only speak one language).

My best friend Jax and I often talk about our love for the Czech Republic and how we want to be Czechian (we weren't sure if that was the proper word until we finally looked it up one day and found it was!), though I honestly know squat about the country beyond the fact that Prague is its capital and it used to be part of Czechoslovakia. It's just become one of the running inside jokes among us, that we love the country and want to visit it.

But seriously, there's a great many places in Europe I want to see before I die.

albert

[Jack Skellington]

Turns out that I'm going to study in England, I already got a scholarship and everything. (hopefully I might get to see the States when the time's right though)

I'll be at Nottingham, but I'd definitely go tour England during weekends.

I'm just wondering does anybody know any good old inns that I can rent during weekends near my city or cabins near/in forests ?

I know I'm weird, but I've always wanted to do it.

[ajmrowland]

All that there really is in the states is media, media, and more media. I want to see some countryside, rivers, and mountains!

[Escapay]

I want to see some countryside, rivers, and mountains!

Then go to one of the places listed

here

here

and

here

Or, if you wish to stay local...

Visit some people in the book Renewing the Countryside Wisconsin

Check out Wikipedia's List of rivers in Wisconsin

Or just climb one of the 448 Wisconsin Mountain Peaks & Summits

albert

[pap64]

Visiting Europe is also one of my dreams to achieve in life, especially France. I would also love to visit Spain since part of my culture comes from there, and I already speak the language .

[Wonderlicious]

I'm just wondering does anybody know any good old inns that I can rent during weekends near my city or cabins near/in forests ?

I know I'm weird, but I've always wanted to do it.

lol, you're hardly weird. No tour of England would be complete without having seen a bit of the countryside, even if just from on the train or motorway! Obviously, there's a lot of places in England to stay in the countryside, but a relatively cheap option would be to stay in a youth hostel. They're not just for youths, despite the name (our family used to go to the Lake District on short breaks and stay in a youth hostel near the village of Hawkshead, which Beatrix Potter used as the inspiration for some of her famous stories) And since you'll be studying (and at a university I presume), most universities in England have things like hiking, rambling (not of the speaking type; walking around through the countryside) and general outdoor societies (canoeing, paragliding, skiing - though obviously for the latter you'll be hopping over to a place like Austria or Switzerland for a week!). So in general...you can go and do everything.

Europe's on my Bucket List, and like Panfan, I want to be able to live there for at least one year in my life (though it'll suck that I only speak one language).

There's the UK. And there's Ireland. Got a problem with the British Isles, Yankee-Doodle? Don't make our Lizzie and our Gordo revoke your independence.

In all fairness, though, how well do you know any European languages (French, Spanish, German etc)? Did you take any credits in a European foreign language at college? As I know you're thinking of becoming a teacher (sorry to be stalkerish ), I know of something you might be interested in. I mentioned it in another thread, but an easy way for doing a year-abroad in Europe but not necessarily in the UK is to become a language assistant (where each week you'll be doing a few supplementary lessons of English, mainly in English). I'm thinking of applying through the British Council the year after I graduate to become one in a Frenc or German speaking country (whereabouts exactly I have no idea yet). I believe that there's a certain programme for Americans to go to Finland (without knowing any Finnish whatsoever), which is for people who are really interested in becoming teachers and have some experience teaching.

My best friend Jax and I often talk about our love for the Czech Republic and how we want to be Czechian (we weren't sure if that was the proper word until we finally looked it up one day and found it was!), though I honestly know squat about the country beyond the fact that Prague is its capital and it used to be part of Czechoslovakia. It's just become one of the running inside jokes among us, that we love the country and want to visit it.

Apparently, after Czechoslovakia split (peacefully, I might add ), the Czech government tried to advocate for the use of the term "Czechia"(obviously linking to the term "Czechian") as an alternate, less clunky term for the Czech Republic in the English speaking world, but it's hardly caught on, even though equivalents in other languages ("Tschechien" in German, for example) are the standard terms.

[Jules]

I've been reading this thread for a couple of days. It's interesting. I feel the need to say something, being a European myself, only I'm not sure what to say.

I've only been abroad twice. I've spent a day in Sicily and a week in Berlin, Germany. Wondy will remember that during that week we both were in Berlin and didn't know it. It would've been so cool to meet you, Joe. Sigh ...

Oh, and in Malta we speak English too, Scaps. So you might want to bypass that mouldy old island to the north-west. Come to the sea and sun, lotsa culture, and er ... jellyfish.

[Goliath]

My best friend Jax and I often talk about our love for the Czech Republic and how we want to be Czechian (we weren't sure if that was the proper word until we finally looked it up one day and found it was!), though I honestly know squat about the country beyond the fact that Prague is its capital and it used to be part of Czechoslovakia. It's just become one of the running inside jokes among us, that we love the country and want to visit it.

You should definitly visit Prague someday! I went there a couple of weeks ago and it was an amazing experience! I walked around the city for three days non-stop. I was exhausted, but nevertheless it was totally worth it. I also visited an evening where Czech people performed authentic dances and music, all dressed up in the traditional costume. I danced with a beautiful young Czech dancer and fell in love immediately (something I always said would never happen). So yes, Prague can be a magical experience...

In my life, I've been to Belgium, France, Spain, Germany (most notably Berlin), Austria and Slovenia (though to be honest, only passing through) and Kroatia. I'm ashamed to say I've never been to the UK (London) and Italy (Rome) yet.

I want to visit the US, too, someday, especially the typical clichéd touristic locations, like New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco (I would love to take the trams there). But I would also want to go for a ride through the 'heartland'. I'm always fascinated with American roadmovies where you see them driving for days through the desert without meeting a living soul. That's so surreal.

[AwallaceUNC]

I've never been to Europe (outside of some Caribbean islands governed by European nations) but would love to. I was supposed to study abroad in London for a summer (and travel into Paris for a few days) -- had the plane tickets and reservations and everything -- but it fell through at the last minute and I didn't get to go (fortunately, everything was refunded). I'm really hoping to go sometime within the next few years. England and France are at the top of my list in terms of European countries I want to visit first.

-Aaron