Hi there, I’m American living in French Switzerland.
Because of my nationality and my family here, we’re trying to fit-in to our local area and being a family there is a lot of adjustment for what we have to do and it’s a process. I’ve noticed that Swiss-Germany, the Nordics, Germany and the Netherlands people are a lot more serious when you meet them and just kind of live a normal, steady and stable life without a lot of flexibility. And they hope that us foreigners that will kind of ‘fit-in’ to this lifestyle…which I think is more or less fair as I’m a guest in their country and trying to fit-in. But…at the end of the day…are they happier in this normal, steady and stable life? No criticism, genuine question.
I mean I get it, with a crazy, chaotic life we left in America, which has its fair share of problems…which is not the point I’m trying to make…we all know them. But there is more flexibility, more openness and acceptance of other social norms but it leads to these problems if unchecked…in my opinion…what do you think?
Thoughts? Experiences? What do you think?
I’m autistic and have OCD, so I find the order and predictability of Central Europe to be one of the best parts, tbh. 😂
I think one of the things I find most stressful about the US is how many people have Main Character attitude. In most places I’ve been in Europe, there’s actually a lot more freedom of expression as far as things like the way you dress go, but there’s an expectation not to make a scene, attract attention to yourself, or infringe on other people just trying to go about their day, and in general, I appreciate that.
Haha, I mean if let me have humor in that comment. Really no disrespect to you, just interesting that’s all.
Yes, I agree with the main character syndrome, but in America if you risk it, you succeed, you get the benefit…with many trying too hard and laughably failing.