<p>Funny that you’re old enough to have a college age daughter. Only 3 days ago you were an out-of-state UCLA applicant waiting for a decision. See here</p>
<p>As a European living in the U.S., I’d have to say that you don’t encounter that very often. I took an American friend to Europe with me last summer, and she was treated very well by total strangers. I think I encounter more problems here, being French (getting yelled at by random gas station owners for ‘helping Saddam’ etc.) than she ever did there.</p>
<p>Unless your son is very conservative and goes around voicing that opinion, he should have every reason to love Europe. Especially Britain–they’re only mildly European ;).</p>
<p>Cupcake: Seems like we both have too much time on our hands - me wasting it on CC, you actually taking the time from your studies to “research” my username (my son, wife and I have been sharing one).</p>
<p>My only suggestion - assuming you are a student - is that you take a ferry across to France and visit some of the military cemeteries along the Normandy Coast. You’ll the see some crosses and stars above the graves of individuals who were willing to help Europe (and the US) at the cost of their own lives. It might make you think twice about the “Bush propaganda” and European dislike for our govenrment.</p>
<p>Mark Twain said that travel is the best education - and I fully agree. My daughter, who’s going to school in Canada, has had a great education - both in school and by being exposed to Canadian/Quebecois culture. She’s also, unfortunately, been a lightning rod for those who don’t like US policies. It’s made her stronger and better educated. She’s not in the cocoon that you are apparently in at Oxford. Who’s there to challenge you?</p>
<p>It takes all of 2 minutes to look up only 16 posts for anyone who can use a mouse. I always look up the consistancy of posters since at least 30% of posts on this board are blatent lies.</p>
<p>Really. You are an adult? So go and find a political forum to worship Bush at. This board is about College discussion not a place to push your own agenda</p>
<p>docmom - Just to share my own experience with you. My son went to Mexico between his sophmore/junior year in high school and to France between his Junior/Senior year in high school. He is a senior (HS) now and plans to live in France for his junior year in college (can’t wait!). </p>
<p>It was very hard on me (specially France because of our current war situation), but he had an excellent time and the French were very nice to them. At any rate, my parents would never have left me do these things because they felt that I needed protected. Let me tell you he is far more self-assured and confident than I ever was at his age. </p>
<p>I finally decided that he could come to harm (either physically, emotionally, or mentally) anywhere. He could get hit by a car getting our mail, etc. Remember, it is only a plane trip away and that you can get to him anywhere w/i about 24 hours! Good luck.</p>
<p>GoUSA & cupcake - how do you check and see if someone has searched your other posts. Did not know that was possible. I frequently do this. Why? Because before I post (usually when someone has been complaining about stuff, etc.) I check their other posts to see what their overall “tone” has been (i.e. are they always complaining, when they post are they helpful or just sarcastic or mean), and to make sure they sound legit. I agree with cupcake their is no use posting if the person is a “■■■■■”.</p>
<p>Mominsearch, Americans have an unfortunate opinion of the French because of the media. Whenever I watch the Americans depict the French in movies, literature or the news, it is to say something negative about them. In reality, the French are no different from anybody else. It is a great country with a lot of history and pride, but the French as a people are actually quite pleasant. I am an Arab and as an Arab, I have always felt weolcome by the French. And supposedly, the French do not like Arab. Fopr some strange reason, the French have been vilified by the press.</p>
<p>Alexandre - You wouldn’t believe the stuff people told my son when he told them he was going to France. He went to France with his French teacher who had been there many times, and she was and has always been very good about explaining the culture. Thankfully, he is not easily swayed by other’s opinions. He has always been fascinated by European history and has read tons and tons of books about the cultures, etc. We have many friends from different countries, and just like Americans they don’t always have nice things to say about each other either. My girlfriend is married to a Lebanese man and from what he says they don’t care too much for Pakistanis. Does this mean I wouldn’t like someone from Pakistan? Absolutely not. I met a woman from India and she told me to pray for their children because the children there worship our MTV culture. She said they are dressing like Americans, and are losing the value of family. She saw me as a person and not another horrible American. She was extremely nice and I can certainly empathize with what she said. We have to look at each other as people who all have the same goals in life. I have always tried to have my kids look at both sides of the picture and to understand why people have negative/positive opinions about things and each other. It would be a great world to live in if we all tried to have some empathy for others. Off my soapbox now…</p>
<p>GoUSA, while I agree with cupcake that this might be off-topic, I also agree with Alexandre too much to let your comments slide. People are people. They tend to behave that way, regardless of what flag was flying when they were born.</p>
<p>And as for Normandy Beach - I have relatives who died in WWII, and both my parents were in uniform and had bombs hit them during WWII. Nevertheless, when people smugly talk about our saving Europe during WWII, I notice they never point out that we only went to war when we were attacked, not when Europe was attacked. It is often the same people who say we are in Iraq for America’s safety, who also say that we fought the Nazi’s to save Europe rather than to protect ourselves. </p>
<p>And as for the French being grateful for us saving them, when did the statute of limitations run out for gratitude to the French for the American Revolution? If we “saved” the French (I notice the Brits, the Aussies and the Kiwi’s also seemed to find themselves on the beaches on June 6th, by the way) does that mean we own their foreign policy for the next 100 years? </p>
<p>I apologize to everyone, but the sheer hypocracy and arrogance gets to me.</p>
<p>Mominsearch, I was not suggesting that Americans are more racist than other people. I can tell you that the Lebanese are certainly racist. Europeans are racist too. It is human nature to favor one’s own kind. I was actually referring to the concerted effort by the US media to make the French look and smell bad! LOL</p>
<p>Alexandre - I know that you weren’t suggesting that. Sorry if there was something I said that made you think that that is what I thought you meant. One bad thing about this board and anything where you are not talking directly to the person is that sometimes people take things differently than you meant them to. I know exactly what you mean about about the media and the French:)</p>
<p>I went to high school in London and while there was a bout of anti-americanism when we invaded Iraq, it quickly subsided. London was a joy. No place in the world compares, whatsoever.</p>
<p>docmom - I’ve sent you a PM, I hope it helps</p>
<p>I’m in the opposite position. I’m just about to start university in England, and will be going to an American college for a year. What’s the attitudes of Americans towards the English? I’m really excited, but really petrified of being in a foreign country so far from home too! </p>
<p>Btw - It’s true that most people here hate Bush and American politics, but most people hate Tony Blair too so don’t take it personally!</p>
<p>london-girl, welcome in advance! I hope you have a great experience. I think you’ll be very warmly welcomed. You also may be, depending on your location, somewhat unique – so be prepared for a lot of questions that you may think are completely insane (but not in a bad way, just stereotypical). I think it’s fair to say that the average European student has more knowledge of America and American culture than an average American student would have about Europe.</p>
<p>London_girl,
Fortunately for you, stereotypes run both ways. In my experience, Americans automatically seem to love anyone with a British accent. I don’t know why. It’s the same for Australian accents. We just love them and automatically assume we will like this person. :-)</p>