<p>The rise of the ski industry</p>
<p>Vespas and the Italian National Character.
The Volksmarch ?sp and the German national Character (see where I’m headed).</p>
<p>my son is reading a book, sorry I’m not sure of the exact title - “Soccer and how it reflects the world” he found it in the sports section of B&N. It has a lot about hooliganism, as well as the Bosnian war, etc, and the role soccerplayed.</p>
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<p>When my nieces and nephew visited us years ago, they wanted to have lunch at McD every day because it was cheaper than in France (We had to say no out of an instinct for self-preservation) Another niece turned down her dad’s offer to treat her at a three star restaurant (he used to work on the Champs Elysees) in favor of a Big Mac. Yes, if only the French stopped patronizing McD, it would go out of business. No need for protest. </p>
<p>Globalization has a long history. According to my French history, it was the Medici queens (Marie and Catherine) who introduced spaghetti to French cuisine. They somehow did not introduce broccoli (maybe, like Bush sr., they did not like the taste?) It was only after Chinese food became popular in the 1970s that the French began eating broccoli (at least according to French friends). A long way for broccoli to travel to France since Italy is next door, and Chinese use broccoli as a substitute for a different vegetable known as Chinese broccoli here.</p>
<p>Colonial influences on local cuisines: what would British cuisine be without curry and why are fish and chips shops owned by Indians? Why is the French navy served Vietnamese spring rolls, while the Dutch go for Indonesian food? And why Germany which did not have colonies to speak of has influenced beer-making in many countries of Asia?</p>
<p>I don’t know about the rise of the ski industry in Europe; in the US the ski industry owes its rise to the efforts of veterans of the 10th Mountain Division which was recruited to oppose the Germans in mountainous areas of Europe.</p>
<p>Nothing better than going to MacDonalds for a nice cold beer and a feta salad.</p>
<p>Beer and feta salad: Mustn’t be in the US!<br>
There’s a book (not about Europe) called Golden Arches East edited by James Watson that discusses how McDonald adapts to and reflects different national cultures in Asia.</p>
<p>Birth control and all the results / consequences</p>
<p>Slowing birthrates in many European countries and effects</p>
<p>Divorce laws</p>
<p>Separtist movements/sectarian conflicts in Europe and how they seem to be decreasing (I’m thinking of the Basque separtists and the Ireland “problem”)</p>
<p>Aristocracy issues</p>
<p>Prostitution would actually be an incredibly interesting thing to explore in that the epidemiological (sorry to use the $5 word there, but I couldn’t think of a good 50-cent one) history of Europe has really impacted the outcome of its cultures and affairs. I could go on here, but the Black Death–and the ensuing Renaissance–is one great example. </p>
<p>Here’s where your ladies of the evening come in: prostitutes spread any and all diseases like crazy through close contact with a variety of ppl in tiny, freq. unsanitary quarters. I could refer you to some great books and peer-reviewed articles on the matter. It’s really fascinating. But I’m a total dork.</p>
<p>Homogeneity in modern Europe. McDonald’s is the hallmark. Fourty years ago each city was unique, each coinage unique. The red phone booths are disappearing from London and soon disembarking from any freeway will offer the same chain hotels, restaurants and stores.</p>
<p>I’d have to disagree with you on that, scidoc. The Wilson Quarterly did a really interesting article on this about a year or two ago. The declining homogeneity/increasing heterogeneity within European countries has actually started to undermine the cohesive national identity of each, presenting an additional challenge to the social welfare mechanisms there. This was something that was articulated during the last general British election, as well as in the wake of 9/11.</p>
<p>I live in Europe and I can think of a few hot topics…
Ultras: Football(soccer) Hooliganism
Turkey and the EU, should it be admitted(god no) etc etc.
Immigrant workers from (north)Africa and eastern Europe
The oil politics of Putin
The fall of Prodi (thank god)
Rise of Ultra-Nationalism in Europe
etc etc. A good magazine that everyone should read that could help you in this is ‘The Economist’. It’s a great read and is very handy when it comes to school etc.</p>
<p>Sunday closing laws in Germany (and perhaps other countries in Europe) and how that impacts weekend leisure activities</p>
<p>Is the assignment supposed to involve something in the last 50 years in Europe that reflects longer-term trends in Europe? If so, here’s one:</p>
<p>Socialism and transnationalism have both been growing rapidly in Europe since World War II. I suspect this comes from Europe having been savaged by continent-wide wars since the 17th century (the 30 Years War) through WWII. It’s not widely remembered now, but the wars of the 17th century killed even more civilians as a percentage of the population than WWII did. </p>
<p>So, how has Europe responded to this periodic devastation which culminated in WWI and II? I think you could write an interesting essay on the growth of socialism and transnationalism in Europe (especially western Europe) as a response to the threat of continental wars. And, now that I think of it, as a balance to the power of the US, Eastern Europe during the Soviet era, and the Chinese.</p>
<p>Maybe a little complex as a high school topic, but you’re bright. You could figure it out.</p>
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<p>Isn’t imitation the highest form of flattery? This said, isn’t Starbucks as much a copy of an Italian coffeeshop as the deep dish “american” pizza is a copy of the original. Howard Shultz might have marveled at the interactions between patrons and baristas in Italy, but the original inspiration is hardly present in today’s Starbucks. Is someone entering a Starbucks in New York taken to an imaginary trip to Rome or Florence? How do we go from paper cups and a smoke free environment to the European versions that range from ultra chic Austrian opera versions to despicably dirty in the south of Europe? </p>
<p>Case in point: where are the glorious american coffehouses in Italy? Why can McDonald’s succeed there and why does Starbucks ignore the market? Fwiw, Starbucks was not afraid to penetrate the Spanish and French market and offer their wares to a chain smoking and ultra chauvinistic population.</p>
<p>And lastly, aren’t european coffeehouses reinventing themselves and imitating Starbucks? Now, that is the irony!</p>
<p>PS I am not challenging Coureur’s point about the inspiration …</p>
<p>Schultz’s first few days in Milan produced a revelation: The Starbucks stores in Seattle completely missed the point. Starbucks, he decided, needed to serve fresh-brewed coffee, espresso, and cappuccino in its stores (in addition to beans and coffee equipment). Going to Starbucks should be an experience, a special treat; the stores should be a place to meet friends and visit. Re-creating the Italian coffee-bar culture in the United States could be Starbucks’ differentiating factor. Schultz remained in Milan for a week, exploring coffee bars and learning as much as he could about the Italian passion for coffee drinks. </p>
<p><a href=“Higher Education Support | McGraw Hill Higher Education”>Higher Education Support | McGraw Hill Higher Education;
<p>Vacation/retirement home patterns: the Algarve in Portugal being essentially part of England, increasing Arab presence in the Costa del Sol, Germans and Dutch in the Costa Brava, the emergence of Ibiza as the world capital of electronic dance music, who goes to Italy, Greece, etc.</p>
<p>How about comparing the diminishing importance of Western religions, such as Catholicism and Protestantism, with the attendant rise of non-Christian religions, as peoples from the Middle and Far(?) East as well as Africa emigrate into what seems to be all parts of Europe, and how that may permanently affect its future profile?</p>
<p>ALMOST EVERY SHOP IN HOLLAND IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS ! STARBUCKS HAS THEIR EUROPEAN HQ HERE BUT THERE ARE STILL NO STARBUCKS’S HERE ! god life sucks</p>
<p>Monty Python’s Flying Circus- how it impacted American (comedy) television, or better yet, how it portrayed historical events, you can show clips from some of the movies, the class will LOVE it. Monty Python’s Holy Grail- one of my all time favorite movies of all time! It’s got the Crusades, war, witches, serfs, knighthood, everything!</p>
<p>This is why my kid is no longer in public school…he is not assigned papers–“projects”–in AP Euro this year that reflect a “minor” part of history that “reflect” important “themes” and account for 90% of a quarter grade. 
Unless this is a private school–then, oops.</p>