Why Europe?

The first question on our mind when anyone even mentions going to Europe is "Why Europe?" Now this question can mean several things. First you have the question as to why anyone at all would like to go to Europe. The second meaning is often why do YOU want to go to Europe. There are many answers for the first question and the answer to the second is just one (or more) chosen from the first answer.

Over the next few posts I will define some of the reasons that I think people choose to travel to Europe.

1. Culture - They have it, every country does. As an American I have a differing culture than that of the plenitude of countries in Europe. Cultural differences can be the way people speak, the way people dress, even the social expectations concerning law, modesty or politics. To some, this change can be the most devastating and destructive experience they have about another culture but for others it can be the beacon of light that guides them into the local restaurants to enjoy local flavours of food, wine and music far from the major tourist centers. Sadly for many culture has no effect on their experience in a foreign country. European culture is not all that much different from the United States when all things are considered.

Personally I did not experience Culture Shock like many other travelers. The single thing that I was suprised about was the hair color. My first time to Europe was when I studied abroad in Austria. It took me two flights from Philadelphia to arrive in the Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien). My first flight was from Philadelphia International to Paris - Charles de Gaulle International Airport. This flight was full of what I considered to be rather normal people. There were men and women dressed in business atire, presumably going overseas for work related activities. There were also quite a few people from India going back to visit family or returning home from visiting relatives in the US. There were also a few tourists; however it was January 13 and so it was far from tourist season. Nevertheless the flight was full with not a seat to spare but all in all the passengers from that first flight were fairly normal. Really the only thing I noticed at this point was that the flight attendants had French accents and I thought the women sounded extremely... Pleasant.

The second flight was quite different. The flight attendants' accents had not changed but no longer was there any businessmen or people traveling to India. I was one of the only American's on the flight and the rest were all Austrian. Here in the United States you see young high-school and college age students dying their hair wild and crazy colors with newage "style" haircuts but on this plain there were so many people of all ages with these youthful styles. Women even in their 40's would wear their hair in rebellious fashions. This is what shocked me the most about Europe but the feeling quickly settled as I looked out the window over the terrain I would call my home for the next four months. That however is a different story for a different day.