I have daily business contact with people all over Europe, and I don't find them to be particularly different from Americans. I would like to have advice and assistance in thinking of ways to talk to Europeans in order to encourage them to be more proactive and self-reliant in their lives; that is one of the primary reasons I have started reading and posting on Free Republic. We need to communicate our message to those who are in places where change is necessary.
Talking does nothing.
EXAMPLE is best.
SHOW them how you live. Be such a positive role model.
Revel in appreciation at being American and GRATEFUL to European roots where we, basically, learned our way of life, values, ethics, religion, art, music, culture, language, etc. Italy DID have TWO Renaissances. English IS a dialect of German.
Learn a FEW key phrases in their language and use them when you can.
Treat them and their culture with as much respect as we want them to respect us and our culture.
When they complain about their societal problems, AVOID the urge to agree with them. Sigh heavily and admit that we all have similar problems.
What do you think?
Holding up your nose at them, lecturing them about their faults, criticizing their way of lif/government and rubbing their noses in our prosperity is better? :o)