People from other countries - they’re just better than us, aren’t they?

[PebbleDashedDoor]

I’m on holiday in the Balkans and like everytime I go overseas, it’s difficult not to conclude people from other countries are just better than us.

Immaculately kept, litter free, great service in bars and restaurants by experienced staff, polite well behaved kids eating out in restaurants, not a screen in sight. Everyone generally better looking, better dressed.

Or do I have rose tinted holiday goggles on?

You could say the same about various towns in the UK, it's not a universal condition

In Europe yes, I agree. I have spent a significant amount of time in other European countries and the lifestyle and people are generally better. Of course every country has its problems but I think the main issue with the UK is the entitlement which other European countries don’t seem to have so much of. Also the people have a better work-life balance, eat better food so are healthier, aren’t so capitalistic so aren’t always wanting the latest ‘new thing’/aren’t as concerned about money and life is simpler. This is a generalisation of course.

Yes evey single country in the entire world is better thsn us 🙄🙄

Massive generslisation.

Britain is the absolute worst. It is why we have no immigration or tourism, absolutely no one wants to come here... oh wait...

I was on holiday recently and plenty of European children had screens i heard Bluey in different languages 😀 but you crack on ! @PebbleDashedDoor

You're in tourist areas on holiday generally, so are usually in the more well off areas.
Its like visiting bath, wealthy areas of London or nice areas of Cornwall compared to poorer areas of the country.

This really, you are in a nice holiday area it will look nice and tidy and well presented.

They are all so much better than us - you are in a tourist part of Sarajevo or Split, I'm in a grotty high street in Stevenage or Slough.

I think many people are less stressed for various reasons in other European countries but I wouldnt say better

The French are definitely better at rioting

I’m American (also British and live in the UK). Trust me, we are not better. 90% of my American friends wish they had my dual citizenship and lived in the UK. I have lived in 4 countries as an adult. Very happy to have settled in the UK and would not want to raise my children in any of the others.

My cousin has lived in france for many years his wife is french and all of his kids were born and brought up in france
We recently had a big family get tigether and i met his three grandsons they were lovely children but as far from angelicicly behaved as you could get.

I’m mean I’m from another country and I’m definitely not better than anyone else.

All countries and their residents have positives and negatives. If you compare you need to compare touristy to touristy, so somewhere in x country that foreign tourists go to to somewhere in the UK that foreign tourists go to.

I think that other countries - especially Europe - have a better attitude to vocational training and having a trained workforce for all sorts of jobs. Working in shops/restaurants is not looked down on as it is in the UK. All sorts of vocational courses are included as A-level studies - hotel, restaurant, tourism, retail etc.

For example I was trying to buy a toaster in a small town Denmark and the shop assistent who approached me explained she was on her final placement for the Retail Programme so was it OK if she served me "by herself". She proceeded to give me a run down on all the toasters in the shop, functions, price, pros and cons etc. I can't imagine that in the UK.

Or do I have rose tinted holiday goggles on
Of course you are wearing them
I've been to Albania few times. Incredibly beautiful in places, great service in restaurants, but no different than here. However there was a huge litter problem in the countryside, worse than here.

What about homeless, un wanted dogs wandering around streets of many countries.

Italy had a strike on Friday because part of the issue was they wanted better pay and conditions.

Its great going on holiday but you need to scratch below the surface to see what's really going on.

As an immigrant to the UK, I always think the British are so unnecessarily down on themselves.
This is a beautiful country with so much to offer. Currently going through tough times, yes.

I'm in Stevenage. The high street is far from grotty. Did you mean to say the town centre because that's actually a shit hole!?

Yabu , and I say this as someone who is not in the UK but likes to visit.

I’m from another country but lived, very happily for the most part, in different bits of England for 20 years, and have also spent long periods living in France, the US, Ireland and the ME. It’s only your current mood of insane kneejerk self-castigation that is setting you apart from anywhere else.

There have definitely been better times to live in the UK in terms of national mood (I moved there in 1997), but you’ll be back. Chin up. It’s still a great place.

You have never heard of Apprentiships then?

This. I’ve noticed many Americans certainly seem to think we are better behaved, more cultured people. If I’m ever on a forum with predominantly American posters I notice somehow my opinion is given more weight just on account of the fact I live in Europe and therefore have some kind of wisdom 😂 but they do seem to think highly of us.

That said I do sort of know what OP means. Our ‘chav culture’ is much worse than in comparable countries like France.

They aren’t so obsessed with owning their homes in other European countries, there is much more rental property available.

There is plenty of modern apprenticeships in the jobs you are talking about also college courses have job placements and retail has training, it sounds like you don't really know that much about vocational jobs.

Love it!!! I had a French colleague years ago who another colleague described as ‘negotiating like a French farmer’, by which he meant kicking off and dumping a load of 💩 on everyone. We all had our doors slammed and his raised voice directed at us. I’m sure not all French people are like that !!! - but our department meetings were very different when he left …