How do you think your country's perceived by other ? And you about other countries ?

[Strear]

I find it interesting to discuss this, it's very superficial and stereotyped, of course, but it can be funny and help, at our own personal scale, to improve how we're being perceived, and on the other side dissolve false asumptions. These opinions and feelings are ours, and may of course not be the generality, nor the reality !

How's France being perceived ?

In general, from my point of view, I think we're being perceived as a declining power, which is true. People tend to think we don't work much with our 35 hours a week rule (But eh, we're the most productive around !), that we're always on strike for nothing (but that's mostly our national train service). We're not very good in english, and for such a touristic destination, it's a real shame, mostly for those who pretend to work in tourism. I regret that for many, but I think that's the case for many capitals, Paris is synonym of France. Even I find people from Paris very rude sometimes (don't worry if ask for your destination with a map in your hand and you're being ignored like if you were not there ... it happened to me, and I'm french). People tend to be fascinated by the french revolution, and see Napolean like only a butcher (to be honest, when I was young, he was presented like a conqueror, a ruler, a man who built many things, many rules, but we didn't hear much about the dark side and the cost of all of this). We often tend to consider ourselves for more than what we really are, we're the country of Lumières, with a big diplomatic history, but still, we're perceived as very, too proud in fact. Finally, I'll end up with the fact we're being perceived as a gastronomic country, which might be true, when our scottish friends visit us, they're always amazed by the amount of choice to buy cheese at the supermarket

How do I perceive other countries ?

I don't think anything specific about asian countries, maybe that China's boring trying to spy and copy each and everything.

I'm fascinated by India, it's so colourful, those temples, clothes ... People seem to be very kind and humble.

I consider Russia as a big nation, a proud nation, that deserves it. I was in Moscow for my 40st birthday (thank you dear wife ), so much history, even if Moscow metro was probably the rudest experience of the kind that ever happened to me (and the word Izvinitié only seemed to exist in my touristic guide). I think our actual problem is Putin, not Russia, and I'm making the difference, not puttin(g) everything in the same bag.

In Europe, we heard much (in good !) these past years about the social nordic model, but those nords are still kind of an enigma to me. I've never ever met any, wherever I went, from the streets of Istanbul to a holiday village in Marrakech, the only two I've ever met were those schoolgirls when I was 16 who spent a year with us at school. They were shy at the beginning, but no different from the rest of us at the end of the year . Nords are still a mistery to me, are they friendly, very " blonde and cold ", talkative, that doesn't seem to be the case from what I read here and there. But my wife wants to visit Stockholm, so I guess I'll have an idea very soon (but eh, as I worte, capitals are not always very representative !).

I used to live in the far north of France, where we had much polish immigration after WWII, many of my friends had polish roots, so except the great Plazcek cake, I don't know much about Poland, but always felt sympathy, don't ask me why, like being sympathetic for someone.

Used to live close to Belgium, and I consider them as our cousins with a funny accent (I had to work once in Flanders, don't know if they really didn't get a word about what I said and asked, but it was a really hard time in work context to communicate).

Germany is complicated for me. I've learned german as first foreign language at school, my best friend was born in RDA and flew with his parents, my grandpa was forced to work in a german work camp (and I was partly raised by my grandparents and heard many stories about WWII as a child), my wife's grandpa died in Bergen Belsen concentration camp. Yes, I admit it, I feel resentment, and more when I hear Schaüble giving us lessons in economy, but I think the rest of all that will disappear with my generation. Sometimes, I ask myself " How many german in their 40's like me asked their grandpa what he did during WWII ? ". All the german I've ever met were kind people, Germany is a great country, rejoigning both parts was (is) such a huge effort, but some things still haunt me.

I always felt Switzerland was holding the good role, remaining neutral in everything but money.

I don't know much about southern countries, I hear here and there that the spanish don't like us (but I do like them, Spain is a fantastic country), and when I see mafia power in southern Italy, I wonder how it can still exist novadays. Don't know much about Portugal and have no opinion.

Ireland ... Ah Ireland ... what a fantastic country. I love it. People are kind, welcoming, friendly. The food isn't amazing, but they have all the rest. A really, really great country. I've been there 2 times, and believe me, I'll be back. Raise again, celtic tiger !

UK is a weird relationship ... I always had that strange feeling " I like you but you don't like me ". I felt more comfortable when we met our scottish friends, we were amazed how hostile people could be about anything that was english (I remember Carole when I talked about " Your Queen " when she cut me violently " Not my Queen "). I love UK (except the food, but I like Fish & Chips ), I love London, and this summer, we'll visit Wales. A strong country, an amazing history, the feeling of this brother you're always arguing with, but you're still, first, brothers ...

I feel skeptical about Northern Africa, I have a hard time to know where they want to politically go (but do they know ?), was in Congo, and I liked Brazzaville, I'm hoping for them to finally raise economically.

Of, I forgot Turkey ... amazing history ... I was fascinated by what Mustafa Kemal did for the country. I love walking in Istanbul, seeing the mix of occident and orient. I'll go back there, the ambiance is amazing. Still, the moderate muslim government leaves me perplex.

On the other side of the atlantic Ocean, the USA. When I was there, I felt people were very friendly (more than those grannies I met in Ireland in the very first weeks of the second war in Irak when they knew I was french ...). A great nation, even if sometimes, the media people tend to refer to is real shit, like Fox News. I'm a christian baptist, and when I talk with my bro's and sis from the south of the US, the information they seem to take for face value (France at war, curfew ...) seems to be science fiction. I was surprised when I heard some who didn't know where France was in the world.

Brazil is a raising power, but I don't know much about the country (but eh, Brazil is on my top 3 of the countries to visit !)

I left my final ... Canada ... I was in Québec not so long ago ... I think a part of me is still there and that I never really left. Kindness, amazing landscapes, you're so lucky (but I was not there in the winter !). And the first defenders of the french language, they're not in France, they're in Québec !

I forgot some, don't know other ...

[Independent voter]

There are other countries?

[Revi]

Somewhat unfriendly to tourists, but a good place to be. We're not really well known internationally, but that seems like the attitude I see most online.
When I introduce myself abroad people usually just go "Ahh, vikings!" though.

I've always liked France. Been there a few times, and would love to go back. Nice people, nice weather, nice culture.

[Hyve]

The U.K. is perceived as a once great nation that is now essentially useless in most international affairs. It's sad, and I don't agree with that fully, but there is some truth to it.

[Grimbold21]

My country is perceived as being part of Spain and for having it's language confused with the version of the colonies (Brazil)

[Deleted]

Austria is perceived as a small island with kangaroos and koalas by a lot of foreigners .

[Fencers]

I think the US is perceived as brash and maybe a bit flashy. Americans as somewhat entitled and ignorant of the world at large.

Personally, I think other countries are not the US.

[dixincide]

Canada is basically the worlds hotel. I can't really tell what our culture is, only real constant is an open accepting mind, proper manners and hockey.
Also every morning we have to pay tribute to the one true god Tim Horton, he collects our loose change and offers us a drink of his life blood. After the ritual is complete we are blessed for the day with good wishes and great shots.

[Lotus Victoria]

I live in Brazil and people are used to think that we just play soccer all day. Not really. I live in the south, and here the traditions are more or less like in Germany or Poland.

[Deleted]

Does it really matter? I'm going to shorten my post and get straight to the main points, which are so common that they not only apply to my country but half a continent.

How Western Europeans see us:

1) All of the ex-Warsaw pact countries are viewed negatively by Western Europeans, like we're second class citizens hailing from some sort of poverty stricken hell holes.

2) Every Eastern European has to be poor, uneducated, a prostitute/pimp.

3) All gypsies come from Eastern European countries (false, seeing as the countries with the highest roma populations aren't in the region but whatever, stereotypes FTW).

4) You will never find western media articles about successful, productive and hard working Eastern Europeans. We're being demonized 24/7. Even if by some miracle such an article does pop up, xenophobic nationalist bots will swarm the comments section with hateful posts.

How we feel about Western and Northern Europeans:
At first we thought those countries represented some sort of role models or big brothers to look up to and usher change back home. It is probably why Poles, Balts and Romanians are the biggest supporters of the EU and wished for a closer union.

But now, now we just want to get by unnoticed. Nothing hurts more when a french/swede/brit/etc. asks you where you're originally from. The change in their facial expressions when they get an answer and the awkward "Oh..." that usually follows.


How the rest of the world sees us:

Slightly better but not by much. We're like the youngest child of a successful business family that choose to become a catholic priest instead of following the family tradition.
We're also staring to see an increase in immigrants now that we've developed ourselves a bit more, but still no way near the numbers that successful EU countries see.
I suppose that will change with time seeing as how Eastern Europe might be poor compared to Western Countries but ok-ish compared to the rest of the world.

[Meestercat]

The U.K. is perceived as a once great nation that is now essentially useless in most international affairs. It's sad, and I don't agree with that fully, but there is some truth to it.

I think we have a certain diplomatic clout based on historical factors: Commonwealth, Empire, Trade, 'Western-Nations-Old-Boy-Network'; but I think that will decline as the BRIC countries become more influential.

[Vea Lea]

a lot of westerners go here for vacation some go for trying to get sex?

[Faldric]

Austria is perceived as a small island with kangaroos and koalas by a lot of foreigners .

You stole my line. Just recently at the Eurovision song contest we had somebody shouting to the crowd "Thank you Australia!". When you think that Austria was once the seat of power of an empire that stretched half the globe and is now one of the smallest countries in Europe that often gets confused with Australia, its actually kind of sad.

[Independent voter]

a lot of westerners go here for vacation some go for trying to get sex?

That's disgusting.

[dixincide]

Is it fun living in Europe? Having all of those cultures and all of that History so close to home must be pretty exciting. You could go for a fairly decent walk and wind up in a place with a completely different language.

Furthermore, What do you guys do for Vacation? Isn't the rest of the world boring?

[MerinPally]

Is it fun living in Europe? Having all of those cultures and all of that History so close to home must be pretty exciting. You could go for a fairly decent walk and wind up in a place with a completely different language.

Unless you're particularly interested in it, it all looks the same because you've grown up around it. Languages change, sure it changes a little and you notice it but caring is another matter entirely. It's just "normal"

[Meestercat]

Idk, I was born in Germany but I'm not from there. I guess it's viewed negatively by a lot of people because of the whole, Nazi's trying to rule the world and shit.

I don't think that is necessarily true for younger generations. For some reason our idiotic tabloid press seems determined to try and keep some kind of follow-on rivalry going 70 years later, but I think most Britons don't have a negative view of Germany. I actually think the UK needs to try to be more German if it's going to pull itself out of the hole its in.

[Faldric]

Is it fun living in Europe? Having all of those cultures and all of that History so close to home must be pretty exciting. You could go for a fairly decent walk and wind up in a place with a completely different language.

Thats one of my favourite things about Europe. Went on a city trip after my graduation and it was quite an adventure.

[Afrospinach]

Austria is perceived as a small island with kangaroos and koalas by a lot of foreigners .

That is ridiculous, Austria is a large island(the largest) and everyone knows it.

[Deleted]

You stole my line.

I knew that it was coming eventually, so I took the chance!