Yeah, I was pretty amazed at how many people in Germany smoked, and how most restaurants didn't have non-smoking sections. But yet their grocery stores feature a lot of "all natural" products. Guess it balances out?
As for Americans being over-weight, while true, I'd be curious to see how many pounds some Europeans would pack on if they stopped smoking. <ducking> hehe
JNG already commented on this, I think, but I was also surprised about how much attention Germans spend on their hair. I'd be very surprised if they didn't use the highest amount of hair gel per capita. Even the babies were sporting faux-hawks!!!
They seem to think that sugar is evil but nicotine and alcohol are wonder foods! It's absurd. Then again, they still think that you get a cold from being cold.
Well, they'll probably catch on in another ten years or so.
I love the babies with hair a la David Beckam. I just think it's great!
FYI for all the people bashing the Europeans for
smoking, the Germans are overall still far healthier than Americans. And even if they stopped smoking, many would not become overweight. And more importantly as of Sept 1, 2007, smoking is prohibited in all German train stations except for designated areas on platforms (only on open air) and 100% banned on trains. 10 years? No. They're changing the laws now, but they vary from Bundesland to Bundesland. Starting January 1, 2008 in Bavaria for example, smoking will also be banned in public places including bars and restaurants. But special exceptions are made for Oktoberfest.
I don't think smoking has to be a huge health problem. Certainly it's healthier not to smoke. But the problem is that Americans smoke, lead sedentary lifestyles and eat too much. The only real problem I have with smoking in a public place is smelling it when I'm eating or coming home from a club or bar and smelling like an ashtray.
Also, re: the 10 years remark. You have to have a greater understanding of how German politics and bureaucracy works to understand why it takes al ong time to enact something like this. In the US, Mayor Bloomberg can just ban smoking or even trans fats in his area of jurisdiction, in this case, New York City. It's not so simple in Germany. Despite the efforts to introduce a nationwide ban on public smoking, state politics among other things are in the way.
As for alcohol, it
IS a problem among young people. I was visiting the Buchenwald concentration camp about 2 years ago and a student on a class trip was puking all over the parking lot, piss drunk. And his teachers were very ashamed.
I think drinking among college students, however is more sophisticated, at least where I studied and it was common sense that people don't drink and drive. Obviously, it helps to have great public transportation. I also mean sophisticated in the sense that parties are not about quantity (cheap beer) but rather great tasting drinks.
What else makes Europeans more "sophisticated"?
Sophistication cannot be limited to dress, tastes, etc. I think the greatest asset many young Germans have is their awareness of the world. The Germans are the most traveled nationals in the world and also in their schools they learn a greater deal about life in other countries. I work at a school and the head of the English department knows more about American politics and the upcoming election than I do, which is somewhat embarrassing but completely true.
Europeans as a whole have a greater understanding of world cooperation and coexhistence than Americans by virtue of the fact that they live in Europe amongst so many other countries. Americans are isolated in North America (Canada might as well be American in the U.S. sense too) and are ignorant of many things, for example the environment, etc.
