There are many components to a place - the architecture, the history, the culture - but one factor that will inevitably have a huge effect on your travels is the people.
In my time abroad, I've learned something very important: People aren't all the same. As much as I would like to think we all share something in common, I very quickly discovered that different countries have very different types of people. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, and I know we've all been told of the great evils of stereotyping, but sometimes a few generalizations are needed to get by in life. Apologies to anyone who is horribly offended by this column.
Despite what you would initially guess, Germans are among the nicest people I have ever met. I have often wondered if this is due to an urge to be apologetic and to distance themselves from their past, or if Germany just had a ten-year long horrible bout of anger and violence, got it all out of its system, and now has no bad vibes for the next few centuries. Regardless, Germans are always pleasant, always ready to make conversation and practice their English on you and always ready to help.
As for Danes, they essentially know they're superior to you in every which way. Their currency is a monster, they're all attractive, and they can probably speak better English than you ever will (along with their own secret language). So they're all really friendly because they kind of feel bad for you.
Austrians, or at least the Viennese, are sterile. Like, "Pod People have taken over and any display of emotion will be promptly followed by a reprogramming session" sterile. Best example of the atmosphere they create: During our first night in Vienna, my friend and I were walking down a bustling street. We very soon realized that, despite being as full of people and stores as Harvard Square, we were the only people talking in the area. We even heard a man's cell phone hit the ground from across the street. Creeeepy.
Moroccans are very friendly and talkative. That being said, I often wondered what their true motives were. This view is probably much influenced by the fact that the first "really nice" guy I met shook me down after his "favor" and then continued to insist we were friends. Of course, my skepticism was so high for the beginning of my trip that I think I even worried some of the natives. One shop owner, while trying to talk to me, kept insisting that, "Whether or not you buy something, we're still friends! We're still friends!" After that, I loosened up and realized that many of them are genuinely friendly.
In the end, the Greeks win the award for my favorite group of people. They're not only extremely amiable, but incredibly laid-back and ready to joke with you even if you met only seconds ago. As my friends and I made our way through the islands over spring break, at times it seemed that people were practically jumping out from all sides offering us directions and wishing us well for the rest of our lives. Of course, considering where they live, I suppose one would have a hard time being in a bad mood. Regardless of the cause, the Greeks I met really did keep alive the old Homeric idea of "Xenia." If you don't know what that means, head over to Eaton Hall and ask someone on the second floor.
So that's my grossly oversimplified evaluation of five groups of people. Let's hope this column survives to see another week.
Devin Toohey is a junior majoring in classics. He can be reached at Devin.Toohey@tufts.edu.
