Spoiled????

The meaning of this word translates in different countries we have come to learn.  The people here look at Americans as being very spoiled, and we have had mixed reactions to our visit... but what we considered spoiled deals with money and material things, here we believe it stands for a way of life and the way you expect certain understanding for a lack of knowledge.  People expect you to be responsible for your own actions and tendencies and do not allow for a sense of blame.  An example of this that contradicts some American beliefs was demonstrated at one of the schools we visited, they do not have security and allow the children to run around carelessly, therefore if a child were to slip and fall down the stairs it would not be the building or schools fault.  It is up to the individual to take care of themselves.  It is interesting that they have these misconceptions of us and what it is to be spoiled considering they have a 20 dollar an hour minimum wage... and we're spoiled?  It has been quite an interesting culture shock.  Meanwhile, in our visiting we have noticed how impolite people are... we noticed that people would rather stop and stare or shove you than ask you to excuse them while they walk by you.. interesting right?  Our guide informed us that after the hippi movement here they lost touch of manners and do not treat people with much respect, they have recently started a movement here to improve their customer service and curtosy towards otheres.  Hopefully it kicks into action pretty fast....  and this is not only towards Americans it is worse among Danes. 
This has given us a different perspective and definite culture shock.. we are grateful to be experiencing and learing about a different way of living.

New post soon... next... Pusher Street (Im sure you can guess..)