What does it mean to be European?

What does it mean to be European?

To begin with, when you think about Europe, try to imagine a cake that has lots of parts on it like jam, chocolate, but it’s still a cake.

Europe is the continent with the longest history, most traditions and no other part of the world can be as powerful in terms of culture

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Every person who considers themselves European should be proud of our history. Our people built their first towns and begun agriculture, developed bronze weapons. The true history begun, laying the foundation for the rest of humanity. The Ancient Greeks developed theatre, democracy, sculpture, history, science and more achievements we still use and value today. Alexander the Great's vision of "one people, one world" saw Greeks intermarry with the other races, something that was already happening on a smaller scale. Later, throughout all of Europe, people married and inter-married, changed religions and faiths. Each culture changed and adapted. It became a mixture of different races and cultures. Western Europe built its empires abroad, spreading European culture to the world. The European culture continued to flourish around the world.

More reasons to be proud of being European? We were the first to explore science and technology, founded democracy, excelled in art and literature, explored the law system, we fought bravery for our nations, defended our proud culture, colonized, developed and built civilization in land there was none. We started international trade, built some of the greatest cities the world has ever seen, all modern cultures have been inspired by European political thoughts and ideologies. We have dominated the entire world; our clothing has been used and it still is in the whole world. The European cultures started industry, capitalism and the rights of the individual. We were so important to the world and so I can strongly affirm that Europeans should be proud and confident.

After so many years of cold wars, a seed was laid for the birth of a united Europe, built through principles of democracy, freedom, and liberty, not bloodshed.

Our past, our ancestors’ achievements and struggles, is what has made us today “European”. It is not our color, our language or religion; it is our history that makes us European. Our history of adapting to our current situation, of being able to succeed where others have failed, and our ability to live in peace with each other, when we are given that opportunity.

So this is what makes European to not be only a word, but meaning history, traditions, beliefs and most important union between people with different culture, all together in one.

Being European does not mean only to be born and live in Europe, to benefit from common rights, to speak a European language and share one of this continent’s culture and traditions. There is more meaning than that to be a true European. It gives you a feeling of belonging. When you travel outside Europe, you are labeled as a European and seen to live in the most visited and beautiful region of the world.

Europe as whole is a collective identity and has common political values, culture, beliefs, religions, traditions and languages.

In Europe, there is an emphasis on individual rights and the disputes are resolved through negotiations.

Despite the fact that Europe was a region of constant war in the past, today it represents a region of generalized peace and its inhabitants fight to maintain this.

We can say that, Europe truly unifies the mankind, and education is very important in forwarding this European identity. When we speak about Europe, we associate it with a cultural pluralism.

The people from Europe have a unique style, perspective and way of living. Their lifestyle is very different from Americans. For example, they pay a lot of attention to the quality of their lives, what they eat and their health. The most special dishes are from Europe.

Women dress perfectly fit, people have that ‘’je ne sais quoi’’, that mystery. They are styled, diverse, educated and interested in being part of a multicultural environment.

Another fact about Europeans is that they like to plan ahead and finish their job in time, so they can enjoy their culturally leisure time. Their working hours are less than in America or Japan, because Europeans feel more the need to have a personal life and time for their family and children. Also most of the people know very well another language different of their mother tongue. Moreover, in Europe there are many polyglots. For example in Belgium, citizens speak four different languages, which is an asset for them.

In comparison with other regions of the world, Europe has resources and opportunity to a great rage of languages and cultures, so we can say that it has a huge linguistic advantage. This creates the chance to build a spiritual character through cultural diversity and respect, through the knowledge and practice of all cultures and languages, and it is desired that everyone in Europe to speak at least two European languages.

Europe is a small continent, which makes it easier and affordable for people to travel more and more these days, and so they borrow from other cultures traditions and customs and integrate them into their own culture. People living in Europe are very interested in travelling, this being one of their main hobbies and playing an important role in their lives and enable them to expand their knowledge and culture.

The long tradition of Europe comes from the diversity of European societies. Europeans have a habit of integrating values from new groups.

People do not identify themselves just with their countries but with Europe. They share universal ideas; the local and global cannot be separated anymore.

Europeans are satisfied with their lives and feel positive about the quality of lives of younger generations.

They tend to believe that it is extremely important to help others and value people for who they are and also that it is extremely important to be involved in creating a better society and engage in different activities to support this.

European identity it is about expanding the neighborhood. It means building a society of different nationalities which share their backgrounds.

 It gives us the chance to eliminate the differences between citizens of extreme geographical points of Europe, which can emerge into conflicts.

As Europeans we are tolerant and open minded.

Europeans agree to a world, where people live by traditional values. Somehow, they feel a basic sense of geographic attachment to Europe. The most geographically attached are people from Luxembourg, followed by Sweden and Denmark.

Europeans have the habit of re-using and conserving. Many European cities still have the same small streets they had in the middle ages. Most of the time, when an area burns down or is destroyed, it is built back exactly as it was before, due to the desire of people to conserve the past and the history. If for example you go to Paris, in any month of the year you will see different historic building being in maintenance.

In the European society an intense international studying and work environment takes place. Young people, no matter from what country and its level of development they have a strong wish for an international experience, especially during their university period for studies, followed by work experience abroad. There are several cultural programmes for students, scholarships and opportunities.

The main issues regarding the future that Europeans are concerned about are the environment and the unemployment. Entrepreneurial activities are sustained in order to reduce the ratio of unemployment.

They think that it is a good thing for this society to be made up from different races, religions and cultures. Very few people are racists or xenophobes compared to the past.

What do Europeans expect and believe about the 21^st century? They reckon that the technological progress will increase significantly, that it will be possible to cure serious diseases like the cancer, the way of living will change a lot and children and grandchildren will have a better life than parents and grandparent had. Also, the overall economic situation will improve and less people will be poor and society excluded.

I have always felt like an inhabitant of the Europe, rather than just Romania. I do not feel especially Romanian. I feel more European than Romanian and this it is not just my case.

I am European; I do not represent just my own country but the entire Europe. I think, act and live European. I start my day having a croissant with café late like true French, but if I know I will have a busy day I choose instead an English breakfast. I eat Italian food; I walk to a nearby shop to buy fresh baguettes and flowers. I am very organized, neat and I wash my car on Sunday like a German. I like to spend my holiday, enjoying calamari in a little back street restaurant surrounded by charming architecture and landscape in Greece. I have visited Versailles, but never been to the White House. As a woman I believe and expect romance in my life, while being surrounded by music and gondolas in Venice. I spend most of my day working and studying but I always have a fika ( a kind of coffee break combined with eating sweets and cookies with the others, that Swedes consider an important part of the culture). I like to walk and bike and own an economical car. I like to go for a short walk in the afternoon, to greet my friends with a kiss on each cheek. In the evening I like to go the opera or go to tango dancing lessons. Europe is the place where I have lots of friends and my family. In other words everything about me states that I have been born, raised and lived and have my background in Europe. I am Romanian, Spanish, French, Swedish, Danish, German,etc. I am not just one but I represent several nations. I am Europe, a bit of all. I will most probably be part of this community my entire life, since the cultural diversity here is like nowhere else.

Europe for me is also the freedom to have choice to live and show what you are able to do.

When I think about Europe, there are so many things that come to my mind: Greek dance, Tour de France, football fans, Colossus of Rhodes, Amsterdam, Swiss watches, Döner Kebab, sauna, Flamenco, help for Africa, Yves Saint Laurent , Mozart, German cars, Pommes Frites, Norwegian fjord, Cold Play hits ,Scottish kilt, Saint Patrick’s ,French wine, Spanish wine, Italian wine, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, democracy, Philosophers, Socrates, Seneca, and Champions League,MP3, ecology, Versace, Beethoven, Pizza, French baguette, Basque beret, Romeo & Juliet, Shopska Salata, Fish & Chips, Kafka, Oktoberfest , Midsummer night, Shakespeare, Tour Eiffel, Big Ben, Venetian masks, Chanel, IKEA and so the list is endless.

Europe is a place without borders, there are different languages, different states of mind, but first there is this thing there are no borders anymore.

I think it is very important that the borders are open. This means I can go and study in any European country I choose, I can travel and start a career and live in the country of my choice. It is also very important that cultures can mix with one another, without losing their own identities. Europe is freedom for me, space to make new friends.

There is no much difference from whether you are coming from and Europe represents a unity because together, we are all stronger and it is easier to stand out against things that we do not think are righteous and build a multicultural and better society.

To conclude with, when you are European you know you have a past, a long history of generations and civilizations but you also know that you have a future ahead of you. I am proud to be European both by location, history and culture.