Chapter 38 — Exercises

These help you navigate Western Europe's variety — learning your specific country rather than "Europe." Sample answers for closed items follow.

A. What Would You Do?

Scenario 1: "Europe is Europe"

You move from Germany to France and expect the same norms. Things feel off. You: - (a) Assume "Europe is Europe" and keep your German-calibrated habits. - (b) Learn France specifically — formality, "Bonjour first," language pride, food/balance — different from Germany. - (c) Treat all of Europe as one culture. - (d) Get frustrated that they're "not like Germany."

Scenario 2: German bluntness

A German colleague bluntly criticizes your work, unsoftened. You: - (a) Take deep offense and assume they hate you. - (b) Recognize German directness — honest and efficient, not rude (to them) — and engage with the content. - (c) Conclude Germans are mean. - (d) Retaliate.

Scenario 3: France

You enter a French shop and go straight to your question in English. The owner is cool. You: - (a) Assume the French are rude. - (b) Start with "Bonjour" (always!) and at least attempt French — the effort is appreciated and "Bonjour first" is essential. - (c) Keep defaulting to English without trying. - (d) Skip greetings.

Scenario 4: The language

You're in the Netherlands/Nordics where English is widely spoken. You: - (a) Never learn any Dutch/Swedish — English is enough. - (b) Use English when needed but learn some of the local language — it's valued and aids integration. - (c) Assume everyone must speak English to you. - (d) Refuse to engage with the local language at all.

Scenario 5: The August shutdown (new)

It's August in Spain/Italy/France and the city half-empties — colleagues take weeks off, some shops close. You: - (a) Judge it as lazy and try to schedule big meetings anyway. - (b) Recognize protected leisure as a genuine European strength — plan around the holiday rhythm and enjoy your own vacation guilt-free. - (c) Assume nothing will ever get done. - (d) Refuse to take any leave yourself.

Choose and justify each. Why is "learn your specific country" the cardinal European rule? Why is the August shutdown (Scenario 5) a strength, not a flaw?

B. Decode This

  1. "Bonjour" (said first, before anything, in France).
  2. Sie vs. du (Germany).
  3. "Doe normaal." (Netherlands)
  4. Janteloven (Nordics).
  5. Hygge (Denmark) / lagom (Sweden).
  6. (new) "We'll take the whole of August." (Spain/Italy/France)
  7. (new) Sobremesa (Spain).

C. Translate Between Cultures

Task 1 — Read the bluntness. A Dutch/German colleague says "No, that's wrong, the data doesn't support it." Write the misreading (offense) and the accurate reading.

Task 2 — Match the country. For each, name one key adjustment: (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) the Nordics, (d) Spain/Italy.

Task 3 — The shared goods vs. the local codes (new). List three European goods that carry across borders (e.g., healthcare, vacation, walkability) and three codes that do NOT (e.g., directness, formality, schedule). Why does this distinction make inter-European moves manageable?

D. Culture-Shock Journal

  1. Your country. Which Western European country are you in/considering? How does it differ from "Europe" and its neighbors?
  2. The code. What's its specific code (language, directness, formality, schedule)?
  3. The goods. Which European goods (balance, healthcare, walkability) will you use?
  4. The language (new). What's your plan to learn at least some of the local language? Why does it matter more here than in the Anglophone West?

E. Ask a Local

Ask someone from your European country: - "What do foreigners get wrong by assuming '[your country]' is like the rest of Europe?" - "How important is it to learn the language and the local customs?" - (new) "What's the one local courtesy a newcomer must never skip?"

Record the answer.

F. Self-Assessment

Rate 1–5: 1. I treat my European country as distinct (not "Europe"). 2. I'm learning the local language. 3. I calibrate directness/formality to the country. 4. I adjust practical habits (little tipping, transit/walking, use vacation). 5. I'm patient with Northern reserve / lean into Mediterranean warmth.

Note date and scores. Part VII complete! (Appendix B is the country quick-reference.)

Sample Answers & Discussion

A: 1 → (b) — learn France specifically; Germany ≠ France. 2 → (b) — German directness is honest/efficient, not rude (to them). 3 → (b) — "Bonjour first" + attempting French is essential and appreciated. 4 → (b) — use English but learn some local language (valued, aids integration). 5 → (b) — protected leisure is a genuine strength; plan around the rhythm and take your own leave guilt-free. Why "learn your specific country" is cardinal: Western Europe is a small space of ancient, distinct nations — crossing a border changes language, manners, directness, and rules — so generalizing "Europe" causes constant misreads; each country has its own code.

B — Decode This: 1 = greet before any interaction (non-negotiable French courtesy). 2 = formal vs. informal "you" (wait to be invited to du). 3 = "act normal" / don't be over-the-top. 4 = don't think you're special (be modest). 5 = cozy togetherness (Danish) / "just the right amount," moderation (Swedish). 6 = the protected summer holiday (normal, not lazy). 7 = lingering at the table in conversation after a meal (a valued Spanish ritual).

C — Task 1: Misreading: "They're rude/hostile and hate my work." Accurate: Dutch/German directness — honest, efficient, unsoftened, not personal; engage with the content. Task 2: (a) France — "Bonjour first" + attempt French. (b) Germany — be punctual, formal (Sie + titles), expect bluntness. (c) Nordics — be modest (janteloven), patient with reserve. (d) Spain/Italy — adjust to late schedules, lean into warmth/family. Task 3: goods (healthcare, vacation, safety nets, walkability) carry across because they're structural/regional; codes (directness, formality, schedule, language) don't because they're national-cultural — so a move means keeping the goods and re-learning only the code.

D, E, F are personal — your honest reflection is the answer.