se dice asi...

das Heft: NO.5 TALLER de

~ SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2004 • TAIPEI TIMES ~

Who are the most popular Europeans?

The European family just got a whole lot bigger, with the accession of 10 new states to the European Union (EU) in May. But in every family some get along better with each other than others. So we thought it was a good time to ask Europeans what they actually felt about each other.

To find out the answers, Reader's Digest dispatched researchers to 38 towns in 19 countries across Europe, form Portugal to Russia, inviting nearly 4,000 respondents to comment on any country but their own.

And according to our survey, Europeans are in love with Italy its people and its food. The Italians are the most popular and the sexiest (maybe there's a connection) as well as having far and away the best food. Italy was the country Europeans would most like to live in and Italian was the nationality Europeans would most like to have.

Our survey tends to support some of the sturdiest stereotypes about national characteristics: the Germans are rated the most efficient (and the rudest), the Dutch the most open-minded. But many Britons might be pleasantly surprised to discover they are thought to have the best sense of humor. It seems that Europeans judge the British by Mr. Bean, Basil Fawlty and Monty Python.

Here's how Europeans voted in detail, in a dozen categories.

Which European country's people do you most like?

Italy topped the poll with 16 percent. In general, European women's hearts beat a little faster for Italians. Twenty percent of women aged 36-50 and 15 percent of women aged 50 and over voted for Italy.

Spain followed with 12 percent and then France with 10 percent. The United Kingdom (UK) was fourth with seven percent. Bottom of the poll came Poland, Russia, Hungary and Slovakia on one percent each.

Which European country's people do you least like?

There was another clear winner: 22 percent nominated Germany. In Hasselt, Belgium, a middle-aged complained: "The Germans make too much noise and are too chauvinistic." Interestingly, the young, particularly young women, had stronger feeling than their elders ― 25 percent of women aged 18-35 weren't keen on Germans compared to 20 percent of women over 50.

Russia and France came second with 12 percent each.

Hardly anyone dislikes the Scandinavians: lowest ratings of all were for Norway and Sweden on just one percent each.

Which Europeans have the best sense of humor?

Britain, with 30 percent, generated many more laughs than its closest rivals Italy, with 15 percent, and France and Spain on seven percent.

Men in particular appreciated British wit: 32 percent of all male respondents voted for the UK.

Which Europeans have the best food?

Another triumph for Italy who trounced France by 40 percent to 23. Third place went to Greece with nine percent. More than half of all young European women (i.e. aged 18-35) interviewed voted for Italian food.

Which Europeans are the sexiest?

Yet another gold medal for Italy with 34 percent.

Women had no doubts, with 43 percent of females aged 35-50 voting for Italian men, against only 12 percent for Spaniards.

The silver medal went to Spain with 15 percent and bronze to France with 14 percent. Least sexy of all were judged to be the hapless citizens of Belgium, who received zero percent. A young Danish woman in Copenhagen felt it was a question which should have come in two parts. "While Italian women are fantastic, Italian men certainly are not. Now Swedish men ..!"

Which Europeans are the most open-minded?

Notably relaxed about sex and drugs, the Dutch came top in this category with 21 percent (and 24 percent among men aged 18-35).

One young Hungarian man visiting Amsterdam was stunned to find himself in a cafe where he could "order grass and hash from the menu."

Second was Sweden with 10 percent, followed by France, Italy (again) and Germany on eight.

Which Europeans are the rudest?

Germany came out worst with a 27 percent poll rating. A young Czech mother in Prague had no doubts: "They are too noisy and inconsiderate. They shout all the time." Next rudest were the French with 14 percent.

Britain was next with 12 percent.

The least rude were considered to be Norway and Switzerland on one percent.

Which Europeans are the most efficient?

Despite their recent economic woes, the Germans are still seen as the most efficient in Europe, with a thumping 45 percent rating (rising to 50 percent among men of all ages).

From all over Europe came accolades. In Belgium, a middle-aged woman asserted, "The Germans always respect their agreements." A Czech woman commented admiringly: "They are so precise and accurate in everything they do." In Britain, a middle-aged man pointed out, "The Germans have done an enormous amount or engineering and the manufacturing industry."

Those tidy Swiss came a long way back in second place with 11 percent. No one seemed to expect much from Slovakia (0 percent).

Which European country would you most like to live in?

Most Europeans would head south, given the chance, above all to Italy (16 percent) which just beat Spain (15 percent) with France third on (11 percent). The least-favored places were Poland and Slovakia with 0 percent.

In St Petersburg, a 49-year-old Russian man put in a strong bid for Switzerland. "It is a country where there has never been a war, and I think never will be. They are a cunning nation. They will reach agreement with whoever necessary, and pay whoever needs paying, but they will never become involved in war."

If you couldn't have your own nationality, which other European one would you choose to be?

Once again, Italy came out top, with 13 percent.

European placed their own countries second, Spain was with 11 percent, while France was third with 10, closely followed by Switzerland the UK, each with nine.

Which European country has contributed most to the world?

The British may be thought of as insular but their influence abroad is widely recognized. They topped this section with 28 percent, for a variety of different reasons. "Because they created football," said an elderly Swiss man in Yverdon-les-Bains. "Because they discovered penicillin," opined a Czech lady.

Germany scored 21 percent and France 13 percent. A young Russian nominated Germany "for its excellent cars."

Which is your favorite European city?

Paris was easily the most desired destination, with 25 percent; London and Rome gained 13 percent, Prague and Barcelona got six and Venice five.

But while men expressed a preference for Paris, London and then Rome, women rated them Paris, Rome and then London.

Personal considerations often loomed large. In Warsaw, one elegant Polish lady sighted, "Moscow ― that's where I experienced my great love."

Beauty isn't everything, apparently. Six citizens of Poland, Hungary, Portugal and Sweden plumped for Manchester, famed mostly for its soccer club and rainfall.

Reader's Digest interviewed 3,841 people in 19 European countries in March and April this year.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws