Here You Go, Europe

[Pyrrho]

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Some European cultures aren't very huggy either though. I wouldn't say British people are scared of hugs, but we definitely don't touch non-sexually as much as the Southern European cultures do. British people actually find it weird and questionable the way Southern Europeans (including straight men) kiss eachother when they greet.

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America has been more influenced by England than by other European countries.  You can tell this from the language I am presently using.  The hugs fit that, too.

When I was in Europe, I did not go out of my way to hug people.  And I do not recall receiving any 'inappropriate' hugs from others.  If other people hug each other, I am not too concerned about it.  Their relationship with each other is theirs, not mine.

I was very pleased with the way I was generally treated.  My only complaint is that no charming, intelligent, kind, rich, pretty, young woman tried to marry me and let me stay!  

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Given how long I was there, she would have had to be insane, as I was not there long enough for anyone to get to know me very well.

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[Regina]

That's true, I think you can see it in fashions as well. If you look at the "fashionable" clothes Americans have historically wore, nothing would look out of place in the same time period in the UK.

Although one thing that is really different from the modern UK is the prevalence of fundamentalist right-wing Christianity. We do have right wing groups in the UK, but they are fringe and even they don't tend to be so motivated by Christianity (more by anti-immigration sentiment). In America there seems to be a really present and powerful Christian right and you don't see this so much here outside of Northern Ireland. I find that really ironic as well, considering England is not officially secular while America loves to claim secularism.

[Pyrrho]

The concept of a separation of church and state sounds good, but somehow we have not worked it out properly.