5 Things That Shocked Me About Eastern Europe

[@Stef-BG]

I'm weird in that I prefer being benignly ignored in shops so I'm free to look around. Some surprises for me: water shutoffs, not being stared at (yay), a casual approach to safety, many traditions are still alive, deep conversations with near-strangers once they warm up to you.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Yeah, you're right - those are all good points. What Eastern European countries have you been to?

[@TheOrangeGunner]

Just did a trip in Romania to look at locations to settle. This is what shocked me: 1. Nice centres of town but lot's of ugly high rise buildings. 2, The countryside people are really poor. 3. Lack of good highway network, 950Km for the whole country. 4. New build areas with nice housing, but gravel roads.

[@venusreena2532]

Not a lot of incentive to expat to that part of the world

[@TheOrangeGunner]

@@venusreena2532 Those were the shocking parts. The good parts: 1. Beautiful town centres. 2. Nature in abundance. 3. Great and affordable food. 4. Amazing tax incentive, 1% tax on turnover.

[@PureAlbania]

@@TheOrangeGunner How was the process to get those tax incentives? Was it too burocratic and difficult?

[@alexandrupopa8825]

@P C I am romanian, yeah, you pay only 1% corporate tax unless you reach 1 million euros PROFIT(revenues-expenses) per year, you can sell anywhere in the EEA too

[@gregschafer6319]

@Saša Šijak in Hungary the neighbour country is 1854 km, and the size of the country is half of Ro.

[@limazulu6660]

4:42 - The cold exterior culture means people are less fake and much more direct. There is no need to smile and be "nice" all the time to everyone. It's something like: "I'd rather be lonely, than be with a phoney" attitude.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

That's also right. Good observation. Have you ever been to Eastern Europe?

[@limazulu6660]

@@OffshoreCitizen I am from there, yes.

[@topalbano]

So being warm and friendly like millions of people on the planet, means you are fake? Only being cold and miserable makes you real? I remember in Italy, lots of smiley and friendly people everywhere. all fake? People have different nature and life backgrounds. They don't "need" to smile, they just do it naturally. Also, think that you can be direct and real with positive emotions, not only with negative ones. But you probably don't understand that, cause you are used to a different nature, environment and harder living conditions.

[@andudontstopyo]

Exactly! They make you earn their kindness and that's okay with me.

[@gozzzzzzzzzzzz]

@@topalbano dude the people serving you get paid 200$ a mounth + most of them get forced into serving becous there family has that restaurant and wants them to own it after them

[@RositsaPetrovarjp7]

Warmer Western culture? Please...if you call fake smiles warm, be my guest. Also the fake smiles and polyannish positivity is a very North American thing. You will not find in Europe anywhere. As for shabby taxis, you clearly have not travelled a lot around the world much or in Sofia. 6 euros is definitely not the most expensive for taxi you can pay in Sofia. I bet you never tip drivers too. The shabbiest taxis and expensive at that were in DC and Hong Kong. All cars in Europe are small, in Asia even smaller. No one has money to spend on a huge North American gas guzzlers. As for common spaces, it is correct. People's idea of ownership does not extend to the area in front of their apartment even. I am quite bothered by that but for me this is one of the legacies of socialism and nationalization.

[@AlexEvanScott]

Like

[@topalbano]

They seem fake to you, I guess because you are used to a miserable/hard reality. Many people on the planet smile naturally, spontaneously and are friendly to people. And what about, Latinos or Mediterranean people? All fake?

[@RositsaPetrovarjp7]

@@topalbano I like how people extrapolate their own prejudice and ignorance from the comments of people they never met. Fake is fake, but in N.America it is real fake. When Americans ask how are you, they do not want to know.

[@lenas6246]

@@RositsaPetrovarjp7 >People's idea of ownership does not extend to the area in front of their apartment even > legacies of socialism and nationalization. k you are making 0 sense, caring only about your ass is the most capitalistic thing ever, you are delusional

[@bobmcbob9856]

“A warmer western culture”? Are you sure you’ve been to the Balkans? Like, Western culture isn’t even externally warm, it’s creepy. People smile but their smiles are obviously forced and fake and their voices get higher pitched when saying hi to you, but they aren’t kind or welcoming. They don’t offer their guests food or drinks, they generally ignore people in need, they don’t genuinely socialize with people, rarely show emotion, even genuine joy, unless they’re too drunk to hide it. In Eastern Europe and especially the Balkans, people don’t bother with the facade of friendliness but show a lot more actual friendliness. They show their true emotions when they’re there, whether they’re happy, mad, or sad, you’ll know. And they’re amazing hosts, very welcoming. Even if you just ask someone for directions, if they aren’t a mugger, the “host complex” kicks in and they feel the need to maximally help and take care of you, if you’re in someone’s house you will be pampered to the extreme, if you need any kind of help in an Eastern European country (got lost, got mugged, need to find a place, need food, have a flat tire, whatever), complete strangers are far more likely to help you than they would be in the west. In conclusion I think what you said later “cold external culture” might make sense. Eastern Europeans don’t bother with superficial and fake expressions of friendliness like the constant smiling that’s common in the west but are much more welcoming and willing to actually help people, even strangers. Now keep in mind, the desire to help people in need doesn’t extend to the Roma, racism towards them is a pretty serious problem so a lot of people aren’t willing to help gypsies, but other than that, Balkan hospitality is pretty universally applied. Of course, the very open expression of what someone’s actually feeling has it’s flaws. When Eastern Europeans particularly dislike someone, they show it and that can lead to violence as opposed to the subsurface, passive-aggressive hatred that’s widespread in western society.

[@Misanti888]

Nice video. Pls consider making more of these but on a per country basis, explaining the detailed uniqueness from your personal viewpt. Stay safe.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Have you seen some of these kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH_ImWlpa6xroqs kzbin.info/www/bejne/kITJp6KJaJqsbdE Will definitely make more ☺

[@yurilee3470]

Am I the only person who things Michael is so much more pleasent to listen to than Andrew Henderson? Andrew has this unpleasent high pitch voice and this weird smuginess that makes it seem like he is compensating for having been bullied earlier in life or something.

[@tw9419]

I agree. He seems like an extremely unpleasant person. Like a guy who was bullied in school and now feels the need to overcompensate for everything with his fake image. Also lots of his information is not accurate.

[@lucchese20]

@@ninozah Interesting observation. Thanks for sharing.

[@krugmeup2162]

I know a guy who paid him money for his “service”… useless. He also has some pretty obviously bad recommendations on his channel.

[@yurilee3470]

@@krugmeup2162 Can you provide a bit more detail here? I thought he'd be unpleasent to deal with, but didnt suspect he'd be incompetent.

[@tw9419]

I lived in a couple of Balkan countries and here is what I noticed: 1. People are very openly racist and proud of it. I had people telling me how it’s so “natural” that they’re better than other races, and would call other races dirty, disgusting, dumb, etc. I’ve heard this from people that are quite educated, so it was shocking. People are racist and enjoy being racist. 2. Even though healthcare is mostly “free” (covered by the government) the conditions of some state hospitals/clinics are just horrible! They’re falling apart, and doctors don’t have much interest in helping. If you proceed to have a baby in a state hospital in Serbia/Montenegro/Croatia you will go through the living hell. I know cases where women were severely abused in hospitals when they went to have a baby. I also unfortunately know many people who died due to negligence or inadequate treatment. If you want to avoid bad experiences and huge waiting lists you’ll have to resort to private healthcare that’s unaffordable to most locals. 3. Salaries are extremely low, and people live off so little. That’s why young people resort to financial help from their parents because otherwise it would be hard to survive. Most people make peanuts. 4. This all leads us to the next thing which is image driven culture. Because majority is broke it’s very important to show that you’re above the majority even when you’re not. People will use their last cent to look flashy (like they have money) they will invest into their looks and cars but will be living in a dump apartment, will not eat healthy or pay for educational stuff. Priorities are very different here. Flashiness over substance. 5. These are quite misogynistic cultures. Women are expected to take 99% of the childcare and home care, all while working full time and looking beautiful. After coming back home from work guys usually don’t lift a finger, and expect a woman to serve them a lunch. Even though she works. 6. Bureaucracy is just insane! You’ll be waiting in lines in government offices, what takes 2 days in the US to get dobe will take weeks here. And you will always need another paper. These are some of my observations after spending decades in this area. Now I live in the west and can certainly see drastic differences. Needless to say, not everyone is going to be like this, but from my observations lots of people are.

[@robster7012]

Where are you based now?

[@tw9419]

Canada 🍁😊

[@eoinmcdonnell8629]

"After coming back home from work guys usually don’t lift a finger" So you're going door-knocking around Eastern Europe in the evenings collecting data on household contributions from both men and women? 🙄 I think you're better off in Canada with the rest of the feminists that piss and moan about everything that isn't tailor-made for them. BTW, there is a difference between nationalism and racism. Just because people in Eastern Europe are proud of where they are from (and don't like you) does not make them racists. People the world over dislike Americans and Canadians for very good reasons. The majority of you are annoying little spoiled brats that want every other culture to bend the knee and adhere to your wants and needs.

[@tw9419]

@@eoinmcdonnell8629 I was born and raised in those countries. 99% of my family & friends still live there (Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia) and I know how the situation is very well. I don’t need you to tell me about my culture, I’m very aware of how things are. Yes, racism that would get you kicked out of university or a job in western countries. Things like saying that Indians stink, blacks are stupid, etc are quite common occurrence. I was shocked when I talked with a young business guy (IT industry) who moved to UAE from Croatia because he was telling me how it’s “natural order” that Indians and Pakistanis get paid less for the same work. “We white people always ruled the world“ he said. Young person in IT industry. Now imagine people in their 40s,50s,60s. You can romanticize about a place, but after you move there and live there for many years and learn a language your opinion would be quite different. What you see coming there for couple of months and being catered as a tourist is not how things are in those societies. These are post communist countries that are still carrying much of that legacy in this day and age.

[@eoinmcdonnell8629]

Oh, I thought you migrated from the west and then made a hitlist of complaints about life as an ex-pat. I was wrong in assuming that, my bad. Sounds like you have a much better understanding of what life is like in Eastern Europe than I do. I'll take what you said into consideration. My apologies.

[@russells9590]

About #4. I can give an example of a dont give a shit attitude from the Western europe. In Italy at a hotel, i have asked them to dryclean my trousers and reaction was like i was asking them to build me a house. They didnt do it. I've asked to at least iron them. At check-out they brought me back trousers that didnt look at different from the time i gave them. They asked me to pay eur 30 for ironing and when i questioned as to why i should pay coz they are not ironed, the answer was: "But the lady had TRIED to iron". How is that for service and consumer protection. Never had such bad service in Eastern Europe. I love Italy, but western europe is like an old lady that doesnt give a damn.

[@krugmeup2162]

Yep in 4 star and below in Italy they don’t give a shit. I haven’t stayed in a 5 star in that country.

[@goran77ish]

@@krugmeup2162 I think you can say the same for eastern Europe. If you travel on budget don't expect extreme service. As salaries are low even rewards for working harder are low so why bother putting a fake smile and dancing around customer like it is a king. Not worth bothering. But if it is better payed job people will do that as good as in USA.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

Thanks for this wonderful video n thanks for sharing your experience in Eastern Europe.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

🙏🙏

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@OffshoreCitizen 😀

[@ferayster]

Thanks for sharing your experiences of Eastern Europe, found it very interesting and insightful.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

You're welcome! Have you ever been there?

[@SolOInvictus]

I'd add two things. 1) I know Eastern Europe is far from 'woke' (there is a lot that's refreshing about that and I think it's their right to be as non-PC as they like) but the antisemitism is shocking. This ranges from jokes about the Holocaust to signs on establishments saying no Jews allowed. 2) Airlines and bus companies just changing their schedules or routes at will at only two hours' notice (or even after you board) with no option for a refund. The strangest thing that happened to me was when I took a night bus from Kiev to Chisinau via Odessa, where the driver apparently changed his mind about the route while on the road and went through Transnistria instead of driving around it (as the ticket guy assured me he would). Some of your points sound quite specific to the Balkans.

[@krugmeup2162]

I’m not religious but are you serious about signs saying no Jews?? FMD where ?

[@goran77ish]

I have not seen any no Jews sign in Belgrade. None would bother you if you are a Jew. But nationalism is an issue in Balkan, and most of it is against nations surrounding them. Minority does it but there are people in Serbia that can be super vocal about Albanians or Croats, and in those countries about Serbs. It is minority but that can happen. My Serbian friend works on Kosovo in 100% Albanian city and he is not from there and he never had an issue. Still he tends to hide a car with Serbian plates, just in case.

[@SolOInvictus]

@@krugmeup2162 Uman, Ukraine.

[@paulbucklebuckle4921]

I've never been to eastern Europe but many eastern Europeans live here in the UK, I've worked with them etc, but what shocked me about them most was the open racism and lack of awareness that it might not be cool and assumption I shared that viewpoint. Which I don't just for the record .

[@venusreena2532]

I remember a movie with Gretta Garbo where in you cant make a Slovic laugh until they see you break a leg

[@goran77ish]

Yea, well as someone from there people can be like that. That comes from that area not being o diverse so some have no idea what is racist and what is not. What I am trying to say most don't have a bad intent, some of course do, but yea. I have an example that I stole from another youtuber. He is a black American and first thing he saw was taxi driver telling him how black people have big d. Taxi driver is rude and crude for sure but he was thinking he is giving a compliment. And honestly coming from here and if is same situation I would laugh at that since I know how people think here. But Americans have a different values and sensibilities.

[@xxhohoo241]

How can I flirt with british women as an eastern european? I'll tell them black men can't score lol! "It's coming to rome" haha

[@Zdamaneta]

muh racism, that's why your people are gonna be extinct in 200 years... lol

[@gozzzzzzzzzzzz]

dude there arnt blacks in estern eu

[@roykutteh]

Great video Michael. Would definitely be interested in more videos comparing EE cities across multiple factors.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Thank you, Roy! Glad to hear you liked it. Great suggestion! Have you seen this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGOqaXSEramGi9U ? And what cities would you like to see next?

[@roykutteh]

​@@OffshoreCitizen Yes, that was really helpful. Interested in Bucharest vs. Kiyv vs. Belgrade vs. Budapest.

[@Neuropsychologue]

Wine paintings in the background are indeed quite shocking in Eastern Europe ;) More seriously thanks for your very informative videos! Little tip: use a f1.4 for your 35mm camera and be as far as possible from the background to have a nice blurry background.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Lol You're welcome and thanks for the tip! ☺ Anything you'd like to see next?

[@Neuropsychologue]

@@OffshoreCitizen Talking about the 1% tax in Georgia with no minimum stay associated with the HNW status would be a good subject as it seems to be the best option for Digital Nomad who maid 50k the last 3 years. Another subject would be to talk about Health+Retirement Plan "Tax" rather than only the Income Tax point of view. With almost 20k subscribers why don't you sell a Course instead of just Calls?

[@Fhfjdod8ebrmsow9e]

The first one is so true, when I was in Nis Serbia the Airbnb I booked was really nice but the building was completely run down from the outside and in the common areas

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Yes, unfortunately. How was your experince in Serbia?

[@Fhfjdod8ebrmsow9e]

@@OffshoreCitizen it was really nice, I was on holiday last year and apart from the building be run down from the outside everything was really nice. There is a pedestrian-only street with a ton of good and cheap food near downtown that I would recommend to anyone that goes to Nis.

[@salqubeq5203]

very interesting and insightful.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Thanks, Sal! Happy to be of service😊 Anything else you'd like to see on our channel?

[@bobo-uv9ls]

The rudeness in customer service is a real thing I experienced in places like cafes. I'm relieved it's not because of anything wrong with me.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Definitely nothing wrong with you! 😁 What countries have you experineced that in?

[@theponickingdom2836]

Never use a taxi anywhere in the world. They’re outdated and not safe because they’re not like Uber and Lyft which are highly regulated and if any incidents occur they’ll be online instantly and corrected quickly.

[@EmrecanAlptekin]

Where is "Eastern Europe"; where it starts and ends? It is east according to which stand point(s)?

[@Bri-wi8kq]

Thanks Michael for a fun topic! Definitely the roads...if that's what you call them especially when you turn off the highway. Thank heavens for the great coverage but if you can't charge your flat phone and need to use paper maps OMG help! I found the traffic cops to be corrupt if you drive by in a shiny new car with foreign plates... And folks don't patiently line in a que, they bunch, then charge for the bus/tram/train/plane door - It cracked me up to see little old barbushkas charging and elbowing their way to get the best be seat even before the passengers had left the carriage! Cash is king - plastic is not always accepted and never exchange your currency at a border booth they'll rip you off. Also, the opening hours for many businesses and offices were strange...but if you asked someone nicely they'd find someone who'd unlock the office settle the task! I guess if you're staying there you'll get used to it.

[@psihopedia]

Hello Citizen: I'm Romanian and I found interesting your video. Also, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I'm glad at least one visitor of Romania realized that we're not nearly as corrupt as Westerners seem to think. That was my feeling too. With regards to the "cold exterior culture", I won't deny your personal experience. I tend to believe that we're not overly warm and some people here live with the feeling that life betrayed them (what they give is not properly rewarded). Also, typical Romanian workers are expected a lot from and given new tasks by the day, and they always have in the back of their mind that they could take the next plane and reach to a place that pays them double or triple their present salary. If for you is a "perfect deal" to travel cheaply in Eastern Europe, imagine that for us is not a "good deal" to work in Eastern Europe, as compared to Western Europe. I know this is just relative frustration and I often find myself telling my countrymen that people from Pakistan come here bc they believe we have good salaries. It may also be the case that our culture of giving the clients an ideal experience it's rather a new thing for us. In addition, we don't have a culture of happiness but we do have a culture of frustration and we've been living with the conviction that grass is greener on the other side of the fence. But as you said, we become friends easily, especially with Americans which we do tremendously respect and love and take American cultural influence as the most familiar thing in the world. We watch American shows and listen American music, we know your celebrities and get inspired by them. So yeah... Americans do have a friend in us. No worries about that! 🙂

[@cryptoFi]

For Romania: 1. ofc those old buildings won't have fancy common areas. The new ones are a different story, try some of those next time. 2. Use Volt and Uber, only people that cannot use a modern smartphone are doing traditional taxi. 3. You are right about most of the personnel in restaurants. That being said, there are enough western countries where it is even worse in some places. I'm talking about Spain and Portugal. 4. You can return clothes without problems. 5. Corruption is mostly not visible for travelers. It is for other things, job "gifting/buying", exams, public contracts etc. It is not straight in your face most of the time. Nice video nonetheless!

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Thanks for sharing your insight with us all! Anything you'd like to watch on our channel next?

[@cryptoFi]

@@OffshoreCitizen Sure thing. How to live in Portugal running a business in Romania, and maybe later on moving it in Dubai. :) Thank you for your hard work!

[@PureAlbania]

Can relate to that in Georgia. People are doing a favor selling to you but then super honest in the prices. Got a situation where the seller didn't have change and simply let me go at a lower price. In my country in western Europe the merchants would try to sell more product.

[@TheFredrikBakkee]

When I visited Eastern Europe, it has been the lack of helpfulness in stores and restaurants.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

What countries did you visit? Any positive experiences?

[@dismantledbrain5910]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "lack of helpfulness". You asked them where the toilet was and they refused to answer? You didn't get a fork and they told you to eat with your hands? Or do you mean they don't fly around your table asking you if you need something? Because we find that annoying and I'd rather get up or call them and ask for whatever I need, than have them bothering me every 15 minutes or so.

[@raffaelloschirinzi2072]

Concerning the coldness of the people, it depends of the country. In Albania for example, people are very open, welcoming and have a fairly latin character (except in the north of the country). It's a beautiful country with spectacular beaches (from the town of Vlora to the Greek border). Highly recommended !

[@OffshoreCitizen]

It really is beautiful! When did you visit?

[@raffaelloschirinzi2072]

@@OffshoreCitizen I know Albania since end 1993 and I lived there for 5 years ;-)

[@Kolket1389]

Yeah, Balkan people are one of the most open, and are literally known for their hospitality. I don't want to offend, but I don't know what were you on sir when you were on the trip

[@alexpapingi1338]

I am writing this in the beginning before it even started: I am surprised I see the Bulgarian flag, not because of anything else but because our country is like forgotten by the rest of the world. And before I continue I would like to say that even tho our government is shit and makes us live hard, it's not bad at all and for all those who want to leave cheap and have literally everything - that's your place :)

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Bulgaria's great! We've made many videos on it. Have you seen some of our videos on it?

[@alexpapingi1338]

@@OffshoreCitizen, no I see this for a first time but I will with pleasure! I am happy that you've appreciated our country! Surely there are many bad things here going on because of the shitty government we have but that's a long story. Except that it's really a good place and what makes us here so angry is that we really can be one of the best places but the majority of the average people here doesn't know how to defend it. I don't want to go too long with this comment, I just want to finish with that - after writing my comment yesterday and I thought that I would really like to become a person who helps travelers when they come here so they can do their things in secure and enjoy the people and the place. I will start my research about how can this become a reality. Thank you for the attention and the good words :)

[@lucchese20]

Thanks Micheal. Wasn’t sure if this was your intent but found your summary hilarious! 😂 Nice spin for a change. Taxis? 🚖 Yeah…I find them to be odd/strange/rip-offs/usually-expensive/suck in most parts of the world like when I was 12 years old and taxi driver insisted I pay for a round-trip fare between town and airport in Rome. I avoid them like the plague. 🦠 Recent exception was in Taipei 🇹🇼 👍🏻. I think somebody can dedicate an entire YT channel to taxis around-the-world. Would be a combo of fun/disturbing/shocking experiences. Love your work.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

You're welcome, always my pleasure! ☺ Hahaha you're definitely right about the taxi stories! Any other interesting experience/s you'd like to share?

[@therealnuggetball]

As a guy from Eastern Europe ( Czechia .. some people say it is Central Europe) I can say that most things happen more or less in the balkans that the other Eastern European States. I would agree the thing with the cold culture...

[@thierrysf]

Most female humans look shockingly like women.

[@mttm9965]

Never heard of that happened in Belgrade or anywnere in Serbia. If you have bill you can change your stuff, but I agree with everything else 😁

[@dr.honorable141]

up to 20 years ago, you could "'comandeer" any passing private car even police negotiate price and use as taxi. 60% of people were cold and unfriendly, the other 40% were so curious about me i felt like a rock star. Girls were going crazy! in 95 in Kiev was renting an apartment in what appeared to be a building in ruins. People were deficating on the entrance. On the inside i had jacuzzi, CCTV, my own heating , Sat TV and the latest furniture. Wealth was supposed to be secret in USSR. I must note that Bulgarians are much-much friendlier people than Russians, ukrainians etc Corruption absollutelly correct, if I compare eastern europe to Greece, Cyprus, Malta etc then Russians, ukrainians and, Bulgarians are litlle angels....

[@vie51]

What’s the problem for Greece, Cyprus and Malta? Could you please share more? I’m actually interested in these places. Thank you!

[@AlexEvanScott]

You're overgeneralising, applying everything you didn't like to an entire region, and sometimes you mention places and then show pictures from another place.

[@danilodesnica3821]

Wow, I'm surprised. I had a much better time there. What you described sounds a bit like my experience of France. If you're not a French speaker, you can expect coldness, rude behaviour, cheating with loose change, unhelpful or wrong info re. transport and trains, even sexual harassment. If you don't speak French, you're done for - they certainly won't speak English! That was my experience back in the 70's when they still used the French Franc. I decided then that I would never go back to France again. However, in the early 1990's I had to go to Paris on business, to La Defense (their equivalent of the City in London, their financial district). The French Client, a reputable bank, knew that I flew in that morning for a 9am meeting, and that I had to get up at 4am in London to catch the flight in time to get to Paris on time - their clock is 1 hour ahead, which made it worse. After a 4 hour presentation, I needed some sustenance - and was offered a coffee, but when I asked about lunch, they took me to their workplace canteen, where you needed special vouchers or local currency, which I didn't have. They didn't accept credit cards. In London, we would have organised lunch or sandwiches for a client coming from another country, but the client hadn't organised anything of the sort. None of my clients staff were willing to exchange British pounds so I could get some lunch, but eventually one of the canteen staff took pity on me and exchanged £20. I got home that evening after 10pm, determined never to visit France again, but it was not to be: a few months later, there was to be another business meeting in Paris, which the client cancelled at the last moment - my workplace gave me the tickets as a present and a day's holiday, so I went and spent the day in the Louvre looking at Italian art, and made sure I had as little contact with the natives as possible. That was the only decent day I ever spent in France. Italy, Belgium and Holland are so much friendlier and nicer. If you had such a bad time in Eastern Europe, I suggest you do what I did w.r.t. France - just don't go there again.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

I've always been treated very well in France

[@milenailic1437]

Nuber 4 is not true in Belgrade.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Are you in Belgrade?

[@nabeelmohammed2894]

1.Don't forget the lovely бабушка 😂😂 2.Too many scam too!!😑 3.Beware of people with sports dress (slav) 😂 4. Beautiful девушки ❤️❤️ Last but not least BILYAT🤣

[@goran77ish]

You described Russia, not Balkans states where he went. Russia is not entire eastern Europe.

[@BoydJones]

Common areas aren’t well kept in parts of Asia as well.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

In what countries have you experienced that? Can you share a bit more?

[@BoydJones]

​@@OffshoreCitizen Of course! Parts of "Greater China." Such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China itself. There seems to be a cultural focus on one's interior apartment life and somewhat of a disregard for the commons.

[@paulbucklebuckle4921]

Great chanel,, cheesy art backdrop is retro kool...I think😎😂😎

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Lol, thanks! :) Any video suggestions?

[@amiranvarov]

Thanks Micheal! "Developing countries...Ironically have more freedom" could you please make a video on this topic to share your perspective with couple of examples when you see that some countries have more freedom than western countries? I guess you are referring to freedom of speech without being worried about offending LGBTQXYZ+ or flat earthers or whatever, so would be nice to know your perspective and experience))

[@laylalina430]

I loved the video but I think you should reconsider the last point. Eastern and Central Europe are very very corrupted, only it is not visible for travellers or people staying shorter periods of time. All of the post soviet countries have got unique way of curruption, which I think its really hard to imagine by Westeners. If you want to see real evil, read about 90s in Slovakia or Hungary and you will understand it better.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

I've lived for 4 years there and my wife is from there it's not a short visit sort of thing. Yes in the 90s it was much worse today you don't see it nearly as much. One interesting thing is a lot of regimes have been changing it will be interesting to see if the new leadership becomes more hard line on it, my guess is no but we'll see.

[@therealnuggetball]

We are no longer in the 90s Corruption is much worse the more east you go that is true .

[@MsTeritoria]

I don't know what you mean by "cold foreign culture", we have never heard such a term in Bulgaria. In other words - you are surprised by the rude behavior of shouting, aggressive behavior to get into a fight and swear, you probably have this under a cold culture. Secondly, the taxis in Sofia are driven by 85% of gypsies and they do not have the necessary education on how to behave with guests from abroad. And third, you can't meet corrupt citizens in a hotel or restaurant. They are in the institutions, in the bureaucratic offices, in the courts, in the high positions of power, which are not accessible to foreigners but only to the local people of the Eastern European country where you have been.

[@ignatz2]

a cold culture isn't people being aggressive, here in Poland we have a cold culture as in you won't see anyone smile in public, like ever. Rarely do you see an expression that is not impassive.

[@jeremyleonbarlow]

I suspect the cold reception to strangers is a lingering effect of the totalitarian regimes of the past's influence on the culture, but that is pure speculation, though logical speculation.

[@alexp-ru]

Ever been to Moscow? Most of the things you said don't apply there...

[@unknowninfinium4353]

That Cake example Daaaaaaaaaam. Stuff like that happened?

[@michaelswchan]

street urchins my first time visiting kiev.

[@OffshoreCitizen]

😂 Can you share more about your experience?

[@michaelswchan]

@@OffshoreCitizen It was similar to how you described your experience in Romania. I arrived at the airport and was picked up in a tiny, rickety car that my guide told me was partially made out of cardboard (was yours?) and taken to a soviet-looking, dilapidated apartment block for my rental with cracks and soot in the common areas and stairway, only to arrive at the door of the apartment, wrapped in leather (other apartments in the hallway had similar adornments and stood out). The door opened and it looked like you walked into Narnia because of the stark difference between the outside. I then went out to Independence Square - where my guide said there would be ample expats and english-speaking shops so I can acclimate. Less than 200 meters from stores selling luxury items, were groups of children, 5 years and younger, dressed in rag-like clothes straight out of Oliver Twist, with their heads hung low until they see a foreigner. They would walk up to you with their hands held out, begging. They didn't swarm like the Latin American ones, but just patiently waited for anything, then walked away. I just watched the Roman Polanski movie, so it was utterly surreal.

[@alanpotter8680]

About customer protection laws... The same laws apply for all EU, Serbia isn't in the EU, things might be different there. I don't agree with the EU law that requires all appliances and other goods to have the minimum 2-year warranty. How is that fair to a €2000 TV set against a 30-euro iron or a coffee maker? Of course the cheap stuff will most likely break within 2 years. This gives an abusive opportunity to certain individuals to never buy a new iron, coffee maker, or anything in the budget area, but instead only replace the old one with a newer model. I personally know such toxic people who deliberately overuse what they buy and then go and pull a Karen into the store.

[@tomseeberg6509]

Many people in eastern europe are not fery serviceminded. I have seen a lot of unfriendly people there.

[@unknowninfinium4353]

First!!!

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Always😁

[@Positive_Atrributes]

DUAL citizenship, and no forced heirship inheritance regime, together with a way to avoid inheritance tax; and these are part of the attractions of Romania! The residency requirements are easy enough for foreign entrepreneurs, together with the micro entrepreneurs tax incentives for cities such as Arad, which is a three hours journey from Budapest (BUD) Airport! / / \ \ Keep up the great work!

[@AlexBosy]

start at 1:35 thank me later :D

[@MajesticLawnGnome]

Part 3 head to the east coast lol I hate DC plan on leaving soo many rude stuck up people here lol eastern europe sounds alot nicer 😂

[@OffshoreCitizen]

You should give it a go and share your experience with us😄

[@susanstohelit3114]

Ugh, Americans acting like everyone is supposed to serve them with a smile on their face

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Well let's be honest, serving people with smiles is just a decent human thing to do that makes the world a better place and I don't really care where you're from it makes the experience better

[@krkitv9790]

Looks to me, you experienced all wrong with wrong people!

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Every place has pros and cons

[@krkitv9790]

@@OffshoreCitizen Just like Usa

[@murataydemir182]

Don’t go Eastern Europe,, !

[@OffshoreCitizen]

Why? Can you share a bit about your experience?😄

[@Zdamaneta]

As an Eastern European I agree with Murat, please don't come here, there's nothing to see, especially for non-europeans.

[@nicolaeadrian7882]

@@Zdamaneta Si in vestul Europei ce plm vezi ? iarba legala /crime / lgbt ? xD

[@alexanderkorolov8264]

I bet things used to be different before communism (or rather socialism) came to those countries. The Marxist/Leninist ideology was supposed to bring up a new type of human and you can't deny, it succeeded a lot. As for the bribery, it's actually a skill. Bribery course online? İt might be an interesting business idea.😉

[@soundslight7754]

I can say shockingly stunning women and largely unimpressive men!

[@OffshoreCitizen]

😂