Hello amigos! When me and @vitruvianman were in Kiev, we noticed people are really happy! I saw same picture in Prague and Belgrade. Because you can see this their face except strangers -even they live there- . I don't know why but in Kiev, Arabian or Azerbaijani citizens aren't happy. Of course it's my opinion and it's not about some kind feeling of exclusion. I guess being local people in this countries, being European, affecting all your life.
Just imagine you was born in Middle East! It's like a nightmare, right? That's what I'm talking about. The country you are born shapes you, decides who will you? The culture in which you are born, the religious beliefs surrounding you, the level of education are the factors shaping your life. And poor or not borning a European country or living one of them is a luck for me. And I know there is a lot of people here thinking like me in my country. Our nature want to have most highest level opportunity. We always want more and better. That's the answer, answer of how we beat Neanderthals.
Maybe you watched 2001: A Space Odyssey have a awesome opening scene about evolution from the point of view of movie. I'd recommend watching that scene. So, we want more but we don't even have what we deserve. Because when you come around the Middle East you can saw people always in fear. Sometimes they fear God, sometimes Science. Reason can change but fear always here, in our hearts. Mankind always can find a puppet for scaring himself. But when you come Europe or USA, it can change.
Let me give you an example. When we're in Europe you can't heard any car hooter. There was traffic rules and every person respects the rules. In fact, I think it's not relevant to this rule. It's completely related to the individual's psychology. If you are nervous and angry, it is reflected in these actions. The way we live in everyday life is coded. The change process works day by day. We become angry, problematic, incompatible. Of course, the environment you live in pushes us to this. So, I think that is why immigrant people can't be happy in Europe at the first time.
Then how Europian people can be happy? They have their own problems too. Like I said; culture, religious and education. I think these three keyword is the answer. They are born into this society, they are growing there. That's why they always will be one step into us because they know how they must act. But we learn. I think that is the point...
en basit örneği; engelli bir vatandaş kaldırımda ve toplu taşımada güvenli bir sekilde evden ise isten eve gidebiliyor. daha ne olsunnn..
WE learn as long as we live. I'm glad you learned me something here
I agree my friend, we were born to learn.
circumstance forces us to be who we are, europe is relative quiet compared to the rest of the world where their are wars or rumors of wars. And their are rules that are been followed and their government is working as compared to many parts of the world
War is one of the main factors that disrupt societies and push people into the dark. Even if war is not in the country, it hurts you if it is near you.
How long did you spend in each area? I wonder if perhaps your interpretation of the average "happiness" in these locations were specific to the city or town you visit, or happenstance of what the feeling is that day.
Henry Rollins has some interesting anecdotes about going to "dangerous" places in the world and receiving a warm welcome, people being happy... Now I feel like I can't be sure of anything about a place until I go there myself.
In total, 4 cities 1 month. But I have met people from 30 different countries. And I realize that all of them are having a common moment. Yes, they have problems like everyone. But they live the moment because they grew up like this. So, they are happy. What I try to explain isn't the ease or difficulty of living conditions. The culture that surrounds you. I think European culture is something that pushes people to happiness. It gives people freedom from childhood. No repressive society or family structure at least.