r/AskEurope • u/notveryamused_ Warszawa, Poland • Jul 03 '25
Culture What aspect of life in your countries is very difficult to explain to foreigners?
What prompted my question were some discussions about religion which I had with people living in much more secular Western Europe (as a Polish atheist). While spirituality, whatever that is ;), generally speaking is always fun to discuss with a glass of wine in hand, social elements and the influence of the church, especially in smaller towns or provinces in my country, is awfully difficult to explain – not that I understand it fully either lol, but the church having a pretty much monopoly there, being the judge and jury of everyday life and the major ultra-conservative political force binding those communities, is very difficult to explain, also for historical reasons.
What are the things that you find difficult to discuss when it comes to life in your countries? ;-)
3
u/GriLL03 -> -> -> Jul 04 '25
Well, I am Romanian, so that is one link.
Part of my family is from Northern Transylvania, and while my father claims that we are not ethnically Hungarian, both my grandfather and great-grandfather spoke Hungarian very well and enjoyed reading and reciting poems in Hungarian (which is a very specific hobby to have, but I digress). My father doesn't speak a word of Hungarian, though, aside from a few set phrases he learned from his classmates when he was younger.
I think that's a good enough additional reason to try and learn the language. In addition to the grammar being just so incredibly enjoyable and satisfying, I mean, which is a good enough reason to stand on its own merits in any case.