IRB Media Summary of Cameron Hewitt's The Temporary European

Annotation

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 Traveling to Europe is not just about passively consuming Europe, but actively participating in it. You must become part of the European ecosystem and adopt their customs and daily rhythms.#2 The temporary European is empathetic: they assume that other people's ways make sense to them, and they try to understand why. It requires concerted effort to travel with curiosity and understand those little quirks that make sense to Europeans.#3 Culture shock is very real, even for those of us who have acquired immunity. I fly from Seattle to Krakw, where I feel most at home, and yet I still have to ease myself into Europe.#4 The first impression created by an iconic place is so vivid that it becomes tinged with nostalgia even as it occurs: you begin to resist the majesty, and that's when you get to the good stuff.