I knew that Europe and America were different from each other. But I didn’t have the slightest idea of how deep those differences really were until I came to the UK.
My Indian mind often saw “the West” as one broad cultural space. We rarely think about how different Europeans and Americans can be from one another, or how often they clash over politics, identity, history, and even everyday life.As I spent more time here, I began noticing some of the stereotypes each side holds about the other. Europeans often describe Americans as loud, overly focused on money, and largely unaware of the world beyond their own borders. Americans, on the other hand, see Europeans as having a superiority complex or as being constantly critical of the United States.
I thought I had seen most of these debates. Then, to my surprise, I found myself watching a new one unfold over something I could never have imagined—a heatwave.
Also read: India’s heatwaves have entered a dangerous new phase. The warning sign comes after sunset
Cross-continental jabs
