November 27, 2003

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  Topic: GREAT IDEAS THAT COME FROM ABROAD

  
  

  When I came back from my junior year abroad, a semester in London, England, I realized just how many amazing and different things there are to be exposed to. 
  
  The list includes: food, drink, sport, travel, history, sites, language, diversity, gap years

  
  

  IDEA: Another business idea.  Open up a restaurant in America, that serves food from abroad.  Crepes and belgium waffles in the morning, tapas during the day, kabobs, falafel, fish and chips, Irish Stew, paella, Italian pizza and pasta, etc. for dinner.  Beers from around the world on tap, Guinness, Carling, Carlsberg, Munich beers served by the liter w/ pretzels, etc. Danish pastries for dessert.  The place would be attached to the hostel I wrote about in a previous idea, so people could take a siesta during the day.  It would also show all international soccer games, and the people working there would all have fun accents and say things like, “Try the beef stew, it’s quite nice,” and “Would you like another pint of bitter?” 
   IMAGES BROUGHT TO YOU FROM AROUND THE WORLD

  
  

  

  
  

  
  
  Anyways…according to an article by Mortimer Zuckerman, the editor-in-chief of us news & world reports, Europeans take off about six to seven weeks a year.  Americans average about 10.2 DAYS of vacation each year.  Americans spend only 4.3 nights of vacation away from home, down from 6 nights 25 years ago.  About 40% of Americans put in 50-hour workweeks.  We work about 3 weeks more a year than the Japanese.
  
  In the article titled, “All work and no play,” the author tries to argue (and I’m not sure how he can be serious) that “Americans tend to work longer hours because, by and large, they enjoy itwhile many Europeans do not.”
  
  Could America still be an economic superpower if we worked less?
  Is there a min./max./optimum amount of work input that results in max. output?
  If the numbers are true regarding working hours, which work culture do you prefer?
  Any other thoughts on the amount of work we do, versus time to play?

  
  

  A gap year is part of English, South African, and Australian culture.  This is a year off from high school, usually dedicated to solo traveling.

  
  

    

  
  

  Would America benefit from gap years?
  Could American culture incorporate gap years in the near future?
  Any other thoughts on gap years and traveling?
  
  There’s a sport many Americans have never seen called soccer (football for you foreigners).  Part of its allure is international competition, as well as continuous play, uninterupted by commercials.  A 90-min. game takes 90min., while a 60min. American football game takes 180min.
  
  Anyone besides my college roommate and I follow the sport?

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  • 12:27 am
  • 3 Comments