innerartist
Newbie
Posts: 2
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Hi Ceili,
I have spent some time traveling through many European countries by bike, (with my extroverted husband). We were mostly on back roads and in small towns, rather than large cities and tourist centers. Overall, my impression is that most of Europe is more comfortable for an introvert than the US is. For example, in restaurants, the service is very low key, without the overenthusiastic, enforced friendliness of the servers you find here. (We were told they would find to quite rude to be asked if "everything's okay?" throughout the meal.) There are introverts and extroverts everywhere, of course, but I felt less pressure to conform to an extrovert expectation than at home. If you want to be quiet and observe, that's fine with them. I found that the people who did want to talk to us were genuinely interested in our travels, or our bikes, (which were unusual), so we had more open and interesting conversations with new people, rather than just small talk. (Of course, when you are traveling by bike, talking about the weather is no longer just small talk, it is essential information!)
Portugal was the most extroverted country in my experience. In the areas we rode through, American tourists and bicycle tourists were unusual, so we got a lot of attention, to the point of having schoolchildren run beside us through the small towns. But people were very friendly, open and helpful, and the food was fantastic! Also, we found that people in Germany were most likely to step up and offer assistance, if we were looking a bit lost or consulting our maps. In most other countries, bike touring is more common, so we didn't stand out. We could always find help or information when we needed it (I usually let my husband the the lead on asking directions, finding a place to stay, etc.), but could be on our own when we wanted that. In most places there are people who speak excellent English, and I can get by in French. My husband developed a pretty good mime routine, with which he could get food, a room, etc, when needed. (Glad he was there for that, I would probably go hungry or sleep in a park before performing in public!)
I found the Czech Republic to be one of my favorite countries, both the north (Bohemian) area, and Prague. I can't really say why, I just felt really at home and welcome there. I think I was able to be more outgoing during that part of our trip, because I was so comfortable.
The only time I felt oppressed by extroverts was running into bus loads of American tourists in Italy. After a few months in Europe, it was a shock, so there is definitely a difference in the whole atmosphere between European and American culture.
We stayed in hostels quite a bit -- usually the cheapest option, and many offer private rooms -- a must for introverts, at least for me. The few times we stayed in the dorm rooms, (because nothing else was available) it was exhausting because I didn't have any "down" time to myself to recharge.
Don't let apprehension about extroverts prevent you from traveling in Europe. Just plan a trip that goes at your own pace, so you don't feel overwhelmed. It was a fantastic experience for me. (Sorry for the lengthy post, I was there in 2002, and 2007, and I still get excited about it!)
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