Communication Is Not Always Language

On the other hand, many Europeans are driven mad by the American propensity to smile all the time. Sorry, but think it is a pretty simplistic statement.

Personal experience from my first trip to Europe in the 70s:

Picked up while hitch-hiking to a hostel on a small road in Scotland. The driver, an older gentleman, said the locals had been warned not to pick people up, but he knew when he saw my smile that I would be okay.

Chastised for not smiling at a small museum in Amsterdam. I was so busy trying to figure out what I needed to do as I came inside the door, that indeed, I was not smiling. Direct quote, "Why you no smile?" with his finger pointing to his mouth. I apologized for inattentiveness, smiled and all was well.

Many Europeans are driven mad by americans smiling?
What is this broad brushed statement based upon?

From a list of items that I used to relate to when I was an expat in Sweden:

You know you've been in Sweden too long ...
5. When a stranger on the street smiles at you, you assume:
a: he is drunk
b: he is insane
c: he's an American

So the inferance is in order to be a smiling Swedish citizen they must be drunk or crazy?

Btw: attempting humour with posts can often be lost in translation.
Not trying to antagonistic, just having some fun.
So count me as an always smiling American regardless of where I am on the globe.
;)

You are OK, Marbleskies. I go by the saying, among others, "Smile & the world smiles with you." ;-)

Maybe your face is naturally miserable, but your response is perfect for making someone smile!

I think the point of this post is that you can convey emotion through body language even if you do not speak the language. And I agree. I am 100% certain I have seen people from other countries smile and Americans frown. When I meet a new person in a foreign country (or America), I will usually smile. And GUESS WHAT????? They usually smile back!

Marbleskies, Humor?!!!! you want HUMOR!!!!! When I grew up there was no HUMOR!!! You were lucky. We lived for three months in a paper bag in a septic tank. We used to have to get up at six in the morning, clean the paper bag, eat a crust of stale bread, go to work down t' mill, fourteen hours a day, week-in week-out, for sixpence a week, and when we got home our Dad would thrash us to sleep wi' his belt. AND YOU WANT ME TO SMILE!!??

( http://www.phespirit.info/montypython/four_yorkshiremen.htm )

Gotta love the dddddddrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy humor.