Francisco,

I didn't mean to imply that the US is "more cultural" or more varied than
Europe. By the sheer fact that Europe is made up of different
nation-states which speak many different languages and has been inhabited
longer by people who have stayed in the same area, it's definitely not much
of a comparison. I just didn't want you to have the idea that all
Americans are the same.
In fact I was always fascinated that in such a small land mass (compared to
the US) that parts of Europe can be so different just a few miles
(kilometers) or a major geographic boundary away. Because most Americans
whose families emigrated early speak English and came into the country in
generally the same area, changes in the US are more gradual than
Europe. People moved en masse instead of staying put for hundreds of years
are developing from that point.
Your point about events in society bringing Americans together more so than
Europe; that's definitely true because we are one country
I think the euro is a major step in changing the face of Europe. It'll be
interesting to see how the euro and the EU change things in my
lifetime. Personally I think you give up a lot of your sovereignty when
you give up your currency.
I have traveled to Europe twice and have visited Ireland, the UK (England
and Scotland), France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Czech
Republic. I'll be returning when I go to Brussels for business in a few
weeks, but unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to get out of the city
much or nab any border points. I haven't been to Portugal but I have a
good friend who lives in France who travels to the beaches there every year
and loves it. Hopefully I can join her one summer and enjoy it, too!

Brendan
Monroeville, PA
USA