When I was
nine years old, I went on a trip with my family to France.
When I was fourteen years old, I went on a trip with my
family to Italy. One important thing I learned from these
vacations wasn’t factual, but that Europe has such
a large amount of things to offer culturally. This is
where the European Union comes in. The Union not only
looks after the 27 countries that inhabit it, but also
provides the rest of the world with insight into the different
aspects of its culture.
I was young
when I flew to France, and therefore was unable to understand
its immense culture. When I went to Italy, I began to
understand its historical and cultural importance, and
I was also able to compare it with what I gained from
being in France. I learned that each country has its differences,
such as language, climate, and food specialties, but they
are also similar in their contribution as different cultures
to the European Union. The Union has vastly different
cultures, but that’s what makes it unique. In France,
I was able to see not only large cities, but also the
countryside and smaller towns and cities. Paris was, of
course, wonderful, and lived up to its projected greatness.
However, smaller towns, like Trois, projected the culture
that the European Union tries to fulfill. In Italy as
well, the cities were amazing, but staying in a tiny walled-in
town forced me to experience the country’s culture,
and not just what is shown on the media.
The economies
of the countries in the European Union also differ. This
has to do with the specific country’s abilities
to have a certain economy. Bulgaria, for example, has
an economy based on agriculture, while Germany bases its
economy on technology. Some economies are less wealthy
than others. The Union provides these countries with a
shoulder to lean on, and attempt to raise them up and
place the European Union on its full potential of success.
Religion plays a large role in the Union. Most of the
countries practice Christianity, but different types.
However, religion is important in almost all of the countries.
The currency
used by most of the countries is the Euro, which puts
many different cultures into one large group. Each country
provides the Union with its own delicacies and traditions.
The European Union gives me a sense of culture, and I
learned this through traveling to different nations that
belong to the Union. To me personally, the Union gives
many different cultures and countries the chance to come
together as one large organization and give to each other
what they can, both literally and figuratively.
By being able
to see different cultures in action, and by understanding
the European Union as a whole, I became able to come to
the conclusion that one of the Union’s purposes
is to present to the rest of the world a melting pot of
cultures.
