Same in Belgium. It probably depends where (big city tube, small village bus), but in Belgium, even worse than in Britian, everyone wants at least his own double seat. And regular bus assengers for example have their fixed places. Here in Germany too, to the point where they will be slightly irritated if you occupy it.
On a Belgian bus or train, only when there are no more open 4-seat or 2-seat compartments left will people go and sit where someone else is sitting.
This is quite extreme:
As we were coming back from London on the train from Brussels to Luxembourg, my husband put our cases in the compartment across the aisle so he didn't have to lift them up or try and put them under the seat. The train is never that crowded. This woman gets on (I suppose the train is 'full' in that there is at least one person in every compartment) and asks whether those are our bags. My husband, surprised, asks whether she wants a seat and points to the two seats we have left in our compartment. She says, 'No because I want to read and things.'So my hubby had to clear the bags away for her to sit, alone, across the aisle from us.
Later, she did get two talking neighbours, however. Revenge is sweet.
I think this kind of behaviour is much much worse than the reserved and quiet but still civilised behaviour, even on the tube in London. When there is someone walking the wrong way, it must be a tourist.
Indeed, mention the weather lately and you're off.Originally Posted by prendrelemick
I have found English people also very talkative. Apart from maybe on public transport. I like it, because they keep a conversation going when I don't know what to say.
But, in the words of a Russian church sociologist we met yesterday, 'Assuming that is all true, what is actually objectively wrong with it?'
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