Eurogeneration

They speak foreign languages and yet the word foreign does not exist in their vocabulary*. Borders seem to them just a limitation and a shadow of the past. They see nothing strange in drinking sangria while eating pierogi. They love cheap flights and interrailing. For them 1000 km is a short distance. And they regard a whole continent as their home.

The Eurogeneration. A new phenomenon is born.

Of course there were people in the past that regarded themselves as Europeans. But it was never on a mass scale. Not like it is now. Till this moment about 1.5 mln people took or are taking part in the Erasmus programme, and the numbers are growing. But it's not only the case of Erasmus. Economical migration on mass scale (2 mln Poles emigrated just in the last 4 years) or just sole tourism. All of that forces people to encounter different cultures and people. It takes them from their safe home and throws them right in the middle of a different world.

Everyone who experienced life abroad in Europe can now tell that these world aren't really different. In fact they're the same. It's all, a one big culture. The mobility of people allows them to experience Europe on the ground level. Contrary to the bureaucratic EU experience. This not only leaves people more open-minded but in some cases changes thier character and personality.

International relationships also need to be mentioned. While still being marginal, their number is slowly growing. The youth sees no problems in being in a relationship with someone of different upbringing. While these processes will develop, the next generation will be born. There will be more and more intercultural children mixtures of Polish-Spanish, French-Romanian, Italian-Swedish and all other hundreads of combinations. What with the children? Will they choose one national identity, both, or maybe they will bemore eager to identify themselves more with Europe than just a country. The last option is more likely to happen.

An European "nation" is starting to form itself.

This proces resembles a feedback loop. When the Eurogeneration will replace the current generation of politicians, the intereuropean contatcs and cooperation will tighten even more. Then they will be more likely to induce more and more actions that will breed more New Europeans. Like a snowball rolling down a hill the numbers will grow.

Can you imagine an European Football team?




*Young Europeans already have their webpage! It is intresting how much this webpage values certain european topics. A sign of how we (should) unite? The order in the menu is:

1. Culture
2. Economy
3. World Affairs (well, that's the odd one out)
   
4. Society
5. Politics
6. Travel