Intensity

In short, the Europeans seemed to know how to live in the present and they had fun, while the Americans pursued their pleasure with an intensity often so great that a good time escaped them. If they were not bound to the "shackles of expectation." the Americans were prone to ask each other, "What shall we do?" in tones of anxiety.

Political discussions, however, were a different story. The Europeans usually listened politely and made an occasional point. The American was restless and impatient and might even walk out if the discussion bored him. But when something caught his interest, he became interested whole-hog And he insisted—no matter what it took—on having his say.

Although the largest European nationality groups on the Aurelia were French and German, regularly scheduled forums on de Gaulle and European unity never once aroused heated debate or bitter argument. The Europeans seemed insistent on maintaining their cools They did not want to be disturbed.

The Americans, on the other, hand, frequently insisted on the scheduling of a follow-up discussion if an argument was not resolved. At one point, a group organised to send telegrams to President Johnson protesting military build-up in Vietnam, At once, a rival group formed to dispatch counter telegrams of support. I remember one incident, in fact, when a conversation between some Southern Americans and a boy from the North ended in violence.