Compared to most Americans I'm probably quite widely travelled. I've lived and studied in France, lived and worked in Holland, Germany and Ukraine and "holidayed" in Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal.

One of the main differences between Americans and Europeans is that Europeans have many more opportunities to visit other countries and experience other cultures, languages etc. Affluence and low cost air travel has helped a lot in this regard.

I spent a year in France (OK it was 1982-83) in Grenoble in south west France, not far from the Swiss and Italian borders. I have to say I found the people there very friendly and warm. Maybe it's just the difference between the big city attitude and the most rural areas where life's a bit slower.