The last bit of your post, is I think related to the cold war. When I moved to Eastern Europe, I realised that every video, film etc i'd been shown, was grey, cold, dull, depressing, bread ques, hard faced women etc etc etc, it was all a left over affectation of the cold war propaganda. When I arrived and it was 30+ degrees C, there were lots of hot women in bikinis, and everyone liked a good drink, some good food and a good dance. . . . . . I realise i'd been duped!