"It's embarrassing how here you can't even order a coffee in English at Starbucks!"

Embarassing for the Spanish-speaking employee, or embarassing for the tourist who can't even order a coffee in Spanish?

I did notice that almost no one seemed to speak much English in Spain, but I noticed the same thing in Italy. France I'm not sure about, I have the impression people don't speak as much English (or refuse to) but never really found out since I am fluent so no need to
ask.

I lived with kind of a mini-EU in the UK, and all my Western European friends, while they all spoke good English (obviously since they were studying in England), were in agreement that they resented the idea that English was a requirement, and felt that more people should make an effort to learn German/Spanish/French - which is true. (Although I
then asked them if they would learn Thai to go to Thailand.... or speak to Thais in English? It is a bit of a double-standard on Western Europeans' part... they just want people to learn THEIR languages.)

Anyway, my point is, I think there is a broader cultural attitude or tradition at work here beyond the dubbing/VO question. Not sure why the Scandinavians (and some Northern Europeans) don't fall in with it
as well... I guess it's an imperfect theory. Ah well.

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