Another observation is that both southern and eastern Europeans have a similar doom and gloom take on life. When I worked for a Bulgarian family here, every positive comment ("It is sunny today") was always met with , "no, but...". The more eastern europeans I meet here underline that gloom and doom.

I have several Portuguese neighbours and the greeting is always followed by the mandatory "Gracas a Deus" and the deep sigh and the "Podia ser pior" and "que podemeos fazer, a vida e assim".

When I lived there it was always as you describe, the people seemed to love the doom and gloom scenario, and were always going off to pray for the soul of this one or that one, and wringing their hands sadly.