It's true that Europeans keep the fork in the left hand, but I've never seen anyone keep it with the tined pointing down and doing that meat blocker thing. I'm used to the fork bring returned to tines up position after cutting meat and then the knife gets used to gently push food onto the fork.
I think I eat the "American way" here in Brazil. I eat rice and beans almost every lunch and I just have to use the fork as a spoon..
-edit-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fypq2qhRZnI Also worth noting that both ways are considered good etiquette in this video, but considered childish by most people commenting.
The european way seems to a piece of meat in the end of the fork to "hold" the vegetables/rice - but this would depend on always having meat available until you finish the plate? Its complex...