> One thing I understand about Western European culture is that they will never tell you no outright as it is rude to do so. Any sort of hesitancy is to be construed as a no and unlike America/East Germany or Scandinavian countries tough to get a straight answer most of the time.

This is a ridiculous overgeneralization. If you compare e.g. the Dutch with the Southern U.S., you'll find the Dutch are much more eager to directly tell it how it is.