Article created by: Mindaugas Balčiauskas
What do Europe and the United States have in common? Depending on who you ask, the answer might be, “Not much!” But the majority of inhabitants of both places love Europe. Americans live for their summer trips to Paris or Rome and love dedicating the next six months of their Instagram feed to photos in front of the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum, and Europeans love staying in Europe because it can be incredibly easy and affordable to travel within the continent. There are about as many countries in Europe as there are states in the US, providing nearly unlimited cultural experiences.
But when Americans hop across the pond to Europe, there are a number of cultural differences that might stand out to them, depending on where they visit. Curious Reddit users have been bringing these quirks to light for years, asking for examples of things that are “normal in Europe but strange in America”, what surprises Americans most about Europe, the biggest differences Americans who move to Europe have observed, and things that are socially acceptable outside the US but would be “horrifying” inside. We’ve gone through these threads to find the most interesting responses and gathered them for you to read down below, so if you’re an American planning a Euro-trip, you can avoid some of the inevitable culture shock. And if you’re not from Europe or the US, you can enjoy hearing a bit about European culture from other people on the outside.
Read on to also find interviews with Dani Heinrich, creator of the travel blog Globetrotter Girls, Sarah Hollis, the woman behind The Pack Mama blog, and Erin and Erin of the blog Surviving Europe to hear about some of the cultural differences they have observed from living in Europe and the US. Then once you’ve finished this list, be sure to check out Bored Panda’s last publication on the same topic right here.
Not me, but my sister. She may say something else if she were asked, but this had always stuck out to me.
She moved to Sweden about 4 years ago. A year prior to the move, she noticed a large lump on her neck, kind of just under her ear area. Concerned, we went to instacare to check it out. Tumor. Benign, so not dangerous yet but we still wondered how much it would cost to remove.
I think the number was around $17,000. After insurance.
So she waited, got surgery after being in Sweden for awhile. The entire thing cost her $30
Americans think 100 years is a long time, and Europeans think 100 miles is a long way.
I'm Canadian, but I had a pretty profound moment when I realized the bench I was sitting on was older than my country.
Still trying to get used to my five weeks of vacation. The three weeks this summer with my family was incredible. Still having two weeks to spend with them at Christmas, is beyond belief. All vacation is paid vacation. And it is standard everywhere. Oh and the two hour lunch, and 32 hour work week. I think this is is literally going to add up to years more with my family. Since I think time with my family is the most important thing, this just makes the quality of life here so much higher. I don't know if I will ever get used to it. But I love it!
How everyone uses normal speaking voices, and how loud I am as an American.
How awesomely rural a lot of England is. I stayed in Cambridge and was impressed by how well preserved the green space was.
Also, when you buy produce, how it's usually labeled with the farm it came from. Awesome.
Got off the plane in Frankfurt and there were people riding bicycles and smoking cigarettes inside the airport. There were also people riding bicycles and smoking cigarettes at the same time inside the airport.
I also got the notion that people in Europe in general were far more free than in the United States. It opened my eyes to the fact that the USA isn't really such a "sweet land of liberty" and freedom at all.
The three things that struck me when I visited France for the first time:
- So many people smoking.
- You can actually get near old things. I live in California, where 150 years is archaic. Walking through a 900 year old building, and being able to touch the walls was mindblowing to me.
- Just how insanely easy it is to spot other Americans.
The other day I asked a pharmacist how much my prescription would be and she laaaaaaaughed and laughed, as in, 'Oh you silly Americans, having to pay for your medicine...'
Also, the wind in Scotland is simply hilarious. I couldn't stand still without being pushed backwards, let alone walk in a straight line.
Not being bankrupted by a broken leg.
Affordable higher education.
The Italian's way of driving. Never in anytime of my life was I more paranoid of being hit by a moped.
The way the use of foreign languages is seen. In the states, there was always a certain amount of indifference, or even stigma for being a foreign-language enthusiast.
But around here, the use of foreign languages on a daily basis is essentially a social norm.
Went to London and Paris recently. I tipped a bartender in London and he looked shocked. Also everything I bought was the exact price it said. I'm so used to adding up 6.5 percent to everything.
Public transportation across cities, in rural areas and across countries.
People in Scotland (Specifically Glasgow) are the nicest I've ever met, seriously. People would have friendly conversations with you at bus stops, and one person even lent me £2 spare cash at a gas station for petrol. It seems to be 90% of people there are like that. Very unusual.
