"If You Did That In The US, People Would Assume You Have A Problem": Americans Are Sharing Things They Find Strange About European Culture
We all know that non-Americans have a whole lot to say about US culture and customs. But one could say that Europe has its quirks and oddities as well. So, redditor u/pg-snellmann asked, "Americans, what do Europeans do that you find really weird?" Here's what people said:
1."The fact that many Europeans can take a two-hour lunch break in the middle of the work day and it is considered to be the norm."
2."I do find it a bit odd that everyone in Europe just sort of agrees that nothing should happen in August. Like, for a whole month, you better not need anything done. Even doctors seem scarce during this vacation month. While August is a popular time to go away in the US, summer vacations seem more evenly distributed throughout the season. In Europe, however, it just seems understood that no one will work in August."
3."The fact that they don't serve drinks with ice. I was at a restaurant in Copenhagen, and I asked for ice in my water. The waitress warned me it would be cold..."
4."In the Netherlands when people move, they take the flooring with them. I'd never heard of this when I lived there, but it seems to be a trend for laminate in rental flats. It just seems so inefficient since the flooring is cut to size for a specific space."
5."The fact that Europe doesn't really have high school sports teams (or at least sports aren't a big part of the high school experience). This is such a major difference between the US and Europe."
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6."The fact that they charge you to use a public restroom. I visited Europe for the first time and noticed this trend. I think I paid 50 cents to use a bathroom at a McDonalds. That being said, the bathrooms were super clean, and I enjoyed the fact the walls covered from the ceiling to the floor, so it felt private and comfortable."
7."I’ve always found it weird that in a lot of European countries, people think hugging is more intimate than greeting someone by kissing cheeks."
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8."I'm always pretty baffled yet seriously impressed by most Europeans' grasp of different languages. Here's some guy from Moscow who speaks better English than I do. Oh, and he also speaks fluent Portuguese."
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9."The late dinner hour. It's customary in a lot of European countries to eat dinner so late at night. I can't imagine eating my dinner at 9 p.m."
10."The way that food is standardized. There is this whole system called DOC and DOP to control specific foods like Margherita pizza and Parmesan cheese. For instance, if a cheese isn't from Parma, it cannot legally be called Parmesan cheese even if it tastes nearly identical. It's such a strange concept."
11."How leisurely European meal time is. For example, in most restaurants in Germany, the staff expects you to sit for dinner for an extended period of time. They will actively ignore you (but keep an eye on your drinks) so that you can enjoy your meal without constantly asking how everything's going. The waitstaff actually won't bring your check until you indicate you're ready."
12."How socially conscious they are. I am a senior, and when I was visiting Paris, I was offered a seat on the metro when there were none available every single time. That very seldom happens back in the US."
13."Leaving babies to nap alone outside, even in very cold weather. I was in Denmark in November, and it was a super windy and cold week, and the fact that people were leaving their babies outside in strollers honestly stunned me. I admire that people feel so safe that this is OK."
14."The number of Europeans who still smoke cigarettes, especially in restaurants. Nothing like sitting in a beautiful café and having someone at the table next to you light up just as your food arrives."
15."The extremely lax attitude toward alcohol, especially when it comes to underage drinking. I visited Italy when my younger sister was 12 years old, and she was served wine at vineyards and restaurants without anyone batting an eye. It's so common to see kids (13 or 14 years old) out to dinner with their families and being served wine. Honestly, I'm all for it and think it probably instills a healthier attitude toward alcohol, but it's still mind-boggling."
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