Join the Fun!

You May Also Like:

The amount of casual nudity on TV. I had to chuckle at all the naked breasts frequently visible. Europeans are just healthier in their views of sexuality and nudity. We Americans are ridiculous prudes by comparison.

Oh and Belgian chocolate is better than sex. Often.

Ragtimedude77 Report

Final score:

386points

POST

Rachknits 2 years ago

Update for the chocolate

113points

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced The age of all the buildings. Walked into a pub in the UK with a plaque that read something like “This building was constructed in the year 2 and was used by monks to fend off dinosaurs”. Maybe not the exact words, but you get it.

OmniscientSushi , iMattSmart Report

Final score:

379points

POST

Ozacoter 2 years ago (edited)

Yeah, i love that. I live in a small village in belgium and in the nearest town my favourite cafe is from the 1500s. Its beautiful

126points

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced I was surprised at how much walking I did. I did it because it was easy, not because I had to.

maryjgilbert , Frank Busch Report

Final score:

340points

POST

Baleygr 2 years ago

My experience with the US is that it's not exactly pedestrian friendly...^^'

187points

Imaginary-Fudge-3657 , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced Apparently you can get hurt and not go into debt

Final score:

338points

POST

MagicalUnicorn 2 years ago

that's why we pay taxes

129points

Cashiers in grocery stores sat in chairs as they rang up my yummy non-gmo cheese and bread. They also didn’t feel any job pressure to chat or smile or act like your best friend. They just worked and DGAF. It was amazing!

iheartstjohns Report

Final score:

336points

POST

Baleygr 2 years ago

It's so depressing that US cashiers have to stand. I was shocked when I first learnt that. :-/

208points

How much better all the food was. Everything was fresh, made from minimal ingredients, and most of it was grown locally. (Going from US to France) I also lost about 15 pounds even though I stopped exercising in a gym. Also my skin and hair looked better than ever. I think preservatives and high fructose corn syrup might actually be bad for you.

dreameRevolution Report

Final score:

328points

POST

𝙸'𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚘𝚋!(new account) 2 years ago (edited)

You "think"??🤨

214points

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced Holidays. Europeans get so much paid time off. I've gotten into arguments with some of my American friends because they legitimately believe tons of Europeans opt out of taking their PTO because there's so much work to do. I don't buy that. People would riot. Anywhere I went in late July-August, there were tons of shops closed cause people were spending the month with their families enjoying their time off.

That and public bathroom stalls going all the way down to the floor. Y'all understand privacy.

Jack_E_Lope , Rui Silvestre Report

Final score:

275points

POST

MagicalUnicorn 2 years ago

well duh, that's called personal life :D also if you don't book some of your 5 weeks off by april, your boss will remind you about it

110points

Practical-Bar8291 , Marcel Pirnay Report

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced That tax was included on the price tag.

Final score:

274points

POST

troufaki13 2 years ago

Why is it so hard for Americans to include the tax on the price tag? I don't get it

247points

#10

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced First time in Spain… 22:30… Sun still out… parents sitting, drinking, relaxing while kids run up n down… felt so completely safe and comfortable.

mapplejax , Victoriano Izquierdo Report

Final score:

265points

POST

BakedKahuna 2 years ago

It's the time of a year where many happy memories are created, especially when you are young. Mostly involving friends, family, campfire and guitar music. Looking forward to summer again

69points

#11

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced I was not ready for how many overwhelmingly beautiful ancient buildings and cities I saw in only two weeks. I actually couldn’t fathom what I was looking at. It was a surreal experience like I was really in touch with a completely different era of humanity. There is absolutely nothing like this in America. It blew me away and made me really care much more about European history, urban planning, and architecture!

Snowologist , Daniel Klaffke Report

Final score:

258points

POST

Martha Meyer 2 years ago

This person seems to have had a good experience but those tours, where people are carted around half the continent within the space of only 2 weeks are really not a good invention. It's all so rushed, half the time, they barely know which country they are in at a time.

59points

#12

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced When I ordered a small drink, it was actually small.

HutSutRawlson , Alexander Mils Report

Final score:

250points

POST

Baleygr 2 years ago

I mean, yeah? You get what you order. Should be the norm. :P

63points

#13

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced I heard a story of a lady who was dumbfounded that there weren't going to be fire works celebrating the 4th of July. Couldn't conceive the idea that other countries don't celebrate America's independence day

THEICEMAN998 , Andreas Dress Report

Final score:

243points

POST

MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago

Oof!

78points

Independent-Water610 , Viktor Forgacs Report

#14

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced Young children were using public transportation (i.e., city bus, subway)—not escorted by adults—to get to and from school rather than a designated yellow bus. Where I am from, public transportation is barely useable by adults much less children.

Final score:

240points

POST

Ivana Bašić 2 years ago

That's why so many of us don't have cars. We actually don't need them.

21points

#15

History. I followed a tour of American tourists into the church in downtown. Question gets asked: Is this the oldest church in town? Heard reply:

(Chuckle) Oh no, the old church is on the North side of the river. This church was built in 1310.

Just a different perspective on history.

diogenes_shadow Report

Final score:

240points

POST

Shelp 2 years ago

Reminds me of when I found out that "Naples" (city built around 600BC) literally means "new city" because it came long after other towns in the region

78points

#16

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced I went to Scotland. Ran across some German tourist who asked us to translate what the scot was saying. We were all three speaking English. They just couldn’t understand each other

ARgirlinaFLworld , john crozier Report

Final score:

234points

POST

Nadine Bamberger 2 years ago

They tend to only teach us Oxford English in school, you do pick up other accents and dialects through movies and stuff but Scottish is a whole different kind of beast lol.

132points

deadchickenonastick Report

#17

American living in Sweden:

Most people don’t respect Americans until they meet you and confirm that you’re not one of “those” Americans

People drink literally at any chance they get.

Every apartment has an electric bath towel warmer. It’s pretty standard apparently.

Boobs on TV.

The vegetables are exponentially smaller, bc theyre not genetically modified.

Fruit-flavored sodas are required to have fruit juice in it so the Fanta sodas here are more like a spicy Sunny D

They are hardcore about recycling out here.

Tipping culture doesn’t really exist.

The bank is never f*cking open.

Ground floor is not the first floor. Its the 0 floor.

Celcius

Final score:

234points

POST

julien 2 years ago

pretty much the same in all the european union !

90points

#18

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced I was in Switzerland for a few days. I felt like the fattest person in the country at 6’0”, 210 lb. It was also amazing to me that it felt like two different countries going from Geneva to Zurich. The language went from French to German with the architecture completely different between the two cities. Absolutely beautiful country.

PUFLY3R , Morgan Thompson Report

Final score:

228points

POST

James016 2 years ago

I've taken the train from Geneva to Zurich, the scenery is spectacular

49points

Adventurous-Canary78 , Fineas Anton Report

#19

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced How old a lot of the cities are. People still living in buildings older than the U.S. Walking down some of the old streets feels like you’re time traveling into a medieval fairytale.

Final score:

213points

POST

julien 2 years ago

buildings ? entire towns are ! this one on the picture is in France and was built in 1285 !! there are hundreds of them in Europe ! just get off the beaten paths, see the real things ! monpazier-...b91f8b.jpg

50points

#20

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced The only thing that really surprised me was how much pedestrians trusted cars to not hit them

MrGoalden , Surprising_Shots Report

Final score:

213points

POST

Martha Meyer 2 years ago

This one reaaaally depends on the country.

217points

#21

For me, it was how well I was taken care of as an artist. In America, a musician is treated like help at the bar. You’re paid whatever the minimum amount they can possibly give you is. You might get 2-4 drink tickets. In Europe they respected you, fed you, found you places to sleep. Free drinks. Enough said.

Snake_Tut Report

Final score:

212points

POST

Jill Chambers 2 years ago

We're just so happy to have someone from far away. We aren't that nice to people from the same country.

56points

#22

This may sound weird, but how much they ate. Americans are the fat ones who eat too much so the stereotype goes but I took a semester in rural Germany in middle school— breakfast, morning break snack, lunch, afternoon break snack, snacks in town after school let out, dinner when you got home and occasionally this late night meal when my host parents got home, etc. Don’t get me wrong, all of it was more fresh and 10x better than the literal plastic Americans think is OK to eat on a normal basis, but I was constantly full for like the first week because I was too awkward not to eat the snacks my host mom had packed. Eventually ended up refusing things, and my host sister thought I was sick because I wasn’t eating every time the group was or something. Ironically I actually lost weight during the trip, probably because the food is just generally better for you. We did live on a farm too so it was insanely fresh.

ThatNoNameWriter Report

Final score:

208points

POST

Baleygr 2 years ago

This is NOT the everyday norm though. xD You just got lucky. ;)

67points

#23

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced You hear about how big the Roman empire was and all the advanced building tech they had. But it doesn't really sink in until you see it with your own eyes.

blippityblop , Özcan ADIYAMAN Report

Final score:

207points

POST

DS 2 years ago (edited)

This still blows my mind. I lived in France, next to an old Roman amphitheatre. Moved to Germany, where Roman artefacts kept getting uncovered in the castle grounds in our town. Then moved to London, where I can be walking through the middle of the city and run into a piece of the old Roman wall. Basically have lived in three countries in Europe, which were culturally SO distinct, and have never left the boundaries of the ancient Roman empire.

101points

#24

Cats. Cats everywhere.

marcvanh Report

Final score:

192points

POST

River Webb 2 years ago

heaven. Heaven is everywhere

123points

supermariobruhh , Rodrigo Kugnharski Report

#25

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced In France people get two hour lunches. Like some stores will have two separate open and close times cause they’ll just shut down for two hours a day to enjoy themselves. Most people seemed much happier and relaxed as a whole.

Final score:

187points

POST

Ozacoter 2 years ago

To be fair I dont really like that. It was nice when you worked near home and you could eat there. But nowadays most people work too far away. Having a 1-2h break when you are at the office just makes me more tired.

60points

#26

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced I’m Dutch, but I’ll never forget my American girlfriend’s reaction to seeing rows and rows of parked bicycles in front of the train station when she came to visit the Netherlands. “Oh my God look at all those bikes!!”

Jockelson , Waldemar Brandt Report

Final score:

187points

POST

Caro Caro 2 years ago

The bike "parking" under the central station in Amsterdam can hold 8800 bikes.

83points

#27

The distinct lack of "people of walmart"

snukebox_hero Report

Final score:

182points

POST

Caro Caro 2 years ago

Meh, have you been to "Action"? It's a cheap retail store and I once went in late Saturday (curious) and noped outta there. What a mess, what a crowd, what a crappy shop.

40points

#28

Not a shock per se, but something of an immediate reorienting of perspective in terms of history and how young the US really is. We have cool historical sites and artifacts, but it’s weird to suddenly be confronted with the reality that for as historical as Ben Franklin and the liberty bell were/are, they’re borderline infantile on a global historical scale.

I especially remember being at a church in Italy, reading about its history and initially felt a bit deflated when a sentence began “this is not the original church, the original burned down and was rebuilt on the same site…” and thinking ah bummer, so this is the knockoff replica, not the real thing— and then getting to the end of the sentence “…in the 12th century.” The “knockoff replica” is 600 years older than the Liberty Bell.

Mersentryce Report

Final score:

171points

POST

Baleygr 2 years ago

One of my favourite beers is from a brewery that exists since 1050. ^^

60points

#29

I've lived in Europe for most of the last 20 years...when I first moved here the main things were:

the quality and efficiency of public transportation. Where I am from (Oklahoma City) there is almost no public transportation.

The fact that sometimes when you go to the doctor they basically just tell you, "yeah, you're sick. You need to go home, drink lots of fluids, and rest." In the US it seemed like regardless of what the ailment was you were gonna get a prescription for something.

In my experience, people here communicate much more directly and if you are not used to it, it might seem rude.

The lack of a copay for things like doctor's visits, physical therapy, etc. along with a price cap on prescription drugs.

The attitude toward customer service. "back home" in the US I was a customer service manager at a retail chain in college. The standard practice was that if someone complained, regardless of how ridiculous the complaint was, we just gave them a coupon for 10% off or something. Here, if you are unhappy with the service at a store and ask to speak to the manager, the manager is probably just going to tell you to "go shop somewhere else if you don't like it here."

mejok Report

Final score:

170points

POST

kathoco 2 years ago

Funny, I’ve lived in France for 20 years and my doctor experience is the opposite. Doctors always load you up with tons of prescriptions, even if it’s just a cold. And people go to the doctor for EVERYTHING. I don’t see the point of going for a cold or stomach virus - just rest and liquids but loads of people will see a doctor for a minor virus that can’t really be treated.

36points

MonsieurAppleSauce Report

#30

Finally, I can walk to a store

Final score:

167points

POST

(T)reacherou(S) 2 years ago

How do you do in usa, roll?

28points

#31

Complete privacy when taking a dump in a public restroom. It was hard to come back home just from that.

Cincybone07 Report

Final score:

150points

POST

James016 2 years ago

Come for the history, culture, architecture....stay for the public toilets :)

109points

#32

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced The amount of public transportation and in many places people not driving or not even knowing how to drive.

MeesterChicken , Hari Menon Report

Final score:

147points

POST

Nadine Bamberger 2 years ago

Unfortunately that only works in larger cities, but there's at least a way for our students to get to or from school with public transportation pretty much everywhere.

39points

get-in-the-box , Konstantin Volke Report

#33

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced How small things were like appliances, paper towels, toilet paper. I really wanted to take that idea home with me. It makes so much sense.

Also, how conveniently close shops were so we only drove when visiting other cities. I love it and I want it!

Final score:

128points

POST

Nadine Bamberger 2 years ago

I think our cities are planned differently, we don't have those huge suburbian living areas, there's always at least a supermarket and a small business area sprinkled in between lol.

42points

#34

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced In Italy the shower at one of my hotels had no barriers to keep the water in one general area. It was just a drain in the floor. Luckily it was just that one and it was definitely an older hotel.

Also I was really surprised that the price was exactly what the price tag said. I love that the tax is rolled in, especially while I learned the currency.

LadyAppleman , Jakayla Toney Report

Final score:

127points

POST

Jill Chambers 2 years ago

You mean a wet room. Useful for some disabilities and can be much more luxurious than a small shower.

55points

#35

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced My grandma took me back to England at the end of my 8th grade year to see my nanna as well as where she grew up. I still remember quite vividly finding out that there's a very big difference between what's allowed on TV in England and what was allowed on TV in the United States regarding nudity. As a young boy this was a very exciting discovery.

Edit: I should also add that my entire experience with British culture had up until this point been through my grandma who was very formal and proper. I played soccer at an incredibly high level in the states so she managed to arrange a time for me to go play with a local academy team in Norwich for the afternoon. I'm still not sure how she managed to do this. I will never forget how foul mouthed everyone was - coaches included. This took me entirely by surprise. I will also never forget how humbling that experience was because I was nowhere near as good as I thought I was. I could hold my own, but my goodness I was certainly in the bottom half of the talent pool that day.

circa285 , Erik Mclean Report

Final score:

123points

POST

Nadine Bamberger 2 years ago

I will never understand how it's acceptable to walk around with a gun hanging on your belt and showing the most graphic violence on TV but they have to say "heck" and "freaking" on the same show where they've just decapitated a guy. That's such a weird double standard.

198points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#36

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced How friendly everyone was. I was always told everyone hates Americans. Wasn’t my experience at all.

Hellfire2026 , Tani Eisenstein Report

Final score:

120points

POST

Seany 2 years ago

Only Americans I find annoying are the ones that come here to Ireland and bang on about being Irish . You're not Irish, you're American now go home . The rest of ye are grand

125points

#37

How polite everyone was. How fresh the food was from restaurants. The simplicity of fruit stands/markets. How easy it was to get around by train (backpacked Europe for a month in 2017: england, France, Italy, Switzerland) edit- I live in South Florida. What is a train?

ITeachAll Report

Final score:

118points

POST

Karin Jansen 2 years ago

Wait, wait, wait. Did this person just claim the French to be polite? I call b******t 😅

66points

#38

I lived in Europe for 5 years (2011-2016), specifically in Amsterdam. There were a lot of interesting little cultural quirks, of course, but there was only one thing I saw while living there that literally made me slam on my bicycle breaks and go back to see if I saw it right, which was of all things a Sesame Street Live poster.

You see, turns out Big Bird (or his equivalent) in the Netherlands and several other countries is blue. The Dutch will insist that it's actually Big Bird's cousin, Pino, but I wasn't fooled. You know he just escaped to the Netherlands to seek an alternative lifestyle.

So yeah I'm sure OP wanted something more serious and profound, but that was the biggest shock for sure because who expects that?!

Andromeda321 Report

Final score:

117points

POST

Caro Caro 2 years ago

LOL this is hilarious.

48points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#39

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced How young the U.S. truly is.

Strong_Ground_4410 , Caleb Fisher Report

Final score:

108points

POST

Baleygr 2 years ago

Partially grew up in a house that is older than the US. Isn't even outstandingly old here. Also one of my favourite beer comes from a brewery that exists since the days when the Vikings discovered America (~1050).

45points

#40

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced I was surprised how many people still smoke cigarettes and how common it was to have people smoking in outdoor restaurants and bars. It has gotten to the point you almost never smell cigarette smoke in those places in most of the USA.

donedoneitonce , Aman Upadhyay Report

Final score:

102points

POST

Caro Caro 2 years ago

Which is a good thing. I'm glad the USA has less smokers. In Europe it's becoming less normal to smoke but we've got a long road ahead of us.

110points

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium

Unlimited content

Ad-free browsing

Dark mode

#41

Italy-The abundance of inexpensive and very good red and white wines. Amazing!

Amsterdam-most things are designed to be practical. The people are polite and practical as well. No large, fancy cars.

Both places-the fact that I could jump on a train and get to most places in Europe was really cool.

somafm_addict Report

Final score:

45points

POST

Jon Steensen 2 years ago

Well the center of Copenhages dates back to the medieval times, and hence the streets are so narrow there that two big cars cannot pass each other, since when the houses was placed, there only needed to be space between them for a horse cart to pass. Hence a big car is a rather impractical vehicle in that setting. I do not know it, but I can imagine that the same thing is the case in Amstadam, as capitals have a tendency to founded long time ago.

6points

#42

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced How everything is less sugary/sweet.

How people just walk away from minor vehicle bumps/scrapes. In the US they would pull over and at minimum exchange info, if not call the police.

In France, the lack of casual wear in public(like tshirts, sports clothing).

How restaurants aren't about pumping people in and out and no one is really in a rush (Paris)

Much smaller size vehicles. Go to a typical parking lot in America and >50% will be suv or trucks. I barely saw any suv/trucks in London or Paris.

Styphonthal2 · , Jia Report

Final score:

42points

POST

Laugh or not 2 years ago

How would you park a suv/truck in Paris or London? They sell the Smart car for a reason.

32points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

See Also on Bored Panda

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#43

The infrastructure there continued evolving and is “modern”. It really takes leaving to understand how the United States has barely done anything to make transportation or infrastructure better since the 70s. It’s like we’re still living in the past.

Counterboudd Report

Final score:

42points

POST

MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago

"BuT tAxEs"

26points

#44

Those statues on the streets of London that people walk by and don’t even spare a single glance? They’ve got a longer history than the United States

TWA-LDR Report

Final score:

41points

POST

ADHORTATOR 2 years ago

London is almost 2000 years old....

11points

#45

Ground floor is 0. The one above it is floor 1. The one below it is floor -1. Because, math

kindle139 Report

Final score:

41points

POST

Ivana Bašić 2 years ago

Because logic.

57points

#46

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced When I was in Rome, individuals simply walked into crosswalks and autos came to a complete stop.

I'm from New York. I can jaywalk with the best of them...but f*ck dude, I'm going to need my pedestrian crossing signals! The majority of my vacation was spent crossing streets in Rome...it was like playing a terrifying game of double dutch.

Those drivers, on the other hand, are sensitive to weakness.

bonniejfox , Egor Myznik Report

Final score:

39points

POST

Martha Meyer 2 years ago

In Southern Italy, traffic lights are merely a suggestion. Car crashes aren't more common than elsewhere though. People know to pay attention because anything can happen.

16points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

See Also on Bored Panda

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#47

Remember in the sopranos, when Tony comes back to jersey from Italy? And everything is ugly? I spent a month in NL and Louisiana looked so bad when I got back.

jballerina566 Report

Final score:

38points

POST

MyOpinionHasBeenServed 2 years ago

I felt the same way coming back from Manchester to the Canadian prairies. My city is suffering from a bad case of mid 20th century architectural blandness.

10points

#48

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced You can drink a beer anywhere, anytime. I mean I woke up in Berlin and bought a bottle of beer at a small breakfast stand in a park it was like 6am.

CregSantiago , Brittani Burns Report

Final score:

35points

POST

Martha Meyer 2 years ago (edited)

In Berlin, when you see people sitting around, drinking beer, being really loud and grinning stupidly? Tourists.

39points

#49

Europe is lot better in Public Transportation, lots of Buses, trams.

SuvenPan Report

Final score:

35points

POST

𝕮𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖊 2 years ago

Public transportation in America is scary..

4points

#50

Just spent my first week in Europe last week. Walking was awesome. Bikes were awsome.. so many different languages, unpasteurized food and very fit people

whitesox331 Report

Final score:

34points

POST

Frédéric Jirou 2 years ago

stop talking about Europe as a country... we have so many countries and so many differences XD

52points

#51

Boobies on billboards. When I was around 4 or 5 back in the early eighties I lived in Germany. We were driving down the street one day and I was extremely surprised and embarrassed to see casual nudity in public. Now that I'm older, I realize America has some prudish sensibilities. lol

7Fukura6 Report

Final score:

34points

POST

Mari 2 years ago

When I was a kid, I lived in a neighbourhood with a lot of stripclubs and more. There were huge pictures of the lady's in tiny underwear. I was always ashamed when I had to walk by. When I got older I was scared of the men hanging around. Now there are still clubs, but they can't advertise no more. Now it's just a plain wall, no pictures and it's better for everyone who lives around.

8points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#52

Tipping just not really being a thing.

ItsTrueChaos Report

Final score:

34points

POST

Richard Liu 2 years ago

Tipping is the biggest shock when anyone from the rest of world visit U.S..

18points

Amateur_Paperboy_30 Report

#53

Europeans dress up for the day. Y’all don’t wear athletic shorts and tennis shoes. Like just going to the store, ya gotta dress up decent enough

Final score:

33points

POST

Johan van Luijn-Hermans 2 years ago

Stongly dependant on the country, region and person though.

32points

#54

I arrived to the Netherlands. Rode about 1.5 hrs worth of trains from Amsterdam to my destination. When we hit my final destination, a woman in her late 50s (eyeballing here, so five or take) is in front of me. She has a long black cloth case strapped to her back that looks like it might have a guitar or similarly shaped object.

No. It was a longboard. She pulls it out and skates off into the distance. I’m flustered and just stood there for a minute thinking through what I just saw.

xLangatanGx Report

Final score:

31points

POST

Susie Elle 2 years ago

The Dutch are paradoxal in this sense; you'll see people doing what they feel like at almost any age (more so in the west of the country) and other Dutchies looking like "Tch, kids and their weird toys" and then just shrug and continue our day. We'll find things we do weird and cool at the same time. "Doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg".

23points

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

See Also on Bored Panda

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#55

I was shocked by how many people spoke English, and so well too.

nick1812216 Report

Final score:

30points

POST

Jessica Wood 2 years ago

Where do you think English comes from?

28points

Burs 2 years ago

Not from most of European countries so unless OP was in UK or Ireland it is not that weird that they were surprised.

20points

Ivana Bašić 2 years ago

And many of them speak another foreign language, too.

7points

Jos Poisquet 2 years ago

In Belgium a lot of people speak fluently Dutch, French, German and English.

4points

Caro Caro 2 years ago

I find the Flemish speak their foreign languages but the Walloons tend to speak only French!

1point

Marik 2 years ago

It's kind of funny to see the faces when you're able to actually help out someone in english when they desperatly try to ask - dunno - for directions or something like that. But we really, really like it when you make an effort to speak the native language. We (well most of us) will try to help you anyway possible and won't foulmouth you. Keep it up :) ask if you need help. Ask if you want to know how to say whatever you want to say

1point

GPZ 2 years ago

Many countries teach English as a second language (Scandinavia) although do yourself a favour and try and learn how to say "hello", "thank you", "please" and "good bye" in the language of the country you're in- they're not expecting you to be fluent but at least you've made an effort to learn some of the culture of that country

0points

andrew jack 2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Full Name 2 years ago

Most of Europe would disagree with English being their default language.

7points

#56

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced The amount of smoking! I have a close friend in Europe, she's talked about the public transportation and the way the cities are laid out to be beneficial to walking and biking. But nothing prepared me for the amount for smoking I saw when I was in Paris, Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku

Bike_Chain_96 , Andres Siimon Report

Final score:

29points

POST

Martha Meyer 2 years ago

We are decades behind here on getting rid of that cancerous crap. The US started their health campaigns about 20 to 30 years earlier and it shows.

23points

Conscious_Camel4830 Report

#57

Okay this is dumb but in the states I always get my cappuccino with cinnamon because it's glorious and of course I always have to ask because that's not the standard.

A couple of years ago I was in Stockholm Sweden and asked for a cap with cinnamon and the lady looked at me like I was crazy.... Because apparently that was standard and she didn't understand why I was asking for something it already had. The rest of the trip I never asked and I always received. Not sure if that's just their traditional take on cappuccinos or if I just got lucky every time but I think I found my people.

Final score:

28points

POST

VM37 2 years ago

On, it's not standard. Especially in Italy. Capuccion come plane or with a dash of coca powerd on top.

22points

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

See Also on Bored Panda

College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

#58

The difficulty of finding a public toilet, and then having to pay to use it.

I went to Rome in September. Walked miles and miles checking things out, drinking tons of water to stay hydrated, and not a toilet to be found.

CustosClavium Report

Final score:

27points

POST

Susie Elle 2 years ago

Yeah we find that annoying as hell too

25points

#59

Two things:

German Taxis use large Mercedes Benz to get around.

Topless women in French shampoo commercials.

Orvan-Rabbit Report

Final score:

26points

POST

Chaton de Kel’Thuzad 2 years ago

It's just boobs, why everyone is shocked? :D

18points

#60

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced Personal bubble is very different. It shocks you at first, and you feel sort of claustrophobic, but then you get used to it, too. It's kind of subtle until you come back to the states and unconsciously stand so "close" to someone else in a line that they start shooting you dirty looks.

stink3rbelle , Etty Fidele Report

Final score:

23points

POST

Baleygr 2 years ago

I can't confirm. In cramped spaces that's unavoidable, but most Europeans don't appreciate people coming too close. They might tolerate it though.

26points

#61

The architecture. Just amazing. I knew,, but I never truly understood how young the US is

devils_1991 Report

Final score:

23points

POST

Donkey boi 2 years ago

Florence and Prague are my personal favourites for architecture.

6points

#62

How good the food was - going to Italy ruined pizza for me for many years, it still is not the same; even the authentic pizza here doesn’t taste nearly as good because of the generally poor quality of ingredients here in the states compared to in Europe.

On the other hand, I was surprised I almost chipped a tooth on authentic French Bread, pretty sure it scuffed up my gums too - I don’t know if they just gave us stale bread because we were Americans, but all of our bread was literally inedible and hard as a rock.

Deathmask97 Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Susie Elle 2 years ago

Good bread has a crunchy outside.

39points

#63

That eggs are stored in the pantry and not the fridge.

slughappy1 Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Baleygr 2 years ago

Not everywhere and it much depends on the store. Eggs have a certain protective "layer" that makes it unnecessary to keep them in the fridge, BUT, if you DO put them in the fridge the layer is destroyed and now you do have to keep them in the fridge.

12points

#64

Americans Who Traveled To Europe Share 40 Culture Shocks That They Experienced Spain: Okay, it's afternoon; it's time to run some errands. It took me a week to learn that on days 2-5, the entire country shuts down.

williammkelly , Harrison Fitts Report

Final score:

20points

POST

Ozacoter 2 years ago

This is not very accurate. In small villages they still do a siesta break. But in big citties most don't. You wont see a closed supermarket from 2-5.

14points

#65

I always forget the electrical outlets aren't the same. I went to Ireland once, then had to get a different one for France. I think the two I have cover all the varieties now though

JonnySnowflake Report

Final score:

20points

POST

Trond Øien 2 years ago

When in doubt: https://www.travelguide-en.org/power-plugs-and-sockets-used-in-europe/

7points

#66

Using the restroom while a woman cleaned the urinal next to me..

somf4eva Report

Final score:

18points

POST

julien 2 years ago

and ???

16points

#67

220 V power

PossessivePronoun Report

Final score:

10points

POST

User# 6 2 years ago

*230 Volt

9points

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

Read less »

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

Jayne Kyra 2 years ago

The generalized "Europeans" and "in Europe" still annoy me.

27points

Janet C 2 years ago

Every country here has its culture, flavor, tone, foods, style, etc. However, taken as a whole, it's all still much older, historically richer, healthier, and has tons more transportation infrastructure than the US.

12points

Anony Mouse 2 years ago

Thank you for reposting all these. I had almost forgotten about all these points that haven't been raised since... Maybe ten days ago?

11points

Blarrg 2 years ago

This comment makes me happy. The "tell us why America sucks" is one of those threads that pandas seemingly never tire of.

6points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

We get it. Nothing shocking in Europe is bad. Spend a month or three, you learn. And what I learned is that some people will share their last loaf of bread with you, and some will walk away rolling their eyes at how pathetic you are to need help, same as anywhere I've been in the world so far.

11points

Caro Caro 2 years ago

Every country has it's share of a$$holes.

6points

Milan 2 years ago (edited)

Once i’ve got in NY free meal in restaurant, because they were very sorry, but had only the half of portion of food. So they gave it to me for free. I was still stuffed 😀 Left a very generous tip above 20% though ☺️

7points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

Thanks for leaving a tip. :-)

2points

Neal Patrick 2 years ago

These series are always the same…everywhere outside of the USA is better, thinner, healthier, kinder, cheaper …. If only that were reality. Every occupied location in the world has good things and bad things, sometimes more of the other or less of the other.

6points

Ren Karlej 2 years ago

Yep and I think most ordinary people realise that. Posts like these... aren't generally helpful. Though maybe some people learn (said with huge amounts of optimism!). I mean people who might just make broad assumptions about Americans and then read some of the comments... maybe something clicks. 🤷

6points

Monica Pryts 2 years ago

It's true though. We are fatter and unhealthier.

0points

Vladimíra Matejová 2 years ago

It is different when you spend two weeks or a month in the country as a tourist and if you leave here as a citizen. Ppl have a tendency to see only the positive things when they are on holiday. I love Europe in general, but every country is different. And I am sure some things are done better elsewhere

0points

𝕮𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖊 2 years ago

I'm American, and I must say, I was pretty shocked about this stuff, as well 😂

5points

Anton Kider 2 years ago (edited)

My street is 2000 years old and my apartment is from 1640. I can get the underground round the corner and get off at any European capital without walking in the street.

5points

Seany 2 years ago

You can get to Dublin without walking in the street ?

9points

Wesley Lucas 2 years ago

This article just made me sad. I'd love to flee the US for Europe but we just can't afford to do it. Maybe, MAYBE, in like another decade we could put away enough to do so...The other thing is that so many of these wonderful aspects COULD be a thing here in the US but due to our political dysfunction and the fact that half the country seemingly takes pride in being loud, dumb, and constantly consuming crap, we'll never be able to implement them. Reading about how much more healthy the lifestyles are because of the lack of sugars and food additives really hit hard...

4points

Lucas 2 years ago

I wouldn't come now if I were you anyway... things are getting scarily expensive due to wars and whatnot! We could send food parcels maybe?!! It is a shame about your political dysfunction. Does campaigning for change get you nowhere? Just wondering what could be done to improve the food situation. Nowhere is perfect, no consolation I know. In the UK anyone, theoretically, can be our PM but we do end up with too many clueless posh boys in the Cabinet. Thankfully we do have a great many ordinary people as MPs and a cap on how much can be spent on campaigning so money, or lack, is not a barrier to stand. There is still a lot of dysfunction and money exchanged illegally for favours etc though.

3points

Liz 2 years ago

This makes me miss Europe. Lived in 2 different countries there, traveled extensively, still have family there. All my Europe travel plans have been canceled because of COVID recently *sigh*

2points

Agfox 2 years ago

It continues to surprise me that people don't realise that fruit & vegetables have been genetically modified ever since people realised that selective breeding could produce larger yields of better quality, better-tasting products. The expression "genetically modified" is much wider in meaning than something done in a laboratory by people in white coats https://www.sciencealert.com/fruits-vegetables-before-domestication-photos-genetically-modified-food-natural

1point

Nia Loves Art 2 years ago

For me it was old Sicilian men wearing speedos

1point

Gandalf the Pink 2 years ago

Careful around the ones who also wear gold watches and pinky rings

0points

Vivian Ashe 2 years ago

Even when I study the language before I travel, I get caught up in awkward situations because the phrase books often don't cover a lot of common things. For example, when you walk into a restaurant in the U.S., they usually assume you're a customer, so they ask whether you're here for dine-in or take-out, and how many people are in your party. Before I went out to a restaurant for the first time in Germany, I studied all I could about what was likely to be on the menu. But when I walked in, all the host said was, "Yes?" And I realized I didn't know how to say I wanted to sit down and order lunch. Tiny cultural differences like that can really throw you.

1point

Ren Karlej 2 years ago

For anyone unsure you'd say 'may I have a table for x (number of people) please.' It IS the little things that often catch you out!

2points

JuniorCJ82 2 years ago

The one thing I just will never understand is having to pay to take a piss/dump in a public washroom.

1point

Ren Karlej 2 years ago

Thinking about it, I haven't seen anywhere I needed to pay in a long time. However, if it was a choice between no public loos, dirty public loos or paying a few pence I will happily pay.

4points

Mad Mar 2 years ago

My goal is to move to Europe or Britain and just exist like this. Grow fresh food. Paint. Relax until I pass away. Less stress. More history to explore and admire. Right bow I'm growing my own food an cooking but I'm sure it will be 100% better there.

1point

Emmydearest 2 years ago

Uh well, not to break it to you but you're describing the lifestyle of a 1800's rich person or something. Europeans don't just relax all day, we don't all grow our own food, we do have to work you know. It's not like we all live in "A room with a view" Tuscany... (I wish 😅)

3points

Amanda Reicha 2 years ago

I went to Germany during college as a transfer student (1999) and years later I took a small tour of a few countries in Europe. I didn't need to worry about my health, it was nice to be able to walk everywhere, the food was better, and the prices were good. So many different cultures so close together we're beautiful.

1point

Monica Pryts 2 years ago (edited)

Yes! I lost weight while visiting Madrid and Rome. Didn't really snack between meals and did a lot of walking. Also they don't make a big deal out of the younger drinking age.

0points

Cookie 2 years ago

Thank you for this virtual travel.

0points

Barbara Vandewalle 2 years ago

A number of times I manage to get lost. Every time someone would make sure I got back to where I needed to be.

0points

DOMENICO CUTRONE 2 years ago

Gli americani dimostrano costantemente arroganza ed ignoranza... Qualunque stato europeo possiede un livello di cultura, civiltà e intelligenza che gli americani non raggiungeranno mai. Basta vedere il loro sistema sanitario. Ridicoli

0points

Berni W. Love 2 years ago (edited)

Please stop calling the United States citizens "Americans". America is a whole continent, with like 35 countries and is not our fault that their country has not a real name... In Spanisch we call them "Estadounidenses" that comes from "Estados Unidos" which is the translation from "United states"... Maybe you can call them "United-statesers" hahaha I don't care, or just USA-citizens.... Whatever, but America is not 1 country and most of the people on this continent don't feel identified with the USA.... I know it take more than a post to change this, but I am just asking you, lovely reader, if you are those which call the USA citizens "Americans", please stop... Is disrespectful with the rest of this rich countinen full of different cultures. Please.... PD: I bet most of the people who complains about my comment are US-citizens....

0points

Bad Mole 2 years ago

What surprised (and pleased) me the most was that people thought about each other and not just themselves like Americans do. In America people are so focused on their individual liberties they completely forget about their social responsibilities.

0points

Vladimíra Matejová 2 years ago

this depends on what kind of ppl are around you. there are ego maniacs in Europe as well as altruists in the US.

0points

Bim Bam 2 years ago

Most newspapers talk about any subject of all countries in the world, not just USA and the rest is all disasters from a scary and dangerous outside world. The streets in suburbs are shared living space , not only for driving your car to leave and return home.

0points

Bi-Polar Express 2 years ago

Americans who lived in cities are surprised by the buildings still standing in cities occupied by those who destroyed the civilizations of early American civilizations.

-1point

Geralt of Rivia 2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Ren Karlej 2 years ago

Looking at stats found: "The European Union’s share (so not all of Europe) in worldwide immigration to the US is quite small. In 2013, 54 356 EU nationals received green card status in the US. This represents only 0.01% of the total EU population in 2013 and 5.5% of all green cards issued by the US in that year and is in decline". Comparing it to Australia I believe the stat is 0.02% (not 100% sure). I don't think that less US citizens going to Europe is something we should assume means anything much. English is taught in European countries but vice versa? Too many different languages so that presents a barrier to some. US is currently a Flawed Democracy so very few see it as the answer to their dreams anymore, sorry. The US isn't in the Top 10 Countries with Highest Human Development Index, 2020 Report by United Nations. Not US bashing but let's be realistic. All the 'benefits' you list exist in Europe.

3points

POST

Jayne Kyra 2 years ago

The generalized "Europeans" and "in Europe" still annoy me.

27points

Janet C 2 years ago

12points

Anony Mouse 2 years ago

Thank you for reposting all these. I had almost forgotten about all these points that haven't been raised since... Maybe ten days ago?

11points

Blarrg 2 years ago

This comment makes me happy. The "tell us why America sucks" is one of those threads that pandas seemingly never tire of.

6points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

11points

Caro Caro 2 years ago

Every country has it's share of a$$holes.

6points

Milan 2 years ago (edited)

7points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

Thanks for leaving a tip. :-)

2points

Neal Patrick 2 years ago

6points

Ren Karlej 2 years ago

6points

Monica Pryts 2 years ago

It's true though. We are fatter and unhealthier.

0points

Vladimíra Matejová 2 years ago

0points

𝕮𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖊 2 years ago

I'm American, and I must say, I was pretty shocked about this stuff, as well 😂

5points

Anton Kider 2 years ago (edited)

My street is 2000 years old and my apartment is from 1640. I can get the underground round the corner and get off at any European capital without walking in the street.

5points

Seany 2 years ago

You can get to Dublin without walking in the street ?

9points

Wesley Lucas 2 years ago

4points

Lucas 2 years ago

3points

Liz 2 years ago

This makes me miss Europe. Lived in 2 different countries there, traveled extensively, still have family there. All my Europe travel plans have been canceled because of COVID recently *sigh*

2points

Agfox 2 years ago

1point

Nia Loves Art 2 years ago

For me it was old Sicilian men wearing speedos

1point

Gandalf the Pink 2 years ago

Careful around the ones who also wear gold watches and pinky rings

0points

Vivian Ashe 2 years ago

1point

Ren Karlej 2 years ago

For anyone unsure you'd say 'may I have a table for x (number of people) please.' It IS the little things that often catch you out!

2points

JuniorCJ82 2 years ago

The one thing I just will never understand is having to pay to take a piss/dump in a public washroom.

1point

Ren Karlej 2 years ago

Thinking about it, I haven't seen anywhere I needed to pay in a long time. However, if it was a choice between no public loos, dirty public loos or paying a few pence I will happily pay.

4points

Mad Mar 2 years ago

1point

Emmydearest 2 years ago

3points

Amanda Reicha 2 years ago

1point

Monica Pryts 2 years ago (edited)

Yes! I lost weight while visiting Madrid and Rome. Didn't really snack between meals and did a lot of walking. Also they don't make a big deal out of the younger drinking age.

0points

Cookie 2 years ago

Thank you for this virtual travel.

0points

Barbara Vandewalle 2 years ago

A number of times I manage to get lost. Every time someone would make sure I got back to where I needed to be.

0points

DOMENICO CUTRONE 2 years ago

0points

Berni W. Love 2 years ago (edited)

0points

Bad Mole 2 years ago

0points

Vladimíra Matejová 2 years ago

this depends on what kind of ppl are around you. there are ego maniacs in Europe as well as altruists in the US.

0points

Bim Bam 2 years ago

0points

Bi-Polar Express 2 years ago

Americans who lived in cities are surprised by the buildings still standing in cities occupied by those who destroyed the civilizations of early American civilizations.

-1point

Geralt of Rivia 2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Ren Karlej 2 years ago

3points