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One of the beautiful things about traveling is going to a place and realizing that life doesn't have to be the way you grew up to believe. By exposing yourself to different customs, you get the chance to reflect on and reevaluate yours.
So in an attempt to see which European 'lessons' stuck with Americans the most, Reddit user AppleberryJames asked them what culture shocks were the biggest they had in the Old Continent. From the prevalence of tourist scammers to hike-in restaurants, here are the answers.
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#1
Was in Sweden a few years back when a kid in my charge broke his collarbone. Medics drove him to the hospital. Like two hours later, after X-rays, an exam, and getting set up in a fancy sling, he walked out of the hospital. Total cost: $0.
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#2
The colorful, cartoonish gravestones in north western Romania that depict how the person [passed away]
To learn more about going abroad, we contacted Lee Abbamonte, the youngest person to visit every country in the world plus the North & South Poles.
Abbamonte said that whether or not you should research the place you're traveling to depends on the country in terms of familiarity of culture. "If it's a similar culture then [simple] common sense and decency usually work," he told Bored Panda.
"If it's something totally different or if you're unfamiliar, then I think i'’s imperative to do some research to not offend or embarrass anyone including yourself without realizing it. A little research goes a long way and it shows. People appreciate the effort."
#3
WTF in an awesome way are the stands and restaurants in Germany where you basically have to hike in. There's no casual foot traffic and it's not a simple drive. You are hiking and come to a beautiful view and there's a little restaurant or stand where you can get wine or beer and wurst and fries or whatever. Then you sit and enjoy the view you hiked to while enjoying your delicious food and excellent beverage. It's fantastic.
Timmy Pillinger 2 years ago
One of my favorite UK pubs is like this. Easy by canoe or foot or bike.
#4
In Paris I saw a gang(10+) of police officers patrolling on rollerblades.. I heard them before I saw them. vrrrrrrr vrrrr vrrrrr
#5
People that work 32 hours a week get over 30 days paid off every year no matter who they work for or more.
sturmwesen 2 years ago (edited)
ehh this depends. The trend is to work 32-35 hours in our new hires, old contracts have 40 hours. I've 26 payed days off +overtime, my sister would not sign less than 30 days.
"Often times I see tourists on vacation in foreign countries blatantly taking photos of local people without their consent. This is so rude," Abbamonte said. "They’re not animals or tourist attractions-they’re people. Just ask, people will usually say yes and if it’s a no-then it’s good you asked!"
Of course, European culture can differ depending on the country you're visiting. "Most of Europe, even Eastern Europe is pretty liberal these days," the traveler explained. "But as you go around different European countries, especially with older people, they can be more buttoned-up and private."
"As you move further east in Europe you’ll see the older generations still hardened by the Cold War. So just be respectful to their privacy and potentially appearing rude or cold to you. You’ll also find less English spoken the further east you go in Europe so keep that in mind as well."
#6
Not being harassed by police.
I did some dumb s**t on a scooter in Paris and instead of spending 20 minutes going through all the bull s**t and puffering cops usually do, he just wagged his french finger at me and message was recieved.
How it should be
#7
Drinking a beer and noticed that the brewery was established in 1489, 3 years before “Columbus sailed the ocean blue”
ADHORTATOR 2 years ago (edited)
there are breweries in Bavaria which were founded three hundred years before Columbus went on his journey...
#8
I fell in love with Sweden. But every time I go and visit, I’m still shocked at how many people just lay out and tan. On the sidewalk. Next to this Fika shop. Next to a museum.
Literally, people lay out and tan ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE in this country.
I’d be walking through Gamla Stan or Djurgården, then BAM out of nowhere, I nearly trip over a lady trying to tan. åh! jag är väldigt ledsen!
#9
No gaps in the bathroom stalls. Felt like I was pooping in an exclusive club and it was nice not having to make eye contact with m**********r trying to go next
Sue Lynn Chan 2 years ago
Whoever comes up that that idea, I hope your cookies fall into the milk
#10
The two medications that are keeping me alive cost a whopping $300 a month per prescription, so $600/month or $7,200/year.
I moved to the UK and the same medications cost £9 apiece for a three month supply. Grand total is £72 a year.
I know the conversion rate isn't a perfect 1:1 but the fact my medicine here is literally a hundred times cheaper blew my mind.
Anna Snorrepot 2 years ago
yeah USA healthcare system is s**t. You're the only ones paying company prices, the rest of the world pays based on cost prices.
#11
I lived in Holland for five years. I could say something about the bikes or beer, but the only thing that stopped me in my tracks was a Sesame Street sign. It turns out Big Bird is *blue* in the Netherlands!
I mean I know they say he’s Pino, Big Bird’s cousin, but I’m not fooled. You know Big Bird just moved over there to seek an alternative lifestyle.
Joran Quinten 2 years ago
This picture is not completely accurate: Pino has a bright orange beak instead of a blue one
#12
Not an American, but a Bulgarian.
My family had a relative from America who came back with his child who all luve has been in America.
(Somewhere in Detroit, but I am not sure where.)
When we were walking around the streets he had a look of shock on his face when he saw the papers with people pictures put on trees, bus stops, street lambs etc.
He thought they were wanted posters of criminals and was impress with how many crime we had.
I explained to him that those things are called nechrologs and are essentially posters of [passed away] people that family members put around to spread the news and pay respect to the death.
He was even more shocked after that.
#13
The sheer amount of scammers in tourist areas.
Like, American tourist areas have some, but it's no where near egregious as Europe.
Even at the Vatican it's unbearable. Fake petitions, friendship bracelets, guys wearing vests telling gullible visitors they bought the wrong tickets. It definitely put a damper the experience.
A positive WTF moment was realizing how awesome people generally were in Paris. I can't tell you how many times I heard the rude Parsian cliche, but every interaction I had was genuinely pleasant. What I picked up fast was that people in France in general expect some form of respect. It's amazing how a small amount of politeness can go a long way with strangers.
#14
I'm from Norway, but moved to America.
My husband and I recently came back from a vacation visiting family in Norway. During the visit we went to a supermarket where you have to put a coin (roughly 1 dollar) into the shopping cart to loosen it from the rack. When your done you reattach the cart and your coin gets returned.
I had never thought twice about it but for him it was amazing.
#15
In Spain, you have to sorta wave and call for service, especially for the final check.
They will literally leave you at a table with empty glasses for hours unless you ask. They consider it rude to intrude. and it makes Americans feel pushy to ask or wave our hand for attention.
It's pretty easy to do if you watch the locals...a little wave, a smile and a nod, etc and they come right over.
But if felt intrusive on our part at first for sure.
Saint Thomas 2 years ago (edited)
In Myanmar, the way to signal the waiter is to make a double "kiss" sound with your lips... Like "psssk psssk". Very awkward at first for a european... Calling them or waving at them may work if they happen to look right at you. But a simple "tsssk tsssk" and a waiter beelines to your table in a few seconds.
#16
The absence of obese people was shocking.
#17
Robust public transit systems (relative to the major city I live in in the US).
RedCorvette 2 years ago
Yep, I’d get rid of my car in a heartbeat if we have as good public transportation. Here we have to wait 30+ minutes and sometimes hours for a bus. I was amazed to see buses every 8 minutes in London.
#18
Studied in France and I was shocked to see the Cafés turn into bars at night.
They just switched out the menu and it went from selling hot cocoa to whiskey on the rocks!
Anna Banana 2 years ago
Well why would you have a business which only operates for half a day, when you could be open from morning-ish until late at night? And as a patron I appreciate not having to wonder which nice place is open when - I just go and see what they are serving at this hour.
#19
I wouldn't say this was a "WTF" moment so much as just a bit funny and embarrassing on my part.
I was visiting a friend in the Netherlands. I had just gotten back from a year abroad in Asia, so I was not accustomed to anyone being able to speak English.
I went to purchase a train ticket in.... Amsterdam, I think, though it may have been Utrecht. At any rate, I approached the counter and asked, "Excuse me, do you speak English?"
The bemused counter clerk laughed and said, "Of course. Do you?"
I turned beet red. It's very silly looking back on it.
Also, same trip, but in Brussels, I asked a local store clerk where to find a particular bar I was searching for. She gave remarkably detailed directions, and listed off many other recommendations for places. I was a little bit surprised at the level of detail, and I guess she noticed that because she laughed and said, "I like to drink. A LOT."
#20
In America we work ourselves to the bones.
Hell, the fact I’m now working what’s called a “straight 8” shift is boggling to me.
But as back as I can remember, working 8-12 hour shifts with a 30 minute lunch is pretty much the norm.
So when my current boss was sent to France for a couple of weeks and the fact that in an 8 hour day, you got 90 minutes for lunch and a 20 minute break for cigarettes and coffee he couldn’t comprehend it.
That and wine while at lunch for work was mind blowing to him.
#21
Seeing women walk into the men's room when the ladies' is full (Paris).
#22
Paris is FILTHY. The architecture was gorgeous, the food was excellent, but the smell of cigarettes and urine is everywhere. I felt like I needed a shower every time I left the hotel.
Amsterdam on the other hand is the cleanest and most well organized city I've ever been to.
Peter Thielen 2 years ago
Amsterdam and Paris don't really compare, Paris is easily 10x the size...
#23
Constantly having to remember to carry around change to use the bathroom in Germany.
Anna Banana 2 years ago
That's a good point. I don't mind terribly that we have to pay for them, but they should all accept cards at this point, not just a bunch of select few at a train station.
#24
I was on a trip that went from Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Every city we were in at least one bar played country road take me home by John Denver and the locals went crazy for it. Knew every word
Also
In a Oktoberfest tent in Munich Germany. Waiting in line for a stall(terrible choice but when nature calls) guy walks past the line and try to just cut everyone. Front man prolly 6-2” German man goes in after the guy who tried to sneakily take the stall. It was like a cartoon of fighting noises in the stall and everyone was so casual. It only made me love that county more lmao
#25
How drinking out in public is no problem. Especially in balkans and Germany
sturmwesen 2 years ago
I would not say no problem. It is legal in most places unless city goverment decides to ban it at special places. The drunken people trashing glass bottles on the street or fighting are an issue depending where you live.
#26
In Europe, when you order orange juice, they take fresh oranges and squeeze them in to a glass. I've never seen that recipe in the states.
#27
Not really WTF, just amusement, but when I went to Prague, there were a number of chocolate shops that had large, chocolate penises prominently on display. I remember one that had melted white chocolate drizzled down from the tip.
#28
Switzerland. How safe it is to walk across the street. Probably has something to do with the whole "the vehicle is always at fault" thing that would probably never fly here. Cars would slow significantly if I was sort of within the vicinity of a zebra crossing. Made it sort of awkward for me even if I was actually intending to cross there.
Also Switzerland. Hearing all of the cars at a red light start up again when the light turns green.
Granted, this was Wil. I'm not sure if the size of the city has anything to do with it.
#29
There was a day care or kindergarten located directly above the [call girl] display booths. Amsterdam, 2007.
#30
So many pharmacies in Spain.
What do you think ?
Krásnoočko 2 years ago (edited)
It's quite funny how half of these posts do not mention which country they are talking about because I guess they think Europe is more or less a single cultural entity? If there is one thing my friends/colleagues from the US consistently state as a huge cultural shock in Europe, it is how diverse the cultures, customs, tastes and everyday life in general are across different european countries. There are distinct differences between nations as close as the French and Germans. Now imagine say Bosnia and Finland. :D
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
The overwhelming majority of BP comments about the US apparently believe the entirety of my gigantic country is exactly the same, and populated by 330 million people who are all alike. As someone from Massachusetts, I've experienced culture shock in my own country. Perhaps we all should refrain from believing ridiculous stereotypes.
Load More Replies...
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Ummm.... Wow. It's a different country. Of course things are... wait for it... *different*. The US isn't England or Germany or Romania or Italy or (fill in many many EU blanks). Canada isn't. Mexico isn't. Uruguay isn't. That said, many US citizens don't travel outside a country that is larger than the EU, so that does shape the perspective on these things. It's pretty similar over 4,000 km coast to coast *here*. (Pretty similar. Cajun country vs New England, don't even try. Those *are* different countries, LOL.)
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
I'm a New Englander, and I've experienced culture shock in my own country. Specifically, in the Deep South and in the Southwest. They might as well be different countries.
Load More Replies...
Anna Snorrepot 2 years ago
a lot of tightminded visitors commented here. Why have expectations that things will be the same when you visit a whole other continent with millennia more worth of culture and history than the average white American experience?
Krásnoočko 2 years ago (edited)
It's quite funny how half of these posts do not mention which country they are talking about because I guess they think Europe is more or less a single cultural entity? If there is one thing my friends/colleagues from the US consistently state as a huge cultural shock in Europe, it is how diverse the cultures, customs, tastes and everyday life in general are across different european countries. There are distinct differences between nations as close as the French and Germans. Now imagine say Bosnia and Finland. :D
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
The overwhelming majority of BP comments about the US apparently believe the entirety of my gigantic country is exactly the same, and populated by 330 million people who are all alike. As someone from Massachusetts, I've experienced culture shock in my own country. Perhaps we all should refrain from believing ridiculous stereotypes.
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Ummm.... Wow. It's a different country. Of course things are... wait for it... *different*. The US isn't England or Germany or Romania or Italy or (fill in many many EU blanks). Canada isn't. Mexico isn't. Uruguay isn't. That said, many US citizens don't travel outside a country that is larger than the EU, so that does shape the perspective on these things. It's pretty similar over 4,000 km coast to coast *here*. (Pretty similar. Cajun country vs New England, don't even try. Those *are* different countries, LOL.)
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
I'm a New Englander, and I've experienced culture shock in my own country. Specifically, in the Deep South and in the Southwest. They might as well be different countries.
Load More Replies... Anna Snorrepot 2 years ago
a lot of tightminded visitors commented here. Why have expectations that things will be the same when you visit a whole other continent with millennia more worth of culture and history than the average white American experience?
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