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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

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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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SoapMonkey76
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Welcome to the rest of the civilised world my friend.......

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#2

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird The colorful, cartoonish gravestones in north western Romania that depict how the person [passed away]

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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."

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#3

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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Timmy Pillinger
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favorite UK pubs is like this. Easy by canoe or foot or bike.

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#4

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird In Paris I saw a gang(10+) of police officers patrolling on rollerblades.. I heard them before I saw them. vrrrrrrr vrrrr vrrrrr

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#5

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird People that work 32 hours a week get over 30 days paid off every year no matter who they work for or more.

meta_uprising , anniespratt Report

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sturmwesen
sturmwesen
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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"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

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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

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#7

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Drinking a beer and noticed that the brewery was established in 1489, 3 years before “Columbus sailed the ocean blue”

bigedthebad , Sebastiano del Piombo Report

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ADHORTATOR
ADHORTATOR
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there are breweries in Bavaria which were founded three hundred years before Columbus went on his journey...

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#8

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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!

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#9

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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

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Sue Lynn Chan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoever comes up that that idea, I hope your cookies fall into the milk

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#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.

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Anna Snorrepot
Anna Snorrepot
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#11

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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Joran Quinten
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This picture is not completely accurate: Pino has a bright orange beak instead of a blue one

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#12

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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#13

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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#14

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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Ace
Ace
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same across most of Europe. And if you don't have change the cashier will give you a little plastic 'jeton' that fits in the slot. Most people just carry a couple of these around in their car, wallet or purse.

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#15

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#16

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird The absence of obese people was shocking.

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Katrin Krueger
Katrin Krueger
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't worry, we're about to catch up with you guys on this one.

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#17

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Robust public transit systems (relative to the major city I live in in the US).

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RedCorvette
RedCorvette
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#18

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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!

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Anna Banana
Anna Banana
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#19

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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."

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Vera1
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s not silly at all to ask a Dutch person if they speak English. In fact, it’s greatly appreciated! Although, brownie points if you can ask that in Dutch 😉

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#20

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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K. Lange
K. Lange
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

30 minute breaks are mandated by law in Germany, when you work 6 hours or more. Thst is also the usual break time. 1.5 or 2 hour breaks normally are used in businesses which close during lunch time

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#21

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Seeing women walk into the men's room when the ladies' is full (Paris).

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#22

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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Peter Thielen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amsterdam and Paris don't really compare, Paris is easily 10x the size...

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#23

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Constantly having to remember to carry around change to use the bathroom in Germany.

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Anna Banana
Anna Banana
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#24

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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

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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Country Road Take me Home is super well known in Japan, too!!

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#25

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird How drinking out in public is no problem. Especially in balkans and Germany

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sturmwesen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#26

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not always. You have to ask for fresh juice, at least here. We have packed juice too.

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#27

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like they're catering for the stag/hen night crowd.

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#28

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 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.

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Ban-One
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It actually is quite safe to cross the streets here. Just in Basel or Zürich you gotta look out for them "trams" (streetcar/cable car). They're quiet....and it's their right of way.

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#29

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird There was a day care or kindergarten located directly above the [call girl] display booths. Amsterdam, 2007.

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#30

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird So many pharmacies in Spain.

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#31

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird On a school trip we toured Germany, Italy and Switzerland. My friends and I were all around 16-17 and we're from Texas. We stayed in a village in Switzerland, Andermatt, for 2 nights. One night, we asked the chaperone to go to the store nearby to buy some snacks. We ended up going to a bar. Everyone inside was very invested in watching the tour de france, like actually cheering and screaming. We ordered drinks and shots and not once did they ask for ID. Afterwards we were so confused, like we were obviously teenagers but they didn't seem to care and served us anyways lol.

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Marta Loureiro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am not sure about Germany, but here in Portugal it´s legal to drink from 16. Driving at 18.

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#32

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird In a good way, the fact that everyone minds their own business and I don't have to worry about people trying to talk to me on public transit or in a grocery store. Americans don't know how to mind their own business and just go about their day for themselves (this is a generalization but in general, there isn't the kind of invasive chatting on a day to day basis from Europeans like you get in the US and I find it very refreshing and very noticeable whenever I'm abroad.)

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Edurne
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Spanish and this is one thing I don't actually like about Europe. over here we are a little more open, but I've been to France for example and no one had small talk with me on a 3 hour train ride... I was like... come oooon someone taaalk to meee I'm boored xD but no one did, nor they did with others unless they knew each other. I dislike this, I'm super extroverted and every time I use public transport alone, I hope someone talks to me. a little small talk makes my day :)

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#33

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird I still can't get over the dog parks. This was in northern Italy and maybe London unless I'm mixing up the 2 trips.

But they have dog parks in the city where it's just a park and a sign post that says "dog area" and no fence! Dogs just run around in that area!

I was overall surprised how dog friendly they were there.

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Debbie Barnes
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a great idea for dogs but more so (I think) to prevent them running around where children are playing, possibly to avoid the obvious.

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#34

I just got back from Berlin and there's a huge city park that runs through it. From the road driving passed it I saw that EVERYONE WAS NAKED...IN A CITY PARK...like EVERYONE...OF ALL LIKES AND AGES... legit old man dangus just flapping about like Julie Andrews in a field of Edeilweiss. Even then, didn't think too much of it, thought it might be a "park" thing. Later my wife and I went down to the hotel pool and again, there was both men and women alike just letting it all hang out. Bratwurst and pork knuckle, everywhere. My wife literally went into a panic and spun around on the spot as if she was not supposed to be there and started speaking gibberish, I proceeded to laugh hard enough to draw attention to our Canadian, clothed-and-out-of-place asses. 10/10 would totally go back (seriously, loved it).

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Susie Elle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lots of places in Europe (but certainly not just anywhere) regard being naked or semi-naked as just that; being naked. Nothing erotic about a regular naked body.

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#35

A beligerant in a pub somewhere in Hamburg noted my extremely Texan "cowgirl" accent and proceeded to lecture me about how s**t Americans are because they never travel. He lectured me... In Germany... About how I need to get off my a*s and leave the US from time to time. Guess it just goes to show that drunks gonna drunk, no matter where you are.

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#36

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Once visited my dad's friends in kaufbeuren as a kid. They apologized profusely that it was so hot.


It was only like 80 degrees F. That's a normal summer here in Memphis. I think they'd die here.

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sturmwesen
sturmwesen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We will get 30-40°C this weekend in south Germany. We hardly scratched 28°C in August when I was a kid. I hate climate change.

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#37

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Went to London. The entire atmosphere is different. People are more relaxed, there's a real appreciation for things around them. The Tube puts my hometown of NYC's subways to absolute shame, but I nearly toppled a couple of times. Wicked fast.

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#38

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird 1. Biggest WTF to me was how cheap the wine was. To get a halfway decent bottle of wine at a restaurant in my city is $30+, but it so much less to get a great bottle at a restaurant in Europe, even in Paris. I found amazing bottles in Portugal for ~$10 and I found awesome single glasses in Bordeaux for ~$4.
2. It was a 50/50 chance that a toilet outside of a hotel would have a seat. Also, I'd like to add that I enjoy the idea of having to pay $.50 to use the restroom. It seems like it is a lot less likely that someone [poops] all over the seats.
3. Public transportation was so convenient compared to home.
4. Is the selfie stick business a multi billion dollar industry?
5. Lack of decent air conditioning

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Susie Elle
Susie Elle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wines are 'local' there, so the cost can be lower I suppose

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#39

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird How you don't tip servers or bartenders in England

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David Fox
David Fox
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's because of the wage laws we have.....we don't rely on tips to pay for our rent, utilities or healthcare!

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#40

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird When I was at Maidan/Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine two people came up to me and placed 4 live monkeys on me without my permission.. then they expected me to pay them each $100 because they took pictures... Yes, this is probably not commonplace but I was like "Wtf?! A monkey scam in Ukraine of all places?!"

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#41

Eating a real gyro in Greece and being forever jealous that we can't get that here

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Nizumi
Nizumi
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny - my first gyro in Greece was horrible and nowhere near as good as I could get back home. Later in the trip I found a much better place! French fries with salt and oregano - yum!

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#42

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Public restrooms that cost money to enter a bathroom stall.

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#43

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Apparently being ethnically Filipino, well dressed, and walking with 3 white women makes me look like a pimp. Still both weirds me out and makes me laugh that some dudes in Paris wanted to "rent" the friends I was with

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#44

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Cold meds and Kleenex being behind the counter in pharmacies. I mean, I had fun using my French, but my poor boyfriend just needed cold meds and Kleenex and I don’t want to have the pharmacists bringing me different cold med brands one by one because we don’t know the European brands when I could easily compare them by myself. We’re also hitting the limits of my French vocabulary when it comes to describing symptoms.

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Kirsty Y
Kirsty Y
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's an interesting insight into the medicalisation of US culture - comparing ingredients, being very specific about what drugs exactly you want etc. As a European, and particularly if I was travelling, I'd just take the first one I came across with not much more thought.

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#45

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird In Budapest, at the airport, there's a service where you pay to have them shrink-wrap your luggage, because the baggage handlers can't be trusted not to steal your stuff.

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#46

I was surprised when I saw a lot of east european wearing T-shirts with a single random english word on them.

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#47

A lot of the roads in Ireland are barely large enough to fit 2 small cars. Usually one car has to pull off for another to pass. Despite this, there are often bikers and walkers on these narrow roads, with blinds corners, and a speed limit of 80kph. Strangely, I've yet to see any road kill despite the abundance of dogs and livestock.

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Bill Evs
Bill Evs
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same in the UK but don't forget a lot of those roads pre-date the motor car by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years and are still in use.

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#48

About 25 years ago, teenage me was in Europe on a basically unsupervised school trip. We had been there for a while but the biggest culture shock I received was when I went to a McDonald's. Yeah, yeah, going to McDonald's but I was looking for something familiar and comforting at the moment.

I had my burger served in a styrofoam container and the fries were completely different.

I know it seems odd, but over the course of that entire trip, getting a meal from McDonald's that was "different" was the biggest shock to young teenage me.

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Luna
Luna
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love going to McDonald’s in different countries because of how different and unique each are! I went to a McDonald’s in Singapore which had seaweed and completely different fries. It was amazing and they gave me a cool magnetic toy too (this was when I was small). I still have that toy sitting on my piano

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#49

Washing machine in the kitchen. No dryer.

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Ancsuri
Ancsuri
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do you need a dryer? it is not enviroment friendly, the breeze on the balkony or in the garden will dry your clothes as well.

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#50

My mom fell and sprained her knee in Spain. Free ambulance ride, x-ray, consultation, medication, and ice pack. All despite the fact that we are foreigners. This would have cost more than the plane tickets in America. Edit: typo

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Katrin Krueger
Katrin Krueger
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, technically it's not "free", you had others pay for it. We pay high taxes for our "free" services - a good system, of course, but it's something many foreigners forget, they'll want "free" health care but not finance other peoples health care, kindergarden place, school etc. too (via taxes).

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#51

Clean, punctual, and pleasant public transit.

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Maurettis
Maurettis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is highly dependant on both the country, and the city you're visiting

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#52

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird In Paris, everything seemed too small: elevator in our hotel fit two people, or one with a suitcase. Rooms had probably 7' ceilings. Sidewalks felt like they were 3' wide. Glasses of water were maybe 4 ounces (with a 1L bottle to fill them with). Even doorways and hallways seemed 80% the size I am used to.

I've always heard that things are bigger in the US, but I never really understood until I went to Europe.

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#53

The complete lack of window screens. Does everybody just accept bugs overrunning their homes whenever they open the windows?

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#54

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird A lot more smoking than I’d have expected.

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eeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AAARGH! Shave it or grow it! Looks like a spider's coming out under your lip cave.

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#55

Paying money to use a public bathroom. Granted, it was the most pristine bathroom I’ve ever used, but I just don’t have a problem with using a grimy public restroom in America for free. I guess it’s nice if you have a problem with those.

Also asking for ice in your drink and your waiter looking at you like you asked them to loan you $1000.

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Susie Elle
Susie Elle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"but I just don’t have a problem with using a grimy public restroom in America for free." You must be a guy :')

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#56

Just visited Zurich. WTF Switzerland, why is you so beautiful?

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Romenriel
Romenriel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was in Switzerland few years back and I relate to this. (I'm from a different part of Europe.)

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#57

“America vs. Europe”: 30 Things That Are Common In Europe That Americans Find Very Weird Dublin – Subways on every freakin' corner. Not the underground public-transport kind, either.

London – Hey, there's people that aren't white here – feels like home. (Feels like home in a good way, it was nice to see some diverse faces again.) London felt the most American to me of all of the places I went.

Ediburgh – Damn there are actually like, early-70's style hippies here, and damn, this place is like living in a Harry Potter book, and damn, this place needs to be cleaned up a little bit. I loved this city maybe the most out of my visits but i was surprised at the amount of homeless and just general grime I saw.

Amsterdam – how is there this many beautiful women in one place at one time? And, how could there be this many bicycles in existence?

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Joran Quinten
Joran Quinten
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently we Dutch own on average 1.3 bicycles per person. It's tricky riding that .3 though

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#58

A lot of places I've visited there are no shower curtains. I felt like a blue jay in a bird bath just lightly splashing water on myself as to not get the floors all wet.

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#59

Kermit the Frog, in Spain, is called Gustavo. WTF.

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#60

Was in Italy last month for the first time. Was intrigued by how common it was for people to just take a nap nearly anywhere in public.

Also the little vending machine "stores" that had 3-4 vending machines in them and one sold alcohol and cigarettes, another sold condoms, lube and *toys*. Wasn't shocked, more so applauded the simple ingenuity of it. :)

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Giulia Fortunati
Giulia Fortunati
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Italian and I've never seen peopole sleeeping in the street. Maybe homeless people!

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#61

Day drinking and smoking. We have breweries all over Kansas City, but we usually don't partake until after work hours.

Ireland was a lovely place, you're all very pleasant and music was everywhere. And your barbers are top notch

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#62

The toilet in my apartment in Germany had a shelf so that everything dropped above the water line. Confusing as f**k, but I guess it is for inspecting your stuff for parasites. I hated it, s**t in the open air smells like you expect.

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#63

There was like a little sink right next to the toilet. Super convenient to wash my hands while sitting down

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#64

Germans stare. Like blatantly stare, and if you nod to acknowledge them they look at you like you're crazy.

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#65

(TO BE CLEAR this island is f*****g tiny. there are about 80 people living there and its mostly farms and berry bushes. back when it was still Yugoslavia, my grandma left to America while her brother went to Italy. Some people say the squatting is just a stereotype, but it's just exclusive to this one island bc its very rural. in all the other islands in Croatia we've visited, nobody else was squatting. Just to clear things up bc people were calling my story fake.)

On with the story then,

So, my grandma is Croatian. We went to "the island" as we call it (it's a small island in the Adriatic) we can't go there very often, as it's about $5,000 per person (FOR THE FLIGHT AND BOAT RIDES), but when we do, it's beautiful. there are palm trees and turquoise waters, full of colourful fish. the cuisine is enchanting and delicious. But, the culture is strange. It's a Slavic country, and on the rural island, everyone just squats shirtless. it's pretty much specific to this one island bc we went to Losinj and Zagreb and they didn't squat. and Goats and chickens literally wander the streets. But, the "WTF" moment came when we went over the hill with my baba (grandma) to check out her old abandoned school. Then, out of nowhere, a wild goat just rammed me in the stomach and ran away. thank you for listening.

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#66

You cannot buy physical tickets at a soccer game (at least at Wembley stadium) in England. They literally have ticket windows where they will print them off, but will not sell them to you. I went to a game in 2018 at Wembley (tottenham vs CP) and unknowingly had fake tickets. When i went to the ticket box to buy real ones they said i can't. I had to go online, create an account, buy through their website and then go back to the window to have them print them out. Security told me this is how all EPL games operate but i can't back that up.

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#67

In Paris near every single tourist attraction there is a flock of people trying to sell you garbage.

The WTF part for me is that we saw hundreds of these guys during our trip and whether no matter what attraction we were at every single one was selling the EXACT same shitty Eiffel Tower souvenirs.

Why wouldn't any of them branch out even slightly to set themselves apart from the countless other people hocking the exact same c**p?

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Krásnoočko
Krásnoočko
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like these guys selling the exact same thing are not really so much salesmen as they are basically beggars that give you something symbolic in return. I know this from the middle east and I see it in "middle eastern" parts of Paris too: guys selling things like single packets of paper tissues, single heads of garlic which you are supposed to buy more out of charity than need for the actual product. And I believe the guys with "3 ugly eiffel towers for 1€" are part of the same phenomenon. They are almost exclusively fresh immigrants and non-white btw.

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#68

Giant, irregular shaped roundabouts with like a dozen exits.

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Krásnoočko
Krásnoočko
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was this in France? Their roundabouts are often next level and they put them everywhere.

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#69

I live in Iceland and whenever people say they don't have insurance, personal or business wise, I feel uneasy. Also, people don't sue eachother.

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Corcaigh
Corcaigh
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Irish here. What's this personal insurance? I've got house, health, car and pet insurance. Do they have another type just for walking around in the US?

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#70

The waiter absolutely refused to bring my espresso - My dinner companions and I had ordered dessert after having dinner and I wanted to have my espresso with the dessert. He didn't bring it out until after the dessert.

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#71

Lived in Finland for a bit. The quite that prevails everywhere is impressive and a little scary to me. I will say so does their kindness. A friend of mine dropped about 40$ worth of electronics when we left the apartment one morning. When we arrived that night he was distraught thinking it would be lost. Nope, it was sitting on a fence by the apartment complex right in downtown Kotka (smaller town but still). Eating out was also pricey. My wife and I eat out probably just as often as we cook at home but in Finland I could not find anywhere that was like cheap fast food or something, it was all expensive. Lastly, the number of public drunks. I have never seen so many drunks, they were harmless for the most part but they were constantly some place on the streets. Some of my favorite moments with drunks was one peeing in a trash can literally in front of the Helsinki train station and another who at about 2 am was walking in our apartment courtyard. This guy seemed to have some difficulty standing and walking and both seemed to scare him. He was shouting at the top of his lungs the whole way across the courtyard while holding onto anything he could. He was acting like he was walking a tightrope over a canyon.

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Simon Williams
Simon Williams
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Visited Finland a few years ago. Seems tipping in restaurants is not done. Logic is that the price you see on the menu is the price you pay, and anything else would be dishonest on the part of the restaurant. Guess they pay their staff properly.

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#72

When I was in Bulgaria about 5 years ago, there was a woman cop that heard me and came over and gave me a total serious face that I was in trouble for some crime and I needed to come with her.

Turns out she was flirting with me and just giving me some s**t like a normal person, not a cop.

It ended well...

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#73

In England everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, was driving on the wrong side of the road and mipronouncing words like "tomato".

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#74

People stare at you if you wear athletic clothing when you're just walking around.

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Dani M
Dani M
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. Because those are not "outside" clothes. It´s like walking in your pyjamas. More and more people do it now (in Austira) and I hate it.

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#75

There is a wall in Munich (I think it was Germany at least) and it's like enclosed and stuff. But you just whip your d**k out and just pee on the wall. Which is honestly not that odd really. But the odd thing was, A. My teacher informed of us said wall several months before we saw said wall. And B. My tour guy, a European, made a point to take us to pee on said wall.

And a quick Google search is finding me nothing so I may have just pissed on someone's house.

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K. Lange
K. Lange
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No. You can find those 'toilets' in Menschen toilets. There is a drain in the ground. I think it is because it is easy to clean. There will be Real toilets as well.

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#76

Went shopping in Spain. Every time I found a decent looking shirt/sweatshirt it would have some weird quote on it or a random word +definition. I think I found this most notably at Pull + Bear.

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#77

I spent a week in Greece and Athens was infested with dudes selling Jamaican bracelets. They're set up near every major sight. It was easier to give them 2 Euro for the bracelet and just keep it on as a way to repel them the rest of the trip.

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Romenriel
Romenriel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tourist "industry." There is a lot of shops selling nonsense like this in Prague, too. Including stuff with weed leaf, which then leads tourists to assume that weed is legal here. No, it's not.

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#78

Canadian here. In the uk you have to be over 16 to buy an energy drink. I was dumbfounded over that one!

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David Fox
David Fox
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not written into law but usually done for moral reasons. Kids are hyper as it is, we don't want to increase the hyperactivity in kids.....it really effects school work!

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#79

When you ask for ketchup in an America, you either get a million little packets or the whole bottle, in Europe whenever I asked I would only receive a measly 2 packets or less.

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LostSoul
LostSoul
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because of this you do not see so many obese people in Europe....see #69... ;-)

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#80

First time we went to England, we saw a bunch of signs that said "TO LET" and we couldn't figure it out. Are these a bunch of toilet signs that are misspelled? No way. There are too many. Turns out we're dumb and it's just their way of saying "available to lease"/"for rent".

Also we were very confused by Digestives. What a weird name for a snack.

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Edurne
Edurne
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

have you tried them? digestives are delicious :) oddly named, I agree, but delicious!

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#81

In a Paris subway station, I had to step over a huge log of human s**t. Right on the platform where people stand and wait for the trains.

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Krásnoočko
Krásnoočko
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, because some drunk and/or mentaly unwell person taking a s**t in public is something that can only ever happen in Europe/Paris. 🙄

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#82

White beans in my can of tuna fish. It was great and the food was bought in Switzerland.

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#83

How the restaurants serve soda with no ice.

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#84

When I was in Amsterdam (in the weed district or whatever it’s called), the whole area was like the same 6 types of shops/restaurants, over and over again(excluding the actual coffeehouses and bars).

There were cheap touristy trinket shops, cheap touristy head shops, Argentinian steakhouses, shwarma places, French fry/churrro/stroopwaffel bakeries, just over and over again. For whole city blocks. With the occasional bar or coffeehouse in between.

I mean, I get it, people are high AF and just wandering around, but you’d think there would be a little more diversity right?

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Joran Quinten
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's catering to the munchies, but I know the exact street you mean lol

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#85

Not an American, but Canadian.

First time visiting London, England, I said WTF when I saw a sign for "Humped Pelican Crossing."

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oktopus
oktopus
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bit of an endangered species these days, the humped pelican, which is why they get their own special crossings.

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#86

A total lack of top sheets on the beds. Also rarely any toilet seats in Italy. I joked my travel blog would be no top sheets or toilet seats

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Giovanna
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont know where you stayed, but it is obvious that hotels provide you with sheets. Abt toilet seats, we don't sit on public toilets

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#87

Strangers standing WAYYYYYYYYYY too close to me in lines

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#88

If you ask for flat water(because the default seemed to be sparkling) in a restaurant they bring you a plastic bottle of water. Why do they insist on wasting all these plastic bottles instead of giving me tap water in a glass? Why do I have to pay so much for this water? It frequently cost more than alcohol for some reason?

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Corcaigh
Corcaigh
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They probably thought you wanted a bottle because you asked for 'flat' water? Ask for tap water. Gotta admire the plastic bottle making companies for their marketing of water, but I agree, it's crazy and we need to stop buying it.

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#89

You cannot drink alcohol in your seat or anywhere in the standing during a football (aka soccer) match. You can drink it underneath the stands, but you cannot watch the match live with an alcoholic drink in your hand.

Also, having a legit bookie taking bets at those matches. Imagine how much money an NFL game would take in if they allowed betting at the stadium.

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Fabian Bernard
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, it's because we used to have a real hooligans issue in western Europe in the 80's ( check for Heisel tragedy and others in UK, several deaths including children😟)

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#90

The peeing boy motif in Brussels

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes it changes clothes to commemorate certain holidays or celebrations :)

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#91

I took a trip years ago to Lake Maggiore on the Italian-Swiss border. First it was the people, both men and women, changing into their swimsuits right on the beach in front of everyone. Next it was visiting a McDonald's in Switzerland and having to pay for ketchup packets.

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Kiko Gozzi
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Non siamo pudici qui a Locarno, ci si cambia davanti a tutti, per quanto riguarda quella salsa inutile giusto che la facciano pagare

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#92

You can't buy a bus ticket at the bus stop. Or the bus station. Or online. The only place you can buy them is the tobacco shop.

At some stations, you can't buy a train ticket at the train station or on the train. You have to leave the train station with all your luggage, walk into town, find a tobacco shop, buy a train ticket, then walk all the way back to the station, and by the time you get back you missed the train.

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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would help if you said which country you're in... Europe is not one whole.

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#93

How they automatically serve you sparkling water instead of normal tap water

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Laugh or not
Laugh or not
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the country. In France, the jug of tap water is free and standard - along the bread.

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#94

Seeing Confederate flags flown outside private residences in Sweden.

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#95

my husband ordered an old fashioned at a bar in Paris.

instead of bourbon garnished with an orange peel, they mixed bourbon and Tang.

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Fabian Bernard
Fabian Bernard
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No way, as Tang is not sold in France anymore since at least 1990

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#96

I was in the heart of Rome with my wife, found a little place to eat and decided to get a pizza (Because Italy!). While just as the pizza arrived, the song on the radio changed, and started playing.... A Shania Twain country song.

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Susie Elle
Susie Elle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A huge festival in The Netherlands that's held in the 'countryside' part in the east (Zwarte Cross) goes nuts every day at least once over Take Me Home Country Roads :)

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#97

The graffiti. GRAFITTI. EVERY. WHERE. It's really disappointing, TBH

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Anna Snorrepot
Anna Snorrepot
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

study it like it's an art form, a whole world will open up for you. New perspective on the city inhabitants too.

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#98

I recently went to Engalnd and France, here are the highlights!

Every intersection was a rotary(Roundabout, cant shake being from MA) in rural France.

Some dude was going down on a girl in Versailles, in front of our school group

Paying for the f*****g bathroom.

3USD for a tiny diet coke, as well as the taste, christ.

How f*****g fast Parisians drive, like if you arent walking on a cross walk during green, you're dead. Coming from a jaywalking Bostonian, yikes.

Charles de Gaulle airport. Just why.

The first time I got on the London Underground, I stood because I thought "I've been on plenty of trains this should be fine." I almost fell over because apparently they go faster in Europe.

How much smoking there is, I walked out in Piccadilly Circus and need an advil because of how many cigarettes there were. I've been to NYC and my mom was a smoker for years, Londoners chill please.

edit: to add more wack stuff.

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#99

In the U.K., the chain of legal betting shops called Ladbrokes. I mean you literally leave the place a Broke Lad. The balls...

And in Ireland, the big gambling chain is Paddy Power. Not only is Paddy a generic and vaguely derogatory name for an Irishman, but losing your paycheck in one of these places is hardly empowering. Paddy Power! Giving Paddy the Power to become a Broke Lad!

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Prius Owner
Prius Owner
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As with any derogatory term for an oppressed group, it is not offensive to use it if you are a member of said group. And if you have never been taught the term, it has no emotional power anyway so is not offensive to you anyway.

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