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The things that politicians say and do can greatly influence the way we see one another. And since they're not always true, it's important that we make our own observations and draw our own conclusions. So, let's take a moment to examine transatlantic relationships—or rather, opinions. A viral thread on Reddit shows people from the United States sharing what they don't understand about Europe, which provides interesting insight into their worldview.
(Of course, the Old Continent isn't a single organism—each country has its own traditions and ways of life. But this discussion still offers an interesting look at the image Europe has carved for itself.)
Continue scrolling to get a better understanding of their thoughts, and in case you're wondering, we have also covered 30 American norms that stun Europeans. Ultimately, we hope that familiarizing yourself with these differences, no matter which side of the ocean you live on, will help you to understand the other perspective instead of reinforcing stereotypes.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I'm Canadian, not American, close enough.
I dont understand why some countries grind to a complete halt when snow hits the ground. As if it were no different than lava filling the streets
the same could be applied to certain places in America.
Bill Evs 1 month ago (edited)
As others have correctly said it's down to rarity. If you live somewhere where snowfall is a common thing then you tend to have the infrastructure and tools/ skills/ experience to deal with it. Where I come from in the UK snow is very uncommon. We get a heavy snowfall maybe once every three to four years. Although I have driven in the snow several times over my life I would only do it if absolutely necessary as it's not something I'm used to and not something I'm super confident doing.
Helene Sula, the woman behind the travel and lifestyle blog Helene in Between, moved from Dallas, Texas, to Germany in 2016, and in 2019, she returned to Dallas. She has experienced life on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and told Bored Panda, "One of the biggest differences between Americans and Europeans is the overall pace of life."
"In much of Europe, there's a bigger emphasis on work-life balance—long lunches, late starts, and, yes, early restaurant closing times. In the U.S., we're used to 24/7 convenience, whereas in Europe, things actually close so people can go home and enjoy life," she explained.
"Also, customer service expectations—Americans are all about friendliness and efficiency, while in many European countries, service is more about the experience than speed. Oh, and air conditioning! Americans crank it up, while in Europe, you're lucky if you get a fan," Helene added.
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#2
How y'all manage to get socialized healthcare and education. Those concepts are fought so hard in the States and I don't know how to convince people that healthcare and education are good things to have for free or even just cheaper.
Scott Rackley 1 month ago
Well, the insurance thing is because politicians are bought and paid for by the insurance companies. The education is because certain politicians want to keep people dumb enough to believe that socialized healthcare will destroy the nation. So far they're successful.
#3
As an American that lived in the UK for a few years, why the f**k do we get dumped on for not using the metric system? The UK uses so many different forms of measurement then shits on us for not using one of the 500 they use. I get our system isn't perfect but at least it's consistently used across the board here.
Multa Nocte 1 month ago
Because the American one is insane. This is speaking as someone who lived in the US and now lives in France, and who now uses metric without a skip because it is actually much easier.
However, we also share some similarities. "I think we can all agree on music and TV!" Helene, who also shares bits of her travels on Instagram and TikTok, said.
"And at the end of the day, people everywhere love good food, good company, and a good story. I've also found that a shared love of travel, history, and curiosity about different cultures connects us all, even if we approach things in different ways."
#4
How popular smoking cigarettes is. Even with the recent boom in vaping and e-cigs in the US, I would still say that they're not even close. Every outdoor cafe in Europe has at least half of their patrons smoking. My buddy that lives over there says it's just part of their social culture.
Doesn't really bother me either. It's just interesting to me that it's so looked down upon here in the US and so popular in most parts of Europe.
Jrog 1 month ago (edited)
The difference is minimal, and very much depends on which country you consider. In the USA 19,8% of adult smoke. In the EU, the percentage can be as low as 7% (sweden) up to 42% in Greece, with the EU27 average being 23%. Sweden, Netherlands, UK, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland and Malta all have smokers percentage lower than the US, with most of the central countries (except France) being about on par with the US. Several countries banned smoking in cafes, some banned smoking even in cafes outdoor patios, stations or other public spaces.
#5
In some hotel bathrooms I’ve been in, the shower didn’t have a door or curtain or had a half door, and water would get everywhere despite my best efforts. Why?
In 2022, YouGov conducted a study in Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the USA, asking people to rate how similar they consider their own country to be to between 38 and 47 others.
Interestingly, only four countries are seen as similar by at least half of Americans. The UK (66%) and Canada (70%) are viewed as alike to the US by notable majorities, while third- and fourth-placed Australia and Germany are much further behind at 53% and 51%, respectively.
However, in all cases, Americans are more likely to see themselves as similar to the European countries than those countries are to see themselves as similar to the USA.
#6
How most of you Europeans seem fluent in English but I can't speak a lick of any other language even after taking 3 years of spanish.
Janissary35680 1 month ago
Get put in a place where you HAVE to speak Spanish--and nothing else--and observe how fast you learn it.
#7
Whatcha mean you can just go to the doctor? You don't save up for a few years first?
Alexandra 1 month ago
If I call my doctor, I have an appointment within a week. And I don't have to pay for that appointment: I already paid for it through the universal health insurance everyone has. If you don't earn enough to pay your health insurance, part of it will be paid for by the state.
#8
Am I allowed to comment if I’m Canadian?
How do so many people fit into London? And there’s so many old buildings still in use, isn’t asbestos a problem? How are there so many different accents in small countries like the UK and Ireland? Pretty much in Canada most people sound the same, there’s a few other accents but there aren’t too many big differences, except for maybe Newfoundlanders, Francophones and people in the country.
Ruth 1 month ago
The really old buildings were built long before asbestos was commonly used in buildings. 1940s - 1970s were the main years it was used. It has been since removed from most commercial buildings over the years when renovations were done. As for accents, I live in South Carolina and even here we have four very distinct accents within our small state.
Ultimately, one also has to remember that "Europe isn't just one monolithic place—it's made up of so many different cultures, languages, and customs," Helene said. "What's normal in France might be totally different in Germany or Italy."
"Also, public transportation actually works here, tipping isn't the same, and if you order an 'iced coffee,' expect some very confused looks."
#9
F**k, I just moved to Spain and I cannot understand how normal it is to just STARE so blatantly at people. Does anybody know????
The constant touching and cheek kisses are also pretty weird to me because I don’t like to be touched but I was aware of those at least before I moved.
#11
This beans for breakfast thing. I think it's mainly a British thing.
What kind of beans? Are they like American baked beans? What do they taste like?
Multa Nocte 1 month ago
Heinz baked beans are a big thing for most of the Brits here in France.
#13
I was in N. Ireland and all the food places were closed by 9PM ... That's when I get hungry!
#14
What is going on with all the Turkish barber shops I saw in Ireland.
Is there something special about them?
StrangeOne 1 month ago
I'm sure the Irish ask a similar question about the Irish pubs in North America.
#15
Something else I just thought of after someone brought popcorn into the office...
Something I noticed about cinemas in Canada/USA , and Europe. *Or London UK at least, sample size here is quite low* is that in North American cinemas, you pay for a ticket, and it's a free for all for seating, you grab the best seat, early bird gets the worm
I went to a Cinema in London years ago with an old gf. and you picked your seat on a screen And you sat at THAT seat. like at a sporting venue, you didnt dare move even if the entire isle was empty *we might have been charged more per seat too, I dont recall*.
#16
Is there actually nude beaches? Like we have them here, but not as much as I hear they have over in Europe.
#17
How you're able to have so many awesome pieces of technology and in some cases, regulations. But America somehow feels like they're 5 years behind.
#18
Two things.
First: Are there any serious "Holy Rollers" in Europe? In America we hear a lot about evangelicals (and they have a tendency to make everything just a little bit worse) but you almost never hear about them in Europe. Like do you guys have a Westboro Baptist Church type group?
Second: Having grown up in an extremely crime-ridden neighborhood in a major American city I always feel like even the most crime heavy area in Europe is Disneyland compared even the "eh, it's not really *that* bad" parts of most cities over here. I guess that's more of a statement than anything but do Europeans have a legitimate "if I go there it's possible I could get k****d" fear when they think about high crime areas? Or is it more or less exaggerated? Or do you not have any fear of being k****d simply because you go to the wrong neighborhood? And yes, I understand that statistically speaking it's pretty rare to get k****d as the victim of a crime in America but there's a segment of the US population that has a story of say, going to the gas station only to find out it's closed because some dude was shot and k****d while filling his tank. I'm part of that segment. So I'm unusually paranoid where crime is concerned. And I wonder if there's people like that in Europe.
martin734 1 month ago
We do have a few religious types around here but not many and their views are tolerated if not encouraged. One big difference here is with our politicians. If a politician here starts bringing up god and their religion, it is likely to actually be harmful to their political career. We are of the view that politics and religion do not mix and should be kept totally separate.
#19
How do you afford to provide health care for everyone? In America, we can't seem to figure out how it's possible to pay for it all.
Multa Nocte 1 month ago
Shhhhh!!!!! Don't tell anyone. It's socialised medicine. It's our secret.
#20
I listen to a LOT of books. Whenever one is written by a British author, there's always tea in the story - always.
I NEED to know what kind of tea this is. I mean, it's not f*****g Lipton, I at least know that. But what kind of tea do you have in the mornings? Do you also like coffee? How much caffeine is in the tea you drink? Would it keep me alive?
See, I'd really like to try some morning tea, but it would need to be really super caffeinated. Or else I may die.
How many kind of morning teas do you have? Are they all caffeinated?
I'm a seasonal tea drinker - I like that Sleepy Time Tea during the winter. Got any other suggestions for me?
Basically, please explain your tea to me. Thanks.
Bald Panda 1 month ago (edited)
Yorkshire Tea is expensive but in my opinion the best. Everyone will have their favourite. We are talking black tea here (as in the colour of the tea leaves, more on this in a moment). Not green tea, not herbal or 'hippy' tea. Not rooibos, not camomile and one would argue not Earl Grey either. Whatever brand you choose, it is always with milk. Anyone who has tea without milk will be viewed at least with suspicion and at most with utter contempt. Sugar optional. The final product, if correctly brewed, will be the colour of He-Man's tan. We Brits know that there is no more refreshing and invigorating drink on earth (and we really do know, we went round stealing all the best stuff from everyone). Tea is not only for breakfast, it is quite literally the lubrication that keeps the wheels of British society turning. Bad day? stick the kettle on. Happiest day of your life? Let's have a brew. Half time in the football or an ad break in a prime time TV show? The National Grid literally have to manage the nationwide power network due to all the kettles that will be turned on at once. In WW2 there was a British propaganda slogan that read simply "While There is Tea there is Hope". That says all that needs to be said.
#21
Paying to use the bathroom. Why don't y'all just let bathrooms be free so you don't have to either pay or p**s in the streets?
#22
Why the queen of England owns every swan in the country.
#23
Why none of ya'll will send me Jaffa Cakes.
Seriously. They're so good. Our selection of candy is horrendous compared to yours.
#24
Was on the Metro for first time.
Got a nasty look a few times.
I didn't realize you are to push the door button !!! Our subway doors are automatic!
Huddo's sister 1 month ago
In Australia we have a button to press because it is less likely it will open with someone leaning/being pushed out onto the platform or track.
#26
Lack of air conditioning.
martin734 1 month ago (edited)
My house is 200 years old with 40cm thick, solid stone walls. Rather than trying to keep it cool, the biggest problem is keeping it warm enough so I don't have to wear a jumper indoors. Fitting air conditioning would be extremely impractical and expensive for the 2 days a year when it actually gets warm enough to be turned on. I would much rather just open a window.
#27
Once in Costa Rica I saw a French guy trying to buy beer in English with American $$. When I tried to help him he pretended not to know English... Why are the French like this?
Dan Holden 1 month ago
I can order a beer in spanish. That doesn't mean I'll understand you if you start speaking Spanish to me.
#29
The Balkans.
Then again from what I know even you guys don't understand the Balkans.
I've heard it's kind of like our "Florida Man" in that it's best to just not ask questions and observe from a distance?
Jrog 1 month ago (edited)
The Balkans are a very culturally diverse place. They have different food, language, traditions, politics etc. Their culture has been influenced by Greek, Turkish, Easteuropean, Venetian, Austro-Ungaric cultures. Yet, they share a common past that made them distrustful against one another, and this lead to their common character: Balkanians are a bit too eager to get in fights and really easy to trigger. Again, very understandable if you look at their history since the 1500s.
#30
Why don’t you have drinkable tap water in some places?
Edit: For example, my girlfriend visited Florence and was told not to drink the tap water.
#31
Your washing machines for your clothes are in the kitchen. That’s just odd.
Mia Black 1 month ago
I don't think renters like to have the washing machine in the kitchen but when it's where the water and space is, then it's better than not having a washing machine I think. Most of us Germans just live as cramped renters without a cellar sometimes, it even a garden or balcony
#32
Why do you come off grouchy, I understand smiling is considered weird in most conditions but still most Europeans I’ve met are on par if not worse than New Yorkers I’ve met.
#33
How small everything is. I’ve never been, but my family visited and they hated how small everything was. Showers, rooms, beds, everything was apparently super small.
Here in the states everything is big.
#34
Why there are so many pickpockets (looking at you Paris subway and Spain especially)!
#35
How supportive they seem to be (from an outsider's perspective) of broad government surveillance. Also, the fact that carrying a personal firearm for self-defense purposes is frequently illegal. I think the Czech Republic is about the only major exception to that. There's a lot about Europe that I like, and I get that it's not completely homogeneous, but those things completely baffle me.
Jill Rhodry 1 month ago
and the rest of the world is baffled how you guys think guns are more important than your children coming home alive
#36
Your suburban areas are really, really weird. Especially in Paris.
#37
What does the word bloody mean for them is it like a swear.
#38
Paying for public restrooms. Not talking to strangers. I grew up in Texas. We kinda always talk to people whenever we’re waiting around or something. I’ve heard this gets weird looks across the ocean. Why the hell did I encounter four different dialects while traveling for like 20 minutes? I have to drive to a new state or get on a plane to come across a new accent.
#39
Why is everything so small? Cars, lifts, hotel rooms, refrigerators, grocery stores, etc.
#40
Why do you have to pay sometimes to use public restrooms?
Why is there such an emphasis on making cars fuel efficient by making the small and light, which is less safe, but not by making hybrids?
Why does England usually use the United Kingdom flag instead of the English flag?
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Adam Benson 1 month ago
I'm sorry, but these America-Europe cultural differences posts are becoming very repetitive and boring. At the very least, let's see some posts about other continents like Africa, South America or Australia - at least somewhere that's NOT the US or Europe.
persephone134 1 month ago
A lot of these posts are so trite. Guess what? Different countries have different traditions, different food habits, etc. Stranger things have happened.
EWD 1 month ago
Why do people feel the need to be so rude in the comments? Some of these people asking questions really did want to know about your culture or way of life and all you do is make snide comments at them.
CSC 1 month ago
Yes, I get a little bit tired of being lumped in with all "Americans". I'm not overweight, I don't carry a gun, I NEVER voted for Trump, I'm not dumb and I'm not a person that goes in for a refill. I especially don't like seeing it from commenters I normally really enjoy.
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Adam Benson 1 month ago
I'm sorry, but these America-Europe cultural differences posts are becoming very repetitive and boring. At the very least, let's see some posts about other continents like Africa, South America or Australia - at least somewhere that's NOT the US or Europe.
persephone134 1 month ago
A lot of these posts are so trite. Guess what? Different countries have different traditions, different food habits, etc. Stranger things have happened.
EWD 1 month ago
Why do people feel the need to be so rude in the comments? Some of these people asking questions really did want to know about your culture or way of life and all you do is make snide comments at them.
CSC 1 month ago
Yes, I get a little bit tired of being lumped in with all "Americans". I'm not overweight, I don't carry a gun, I NEVER voted for Trump, I'm not dumb and I'm not a person that goes in for a refill. I especially don't like seeing it from commenters I normally really enjoy.
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