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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread

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If you go far enough back in time, Americans and Europeans are virtually of the same blood. Heck, they still are without the time travel, but other factors played a role in why there’s a certain kind of cultural and social divide. The big pond between the continents being one of them.

Still, differences ought to be celebrated and folks online choose to do that by pointing out what’s normal in Europe (and other places, really) but might look weird to the average American. As per this Reddit thread.

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#1

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I am American, living in Germany. I never realized so many American-artist songs have the work F**K in them until I moved here lol...all the "bad" words are edited out in the U.S. on the radio. Here, nope, uncensored. Americans are numb to gunned down children, but bring out the F word and oh we cannot have that! Idiocy.

MTFinAnalyst2021 , Hannah Gibbs/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

216points

Tobias Reaper 8 months ago

its the same with movies and video games people getting chopped up fountains of blood yeah why not but put a swear word in ooooh big no no

70points

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#2

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread From the UK, where there is no gun culture. There are no gun shops. You cannot defend yourself with a gun, largely because the other guy won't have a gun either.

HeartCrafty2961 , Marta Branco/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

191points

Kariali 8 months ago

That's pretty much the case in whole Europe.

142points

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#3

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread England: The number of people including politicians who are publically atheist. Not saying all Americans are crazy religious I’m sure for most it’s just something you put on a census and go to church maybe once a year. But I’ve heard it’s very taboo in the US to nonchalantly say you don’t believe in god, which is sort of the default here if you get chatting about religion.

ninjomat , RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

186points

Gabriele Alfredo Pini 8 months ago

The strangest thing is the number of american, especially on Quora, that think that without a God there is no morality. I'm Catholic, but I try to do good things because it is more beautiful that doing bad things, not because I fear the punishment in this or the other life...

125points

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So, what is culture? In the most simple of terms, culture is everything that a group of people are and know.

In less simple terms, culture is a sort of an identity that a group of people—a community—has that manifests itself through things like language, religion, cuisine, social behaviors and habits as well as the arts.

#4

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I'm a Finn, we go to sauna, naked. It's normal you've seen your friends and family members naked. It's not sexual nor is it embarrassing.

bullet_bitten , Max Vakhtbovycn/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

180points

talliloo 8 months ago

i really hate what i call the psuedo-puritanical attitude america has about nudity. growing up, my mom was very much a prude when it came to nudity and i made the decision that i would not raise my child in the same manner. turned out to be a good thing as i have an only son and when i became incapacitated for a while he was the only person i had to help me with all of my self care. i know that some people thought it was weird that we are so comfy with each other but once you realize that the body is just a body sexuality doesn't become an issue.

116points

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#5

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Holidays/Vacation/Paid Time Off - Call it what you like - but Americans simply don’t understand it.

Not to mention workers rights that don’t require you to be part of a Union to have. We just have them as standard.

From dating an American who came to the U.K. to study, she was shocked by how much holidays we get and how secure our rights are as employees.

LongrodVonHugedong86 , Mateusz Dach/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

168points

Marianne 8 months ago

I was shocked when I learned that many employees in the US don't even have contracts.

78points

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#6

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Irish people swear and curse creatively, it’s like punctuation and emphasis in normal speech. And our religious comments are also not appreciated.

“Christ on a bike”
“Jesus, Mary and St. Joe”
“F**k him and the horse he rode in on”.

WyvernsRest , Anete Lusina/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

159points

StPaul9 8 months ago

A shower of bastards.

57points

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To make it even less simple, a huge chunk of what culture is deals with shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive structures and understanding learned through socialization. This further brings home the idea of culture being an identity all the while also explaining that it’s an organism of sorts—it grows, it develops, and it reproduces through being passed down to other generations.

#7

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Germany: Children in primary/grade school walk to school by themselves or in groups each morning, unsupervised.

We have ~~naked~~ nude areas at lakes and beaches. Or in parks, very rarely. .

Myrialle , Pixabay/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

148points

XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧 8 months ago

This is the strangest list. Listen, children in the US walk to school all the time. There are some that don't/can't, but walking/bike riding to school is still very much a thing. My partner & I have lived in the US for a while, and our old house was near a school. I guarantee every morning the streets were filled with all the little neighborhood crumb-snatchers hoofing it to school.

54points

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#8

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Religion not being a thing that comes up, ever, unless there is a very specific reason for it. It doesn't matter if you're atheist, christian, Catholic or muslim. Finns don't care about what anyone else believes, and even those of us who do care, consider it a private issue that you shouldn't pry into unless the person you are talking to offers that information voluntarily.

WyllKwick , Rodolfo Clix/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

138points

LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago (edited)

I would love to live somewhere where religion doesn’t matter and never comes up in conversations. I live with my boyfriend of 23 years and I lied to the elderly couple across the street that we’re married and Christian, as it was easier than listening to lectures on morality and living in sin and/or dealing with attempts at “converting” us (I’m entirely non-religious.) It’s already bad enough here that my boyfriend isn’t white and I am - we get nasty looks and sometimes outright harassment from some of the older residents here.

76points

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#9

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Finns value their personal space. This includes both physical space but also verbally. Let me explain:

If you’re waiting for a bus, for example, stand a few meters apart from other people at the bus stop when possible. Do not sit next to anyone on the bus either if there are still empty pairs of seats. I can easily tell who is foreign when I’m in line in a grocery store because they tend to stand so uncomfortably close to me.

We also appreciate being left alone when out and about (but are happy to give you directions or help in any other way if needed). There’s no need to initiate small talk if you’re alone in an elevator with a Finn because to us awkward silences aren’t generally awkward at all. In general, we value silence and converse in more hushed tones compared to people outside of Finland/northern Europe, especially out in public spaces.

ninaeatworld , MART PRODUCTION/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

136points

Spidercat 8 months ago

I'm moving to Finland immediately.

93points

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And there’s loads of these cultures. Each country has at least one, and if it’s a bigger or more ethnically diverse country, there can be more (in the thousands even). And that’s just one aspect. Cultures can form among regions, districts, or communities that can all focus on the various aspects of identity—communities based around political beliefs, religious ones, hobbies and interests, and the like.

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#10

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread We have Right to Roam in Scotland and whenever I've seen this discussed on Reddit, what I assumed to be a near-universally popular policy has been torn to shreds by Americans. It's anathema to them, it fries their brains.

"So a homeless person can just pitch a tent in your yard and you can't get rid of them???!!!!"

"So people can just come onto a farmer's land and destroy his crops????!!!!"

"So people can just get access to military installations and airports??!!!"

No amount of explaining that's not how it works will calm them.

cragglerock93 Report

Final score:

129points

Susie Elle 8 months ago

Right to roam roughly boils down to: you're allowed to freely explore, as long as you respect the environment, the land and any specific boundaries or restrictions that are in place, as far as I know.

134points

JuJu 8 months ago

But it means you can't just shoot at people on your ground...SOME people have trouble with that idea.

26points

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Sunny Day 8 months ago

It's the "respect the environment" that trips up the homeless in the US. (Almost) no one would complain about a tent. It's the trash dump that soon appears in a 50ft circle around it that pisses people off.

14points

ZGutr 8 months ago

exactly. like in the nordics (allemansrätten) The freedom to go almost(!) anywhere you like is something else than "do whatever you like, wherever you want". Rules still apply.

2points

Papa 8 months ago

Thank you for the clarification.

0points

Sven Grammersdorf 8 months ago

You can do that in America too if there's not a fence or a "no trespassing" sign or a purple line painted on a tree

-1point

Alewa 8 months ago

It seems what they cannot fathom is that people will behave appropriately out of their own will, without external regulation.

21points

Tristan J 8 months ago

It seems like the most difficult place to actually make a libertarian utopia

0points

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PSimms 8 months ago

Americans have so successfully deluded themselves into thinking they're the land of the free, when actually and increasingly the opposite is true.

7points

Lesley Relph 8 months ago

In England you can't access land unless the law says you can (public rights of way) whereas in Scotland you CAN access land unless the law says you can't.

7points

Adrian 8 months ago

The U.S. is having its own problems now with squatters rights, due to the housing crisis.

6points

Hard as pumpuli 8 months ago

In Finland we have every man’s rights. But research thoroughly (Visit Finland is a good site) before you use them, not everything is allowed.

6points

muntherqia 8 months ago

In Sweden too, and we take pride in that

3points

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Tyranamar 8 months ago

This kind of law would only work in a place where people were respectful. Not every place is like that.

3points

Whitefox 8 months ago

I think a big part of the problem with this in the US is that people have abused any rights they have been granted. If someone popped a tent in my yard, I'd have a legit fear that they will destroy my property and or attempt to claim it as theirs. Farmers also have a legit worry about people stealing their crops out from under them even with trespass laws in place, never mind if people were legally allowed to enter their property. And Lets not even talk about the liability concerns. Someone could sue you for injuring themselves while on your property, and they would go after you for everything. I really wish it wasn't like this.

2points

Martin 8 months ago

It's a basic definition of: You can go anywhere you like in Scotland, as long as you don't cause damage, wander into military establishments for your own safety or leave gates open.

2points

Jessterhq 8 months ago

As an American, I'd love this! I'd be respectful and not bother anyone or anything. I wish I could do such a thing here, but I'd probably get in trouble for just existing. 🤷

2points

Michelle C 8 months ago

We used to have that, too. In my state, that can put parents at risk of child abuse charges since they are now considered “free-range,” which means “neglected “ to the government. I heard of a case in Rockville, Maryland, some years ago in which the parents almost lost their kids to the state following their arrests, as an example.

2points

Highball 7 months ago

You don't do a very good job of defining roam, and your reactions are of the few not the majority. Americans are much more prone to roaming than other cultures. It is still a big open country, and we use it, people are always going and coming, not staying in their own back yard so to speak.

1point

EJN 8 months ago

Americans consider land to be a possession. After all, they stole it from the Indigenous people and then fenced it off and called it "mine". There is no sense of sharing re land in the US.

1point

Debby Keir 8 months ago

Did a road trip through New England some years ago, and every beach was at the end of a private road. Couldn't get anywhere near the sea for a peaceful stroll.

1point

Kitty White 8 months ago

It always startles me for a second when I see video that someone has posted where they’re out hiking in Scotland and cross paths with Queen Elizabeth or King Charles. During that split-second, I wonder how much trouble the commoners will get into for trespassing OR how the heck did the royal security detail let their charge wander so far off their property. IOW, even though I *know,* it’s still surprising at first.

1point

Lena Flising 1 week ago

We have something similar to this in Sweden too. Allemansrätten (The Right of Public Access) gives us the freedom to roam just about anywhere in the countryside as long as we do not disturb or destroy. Remember to respect animals, nature and other people at all times. It's not allowed to pitch a tent in someones yard, no; it has to be out of sight of houses.

0points

Craig Reynolds 1 week ago

The reason for the "pitch a tent" one is that in many places here in the US, you can't get rid of them without an extended legal process. If you try to force them off of your property, you can be arrested and sued. If you are on good terms with local police, they may remove them for you for trespassing, but if not, you will be told it's a civil matter, and then it can take months. The whole issue is a manure thing called 'squatter's rights.'

0points

Jay Cee 1 week ago

"And you're not allowed to shoot them?"

0points

Namea 1 week ago

Literally it just means that if I go on a walk and cross someone's land to admire the view I won't be shot or charged with trespassing. Of course it also means I have to respect the land, no littering, taking anything, etc.

0points

Liz-ard 7 months ago

Sverige har - precis som Skottland om jag fattade texten rätt - något som heter Allemans Rätt. Betyder att man får vistas fritt (-ish) i naturen, plocka bär, plocka blommor, fiska (oftast behövs fisketillstånd dock) om man inte stör, skräpar ned och eller förstör. Vi har stora problem när turister kommer och fått för sig att man får gå var som helst och i stor sett göra vad som helst.

0points

Veronica Vatter 8 months ago

We say that because that is what would happen here if we had the same thing.

0points

Karen Bryan 8 months ago

Recent news story from where I live (Rockies): Snowboarders threatened by shotgun-wielding landowner for "trespassing". I know of at least one incident in which a guy was shot and killed for using a road that some guy new to the area had declared to be his.

0points

Janice Hannaby 8 months ago

In Canada you can go anywhere as long as the land isn't "posted" as private. We also have loads of camp grounds, picnic areas and hiking trails. Being respectful to the environment and others is expected and in some cases, legislated.

0points

Wm Paul Robinson 8 months ago

And the right to roamin in the gloamin at that!

0points

Lorenzo 8 months ago

"No amount of explaining" pretty much sums it up for Yanks on most topics. Their preconceived notions and prejudices are immutable. They're terrible listeners. BTW, I am one. It's one of the reasons I left.

0points

Aboredpanda 8 months ago

Norway is the same, some really don't get it. But it's a wonderful thing.

0points

Cuppa tea? 8 months ago

Same misunderstanding as freedom of speech.

0points

Timbob 8 months ago

Doesn’t mean that every place is like, or should be like Scotland.

0points

Nitka Tsar 8 months ago

Isn‘t this a thing in all of Europe? I know it is in Germany

0points

GhostlySnail (she/her) 8 months ago

That sounds amazing, I want to move

0points

jmdirks 8 months ago

It's not just pitching a tent though, is it?? It's destruction of property! It's squatters who break into your home and destroy your home just because you went on a two week vacation. Squatters that you can't get rid of because of the liberal left policies that give the squatters more rights than you have.

-1point

Rich Black 8 months ago

I dont want to find a tent sprang up overnight in my backyard. Where do these campers defecate?

-1point

DeoManus Argentem 8 months ago

We have plenty of wilderness owned by the federal/state/local government open to explore - why you want to intrude on somebody's private property? "Right to roam" seems like a euphemism for "lack of property rights", tbh. Just looking at it from the land owner perspective - my land, I want to be able to do whatever I want on it (legally, of course), embarrassing as it may be, in private without worrying about some hiker stumbling upon me doing whatever weird personal thing I happen to be doing that day.

-1point

Dean Pangelinan 8 months ago

Yeah, "right to roam" stops at personal property in the U.S.A. And we wouldn't have it any other way!

-3points

Rostit.. . 8 months ago

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#11

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Informality, especially with service workers. Used to work in a supermarket and an old American guy was complaining about something. I tried to help him and he began ranting, told me I was rude and demanded to be addressed as “sir” to which I burst out laughing, enraging him further.

anon , Amina Filkins/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

120points

eric p 8 months ago

As an American I have not once seen this happen in a grocery store...

98points

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#12

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Swedish elevator etiquette:

1. if I can hear you breathe, your presence is too intrusive

2. if you look directly at me, I will mentally stab you

3. if you engage me in small-talk, you are no longer welcome in the country.

AminoKing , cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

119points

Marcos Valencia 8 months ago

You should share an elevator with my parents. Shock therapy guaranteed.

34points

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One of the key aspects that explain why there are so many cultures out there is the idea of ecology. In different parts of the world, people are surrounded by different physical and social conventions.

While we are all the same as a species, we all have mechanisms that allow us to adapt to our immediate surroundings in different ways.

#13

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread England: I have witnessed Americans fume at the way service works when eating food at a pub. No one will greet you when you walk in, no one will come to your table to take your order. Find a table, read the menu, order and pay at the bar.

publius_decius , Percival Ian Muico/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

115points

Zedrapazia 8 months ago

The Irish/Scots (both have pubs) will also kick you out if you yell at them in their own pub instead of putting up with the bûllshit

84points

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#14

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Germany: Standing at a red light in the middle of the night on an empty street waiting for the light to turn green. We do not question the meaning of rules.

Confident_Yam3132 , Elijah O'Donnell/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

110points

Marianne 8 months ago

In my experience, only few people still do that.

29points

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#15

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Belgium: My brother In law once held a bottle of wine in an American supermarket ("Can you put it in the cart, son?") and all of the Americans looked shocked. The idea of a child holding a bottle of alcohol...

They were much more lenient regarding guns though.

Kikkervelf , Mizzu Cho/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

102points

Candace 8 months ago

Only in America is it easier to buy a gun than a Kinder egg. Guess which one Walmart sells?

76points

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The phenomenon is called adaptive phenotypic plasticity and it’s basically the idea of the same genes leading to different human traits depending on the environment.

And the body is going to keep it that way because evolutionary theories suggest natural selection favors flexible behaviors that are sensitive to such environmental changes. And if you pair that up with the idea that we are stronger and more fit to survive in groups, it only solidifies the role of culture in evolution.

#16

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread In the Netherlands we have something called a 'dropping', which is where we pull our kids out of bed in the middle of the night, dump them in the woods without phones and make them find their own way back. This is very common to do at school camps and with the scouts. Its is completely normal and dutch kids find it rather exciting and not traumatizing at all.

Considering many Americans consider letting your kids play in the front lawn unattended, or letting them cycle around the suburbs by themselves, negligent parenting this is probably quite shocking to them too.

I have to note however, we have no large predators, only a couple wolves, but in very confined areas. Also, the optimal route is commonly only about 30 mins walking, which never happens ofc, and it is hard to not hit a road with signs or a village by walking in an arbitrary direction for half an hour in the Netherlands.

SystemEarth , cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

100points

Kirsten Kerkhof 8 months ago

Oh, I remember doing a 'dropping' when I was 12! I was equal parts excited and terrified (and soaked because of course it was raining).

46points

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#17

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread PDA and a lack of prudism. I saw a tiktok of a guy freaking out because a girl was sitting on his boyfriend's lap at the train. If he ever came to Spain he’d leave traumatized due to the huge amount of people that shamelessly make out on the streets, sunbathe naked, etc.

CarangiBooks , Irene Furlan/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

92points

Roxy222uk 8 months ago

Wait - the guy was freaking out because a girl was sitting on his boyfriend's lap? Or did the OP mean 'her' boyfriend's lap. Because those are very different situations.

84points

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#18

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I’m non-European but once studied & lived in both US and Europe. Based on my observations of a few European countries (disclaimer ahead: not all
European countries are like this):

- Home schooling being illegal except in very narrow and absolutely necessary cases.
- Surrogacy being illegal
- Good public transportation, which leads to
- Very young kids take buses, trams, underground, or ride bicycles to school and go home
- drinking alcohol at 18 or even younger
- wearing school uniforms
- No AC in the house
- not allowed to talk loudly in public
- parents allow their kids to stay overnight at their partners’ houses & vice versa
- Religion being a personal thing that doesn’t shove down other people’s throats; openly saying you are non-religious/agnostic/atheist
- Comprehensive sex ed > abstinence-only

All I can think so far.

peggyzyy , Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

90points

JuJu 8 months ago

Yes, the homeschooling part! It is super weird to me that people who can barely manage their life can decide to homeschool their children andcteach them a lot of mumpitz. We have mandatory curriculums and you have to pass certain tests ever so often to finish school. And not every Tweedledee can call themself teacher.

93points

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As such, that which makes us all similar and psychologically tending towards the same things is expected of humans sharing similar ecological conditions.

To keep it clear, the idea of environmental conditions isn’t just weather patterns—it’s also things like the social, physical and a slew of other climates, conditions that force us to react in one way or another.

#19

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I'm am American living in Portugal and one thing that surprised me is you just take off your clothes in front of the doctor.

In the US, they give you privacy and you take off your clothes and put on a gown. Then the doctor or nurse knocks and comes in. Here, you go the gynecologist and you just take off your pants and undies and hop right up into the stirrups. A friend said she was shocked to not be given a robe for her mammogram. Just shirt and bra right off and letting it all hang out.

Makes sense! They're going to see your bits and bobs anyway! It's more efficient to not have that extra step in between.

dutchyardeen , Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

85points

Becky Samuel 8 months ago

To be so ashamed and concerned about your own body is inconceivable to me. The doctor has seen every size and shape of body, yours is no different. The fact that children in the US (and increasingly in the UK) are being trained to have this hangup is so sad.

41points

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#20

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread We call each other c**t, often as a term of endearment. Eg: "Ah Tommy you're some mad c**t."

I am led to believe the Yanks do not particularly like that word.

TheYoungWan , Bas Masseus/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

83points

El Dee 8 months ago

Australia, Scotland and Ireland. The 'c word' is not used offensively, generally used to men and often used as a compound word eg 'madcunt' or 'goodcunt' It's either said as a compliment or, at worst, mild ribaldry..

20points

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#21

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Denmark: Babies sleeping outside. In particular babies sleeping alone in public outside restaurants or shops for example.

GeronimoDK , Yan Krukau/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

82points

Premislaus de Colo 8 months ago

Nordic countries only

44points

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And all of this is important why? Because, tl;dr, we’re better off closer together.

By learning who the other is, we empower ourselves to learn more about what the world is like, and education never hurts anyone (getting hit by a book isn’t an argument against it, Tim).

As such, this way we build trust and respect, and if a particular place becomes rich in multiculturalism that way, it just makes it more interesting to live there.

#22

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Netherlands: Children from around the age of six being able to play outside on the streets and in the woods and meadows with other children on their own, unsupervised. At least in the villages. As long as they are home before supper and the parents have a general idea of where they are.

Tubafex , Allan Mas/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

82points

Kirsten Kerkhof 8 months ago

I let my nephew and niece (age 6 and 8 respectively) roam around the neighbourhood unsupervised when I babysit (the parents know this and agree). They know where they are allowed to go, and I'll stay home until they are back, but I trust them and they know it. They're smart little kids.

20points

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#23

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Sweden:

* The ability to immigrate to a non-Swedish citizen who lives in Sweden, as a partner in a same-sex, unwed couple.

* No screens on the windows and no AC in homes, businesses or public transit (and yes, it does get hot here).

* In Stockholm, it takes an average of 9 years of waiting in a rental queue to be able to rent an apartment (or you can sublet for hugely inflated prices). Once you sign a rental contract, your waiting time starts over again. People trade rental contracts in order to be able to move apartments, and rental contracts are sold on the black market.

* University is free.

* TV dramas about teenagers having lots of great sex, shows about sex are shown on national public television.

* Servers/waitstaff are paid a living wage. Tips are not required or necessarily expected.

* A visit to the doctor costs about $25. All healthcare is free for a year after you’ve paid $140/year in fees. Giving birth is free. Cancer treatment is free (once you've paid $140/year).

* Everyone eats mushrooms and berries they find in the woods. Wild foraging is a very common pastime

* Taking a dip in a hole in the ice of a frozen lake is a relatively common winter weekend activity.

* Your running water/warm water/heating is usually paid for by the rental company.

* Salty, ammonia-flavored licorice is considered delicious

* Carrying pepper spray requires a permit

* Carrying any size of knife or sharp object in public is illegal, except when required by work, or some other justifiable purpose (like mushroom hunting).

* Only 6% of the Swedish population has a license to own a firearm

1agomorph , Efrem Efre/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

77points

General Anaesthesia 8 months ago

Did you forget, * Open a can of surströmming if you want to be alone? [Fermented herring. Some say it smells like a dead body. Others liken it to a dirty nappy. In other words, it reeks.]

24points

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#24

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread The Netherlands: Drinking alcohol around children is very normal. On a nice day you see families sitting comfortably in the park with a glass of wine in their hand and the children playing around them.

Honest-School5616 , Isabella Mendes/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

70points

pelemele 8 months ago (edited)

As Jrog explains, this "culture" of alcohol has the advantage of demystifying its consumption and therefore making it generally safer by allowing you to have a healthier relationship and to know your limits (at least for Most people and that doesn't mean you'll make children drink). And conversely, I'm always surprised to see that in American films and series the slightest occasion seems to be an excuse to have a drink, all the time, at any time of the day or night.

45points

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This is also why we ought to support cultural diversity, and there’s a number of ways of doing it. First up, plunge into the pool of diversity as living in one rubs off on you. This is quite literally how culture works.

All the while avoid imposing values that others may have trouble accepting or it’s inconsistent with their own.

#25

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread France. Eating proper meals at school and not snacks. I wouldn't have imagined eating a pack of chips, pizza or industrial slices bread. Lunches were cooked on site and consisted of proper dishes like a restaurant.

Also, non overly friendly staff in shops or restaurants that don't treat clients like royalty. You won't have a waiter come to you ask if everything is fine every 2 minutes. Or very polite staff in shops, quite the opposite. There's a reason French people have the reputation of being rude. ;).

Matttthhhhhhhhhhh , Jer Chung/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

68points

Marcos Valencia 8 months ago

Pizza is available as a proper course in Spanish and (of course) Italian schools. But chips and ultra-processed food is, indeed, banned.

21points

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#26

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Austria: As an assistant manager I regularly had to calm American customers down because the staff in our souvenir shop told them that they are busy at the moment (not with other customers) and can't help them with finding certain items. Never any other nation had a problem with that.

(But Americans are usually the only ones anyway asking for the manager. Only once in my career one Chinese woman asked for one but that was it).

ordealofmedusa , Said/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

67points

Marcos Valencia 8 months ago (edited)

I'm a 50 yo Spaniard, and never in my life asked for the manager. Unless I knew the manager and I was there to have a coffee together...

56points

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#27

I attended university in 3 different European countries, got my masters, and just paid about 50 euros in total fees for 10 years of studying (I wasn't in a hurry to finish, as classes were interesting, I learned a lot and had fun)

And all these universities were better than expensive private colleges in USA (I work as IT in expensive private college in NYC so I know).

t3chguy1 Report

Final score:

66points

Robert T 8 months ago

I paid zero fees for my degree in the UK, but that was in an age where a smaller proportion of students went on to university. Fees are still paid by the government in Scotland.

23points

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A lot of what accepting other cultures is can be defined as education and understanding. So teach yourself and learn to understand the concepts that describe these other cultures. In turn, learn to respect and accept them, and this will show a good example to others.

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By proxy, push away the tide of ignorance and stop folks from exercising insensitivity, bias and prejudice. Being proactive in all of these things will solidify the experience.

#28

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Poland:

Married couples often refer to their parents in-law as just "mom" and "dad".

Everyone is sir/madam until you both decide otherwise. Calling adult person you just met "you" or their name is a big no-no.

Pasta or rice with strawberries and cream is a summer dessert.

Majority of people here would hate the idea of store staff smiling at them and offering help all the time.

Eating inside with your hat on is considered rude af.

kompocik99 , Luke Miller/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

58points

Josephine Blogs 8 months ago

Pasta and Strawberries? what??

40points

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#29

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Living comfortably without a car or a driving licence. Even if someone has a car, they only use it for transporting something heavy or going for journeys outside of town, not for daily commuting.

Daily commuting by trains and train stops in every other village.

Parents and other family members letting little children drink alcohol. I'm pretty sure I was a toddler when I had beer for the first time. On the weekends we all had a glass of beer after lunch, and at the family gatherings everyone got a glass of alcohol for a toast. (I hope most young parents nowadays wouldn't do that. I'm 30.).

Ostruzina , Lukas Hartmann/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

54points

Pittsburgh rare 8 months ago

Anyone over 45 in Spain had a shot of sweet wine given by their grandmas to boost their appetite. The only thing that divide is is what brand we were given 😆

23points

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#30

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread There appear to be few things as confusing to Americans as a "if you meet the minimum education requirements you're just in" policy in higher education admittance.

41942319 , Pixabay/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

47points

Bols 8 months ago

What I really don't get about US education system (apart from ridiculous tuitions of course, this is just bonkers) is the legacy status. Accepting students based on where their parents studied just gives me monarchy vibes, I think all people should be judged on their own merit and actions, not their parents. I fear many talented students lost their places because some entitled rich kids took their spot only because of who they were born to.

61points

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So, what are your thoughts on any of this? What are some differences that you think are worth mentioning here? Share your takes and stories in the comment section below!

Oh, and before I forget, there’s more where that came from.

#31

Sweden: The lax attitude to nudity, religion and Disney.

Also that dad has the right to stay home with the kids when they are under 1 year and get paid to do so and men does this because they want too. Yeah, I have male friend been told they are "gay" and not manly for doing normal house chores and being a sane parent.

CakePhool Report

Final score:

24points

Jihana 8 months ago

Being married to a woman and having a child is now gay? To quote Inigo Montoya: I don't think that word means whst you think it means.

14points

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#32

France : the owner of the shop/restaurant refusing to do something for a customer he doesn't agree with (like ice in your wine). Customer is not king here.

marmakoide Report

Final score:

22points

Michael Largey 8 months ago

If you insist in France that the customer is king, remember what they do to kings there.

11points

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#33

I've seen Americans break down because they thought everyone was beeing mean and short with them , when it's just that Dutch culture is less ambigious.

Like when someone doesn't think a idea is very good they will say it's a bad idea , not as like a personal judgement but just that one idea just now.

aagjevraagje Report

Final score:

20points

#34

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Crotia:

We learn how to drink really early in life. By the time we're legally allowed to, we have a tolerance and culture of drinking to we don't pass out so easily.

Kids don't drive. But these are boring examples.

How about supermarkets not working 24/7, not everyone speaking English, especially elderly who usually rather speak German or Russian, not having highways of US scale, people walking around towns, kids going to profession-specified high schools, foxes walking around towns like domestic animals and deers in people's yards.

>500 y/o buildings still in use, gas stoves, turkish coffee, 7-15 work hours, more than 2 parties on political scene, smoking being popular, majority using android devices...

grounded_dreamer , Tembela Bohle/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

17points

Alewa 8 months ago

Does OP believe #1 is a good thing?

7points

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#35

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Germany: Keeping a separation between work and real friendships. Americans chit chat at work and talk about personal things. Currently working in US and am a bit socially awkward at work here.

smokeandmirrorsff , Christina Morillo/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

16points

SBocker78 8 months ago

As an American, I relate to this. Please don't ask me personal questions at work.

3points

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#36

Calling cigarettes "f**s".

Saying "I'm going for a Chinese", "I'm going for an Indian"

Then names of Chinese and Indian restaurants like "Oriental Pearl" or "Bombay Spice".

Black people with standard regional British accents.

ThaiFoodThaiFood Report

Final score:

13points

Marcos Valencia 8 months ago

"Black people with standard regional British accents." Wow, being shocked by that is... quite interesting.

7points

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#37

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread In Slovakia, men throwing buckets of cold water on women on Easter Monday. And then the woman thanks them and offers them a shot of vodka.

andrejRavenclaw , Steven Lilley/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

12points

Jihana 8 months ago

Where is that so I can avoid that particular region during Easter time?

22points

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#38

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread There are certain non-PC jokes and phrases regarding different racial groups that would probably offend the sensibilities of many Americans. Danes have a much different mindset when it comes to such things.

Also, the more relaxed attitude towards alcohol. This includes younger people being much more able to consume it. A lot of people tend to start drinking alcohol around the age they are confirmed.

LudicrousPlatypus , Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

12points

Roxy222uk 8 months ago

Hmm, do the members of these racial groups feel the same way, or do they have to put on a smile and pretend if they want to have friends?

12points

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#39

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Turkish people will stare and get into your personal space. Men kiss other men to greet, best guy and girl friends walk arm in arm or arm on shoulder and nobody thinks they're gay. People send little kids to buy cigarettes and alcohol.

tereyaglikedi , Zeeshan Khan/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

12points

Jack Burton 8 months ago

Covid killed french "bise" but we used to kiss each other on the cheeks even between men or at work

1point

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#40

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Spain

Eating rabbit and snails.

Babies/small children staying out until past midnight in the street while their parents are eating taking a drink on summer nights.

Out meals hours.

Persianas (blinds that fully block sunlight).

ElKaoss , Maria Orlova/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

11points

troufaki13 8 months ago

We also have these things in Greece. Maybe it's a Mediterranean thing?

9points

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#41

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Belgium: Waiters in restaurants won't constantly bother you, and you have to actively wave them down if you want to order another drink. This might be seen as lack of engagement by Americans.

Also no free water in restaurants here, which I myself don't particularly like, because ordering these tiny 20cl water bottles that are gone in two gulps is a giant waste of money.

Vince0789 , Ksenia Chernaya/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

11points

Marcos Valencia 8 months ago

Free tap water must be available in restaurants in Spain. It was a habit, now it's a law.

14points

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#42

Czechia: We make a procession where three men dress up as the three kings who visited Jesus in Betlehem. One of them is painted black.

TessaBrooding Report

Final score:

11points

Marcos Valencia 8 months ago

Yes, the Three Kings/Wise Men, every 5th of January. In Spain, being painted black wasn't considered offensive (the other 2 kings had beards and fake beards didn't offend bearded people). But now the Spanish black population is much bigger than in the past, so the "blackfaced" option is less common.

7points

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#43

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Slovenia: It was pretty common to go drink a beer or two with classmates and friends in senior highschool years. This was a while back, I am a millenial, not sure if it is still common. We also had a party with soft alcoholic drinks at the end of elementary school.

Legal drinking age is 18, but it's not like the police are chasing around kids drinking beer. Bars and grocery stores require an ID tho, if you want to buy alcohol.

chunek , cottonbro studio/Pexels(not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

11points

Gavin Johnson 8 months ago

When I lived in a small, rural town we had 4 pubs. One pub was known for its slightly lax approach to checking ID. The local Police would drop in there a couple of times on a Friday / Saturday night to see how everything was going, we’d see them in our local too but that was for them to get a brew! The wisdom was that 17s and an odd 16 year year old in the pub being watched over by locals was better than them hiding the booze and drinking too much whilst sat in the park. Never had any bother and their pub was a calm place.

6points

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#44

Czechia: Paying for public toilets, apparently.

Dogs allowed in pubs/shops.

And I've seen a lot of surprised comments about old and/or disabled people just walking/riding around in wheelchairs on the streets and taking public transportation.

Final score:

11points

Marianne 8 months ago

What are people in wheelchairs supposed to do, if being on the street or taking public transport is weird?

13points

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#45

In the UK, the default in parks is dogs can be off-lead. Americans seem to think it's very irresponsible to let dogs off in public areas, except in dedicated, fenced-off dog parks.

unseemly_turbidity Report

Final score:

8points

LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago

That’s because there are irresponsible owners who do not train their dogs at all. So your dog might be well-behaved, but someone else’s dog will run up and attack it (or you!) Or the untrained dog will run off after a squirrel and won’t listen to recall/commands to come back, and they could run into a road/street and be hit by a car. Depending on where you live in the US, there might be very little public transportation available, so there are a LOT of cars around. Also, at least where I live, people are horrible slobs in parks and will leave their trash thrown on the ground. I don’t want to risk either of my dogs eating something they shouldn’t before I could stop them, or stepping on broken glass, etc. It’s a bit of an oversimplification, of course, but many Americans think dog parks are the only safe place to let your dog run off-leash outside of one’s own yard.

16points

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Robertas Lisickis

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Ilona Baliūnaitė

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

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

What do you think ?

Gary 8 months ago

I think most of these would make more sense if the title had the country in question.

16points

Mike F 8 months ago (edited)

Can we have one of these that isn't US vs whomever? WTF is it with you people pitting the one people against another in so damned many posts ? I GUARANTEE you that your people don't occupy a space in our heads the way we seem to in yours. Unless we're talking the whole "low hanging fruit" thing in writing posts 🤔. If you're just not that creative perhaps you should touch some grass and reevaluate your chosen career.

12points

Rosemary . 8 months ago

I'm so tired of these articles too. I think we all realize that other countries do things differently. Yes, we're aware other countries have free heath care and college. Do you think we have a choice of how things work over here? I assure you, we don't and voting for one vs the other won't help because all politicians are bought and paid for. Also the people that always shouted 'USA is best!' are from 50-60 years ago. The vast majority of Americans today are just trying to get through the day, just like everyone else.

8points

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Feathered Dinosaur 8 months ago (edited)

No, no, it's more like watching a train wreck. You're appalled, but you just can't look away.

1point

Ken Schroeder 8 months ago (edited)

I would imagine it's because as a country and a society, we Americans suck; AND we insist on everyone kowtowing to us while we suck. AND we LOVE to send our money and soldiers to the few countries that suck more than we do. We claim to be the best, have the most freedoms, etc.; but we're a bunch of twats that nobody wants around overseas.

-2points

Rostit.. . 8 months ago

Downvote xenophobic threads

4points

90HD 8 months ago

ok

3points

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cugel. 8 months ago

We have mandatory voting here in OZ, doesn't seem to go down well elsewhere.

3points

M Kovacs 8 months ago

Really America is a repressed, religious mania, gun mad, dystopia.

1point

BlueBlazer999 8 months ago

It’s nice they added the country in question.

1point

Liz Downing 7 months ago

I admit I couldn't finish reading all these, because I found those I read to be mostly untrue.

0points

chickpea me 7 months ago

Unshaven armpits. Never felt the need to remove them.

0points

Tony Chambers 7 months ago

I saw a post the other day comparing the size of the US to European countries. The comparison showed the dramatic difference of US travel distances vs. European travel distances. It's pretty different, to say the least. And, yes, I've lived an traveled in both

0points

Dariusz M. D. 8 months ago

Let's leave Americans alone. They are already suffering a lot. How about some other ethnic/national group? I am Polish, there is plenty to make fun of in my country. Have a go!

0points

Sammie 19 8 months ago

In Sweden Healthcare costs are a maximum of 1400sek (€125/136usd) in a 12 month period, once you reach it your healthcare is free for the remainder of the 12 month period. Costs for being admitted to hospital is just 130sek per day (€12/13 usd) which includes all treatments, whether it's all the tests needed, cts, MRI, operations plus all medication and food. Prescriptions cost a maximum of 2600sek (€231/252usd) in a 12 month period, mine took 3 months to hit the cap and that means 9 months of free meds. Insulin including all the apparatus such as needles, blood sugar measuring device, insulin pump is all free.

0points

Rosemary . 8 months ago

Yay for you.

0points

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Gary 8 months ago

I think most of these would make more sense if the title had the country in question.

16points

Mike F 8 months ago (edited)

Can we have one of these that isn't US vs whomever? WTF is it with you people pitting the one people against another in so damned many posts ? I GUARANTEE you that your people don't occupy a space in our heads the way we seem to in yours. Unless we're talking the whole "low hanging fruit" thing in writing posts 🤔. If you're just not that creative perhaps you should touch some grass and reevaluate your chosen career.

12points

Rosemary . 8 months ago

I'm so tired of these articles too. I think we all realize that other countries do things differently. Yes, we're aware other countries have free heath care and college. Do you think we have a choice of how things work over here? I assure you, we don't and voting for one vs the other won't help because all politicians are bought and paid for. Also the people that always shouted 'USA is best!' are from 50-60 years ago. The vast majority of Americans today are just trying to get through the day, just like everyone else.

8points

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Feathered Dinosaur 8 months ago (edited)

No, no, it's more like watching a train wreck. You're appalled, but you just can't look away.

1point

Ken Schroeder 8 months ago (edited)

I would imagine it's because as a country and a society, we Americans suck; AND we insist on everyone kowtowing to us while we suck. AND we LOVE to send our money and soldiers to the few countries that suck more than we do. We claim to be the best, have the most freedoms, etc.; but we're a bunch of twats that nobody wants around overseas.

-2points

Rostit.. . 8 months ago

Downvote xenophobic threads

4points

90HD 8 months ago

ok

3points

Load More Replies...

cugel. 8 months ago

We have mandatory voting here in OZ, doesn't seem to go down well elsewhere.

3points

M Kovacs 8 months ago

Really America is a repressed, religious mania, gun mad, dystopia.

1point

BlueBlazer999 8 months ago

It’s nice they added the country in question.

1point

Liz Downing 7 months ago

I admit I couldn't finish reading all these, because I found those I read to be mostly untrue.

0points

chickpea me 7 months ago

Unshaven armpits. Never felt the need to remove them.

0points

Tony Chambers 7 months ago

I saw a post the other day comparing the size of the US to European countries. The comparison showed the dramatic difference of US travel distances vs. European travel distances. It's pretty different, to say the least. And, yes, I've lived an traveled in both

0points

Dariusz M. D. 8 months ago

Let's leave Americans alone. They are already suffering a lot. How about some other ethnic/national group? I am Polish, there is plenty to make fun of in my country. Have a go!

0points

Sammie 19 8 months ago

In Sweden Healthcare costs are a maximum of 1400sek (€125/136usd) in a 12 month period, once you reach it your healthcare is free for the remainder of the 12 month period. Costs for being admitted to hospital is just 130sek per day (€12/13 usd) which includes all treatments, whether it's all the tests needed, cts, MRI, operations plus all medication and food. Prescriptions cost a maximum of 2600sek (€231/252usd) in a 12 month period, mine took 3 months to hit the cap and that means 9 months of free meds. Insulin including all the apparatus such as needles, blood sugar measuring device, insulin pump is all free.

0points

Rosemary . 8 months ago

Yay for you.

0points

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