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People have different reactions to cultures they are not familiar with. They may judge it thinking it is wrong, they might accept it as it is or try to learn the logic behind it. The cultures people really like comparing is the general European culture and the culture in the United States that we colloquially call American. They are both considered The West but there are still small everyday things that we find weird about each other and this time Americans are pointing out the oddities of Europeans after someone asks “Americans, what do Europeans do that you find really weird?”

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#1

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community
Not weird, but I'm always pretty impressed by their grasp of languages. Here's Ivan straight outta the mean streets of Moscow who speaks better English than I do and he also speaks Portuguese and Mandarin

ceyeye3219 , Lara Jameson Report

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Jaaawn
Jaaawn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. My grandmother was Polish and could speak so many languages! Likely because she married a British soldier who was then stationed all over the world. My biggest shock was when the pair of us were hunting for bargains at a jewellery stall and she started talking to the Middle Eastern seller in Arabic!

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#2

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community The amount of time y’all have to vacation.

Crafty-Second-530 , Mateusz Dach Report

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Babsevs
Babsevs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have mandated "vacation" or holiday time (annual leave) built into our contracts. I'm in UK...I get 36 days a year annual leave. Every single year. Only 5 are bank holidays, the remainder are of our choosing

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#3

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community How most cities are walkable. You need a car everywhere in USA, no matter what.

No-Strawberry-5541 , Kaique Rocha Report

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timebleeder
timebleeder
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The walkability if a city in the U.S. is largely determined by whether or not the car existed when the main infrastructure of the city was developed. Alot of the coastal city infrastructures predate the car so they are walkable while the further inland you go the less walkable most cities become because they were mostly developed after the car so built around the car. There are of course some exceptions.

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#4

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community In Paris, I was offered a seat on the metro when there was none every single time.( I'm a senior). Very seldom happens here.

bluehunger , Pixabay Report

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#5

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community You guys have hamburger flavored Cheetos in your "American Food" isle

Homie, we don't even have those.

tanis1110 , Mike Mozart Report

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Jeremy James
Jeremy James
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww, this is cute. The Germans gave America hamburgers. The Americans gave Germany Cheetos. It's like The Gift of the Magi.

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#6

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community I lived in Europe for two years. One thing that stands out is people were much more fashion-conscious. I view clothes as a fabric that I am mandated to wear so that I am not arrested.

Human_Ad_1761 , Darya Sannikova Report

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#7

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community I can't remember if this is Ireland specific or a thing in the rest of Europe, but the bathroom light switch being outside of the door. Pray tell, Ireland, just how many times a father or a sibling has flicked the switch on and off or just straight up turned it off while you were doing your business?

kurage-22 , Tara Winstead Report

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Moodles
Moodles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In most of the UK it's like that too. Either outside the door or a pull switch. It's for safety reasons so you don't tough it with wet hands and electrocute yourself

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#8

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Unironically and openly discriminate against Romani people while looking down on the US for their race issues.

AnUnstableNucleus , Clinton Steeds Report

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Esist Nosrep
Esist Nosrep
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had couple close encounters with romani and both times they stole from me

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#9

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community I lined in Germany 3 years, I loved everything about it, except one thing; personal space doesn't exist in lines. I'd be standing in line at a store and the next person behind me is breathing down my neck.

Step back man.

SGTRhoads16 , freestocks.org Report

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#10

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Went across the pond for a deployment. Two things I noticed that were peculiar:

1. The amount of smoking. Europeans seem to smoke a lot more than Americans, and, unlike us, at face-value there don't seem to be discrepancies based on class or anything; *everyone* smokes.

2. The fascination with track suits. A lot of the guys loved track suits. Hell, I was surrounded by such track-suit exposure I wound up getting one myself (I love it)!

No judgement and nothing but love, y'all.

ActPsychological8189 , Lucas Pezeta Report

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#11

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community A lot of European cultures eat dinner so late at night. I can't image eating my dinner at 8 or 9 at night.

Ok_friendship2119 , Askar Abayev Report

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TheElderNom
TheElderNom
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It seems to be more common in southern Europe, up here in the north we tend to eat earlier.

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#12

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Specifically Germans (Berliners) in this case.

When you move, you take the kitchen with you. That is just mind boggling to me.

schroedingersnewcat , Mark McCammon Report

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Babsevs
Babsevs
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eeehh??? I've heard some weird things about moving home here in the UK (like taking all the lightbulbs) , the only things from a kitchen you take here are the appliances, and then only if they are freestanding and will fit in the new place!

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#13

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Make people pay to use public toilets

Leeser , Sung Jin Cho Report

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#14

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community No one has screens on their windows in Europe. How do you open your window without getting a house full of bugs?

tiwasi7877 , Luke Webb Report

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Little L
Little L
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because we don't have many of them? Seriously. You knew that.

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#15

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community I do find it a bit odd that everyone sort of agrees nothing happens in August. Like, for a whole month, you better not need anything done - even doctors seem scarce.

EDIT: To be clear, August is the vacation month in many places in Europe. While August is a popular time to go away in the US, summer vacations seem more distributed through the school-less months. In Europe, however, it just seems understood no one will work in August (or at least a large part of it).

zazzlekdazzle , marijana1 Report

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Babsevs
Babsevs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the UK when I was a kid, we had "Miners fortnight" ...last week July and first week of August. Literally everything shut down so workers could have a holiday with their families. Called miners fortnight as there were so many of this industry right across the whole country. To be clear, most factories and manufacturers shut down for the same period! Historical now, but many of us nearing our half century remember it clearly

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#16

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community mayonnaise on fries

bodymovementPT , Thomas Kohler Report

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#17

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Leaving babies napping outside, alone, in cold weather.

(This is specifically aimed at the Scandinavians!)

I was in Denmark in November and it was a super windy, cold week (ranged from -6 degrees *to -9 degrees Celsius) and this honestly stunned me. I admire that people feel so safe that they can do it!

Edit: I know -6C isn’t super cold for Scandinavia, but I have low cold tolerance and it was also windy in Copenhagen

leaping_kneazle , Micael Widell Report

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Gozer LeGozerian
Gozer LeGozerian
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The babies are warmly clothed and aren't cold. Sleeping in fresh outside air strengthens the immune system and gives a better quality sleep

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#18

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community The fact that many can take two hours for lunch in the middle of a day and it is considered to be a norm

miss_ordered_chaos , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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#19

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Sneezes get no reaction. I have since come around to their point of view, but for a minute there I was like WHERE ARE MY BLESSINGS??!?

the8am , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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#20

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community I’m going to Europe on my honeymoon, and it’s been crazy to me how other countries just have open borders. I’m taking the ICE from Germany to France and there’s no border checks? It’s really fascinating to me.

boundtoearth19 , Pixabay Report

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David H
David H
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Before the EU there were border checks, then they created a confederation to allow for the free movement of people and trade across europe, with most places using the same currency. The EU is moving closer and close to a US style Union of States every year with the more centralizing of power in Brussels and the EU even now forming their own EU military and military command

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#21

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community When you ask them “How are you doing?”. They think it’s a personal question instead of an american greeting.

Separate-Sorbet-9565 , Gary Barnes Report

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Babsevs
Babsevs
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry...but my generation automatically think of Joey Tribbiani!

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#22

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community You know, it kind of blows my mind that Europe has free education and free healthcare, but you can't get a drink of water or take a p**s without paying.

upnflames , IamNotPerfect Report

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Eva Amalija Orešković
Eva Amalija Orešković
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Paying to pee" pays the person who cleans it an replenshes the tp, soap and stuff. Also, in most eu contries its illegal to deny an ask for a glass of water. I was never refused one, but hogging a table while not paying/consuming anything is not cool

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#23

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community No ice in the water

falconsomething , cottonbro studio Report

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James016
James016
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would I want my glass filled with frozen water cubes? It means less of the actual drink

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#24

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community B***h about Americans being loud and obnoxious when French people exist.

Alternative-Donut334 , ELEVATE Report

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#25

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Keep eggs on the counter. I know they’re okay to eat, but it’s just so weird to me.

CourtOk3082 , Monserrat Soldú Report

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Best Behave
Best Behave
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They’ll literally keep for weeks without chilling.

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#26

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community I worked at a spa and people all around the world would come

the europeans were so comfortable w getting naked like it's nothing

mind u this is 5 stars...celebs and ms universe models come to this spa, and europeans will walk naked like nothing

EDIT- personally I don't care about nudity BUT I can understand others not wanting to see ur junk...so it's not a sexual problem thing for me, I just don't wanna see it

EDIT 2- for the slow ones who keep saying "don't look"...I **worked** there and there was averagely 50+ naked men at attendant in the locker room...every corner you go they're there.

flackois , Pixabay Report

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Esist Nosrep
Esist Nosrep
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If people mind their own business and boundaries why not be naked? Being afraid of your own body is tiring

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#27

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Accepting hot summers with no air conditioning? Do y’all like to suffer?

Edit: I am addressing southern Europe

tisfortranny , tpenguin Report

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sturmwesen
sturmwesen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Years ago you would not need AC and now it's an enviromental or money issue. Why cool your home when doing so you heat the world?

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#28

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community I took German in high school and learned about their culture and just brushed it off but then I actually got to go!

First, having to specify I wanted tap water or non-sparkling water. I just ended up buying bottled water because it was easier.

Second, almost everyone would shut down for lunch. Even businesses besides restaurants or delis.

AyyRayRay18 , Kaboompics .com Report

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#29

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Two Germans will go into an office and shut the door as though they're taking about something important. Nope, just soccer.

Ok_Temperature_5019 , Pixabay Report

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Leekier
Leekier
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every country in Europe; I’ve worked with some people who’re so enthusiastic about football that even I’ve ended up watching games on a pub TV

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#30

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Propensity for public nudity

letzt_stil , janneth. Report

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Babsevs
Babsevs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Americans come off as prudish with comments like this....saying that, never seen a topless female sunbathers in USA, and they are pretty much everywhere on European and Turkish beaches/pools etc

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#31

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community Hotels having two twin beds pushed next to each other instead of king/queen size. You invented kings and queens wtf

keppek30 , Quang Nguyen Vinh Report

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Alan Watkiss
Alan Watkiss
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This enables the room to be used in multiple configurations if needed. It's incredibly practical and efficient

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#32

When I was in Paris around 2002, I saw these ads for what I believe was some kind of frozen sorbet treat, and the ads featured extremely sexualized depictions of humanoid animals - like a dolphin lady with big boobs. Softcore furry porn, basically. I know the French aren’t so prude as Americans, but why bring the animals into it?

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Best Behave
Best Behave
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just wait until they see the Cadburys caramel ads from the 80s

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#33

30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community I am from and work in SEA and work with both Euros and Americans. The americans adjust to heat and humidity pretty fast and well, the Euros not so much.

CaptainPogo94 , Oleksandr Pidvalnyi Report

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