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For the worldly American, the summer Eurotrip is practically a rite of passage. While much connects the US and Europe, the two entities are different enough that American travelers often experience culture shock when they visit different European countries for the first time. One person on Reddit asked American travelers to share what struck them the most when they visited and got a ton of great responses.

The two continents’ histories, both separate and intertwined, make for an interesting opportunitY to compare and contrast how they’ve found different solutions to similar problems. While some of the comments shared were lighthearted and fun, others pointed to interesting differences in perspective.

#1

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Restaurants paying employees a fair wage and not expecting the customer to make up for low wages.

deadevilmonkey , Brooke Cagle Report

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Altea
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not in every country, I'm afraid. Ridiculous working hours and low wages in Spain.

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#2

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Universal healthcare

Feisty_Affect_7487 , Karolina Grabowska Report

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

Can confirm. I have full healthcare and it's paid for automatically via the taxes I pay every paycheck. I never have to make a claim or argue with an insurance representative about coverage. I just go to the doctor/hospital/pharmacy and get what I need. Don't tell me the richest country in ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY cannot afford it too.

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#3

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Good bread.

thegreatgatsB70 , Pixabay Report

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

A ban on high fructose corn syrup does wonders for both the food and health of your citizens!

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Europe is a popular enough travel destination for Americans that there’s tons of info out there on the cultural differences. There are tons of travel sites out there that help American tourists understand some of the cultural and practical differences they can expect. Indeed, stats indicate that Europe was the top outbound US tourism destination by continent with 15.8 million visitors.

#4

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Walkable towns

Mustang46L , Lisa Fotios Report

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

We in Europe have mixed cities with businesses and housings being closer together, while US cities have more separated areas resulting in longer distances to travel

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#5

Americans think 100 years is a long time and Europeans think 100 miles is a long distance.

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#6

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Bars older than the US

ncopp , Victor Clime Report

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

My uncle's cottage isn't just older than the the U.S.A - it's older than the discovery of America.

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One major historical difference is that the USA was born out of a revolution. This gives it quite a distinct  cultural legacy and makes it quite young on a historical scale. Some of the answers to this question highlight as much, pointing out that they can visit historical buildings or even working pubs that are older than the entire United States as a political entity.

#7

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans I think as a whole, it’s there attitude towards work.

The vibe I get when visiting most European countries is most people seem to work only to live. While in the states, it feels we live to work. The most common thing out of an American’s mouth when meeting someone new is what do you do? I did not find this to be the case in Europe, and I am super jealous.

hurtmore , Chahriar Hariri Report

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

Sadly, this is changing. As with everything greed and profit are the king. Many companies are sucking the life out of most jobs in the UK by paying less, demanding more and no longer care about loyalty.

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#8

Getting sick without going bankrupt

CancerBee69 Report

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

Man the one time I was hospitalised in the US and they sent me my bill by post, I thought it was some kind of statement of costs to the hospital, “actual value of goods supplied,” or some such thing. I made many guesses before realising it was *a BILL I had to PAY*. [Yes, I also did have to call to confirm—and you can imagine how weird that conversation went!]

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#9

Infrastructure built around walking, bicycles, and busses. Not just exclusively built around personal vehicles.

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

Seeing that most of these streets were built before cars, that is more likely the reason.

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Though the US is considered by many to be the home of capitalism, one difference in some countries is that travelers can expect is to pay for certain services that are often considered to be gratuities in the US. According to TEFL Worldwide, for example, Americans may be surprised that they will have to pay for water at restaurants unless they ask for tap water and they may also have to pay for public restrooms. Many countries will make shoppers pay for plastic bags, but this is part of an EU-wide effort to move away from disposable plastic and towards reusable bags.

#10

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans 900 year old universities

Lazy-Ad-770 , Molnár Tamás Photography™ Report

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

Well, over a thousand years for Oxford....but we won't be too pedantic!😁

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#11

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Everyone is bilingual or multilingual.

Royal_Acanthisitta51 , Diva Plavalaguna Report

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Another significant cause of some significant differences is the European political structure. The European Union enforces certain differences across the entire union, but at the same time, member states have far more independence than the states making up the US. Some cultural differences stretch across the entire EU and others can vary from country to country.

#14

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans The sirens that go BEEE booo BEEE booo BEEE booo BEEE booo

TrueReplayJay , camilo jimenez Report

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TotallyNOTaFox
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Which turn out to be more effective, as they can be heard as twice as far as the US sirens and it's easier to determine their direction as well

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#15

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Drinking cappuccino on a cobblestone street outside of a cafe, which is hundreds of years old.

vetheros37 , Dustin Bowdige Report

There are many differences in terms of money as well. Credit cards aren’t as popular in Europe as in the US, and most countries have moved away from paper checks entirely. Tipping for services is also usually considered to be optional, although very touristy spots that can spot American travelers may try to pressure them into tipping regardless.

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#16

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Sitting at a restaurant for hours talking. Half an hour of conversation with anybody and I am done. For the month.

svladcjelli2001 , ELEVATE Report

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Wax0nWax0ff
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Conversation is a lost art. It’s so sad. I love to sit around and visit with people.

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#17

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Eurovision.

Neferknitti , alterna2 Report

#18

Paid time off.

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#22

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Functional transit, carrying a beer outside at night, and post dinner coffee is super common

StabbyPants , Yannis Papanastasopoulos Report

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

A few of my best days/nights as a teen/young adult were spent with a mix of punks, skaters, goths and uhm "preppies"(?) drinking beer on some not so beautiful plazas. Our inner circle was about 6 people but it felt like half of the youth of said town met there. (imagine ca. 100 14-20 year olds of every subculture partying peaceful and even helping the person collecting the bottles )

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#23

Going for a stroll in somewhere like Northumberland you can pass buildings castles and hill forts covering over three thousand years.

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

On Yeavering bell (a hill in Northumberland) a circular stone wall is in need of repair. It was knocked down - by the Romans.

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#24

Roundabouts.

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Skara Brae
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Roundabouts are quite rare on main roads in the US. I live in Arizona, but after having driven all over in Scotland every day for 3 weeks, I have an appreciation for roundabouts I didn't have before: I rarely had to wait at stoplights. I watched youtube videos about roundabouts before I went and it was very much worthwhile (though it didn't prepare me for the Bannockburn Interchange when I had to reverse direction on the M9 - Edit for those confused by this: By 'reverse direction' I mean I was initially going east on the east-bound side and then I was going west on the west-bound side).

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#25

Thinking 100 miles is a long distance. I talked a brit once who said they hadn't seen their parents in two years because its a far trip... it was 2 hours away....

hellotrrespie Report

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KinTop14
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That person would not be visiting his parents because they were 2 hours away. There would have be other reasons, perhaps a toxic relationship with the parents.

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#26

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Pay to use a restroom.

birdsarntreal1 , Sung Jin Cho Report

#27

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Men wearing speedos at the beach or in a pool. The ones you do see in the US are usually Europeans on vacation

Ro7ard , Kindel Media Report

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

Some pools it's actually forbidden to wear the larger swimming trunks.

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#28

No ac by choice

greenwobbles Report

#29

€10 flights to nearby countries. The US could never.

pastajewelry Report

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

Ryanair. v underrated. yes there is barely any legroom but you get it cheap and arrive safely

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#30

Complaining about Americans.

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

Nope, we complain about your politics and also our politics.....it's just banter.

Pittsburgh rare
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More likely complaining about your neighbouring country (ies)

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

exactly, or our neighbouring town. Not really thinking about americans.

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

I find nothing to complain about americans. They amuse me, they surprise me, they baffle me, but I can't really complain. They're not important to me

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

Same, except some really irritate me. I live in Florida, US. And I dislike US citizens referred to as Americans, since this covers north, central & south America.

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

I feel the same way! I love hearing about other cultures and you can't help but think about how we do it "back home" like someone said above. Sharing this info is so amazing! I learned a ton going to Europe, about culture and history (two of my favorite things!)... and I'm an introvert!

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

Americans bring this on themselves by traveling to other countries and expecting things to be/work the same as in America (Why do y'all do it this way? Back home, we...). I am an American and when I travel, my goal is to study the culture before I go and to not be perceived as a typical American tourist.

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

I am American. I complain about Americans more than any other Nationality then all the others combined. Hands down. Have you seen the conservatives here?

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

Not so much Americans as the country. There's actually a place in the USA that claims to be the center of the Universe.

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

I am American and complain Americans all the time. People are so entitled. And those with money and no manners are the ones that travel all over the world and their actions are boorish and leave a bad impression about Americans. Then they meed me and any if my friends and gives them a better idea of what responsible and polite tourists can be like . . .

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

Complaining about American tourists! But also complaining about... tourists. all the tourists because they make things really annoying when they overrun the city. its not the ppl, it´s their sheer number

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

Join in! Americans complain about each other. Regionalism, statisms, like Californians, New Yorkers, Texans, and Floridians... East v West v Deep South.

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

Most of my aquaintances have pushed complaining to a form of Art. 😅 It's not even meant in a mean way, more like complaining to complain... About anything and everything. --- my parents love to complain about the neighbour-village, while having a bbq with friends out of said village and vice versa

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

Only the ones that have no respect for another culture which, well, yes, is most of them who haven't ever left their state...

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

I met a few on our recent holiday to Ireland. All very nice, affable people.

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

Bloody Americans moaning about Europeans moaning about Americans who moan about Europeans who moan about.......oh no! I'm stuck in a loop!

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

I've heard more people in Canada complain about Americans than I did in Northern Ireland. Every nation complains about America.

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

European and US are two totally different cultures, which two totally different opinions about what matters most. Europe is a mix of 48+ totally different countries, most of which can be crossed within a couple of hours. The history of many countries was influenced during the past 4000 years. So understanding each other is important, that is why lessons Geography, politics and languages are included in the curriculum at school. Many Europeans live within 30 min of a border, crossing it in daily live for work, study or shopping, even medical treatment, is no big deal. Going on holiday to a foreign country is quite common, mostly by car. Adapting to a different culture is no big deal. The rules for public safety are very strict everywhere, rules for a healthy living get more and more important. Social security (and the monthly payments) and minimum wages are seen as important and gaining freedom and not as loosing freedom. And all this are advantages a European is missing in the US.

SesameSeed
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'European and US are two totally different cultures' ... you are very wrong to suggest that Europe has one culture.

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#31

35 Of The Most European Things, According To Americans Flying into Florida and thinking you can drive to Los Angeles, NYC, and Chicago easily.

lazyhazyeye , Andre Tan Report

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KinTop14
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps a few idiots but inaccurate for hundreds of millions of people.

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#32

Titles - Lord Humpty Dump or Countess Beaverhousen who are just related, distantly, to some ancestor who did some favor for a king somewhere.

Maxwyfe Report

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Donkeywheel
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, pretty much all of the European countries abolished privileges a long time ago. Only one, the uk, didn’t and is still a caste society with unequal rights, nobility and titles that refer to its empire. (NB: there are other monarchies in Europe but purely symbolic, without aristocrats or remnants from the feudalism).

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#34

The Euro

CT_7 Report

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KinTop14
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are 44 countries in Europe, with 20 using the Euro.

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