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The US and Europe (with a few notable exceptions) have much in common. They hold democratic elections, fight for human rights, and are conscious of their carbon footprint. But at the same time, they're an entire ocean apart and geography isn't the only thing separating them.
So we dug around the internet and found a couple of online threads (one and two) where people have been sharing what they believe to be the aspects of American culture that are foreign to the Old Continent. From the popularity of university sports to free soda and coffee refills, here are the most popular submissions to the discussion.
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#1
If you are an American citizen, you can choose to live in just about any climate and landscape that the Earth has to offer, and still be in the same country. Whether you like mountains, volcanoes, the beach, the desert, the arctic, the prairie, the rainforest, whatever, the US has it.
ElfVibratorGlitter 7 months ago
Yes. It's very geographically diverse. I moved from one side of the country to where I am now and I'm seeing animals I've never seen in nature in my life.
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#2
I’d say the whole system of National Parks is just amazing! Open 24/7 (unless some weather or gov’t shutdown), maps available, trails laid out, camping spots designated… It’s the most treasured and inderappreciated thing in the US, IMO.
David Fox 7 months ago
But.....we do have 'national parks' in Europe. We have 15 in the UK. They may not be as grandeur but they're beautiful all the same. All of our National Parks are within spitting distance of most cities so most people can enjoy them. Also we have Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty too such as Nidderdale.....
#3
A country that's like 99% unwalkable. Seriously, I've been around the globe and every time I came I became frustrated that I can't just walk to a corner grocery.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 7 months ago
There are walkable cities. Generally the ones that were built before the invention of the car. So New York, Boston, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland. The old cities.
#6
The endangered species act, one of the few laws in the entire world that actually enforces protections for endangered animals proactively and retroactively. You could go to prison for destroying some rare flowers. just because those flowers were rare. It’s not perfect, but the ESA is one of the most powerful environmental protection laws in the world, spanning some of the largest area, and very very few countries have something similar.
#7
Space. I can drive 400 miles and still be in Kansas, as it’s 410 miles in width.
#8
That's alwys struck me as weird. We get adverts for over the counter meds, like painkillers or cold and flu medicine but the thought of seeing an advert for something you need to go to the doctors and get a prescription for like adhd meds / anti depresents / antibiotics / heart meds or blood thinners is absolitly mental to me.
#9
I'm from the UK and it looks like the houses in the US are a million times bigger than they are here.
#10
On the up side, amazing geographic diversity. In one country, we have mountains, deserts, tropics, sweeping plains, fertile farmland, tundra, huge beaches, and rugged coastlines.
On the down side, school shootings. Mall shootings. Grocery store shootings. Church shootings. Birthday party shootings. We know another one's coming soon - we just don't know where.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 7 months ago
It's a stochastic effect. More guns leads to more gun violence. It's sort of like how back in the old days they used to sell strychnine in d**g stores for rat poison and as a result a lot more people were killed by strychnine poisoning, either by intention or accidental. We banned the sale of the poison and people stopped dying from the poison. Restrict access to guns and less people will be killed by guns. It's actually pretty simple.
#11
So many extracurricular activities in schools. Playing a specific sport or being part of a team isn't something schools offer in Europe. I have cousins who live in Texas, and the fact that their school has tennis courts and a pool blows my mind. Some schools here have small clubs like theater or choir, but the options hardly compare to those offered at schools in the States. Your high school theater plays look like professional productions sometimes.
#12
Fast food restaurants at every intersection and an obesity epidemic.
#14
Florida Man stories. Europe just has 'the English tourist on holiday in Ibiza.'
Captain Kyra 7 months ago
Florida has interesting protection for alleged crime, that is why the Florida man stories are so entertaining.
#15
Garbage disposal units are installed beneath the kitchen sink.
#18
Diners. Fast cheap American food available at all hours. One of the best meals you will ever eat is American diner food at 2 am.
#20
The Grand Canyon.
sofacushionfort 7 months ago
A Soviet traveler described it as a mold that could be used to make mountain ranges
#21
Giant superstores where you can buy groceries, furniture, a pet fish and a handgun
#22
THE F**KING BBQ!
Thank the cosmos I live there and travel alot. States seem to have their own twists and specialities and it's all so f**king good I can't decide what I like more.
The Texas BBQ Pit I went to once was an experience.
Before I came here, BBQ meant store bought frozen burgers and sausages on a grill in the garden during summer. One thing I don't miss about the UK lol.
#23
The 4th of July. True fact, in Europe it goes straight from the 3rd to the 5th.
#24
Good Mexican food. It doesn't exist in Europe. I ordered a burrito in Berlin, and it was worse than Taco Bell.
calvin and hobbes 7 months ago
okay, but hes right. i have traveled all over europe, and their mexican food is never as good.
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Carlos Moreno 7 months ago
Most mexican food In the US is not mexican, it is more tex-mex. Go to the capital of Mexico and you will not recognize the food you eat.
El Cucuy 7 months ago
I have eaten Mexican food all over the US. If it's a family-owned restaurant, it is usually not Tex-Mex and is pretty authentic. And I have eaten Mexican food in Mexico many times. Even in homes, prepared by the family that lived there (and yes, in Mexico City). It wasn't any different than the typical Mexican food I've had in the US.
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Susie Elle 7 months ago
I doubt that in the entirety of Europe, no proper mexican food can be found
Carl Roberts 7 months ago
Well, I mean, the U.S. does have a large Hispanic population. Berlin doesn't.
Moosy Girl 7 months ago
Agreed, good Mexican food is hard to find in my country, not impossible, but it’s definitely rare, and ‘french tacos’ are NOT helping.
Verena 7 months ago
Pretty random, seen the number of restaurants in Berlin. Maybe went to a tourist trap?
SirWriteALot 7 months ago (edited)
Did you get them at the Burrito Schnitzel Pizza Kebap Sushi place? Guess why it was bad :-D You won't find them in the usual tourist places but you need to look for restaurants that are run by people of the country that you're trying to eat the food from. So get your poutine at the only place in town run by a french canadian ex-pat.
fan of phish 7 months ago
Well I have to admit when I (an American) was visiting the UK (28 years ago) I had an AMAZING chimichanga in Edinburgh of all places! That’s something I’ve eaten my whole life and loved. Born in San Diego, CA, so lots of trips to Mexico. And I had a delicious Mexican dinner in Scotland 😋
aricely 7 months ago
A lot of places in the U.S. have authentic latin food. Hispanics live everywhere in America It's not just limited to the bordering states.
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Kees Visser 7 months ago
It exists, you just got to the wrong place. And we have good original Italian, Greek, Russian, Norwegian, Spanish, French ..... food
Daniel Gómez 7 months ago
And I thought good Mexican food was actually a very good thing that you found in... Mexico... my bad... Also, burritos, are Tex-Mex, not Mexican. I live in Mexico, so I know.
Gossameringue 7 months ago
Odd that "good Mexican food" isn't commonplace in a part of the world separated by an entire ocean from Mexico.
Captain McSmoot 7 months ago
I lived in Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany and I can concur :)
Dreaming Spirit 7 months ago
I've had some good tacos and burritos here in Poland, although to be honest I have never been to Mexico so I have no comparison to the real deal. It's also far away, so some ingredients may be harder if not impossible to get.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 7 months ago
I happy hour at a place that sells $1 tacos that are actually pretty good. My favorite taco truck sells hella good tacos carretta for $2.50. Yeah we got it good on that front.
nm (he/him) 7 months ago
You're talking about this specific food that is prepared by Spanish speaking immigrants, who are been hated by racist Karents and ordered to go back to their country?
Tomása Mongo 7 months ago
You think Mexican food is good in the USA? Jaja ja ja ja jajaja (insert Mexican telenovela evil woman laughing in Mexican)
Jack Burton 7 months ago
You have a point, we really don't care about mexican food, i am 42 and i may have try 2 or 3 times in my life.
#25
American who lived in Europe for a time. (The Balkans)
Things I have here that I didn't have there:
Cheap gas (yes, it's still quite cheap in the US)
Larger appliances with words on them (my appliances there had graphics on them, the washer had a Half Mushroom Cloud setting)
A zillion kinds of breakfast cereal (when I came back, I routinely got overwhelmed in the grocery store)
Lol, diplomatic immunity
Things I had there, that I don't have here:
There was a produce/meat market that was open every day, that I could walk to, it ruled
Cafe culture
The newsstand sold lots of rowdy porn.
LavenderHippoInAJar 7 months ago
I feel like the price of gas really depends on where in America you are
#26
Turning right on a red light. I think that's still illegal in Germany and most other European countries, isn't it?
#28
The mountains in the Mountain West and the Red Rocks. I’ve lived next to the Red Rocks in Utah and Colorado. I grew up and worked in the Tetons. We’ve lived on the Wasatch, and super close to the Rockies. Europe is so beautiful but the Mountain West is one of the most beautiful regions on earth.
ElfVibratorGlitter 7 months ago (edited)
No doubt it's absolutely gorgeous here, I live in Colorado. Europe is no joke either. Also has a variety of beautiful places to visit.
#29
Truck Nuts
At least I haven't really seen them over here in central Europe. Then again also Pickup Trucks are a pretty rare sight in Europe.
Pandemonium 7 months ago
Discussion between my brother and me: Me: Truck nuts must only ever be bought as gag gifts for one's too-tough friend. I can't imagine that any dude would ever buy truck nuts for himself. Bro: And THAT is why you were surprised that Trump won in 2016.
#30
Large meal portions.
What do you think ?
Queeqec 7 months ago
Comparing the USA with 47 individual countries with individual language, landscape, culture, cuisines, laws, politics etc is just useless. It doesn't work that way.
Nitka Tsar 7 months ago
ZGutr, every European country has their own states. For example: Germany has 16 states, that are as different from each other as the US states are. But somehow most Americans only know of and about Bavaria, which would be like me saying the whole US is only Texas.
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calvin and hobbes 7 months ago
ugh. i thought it said americans wrote it, not people coming on to make fun of america. dont get me wrong, i know america has countless faults, but some people are proud of their country nevertheless, as anybody would be, and shaming them for that is just not okay. we do have unique, good things, that other countries dont have, and i thought that is what i would be finding in this article. instead, i found more hatred and teasing.
Nitka Tsar 7 months ago
I would love a list about positiv things the US has!
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LokisLilButterknife 7 months ago
Sigh, when will BoredPanda ever learn that Europe and the United States are not monoliths? I always feel like these lists just rehash the same old tired stereotypes.
Corvus 7 months ago
Ugh, the list is so predictable. Free refills, fast food, and guns. This pretty much sums it up (and all other lists like it).
Jrog 7 months ago
Also, the same weird obsessions, most likely by people that never traveled further than the next town over. National parks, ice in drinks, toilets, free refills... as if the rest of the world has never heard of nature, cold water and poo.
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I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 7 months ago
This makes me think a lot of the people who made submissions haven't travelled much because so many things on this list are not just solely usa.
ZGutr 7 months ago
The title says America, but why are all the posts focused on the USA? The usual confusion? America are the two landmasses from most southern point in Chile up until Canada's most northern point. USA is just a part of the landmass called north America
Rocket Surgeon 7 months ago
Yes I'm sure the OP meant anywhere from the Southern tip of Argentina to the icy shores of Nunavut.
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Jayjay 7 months ago
I get the impression that not many Americans who post here have ever been outside of the USA. You should compare a state in the USA to a country elsewhere, or compare the USA to the whole of Europe for instance. And in that case: diversity in Europe is so much broader than in the USA.
Moosy Girl 7 months ago
Whatever anywhere has, America claims to have more of it. Same as whatever anywhere has, Japan claims to have invented it. ;p
michael faludi 7 months ago
I would add as #31 the exploitation of workers in the USA. Nowhere in Europe people has to work as the CEOs demanding in the USA. Examples of 90 hours of work per week, sleeping at work or 24/7 standby is plenty with minimum pay. Social assistance is lower then anywhere in the EU.
Anony Mouse 7 months ago
Really glad to read all these for the 30th time. You haven't posted one of these lists in almost 4 days.
Ionescu Popa 7 months ago
only in the days with us troops transfers, to move the attention here.
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Kare Deter 7 months ago
I am kind of tired of the title of the article changing and STILL has little to do with the content.
Captain Awesome 7 months ago
How about the Venus fly trap? It only natively grows in the wet lands of North and South Carolina.
Mimi M 7 months ago
Lots of these are anti-American, not positive things at all. Even when trying, it comes with a large side order of bashing. With a lot of ignorance involved as well.
LokisLilButterknife 7 months ago (edited)
That's BoredPanda for you. Europe= Land of cultured intellectuals. United States: Land of slack-jawed yokels (yes, I stole that phrase from the Simpsons) wallowing in their own filth and ignorance. I have family in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and I have to agree that the United States has a considerable number of extremely serious problems. However, these listicles always seem to degenerate into hate-fueled stereotypes and people bashing each other. It's really pitiful that BoredPanda keeps on posting content like this.
Load More Replies...
Eric Tapril 7 months ago
Nothing butthurt about your comment at all, is there?
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Shaquille Oatmeal 7 months ago
Speaking as a US Military Veteran: A lot. A whole lot. So freaking much. But yeah the whole “haha all Americans are fatty fat fats who like to eat fast food and drink soda” is just petty.
Load More Replies... Queeqec 7 months ago
Comparing the USA with 47 individual countries with individual language, landscape, culture, cuisines, laws, politics etc is just useless. It doesn't work that way.
Nitka Tsar 7 months ago
ZGutr, every European country has their own states. For example: Germany has 16 states, that are as different from each other as the US states are. But somehow most Americans only know of and about Bavaria, which would be like me saying the whole US is only Texas.
Load More Replies... calvin and hobbes 7 months ago
ugh. i thought it said americans wrote it, not people coming on to make fun of america. dont get me wrong, i know america has countless faults, but some people are proud of their country nevertheless, as anybody would be, and shaming them for that is just not okay. we do have unique, good things, that other countries dont have, and i thought that is what i would be finding in this article. instead, i found more hatred and teasing.
Nitka Tsar 7 months ago
I would love a list about positiv things the US has!
Load More Replies... LokisLilButterknife 7 months ago
Sigh, when will BoredPanda ever learn that Europe and the United States are not monoliths? I always feel like these lists just rehash the same old tired stereotypes.
Corvus 7 months ago
Ugh, the list is so predictable. Free refills, fast food, and guns. This pretty much sums it up (and all other lists like it).
Jrog 7 months ago
Also, the same weird obsessions, most likely by people that never traveled further than the next town over. National parks, ice in drinks, toilets, free refills... as if the rest of the world has never heard of nature, cold water and poo.
Load More Replies... I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 7 months ago
This makes me think a lot of the people who made submissions haven't travelled much because so many things on this list are not just solely usa.
ZGutr 7 months ago
The title says America, but why are all the posts focused on the USA? The usual confusion? America are the two landmasses from most southern point in Chile up until Canada's most northern point. USA is just a part of the landmass called north America
Rocket Surgeon 7 months ago
Yes I'm sure the OP meant anywhere from the Southern tip of Argentina to the icy shores of Nunavut.
Load More Replies... Jayjay 7 months ago
I get the impression that not many Americans who post here have ever been outside of the USA. You should compare a state in the USA to a country elsewhere, or compare the USA to the whole of Europe for instance. And in that case: diversity in Europe is so much broader than in the USA.
Moosy Girl 7 months ago
Whatever anywhere has, America claims to have more of it. Same as whatever anywhere has, Japan claims to have invented it. ;p
michael faludi 7 months ago
I would add as #31 the exploitation of workers in the USA. Nowhere in Europe people has to work as the CEOs demanding in the USA. Examples of 90 hours of work per week, sleeping at work or 24/7 standby is plenty with minimum pay. Social assistance is lower then anywhere in the EU.
Anony Mouse 7 months ago
Really glad to read all these for the 30th time. You haven't posted one of these lists in almost 4 days.
Ionescu Popa 7 months ago
only in the days with us troops transfers, to move the attention here.
Load More Replies... Kare Deter 7 months ago
I am kind of tired of the title of the article changing and STILL has little to do with the content.
Captain Awesome 7 months ago
How about the Venus fly trap? It only natively grows in the wet lands of North and South Carolina.
Mimi M 7 months ago
Lots of these are anti-American, not positive things at all. Even when trying, it comes with a large side order of bashing. With a lot of ignorance involved as well.
LokisLilButterknife 7 months ago (edited)
That's BoredPanda for you. Europe= Land of cultured intellectuals. United States: Land of slack-jawed yokels (yes, I stole that phrase from the Simpsons) wallowing in their own filth and ignorance. I have family in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and I have to agree that the United States has a considerable number of extremely serious problems. However, these listicles always seem to degenerate into hate-fueled stereotypes and people bashing each other. It's really pitiful that BoredPanda keeps on posting content like this.
Load More Replies... Eric Tapril 7 months ago
Nothing butthurt about your comment at all, is there?
Load More Replies... Shaquille Oatmeal 7 months ago
Speaking as a US Military Veteran: A lot. A whole lot. So freaking much. But yeah the whole “haha all Americans are fatty fat fats who like to eat fast food and drink soda” is just petty.
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