Americans and Europeans share a lot culturally and politically, but there are a lot of differences as well.
There are many European practices and products that Americans find odd (to be fair, it goes both ways), and we thought it might be fun to share some that Americans bring up frequently, even if they’re not found everywhere in Europe.
The following are 15, and they might surprise you as well!
Hamburger-Flavored Cheetos
You’ll find these in the “American Foods” aisles of some grocery stores. It makes sense since Americans love hamburgers so much, but you don’t see this flavor in U.S. stores.
Bathroom Light Switches Outside the Door
You’ll encounter this in the U.S. as well, especially in hotels, though it’s not the norm. Americans envision accidentally shutting off the lights on someone taking care of business; Europeans imagine fumbling around in the dark in the middle of the night.
Soccer Mania
Soccer– football in Europe– is huge, which might baffle Americans since the sport is increasingly popular there but has never become anything like it is in Europe. In fairness, though, a lot of Europeans find Americans’ fascination with American football peculiar.
Less Elbow Room
Even before social distancing became a thing, Americans, by and large, preferred their personal space. In Europe, people tend to stand a lot closer in public places. This could be related to the fact that Europeans are used to closer quarters since Europe tends to be more densely populated.
Cigarette Smoking
Smoking has drastically decreased in the U.S. in recent decades, so it can shock Americans to see how many people in Europe smoke. It seems especially odd considering that Europeans tend to be much healthier than Americans.
The Emptiness of August
August is the hottest month in much of Europe, and you’ll notice that the cities there seem to be pretty devoid of activity then. A likely explanation is that many residents are away on holiday.
Pay Toilets
Even Europeans seem to find it pretty aggravating to use public toilets. Maybe the reasoning behind it is to encourage resource conservation.
Multilingualism
This isn’t weird at all but rather admirable instead. With so many countries and languages in Europe, it’s common to meet people who are fluent in not just two but several different languages. Bilingualism is relatively rare among Americans, especially among those born there.
Leaving Babies Alone in the Cold
This is a thing even though it’s often against the law. Parents sometimes leave babies bundled up outside while they run into a store or cafe. One explanation is that people feel much safer in Europe than they do in the U.S. Another is that Europeans handle the cold better, which makes some sense since this seems more common in Scandinavian countries.
Ease of Border Crossings
A lot of European countries have open borders where crossing from one country to another is usually quick and easy. It facilitates travel since it’s not unusual to pass through several countries in a long day of driving.
Track Suits
For some reason, they’re really common among European men. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s something that jumps out at American visitors.
Tough Acclimation to Heat and Humidity
Overall, Europe has a cooler, drier climate than that of most of the U.S., where even many of the colder regions are known for hot, humid summers. This might explain why when heat and humidity do hit, Europeans have a tougher time handling them.
Seniors Being Offered Seats on Trains
It’s not unheard of in America, but this is decreasingly common on American subways and metro trains. In Europe, it’s much more common to see someone offer a senior citizen their seat if the train is full.
Dinner Later at Night
The word is that this is more of a north-south thing. In the northern nations, dinnertime tends to align more with American norms, whereas it’s often much later in southern regions. So if you’re visiting friends or relatives on the Mediterranean coast, plan to have some snacks or be hungry much longer than you’re used to.
No Ice for Water
In American restaurants, it’s typically for diners to be served iced water or water that’s very cold due to having been kept in a vessel with ice. That’s not standard in Europe, and if you ask for ice, you might get a funny look or even a polite refusal.
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