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

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!

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

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.

Same thing in Sweden.

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

Where in Europe???

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

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

I am German and I dislike it when people do that.

Eastern Europe.

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

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!

Annoying but it does pay for cleaning and maintenance.

Used to have pay toilets in US.

This is why it is called "spending a penny". Though it is more like 20p now!

As an American, I would happily pay to use a public toilet if my payment ensured the toilet was clean and sanitary. I've spent a month each in France and Germany, and didn't see a single dirty public toilet. Most had a full-time attendant (especially in Germany) to keep it clean. (Here in the US, I tend to leave the room cleaner than I found it.)

The ones I had to pay for in Spain were absolutely filthy, usually didn't have toilet seats (so as a woman I had to squat), and there was never any toilet paper! So I have no idea what I was paying for. It's ridiculous a

Honest question: what happens if someone doesn’t have any money on hand and they really can’t hold it anymore?

I wouldn't trust a free of charge toilet (except on airports or restaurants etc.)

I think every public toilet (and there should be more) should be 'free' Our local government has closed toilet after toilet leaving nowhere for people to go when out and about. No care whatsoever for the disabled people or professional drivers (bus/taxi etc) and even those who just get caught short. Local government takes in plenty of money, they cut back services left right and center. If you were to relieve yourself in the street you'd get punished so what are people supposed to do. Instead government bother more about vanity projects while ego driven politicians want to leave a legacy with some stupid project that is usually an eyesore that no one asked for.

The US had pay toilets until the 70s.

Or get child to crawl under the door and open it, probably just in USA.

The US had pay toilets for many years.

whut

Free in France.

not everywhere, mostly big cities. Also, I would happily pay for it to be clean.

Spend a penny...

The United States used to have this as well in the bathrooms and they were much cleaner than

Oh, don’t set my mother off on another rant over how much it is.

Not in Sweden.

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

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

I am from the United States and I love mayonnaise on fries.

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

Seems more like the southern parts of Europe

Gesundheit!

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

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

"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

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

Just saying that is so American.

They’ll literally keep for weeks without chilling.

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

Most hot places like Dalmatia in Croatia has ac in every place. Mountain parts of country dont because nights are like 14 celsius even if the day was 35. We sit in the shade or in our houses that are built with brick whick keeps the heat out during summer and cold out during winter.

We like our work/life balance

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

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

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

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

We are not built for it!!!