30 Weird Things Europeans Do From The Perspective Of An American, As Shared In This Online Community
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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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
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!
How most cities are walkable. You need a car everywhere in USA, no matter what.
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.
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.
You guys have hamburger flavored Cheetos in your "American Food" isle
Homie, we don't even have those.
Aww, this is cute. The Germans gave America hamburgers. The Americans gave Germany Cheetos. It's like The Gift of the Magi.
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.
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?
Unironically and openly discriminate against Romani people while looking down on the US for their race issues.
I had couple close encounters with romani and both times they stole from me
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.
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.
A lot of European cultures eat dinner so late at night. I can't image eating my dinner at 8 or 9 at night.
It seems to be more common in southern Europe, up here in the north we tend to eat earlier.
Specifically Germans (Berliners) in this case.
When you move, you take the kitchen with you. That is just mind boggling to me.
No one has screens on their windows in Europe. How do you open your window without getting a house full of bugs?
Once went for dinner in a Swiss restaurant, and the opened the door to let air in - at least 9 different species of flying bug on the tablecloth by the time we finished.
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In the UK at least there isnt nearly the amount of bugs to irritate you, i can sleep with my window wide open at night (not that the weather often allows it!), the blinds and curtains are enough to stop most critters. (though i wouldn't leave the light on with windows open and curtains open)
I live in Belgium and even I don't understand how you survive hot summer nights without these... up all night with the buzzing of mosquitoes! Aaarrgghhh...
Do you live in Antwerp? Lots more mosquitoes there than in other places
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In the city I never had a issue with insects. Livung countryside we only made sure to have indoor lights off when the windows were open at night. Some had screens at the backdoor to the deck.
Clearly you haven't seen the amout of mosquitoes we have in Scandinavia.
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I live in Spain, and I have built-in retractable screens in my windows.
Which part of Africa, because it's quite huge? Coming from Finland with very crazy amount of mosquitoes, in my current country in Southern Africa I could say they are very rare. But obviously people compare from their experience so what is much for one is like nothing to someone else.
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The bugs that enter also get out the same way. With screens, those whodo get in, don't manage to get out again...
Because it's just the occasional bug coming in. Except in the country with farming all around. 😉
i live in Malta and we have screens, think it depends where in Europe you live
yeah we do, mostly in the mediterranean countries youll find them. You can find fixed ones, or ones which are simply placed during the summer months.,
My screens are Cat Proof. So not only do they keep the majority of bugs out, they stop the cats from shredding them
what really gets me is that they don't even put up screens during the window-open season like in older cities in the US. like yeah windows in nyc don't have screens but you just have a screen you put in the window when it's spring and you have it open? And then you put the screen away in winter so it doesn't freeze.
There aren't many, a fly or a bee here and there but not like swarms. Could be sanitation issue too, Europe is very clean compared to US so less bugs hanging around
I was switching storm windows with screens and a bat flew into the house. I kept the bedroom window open and opened the outside door. chased the bat with the brome for a good hour, then I didn't see it. So I didn't know if it left the house. Didn't sleep well that night. Never take a break from putting in screens.
You don't do that in Antwerp. Antwerp is the mozzie capital of Belgium. Very annoying.
Because I love having my blood drained at night. But seriously, it's because of our windows that open up inward halfway from the top. I haven't found a screen that fits without opening the window all the way which is a hazard to my cat.
Brits would find screens useful for all the insane lazy wasps towards the end of summer.
Where I am, we now have West Nile so we have to be more vigilant about avoiding mosquitos sadly.
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I moved from Florida to Colorado 10 years ago so I asked same question. Screened in porches at every house in south Florida. None here.
This is not a rule. I do have it and a lot of people I know do too
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).
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
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
The babies are warmly clothed and aren't cold. Sleeping in fresh outside air strengthens the immune system and gives a better quality sleep
The fact that many can take two hours for lunch in the middle of a day and it is considered to be a norm
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??!?
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.
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
When you ask them “How are you doing?”. They think it’s a personal question instead of an american greeting.
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.
"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
B***h about Americans being loud and obnoxious when French people exist.
Keep eggs on the counter. I know they’re okay to eat, but it’s just so weird to me.
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.
If people mind their own business and boundaries why not be naked? Being afraid of your own body is tiring
Accepting hot summers with no air conditioning? Do y’all like to suffer?
Edit: I am addressing southern Europe
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.
Two Germans will go into an office and shut the door as though they're taking about something important. Nope, just soccer.
Propensity for public nudity
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I've said it before - I disagree with posts designating things the US (or any country/continent) finds "weird/bizarre" about any other country/continent. Nothing about another culture is weird or bizarre - just different from what you are used to. Weird/bizarre has a judgmental connotation. Different is more respectful to everyone.
I agree wholeheartedly. You know what I'd love to see? People from one country pointing out things about other cultures that are different and amazing. Customs, music, food, daily life, what have you...differences that the poster appreciates.
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I liked this article because we've seen so many that say what everyone thinks is weird in America. I'm an American that dreams and pines to travel to Europe and experience these things first hand.
When my grandparents came to the USA in the early 1900s, they were amazed at indoor plumbing. They had an outhouse in Poland. You can go enjoy outhouses.
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People seem to forget that Europe has a North and a South. One's cold, one's hot and cultures revolve around that. Plus there are 44 different Countries in Europe. All with different cultures and customs. Some may be similar but saying "in Europe they do xyz" is just too generalised because you can bet that whatever you say 'they do in Europe' a different European Country does it differently.
Another nice idea. In London, we're all the parks belong to the King, there is a tax on every window you have facing a park. Obviously the money goes to upkeep.
I've said it before - I disagree with posts designating things the US (or any country/continent) finds "weird/bizarre" about any other country/continent. Nothing about another culture is weird or bizarre - just different from what you are used to. Weird/bizarre has a judgmental connotation. Different is more respectful to everyone.
I agree wholeheartedly. You know what I'd love to see? People from one country pointing out things about other cultures that are different and amazing. Customs, music, food, daily life, what have you...differences that the poster appreciates.
Load More Replies... I liked this article because we've seen so many that say what everyone thinks is weird in America. I'm an American that dreams and pines to travel to Europe and experience these things first hand.
When my grandparents came to the USA in the early 1900s, they were amazed at indoor plumbing. They had an outhouse in Poland. You can go enjoy outhouses.
Load More Replies... People seem to forget that Europe has a North and a South. One's cold, one's hot and cultures revolve around that. Plus there are 44 different Countries in Europe. All with different cultures and customs. Some may be similar but saying "in Europe they do xyz" is just too generalised because you can bet that whatever you say 'they do in Europe' a different European Country does it differently.
Another nice idea. In London, we're all the parks belong to the King, there is a tax on every window you have facing a park. Obviously the money goes to upkeep.
