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One of the best things about traveling far and wide is becoming more open-minded to different cultures and backgrounds. You realize just how diverse the world is, and that there are many different ways of structuring everyday life, culture, and society.
Amateur adventurers went online to share the things that are generally considered normal in European countries that might be considered weird across the Atlantic, in the United States. Keep scrolling to read their insights.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
More than two political parties.
question12338338:
But Americans don’t think Europeans are "weird" for having more than 2 parties. In fact, I would imagine most Americans are jealous of such a system.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Also, we don't identify by our political beliefs or party affiliation like Americans do!
Rick Murray 11 hours ago (edited)
The French problem, however, is that there is a disbalance between the left (with many parties that can never agree) and right (with three: a moderate, a hard, and an insane). France seems to be fairly left leaning as a country but the second round is always somebody against Marine Le Pen (national front) because the left vote is split too much to be useful for anything. Macron thinks he has a mandate, but in the end he was mainly elected because nobody wanted a far right Kremlin apologist in power. And we only ended up in that situation because the left are too busy squabbling amongst themselves to be any sort of political force. 🤦🏻♀️
Giraffe Sitter 13 hours ago
We’re more jealous of other aspects, such as an election season that only lasts a few weeks.
Multa Nocte 13 hours ago
The first year I moved to class I was in a French class and asked about a politician who was going to be in an upcoming election. The teacher grinned and then told us that if she mentioned one person, she had to mention the rest, which she did. I believe that there were 10 to 12 people running for that position, but I still have my nice impartial notes on each one of them.
Onan Hag All 6 hours ago
We don't have to register our preference party. But, there again, the US, unlike other first world countries, is not a democracy.
Huddo's sister 12 hours ago
The only downside is if you choose to vote 'below the line' in Australia and number dozens and dozens of candidates in order of preference. The list (and paper) gets longer each election.
Judes 8 hours ago
I like voting below the line, because I enjoy putting certain people last. I know that my preferences will never be distributed to these people, but I find it entertaining.
Load More Replies... RELATED:
#2
Walking. So many things can be done in Europe just by walking but in the USA it usually requires a car.
ThisIsMyCouchAccount:
Dude.
I live in a medium sized city in the middle of the US. And in the downtown area. I'm about 6 blocks away from all the stuff.
It's a 45 minute walk.
There are no sidewalks. So I have to walk over a bridge with no shoulder or an industrial area with lots of railroad crossing and no sidewalks.
The only safe way to get there is to take this paved walking trail that eventually meets up with the city sidewalks. And is the wrong direction if you're trying to get into the downtown.
Thankfully they are building a pedestrian bridge that is direct.
sbj 10 hours ago
Living in The Netherlands I'm so happy that I'm able to walk or cycle almost everywhere and thanks to all the cycle lanes I am able to do it safely
Sue User 9 hours ago
I walked or took bus everywhere in Netherlands. We eventually sold the car because it was cheaper to rent the few times we wanted it than to keep it up.
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Robert Millar 7 hours ago
I have lived (worked) in the USA and I can confirm this. It's very good of ThisIsMyBlahBlah to confirm it as well.
#3
The price on the tag is the price you pay, unlike the US where taxes are added when you check out.
Same thing for restaurants.
LePhattSquid:
Do americans just, like, have to calculate what the product is actually gonna cost?
In my student days id literally be going around the supermarket totting up my total because i knew i had €12 on my card. I can’t imagine having to do tax as well that’s such a pain.
twopurplecats:
Yup. Personally I grew up in Texas where the sales tax was 8.25%. My mom taught me how to estimate 10% when I was pretty young, so I could easily calculate the amount I’d need to cover tax as well (with a little room for error)
Ripley 12 hours ago
In Australia (which is not Europe, obv) the law states that all prices must be the end price for the listed product. It used to be that buying a car would have registration and dealer charges added on, but now they must display a "drive away" price. Makes things much easier. Airlines still get away with add-ons, though.
TheOGpandaHavana 11 hours ago
I grew up in Oregon where there is no sales tax and so the price listed is the price you pay. I'm now used to blindly accepting the listed price is not what I'm going to pay and since I never use cash anymore, it's not an issue. However, I do wish that taxes were just wrapped into the listed price everywhere.
Sue User 9 hours ago
I read this: When the states started passing sales tax laws, the store owners were upset because they thought the people would blame them on the price increases. So they purposely kept them separate so you would know " I would sell it for this but the govt wants you to pay this extra amount".
Multa Nocte 13 hours ago
I DO like that when I go into a store in France and don't have to mentally try to figure out a total so I can then additionally mentally figure out how much the total with tax will cost.
Rick Murray 11 hours ago
Growing up in the UK and then moving to France... I'd find it highly bizarre to pick up something from a shop and be given an entirely different price at the till. When I asked an American they said this happens because of sales tax and state tax and... 🤷🏻♀️ You know tax bands are a thing, right? In my local supermarket things are at different levels of taxation, *this* is why we invented computers - to do all this complicated stuff for us, so the price on the shelf is the price paid.
Load More Replies... Onan Hag All 6 hours ago
Not only this, but in UK shops they have to show how much an item costs per kilogram, 100 grams, or each. It makes judging value far easier.
One of the pain points when comparing life in European countries and in the US is the difference in systems for parental leave. Broadly speaking, many countries in Europe offer great parental leave, while many American parents have to deal with a very barebones, unforgiving system at the federal level, with major variations at the state level.
For instance, in Sweden, as The Lactation Network notes, parents get 480 days of shared leave, with 90 days reserved exclusively for each parent. That way, both parents get time to bond with their child. Their parental leave is paid at 80% of their wages.
Meanwhile, in the US, the system is far less supportive.
#4
Maternity leave of a couple months or years. Or split maternity/paternity leave.
ntcaudio:
We get 3 years here. However the money a parent receives as a substitute for salary from the state isn't great, so it's on the other parent to make money for the family for the most part. Ofc you can opt out and go back to work anytime if you feel like it.
edit: also, your employer is obliged to keep your job so that you can come back and they can't fire you during the period you're out.
mothramydear:
I got 16 weeks (4 were from my vacation/sick leave balance). My husband got 7 weeks. My mom called a week into my maternity leave and was like “[my husband] has already had more paternity leave than your dad got with both you and your brother combined” and I just about lost my mind. I don’t know how they did it. The fact that we continue to not have a national paid family leave policy is my villain origin story (or one of them, anyway).
Debby Keir 1 hour ago
I'm elderly and from the UK - we got 13 weeks at very minimal pay....that was based on your husband's national insurance - not even your own. Thank G things have moved on.
Petra Peitsch 4 hours ago
In eastern european countries maternity leave tends to be 2-3 years - it's a legacy from the communist era. In western ones is a bit lower, 1-2 years. And indeed, the payment, what the new-mother gets, is less, than her actual salary. It depends on country, but around 75-40% less.
M M 24 minutes ago
It's 3 months in the Netherlands, not everywhere in the West Europe
Load More Replies... #5
Paying to use the bathroom.
boulevardofdef:
America actually tried to introduce pay toilets in the '70s, but they failed for exactly this reason -- people were just so outraged that they would be expected to pay for that.
Zeeplankton:
This is something I think needs to be gotten rid of.. I can understand low traffic areas, actually, like maintaining a park or something. But what you mean I have to pay €1.10 to use a disaster of a bathroom, waiting for a train I've paid hundreds of € for? Looking at you Amsterdam Centraal.
Blackhawk23:
Got off the London tube after flying in to Heathrow and made the crucial error of not peeing in the airport before getting on the metro.
I ran up the stairs at a station in downtown London, only to see the pay-to-pee bathroom. I was contemplating just going in my pants, I had to go so bad. I didn’t even have the local currency yet and it was cash only.
Luckily a lovely British woman saw my dilemma and offered to pay for me to use the restroom. A kind gesture but incredibly dystopian, IMO. Europeans clown the US as hyper capitalistic. Making people pay to do a normal bodily function is so alien to me. Still is.
Jan Rosier 10 hours ago
Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, 0.70 or 0.80 eurocents for a clean toilet. If you find a non-paying one anywhere, it's usually also a very dirty, seldomly cleaned one.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Pay toilets are a thing of the past, except for some service stations on motorways. I don't know what decade OP is in.
sturmwesen 11 hours ago
In Germany they are very much a thing today. it's rare to find a free one and most are not well maintained.
Load More Replies... Multa Nocte 13 hours ago
Doesn't happen in the southwest of France. Don't know about the rest of the nation.
Sean Of The Spiders 11 hours ago
This isn't a common thing, so I'm guessing the people who raise it are only going to tourist areas or particular train stations? As an English person, I would also lose it, if I was having to pay to pee in public places. Last time I had to pay was a London station about 20 years ago.
zatrisha 9 hours ago
Yes you have to pay to use a public toilet, but they are clean and so it is fine.
Papa 3 hours ago
Believe it or not, free clean toilets are common in the US.
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SheHulk 5 hours ago
This is a problem in Sweden, at least for people like me who need to be within a few minutes of a loo. This is in towns. Now , at least, they have loos where you can blip your card, but there aren´t many of them either! I think the lack of public toilets has contributed to the decline of shops in town centers. In malls they have free, easily accessed, clean toilets.
#6
Eggs that aren't refrigerated.
Asleep_Onion:
It's totally normal for Americans who have chickens, but yeah in the stores our eggs are always washed and refrigerated.
7148675309:
I grew up in the UK - my parents (my mum is American) - did wash and then put eggs in the fridge.
Anyway - always spooks me to see eggs out in the supermarkets there and not in the refridgerated section. And when the question comes up on UK subreddits they are so negative about any other perspective…
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
We have safer eggs elsewhere. You don't need to refrigerate eggs unless they are washed, because they have a protective barrier. Our chickens' eggs at home aren't refrigerated.
Spencer's slave no longer 8 hours ago
Eggs go straight in the pantry at mine, including duck eggs.
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Multa Nocte 13 hours ago
Took a while to get used to when I moved from the US to France, but it is totally normal now. Same with milk until we unseal it.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Only UHT milk, which tastes quite unpleasant to me.
Load More Replies... Barbara Wilcock 9 hours ago
Never put eggs in the fridge. The shell is pouruse and will absorb other things in the fridge. But if you have the money, but then in a bag with truffles 😁
“In the U.S., parents often face an uphill battle when it comes to balancing the demands of family and work, especially during the crucial early months of a child’s life. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act allows new parents to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave,” The Lactation Network explains.
This puts a lot of financial pressure on new parents and gives them fewer opportunities to bond with their children.
The average maternity leave in the US is around 10 weeks, while the average paternity leave is just 17 days.
That being said, depending on which US state you live in, you might get access to better opportunities. For example, Europe HR Solutions points out that new parents in California get access to 8 weeks of paid parental leave, equal to 60%-70% of weekly wages. In Colorado, you have a state-funded program of 12 weeks of paid leave, where your funds depend on your income.
#7
Toilet doors that go all the way up/down. For some reason, Europeans don’t like people watching them poop.
RangerDanger246:
Cheaper and easier is the reason. Think about how much more effort and time it takes to have really small clesrances for the parts and the walls they fit between.
Having a 1/4" gap leaves wigglw room for the stall doors and barriers in case walls are out lol.
Sloppy and cheap, that's why.
Several_Hospital_129:
I'm American, but my husband is English. Oh my goodness, I hate bathroom doors here in America. I bet I could make a ton of money by starting a business with European bathrooms, especially for the women.
Future-Outcome9210:
A large US company I worked for in Denmark, they did a office redecoration. Also new toilets. They installed these cardboard like walls and doors into the toilets. But closed all the way up. Few months after they changed it with real walls with tiling floor to ceiling and real solid doors. Nobody wanted to use the toilets with cheap cardboard walls.
UnclePanda 4 hours ago (edited)
I'll get Euro-downvoted for this but as an American, I have never had somebody try to view me in the stalls, they just look for feet and move on to the next one. So, Europeans, what happens over there that has you so freaked out about this?
Petra Peitsch 4 hours ago (edited)
It's because over here, having a freaking gap in your toilet-door is weird. So, if it would ever happen, everyone would automatically stare at that gap, in a What The Actual Fck (?) - way. You were socialized to look down for shoes, we were to look for door-knobs' red-green parts
Load More Replies... #8
No tipping.
Stoltlallare:
They really pushing tipping in Sweden, every place has that stupid iPad with 15% 20% 30% bs now and if you pay by card they will ask you to type the number you wanna pay yourself. And they will stand there next to you as do it. It’s so awkward.
Tipping has been a thing for a very long time in sit down restaurants, but only as a way to round of the bill, but nothing more than that so like ”286 turn into 300” but that was common in a lot of countries I would sssume when you paid by cash, but it did translate into paying by card as well, but now they want MORE.
IrishFlukey:
Yes, we have this radical idea of having the hospitality industry pay their staff a decent wage and for any tips they do get to be completely for themselves with no impact on how much their employer has to pay them.
Rebecca McManus 5 hours ago
What's creeping into the shops is the "would you like to donate to charity" option on the card reader, my local Majestic has it, my attitude is that the company makes a lot more than me, they can donate to charity.
Auntriarch 51 minutes ago
My co-op has started doing this. I just say out loud "don't they know by now that I'm a tight git" and press 'no'
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 12 hours ago
Makes me angry, some places in Australia have put a compulsory tip on if you use the QR code to order (not that I do that). Why should that be a thing here?
Robert Millar 7 hours ago
Good to have a "fee" so you can say "We are a no tipping restaurant".
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
It surprises reading this about Sweden. I experiencied it in a few places in Spain, but I always chosed the no tipping. If they wouldn't pulled this shít, I would have tipped 10%. In Germany is generally so, if you go for a drink and maybe some appetizers, you round the bill. In a sit down restaurant, if you are satisfied with the service, you give like 10%, if the service was really great, than 15%. But if they were just doing the bare minimum, is the bill-rounding or paying exactly the price.
#9
The right to roam and public pathways through private lands. That freedom to transit through different kinds of land ownership and explore nature.
proscriptus:
We actually have a right to roam in our Vermont Constitution, I think a lot like England, there's a lot of tension around it, but unless you specifically exclude people (in a specific, legally acceptable way) your land is open to public use, including hunting.
Pernille 10 hours ago
The right to roam is not everywhere in Europe, don't do it in Danmark or France. In private woods in Danmark you even have to stay on the paths, no frolicking through the woods or gathering mushrooms, not that I think it is enforced.
SheHulk 4 hours ago
Has Denmark had a problem with people frolicking through the woods! 🤣
Load More Replies... SheHulk 4 hours ago
Allemänsrätten in Sweden is central to our civil rights, and cultural identity! To me it is very weird that other countries don´t have this.
Papa 3 hours ago
I didn't down vote you, but to me it's weird that there are places where people can just traipse across land that belongs to other people. I equate it to walking into someone else's house any time you want.
Load More Replies... Debby Keir 1 hour ago
Went to New England a few years ago, and wanted to walk on the coast path - nope - everywhere 'private' 'keep out' and locals stopping us to ask where were' going..... (However, when they realised we were Brits, there was no agression, thankfully)
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
In Germany, there is mostly signed "Privatweg, nutzung bei eigene gefahr", which means, if you pass through, and an accident happens to you, than that's on you. The owner will call 112 for you, if he/she is nice enough. Of course, that's not for someone's backyard, but for larger piece of lands.
What have you found to be the biggest differences between life in European countries and in the United States, Pandas? Which side of the Atlantic do you prefer and why? What are some of the biggest cultural quirks of your home country? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
#10
Drinking at 16.
Constant_Cultural:
We Germans already get sober at 16😁
couchcaptain:
In Hungary, the drinking age is whatever age you are when you can reach the top of the bar table to order a drink.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
There is no actual legal drinking age in most of Europe. The restrictions are only for buying alcohol, and possibly consuming it in public venues.
Trillian 11 hours ago
Yup. The idea that police would come to break up a private party at someone's house because of 'underage drinking' just blows my mind
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Pheebs 28 minutes ago (edited)
Most of the US drinking age applies to public. It was 18 for a long time, then moved to 21 in the 70s-80s. A lot of states have laws that allow younger to drink if accompanied by parents, and drinking in home again if given permission by parents. Moderation applies in those cases. Might see child protective services called if you’re allowing your young teen to get drunk all the time. I was allowed small glasses of wine growing up for big occasions. No one drank much in my fam, in general.
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
I will never forget the face, what one of my american colleague made, when she first saw people drinking beer and wine in a city-park, in full daylight, with some cops patroling, and not batting an eye.
M M 15 minutes ago
Well, you can do that in US, at least I've heard that's the reason why specific lawn in Central Park was full of people and the rest was rather empty 😅
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highwaycrossingfrog 4 hours ago
I was quite astounded when I asked my American friend why those red solo cups are so ubiquitous in the US to find out that it was because of laws against open containers and public drinking. You can't even walk around with a bottle of beer with the top off.
M M 14 minutes ago
Same in post soviet countries. You're not allowed to drink in public, only in bars etc
Load More Replies... #11
Casual cursing and uncensored music on TV and radio.
Sue User 8 hours ago
Nudity. People in USA can handle curse words but loose their collective sh$t when they see a n****e
Earonn - 8 hours ago
And then collectively lose their s**t when they see one IRL. Because it's being made so "special". Hence all the "wardrobe oopsies", planned or accidental.
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Blue Bunny of Happiness 3 hours ago
You’re aiming for the wrong area there!
Load More Replies... #12
Seeing little kids being sent out alone on various errands.
Young people sitting at sidewalk tables drinking beer, smoking and chatting quietly amongst themselves and cleaning up when they're done.
Excellent food at reasonable prices, especially bread!
People of all income brackets using public transit.
Hearing half a dozen languages before lunch and being able to conduct basic pleasantries in all of them.
Disabled people in public, because almost everything that is necessary to conduct one's life is accessible.
Drinking a beer or wine with lunch.
And just to be contrarian, there are zero big pickup trucks around, trucks are smaller and are never driven by people not actively engaged in trades.
Tao_of_Ludd:
Accessibility is quite variable in Europe. Worked for a while early in my career with a wheelchair company - some parts of Southern / Eastern Europe can be quite challenging.
Jonas Fisher 3 hours ago
I have no idea what this list is supposed to be. Disabled access in the US is excellent, for example, and I'd argue that the US is at least as good as anywhere in the world for food quality and variety.
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
Yaps, it always amuses me, when an american tourist or expat is seemingly confused seeing young children taking the public transport to and from kindergarden or school, absolutely alone, or in small groups. I was 5 years old, when I first took the bus alone to my kindergarden.
Pheebs 22 minutes ago
The kids thing is a definite attitude shift over the last 40 years. I grew up as a latchkey kid - took myself to and from school, spent hours by myself at home or out playing. Not all towns /cities have reliable enough public transport to send a kid off on their own, but even at a young age I generally didn’t have someone walking me to bus stops or taking me to school. I’d say mid to late 90s there was a strong move to more helicopter parenting, likely as safety in the US deteriorated.
Load More Replies... #13
Waiters that don’t constantly bother you when you’re trying to have a relaxing meal.
Catinkah:
A relaxing meal taking 1-2 hours. So you have time to digest between courses and... like.. take the time to have a conversation with your table mates and not having courses served back to back without a break.
palenuetral:
Most people from US would assume rudeness, laziness or forgetfulness from the waiter because they never bring over the check. The US is a pressure cooker and always trying to speed things along more than they need to.
In the US, the waiter is trying to find that exact moment to bring the check over when the patrons are settling to move on. The check is like part of the meal they are waiting for.
Outside of the US, I've usually had to ask for the check because the waiters are patiently waiting till I'm ready to move on.
Huddo's sister 12 hours ago
I've been to a couple of places in Australia that will have staff asking constantly if you want more or the bill and it makes me feel so stressed! Like we don't deserve to sit there unless we agree to pay more. Much better the other way. Many places (the less expensive ones usually) you go to the counter to pay the bill anyway, so you just get up when you are ready to go and pay on the way out.
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
The second comment. All the people from US assumes rudeness, laziness or forgetfulness from the waiter at their first time in a european restaurant. And in this case doesn't really matter, which country. One of my american black colleagues first thought it was racism, that the waiter doesn't reached her table every 10 minutes. Than, we had a conversation about different hospitability types.
Multa Nocte 12 hours ago
This took some getting used to when we moved to France because we weren't sure how to proceed. After a few months we settled in and got used to it and how to find the server and proceed. Interestingly, you rarely hear of anyone in this area doing a "dine and dash" like we used to see on occasion in the US.
pelemele 7 hours ago
In France, placing your cutlery side by side on your plate and pushing any leftovers to the other side signals to the server that you have finished. Depending on how far along you are in your meal, they will ask if you have finished and if you would like the rest of your order or the bill. If that's not enough, you'll need to call them over. Generally, they'll leave you alone, unless the restaurant is full and they need to make room. Similarly, once you've made your selection, place the menu next to your plate (at least for paper menus). This indicates that you have chosen your dish, and the server will come to serve you. If they don't come, call them over.
Load More Replies... #14
Having a work life balance.
PiccoloAwkward465:
It was great to work for an Australian company and they just offered 4 weeks PTO, I didn't need to negotiate for it. I didn't feel like I had to hoard my time off and plan my vacations down to the day.
Home_Improvers:
Having a life in general.
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
It's a minimum of 20 working days till to 35-40 working days in all european countries, and it's called vacation days. And for the USA upper manager's nightdreams, you have to take them all before the next year's April.
highwaycrossingfrog 4 hours ago
As a freelance self-employed worker on short-term contracts, I don't get PTO per se (if I take a day off I must get someone to cover me and they are paid instead of me). However, due to UK laws I must nominally receive "holiday pay" in lieu of paid time off, so what happens is a certain percentage is deducted from each of my invoices/payments, and at the end of each contract I then invoice and am paid separately for the accrued holiday pay. Very weird loophole.
#15
Paying servers a fair wage that doesn't require tipping.
Debby Keir 1 hour ago
Agreed, but (UK) if I have good service, I want to tip. Leaving no tip is only for poor service.
#16
Hanging your clothes out to dry.
NomadGabz:
Europeans and South Americans have more in common than South Americans and the US. We also hang our clothes to dry in the sun.
tm3_to_ev6:
I'm in Canada, I've lived in the US before, and I've always done that. I don't stick a pole out of my window (it's not even allowed by my condo) but I have a folding rack where I hang clothes after removing them from the washing machine.
It helps my clothes last longer before holes and ripped seams appear, and as a bonus my power bill goes down a little.
I only use the dryer for bedding (the size makes it take forever to air-dry), or if I need a specific garment to be ready ASAP.
Julie Rogers 14 hours ago (edited)
Many people still use clotheslines in the US. Nineteen states event have right-to-dry laws prohibiting towns and neighborhoods from outlawing clotheslines.
Huddo's sister 12 hours ago
The fact that such a law is needed is crazy to me as an Australian.
Load More Replies... #17
Electric kettles.
Gibby1293:
American here. I just bought mine a week ago and i love it! I can’t believe I never had one before. We are seriously missing out.
WeeDramm:
You don't even know how badly you are still missing out. Kitchens in Ireland and the UK are wired for a much greater power-output because we need that kettle to boil right now. Because we need our tea.
Tea is Very Serious Business.
Julie Rogers 14 hours ago
I've had an electric kettle for years, and I'm in the US. They're not commonly purchased but are widely available in the US.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Yes, i thought so too. Often called 'tea kettles' I believe.
Load More Replies... Jan Rosier 8 hours ago
Same with 'wand blenders' not being that common in US apparently. What's easier, pouring soup into a blender from a big pot, or sticking a wand blender into your big pot, and perfectly blending that big pot of soup in a couple of minutes?
Rebecca McManus 4 hours ago
Known fact that there is a power surge in the UK at the end of a pivotal episode of a popular soap opera, or the end of a major football match on TV as everyone goes to make a cup of tea at the same time and switches on the kettle.
#18
Not paying to go to the hospital.
Senior-Book-6729:
Can we not lie? Maybe in some countries, but in Poland we have separate public and private healthcare. The thing is, public healthcare is mostly useless (and has very long wait times), so if you want to be actually treated you have to pay anyway. And even then, to use public healthcare you need insurance, which is expensive. Also, it kind of sucks how me who makes very little money (contract work) has to pay almost 40% of my salary for the healthcare fund…
Slapdash1 12 hours ago
The second comment is bóllocks. You'd probably go to a private dentist or someone like a dermatologist, but the serious stuff you go the public way, simply because there are few private hospitals that could perform advanced surgery and then it is very costly. You don't pay 40% for healthcare, you pay 7.5%. And if you are unemployed, all you need to do is to register with the unemployment office and you get healthcare insurance paid for by the state (meaning: the working people).
Angarade 13 hours ago
In France, I pay 65€ for insurance and that's it. I pay 9€ to see my GP, and it's reimbursed few days later. I don't pay for medications, hospital stay, surgery, giving birth, etc... The only things expensive is eyes and teeth.
highwaycrossingfrog 4 hours ago (edited)
Maybe in Poland you pay, but not in the UK. Although waiting times can be long with the NHS, it's true. But having paid health insurance is fairly unusual and an individual choice, not a necessity.
Single Spinner 12 hours ago
Australia. Good health care for most things (free). But if you require non urgent care, eg eye cataracts, bone density scans, dental you pay through the nose.
#19
Affordable healthcare.
JasonDomber:
Would you rather pay nearly $1,000 a month just to be insured?
Because that’s where we’re at here. My medical premiums are $953.55 as of 2026 and dental is $39.14
Imagine paying £750 a month just to be insured….
rolph4:
I pay 1.6k month for me, my wife and kinds just to be insured and wait weeks and months for doctors appointments. In Germany as a low-medium income husband with a stay at home wife.
sturmwesen 11 hours ago
Dentist and GP have nearly no waiting time for me (Germany, not privatly insured)... a fast orthopedic appointment takes some calls (last one took a week and 5 calls. it helps if you are already a patient there) MRT/CT is 1 week to three months if it'snot urgent. is it annoying? yes. but at least in my region it's managable.
Sue User 8 hours ago
Bless you for thinking this is a wait. Rheumatologists are about six months out here. My brother, who live in rural West Virginia has been looking for a specialist for over a year.
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Tucker Cahooter 10 hours ago
I would keel over in shock if I got that bill shown above (which of course would lead to further hospitalization and more costs).
SheHulk 3 hours ago
This is weird in the states, not Europe. How can "Pharmacy" possibly be over $ 83 000?
sturmwesen 1 hour ago
There are some d***s, that "cost" a quarter million and the receipt is for 5 months...
Load More Replies... #20
Not replying to work emails outside of office hours (i.e. having weekends and time off).
NunYaBeezWax79:
I wish it wasn’t so expected to be available ALL the time to your employers in the US, even though we’re only paid for the 8-5.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
I mean, not having to work outside of work hours. How incredible is that?
Earonn - 8 hours ago
Fun thing is, I don't have to even look at my emails outside work hours, but when I go on holiday I offer my boss to contact me in emergencies simply because we're a good team. And so far she never made use of the offer (nor I of her offer to call her during her holidays).
Huddo's sister 11 hours ago
Even though Australia has a 'right to unplug' in law now, and I never checked emails or phone outside hours anyway, I still can't stop myself thinking about work when on holidays. I think it's the teacher life, constantly thinking 'oh, that could work well' or 'I'm still worried about x child' or cutting and pasting/laminating resources so they will be ready, as much to not disappoint the children as anything else.
Jack 44 minutes ago
If you're only 8-5, then you legally do not have to respond to anything other than "your shift is cancelled" or "would you like a shift?" Because the rest is wage theft. Expecting you to work off the clock (including phone calls) is wage theft. And it's the most common kind of theft in the USA.
DeoManus Argentem 1 hour ago
I'd check work emails whilst "off" (I was salaried, but still) just to mentally prepare myself for what kind of mess I'd be looking at returning to - mostly during times of expected crisis.
#21
Moved from Canada to Belgium. First trip to the grocery store had some surprises. I couldn’t find milk. They don’t keep it in the refrigerated section. It is on the shelves in tetra packs. I couldn’t find sliced bread, but I saw it in other people’s carts. Apparently you pick up a loaf of unsliced bread and put it in the slicer machine. (Me in my high school French: excuse moi. Can I watch you slice your bread?). Eggs - not refrigerated.
Also - Saturday morning at the big box Home Depot equivalent: I’m wearing torn jeans with paint splatters, work boots and an old hockey jersey with holes in it. All the other gentlemen have suede blazers, ascots (scarves), dress pants, dress shoes. They are in the paint aisle too. They get dressed nicely to go to the stores!
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
Sincerly, the no refrigerated milk part surprised me. Yes, in Germany are also these ultra-milks-good-till-end-of-the-world-plus-2-days, but honestly, I have never saw someone buying them.
#22
Traveling efficiently by train.
Moorhenlessrooster:
Not in the UK, my friend.
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
You never used the hungarian railways, because you'd appreciate DB.
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#23
Going to the doctor without first asking your bank account for permission..
GergDanger:
As long as it’s not a dentist lol
Daisydaisy 5 hours ago
Went to the doctor today - cost me nothing. Picked up six months' supply of insulin from pharmacy for $7.50. I know from Bored Panda that I wouldn't have been able to do that in America. Thank god I live in Australia where we have "socialist" medical care!
Papa 3 hours ago
Don't believe everything you read on Bored Panda. My visits to my primary care doctor cost me $5.00 (specialists, like my sleep doctor and dermatologist cost $30.00), and last week I had two prescriptions filled that cost me $4.10 total. I am not, however, defending the American health care system.
Load More Replies... #24
WhatsApp
The only reason I’ve seen people use it here in the states is to talk to people internationally.
FarIndication311:
In the UK no one uses SMS any more, it's all Facebook Messenger or whatsapp.
The only SMS on my phone from the last few years are old one time pass codes, deleted spam or notifications from businesses.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Can't stand it, myself. Why let another greedy technology company have access to all your communications? WhatsApp refuses to let you start a conversation unless you give it access to ALL your contacts. Think about that....
troufaki13 9 hours ago
How would it start communication with your contacts without access to your... contacts??
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#25
Respecting your allies.
84theone:
I’m pretty sure on the grand scale that is not the norm in Europe either, you know, given European history.
Also the ongoing war on the continent.
2fast4blue:
Russia and Ukraine were anything but allies before the war...
Multa Nocte 12 hours ago
How about "not arbitrarily invading other countries because the oil you want is under their soil"?
Armac 11 hours ago
Or threatening to invade a different country because the rare minerals you want are
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#26
No free refills.
Jabbles22:
I am Canadian free refills are quite common but the Americans go the extra mile. Up here when you are done your meal in a sit down restaurant that's it. In the US not only do you get free refills but in some places they offer you one last refill in a to go cup.
flashdman:
Yes...in Louisiana, "to go" cups are common for beverages. Also helps servers as a last minute chance to boost a tip....
Huddo's sister 12 hours ago
There was one Hungry Jacks (Burger King) in Melbourne I used to go to that had free refills of soft drink, with a self serve machine. I realised pretty quickly that more than one and a half was way too much for me in one sitting!
Sue User 8 hours ago
They look at you funny when you order a meal but want the kids cup because that's all the soda you want.
Load More Replies... highwaycrossingfrog 4 hours ago
A lot of fast food places in England have free refills these days, since self serve soda machines have become common. It always seems like a luxury but rarely do I actually want more than 1 cup!
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Yes. We tend to find that one cup is enough. Incredible, isn't it?
#27
Air kissing cheek to cheek to say hello.
I went to France for a few weeks when I was 14 in 1992 (American, male) and got used to just the custom. Towards the end of my trip a couple British girls were there with the family and I could tell they were odd with the greeting, as they thought I was French and vis a vis, the same.
We laughed it off later as we snuck extra glasses of wine when dinner was served at like 10PM.
kitsurage:
In Finland it's already unthinkable to my dad's generation that people (mostly men) would even hug each other as a greeting/goodbye. Cheek kisses would still absolutely be an immense violation for most people.
Slapdash1 11 hours ago
How can you tell an extroverted Finn? They look at YOUR shoes when they talk to you.
Multa Nocte 12 hours ago
I am so used to cheek kissing as a "hello" and "goodbye" after 4 years in France that it feels "natural" now. I can see how people would be wary of it if it's not something that is culturally normative to them, however.
#28
Small fridge. We have giant ones in the US by comparison.
Home_Improvers:
They don’t need giant refrigerators because fresh food is readily available for everyone (not just people who can afford to pay a premium for real food), people have time to cook, and they walk more so they aren’t hauling a trunk load of food home.
#29
Washing machine in the kitchen.
Im_Not_A_Plant:
This is only really the case in the UK. in bathrooms, or dedicated washing room is more common on the continent.
Barbara Wilcock 8 hours ago
It tried nicotine gum,and vaping. Didn't help
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#30
Healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt you.
G*n control.
Education at all levels being broadly available.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Yeah, let's censor the word 'gun'. In case it triggers (he he) someone. But you can buy one of course....
#31
Being able to walk around the street with a beer in your hand. I miss it.
cpMetis:
It's mostly a roundabout way to keep the rowdy confined to expected areas. A pretty natural consequence of the drinking to the point of drunk cultural standard.
Nobody is gonna get mad at you for having a beer outside a bar. But that doesn't mean the rest of society has to put up with drunks bumbling around disrupting parks and neighborhoods.
So it's basically a much easier to enforce take on public nuisance laws.
Just...
Amplified by 10x back when prohibition was a thing.
sturmwesen 11 hours ago
I kinda miss, when a few dozens of us (then) teens would gather on a certain plaza. a hand full of subcultures and age groups from different schools/areas just chilling, drinking and smoking without any conflicts.
sturmwesen 10 hours ago
side note: that was before everybody had a smartphone, so you never knew where everybody was. if you were bored you just went there and asked around/looked for your pals
Load More Replies... highwaycrossingfrog 4 hours ago
Excuse me, are you aware of the drinking culture in Britain? Yet somehow we manage not to have constant drunken park brawls.
#32
Paid parental leave.
leobutters:
12 months in Serbia for women, with the possibilty to extend it by additional 3-6 months. Full salary all the time paid by the state (average of last 18 salaries). Employers can't fire them while on maternity leave, their jobs are there when they're back.
One of the rare things we are really doing right.
pineconeminecone:
We have a 12 month and an 18 month parental leave here in Canada with similar protections, but only at 55% or 33% of your income, respectively depending on the option you choose, and that gets taxed.
Also in every province except Quebec, the parental leave benefits are under the same program as the unemployment benefits, and that can create a real mess with things like minimum accrued hours between claims if you’ve been laid off shortly before or after your leave or want to have your kids close together in age, regardless of if you’ve paid into the program for decades without any prior claims.
#33
The rate of cigarette smoking, especially among youth. I couldn’t believe how many people are still smoking cigarettes, and how many teenagers were, when I went to a few European countries.
mr-fiend:
Was in Central Europe a few months ago and the rate that they smoke is absolutely insane. The vast majority at all the clubs/pubs had a drink and a cig in hand.
Debby Keir 1 hour ago
To be honest, I think Southern Europe and the 'old' Soviet states are more likely to smoke - at £1 per cigarette in the UK, it's way too expensive of a habit these days.
T'Mar of Vulcan 2 hours ago
I was shocked when I visited London in 2018 and everywhere outside I had to walk through clouds of smoke. Disgusting.
Julie S 50 minutes ago
That's because you're not allowed to smoke indoors, so smokers all stand outside buildings smoking and yes us non-smokers hate it.
Load More Replies... #34
Workers Rights.
Mission_Bottle3636:
Yeah but depends how your work contract is, I have heard of people working in part time agency's and they essentially are being treated as cheap human capital always being moved from one work place to the next without much job security and never being able to even take a sick leave otherwise their hours will be cut to zero.
Multa Nocte 13 hours ago
We have a lot of strikes in France, but we support workers' rights, so we live with it and try to support them.
Sue User 8 hours ago
It's almost as if you lift each other up rather than tearing each other down.
Load More Replies... #35
Having promotion/relegation in sports leagues. Although I can only imagine the chaos if like the Pirates or White Sox got kicked out of MLB lol.
#36
Mayo on fries.
Pernille 9 hours ago
The best way to eat frites is with mayonnaise, I'll fight anyone that thinks differently;)
Barbara Wilcock 8 hours ago
You paid for your dinner. So up to the individual what to put on it. Stop the judging
#37
No ice in your drinks.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Why would I want to water down my drink, which is already cool enough?
#38
Been able to cross the road when you think it is safe to do so.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
We're adults. We're allowed to cross the road without government permission. Amazing, really....
Julie Rogers 13 hours ago
I'm older, and I've still never met anyone ticketed for jaywalking, but we all do it sometimes. I think jaywalking has been built up as a big American crime but no one gets in trouble unless they cause a bad accident.
WubiDubi 3 hours ago
US drivers are severe cagers (secure in their metal box) and are only going to stop for a red light that has been red for 10 seconds let alone someone Jay walking. The UK is becoming like this since COVID. Did the population consume too much Prime and Netflix over lock down?
#39
Being safe in a theatre, at a parade, in school, at the park, at work, on public transport, at a club, at an outdoor concert, at the grocery store, at the church, at the synagogue, at the temple, at the mosque, at a sporting event, at the pub, at home, and most recently safe pulling away from a curb after dropping someone off.
Petra Peitsch 3 hours ago
They said Land of the free, not Land of tha safe .....
Load More Replies... #40
Bidets.
Barbara Wilcock 8 hours ago
Very hygienic. And it's not just your backside. Wonderful for feet,especially after a day at the beach
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
In Italy, people would be disgusted if they thought that you hadn't washed your behind after taking a dump. Even the smallest bathroom seems to have one. (a real separate one, not integrated like this one).
UnclePanda 4 hours ago (edited)
I have two and while not common, bidets are no longer uncommon in the US. Stand alone units are rare, though, because the bathroom wasn't planned for one.
#41
Lack of AC.
CoolBeansHotDamn:
Moving from Florida to New England was a shock for me. Central AC is VERY uncommon here, whereas it's basically unheard of to not have central AC in Florida.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
Yeah, but Florida is insanely humid as well as hotter than most of Europe. I would have expected that to be obvious. I have plenty of A/C in my flat in southern Italy, anyway. It's quite normal.
Multa Nocte 12 hours ago
Since this is an article titled "42 People Share Normal Practices In Europe That The US May Find Weird" (although BP changes article titles frequently), I am not sure how a change from Florida, USA to New England, USA fits in here.
zatrisha 8 hours ago (edited)
Electricity is much more expensive in Europe, when it's warm, we open the windows.
#42
Paying for bathroom use.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
No. We don't, at least I never have outside of motorway services occasionally.
What do you think ?
kissmychakram 10 hours ago
BP randomly hiding comments for no discernible reason has gotten nearly as silly as their censorship asterisks.
Multa Nocte 10 hours ago
I know! Makes it so difficult to respond to others, which is what I thought BP was supposed to be encouraging. The comment notification is still out as well, so I never know if someone has responded to a comment I made. Everything blew up with their Christmas promotion.
Load More Replies... Onan Hag All 6 hours ago
Not shooting unarmed protesters in the face is the norm outside the US.
Anony Mouse 3 hours ago
I guess it’s been awhile since this content was copied and pasted here. I guess BP isn’t getting enough engagement with the celebrity trash posts and political stuff nobody wants to read here. A $hit on the US article will get a bunch of comments, even if a lot of this is wrong and ignorant.
T'Mar of Vulcan 2 hours ago
I agree. I'm not American (British but live in South Africa) and even I'm getting tired of the repeated posts pooping on the US. We know it's turned into the Handmaid's Tale. Please just stop.
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kissmychakram 10 hours ago
BP randomly hiding comments for no discernible reason has gotten nearly as silly as their censorship asterisks.
Multa Nocte 10 hours ago
I know! Makes it so difficult to respond to others, which is what I thought BP was supposed to be encouraging. The comment notification is still out as well, so I never know if someone has responded to a comment I made. Everything blew up with their Christmas promotion.
Load More Replies... Onan Hag All 6 hours ago
Not shooting unarmed protesters in the face is the norm outside the US.
Anony Mouse 3 hours ago
I guess it’s been awhile since this content was copied and pasted here. I guess BP isn’t getting enough engagement with the celebrity trash posts and political stuff nobody wants to read here. A $hit on the US article will get a bunch of comments, even if a lot of this is wrong and ignorant.
T'Mar of Vulcan 2 hours ago
I agree. I'm not American (British but live in South Africa) and even I'm getting tired of the repeated posts pooping on the US. We know it's turned into the Handmaid's Tale. Please just stop.
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