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For many people, one of the most fascinating things about traveling is getting acquainted with different cultures. Whether they evoke a culture shock or are surprisingly similar to what one is used to, it’s always interesting to see how people elsewhere live.
Those who’ve traveled rather far from home know that one rule often applies – the bigger the distance, the larger the differences. Take the US and Europe, for instance; roughly 5423 kilometers—or almost 3370 miles—apart, measuring the distance between New York and Lisbon, just as an example, the two places might feel like two different worlds, and not only because of the language or the currency used.
The cultural differences between the US and Europe were recently discussed by members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community, after one user asked them about things in the US that seem totally normal to Americans, but difficult for Europeans to wrap their heads around. Quite a few netizens shared their thoughts, so if you’re curious to see what things they pointed to, scroll down to find their answers on the list below.
Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with Dr. Erika Doss, a historian of American art and culture, and Edith O'Donnell, Distinguished Chair in Art History at the University of Texas at Dallas.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
How they get more pissed off at abortions than school shootings.
RELATED:
#2
Having a felon for a President.
#3
Not letting cashiers sit the f**k down. Blows my mind.
Socks Thecate 10 months ago
It really is petty to not let them sit down. You know how much damage all that standing will do?
Culture shock can happen anywhere, even when visiting a neighboring country. But nowadays, people can be exposed to different cultures even without having to leave home.
Talking about cultural differences, Dr. Erika Doss, a historian of American art and culture, noted that cultural diversity is much more interesting, even inspiring, than cultural monotony. “Think of food diversity,” she suggested, adding that she’s sharing her thoughts from an American’s perspective. “Few people eat the same thing every day and Americans love how their palate has dramatically enlarged in recent years—Pad Thai! Tacos! Falafel! Kimchi!
“Still, many Americans fear difference when it is represented by religion, race, and politics that they don’t share and don’t understand. Global eating is ok but global sovereignty is rejected,” the expert noted.
#4
To me, the fact that the tax isnt included in the price in a gorcery store. The price i see shall be the price i pay. I ain't doing extra math.
#5
Holding bake sales to pay for your kid’s chemotherapy. This is unheard of in all civilized countries.
According to Dr. Doss, there are many factors that shape each and every culture. “Contemporary American culture, or the culture of the United States, is shaped by class, money, race, region, and mythology – as in, which American myths people believe in, such as the founding of the nation (why, by whom, and for whom), who won the Civil War (and who lost, and why it was fought), the conquest of the American West, the idea that hard work leads to success, and so on.”
The expert added that the way American culture is nowadays was also significantly influenced by media, especially social media.
#6
"I know I should have this concerning medical issue examined by a doctor, but I can't afford it, so I won't.".
#8
The contradiction between:
* Thinking The US is the best country ever, and that everybody wants to move there.
* Associating themselves so strongly with countries they've never been to because they have ancestors from there.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
I really want to know what criteria defines teh "best country ever". Is it Wellness? Nope not Wellness. Is it Education? Nope! How about home ownership? LOL absolutely NOT! It's GDP. The USA has the highest GDP and 90% enjoy NONE of the benefits. I know I sound like Bernie when I say it but the 1% are screwing us all over.
Many people see exposure to different cultures as a positive. And for a reason! Immersing yourself into an environment or a culture yet unexplored can lead to discovering new tastes, smells, views, sounds, and much more.
“Think music,” Dr. Doss suggested, talking about how acquainting oneself with different cultures can benefit a person. “Global influences have infinitely enriched the American sound.”
#9
Free and accessible toilets everywhere, diaper changing stations in men’s rooms, ADA…some things America does very well.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
Thank you, and it's true. Though getting some businesses to obey these accessibility requirements can be very difficult.
#10
The sheer amount of guns in domestic ownership. Absolutely crazy.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
The USA has more guns than people. I mean ALL people. More guns than every man woman and child. By the numbers, if all the guns were distributed to all the adults, every adult would have FIVE guns. It's insane. Especially for a country that hasn't been invaded for almost 200 years.
#11
How few vacation days the average worker has/uses. In most of Europe the minimum is 25 days.
Tobias Reaper 10 months ago
I get 28 days holiday a year plus I can call in sick if i am ill and i will still get paid and being able to access healthcare that wont bankrupt me isn't tied to me working. The US does a lot of things really well but the way they treat their workers is terrible they need to do better.
The expert added that Americans—as well as people from other countries—could really benefit from global travel. Some studies suggest that living in and adapting to a new country is linked with improved creativity. In addition to that, it can be linked to a happy and full tummy, as for many people, one of the best things about traveling and getting acquainted with different cultures is food.
Some sources suggest that in 2023, the global culinary tourism market size was estimated at $11.5 billion dollars, thanks to consumers spending on travel and tourism and thanks to their desire to try locally sourced products and explore new cultures through food.
#12
Here in the UK 🇬🇧
100 miles is a long way,
In America
100 years is a long time !
#13
A judicial system where judges ae put in place by politicians.
#14
Pledge of allegiance every morning in school. Bizarre.
#15
Saying "thoughts and prayers" after every mass shooting.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” Thoughts and prayers didn't work the last, hold on 488 times (actual number in the USA in 2024), maybe they'll work the 489th time.
#16
They will let you die to protect medical industry profits. In Europe ambulances, hospitals, and doctors, are a public service. When I needed to see a doctor in England I just walked in and asked to see one. They got me in, even though I was 240 miles from home, and I left with a prescription and a letter for my doctor to update his records. No bill. The very idea of a medical bill for seeing a doctor is foreign. I used to think it was a mistake in American TV and movies.
Anxiety Panda 10 months ago
My daughter had a (first ever) seizure in London. Ambulance ride, neurology exam, CAT scan, blood work, paperwork
#17
As a Brit married to an American and working in the US here are my findings about things that are different. I love the US dearly so please don’t think I’m being mean.
- in general Americans don’t know anything like as much about our countries as we know about theirs. We know what a 401k is. What Medicare is. What an Ivy League school is. Probably can name most of the states. Then you’ll talk to an American and they’ll not know Wales exists.
- job security. To lose my job 5 years in would be quite a process, would mean I would need to be made redundant and given a severance package or given multiple written and verbal notices that I wasn’t doing what I’m supposed to before I was let go. If I want to leave I need to give several months notice. I’m the us you can get fired for fun, and even in senior roles only need to give a couple of weeks.
- it is one country, but the differences between New York, Alabama, Montana, and Miami are in my opinion more that uk to Denmark, Germany, France. It’s a MASSIVE country, phiysically and culturally.
- In the UK having the English or British flag on your house basically means you’re a racist. Or very into the royal family. Or both.
- Not having a car in some states means you basically can’t go anywhere. I live in one of the world’s biggest cities and I don’t have a car, but in LA I was screwed.
- Commercials for d***s are insane, talking about “moderate to severe ulcerative colitis” in the same way as a new car blows my mind
- Politics is a lot more front and centre in the US. Politicians in the UK are seen as faintly ridiculous
- the hustle culture of the US is admirable but difficult to wrap my head round. When we are not at work or on holiday, we are gone. In the US my colleagues are always always on call, and even if on vacation will get on calls or answer emails. Most of my US colleagues just don’t take holiday. I get in trouble if I DON’T take all my minimum 28 days.
- The 2nd amendment is something brits will never understand. I get the irony of that statement given what it was put there for in the first place.
- Americans think nothing of a 3 or 4 hour drive even making the return journey the same day. This would not be attempted in the uk without a couple of days in between. An hour commute is brutal for a Brit
- I don’t have scientific data. But Americans ALWAYS seem to be carrying a drink. Always.
- Tumble driers and washing machines are vastly superior in the US
- As are sandwiches. Bread is better in the UK though
- Americans have this idea that service is really good there, which is absolutely not my experience. Yes of course I tip, and tip well, I just think overall the service I get tends to be speed over everything
- I am jealous of the “welcome home ma’am” my wife gets at immigration. We do not get that in the uk.
- most brits aren’t scared of the police in the slightest, and they are generally trusted. Obvs ymmv here but there’s less of a ACAB mentality
- Generalising, but the casual confidence Americans have is very unusual to us. The idea of just striking up a conversation with a stranger in the uk is a terrifying one.
Bob Brooce 10 months ago
I suspect that in the US there's a good correlation between flying the flag and racism.
#18
The absence of sidewalks. And the absence of a walkable city center that is not just one mall.
#19
Churches. Every little town in the South seems have as many churches as houses. And people like to show and tell how super religious they are. Also, the US version of Christianity is weird - so much End Times and Old Testament horror.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
Oh I know. Half my family is Jehovah's Witness. The other half is Catholic. Guess which one I spend the holidays with... Answer is NEITHER!
#20
The absolute emptiness of wilderness areas. We were on a week hike and ran into a Frenchman hiking the other way who had been living on a packet of soy beans for the three days since he began his hike. Based on his European hiking experiences, he had planned to buy food when passing through villages or by farms throughout each day. He was like, "Where are the farmers? Where are the sheep? Where are the villages?"
We let him know that in the US, when the trails ran though wilderness, national parks, national forests, or even state parks that there was nothing there. He could go days without happening across civilization. We fed him a good meal and gave him enough supplies to get him the few days to the next place to get supplies, so it turned out okay for him. He simply couldn't comprehend the vast emptiness of it all.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
I can because I grew up out there. The town I was born in was four hours from the nearest McDonalds by car through twisting mountain highways that were shut down in the winter. A road trip to K-Mart meant you brought about two days of supplies to make sure if you got stuck you didn't die.
#21
Staggering medical debt.
#23
The amount of our nation's flags everywhere.
Barbara Wilcock 10 months ago
Just like the huge trucks. They are over compensating for something they know has gone
#24
Adverts for d***s and lawyers.
TV advert 1:
Heres a d**g you should take
TV advert 2:
Were you wrongfully prescribed D**g X? Sue them.
Disgruntled Panda 10 months ago
But then, what happens? You go to a doctor and you tell them what you think a medical professional should be prescribing you???
#25
Why toilet doors always have a gap….
#27
The amount of sugar in bread.
CajunBreaux 10 months ago
Just the terrible, processed, supermarket white bread. We have ALL the different kinds of breads. And cheese, and beer……
#28
My partner lived in London. Whenever he'd visit, the garbage disposal would freak him out lol. He'd flip the switch to see what it would do and then jump back when it turned on.
Also he was horrified that I didn't own a kettle.
Feathered Dinosaur 10 months ago
In Germany every household I've ever seen has an electric kettle. Every workplace I worked at had an electric kettle. How can people survive without one??
#29
I think one of the things I see on reddit is how most non-Americans and even some don't realize how absolutely tiered our healthcare system truly is. There is no safety net for basic healthcare, but also some really amazing out of this world care/coverage in some cases. It's 100% dependent upon where you work which is very different from other countries.
My first child, my wife and I paid $0 for the entire duration of her pregnancy and labor. Her healthcare at the time covered pregnancy to its fullest. Her monthly premiums were maybe 100ish at the time.
My second child, she changed jobs and jumped onto my insurance. We were paying $120 a month in premiums for the whole family and the pregnancy + labor cost us probably 500-600 dollars tops.
Currently at yet a different job, we are paying closer to $700 dollars a month for the whole family. Recently one of my children had a really bad infection that required us going into the ER, getting rushed to the local children's hospital and staying there for a week and a half with some intense medication and a small procedure. It ended up costing us 1.2k for the whole thing.
I have friends who pay 1.2 - 1.3k a month for their premiums and their plan covers just about nothing. And if they have a serious health incident like the one my daughter went through, they would be 10's of thousands in debt overnight.
It's absolutely a tiered system in the US when it comes to basic healthcare. And because it is tied to your employment, it's one of the reasons some people might not leave jobs for a long time. Coverage is different from business to business.
#30
My husband (German) gets shocked every time we go to the US when we drive through a suburb and very few houses have fences or bushes around their homes. He always comments on the lack, saying, “Everything’s so open. I don’t understand why no one has hedges.” 🤷♀️.
#31
The US is big. Texas is the size of France. North Carolina is bigger than England. It's 1900 miles from Paris to Moscow; if you start at NYC, 1900 will get you just past Denver.
Ruth 10 months ago
Our enormous size provides space for cities to spread out into sprawling suburbs that provide lots of parks and recreational facilities. In most cases, the population density is far lower than in some other countries. This makes it more challenging to provide viable public transportation systems and spread out cities simply aren’t walkable. So everyone drives their cars, creating a new set of problems with traffic congestion, air pollution and the need for so many parking garages.
#32
You can have your employment terminated at any time, for almost any (or no) reason, without notice, without compensation, and full loss of healthcare.
It's called "at-will employment".
There are precious few protections or exceptions to this, and many times, those "laws" are blatantly ignored even if they are violated. "If you don't like it, sue me." And then begins a 3 to 10 year ordeal that may not yield any results.
Disgruntled Panda 10 months ago
Genuine question: are Americans used to a very high baseline level of stress and anxiety? With the at-will employment and prices of healthcare I think I would be worries and stressed non-stop about my life derailing. I'm sorry if this comment is super naive but it makes me anxious just thinking about this
#33
Man, I’ll never forget the first time I saw an American ad for… I think it was an anti depressant… I heard the end of the ad “may cause compulsive gambling…”
w h a t.
David 10 months ago (edited)
The legal disclosures at the end of US d**g ads are both comical and sad. They have to tell you that side effects may include growing a second head, prolapsed r****m (edit, b******e), projectile vomiting and selling your body in your sleep --- but they say it real fast while showing you video of happy people petting kittens in a field of flowers. It's surreal.
#34
Wearing pajamas to the grocery store or pharmacy.
Bob Brooce 10 months ago
Pajamas are far better than some of the ridiculous outfits people wear. Looking at you saggers and people of Walmart.
#35
As a European: the amount of time spent in cars that you are ok with. For some people it's literally more than three hours per day. Can't fathom how that's OK for some people. No hate, I just don't get it.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
During and after COVID, I went almost two years without entering any form of motor vehicle. No car, no bus no train. But I live in Portland, Oregon and that's a viable lifestyle here.
#36
1. AC in homes
2. Flying for 6 hours and never leaving the “mainland” part of the country
3. Going on 10+ hour roadtrips
4. Our national parks being truly wild and k*lling people who don’t respect them.
Uncle Schmickle 10 months ago
Couldn't do without AC in my home. Actually I was shocked by the LACK of it in Europe. Terribly hot days and no AC ..... bloody awful.
#37
As a European: what the hell a "sophomore" is, and why you expect us to know. Just use people's ages please.
#38
Wild animals that can k*ll you.
In Europe, predators capable of doing a person harm have for the most part been wiped out. But taking a walk through wilderness or just rural areas in the US could lead to a confrontation with a rattlesnake, gator, bear, mountain lion, or a pack of wolves.
Aussies handle it just fine though.
David 10 months ago
LOL I never thought of someone from UK thinking of the US the way I think of Australia. Most of what was mentioned won't bother you if it has a choice. At least near civilization. Coyote and bald eagle are the two largest predators I've seen on my own property. Mountain lions have been spotted maybe a mile away but never seen one on my place.
#39
That fans of a game called football don’t have to be kept apart by police on game day.
#40
It's really big. You can drive for four days straight and still not get to the end of it.
#41
You haven’t raised the minimum wage in… *checks notes* 16 YEARS?!
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
FEDERAL minimum wage is $7.25/hr. State minimum wages have been raised separately. California is at $16.50/hr for example. Famously though California raised fast food employees wage to $20/hr. Turns out that the fast food corporations COULD afford to pay that. They just didn't want to.
#43
The concept of unlimited refills on drinks at restaurants. Europeans probably think we're all constantly hydrating at the expense of our bladders.
David 10 months ago
It's marketing. Sell a fountain drink for $2.50 that cost you 20 cents. Offer free refills, knowing most folks will take none, or one. Sounds generous but customer is paying you more than it is worth. Similar idea with tea, water and even drip coffee. Note it is all "on tap" sort of drinks. In many countries I have been to the water is often not safe to drink. Just about every beverage you get comes out of a bottle or can. Those items are not 'free refills' in the US either.
#44
Grocery purchasing is so different. I told my German friend that I have probably 3-4 weeks of food on hand all the time (he asked because of a storm). He thought that was nuts and asked where I stored it. I then described a pantry and a deep freezer and he was dumbfounded. But these things are super common in the U.S. outside of cities like NY. .
#45
Grown men wearing baseball caps everywhere. You can be in a nice restaurant and some guy will be wearing a backwards cap at the table.
Lost Panda 10 months ago
They are the uncultured. If you wear a hat (any kind) you take it off when you sit at the table, and even sometimes when you enter the building.
#46
Routine circumcision.
#47
The abundance of ice cubes.
#48
The insanity that police officers in the US can "arrest" your money. If you travel with cash or valuables the police can confiscate it under pretense the money is intended to be used illegally. Strait up theft.
#49
When I lived in the US in the 80s & 90s (I’m from Germany) I was a flight attendant and to me it was funny at first that you’ll fly 6 hours across one country and many time zones and don’t have to exchange currency and the language remains the same.
That was way before the Euro and when you went a few hours by car and were in another European country with a different currency and language and border where you had to show your ID.
#50
That we don’t care about soccer.
Every other country in the world goes crazy over the World Cup… Most Americans couldn’t tell you what country it’s being held in - even if it was in America.
Nobody gives a s**t.
#51
- Medical bills bankruptcy.
- US dentists are nice/kind.
- Having to “do/pay” taxes— vs just having everything taken out.
- No/few paid vacation days
- clothes dryers
- How large the US is, how big everything is (homes, washing machines, cars, portions, etc).
#52
Free coffee refills at the diner.
Ron Man 10 months ago
This is 100% why the US is coffee based and not tea. You don't get free seconds on hot tea. They're individual servings and brewed as ordered, so if you want a second cup of tea, you're paying for it. Coffee though, it's in a big urn or a pot and everyone gets topped off as a matter of course.
#53
So few people know how to drive manual.
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 10 months ago
Now just imagine how many know how to drive a "three on the tree" transmission. Loved my old Chevy Nova because having a three-on-the-tree was the best theft deterrent ever!
#54
Root beer.
cogadh 10 months ago
Thing is, most people think root beer is one thing: that artificial syrupy thing sold by A&W and other big brands. The reality is, root beer is a class of beverages made from different root extracts. You have other types like birch beer, sarsaparilla, maple beer, even the bitter angry drink from hell Moxie is technically a root beer.
#55
So many good answers and contradictions. To me the US is crazy.
But I really like your bar culture. Once you’re finally old enough to go in - people go to bars to chat to random people and not just to try and sleeze and pick up. It was refreshing - had so many great chats!
Surly Scot 10 months ago
Where are these bars? I had to stop going out to bars due to the sleezy creeps. No doesn't mean No in America when a woman says it.
#56
The fact that we have crazy bad natural disasters yearly. I don't think Europeans understand how deadly some of our natural disasters are, how frequent they are, and how much that shapes our culture. .
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
My heart goes out to LA. It's only going to get worse with climate change.
#57
Of those that haven’t been mentioned:
Buying food, home goods, furniture, toiletries, lawn care/gardening supplies, sporting goods, craft items, and electronics all under one roof with one check out line.
Unless you want booze, in which case it varies wildly based on location!
Water line in toilets.
Yellow school buses really are that common.
No one cares what you’re wearing. .
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
Here in Oregon, you can buy beer and wine almost anywhere, but hard liquor can only be purchased from state run liquor stores. They used to always be closed on Sundays. Across the border in California, you can buy hard liquor in grocery stores. Across the other border in Idaho, I don't care because F*** that state full of racist a-holes.
#58
As an Australian I thought the toilet was going to overflow when I flushed it and Power outlets had no on switch and light switches were off for on and on for off
Also how many accents I heard.
#59
4 hours isn't much of a drive.
Ansi 10 months ago
This is really different from were I live. Going to a popular winter resort (we have closer ones too of course) takes 6h and it's always "OMG, how are you going to drive that far by yourself" and you're expected to have another driver to drive half of the way. I haven't visited my mum in a while because she lives 3h away and that's far. So it's weird (atleast for me) how Americans drive so far with such ease. I bet it's all those free coffee refills. 😊😉 It's impressive.
#60
Iced Tea.
What do you think ?
Carl Roberts 10 months ago
More accurately their weekly "America bad" list
Load More Replies...
Christos Arvanitis 10 months ago
Oh BP... you never learn, do you? Enough with the US bashing.
Carl Roberts 10 months ago
More accurately their weekly "America bad" list
Load More Replies... Christos Arvanitis 10 months ago
Oh BP... you never learn, do you? Enough with the US bashing.
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