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The United States and European countries sometimes feel worlds apart. And it’s a natural thing for different nations to develop unique cultures, systems, and institutions. But once you start traveling a bit more broadly, you start comparing your destinations. Each place has its upsides and downsides, but the differences can be striking at times.

Redditor u/TREE__FR0G, an aspiring herpetologist, asked people to share the things that are completely normal in most places in Europe but would seem very strange to someone living in the US. Scroll down to see what the internet thinks are the biggest differences between Europe and the US.

#1

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Providing healthcare to sick people without bankrupting them.

EXXPat , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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Karmageddon
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If anyone tells you how difficult Universal Health Care is to do, remind them that only 35/36 of the largest economies can make it work.

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#2

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Prices already includes taxes

Badass-19 , Ron Lach Report

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Jane No Dough
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should be this way everywhere, so no one's surprised by the full cost. I know what is taxable and how much tax where I live, but not where I travel.

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#3

Nudeness.

No, we don't all walk around naked all day.

Yes, we have nude beaches. Yes, on most regular lakes where people go swimming, you most likely see their little kids running around nekkid. Yes, most saunas are "nude only". Yes, you see boobs, a*s and penis on TV (like, if there's a movie and the situation "demands" it). Yes, we have sex education where they use books with images of naked humans in school.

It's just a body. And no, nude doesn't mean "sex!!1!".

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A major peculiar aspect of life in the States is the existing tipping culture. As we’ve explained on Bored Panda recently, one of the issues with the way the culture exists in its current form is that it tricks some consumers into paying more than they planned to. In essence, Americans are falling victim to tip inflation or tipflation.

As a result, some customers might decide to boycott some chains or local restaurants, preferring to go elsewhere, where they feel less pressure to tip extremely generously. If tipping is mandatory, it’s not really tipping, now is it? It’s just a hidden tax—one that might not be reflected in the menu.

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#4

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet I’m a project manager in the US and it baffles me that my European team gets an entire month off in the summer.

I’m over here saving my vacation days incase I get sick.

smileysarah267 , Mateusz Dach Report

#5

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet dd/mm/yyyy

whiskeyman220 , Ketut Subiyanto Report

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SingingCatMom
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SO sensible and completely logical. Also, meters, kilometers, degrees Celcius. It is just plain stupid that the US clings to imperial when nearly all the rest of the world is on metric!

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#6

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Bathroom doors with no gaps

P1nk_barbie , Max Rahubovskiy Report

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YoKon93
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is weird is naming a room without a bath, a bathroom. That's not standard in Europe.

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Another big issue for many Americans living in the US is the abhorrent healthcare system. It’s not just a question of opinion, though. The system is very inefficient, incredibly expensive, and markedly worse than in other developed nations. It’s a major issue that ought to be solved.

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation explains how the US spends more on healthcare per person than other wealthy countries around the world. This came to an average of $12,555 per person in 2022, the highest among developed nations. The second-highest spending was recorded in Switzerland, standing at $8,049 per person. Now compare that to the average for OECD countries (excluding the US) which is $6,414 per capita. 

#7

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Decent public transportation.

Milnoc , Guvluck Report

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#8

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Tips are optional

OldandBoldDude , Iain Farrell Report

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Ruth
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tips in the USA have gotten way out of hand. Even if you are picking up carry out, many places still expect you to tip.

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#9

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Walkable cities

TenNinetythree , Zen Chung Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Portland, Oregon, Boston Massachusetts, New York City. There are a few who have it figured out. The rest of the country is living in the dark ages if Mid 20th century car centered life.

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Meanwhile, Germany spent $8,011 per person on healthcare in 2022. The Netherlands spent $7,358, Belgium clocked in at $6,600, France stood at $6,517, and Sweden shelled out $6,438 per person. Ireland spent $6,047, slightly below the OECD average. As did the United Kingdom ($5,493 per person) and Italy (merely $4,291 per person).

All in all, healthcare prices in the US are roughly twice as big as the average. However, this does not mean that Americans get healthcare that is ‘twice as good.’ There’s an issue with how these funds are utilized. For one, there’s a lack of competition between hospitals, which has led to administrative waste and inefficiencies in the entire system.

#10

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet taking an ambulance without a worry in the world

ShadowLancer128 , Artem Saranin Report

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Sven Grammersdorf
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm pretty sure anyone taking an ambulance ride has at least one thing to be worried about

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#11

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Online bank transfers. Americans get all excited over stuff like Venmo but I can send money to anyone via my online banking app for free.

mamamia1001 , Anete Lusina Report

#12

Cashiers having chairs

ColdCookies144 Report

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Turnip and a Frog
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cashiers in the US stand all day? I had no idea. What do the trade unions have to say about this?

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“The United States spends over $900 per person on administrative costs—four times more than the average of other wealthy countries and about the same as we spend on preventive or long-term healthcare,” the Foundation notes.

Furthermore, the American healthcare system leads to worse health outcomes (e.g. life expectancy, unmanaged diabetes) than in other wealthy countries.

#14

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet 6 weeks vacation 

nomadProgrammer , Vincent Gerbouin Report

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Show Thyself
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay - it should say "Up to" etc. - the timeframe differs greatly between the regions, thee workplaces, the disablement status, the age, the experience, the time of your employment....

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#15

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet The hugest mindf**k for me is the maternity leave. An entire, paid year?! I get that they can channel more money into that stuff since the US has military needs paid for, but that’s still pretty impressive.

DogsArePrettyCool4 , Kristina Paukshtite Report

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OhnoI’vebeencensored
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The issue isn’t the US’s military budget, although this is higher than is typical in Europe. The issue is that US government is hamstrung by ‘conservatives’ who are simply misogynists who won’t recognise that maternity leave is hugely beneficial for mother and child, and that supporting mothers results in better long-term economic outcomes.

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#16

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Go to the grocery store on your bicycle.

Walking from shop to shop in the city centre.

GreenButterfly1234 , Salo Al Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in Portland, Oregon and haven't driven a car in almost 20 years. I have a dedicated shopping bike I use one a week and all winter. It's the bike with fenders. I can carry two shopping bags home at a time and that's how I control my spending.

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#17

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Taking your own shopping bag(s) to the supermarket.

Totally normalized in all European countries as far as I know. Or buy a (firm) shopping bag at the store if you don't have one with you.

All those plastic bags in US stores, so small that it can only hold two cans of milk so you see customers with a dozen plastic bags for their groceries.. unthinkable in Europe.

Shrooma111 , Laura James Report

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Ruth
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many people in the USA take their own bags to the grocery store also.

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#18

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Not wearing shoes in our homes.

carlamaco , Mikhail Nilov Report

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Sea Squirrel
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm from the Netherlands and most people I know don't mind if you wear shoes in their homes. It's a personal choice, not a cultural thing.

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Ge Po
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right. Sometimes it is even frowned upon if you do take your shoes off. The idea being, you forcing the scent of your sweaty toes upon all the rest. With reasonable clean streets but a lot of rain and therefore often very air-and-water tight shoes it does make sense.

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Joy Duggins
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually a lot of people don't wear shoes at home in the US....

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MadOrca99
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly. I've rarely wore shoes inside the house, and i have a certain 3 foot radius at the front and back door where are the only places i can wear shoes. As someone mentioned above, the idea probably comes from movies.

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Mmm K
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do so many people believe that Americans are all walking in their homes with dirty shoes ? This one is a weird one because in my experience I don't usually see that here.

hedda100 avatar
H G
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why drag dirt and all that stuff into your house??? No!

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Snorky The Pig
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Growing up with my Korean-Japanese grandparents living in our house, no shoes in the home was a given. After all these years, the floors, especially the carpeted ones, look clean and are holding up well. The no-shoe policy should be a thing everywhere.

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Carbonel
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

UK here… i don’t think wearing shoes indoors is that unusual. In your own house, most will take their shoes off just for the comfort of getting out of them at the end of the day. But I wouldn’t expect guests to take shoes off. (Some might choose too, but probably only friends I know well). I would also happily wander around in shoes if I had them on already and was about to go out, but still had a couple of things to do first. I have also visited friends and family around Europe and have never been expected to take my shoes off if we were only staying for a few hours.

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Chris D'Asta
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I will become infuriated if someone doesn't respect my rule of no shoes in my home. It's not a European thing as my friend from Latvia just fell asleep with her shoes on on my couch. I must be more Asian than she is.

75prog avatar
RenegadeTrader
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wth? Who wears shoes in the house? Tracking dirt everywhere...

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René Sauer
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, I do not wear my shoes in the appartment all the time, but I also do not take them off at the door. I usually walk in and take them off when I am sitting on the sofa, to stash under my coffee table to put on again the next morning.

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Spocks's Mom
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same. I take off my street shoes and put on my house shoes after I sit on the couch.

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Sand Ers
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My work takes me into strangers homes on a regular basis. I live in a place with a very diverse population, with immigrants and 1st generation citizens making up a substantial percentage of the population. I always ask before I enter. It's about 50/50.

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Moosy Girl
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always ask when I enter a stranger’s home, whatever country I’m in.

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Rebekah
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know anyone who wears shoes in their homes. USA here.

itisdarkestbeforedawn78 avatar
Beck
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We usually kick our shoes off by the door just for comfort, but if I run in for something I forgot , I leave them on. Or when bringing a trunk load of groceries in. But once I am in for good, the shoes come off.

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Annette H
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never wear shoes inside the house. I don't know anyone who does. Where is this idea coming from? So odd.

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Anon Imus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually very common in Spain to wear shoes inside. Quiete anyone for me since I prefer socks in the house.

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Kristian DeJesus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don't have a rule in our house, but we have a shoe rack at our front door. So people always take their shoes off automatically, sometimes they ask if they need one

greggb57 avatar
Gregg Bender
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don't and our kids don't in their homes, either. It's just sensible not to.

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Laura
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of people don’t wear their shoes at home. I have foot issues so I often where slip on shoes with arch support if my feet are hurting. Otherwise, I never have shoes on

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Jen Sullivan
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People wear their shoes in their home?? Not anyone I've ever known. Why do people think we do this?

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Rebecca McManus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have an American friend staying with us at the moment, on her first day here I sent my daughter out to get her a pair of slippers

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misingo
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not everywhere for instance Germany one of the biggest country's wear shoes in their homes

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Vira
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do people keep generalizing the United States based on television/movies? This is not an "American" thing. It's "some people do this in some houses." Shoes in a house is a hugely inappropriate behavior in nice houses. It's less of a big deal in rural houses and weather dependent.

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azzakwan
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was condemned but most americans when voicing out about this. It's a normal practice in asia, soon you'll give in to bidet. Wash the butt! Wash the butt! Wash the butt!

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Mario Strada
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use rubberized indoor shoes. They are great and comfortable and I don't get holes in my sox.

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Andy Cran
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wear shoes indoors,most people I know in UK do too, unless they've got new carpets or flooring but novelty as a great idea soon wears off ,just wipe your footwear on way in (unless footwear is absolutely filthy then yeah take your s**t covered boots off! )

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Lauren Baker
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? I'm in the US and nobody I know normally wears shoes in their house.

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sherry powers
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never wear my shoes in the house. It's the first thing I immediately take off. It might be just me, but I hate walking on carpet or on bath mats, or anything on the floor with my shoes on. Even when I enter someone else's house unless it's a quick in and out, I take my shoes off.

quelmar9 avatar
Rocky
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Deep south Texas here. We wear shoes inside and I wish we didn't and could make it a different habit but it's so normal and convenient too.

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AK to LV
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Growing up in Alaska, where there is snow on the ground from October to April/May, everyone took their shoes off at the door so they wouldn't track snow in or mud during breakup ( snow melting season).

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sweetrottenpeaches
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea usually. But it can be bad as well. Imagine to step into a filthy house and you have to take off your shoes.

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Mojo Flizash
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in the States and change directly into my sliders when I walk in the house. It's definitely not popular to wear shoes in the house.

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LissyPoo
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I (a Canadian) lived overseas as a teen and befriended some Americans. My friends mom told me that " she always knew the Canadians were visiting" when she would come home and see our shoes sitting just inside the front door. I had never met anyone before that who didn't take their shoes off as soon as they stepped inside.....

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Jay Son
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My family in the Netherlands always wears shoes in the house. My family in the US (wife's side) does not

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mysterious(all pronouns)
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't wear shoes in houses, my parents sometimes wear shoes at home, but my mom has arch issues, and my dad has a pair of shoes he only wears at home, Americans take off their shoes in houses.

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Iridian
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in the US and keep both regular shoes (for outdoors only) and house slippers (for indoor only) by the door. I do it for just me, but (unbelievably or not!) it's considered rude to ask your guests to take their shoes off when they enter. It's disgusting to have outdoor shoes walking on my indoor surfaces and to me- the height of rudeness to go to someone's house and feel entitled to keep your shoes on while inside (I always ask when visiting others' homes). I invite only people I know who will take their shoes off when they enter my home and sometimes, frequent guests would bring over a spare pair of their own slippers to leave just inside my door for when they are here.

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R.A. Haley
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have foot problems that make it painful to walk without good, sturdy shoes and cushion insoles. I only take my shoes off to shower or go to bed.

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Crissy Newbury
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wear shoes in my house. I wear shoes in your house. I don’t remove them unless they are wet or muddy. Tough if you don’t like it.

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Stay Off My Lawn
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t wear shoes in my home. I can’t control other people’s hygiene habits so I prefer that others wear shoes in my home.

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Andy Frobig
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This really illustrates how compartmentalized US society is. People socialize with similar people. My mother has always liked dogs, but never liked training dogs, so shoes in her house are a necessity. I've known plenty of people who leave their shoes on and plenty who don't

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Ron Man
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People may not take their shoes off at the door, but they don't wear them through out the house either. So many myths about the US here

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Pamela Blue
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not just the US. Japan actually leaves out slippers for guests at the door of their homes. No guesswork there. However, I wear shoes indoors because of arthritis in my feet. I can hardly walk in my socked/bare feet. I need the support. But if a hostess asks me to remove my shoes (or if it's raining or muddy outdoors), then I'll take them off and hobble. Just don't expect me to get off the chair very often. LOL!

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Lea S.
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahm....this is a completely NORMAL thing in America. Lol, it isn't unknown in the U.S.

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Zombie Gurl
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a friend from Texas. "Shoes has to be on otherwise it's not unhygienic" they said. I asked if they do mind having s**t on their shoes and they brought it inside the house. They didn't have the answer, they even went to their parents to ask the same thing. Instead I get their mom go on call (we were using Skype video chat) and tell me that I shouldn't have said that.

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KrazyChiMama
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My feet get cold easily and in my house we do not have carpet (I detest it). We wear house shoes (slippers). They don't go outside only worn indoors and mine are even faux fur lined so soft and cozy :) that being said if my guests prefer to keep their shoes on it's fine with me as I'm going to clean the floor anyway. If they're more comfortable without then that is also fine but I always warn them about the dog hair lol I keep lint brushes everywhere but dogs shed that's just a fact of life.

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Mama Penguin
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people don't care if guests want to wear their shoes indoors, but they themselves take off their shoes. For me, it's an absolute must. And I ask my guests to do the same.

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Almost sunny
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I prefer shoes off, so I don't have to clean the floor so often.

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Rob(erta) Roy
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why on earth would you wear shoes inside? Everything would get so dirty!

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Apina
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People wear shoes in houses in UK. But I guess it's the cold floors?

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Murdock Schlegel
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont know how it is in the us, but in my experience in Europe, esp. germany ist like 50:50 and it often depends on the season. If you come in from rain or snow, of course you'll take your shoes of, because otherwise the whole house would get dirty. If its dry and you didnt just step into dog poo, you'll leave them on, because you wont bring much dirt in. Think the main difference ist that most houses in the US have an ac and a wooden floor , which also leads to warmer floors. In europe you often have concrete floors and no ac, so floors stay kind of cold.

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Michael McHenry
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in Canada, here people tend to want you to remove your shoes, if visiting friends, I bring "house shoes" with me, as it disgusts me to walk barefoot or in my socks. In my own home, I prefer people keep their shoes on, (in winter, bring shoes along), I even have some of those hospital slippers handy. I honestly don't want your sweaty sock feet marking up my dark hardwood floors.

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Altea
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

only some countries in Europe. We always wear slippers.

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Bored Templar
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe what they tried to say was: Take your shoes off when you go into lots of houses, not all of them

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Dingooo
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have shoes I wear only in the house because I'm old and I don't want to slip and fall on my a*s or break something like bones or furniture.

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PlatinumThe8-BitCat
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This actually just depends on how lazy I’m feeling, usually I’ll take my shoes off though

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Rostit .
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wear shoes in my house. I have a vacuum and a broom. Its not hard to understand.

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#19

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Mayo with french fries.

I’m in the US but have cousins in Holland. They introduced me to to this years ago and it’s pretty awesome.

Robhow , Gustav Lundborg Report

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Pernille.
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The best thing about getting to Bruxelles is having frites with mayo, the Dutch frites are good too, but the mayonnaise is a bit sweet for my taste.

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#20

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Coalition governments

MistaLuvcraft , Ricky Esquivel Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YES!!! Seriously I am so sick of a two party system! Democrats and Republicans BOTH suck! How did we get stuck with this BS?

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#21

Work Life Balance

Going to Europe and then coming back to Texas and visiting our corporate offices in Dublin, London, Paris.

Yes the European working hours are different. But it seems there’s more of a balance and respect for personal time and medical time or absence. Vs in America working yourself to the bone.

Also the absence of Tipping, and availability of metro and being able to conveniently walk where you need to get to. 1 mile in Europe feels shorter than the 1 mile walk in USA hahaha sidewalk availability and lack of parks to cut through etc.

JeezBelieveThat Report

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YoKon93
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is very noticeable. Most Europeans have a far greater respect of the life part of the Work Life balance, and so this is seen reflected in cultural norms and often laws. (For example, try to go shopping in Germany on a Sunday or see the consequences of non-emergency work-related 'phone calls outside standard office hours.)

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#22

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet trains

Complete_Spot3771 , Laura Meinhardt Report

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Chris D'Asta
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have trains. Yeah, this country is backward as f**k but we have goddamned trains.

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#23

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet The right to roam.

It's glorious to be able to hike across private land when you grow up used to signs saying "Trespassers will be shot."

suzycreamcheese260 , Gagaz Adam Report

#24

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Unlocked phones.

When I lived in the US it was hard for me to get around the idea that I couldn't use the phone that I bought with AT&T with a SIM card from T-Mobile. In Europe I interchange my SIM cards with zero problems. I can even change my provider and keep the same number and of course the same phone.

TravellingBelgian , Tim Samuel Report

#25

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Legally enshrined right to online privacy

Quegyboe , Mikhail Nilov Report

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LillieMean
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm curious how this differs from eu legislation. For example, the app store must clearly state how data is collected and how it is used. Sites can be prohibited from collecting data and the use of cookies can be adjusted manually. Apps can be denied access to, for example, the camera, messages or gallery if you want.

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#26

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Roundabouts. They're like the rotary phones of the road - Americans look at them in utter confusion and wonder where to dial.

phamkethanh , Kelly Report

#27

Biking, public transportation, walking in the city, basically not living life centered around driving a car.

portlandsmith Report

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Sven Grammersdorf
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The United States has an extremely low population density. When you live 25 miles from the nearest Walmart and there's nothing in between except corn and soybean fields, you need a car.

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#28

Police treating civilians with respect

DaisyDog2023 Report

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moggie63
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a video currently doing the rounds on YouTube about UK police arresting an autistic teenager, respect is the last thing being shown.

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#29

Mandatory recycling

lotusblossom520 Report

#31

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet E-government, being able to do 99% of the things needed online.

Xtasy0178 , Los Muertos Crew Report

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Bored Templar
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is also not true. It depends on the country. Some countries in Europe are still very, very bureaucratic

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#32

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet More people are day drinking in Europe than I have ever seen in America.

CamilaHelena , Ron Lach Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please come visit us on the West Coast. Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and LA know how to day drink.

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#34

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Inter country travel. I don't even live on the main European land mass. I live on a European island. But I can fly to most European countries in under four hours. And it's not a million euro to do so.

Low_Engineering8921 , Pixabay Report

#35

Having your washing machine in your kitchen.

angrycupcake11 Report

#36

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Paying to use a toilet.

Yak-5000 , Ondosan Sinaga Report

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Sven Grammersdorf
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The Committee to End Pay Toilets in America, or CEPTIA, was a 1970s grass-roots political organization which was one of the main forces behind the elimination of pay toilets in many American cities and states." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_to_End_Pay_Toilets_in_America

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#37

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US, According To The Internet Well, in some countries, having a monarchy (UK, Denmark + the Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Leichtenstein, Monaco, technically also Andorra and Vatican City) or even a quasi-monarchy (Romania, Serbia, where the monarchies have a sort-of-official role while still being a Republic).

Also, having a religion tax (which you can opt out of if you formally leave the Church or other religious organisation if there's an option for it to go to a non-Christian one), in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Spain (as a choice of where your tax goes, doesn't change the overall amount) and some cantons of Switzerland. And having a particular state or established Church (England, Scotland, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Iceland) or national/"people's" Church (Sweden, Norway).

palishkoto , JR Bradbury Report

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VM37
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Serbia doesn't have a monarch. They do have members if the ex Royal family (Karađorđevići). But they have no power or status. They are in exile so to speak

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#38

Electric kettles.

The4thJuliek Report

#39

being able to tilt open your windows

in usa your windows only open like doors, i couldnt imagibe living in a house lacking such basic features as tilting open the top of the window

wojtekpolska Report

#40

Not really an unknown concept but letting cats go outside and roam around. It's just the norm in the UK.

Bedzzzz Report

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SingingCatMom
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A majority of veterinarians in the UK now recommend keeping cats indoors. Also,the UK does not have coyotes...who would just as soon kill your cat than look at it.

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