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It's always interesting to travel around the world and experience different cultures and traditions that may differ from what you believe to be the "norm". And even though most of the time these cultural differences spark nothing more but a delightful surprise, there are some characteristics that are difficult for people to wrap their heads around.

Have you ever thought that there are things that only your country does but seems that everybody else doesn't really understand it at all? Well, according to this askredit thread, those living in America definitely have this problem. After getting asked "What is something you didn't realize was typical American stereotype until you went abroad?", people flooded the post with an endless list of customs that only in America are considered to be normal. From garbage disposals and free public bathrooms to extreme portion sizes, there are some strictly American things.

Scroll down to read these answers and funny stereotypes, and don't forget to share your delightful cultural differences in the comments!

#1

The prices abroad don't add tax after the fact. You pay what the price shows. No need to figure the tax. Dumb that we do that here.

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#2

Being "friendly" to an extent. I checked in at a hostel and walked into the lounge area where people from all over the world were just chilling. I kinda introduced myself to the whole room, and someone goes, "you're from the states, yeah?" And I'm like, "yeah howd you know?" They said, "only an American will walk into a room of strangers and introduce themselves to everybody."

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#3

When I went to Australia I found out very quickly that no one down there "roots" for a team - they "go for" a team. So when I said I root for the Red Sox I got a lot of weird looks

(Rooting means fucking in Australian)

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#4

Sugar. When I visited Japan, even some of their sweetest desserts pale in comparison to how much sugar is in American food.

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M O'Connell
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I absolutely hate how sweet things are here. EVERYTHING could do with at least 50% less.

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#5

How fat we are. Like, I know we are when compared to the rest of the world. But it made me realize what I think is fat in the US, is grossly obese in Europe. And what's not-fit, but not-fat in the US, is fat is Europe.

There are some hamhogs over there but my god, returning home was an eye opener.

At least we don't smoke as much, I guess.

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#6

The stereotype about us being loud is true. I never thought of myself as being loud until I went abroad and would hang up the phone after speaking in what I thought was appropriate volume to find everyone around me was staring at me, and realized how much more quiet they were lol whoops

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María Hermida
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everything is relative. Come to Spain and you will start to think that, in comparison, you are as quiet as a mouse. It doesn't matter how loud you are, the average Spaniard is even louder. The level of tolerance to noise here is unbelievable.

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#7

Measuring walking/driving distance in blocks.



It's the unit of measure I use most frequently when giving directions - the restaurant is 3 blocks away, go south one block and then two blocks west, I live six blocks from the grocery store...



It wasn't until I studied abroad in England and got a complete blank look when I asked someone how many blocks away the library was that I realized using "block" as a measurement only makes sense in cities that were largely pre-planned and built on grid system. AKA: not many places outside the US.

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Eunice Probert
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to remember that many town in Europe are actually quite ancient, far older than the USA.

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#8

Red plastic cups for parties. So much so that people outside US use them as an accessory to American themed parties.

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M O'Connell
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would be so uncomfortable at an "American-Themed" party. I'm American, but I have absolutely no idea what the expectations would be.

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#9

Ok, so, this one is probably pretty obvious, and looking back on it it’s really embarrassing. My family took a European vacation when I was 17. For some reason, we decided to get KFC in the UK. (Because ‘Murica.)

My friend who came with us went with me to order and pick up our order. We ordered a family size bucket of chicken, and they asked us what kinds of side dishes we wanted. We said “Biscuits.” And the employees looked at us with the strangest look.

UK KFC: “You want . . . biscuits with your chicken?” Me: “Yes. Biscuits.” UK KFC: “We don’t sell those.” Me: “What do you mean you don’t sell biscuits. What are your sides?” UK KFC: “Chips?” Me: “You mean French fries? Ok fine. That’ll do.”

I was worldly enough to know that “chips” meant “French fries”, but “biscuits” in the UK are cookies. My fat ass tried to order fried chicken and cookies. I am positive someone over in the UK is still telling this story at parties as an example of how disgusting Americans are.

Also on this same trip my father asked why our waitress kept saying “cheese”, when she was saying “cheers”. We really left a good impression across the pond.

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Dani
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha! This reminds me of a time when my family was visiting relatives in Japan and because we were from America, my great-aunt decided to take us to an "American restaurant." I loved it because their interpretation of American food was about equivalent in accuracy to our interpretation of Japanese and Chinese cuisine.

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#10

Small avocados.

Went to puerto rico. Was like, ‘yo ill have like 6 of those stuffed avocados’. Buddy was like, ‘yo gringo, i think you underestimate the size of our avocados here. Just have one and ill being you more if you want after’.

I had half of one. It was like a football.

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#11

Here in the States, pregnancy announcements/reveals/baby showers are mainstream but it's generally a BIG no-no to bring it up in Kenya. My mom found out the hard way. Essentially, asking someone when the baby is due is the equivalent of asking the person "when did you and your husband fuck?" which is considered EXTREMELY rude. The lady my mom asked was gracious about it but said "If we were not such good friends I would have slapped you!"

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Crouching_Penn_Hidden_Teller@yahoo.com
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A guy from Pakistan I had just met asked me why I wasn't married. I told him in the US that's a rude question. His immediate response was to ask me again!

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#12

Garbage disposals in sinks.

When I moved to the UK, my flatmates asked how in movies people would stick their hands in the sink drain and it be ripped apart. I told them about garbage disposals and they were very weirded out.

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Blakkur Sverrir
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In most parts of Germany they are forbidden. The reason is that the scraps would feed the rat population under ground

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#13

Having your drink constantly refilled at restaurants. I just wanna drink a ton of water alright?

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Julia Christina Eneroth
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here in Sweden many restaurants let customers get a bottle of water to the table. Then we can chose ourselves when we want to refill.

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#14

Buying stuff and the cashier putting your items in a plastic or paper bag. Went to Germany, and found it strange they don't bag your items. Everyone just brings their own bag or dumps their stuff in a back pack.

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Eunice Probert
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's because we're trying to save the planet, one unused plastic bag at a time. Having to pay 10p for plastic bags in supermarkets cut bag use by 80% in Wales in one year.

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#15

Root beer is apparently disgusting and an offense to most of the worlds palate.

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#16

I moved to England from Texas about six years ago. One of the major things that I noticed was that smiling and being friendly towards strangers was considered bizarre. This is a bit true in any metropolitan area, but especially in the UK. In Texas I was used to smiling at people, asking for directions if I needed them, and being friendly towards strangers. I learned very quickly that smiling at someone on the tube, or asking someone for directions on the street immediately makes someone think you’re trying to scam/rob them or you’re crazy.

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#17

Ranch flavor Doritos in the Netherlands are called "Cool American" flavor.

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#18

Keeping AC on 100% of the time in the summer.

Visited Madrid for about a month to see the exchange student we housed, and found that they typically only turn on AC at Night to sleep or when it reaches a damned 105 deg F.

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anisub
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in Switzerland no one has an ac in their house but our houses are also better built than your wood houses haha^^ that's something i don't get, you have these hurricanes and storms and everything but your houses are so poorly built..

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#19

Massively wide roads/lanes. The whole of Ireland made me feel claustrophobic, but when I got back home the roads felt like way too much wasted space.

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#20

Going out to a restaurant. In America, you are seated ASAP, and then they bring you drinks, appetizers, entree, desert and then check as quick as they possibly can (if it's good service) for a total time of 45 minutes to an hour and a halfish. Staying past this time is seen as a bit rude. In Europe, going out to eat seemed to be more of an event that you slowly enjoyed for a longer period of time. First, they you bring you drinks and an appetizer for the first hour. Then the second hour is the entree and desert. Then it's more drinks for another half hour or so. I don't know if it's because we were American but it seemed like the wait staff everywhere we went was annoyed that we were rushing them, when we just thought it was bad service and didn't understand the routine.

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Monika Soffronow
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry, but Europe is not a country. There are 50 countries if you include the ones that are partly in Europe, partly in Asia so talking about the customs of eating out in Europe mean nothing at all unless you include where you actually were. Different countries, different languages, different cuisines, different cultures and different customs.

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Nuria Pérez Paredes
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5 years ago

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Gina Corbett
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being rushed in restaurants is one of my big beefs about the US. Going out for dinner is an event to be enjoyed.

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KarmaQueen
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They must not work off of tips then. This makes more sense why Americans push their customers out the door to turn the table.

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Chris Jones
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Working off tips is a terrible way of paying people. Staff get paid a wage, tipping is optional and done if the service was good.

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TwiceRice23
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay but also in many countries like Italy the server is expecting you to call them over. They won't just randomly come to check on you. Maybe your meal took so long because you didn't know that?

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diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep - in the UK, unless you are told otherwise. the table is yours for the entire night. Moreso with pub/restaurants than just restaurants alone.

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Lilyan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in the us, they need to get you through quickly to earn enough in tips, civilised countries pay their staff enough so you can take your time and enjoy the food.

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Jane Alexander
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American restaurants have disintegrated to a money-grubbing fast turnover, uncomfortable seating and the 'bums-rush' from 'servers' . -and don't get me started on 'tipping' Tipping used to be a little extra, a compliment for good service. Now it's expected, demanded even. One really lousy waiter even chased us out into the parking lot with his hand out.

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Katrien Verlinden
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I rather thought that the service in US wasn't very nice… They don't give you the time to enjoy. I was still having my starter when they showed up with my main… which was cold by the time i got to it...

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Cheezees
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you earn a fair wage, it doesn't matter how long a customer spends in the restaurant. When you are paid in tips, you need to get people in and out as fast as possible. It has nothing to do with 'enjoying life in a civilized world' or 'socialising', or 'feelings about good food and conversation being part of culture'. It is disheartening to see these 1-dimensional attacks on US practices that clearly do not factor in deeper issues.

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Chess
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where I live, going out to eat is a treat and not the norm. Most people cook dinner at home.

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Kaisu Rei
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, here too, people rarely go out to eat because it's a special thing you do with family or friends, not something you do every week

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Pseudo Puppy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1. I think you're getting your terminology confused. "entree and dessert"? No main meal? An "entree" literally means "entrance" ie the entrance to a meal ie something small to start your meal. In no way, shape, or form, is it the main meal, except when misused by Americans. 2. 45minutes for a 3 course meal?? Seriously? Is it inhaled? Going out for a 3 course meal with friends, is about spending *time* with them... not competing to see who gorge their food the fastest.

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Jayde Pettit
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do this here in Spain. Every meal out is an event, and generally 2hrs is pretty quick for us to eat and "dine". It's a really lovely thing to do!

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Nick Sady
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Australia you can stay until they're turning the lights out and locking up.

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Gwen Geen
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An entree is a starter course in Europe. Appetizer, entree, main course, dessert, coffee.

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Bored Moogle
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother and I went to a Chinese buffet in my town one day and we weren't there 15 minutes when one of the servers tried to take my plate while I still eating from it. I mean, actively lifting food to my mouth from it. If it had been just sitting empty or near empty on the table, I could understand, but while I'm eating? And it took three times saying "I'm not finished yet" and gripping my plate before he finally understood.

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Chris Miilu
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That used to be common in Chinese restaurants, even in San Francisco. If you didn't want that rush, you had to go to a high end restaurant with a different clientele. Then there were the Basque restaurants in CA where you sat at a table with other people. If you wanted a single table, you requested one, if available. The food was wonderful, as it was in Italian restaurants.

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Samhhain Cat
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They get paid approx. 20euro an hour and not $2.50 so they're not dependent on tips. Thus they don't give a c**p when you leave or how long you stay.

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LuckyL
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A difference is for example the cost of the drinks. Instead of free refills you have to pay for every drink. So for a restaurant, the longer you stay, the more you drink, the more you pay. Which is fine in my opinion, because you get more time to enjoy the meal. And also it depends, when you go to get lunch, most of the time it's way faster and it only takes about 45 minutes. But for dinner you can take your time.

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Travis Priess
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or you know we don't stay long because restaurants get crowded and we do short dinners so other people can have seats its rude to take a table for more than 2 hours if the restaurant is crowded. But if it isn't then take your time, and really most of these stereotypes listed on this page are only half true. I have been to at least 6 different countries and I saw Brits and Germans pulling off more stupid c**p than Americans and always being drunk. Like Thailand most the time they think British guys are american guys we have such a diverse country now you can't tell you isn't american now. But really don't believe half the stuff listed here. when I travel I respect each country I go too, I even studied japan culture before I got there so I didn't do any disrespectful actions .

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David Manhart
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American here. I understand Canadians are loved around the world? Has that been your experience?

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Josurf
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Usually, when going to a restaurant, we tend to take or time because it is considered as "an evening out". This being said, there are just as well restaurants where you go for business lunches and there they will try to "process" you asap. It all depends on the restaurant and the time of day.

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Sanne H.
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then you obviously haven't been to the very touristic restaurant areas in Paris. The waiters will be very rude to you when they notice that you want to stay more than 45 minutes.

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Amy Pattie
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you, this explains why Americans seem so rude and demanding in foreign countries!!

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DP von Icecream
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Seem" you mean, are? ;-) This is the exact reason lots of Americans have become unwanted in many local restaurants in Amsterdam. Some really need to learn to leave the enforcement of American ways at home in the USofA.

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Del
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe that one of the reasons for obesity is not sitting and taking the time to properly enjoy the food, but rather rush through it...

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Marcia Ferris
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that unrushed atmosphere. We get so caught up in the go.

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Themis
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Europe meals are made to be enjoyed, not only to fill the belly. It’s a different way of life.

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Liz Sahlin Johansson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh thank you for telling me that! Now I have a new reason to NEVER EVER visit US.

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Dear Veronica Peggy Mell
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahahah! Im in america, but my family has nearly the same mannerisms as my Mexican ancestors. We will take about four to five hours to eat and hang out!

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Ann Abdelzaher
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THis is so true. IN EUrope a meal is seen as a time to socialize... and yes when you are hungry it is annoying but you get used to it.

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Julien Hu
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well... In France, it can take a lot of time (but NOT FIVE hours though) before you get anything. To be honest, I hate that, exept for a romantic dinner (but NOT FIVE hours ^^)

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J
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The long 5 and 6 course meal is great but its use varies by culture. In the USA, the meal is normally the starting point of the evening with groups of dinners going to bars, or families heading to their kids sporting events /after hour school activities/religious activities/or the theater or movies. Its not worse than the 5-7 course meal, its just a different way to go about the socialization

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Jodi Moreno
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bet their wait staff aren't paid slave wages, which demands high turn over in order to make any money.

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Kimberly Pilkington
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their meals are more leisurely and more engaged in talking to one another (no phones at the table). I remember going for dinner with friends in London and it was almost a 4 hr "event" and we left at nearly 10pm!! Gloriously fun and very enjoyable. We should learn to slow down for our meals.

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Sharon Ingram
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People in Europe don’t go out to eat near as much as Americans. They eat at home and prepare their own meals. So eating out is a luxury and an event. So yes, hours. Americans eat out ALL the freaking time so it’s normal to get it and go. Europeans don’t spend five hours on a meal at home. So Europeans shouldn’t judge

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Georgina Barratt
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also in Europe our waiting staff are properly paid and although getting tipped is great, it is not needed to actually live.

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Akash GG
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Going out to a restaurant is considered as a way of spending time together. Unlike fast food - you Americans are surely mixing these up... sorry about the obvious generalisation...

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Chris Miilu
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the restaurant, fast food or a proper seated table. If we are in a hurry we go to a fast food place. When we are out with friends we reserve a table and visit. We are actually just people, as diverse as any other people.

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Wietse Pot
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In America, going out to eat is something you do before an evening out or if you don't feel like cooking. In Europe it IS an evening out. Quality time with your s.o. or friends that should not be rushed or disturbed every 5 minutes by waiters.

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Hobbit Girly
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being a slow eater, I feel like that would be a better setup for me. It would allow me to digest and actually appreciate my food instead of worrying about eating too damn slow and having an upset stomach.

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Ian Carter
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Europe, especially souther Europe Spain,Portugal,Italy and Greece, eating is a wonderful social experience, you drink wine,chat enjoy the event not chuck a big mac down you face in 5 mins. take time to enjoy your meal and drink your wine, and chat to your friends.

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Marc O'Callaghan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think America just doesn't have as much of a gastronomy culture as France or Italy. It seems to me America (and most English-speaking countries for that matter) just eats because you have to eat at some point, but the concept of sitting down quietly and enjoying an evening in the restaurant is quite foreign to them. That being said, I wouldn't particularly enjoy 4 hours in a restaurant either.

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Chris Miilu
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really? Have you ever been to San Francisco, or New York city where there are fine restaurants? Agree that there is a wonderful food culture in France and Italy; we have that in SF and NYC, even in other cities and towns, e.g. Las Vegas. Your broadside indicates you are not well traveled. I had terrific dinners in Galway, and in Dublin; I also had some mediocre dinners as well. Americans are a bit tired of European stereotypes. How about some opposite examples? Germans tend to be big and loud. Italians tend to shove in front of lines, rather than respecting a Que. British tend to be cheap, probably left from hard times in WWII. Irish tend to go out and get really drunk. And so on.

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Jacqui Stevens
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it was b ad service and I would have complained. But saying that in Greece it's a competition to see how long you can make the tourists wait for the bill.

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PepijnL
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On a side note: I have always wondered about the word 'entree'. It means something like starter or entry, but you use it to describe the main course of the meal. Never could get my head around this.

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Helle T
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's another case of Americans being weird. In French an entrée is indeed a starter.

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Zoe's Mom
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The island of St. Marten is the same way but we were on vacation at a restaurant that was literally on the beach so we were good.

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HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, going out is a night out, if you just want to eat as quick as possible you stay home.

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Master Markus
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That seems like an unbelievably long amount of time for appetizers. Which country was this specifically?

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Nia Loves Art
Community Member
5 years ago

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Somehow they eat for five hours and we’re the fat ones. One of life’s mysteries.

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Chris Jones
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's because we're not actually eating for five hours. It's time spent talking, sharing, laughing. Eating is just a part of the experience, not the whole thing.

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#21

Road trips...at least just jumping in the car and driving a few hours without giving it much thought. I live in a large western state and it seems at least every other weekend my family and I were in the car traveling for a few hours to see some site, go into Mexico or another state.

I have relatives in Switzerland and they were going to drive us to the Frankfurt airport and I was blown away how big of a deal it was to them. My uncle had the car inspected, shopped around for gas, and printed off travel and weather reports. All for a trip my dad would have said "hey lets do this this weekend, in the car kids!"

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Bruce Robb
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the US, 100 years is a long time. In Europe, 100 miles is a long distance.

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#22

Having plenty of *FREE* bathrooms around for the public to use.

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Eunice Probert
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh good lord yes. If a county council tries to close one, there is a heck of a protest. We demand plenty of public loos.

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#23

I doubt this is restricted to America in any way, but when I studied abroad in the UK, the lack of public drinking laws was a bit of a culture shock. Being able to walk outside with a bottle of beer was very freeing

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Bored Fox
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If anyone visits Finland the alcohol laws here are very confusing - also for us Finns. You can visit a store that is open 24hours but you can't buy alcohol drinks between 9 pm and 9 am. If you want alcohol drinks that have over 5,5% volume of alcohol (like vodka that often has 40%) then you have to buy them from a separate store called Alko that is not open 24/7 and is often closed on sundays and holidays. It is also not a good idea to drink alcohol on a public place because police may confiscate your drinks. Also alcohol is really expensive here so many Finnish people buy alcohol from Estonia or Russia. But at least you can buy alcohol and visit bars when you are 18 years old.

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#24

I was struck by the extent to which nobody talks to strangers in northern Europe ... Even in big cities in the US, people will talk to each other sometimes in line, on the subway, etc. Not deep conversations, but it isn't weird to make casual conversation.

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C Bragg
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe I was born in the wrong country, I hate small talk and I don't smile at strangers.

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#25

How large grocery stores are here. My wife is not american and we lived in China and were in HK all the time... they had large international stores that were great and she didnt really grasp the size of american grocery stores till our first week in the USA and there's 150 feet of cereals on one aisle

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#26

S’mores. I was in New Zealand having a bonfire on the beach and someone went and grabbed a bag of marshmallows and then everyone just ate them??! By themselves?! And someone from Sweden asked me if s’mores were a real thing or only on tv. I was flabbergasted.

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#27

My British friend makes fun of me for how much cheese I use in my cooking.

Doesn't stop her from inhaling my potato casseroles, but there you go.

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KarmaQueen
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband would be in heaven. He always says "the more cheese the better."

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#28

I am not American but visit the U.S alot and I tell you,almost all Americans has this habit of giving the 'half smile look' to anyone,that is not just normal anywhere else

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KarmaQueen
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure what this means? Half smile look when confronting someone as they walk past you, to be nice?

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#29

24 hour stores.

It's weird not being able to buy random sh*t at 4am...

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#30

At a buffet in Germany, I had to pay for ketchup

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Bored Fox
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's strange. Here in Finland ketchup and mustard are usually free part of the buffet food.

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