People Share 30 Things That Are Normal In Europe But In America, They Are Considered Horrific

It's no secret that many countries are different, so let's look at 30 things that are different between America and Europe.

Daphnie

• Published in Interesting
• February 16, 2022

It's no secret that countries can be very different from one another and that's okay. However, sometimes there are things that might be a little extreme.

America and Europe are different for many reasons and there are things that America does that just look super crazy to the rest of the world. For example, America's portions sizes, medical debts, and free refills are seen as odd and abnormal to others.

The differences in countries make them who they are but it's inevitable not to judge some of them for the crazy things that they do. These 30 things are considered normal for Europe but are seen as not normal or horrific in America.

Some of these things span from the way from how employee vacations are set up to the metric system they use. These differences set them apart but that doesn't mean that it isn't seen as super weird.

Someone on AskReddit asked the question "What's considered normal for Europe but horrific for America?" and over 12,000 people came in with answers. We chose thirty of the most thought-provoking and weird comments that came in to share just how different America and Europe are.

Some of these things also prove that Europe can be a little weird too.

1. Old Houses

"Old things. Houses especially. "Someone died in this house" yeah no s**t Sherlock, this house has been here more than your country."

2. The metric system

3. The stigma around public transportation

"Taking the bus. There is so much stigma around public transport in the US, especially busses, and in Europe it's just a totally normal way to get around because nobody wants to deal with driving and parking in a big city.

Also from an employer's perspective: 25+ vacation days minimum for all employees and unlimited sick days. The absolute horror."

4. Bleeping profanity

5. America is known for terrible worker laws

"Pro union laws. Pro worker labour laws.

Mandatory paid vacation days (including fines for companies if the workers don't take their vacation days or get them payed out. They NEED to actually leave work legally for around 25 days per year)."

6. It is very normalized to leave children unattended walking

"Letting kids go to school or walk around the neighborhood by themselves without supervision. A Dutch family moved to the USA and their kids went to school on their bikes like they always do, after a while the police showed up on their doorstep and child protective services letting them know they’re being irresponsible and to not do that again."

7. This one is interesting and should definitely be something America takes note of

"Mailman doesnt leave packages unattended on your porch. He eather gives you it on the doorstep or you go get it at the post office.

Much less infureating than getting it stolen or thrown accros your yard by a mailman..."

8. Americans don't take off their shoes when they get home?

"Taking off your shoes when getting home."

9. Mandatory voting?

"I don't know if this would horrify Americans as I've never heard it discussed, but where I live in Europe (Luxembourg), voting is mandatory and you can get fined for not voting in an election. You can still spoil your ballot, so you don't have to decide between lesser evils if you don't want to, but you have to make the effort to go to the polling station or submit a postal vote.

It guarantees a high voter turnout and by extension more representative elections, coupled with a proportional voting system so we're not locked into a two-party mess like the UK or the US - not that it's without its issues of course, but I think it's an improvement."

10. Is this true for America?

"Being expected to know another language other than English."

11. The difference in how nudity is portrayed

12. Cashiers who sit down being seen as lazy in America

"From what I’ve heard, allowing retail workers to sit. I’ve heard it’s regular for people to be sitting in Europe as cashiers, but in the us it is seen as lazy.

Only store I know of that allows it is Aldi and that’s because it helps their cashiering metrics."

13. Vacation

14. Interesting how the apartment and home rooms are described.

"The number of rooms in the description of apartments. 1 room in the US usually means 1 bedroom, a living room ,and separate kitchen.

Was shocked when I realized it means everything inside one room in most European countries"

15. America has closed borders but other countries don't follow suit

"Open borders."

16. Nobody loves America as much as Americans do.

17. Vacations and leave of all kinds are terrible in America

18. Here's a ton of differences between the two countries

"Oh man... europe has so many different countries. Something that is completely normal where I live could be frowned upon as soon as I cross the next border.

But in general we tip for good service, not bc we have to. A rude waitress won't get tipped by me.

Also we usually remove our shoes before we enter a home. And yep, "free" healthcare."

19. Paying yourself when at a restaurant

"Not giving your debit/credit card to your server but doing it yourself"

20. It's not normal in Europe to say something to the person sitting next to you?

"Sitting a foot away from a complete stranger and then completely ignoring them."

21. Nudity on beaches

"Americans get so bend out of shape over naked children running around the beach. On every beach in Bulgaria I've been, naked children is the norm, women sunbathing in monokini is considered absolutely normal, while naked men are okay only in the nude sections of the beaches. And every beach has a nude section."

22. This is a well known difference

23. Enrolling children into sports and clubs

23. Small talk?

"Not doing small talk."

25. Okay this one might be really weird.

26. Automatic cars being the norm when in America

"Almost every car having a manual transmission. when i visited ukraine, i only saw rich people with automatic cars"

27. Should you charge for water?

"Charging for water at a restaurant."

28. Bidets are a great investment and America should definitely normalize it.

29. Wait, you have y=to buy the kitchen separately?

"In Germany, looking for a apartment doesn't automatically mean it will come 100% with a kitchen. 90% they don't have them in and you have to buy them yourself."

30. Normalizing alcohol

"Underage drinking seems more of a crime in the US - in most cases of a kid is caught with alcohol in the UK it's just confiscated and poured away. Strictly speaking the age you can drink alcohol is really low as well, so long as you're home with a parent I think it's like 5/6.

When you're in a restaurant you're also allowed low percentage alcohol like cider with a meal so long as you're with an adult."

Some of these thirty differences were well known like the portion sizing or metric systems, but some of these were definitely not well known. Some countries could learn a thing or two from other countries.

Europe could adopt some of America's ways and America can adopt some of Europe's ways to make both countries more innovative. Do you live in another country and have some differences you could share?

Let us know!

Daphnie