“40 Mind-Boggling Cultural Quirks in Europe That Left Americans Scratching Their Heads!”
Have you ever found yourself scratching your head at the thought of a British person debating the merits of clotted cream on scones while simultaneously being baffled by why Americans can’t seem to grasp the enigmatic allure of the metric system? It turns out that cultural differences run deeper than one might think, especially when it comes to the age-old transatlantic divide! Recently, a Reddit thread went viral as users from the US shared their bewilderment over quirks and customs in Europe. The insights are not only hilarious—they also highlight how our perceptions can be skewed by whatever the media and politicians choose to tell us. So, let’s dive into this fascinating exploration of cultural misunderstandings, where every cheek kiss and peculiar food norm offers an opportunity to learn and laugh! Curious about what the people across the ocean can’t quite wrap their heads around? Well, you’re in for a treat! <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/dwbhos/americansofredditwhatdoyounot_understand/”>LEARN MORE.
The things that politicians say and do can greatly influence the way we see one another. And since they’re not always true, it’s important that we make our own observations and draw our own conclusions. So, let’s take a moment to examine transatlantic relationships—or rather, opinions. A viral thread on Reddit shows people from the United States sharing what they don’t understand about Europe, which provides interesting insight into their worldview.
(Of course, the Old Continent isn’t a monolith—each country has its own traditions and ways of life; what might be normal in Spain could be bizarre in Finland. But this discussion still offers an interesting look at the image Europe has carved for itself.)
Continue scrolling to get a better understanding of their thoughts, and in case you’re wondering, we have also covered 30 American norms that stun Europeans. Ultimately, we hope that familiarizing yourself with these differences, no matter which side of the ocean you live on, will help you to understand the other perspective instead of reinforcing stereotypes.
I’m Canadian, not American, close enough.
I dont understand why some countries grind to a complete halt when snow hits the ground. As if it were no different than lava filling the streets
the same could be applied to certain places in America.
As an American that lived in the UK for a few years, why the f**k do we get dumped on for not using the metric system? The UK uses so many different forms of measurement then shits on us for not using one of the 500 they use. I get our system isn’t perfect but at least it’s consistently used across the board here.
In some hotel bathrooms I’ve been in, the shower didn’t have a door or curtain or had a half door, and water would get everywhere despite my best efforts. Why?
How popular smoking cigarettes is. Even with the recent boom in vaping and e-cigs in the US, I would still say that they’re not even close. Every outdoor cafe in Europe has at least half of their patrons smoking. My buddy that lives over there says it’s just part of their social culture.
Doesn’t really bother me either. It’s just interesting to me that it’s so looked down upon here in the US and so popular in most parts of Europe.
How y’all manage to get socialized healthcare and education. Those concepts are fought so hard in the States and I don’t know how to convince people that healthcare and education are good things to have for free or even just cheaper.
F**k, I just moved to Spain and I cannot understand how normal it is to just STARE so blatantly at people. Does anybody know????
The constant touching and cheek kisses are also pretty weird to me because I don’t like to be touched but I was aware of those at least before I moved.
Am I allowed to comment if I’m Canadian?
How do so many people fit into London? And there’s so many old buildings still in use, isn’t asbestos a problem? How are there so many different accents in small countries like the UK and Ireland? Pretty much in Canada most people sound the same, there’s a few other accents but there aren’t too many big differences, except for maybe Newfoundlanders, Francophones and people in the country.
Something else I just thought of after someone brought popcorn into the office…
Something I noticed about cinemas in Canada/USA , and Europe. *Or London UK at least, sample size here is quite low* is that in North American cinemas, you pay for a ticket, and it’s a free for all for seating, you grab the best seat, early bird gets the worm
