21 "Horrifying" European Customs That Americans Still Can't Fathom
by Hannah Loewentheil · BuzzFeedIf you've ever traveled to Europe from the United States, you've probably found that many things feel extremely foreign, for better or worse.
And while, of course, Europe is made up of a huge variety of countries and cultures, some things just feel so distinctly *European*.
So Redditor u/Comfortable-Use6239 asked, "What would be normal in Europe but horrifying in the US?" These are the most shocking things that are actually normal in many European countries (that just wouldn't fly in The States).
1. "The fact that many Europeans can take a two-hour lunch break in the middle of the work day is considered the norm."
2. "Wearing Speedos in a non-sporting context."
3. "The German Foreign Ministry has a travel advisory that you should not photograph your children naked when you are in the US at the beach. In Germany, it is quite normal for small children to bathe naked on public beaches or in swimming pools."
4. "There are porn magazines just sitting at the front of newsstands in the middle of the city and a giant graffiti penis that nobody cares about. It made me realize how prudish we are in the US."
5. "That everyone in Europe just sort of agrees that nothing should happen in August. It's like for a whole month, you had better not need anything done. In the US, August is a popular vacation month, but not to the same extent. Even doctors in Europe seem scarce during this vacation month."
6. "Calling someone the C-word. My boss is from the UK and tosses this word around so much that our HR had to remind him Americans do not view that word the same as the British."
7. "Not tipping at a restaurant. I tried not tipping in European countries, and I was not prepared for how rude I felt despite fully knowing it was not expected or common. In my discomfort, I just split the middle and left half the usual tip I normally would. On the bright side, 100% of all servers I had were very thankful, which is not the same reaction I get in the US, where it's customary and considered more a part of the bill."
8. "Holding a mass gathering without X-ray machines and bag checks."
9. "Drinking alcohol in public spaces. In many European cities, it's perfectly acceptable to enjoy a drink in parks or streets, while in the US, it can lead to fines or legal issues."
10. "Serving people room-temperature water. No, Pierre, I do not want to buy a bottle of chilled sparkling water for five Euros. I would love for you to grab me a glass of water from the tap, stuff some ice in it, and give me that instead, exactly the way they do at every sit-down restaurant in the entire US."
11. "Breastfeeding in public without using a covering."
12. "In Italy, there is virtually no threshold for how much distance should be left between a speeding car and any obstacles (including pedestrians) it is zooming past. A bus driver will rush down a narrow cobblestone street with about a centimeter to spare between the sides of the bus and any parked cars, walls, ancient monuments, or playing children."
13. "Finding out your new apartment doesn’t come with a kitchen. Or floors..."
14. "Eating dinner at 10 p.m.! In Europe, it's just a normal night out, but in the US, you'd be met with confused looks and a few, 'Are you planning to party with the vampires?'"
15. "The size of parking spaces. Parking spaces in the US are about double the size of those in Europe. European vehicles are, on average, very, very small, and their parking spaces reflect that. I rented a Mazda 3, and it was a pretty tight squeeze in 99% of parkades. Consider that before you decide to rent an SUV or bigger."
16. "Minimal air conditioning. Europeans tend to rely less on air conditioning even in warmer weather. many Americans, used to blasting AC, might find it uncomfortable or surprising."
17. "In Paris, every meal takes three hours. I loved the culture, and I'm all about eating a relaxing meal, but sometimes it was just like 'WTF?' when we were on a schedule and had to meet up with a tour group or have reservations about something."
18. "Not putting eggs 🥚 in the refrigerator."
19. "Leaving your baby sleeping in the stroller outside of a restaurant while you have dinner. This is normal in Denmark (and a few other European countries), but gets you arrested for child endangerment in the US."
20. "Directness in communication. Europeans, especially in places like Germany or Netherlands, are often more straightforward in conversation, which might come off as blunt or rude to Americans used to more indirect communication."
21. "The European attitude toward nudity. I worked at a spa, and people from all around the world would come. One thing I noticed was how the Europeans were so comfortable with getting naked in front of others like it's nothing."
What is something considered normal in Europe that people would find strange, shocking, or even horrifying in the US? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.