Since I have been living in Europe the past few weeks, I have learned a lot about the way people from different cultures act. You always hear about the stereotypes (some pretty accurate and others not so much), but it is another whole thing to actually live among it and experience the cultural differences. It has also given me the chance to objectively view Americans and recognize what kinds of things we do that other cultures do not.
Here are some of the small things that Americans think are normal, but aren't so much other places:
1. Never take vacation days
Since I am working an internship here in London, I have also had the chance to notice how things differ in the workplace. A shocking revelation: people actually use their vacation days. Even more shocking: they use them to actually go on vacation. Crazy, right?
2. Dress down always
You think it's normal everywhere to wear sweatpants and T-shirts to the grocery store? Think again. In many places in Europe, people hardly ever dress down. I have hardly seen a pair of leggings in 4 weeks.
3. Say “ope”
OK, so maybe this is also just a Midwestern thing, but I have never noticed how often I use a good ole "ope" until I came here. My "ope, sorry excuse me!" is much more noticeable here when most people don't even say excuse me.
SEE ALSO: 40 Times Midwesterners Say 'Ope'
4. Talk loudly
As soon as we step onto the train or into a restaurant, everyone knows we are American and can hear our conversation from about a mile away.
5. Don’t take leisure time
Many European countries value leisure and rest much more than Americans do. Americans will go home from work and continue working another 6 hours whereas here, when people get off work the first thing they do is head to the pub and grab a drink — no matter what day of the week it is.
6. Tip
I guess it's not normal that our servers in America only make $2 an hour after all...
7. Have no interest in soccer
Other than every child ages 8 and under that play park district, most Americans don't follow professional soccer. On the other hand, watching a big game in Europe is an event 12 times the size of the Super Bowl.
8. Drive everywhere
Ever heard of public transportation? Me neither until I came here.
9. Have a drinking age of 21
But that's another whole story.
10. Ordering ice water at the restaurant
This one caught me by surprise. Apparently, water is not meant to be a beverage of choice around here. And ice, in any drink? Forget about it.
11. Eat huge portion sizes
And then we wonder why America has such an obesity epidemic.
12. Saying “how are you?” as a greeting
When you think about it, why do we say that? It's not like anyone really cares or ever gives a different response from "Good! How are you?"
13. Eat fried everything
This one I miss. I had to make a 40-minute trip last night to go to TGI Friday's, of all places, just for some mozzarella sticks.
