During my time in Europe, I noticed a few things that are accustomed there that we here in the United States do not. What I realized is that what Europe is doing, are things we should do here in the United States.

1. Paying for water

Here in the United States, water comes free. By free I mean at most restaurants you don't have to pay for a glass of water. In Europe, you pay for a bottle of still or sparkling water. You may question me about why I think that this is better, but when you stop and think it actually is. Water seems like something we will never run out of. We see it as a given to us, but don't realize how precious it is. In Europe, by having people buy water, people can see that water is not a given but is something we shouldn't take for granted.

2. Separating the trash

Besides just trash and recycle, Europe goes a step further. You separate trash, bottles, and wine bottles for example. They have a place for red bottles and white bottles. When you think about all the pollution in the environment and the trash killing our oceanic animals, you see that by going one step further can prevent a turtle from getting stuck in a piece of trash.

3. Not taking your credit card from you

While in Europe, I noticed they never take your credit card away from you. When you are at dinner and paying for a meal, they bring the machine to you and you pay there. There is not a moment that you and your card are separated, This is just being polite.

4. Higher standards for meat and seafood

Europe has higher standards for meat and seafood. It's more fresh, a better quality, and overall better for you. Here in the United States, we don't know what grade of meat we are getting or if the seafood is of good quality. We should want our people to have better food. What the reason we don't have higher standards if it betters the people?

Although these don't seem like much, I think they are things that better people and the environment. We as Americans are always hearing about environmental issues but there is never anything done. In comparison to the United States, Europe has gone a step further in better their people and the environment. That is something we should be apart of as well.