Europeans Break Down Which Things Americans Aren't Ready To Hear Yet
"Reddit user Mamutu7 asked: 'Europeans, what is something us Americans aren’t ready to hear?'"
Even though the United States of America is largely viewed as the best country in the world to live in, many Americans dream of living abroad.
Particularly in Europe.
From their eyes, there are several things about one's way of life that simply seem unquestionably better in Europe, including health insurance, education, and food.
Of course, many of these things are just in their minds and aren't actually true, and they have to have the news broken to them rather gently.
Sometimes, however, the things they've grown to accept about Europe aren't worse than they imagined, but infinitely better.
"Europeans, what is something us Americans aren’t ready to hear?"
In Case You Didn't Know Just How Big "Big Pharma" Actually Was...
"EpiPens cost $69 in the UK compared to the US $600."
"And yes the Pharm companies are making a profit."- DevDudeZX81
Phonetics Ain't Gonna Help You With This One...
"Worcestershire."- TantrumZentrum
"Wash your sister sauce."- dbl1nk22
'I was making dinner at one point and asked my wife to get me the sibling cleaning sauce - once it clicked, she was hysterical laughing."- belsonc
And No, That Doesn't Stand For "Part Time Only"...
"27 days of PTO is absolutely normal."- Whole-Bank9820
Out Of Office Vacation GIF by StickerGiantGiphyAnyone From The UK Can Make That Clear...
"Europe and the European Union are not the same thing."- BradyvonAshe
Yes, They're Actually Efficient...
"Y’all need some trains."- CabbageMasher
Ironically, Church And State Are ACTUALLY Separated...
"Whats the deal with mega churches?"
"Why do you send them that much money?"- Jandolino
On My Way Church GIF by EMPIREGiphyBipartisanship? The Very Thought!
"Middle grounds exist."
"It doesn’t always have to be pro this anti that."- MySocksAreLost
"It's okay not to have an opinion about everything."- AlwaysCurious93
All Jobs Have Value
"Tipping is stupid."
"Just pay your staff a proper living wage!"- Coin-op77
"Tipping culture is placing the working class against the working class."
"And you lot are falling for it instead of striking."- Comander1SUV
"You should work to live not the opposite."- Realistic_Abrocoma61·
GiphyAt The Very Least, Not In Such Large Quantities
"Sugar does not belong in everything, esp."
"Not bread."- WrestlingWoman
Merely 2 out of 44
"Europe is more than England and Paris."- SloRules
Health And Education Are A Right, Not A Privilege
"It's neither normal nor okay to have to go bankrupt just to go to school or going to the hospital."- Roselily808
student loans burn GIF by Ethan BarnowskyGiphy...Um, Does Anyone Actually Need This?...
"You do not need a 5000-pound truck to haul your laptop and cellphone to the office."- It_is_Fries_No_Patat
Frustratingly, many Americans who will be told these facts by Europeans will look for anything and everything to argue about them.
As the most significant thing most Europeans aren't ready to hear, or at least don't want to hear, about Americans?
Most will look for literally anything to fight about, rather than actually taking a little time to enjoy the view...
There are so many places to travel to and see in America.
That's one of our mottos.... "See America first!"
But as majestic as this land is, there are places to avoid; thanks to high crime rates, broken down cities, bad weather... to name a few.
So a list of the least popular places could be helpful.
People only have so much travel time in life.
You want to make it count.
Redditor jhffmn21 wanted everyone to detail which parts of America may not be worth the visit and why. So they asked:
"Americans of Reddit, what is the worst big city in the USA and why?"
I could skip a few places, but I'll be kind and stay quiet.
Hadestown
Over It Rose GIF by HULUGiphy"Bakersfield or Fresno pretty sure the devil has part time vacation homes in both of them."
Ok-Trash-798
"Fresno's unofficial motto being 'At least we're not Bakersfield.'"
Kongo204
Wild
"I passed Camden NJ on a way to a concert - and we stopped at a light and a cop drove up and literally told us 'just run the reds and go do not stop' and as we turned you would just see groups of ppl on corners waiting for a stopped car. It was wild."
MarsReject
"I live an hour from Philly and had to explain this to my wife several times about Camden. She didn't believe me until I ran a red there in front of a cop and nothing happened. She didn't understand then how dangerous Camden can be."
StoryAccomplished938
Back to 55
"East St.Louis, stopped once for gas. Didn’t think I was going to make it back on 55."
Nature_Goulet
"Was both prepared and a bit saddened to see East St. Louis at the top. It really is that bad and there’s no debating it. Crazy amounts of crime, decrepit businesses, broken down neighborhoods. It’s rare to have a night without sirens and gunshots. Would rather take my chances in most war zones than in East St. Louis and I’m a native."
cbb88christian
Mr Trash Wheel
"I haven’t been to every city in the US. But Baltimore could use a little cleaning up since we’re on the subject."
carcinoma_kid
"Awh! Basically one of the only things I know about Baltimore is that it's the home of Mr Trash Wheel and family (the pride of the Baltimore harbor??) and I imagined it as a trash free oasis protected by the Trash Wheel clan... Bummer, I need to get out more."
julez007
"I think every city has great parts. But in my opinion worst parts of Baltimore is pretty... out there."
StewofPuppies
Bodyguard Needed
conan obrien bodyguard GIF by Team CocoGiphy"Springfield."
canadianzonkey**ck
"I did a wine tasting event in Springfield, when it was over the bar owner insisted on walking me to my car, which I could see from the venue, I told him it wasn't really necessary and he just looked me dead in the face and said 'this is Springfield, yes, it is very necessary.'"
RUfuqingkiddingme
Places you can't walk to your car? That's a no.
So Bland
Over It Wow GIF by The Comeback HBOGiphy"The worst cities are the most boring cities- the most devoid of personality. So I'm going to say Jacksonville, Florida."
seanofkelley
Poor Places
"Jackson, Mississippi. Very high murder rate, low education, failing infrastructure."
"EDIT: yes I know Jackson isn't a very big city. It just sticks out as being in bad shape."
Cute-King5456
"Jackson was eye opening for me. Where I’m from being ‘poor’ means you don’t have a car or the latest phone and your apartment has roaches. In Jackson if you’re poor you don’t have shoes or running water. It’s like a banana republic that can’t grow bananas."
scumbagstaceysEx
Different Sizes
"I hesitate to answer this because the worst cities in America aren’t big cities. It’s medium and small sized cities that have been hit the hardest by economic changes."
"Places like Gary, IN; Pontiac, MI; Bridgeport, CT; and Lowell, MA. Industrial cities that lost all their jobs and experienced depopulation and rising crime."
"But I don’t know, maybe Hartford. There’s just nothing there. It’s insurance companies and street gangs. That’s it."
simplepleashures
So Hot!
"In my opinion, of the ones I've been to... Miami."
"Anywhere outside of the nightlife scene is absolutely dangerous."
"For example, Wynwood, the art district, is LITERALLY in the middle of one of the worst possible neighborhoods. You enter or exit Wynwood from the wrong direction, don't stop and wait at red lights."
EmployeeRadiant
What Happened?
Is Awesome New York GIF by FriendsGiphy"Charleston WV, used to be so vibrant and bustling was supposed to become NYC in the mountains is now a dead zone with a struggling infrastructure and an economy that can't keep itself afloat add on the homeless problem which makes all of downtown look like a giant skid row."
_elbon_22
That's a long list of travel... to skip.
An English friend was shocked when they visited me once and found that I actually have a kettle. I do! And I use it all the time. "Shall I put the kettle on?" is a common phrase you'd hear in my apartment.
But many Americans do not have one. Tea just hasn't caught on here the way it has in the United Kingdom, so UK residents are always baffled by this. The kettle is a way of life!
But enough of what foreigners might be surprised to find in our homes. Let's talk about the things they would find. For instance, peanut butter. I always have peanut butter in my home. And I think a foreigner would be shocked if I didn't!
Non-Americans shared their thoughts with us after Redditor Rylx asked the online community:
"Non-Americans, what do you think every American person has in their house?"
"A switch..."
"A switch that when you flick it it turns your sink into a blender."
Kingdom-Kome
This is a funny way to describe a garbage disposal.
I've never had one but have been in quite a few homes over the years that do!
"Popcorn..."
"Popcorn setting on their microwave!"
[deleted]
Believe it or not, I don't have one! Not having a microwave might have something to do with that.
"Apparently..."
"Apparently Americans are rather fond of Pickles and Peanut Butter. Is that a fair assumption to make?"
tree-of-lies
Well, not combined, but yes.
"This fascinated me..."
"Oh oh, the washing machines where you put everything in the top! This fascinated me when we visited the states. They’re huge!"
Tired3520
My friend has one where the dryer is actually at the top! That should blow your mind.
"Large quantities..."
"Large quantities of over-the-counter drugs in huge bottles."
Wombattalion
Like Tylenol and Ibuprofen?
Yes, actually.
"A plastic bag..."
"A plastic bag filled with plastic bags."
bird-137
Perfect for the bathroom garbage can!
"Every American household..."
"Every American household has a drawer full with random stuff (died batteries, screws, shoelace etc.) right?"
Firm-Ideal5256
Ah, the junk drawer!
Speaking of which, I need to sort through mine.
"A coffee machine..."
"A coffee machine with large glass jug full of black coffee being kept warm. The UK mostly has electric kettles for making hot drinks individually."
UnfinishedUntidy
I do not have that one — I have a mocha pot. It's simple!
"A fridge..."
"A fridge with ice dispenser built in."
FunAccountant7632
I have one but the ice dispenser isn't hooked up. I've made do.
"A dishwasher."
"A dishwasher. All of you have one, right?"
SakuraUnicorn
Ha, I wish! I am the dishwasher. Always have been.
To the rest of the world, Americans have a ton of different luxuries. Honestly, all I want is a laundry machine. I hate washing clothes in laundromats (and that's precisely why I have other people do it for me).
Have some thoughts of your own? Tell us more in the comments below!
There's little more exciting than an American's first visit to Europe.
There is so much to take in between the famous sights, the delicious food, and the vastly different cultures and ways of life.
Most American tourists have no problem jumping into some popular customs and activities, such as afternoon tea in England, or a soothing sauna in Finland.
Other customs and behaviors, however, some Americans usually choose to leave to the locals.
Redditor Mark-Zuckerberg- was curious to hear which European habits or ways of life were truly bizarre to Americans, leading them to ask:
"Americans, what do you think is the weirdest thing about Europe?"
Where's the kitchen?
"Rental apartments in Germany often come without a furnished kitchen."
"Sink, refrigerator, stove and cabinets."
"Because these are almost always provided in rental apartments in the US, it was shocking to me as an American looking at rentals in Germany that I would have to buy and install those things."
"Having read so many interesting comments about kitchen expectations in different parts of the world, let me ask this question."
"Do any of you know of places where rentals don't come with bathroom equipment either, and it's expected the tenant will purchase and install their own toilet and sink?"- AmbitiousPeanut
Differing levels of intimacy
"Depends which countries."
"I’ve always found it weird that a lot of them think hugging is more intimate than kissing someone on the cheek."
"I know it isn’t actually 'kissing' someone on the cheek most of the time."
"I’m referring to how someone touches your face with their face that is extremely intimate."- LadyValenciaLA
Road Rage!
"The way people drive."
"The laws don’t seem to matter at all in Italy, only a little in France."
"Then the Germans are a completely different story."- jesusmansuperpowers
Toilet Troubles
"OMG the toilets."
"In the US every toilet I've ever come across has a flush lever on the left of the tank or, in public restrooms, a sensor or a button on the top."
"In Europe every single toilet has a different flush mechanism."
"Every. Single. One."
"It's like an escape room challenge."
"Foot pedals. Cranks. Pull knobs."
"Things attached to the sink."
"I was once stuck in a bathroom for 20 minutes trying to figure out how to flush the toilet, it turned out to be a pulley on the other side of the room."- Yellowbug2001
Not for Night Owls
"The oddest thing I found in Copenhagen was that when we tried to go get food around 9pm, nearly everywhere was closed."
"We were in a busy part of the city but it took us so incredibly long to find a place open late."
"I don't live in a huge city but I can throw a rock from my house and it will bounce off half a dozen places open until midnight or later."
"This is not a complaint, just an observation."
"I loved Denmark."- Ginger_Chick
Just how old are we talking?
"The history."
"Can't wrap my brain around that."
"I live in a farm house built in the 1920s and that is considered old."- Necessary_Sir_5079
You understand?
"The sheer grasp of language I've seen from some Europeans is wild."
"Back in the early days of minecraft I used to play on a server with an English kid and a German Kid."
"The English kid would randomly speak Welsh and the German could jump between German, French, and English all the time and I was there like 'Guys, I can barely English, can we dumb it down for the yankee'."- CYNIC_Torgon
"We've been working on the railroad..."
"Trains go to every major city."- CoolIceCreamCone
Balmy summer nights
"No AC."
"Our hotels had ac but it was just room temp air."
"That heatwave must have been brutal I hate sleeping when it’s hot."- Slowmexicano
Some things that might seem strange at first might just take some getting used to.
Though power to any American brave enough to drive through Europe.
Particularly on the wrong side of the road in the U.K.!
The US is represented in the majority of some of the biggest films recognized worldwide–from iconic movies like American Grafitti to The Color Purple, to recent critically-acclaimed films like Minari and Moonlight.
Even classic American sitcoms like Friends are known the world over as the ultimate example of American comedy.
But there are plenty of misconceptions about American culture seen in some of these entertainment offerings that foreign audiences seem to miss, and it's time to set the record straight.
For starters, an apartment in New York City is not at all spacious like the one that was inhabited by Ross, Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler. So there's that.
Curious to hear more examples of what our friends across the Atlantic could stand to learn, Redditor Jazzlike_Fondant_518 asked:
"Americans, what’s something Europeans need to hear?"
American Redditors had a thing or two to say about how we roll here in the States.
Pristine Washrooms
"Free, clean, omnipresent public restrooms are indeed possible."
– tech_probs_help
Vouching For The Myth
"As a British person who now lives in the US I would say public toilets is something the US does really well. They are everywhere, accessible and usually very clean. Europe definitely needs to catch up on this."
– alienintheUS
Driving In Circles
"We have roundabouts here. They exist. Stop claiming we don't."
– MundaneConclusion246
Treatment Of Tourists
"You guys weren’t very nice to the Griswold’s when they won that European trip a few years back."
– SassySpicySuper
Preconceived notions can go bye-bye.
Nothing Cool About This
"The flavor of America is not cool ranch."
– IronHarvestX
Maintaining Best Indoor Air Quality
"Invest in hvac and soon cause it won't get cheaper or cooler."
– pallysteve
American Temperament
"A large portion of Americans are rational and moderate people, and what you see on the television isn't indicative of every American you meet."
– accidentalexpat
Toxic Malaise
"America isn't the only country with racial issues."
– NicoTheFileClerk
What The Canucks Say
"I’m a Canadian and I’ve been living in Europe for years. I gotta say that during my time here I’ve never met an American that I didn’t like. The biggest a**holes I’ve met here were, well….. other Canadians. Go figure.🤷♂️"
– Buddy_Holmes
Embracing Diversity
"American news is highly politically polarized."
"Most Americans get along well together, but the news often highlights extremists on either side of the political aisle. We welcome visitor and immigrants from everywhere."
– RickJWagner
Europeans, take note.
Moving On
"It’s past time you take James Corden back."
– xTHEKILLINGJOKEx
It's A Big Problem
"Europe is getting fat too."
– Advi0001
Kernel Of Truth
"Putting corn on pizza doesn't make it 'American pizza'. It just makes it disgusting."
– Best-User-Name-Ever
Cinematic Trope
"A good looking guy smoking a cigarette is not a movie."
– 0utcast9851
More Ground To Cover
"You can’t expect to visit NYC, the Grand Canyon, Disney World, and Washington DC in a 2 week trip."
"I’d like to add that other than Brazil, English and Spanish are the dominant languages. So you could travel 3000 miles or more and still be in a dominant English or Spanish speaking area."
– BeRealzzz
Kindness During A Heatwave
"Putting ice in drinks and giving people free tap water are about to make a lot more sense as Europe gets warmer. Don’t be a d*ck about it, please."
– sikhster
Despite everything in the news happening in the States creating division and leaving people feeling dejected, a good majority of US citizens are not jerks.
There are loads of kind, considerate, empathetic, and well-behaved people living here.
Europeans often don't get to hear this since much of the media focuses on iniquitous behavior.
Humanity is still intact here.
At least that's what I still believe.