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Europeans Don’t Get These American Problems
There is no doubt that the United States is one of the leading countries when it comes to trend-setting. With a population of more than 350 million, it is also one of the most populated countries in the world. Perhaps due to this, many Americans seem to forget that there are a plethora of other countries that are much different than the US. That seems to be one of the main reasons why citizens and permanent residents are very strict about their ways in the USA. The consequence is that visitors from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world are often met with different surprises regarding what is a problem or a trend in the country.
Click Next to see the most “American problems” that Europeans shared in numerous surveys!
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Extravagant Fashion
Looking through numerous fashion forums and social media posts, we could conclude that fashion in the USA is greatly different than in Europe. Not only when it comes to the ways of dressing but also the concept that lies behind fashion. While Americans aren’t likely to wear elegant shoes other than at formal events, someone from Italy or France will rock these on everyday occasions.
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Fast-Changing Fashion
Another big truth is that Americans are much more obsessed with trend-setting and are thus subjected to what is called fast-fashion. What this means is that, although an American woman or man may own a greater number of clothing pieces than someone in Europe, those clothes are of lower quality in most cases. Not only TY but when it comes to classic fashion, the Italians and the French have the lead when it comes to Europe and most countries in the world.
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Too Casual
There have been many Europeans who notice that American men seem to dress a bit too informal. This includes a lot of baggy pants, khakis, t-shirts, and even flip-flops, which certainly isn’t seen as fashionable if you would ask any average European. According to many surveys of what Europeans think about American fashion, the answer was that they should be schooled on how to dress more stylish while still managing their budget.
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Differing Taxes
One of the main problems that Europeans visiting the USA encounter is calculating taxes. What is common for all EU countries is that the taxes are featured in the price of a product, but that is not the case in America. This can be a huge problem, as much like the man in the photo above, you can’t be sure whether you have enough money to buy an item or not. For example, Delaware has no sales tax, but sales tax is set to 10% in states such as Alabama and a couple of others. Leaving this regulation up to individual states proves to be quite tricky.
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Punching Through Walls
A scene that you can see in almost any American movie is a guy or even a girl punching through a wall. For most Europeans, this is close to impossible given that houses are made out of concrete or brick. This means that punching such a wall would end up in nothing other than a broken wrist or fingers. While some Americans may be stronger than others, the main reason why they can get through walls is that, in most cases, these are made out of drywall and thin wood.
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Confusing Calendar Writing
When it comes to the so-called “American problems” that Europeans are met with, another common one is that dates are written differently. For example, if you live in Europe, as well as much of the rest of the world, you will find a format that is day/month/year. However, in the USA, it is different. You will find a format of month/day/year. Keep in mind that, if you are used to the first scenario, it can get quite confusing and you can even miss an important date if you don’t adjust to it.
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Driving On Red
One of the most controversial traffic laws in the United States is that you can turn right on red. This is something that is completely forbidden in all European countries. On the other hand, while it may be good for preventing traffic jams, as long as there is no one in the way, it is once again quite tricky for Europeans to get used to. Frankly, while we understand the reasoning behind such a law, we still aren’t sure if it is something that should be allowed given that a lot of people drive wildly.
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Imperial System
Whether you have been to the United States or you tried to make a dish using a recipe from an American cookbook, you were probably quite confused with the measurement system. At first sight, it looks similar to the metric one used in the UK, but there are still several differences that make things even more complicated. Keep in mind that instead of grams, those in the USA use ounces, and fluid ounces are used instead of milliliters.
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Pricey Textbooks
One of the biggest problems that you will come across if you are going to study in the USA is the fact that you will have to pay for textbooks that you have to use in your classes. Not only that, but the prices are extremely high, reaching hundreds of dollars in some cases. On the other hand, this is to be expected given the fact that the tuition fee for universities is much more expensive, as well.
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Staying In Shoes
Among the many Bon Ton rules that are applied in Europe is that when entering someone’s house, you should take off your shoes. While this varies from one household to another, in most cases, that is how things are. On the contrary, it is much more common for Americans to spend time in someone else’s house without taking off their shoes. Apart from a couple of other reasons, we think that this isn’t the best option because you will be bringing in dirt from the outside.
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Driving an Automatic
If you are into cars, then you will find it quite complicated to get adjusted to an automatic car. One of the most present problems for Europeans who have moved to the US is the fact that there isn’t a manual gear shift. Keep in mind that most Americans drive automatic cars. Therefore, if you are looking for a car with a manual transmission, you will be paying a much higher price than you would in Europe, especially when it comes to more powerful sports cars.
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Time-Telling
Much like the fact that their metric system and calendar are different, Americans also did their best to make telling time even more complicated. What this means is that you will not be looking at 23 when it is 1 hour before midnight, but rather 11 PM. Using all 24 hours on the clock is known as “military time” in the US. Telling time with a 12-hour AM/PM structure is something that you may as well get used to.
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Unreliable Housing
One of the most surprising facts is that although almost all states are subjected to natural disasters now and then, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires. Yet, the houses are quite flimsy. This means that almost all of these events end up causing huge amounts of physical damage. If they would look at the materials that Europeans use in building homes, we are sure that the risks of suffering extreme damage and loss would be much lower.
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Leaving Mail In Front
The fact that houses are built on large areas of land and that there is often some space between two households, it is quite common for mail to be left in front of the house, even though no one is currently there. This may be shocking for Europeans, as in all the countries on that continent, the mailman is always met by a family member. However, it is quite normal in the USA for packages to simply be left in front of the door, which is certainly an efficient way of receiving mail without having to go to a postal office.
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A Lot of Driving
Almost everywhere in the world, the car is considered to be the most reliable transportation method, but this is even more extreme in the USA. What you should keep in mind is that public transportation is not something that is as commonly used in America, for which reason you will find it quite common that elaborate highways are often packed. Yes, this has its advantages, but on the other hand, if you aren’t an experienced driver or you simply don’t know how to drive, you might have a tough time getting through the city or from one state to another.
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Fax Machines Are Still Present
Anyone reading this article will agree that the fax is certainly not the most convenient method of delivering documents from one place to another. However, if you would ask any American student or elderly person, you would get an answer that these machines are still quite popular in the USA and used on everyday occasions.
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More Than One Dakota
Much like North and South Carolina, you will find that there are two Dakotas. The history behind this is that the northern part was initially much more developed, but those inhabiting the southern area weren’t able to make friends with most of the northerners, so it was decided that it was better to make two states. While it can be quite tricky to navigate yourself if you aren’t familiar with the sites that these two offer, we think that both North and South Dakota are worth paying a visit.
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Zero Maternity Leave
One of the least friendly regulations in the USA has to be the fact that employers aren’t instructed or obliged to ensure maternity leave for employees who just gave birth. Keep in mind that this is incredibly common in Europe, as in countries such as Germany, it is mandatory to give at least 14 weeks of maternity leave, while there are many others, including Italy, France, and Scandinavian countries, that offer even greater numbers.
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“American Dream”
While the concept of the American Dream is something that may have been realistic back in the 1950s, today, that is much different. It seems like only the lucky ones can make a great life for themselves. Most Europeans are quite surprised to find out that many citizens and permanent residents are having a tough time making ends meet.
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The Kardashians
Whether you are interested in it or not, you have most likely heard of the TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Sure, Kris Jenner is a great businesswoman who managed to turn the regular daily life of her family into a billion-dollar reality show. However, millions of Europeans aren’t sure why someone such as Kim Kardashian is so popular, aside from the fact that she made friends with Paris Hilton back at the beginning of the 2000s.
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Whole Other Dentistry World
One of the greatest consequences of Americans being constantly subjected to how celebrities live is the fact that they are stimulated to undergo teeth-whitening, bleaching, and braces. This is nowhere near as common in Europe, which is one of the main reasons why people living in the USA have a misconception about Europeans when it comes to tooth health. The most important thing that you should know is that teeth that aren’t perfectly white aren’t necessarily deteriorating.
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Fast Food Industry
If you are someone who enjoys cooking, then you are probably aware that the fast-food industry is huge in the US. Frankly, if you would look into the average eating routine of an American, it would be quite worrisome, which is the main reason why there are public health concerns being raised regarding this matter. The most contradictory part of it all is that health care in the USA is extremely expensive.
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Normalizing Violence
If you would watch a popular TV show in the United States, you would find that most curse words are completely bleeped out. However, while vulgarity is unacceptable, the same TV shows have completely approved violence, which is quite confusing to an average European. Believe it or not, even popular songs have to have swear words eliminated, which don’t make sense for a lot of the lyrics.
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Commercialization of Politicians
When it comes to most European countries, presidents, prime ministers, and ambassadors are all seen as public servants. However, if you would go into the concept of politics in the United States, you would find that, much like most of their products or ideas, this system is completely commercialized. Thus, you will find groups of people idolizing different politicians much like they do with celebrities.
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Neo-Liberal Democratic Country
While there are people who would argue that liberal democracy is the best form of government, it came at a high cost in the United States. This ideology has been present in the country for the past couple of decades, and numerous consequences have occurred, including the fact that Americans are subjected to high tuition fees, as well as the fact that there is no free healthcare.
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Homeless People
As we have mentioned above, many people, including Europeans, see the United States as the “land of opportunity”. Still, the fact that there are countless viral news stories on the homelessness situation, with more than half a million people not having a house to spend a night in, means that the idea of the American Dream is long gone. Even more worrying is that a good portion of that number is mental patients.
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Medication Commercials
Another huge surprise that you would find as a regular European visiting the United States is that commercials promoting different legal drugs and OTC medications are incredibly common. This is problematic for several reasons, including the fact that both teenagers and adults are more likely to develop a habit and start abusing these products, hoping to enjoy the advertised effects.
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Legal Age of 21
While you are probably well-informed on the fact that you will need to be above 21 years old to drink in the United States, you probably don’t know how it all started. A couple of decades ago, an advocacy group known as Mothers Against Drunk Driving did their best to promote awareness of the consequences of drunk driving. For that reason, the legal drinking age was increased to 21. On the other hand, you can easily get a driver’s license and even marry as long as you are above the age of 16 (in most states).
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Commenting On Other People’s Dining Choices
Unless you are an Italian, you are likely to find someone commenting on your topping choices to be quite rude. However, that is more than common when dining in the USA, given the fact that many people think one should never order a well-done steak. This is much like what Italians do when it comes to putting ketchup on pizza.
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Bidets Aren’t As Common
While Americans commonly connect bidets to the Muslim culture, they are present in most European countries, as well. The main reason is that using a bidet is considered to be cleaner than a regular toilet. Keep in mind that, although using toilet paper works quite well, there is a lot of reasoning as to why Europeans and those in Muslim countries choose the other option.
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Lacking Safety Nets
When it comes to safety nets, we aren’t talking about actual protection if you were to fall from unsafe heights, but rather the scenario that occurs if you get fired. You will find that, in most European countries, the former employees are entitled to at least a couple of salary payments that should help them get through the upcoming period. On the other hand, in the USA, if that happens, you are left with no income whatsoever.
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Small Talk
When Europeans come to the United States, among the things that they are most surprised about is the social lubricant. What do we mean by that? Well, an American is likely to ask you how you are feeling or doing without really expecting an answer. Do you need to be more communicative while in the US? Not really – however, you shouldn’t be surprised by this being a common thing.
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Veterans In Bad Shape
Among the most confusing things has to be the way that the US treats war veterans. While you are likely to read in the media that US veterans are heroes, people who return to the country don’t have any privileges, and in a lot of cases l, they develop serious PTSD or end up being homeless. This is unacceptable, especially given the fact that those people were ready to give their lives for the country.
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Expensive Ambulances
As you could figure out by now, there is more than one controversy when it comes to prices and regulations in the United States. One of the most confusing ones has to be the cost of an ambulance. Frankly, when you compare it, you are much better off taking an Uber to a hospital than calling for an ambulance. On the other hand, something like this is either covered by insurance or is rather affordable in European countries.
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Big Tips
One of the main differences between European dining and American culture is tipping. Keep in mind that, although the 15-20% may be quite surprising, be aware that those employed at restaurants and bars rely on your tips far more than their hourly wages.
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Italian Heritage
It is quite likely that if you are visiting New York, you will find a lot of Italian heritage. Yes, their cuisine is quite popular in the United States. However, while a lot of Americans identify with Italians, one should know that the traditional dishes are adapted to be sweeter and contain more sugar. Not only that, but unique dishes such as Detroit-style and Chicago-style pizza have appeared as a combination of the food preferences of the two countries.
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Huge Servings
Believe it or not, when visiting a restaurant in the United States, you would be likely to find weird combinations, such as mac n’ cheese on a pizza or burgers with more than five patties. Along with the many differences of the dining experiences in Europe is the huge serving sizes, and this is one of the main problems when it comes to the public concern given the fact that those portions certainly aren’t the healthiest option.
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Tricky Credit Score
Another confusing fact is that if you are looking to be approved for credit of a large sum, you will need to create debt and pay it off beforehand. Wait, what? Yes, to be deemed eligible from banks and other lenders, you need to have a good to excellent credit score, and this system is not something that Europeans have an easy time understanding. The fact that paying off one debt to make another increases your credit score is certainly unique.
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A Lot of Assumptions
Along with other “American problems” is the fact that most people have trouble with assuming that they know a lot of stuff. Not only that, but as we stated at the beginning of this article, a lot of Americans aren’t well educated on the other countries that are around, as well as whether Europeans are present on social media and popular forums such as Reddit.
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Truth or False?
While most Europeans are quite sure that their education system is well-thought-out, the main difference between them and Americans is how trusted conspiracy theorists are. Believe it or not, millions of Americans are more likely to support different conspiracy theories, even the ridiculous ones, just because they didn’t get an opportunity to be thoroughly educated on the matter.
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Suppressive Voter System
You have probably come across the popular poster that says, “Uncle Sam Wants You to Vote”. However, it doesn’t seem like it, given the fact that apart from the complicated electoral system that highlights the USA election process, you need to register to be able to vote. On the other hand, for most European countries, it all comes down to having an ID on you that you will show once election day comes.
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Priorities
If you would ask a lot of Europeans who have visited or are living in the United States, they would tell you that they are confused with the priorities that Americans have. For example, something like a nipple slip that happened to Janet Jackson while performing is seen as blatantly vulgar, while on the other hand, you are likely to find violence accepted or even promoted everywhere.
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Founding Fathers System
Without a doubt, the voting system in the USA is one of the most complicated around the globe. The fact that you aren’t voting for the presidential candidate but rather for electors who are then giving votes (according to the number of votes for a certain party in their state) is quite confusing. Then, there is the fact that there is a thing such as the faithless electors, which compromises the election system even further. With that in mind, one would have to ask – is there liberty and justice for all?
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Green-Colored Money
With the dollar being the official currency in the United States, it is quite interesting to know that all of their notes are in the same color, shape, and size. As a European, how would you be able to differentiate these? Well, you will need to be well-educated on the figures that are posted on these notes, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Hamilton, Ulysses S. Grant, and Benjamin Franklin.
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Tons of Ice
Whether you enjoy drinking alcoholic or soft drinks when you are in Europe, you will find that, unless you ask for it, you probably won’t get any ice. When it comes to the United States, whether it is a Coca-Cola or whiskey, it is sure to be served on a lot of “rocks”. This is not only because Americans enjoy cooling off with a nice drink, but also because ice is simply an inseparable part of their culture.
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Convenient Pharmacies
CVS pharmacies are incredibly common in the United States. Keep in mind that when you are visiting a drug store in America, you won’t only find medicine on counters but also several other goods. This is certainly not something that you will be able to come across when visiting a pharmacy in a European country.
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Commercialized Culture
While commercials are quite normal, the frequency of these is what Europeans are surprised by when they are visiting the United States. If you are watching a 30-minute TV show you are likely to watch more than 4 commercial breaks. This can be quite irritating, as in most cases, these aren’t evenly distributed.
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Countless Refills
While you may be eager to find out whether the free refills include alcoholic beverages, as well, the answer is a big fat no. However, if you are a fan of soft drinks, such as Coca-Cola, then you can consider yourself lucky. For as little as two dollars, you can enjoy endless amounts of drink. In our opinion, while there are a couple of benefits to this, especially if you are on a limited budget, it isn’t the healthiest thing. This is one of the main reasons why France has banned such practices completely.
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Too Much Toilet Water
It is quite impressive to know that it is not only the food portions that Americans go big on. This is also true when it comes to the water line in toilets. If you are a European visiting the US, you will be quite surprised to find out that there is much more toilet water than in European toilets. The reason for this? Well, while there isn’t any logical explanation, we can also say that there is nothing particularly wrong with such a practice.
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Huge Stall Gaps
Stalls are the room-like areas that you will find in public gas station or restaurant bathrooms. What is incredibly confusing, not only to Europeans but also to Americans that simply can’t find the reasoning for it, is the huge gaps between the two stall doors. Not only that, but you will find it hard to find a door that doesn’t have a large gap in it. This comes with one huge issue – any random person can have a quick peek at what is happening inside.
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Large Coffee-to-Go Cups
In most European countries, drinking a cup of coffee is considered to be a part of a morning ritual and the best way to kick your day off. Additionally, in a lot of places, you will find people sitting down in cafes during the afternoon and catching up with friends or simply winding down with some tasty coffee. When it comes to the Americans, it is all about drinking a big one on the go!
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Common Doggy Bags
One of the coolest things about the American dining culture is that it is perfectly normal for you to take leftovers back home. If you would go to any European restaurant, you would find that this is an uncommon practice. On the other hand, Americans argue in favor of doggy bags, saying that this is probably the best way to prevent food waste, at least on a minimal scale.
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Restricted Beach Dress Code
Certainly one of the most confusing parts of the beach culture in the USA is that topless swimming and sun-bathing are restricted. While there are a couple of states and beaches that permit this, it is nowhere near as common as in European countries where this freedom is present.
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Indebted Students
Multiple times throughout this article, we have mentioned that tuition fees and textbooks at European universities are either paid for by the country or are incredibly affordable. Thus, unless you have free tuition or are subsidized, you will find it almost impossible to stay out of college debt. Frankly, millions of students across the country have gone through this or currently are in debt. To be honest, being indebted has become interconnected with being a student.
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Baby Showers
There are several ceremonial practices or celebrations that anyone who lives outside of the United States considers to be very weird and, in some cases, even insulting. Among these is the baby shower that we support but that certainly isn’t present in European countries, apart from the households that are highly influenced by American TV shows and culture. This is when the mother is visited by her friends and receives gifts for the upcoming baby.
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Work Culture
If you are living and working in a European country, then you are probably happy to have a couple of paid vacation weeks on an annual basis. What you will be surprised to find is that it is almost non-existent in the United States, given that the working culture is heavily present in America. Thus, working overtime, as well as skipping your vacation in order to earn more money, is perfectly normal for those living in this country. With this in mind, it wouldn’t be wrong to conclude that working for a local company would not leave a lot of time for playing around and having fun.
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Air Conditioner As a Staple
If you are a frequent visitor to European countries, you will find that the AC culture is nowhere near as present as it is in the United States. This doesn’t come as a surprise given the fact that those living in America are subjected to a much hotter climate, which is one of the main reasons why they leave the AC on 24/7.
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Lengthy Street Numbers
Not only surprising but also quite fun to find out are the long street numbers that have been present for more than 300 years as a part of the American culture. Yes, these street numbers are great for the postal service, but if you are someone who is non-American, then you may be confused and disoriented.
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Huge Lawns
While houses in America are mostly made out of wood and drywall, the main advantage that these have compared to European homes are the massive lawns. In the United States, well-decorated front lawns are often a symbol that wealthy people are living in the house. On the other hand, in European countries, it is all about small, well-thought-out gardens (if we aren’t talking about residential buildings).
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Supporting College Teams
Last but certainly not least on this great list of “American Problems” that non-Americans have come across is how devoted college students are to supporting their teams. This is something that is almost non-existent in European countries. In fact, if we were to get into details, you would find that the college basketball, baseball, and football leagues are often even more popular than the professional ones!
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