#cultural-differences

#cultural-differences

When people ask me what it's like to live as an American in the U.K., I often use the example of going to '80s night in London. One minute I'm dancing along, singing all the words to "When Doves Cry," "Thriller," or "Material Girl," and the next minute Heaven 17's " Temptation " comes on and all the British people lose their minds shouting every lyric to a song I have never heard in my life.

It's no secret that Europeans and Americans have very different lifestyles. From shopping habits to sports preferences to work culture, we often fall onto different ends of the spectrum. I experienced these differences firsthand as an American traveling around Europe for six months, spending time in places like the UK, Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Here are the five European lifestyle choices I'll be integrating into my life in the States.

A few months in, and her French has barely improved, her roommates are gross and rude, and she has to work two jobs under the table to make rent. She's also making the entire United States of America look bad by insisting on making Stove Top stuffing for Thanksgiving. That is our special thing as Americans, and no European mind will ever comprehend that, Belly. You should have just made them gravy because that is at least something they all understand.

Italian friends of Rick Steves praised American breakfast for its variety and abundance, with conversations leading to toast 'to bacon and eggs,' reflecting appreciation for this morning meal.

True intimacy isn't about sharing everything, all the time. It requires intentional, reciprocal, and timely communication to nurture relationships effectively.

"Home? transcends politics to connect on a deeply human level. [It] is Ayoub's most vulnerable and personal work yet - a story she has lived, shaped and now tells with humor and courage."

"She swoops in, harps on minor details or changes things around on a moment's notice, and then is gone again. But the dealbreaker is her abrasive communication style."

The transition from the Gold Coast to Melbourne illustrated a desire for more culture and substance in life, moving to Bright brought new challenges regarding family proximity.

"It’s crucial to initiate open conversations about sex early in a relationship to prevent later misunderstandings and enhance intimacy. Addressing concerns can lead to more fulfilling experiences."

"In Korea, there are really not many transgender [people] who have come out and are actors, and there [are] just a couple of gay [actors] who have come out publicly, so it was physically difficult to find a transgender actor who could really play the role. It was, realistically speaking, nearly impossible."

No team from Africa had beaten England before and it did not matter it was a friendly. The scene in the visiting dressing room was probably best described by Thomas Tuchel.

Shopping for groceries in the UK has thrown me for a loop, with major differences in product availability and business hours compared to my experience in the US.

In Germany, freimütig conjures an image of selfless, disinterested heroism, while 'frank' in English suggests a breach of social etiquette that requires prior encouragement.

In Germany, "Wie geht es dir?" is more than just a greeting; it often leads to lengthy discussions about personal issues, making small talk challenging.

Having professional experience internationally is valuable, and luckily, I work for a global company, which is partly what attracted me to moving from Chicago to London.

Making an adult child pay rent in their parents' home. They're not contributing to the total rent of a rented house or towards bills, which would be reasonable if they have a job, etc., but are paying rent on an owned property. I'll never understand that.

I’d walk around with a drink in hand, sometimes even having my lunch on the go. I felt it was productive to knock out two tasks at the same time, but I noticed people kept giving me weird looks. Turns out nobody in Europe walks and eats.

‘Repeat after me: “I’m sorry to hear that, but we aren’t going to be able to change the way we cook.”’

Japanese McDonald's offers unique menu items like teriyaki burgers and sakura drinks, showcasing regional preferences that differ from traditional American offerings.