20 Cultural Differences for Americans in Europe

Estimated read time: 1:20

Summary

In Drew Binsky's video, he explores 20 cultural differences that Americans might encounter in Europe, based on his extensive travel throughout the continent. He highlights aspects ranging from customer service and dining experiences to healthcare systems and transportation infrastructure, contrasting them with what is typical in the U.S. For example, Binsky describes how Europeans have a more relaxed approach to dining and leisure, contrasting American urgency. He also emphasizes Europe's extensive public transport systems compared to America's car dependency. Binsky discusses perceptions of friendliness, work-life balance, and several other diverse cultural habits, inviting viewers to reflect and comment on their experiences.

Highlights

Drew discusses the different dining etiquette, noting that European waiters don't rely on tips and thus are less attentive by US standards. 🍽️
The video highlights the convenience and affordability of public transportation in Europe, contrasting it with the car-centric culture of the US. 🚗
Binsky points out how healthcare systems differ significantly, with Europe providing universal healthcare whereas the US has expensive private healthcare. 🏥
He delves into the education systems, noting that many European countries offer free or low-cost university education. 📚
Drew observes the significant amount of vacation time Europeans get compared to Americans. 😎

Key Takeaways

European dining is more leisurely and less focused on tips like in the US. ☕
Public transport in Europe is extensive and efficient compared to the US. 🚆
Europe offers universal healthcare, while the US has costly private healthcare. 💉
Education in Europe is often free, leading to less student debt than in the US. 🎓
Europeans enjoy longer holidays compared to their American counterparts. 🌴

Overview

Travel vlogger Drew Binsky provides an engaging rundown of cultural disparities between the United States and Europe. Filmed across picturesque European locales, Drew's article notes how effortlessly the Europeans have balanced leisure with efficiency, which is starkly different from American methods. From extensive public transportation systems to universal healthcare and education, Europeans appear to have structured systems that prioritize community well-being over individual convenience—a perspective that challenges the go-getter ethos often celebrated in American culture.

During his European adventures, Drew experiences first-hand the dining and social customs that contrast with his American upbringing. European dining is characterized by its leisurely pace and quality service without a reliance on tipping. Binsky points out that such differences highlight broader attitudes towards work-life balance, as Europeans take longer holidays and shorter workweeks, accompanying a lifestyle where relaxation and enjoyment dominate daily routines.

In comparing several aspects of daily life, Drew touches on transportation, healthcare, and societal attitudes towards education and work. Europeans favor efficient, eco-friendly public transport, in stark contrast to the US's dependency on personal vehicles. Additionally, the European approach to healthcare and education—being affordable and accessible to all—stands in stark contrast to the expensive, privatized systems found in the US. Binsky’s observations invite reflection on how these cultural differences impact lifestyle choices and overall happiness.

Chapters

00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Similarities The chapter titled 'Introduction and Similarities' begins with the author's extensive experience of having traveled to every country in Europe and spending over two years living on the continent. The author expresses a personal perspective, noting the unique and 'magical' allure of European cities, which contrasts with their American roots. A specific cultural difference mentioned is the cost of using public bathrooms. Despite these differences, the author highlights numerous similarities between the United States and Europe. Both regions are recognized as leaders in innovation and share common interests in sports, film, music, and fashion. Additionally, they both house world-class universities, maintain high standards of living, and share a commitment to various values.
00:30 - 01:30: Cultural Observations in Austria The chapter delves into cultural observations in Austria, focusing on the differences between the US and Europe. It is based on the author's personal travel experiences. A specific example given is the dining experience in Salzburg, Austria, where the author notes the challenge of ordering food as servers do not come to the table even when flagged down.
01:30 - 03:30: Driving Differences In the chapter titled "Driving Differences," the setting is an environment connected to Mozart, as it's close to where he was born. The characters are seen interacting in a restaurant or café, where there seems to be a familiar or possibly awkward encounter with someone described as 'he.' There is an order placed for food and drinks, specifically ham and cheese toast and cappuccinos, suggesting a casual and leisurely setting. The mention of someone being shy and another person feeling ignored indicates interpersonal dynamics at play within this scene.
03:30 - 04:30: Work-Life Balance The chapter discusses differences in service culture between the US and Europe, particularly focusing on how wait staff interact with customers. It highlights that in the US, waiters frequently check on customers to ensure a satisfactory experience, often motivated by tips. In contrast, European wait staff are described as more laid-back, focusing less on customer interaction. The narrator expresses a preference for the European approach, appreciating the reduced pressure. There's also a brief mention of enjoying cappuccinos in Europe and a playful remark about someone not eating Pâté.
04:30 - 06:30: Healthcare Systems The chapter titled 'Healthcare Systems' doesn't seem to directly relate to the provided transcript. The transcript appears to recount a humorous or frustrating experience at a restaurant, where the speaker is having difficulty paying for their meal despite repeated attempts to get the staff's attention. They even ventured to ask how to say 'excuse me' in German, highlighting the communication barrier or situational comedy.
06:30 - 09:30: Public Restrooms The chapter discusses the challenges and nuances of renting a car in Germany, particularly the difficulty of finding an automatic vehicle, as most European cars are manual. It touches on cultural differences in driving preferences, with Americans typically preferring larger vehicles while also noting that stick shifts are less common in the U.S. compared to Europe.
09:30 - 12:30: Sponsorship and Gun Culture The chapter titled 'Sponsorship and Gun Culture' includes a discussion about driving culture in Europe compared to the US. It touches on topics like driving on different sides of the road, experiences on the Autobahn where there is no speed limit, and the high speeds at which cars travel. The narrator shares that driving in Europe can be intimidating due to the aggressive nature of other drivers and the need to pay attention to many signs and road bumps.
12:30 - 17:30: Religion and Transportation Navigating transportation in foreign countries can be challenging due to language barriers and differences in traffic systems. In non-English speaking countries, road signs may not be in English, requiring extra vigilance from drivers. Travelers encounter diverse modes of transportation like metros, trams, buses, pedestrians, and bicyclists, which add complexity to driving in urban environments. This demands heightened attention to the road and street signs to ensure safe and effective navigation.
17:30 - 21:30: Education and Language Chapter Title: Education and Language Summary: The chapter discusses the narrow and often stressful roads in Europe, highlighting the challenges of driving through tight alleyways. The emphasis is on the importance of having good judgment regarding the boundaries of a car, particularly in situations requiring side mirrors to be folded in to navigate through narrow passages. The chapter humorously touches on the experience of driving on cobblestone streets and refueling in Europe, suggesting a broader context of adapting to different driving conditions and environments.
21:30 - 27:00: Smoking, History, and Architecture This chapter discusses the nuances of fueling rental cars, specifically the importance of using diesel instead of regular gasoline. It outlines the trust-based system where customers fill up their tanks before going inside to pay.
27:00 - 31:00: Food and Dining Experiences The chapter discusses the ethical and financial considerations of dining out and purchasing goods, using the scenario of getting gas as an analogy. The narrator reflects on the temptation and potential consequences of not paying for goods due to high costs. It highlights that such actions might seem viable in a pinch but are not advisable due to moral and legal repercussions, such as being caught on camera and receiving a bill later. The chapter emphasizes the importance of responsible financial decisions even in urgent situations, while also commenting on the high cost of living, exemplified by the $60 spent on half a tank of gas.
31:00 - 38:00: Recycling and Fashion The chapter 'Recycling and Fashion' discusses the differences in work culture between Americans and Europeans, particularly focusing on vacation time. While the U.S. workers typically receive about two weeks of paid vacation each year, Europeans could enjoy up to six weeks, which they refer to as holidays, instead of vacations. This segment highlights the efficiency of the European time-off system once it is understood and integrated into one's lifestyle.
38:00 - 43:00: Measurement Systems & Coffee Culture The chapter explores cultural differences between Europe and America when it comes to leisure time and work ethic. In Europe, people tend to take their leisure time more seriously, often spending days outdoors partaking in activities such as picnics and bike rides. In contrast, the American culture seems to embrace busyness and overwork, viewing it as a positive trait.
43:00 - 50:00: Social Behavior and Loudness The chapter discusses cultural differences in attitudes towards work between Americans and Europeans. In the US, success and productivity are often associated with long working hours and busy schedules. Americans tend to take pride in their packed schedules and time spent working. Conversely, Europeans value downtime and believe that taking time off is crucial for well-being and productivity. Some European countries, like Spain, even incorporate extended breaks into the workday.
50:00 - 56:00: Sports Culture The chapter explores cultural differences in work habits and healthcare systems between the United States and Europe, particularly focusing on France and Germany. It highlights the contrast in lunch breaks, work hours, and health care costs. In the US, lunch breaks are often brief and taken at one's desk, whereas in Europe, longer breaks are common. European countries like France and Germany have a 35-hour work week with restrictions on overtime, unlike the 40-hour work week in the US, where individuals often work more hours. Additionally, the chapter compares the expensive private healthcare system in the US with the universal, tax-funded healthcare available in most European countries.
56:00 - 60:00: Conclusion The chapter discusses the stark differences between the healthcare systems in the United States and Europe. It highlights how Americans often face financial barriers such as high insurance premiums, co-pays, and out-of-pocket expenses, which can deter them from seeking medical care. This can lead to situations where a trip to the emergency room has financially devastating consequences. In contrast, Europeans generally have access to affordable healthcare services, with regular checkups, specialist visits, and even surgeries often being free or available at a low cost. The emphasis in Europe is on providing accessible and affordable medical care for all.

20 Cultural Differences for Americans in Europe Transcription

00:00 - 00:30 I've traveled to every single country in Europe and spent more than 2 and 1/2 years living on the continent this city is just magical givz me the Goosebumps but as an American I got to admit things are a little bit different here than back home it costs $3 to use this bathroom of course there are many similarities both the United States and Europe are leaders in Innovation they share our love for sports and produce the world's most famous movies music and fashion trends both have worldclass universities high standards of living and share commitment
00:30 - 01:00 to Human Rights but in this video I want to share with you 20 cultural differences that I find between the US and the majority of Europe all based on my own personal travel experiences let me know in the comments down below if you agree or disagree with my thoughts thank you we're here in salsburg Austria at a beautiful Cafe here right on the water but the problem is we can't order because they don't come to your table even if you flag them down dud can you flag them down
01:00 - 01:30 he's here oh danana got him good job you're so shy he IGN it totally ignored me too is it awkward this is actually the home of Mozart he was born just around the corner from here I wonder if he had to wait this long to get a table how are you I'll have the same ham and cheese toast and then oh sorry two toast two cappuccino yes thank you thank you sir
01:30 - 02:00 and thank you it's awkward in the US the waiters and waitresses go over the top to make sure your experience is like top top yeah because they get tips and they'll check on you every 5 minutes like oh we just want to make sure everything's okay but here in Europe like they don't give a out you they basically come by they're like hey what do you want kind of like this yeah I kind of like it too in the US they step over your toes too much sometimes and then you feel awkward you're like okay go away food is finally here and man can't beat a cappuccino in Europe m D has Pate but he won't eat
02:00 - 02:30 it meal was great now we're just trying to pay it's always interesting experience I told the guy we could pay goes yes yes yes be back be back just like walking back and forth back and forth excuse me how do you say excuse me in German and we've been trying to pay for like 15 minutes but yeah they just ra hand I raised my hand like five times
02:30 - 03:00 I might have to rely on you to do that for me thank you hi we just have P [Music] yeah so I just got this Rental Car in Germany and you have no idea how much of a pain in the ass it was to get an automatic car almost all the cars in Europe are manual which I know I'm going to get made fun of in this video because most Americans don't know had a dri stick shift but at least they have them that's for sure when do you think about driving in a America Americans love their big
03:00 - 03:30 trucks and SUVs and we also drive on the right side of the road where in Europe it's mostly on the right side but some countries like Ireland and the UK it's on the left side driving on the Autobon here where there's no speed limit and the cars are flying by like just and they drive right on your tail and if you don't pull over they'll just like right behind you pretty intimidating I'm going 130 that car must be going 200 also when you're driving in Europe you have to look out for all the little signs and the little bumps
03:30 - 04:00 everywhere it's quite different than back home so you just got to really pay attention and of course the signs aren't all in English which makes sense because these countries don't speak English as a first language show you just got to pay extra close attention to what's going on on the street in front of you see that sign on the right what does it say s STP Cur s scrip you have metros trams buses a lot of pedestrians people on bicycles there's a lot more going on when you're driving in cities
04:00 - 04:30 in Europe and also the roads can be really really really narrow like where you have to fold your mirror in just to get through a little Alleyway it's really really stressful sometimes if you're not used to it and you have to have really good judgment on the boundaries of your car this is hilarious careful on the right side okay I think I got to pull this in how was the drive the cobblestone streets are this big in the car this same all right it's time for a little gasoline experience in Europe check this
04:30 - 05:00 out so first you pull in like usual but the tricky thing is that most rental cars let's say I don't know about most cars but rental cars take diesel not regular gasoline you can't it up otherwise the car is not going to drive so I got to go diesel choose the right one so diesel you put it in if you've noticed I haven't paid anything yet I have not paid a scent I'm just coming here and putting gas straight into the car it works on the trust system here you fill up the tank and then you go inside and pay so
05:00 - 05:30 technically I could just drive off without paying there's a lot of cameras here so I'll definitely get caught and I'll definitely get a bill in the mail or something but if you're in a pinch and you're in a rush and you have to get gas and you have to dip out you could technically do it for free and not pay the bill but that wouldn't be a good thing to do next thing you'll notice is the prices it's pretty expensive I'm only filling up a half tank right now of this car it was exactly half about $60 for a half a tank that's expensive and now I go inside and pay hello number
05:30 - 06:00 nine thank you bye-bye to be honest it is a pretty efficient system once you get the hang of it Americans work longer hours and get fewer vacation days than Europeans almost across the board in the US the average worker gets about 2 weeks of paid vacation per year while here in Europe employees often enjoy up to 6 weeks Europeans like to call these breaks holidays whereas we call them vacations the the two words essentially
06:00 - 06:30 mean the same thing but in Europe they take their Leisure Time very seriously if you just visit any park in any European city you'll see people out frolicking around having a picnic going on a bike ride or simply just laying there and spending the whole day outside in America we have this culture of being really busy and overworked and feeling like it's a good thing like we we strive for that we want that we in Europe it seems to be the opposite
06:30 - 07:00 yes you can make the argument that this is why so many Innovations come from the us because we are go-getters which is awesome but you could also make the argument that Europeans do enjoy their lives more many Americans see long hours as a sign of productivity and success they often brag about their pack schedules and time spent at the office Europeans on the other hand value downtime and believe taking time off to recharge is essential for well-being and productivity clearly the part's over there even in some European countries like Spain businesses will shut shut down for a few hours in the afternoon
07:00 - 07:30 for a long break in the US this would be unheard of where lunch is nothing more than a quick meal at your desk the work week also differs significantly in France and Germany the standard work week is about 35 hours with strict limits on overtime in the US the typical work week is 40 hours with many people working much [Music] more America's private healthare system is crazy expensive whereas in most of Europe they offer universal healthcare funded by taxes Americans will often go
07:30 - 08:00 to the emergency room for Urgent Care while Europeans see General Practitioners regularly and have easy access to local clinics in the US having a medical emergency can bankrupt you in Europe you're covered Americans deal with high insurance premiums co-pays and out of pocket expenses many Americans will actually avoid seeing doctors because of the high costs Europeans simply do not face these barriers regular checkups specialist visits and surgeries are generally free or at a really low cost the focus in Europe is
08:00 - 08:30 on preventative care and early treatment the US system emphasizes treatment after problems arise often leading to higher cost or Worse outcome another huge difference in healthcare is the cost of prescription drugs in the US they are so expensive whereas in Europe and most of the world they're way more affordable all my American friends out there might find this one to be really shocking you actually have to pay money to use the bathroom in Europe and the experience is not all that enjoyable these urinals are pretty close together
08:30 - 09:00 it would not fly in the US no space to pee Oh my God it's unusual to say the best you got to stand up to go to the bathroom my first time coming to this continent I could not believe my eyes when they were asking me to pay usually around a dollar but in Paris I actually had to pay $4 to use a bathroom one time and you could argue on one hand it's nice to have clean facilities when you want to use a bathroom I mean nobody wants to pee in filth and dirt but I mean come on paying for a bathroom is something that I just don't agree with and I love to hear from you guys in the
09:00 - 09:30 comments down below what do you think about paying to use the bathroom are you for it to have clean facilities or are you against it you just want to do your business and move on for the day just want to take a quick break and thank the sponsor of this video AO if you're a traveler like me then you know the importance of needing a working phone so you can stay connected to the world and stay safe AO is a convenient eim technology provider that allows you to have data in 200 countries and regions being trusted by more than 10 million worldwide AO is the world's first eim
09:30 - 10:00 store that gives you access to digital SIM cards I've been personally using it for years and it's been super helpful to stay connected it takes just a few minutes to set up and activate and boom no more worrying about roaming cost or getting local SIM cards by using AO I can easily call Ubers find restaurants post on social media or text my friends and the best part is that you get to keep your original phone number if you click that QR code or click on the link down below and use the code Drew 3 then you'll get $3 off your next e in
10:00 - 10:30 purchase all right now let's get back to the Europe vers us story this is a 4570 damn gun ownership is widespread and accepted in the US protected by the Second Amendment many Americans view gun ownership as a fundamental right and a part of their cultural heritage did you grow up around guns like with your father so he's the one who taught me how to handle firearms and go shooting everyone here grew up with them so they understand the dangers of them the safety you know what you need to be prepared with them it's a different way of life I would say in other words guns
10:30 - 11:00 are a mean of personal protection and a symbol of freedom and people believe that having a gun is essential for defending themselves and their families as a result the US has the highest rate of Civilian gun ownership in the world with 121 guns per 100 citizens however this widespread access to Firearms comes with significant consequences for the last 5 consecutive years there have been more than 600 mass shootings which is defined as when four or more people are killed we are learning new details about
11:00 - 11:30 a mass shooting the suspect fled setting off a police chase before crashing into a ditch this statistic is really alarming and it just shares the downside of having guns in the US it's honestly terrible and my least favorite thing if I had to pick one about United States Society all the killings with guns it's just so sad I'm I'm numb to the news and I don't even know what to say when I hear about another shooting it's just really really really terrible in contrast Europe has strict gun control laws and much lower ownership rates in fact most European countries require
11:30 - 12:00 extended background checks mandatory training and valid reasons for owning a firearm such as hunting or sport shooting not just a casual everyday gun owner these strict regulations make it difficult for the average European to own a gun or to get a gun which as a result makes gun violence extremely rare in Europe and I got to be honest it's much safer here than in the us both the USA and Europe are home to a wide variety of religion wow they're just beautiful however in
12:00 - 12:30 the USA religion is expressed more [Applause] openly with a lot of Believers attending regular services do you guys hear that the call to prayer I I just got goosebumps I can't believe I'm in America right now the US is predominantly Christian and churches play a central role in community life often hosting social Gatherings and charity drive public expressions of Faith are common such as prayers at sporting events and religious symbols in schools you'll also see that in big
12:30 - 13:00 cities they organize religious festivals and [Music] parades in contrast Europe is more secular with a lot less religious people like right here in the Czech Republic it's actually the most atheist country in the world over 60% of Czechs don't believe in religion 60 this secular mindset is also clear in the politics of many European countries governments tend to maintain a clear separation between Church States ensuring that religious
13:00 - 13:30 beliefs do not influence policy also in many European nations religious education in public schools is minimal or just non-existent as we approach the lovely Charles bridge let's get our facts straight on this one the USA is definitely a Car Country the majority of Americans rely on their personal vehicles for daily commute whether it's to work to a restaurant or just to the store we also have a crazy highway system which makes a car kind of a necessity this Reliance
13:30 - 14:00 on cars results in a high cost for gasoline waiting in lines parking all these other things that come along with having a car for Americans oh and don't get me started on traffic it's the worst go to Los Angeles San Francisco Dallas New York Chicago traffic is the worst Europe on the other hand has extensive public transportation networks all over the place trams buses metros blades electric scooters we just rented
14:00 - 14:30 these scooters and we are flying through Rome this is pretty awesome driving through the Roman Forum it's almost like public transportation starts and ends in Europe it's so immaculate so clean so reliable so safe and so easy everywhere on this continent cruising around Copenhagen yeah with Grandma and Grandpa on a bikeo having fun you think it's different than America oh yeah oh yeah you can't ride your bikes and your cars on the same as the Sun starts to rise here in Prague
14:30 - 15:00 I'm just getting Goosebumps just looking at this view look at this does not get any better than this absolutely crazy anyway so as I was saying European cities like Prague are literally designed with public transportation in mind it's also super easy in Europe to take a high-speed rail train to any City again I have to side with the Europeans on this one I am outside Dresden train station and heading to Prague and I'm going to show you how easy and convenient it is to take a train in Europe let's go when you walk in the
15:00 - 15:30 train stations they feel more like airport terminals everything in here that you could possibly want or need food clothes bakeries and they're nice like you want to be inside these places look at huge look at this all the train stations here have a lovely Dome although getting a ticket is sometimes a challenge you just got to figure out where to go we're going to go to English then we're going to go to from Dresden to PR Prague haha it's just so easy to
15:30 - 16:00 take a train here platform 13 you go here you wait for the train and that's it you can show 5 minutes before what's cool about taking trains in Europe is that it's encouraged and everyone does it it's just easy and simple and you can go long distances short distances Europe's really got it down and I wish the us would have a train system yeah we have an Amtrak but I've never taken it I don't really know anyone who takes it I wish there was a train that connected Phoenix to LA LA to Vegas San Francisco to Seattle way more conveniently I know on the East Coast you guys have some stuff like that but it would be really
16:00 - 16:30 nice to have that in the US because taking trains in Europe is awesome the cities are built for public transportation which makes it easy to use I'm just so happy I can do this right now in Europe if you're an American and you haven't been to Europe you will notice right away that the public transportation is incredible and will blow your mind and fun and easy to use she's arriving right now and just like that I have arrived back in Prague my favorite city in Europe easiest experience ever highly recommended Europe wins when it comes to
16:30 - 17:00 public transportation period next [Music] topic getting a higher education in the US is really expensive and it often leads to significant student debt almost all my friends when we graduated college we were all poor and we had to work for like a decade just to pay off our student debt that's the reality for many Americans who get college degrees Believe It or Not tuition fees can be tens of thousands of dollars a semester and it's absolutely crazy that being said we do have really really great
17:00 - 17:30 teachers campuses facilities and colleges in the US overall are pretty amazing on the other hand Europe offers free or very lowcost education including universities basically in the most of European Union countries is for free the only condition is that you know the language of the country European education emphasizes Multicultural awareness and Global perspectives with many students learning multiple languages and that's another really cool thing about Europe is people speak many languages because the proximity to countries are so close on the other hand
17:30 - 18:00 Americans live a little bit more inside their own bubbles focusing more on national news versus international news if I had to do it all over again I probably would have gone to a university in the US because the experience was so amazing I made so many friends I learned how to live on my own I went to University of Wisconsin which is such a great Sports school it's a party school I was in a fraternity like all these things were amazing and it made me who I am today but of course I can't be a little bit jealous when all my European friends come out of school debt-free food for thought
18:00 - 18:30 piggybacking off the last topic Europeans really do speak many languages in fact I have European friends that could speak eight to 10 languages this is very good it's so mind-blowing to me because in the US most people predominantly speak English feeling patriotic let's go get some food all right you might have some people that learn Spanish or French if they continue to learn so in school if they continue to try to pursue it
18:30 - 19:00 after school that's up to them but if you walk into any grocery store across America and you ask someone what language do they speak I would guarantee you that they just say English yeah it is true that in the US English dominates in education media and daily communication what's it like to live out here in in the countryside of Wyoming oh it's great until winter time whereas in Europe on the other hand it's a multilingual Wonderland with multiple official languages go the country of Switzerland for
19:00 - 19:30 example has four national languages most kids in Europe grow up learning two or three languages from an early age and they can achieve fluency by adulthood in contrast Americans might struggle with just one foreign language usually taught in high school with limited success this kind of linguistic diversity in Europe is really enriching both if you live here as a European or if you're just traveling here as an outsider it makes it so fun and exciting and as I've always said throughout my travels diversity is what makes the world go
19:30 - 20:00 round smoking is more common and more socially acceptable in Europe period hands down going up in the US we have the Dare program which I went through where we are taught in fifth grade that drugs are bad and that we can't smoke and it's going to kill us yeah looking back it may have been a little bit extreme those classes but they really drilled into your head how bad smoking is for your health and it's true in my opinion all around Europe smoking is more of like a fashion trend it's like a cool thing to do and it's almost like if you're sitting with a group of friends and they offer you a
20:00 - 20:30 cigarette you almost have to say yes as like a cultural thing I don't know how else to explain it other countries in Asia and Africa and the Middle East are similar in that regard but I just find it really interesting how people here just smoke and they smoke and they smoke and they smell like smoke all day some point it just becomes a lifestyle in almost all indoor places in the US aside from maybe casinos smoking is now banned and prohibited and you cannot do it inside whereas in Europe even here in Prague there are many bars and restaurants that you can actually just light up a cigarette inside it's really really interesting here in Europe you
20:30 - 21:00 can also find cigarette vending machines how Wild is that in the US you can find anti-smoking ads and just to be honest smoking is just scrutinized across the board however when it comes to vaping the US might have Europe a beat I'm going to open up this chapter on an emotional Beach cuz I'm standing right in front of namii miru church where I lived and studied abroad in 2012 right down that street this place has always been a home for me and and if it wasn't for Prague in this exact spot then and I wouldn't be here doing what I do today a lot of my love for Europe
21:00 - 21:30 stems from the beautiful history and the old streets look at these cobblestones that I'm walking on keep walking and look up to the right oh wow as an American it is so cool and special that Europe is so old and there's all these beautiful churches historical monuments buildings like this with gargoyles on top like we don't have anything that looks remotely similar to this in the US and everything in the US
21:30 - 22:00 is new it's just so Charming to walk around and experience and see these beautiful buildings on every single corner it's freaking awesome I love the detail it's just amazing some cities are more beautiful than others like Prague Paris Madrid Budapest Bucharest Romania I find these places to be some of the most beautiful spectacular views the architecture in Prague is outstanding everywhere gives me the Goosebumps man
22:00 - 22:30 just walking around Europe is like a freaking Museum where're in the Coliseum is a go every corner everywhere you go these buildings are like hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years old in the US we do have some old cities like New York Boston on the East Coast which are a few hundred years old but we ain't got nothing on European cities castles Cathedrals and ancient ruins are preserved and integrated into Modern Life with governments designating money to maintain these sites this is the Temple of Juno which is a greek temple
22:30 - 23:00 that was made in the fifth century BC it's just absolutely incredible can you find anything like this in America not even close I don't think anywhere in the world you can find something like this it's incredible in big American cities you see a lot of skyscrapers and new things but in Europe skyscrapers are almost looked down upon you want to keep things traditional you don't want buildings to go above that height all in all when it comes to history and beautiful buildings Europe 1 USA zero such a different world than ours but I
23:00 - 23:30 love both the USA thrives on big food portions and unhealthy nutrition that's a huge size Grandma you ordered too much popcorn look we have three bags I thought they were small if you ever go to eat food in the US you'll find a massive plate with a lot of calories on it and it's kind of gross I just think about IHOP or any like American Diner and you sit down and you order something and it's just a lot going on and to be honest it's reflected in the People's Health a lot of America is overweight go outside of any big city
23:30 - 24:00 in the country and you will see people that are very very large which is unfortunate and sad Europe on the other hand is clean and petite and nice and when you eat you just get a smaller portion of the food this food is absolutely delicious fresh so good my love a lot of times the vegetables and ingredients are much fresher and healthier and directly from the source not everywhere of course I'm generalizing a little bit but I find this to be the cas case for most places compared to the US and when you think
24:00 - 24:30 about all this it kind of makes sense because the fast food culture of the US caters to American Lifestyles we're always on the go we always have like a quick second just to eat and get out of there we don't have leisurely time to hang out and relax whereas here in Europe everything is just relaxation time you want to go to the cafe and chill with your friends you want to go to the restaurant and hang out when the weather is nice in Europe everyone and I mean everyone is outside enjoying their lunch coffee apro Spritz we just sat down amongst many Germans here in the center of Cleveland BG everyone just enjoying the outdoors behind me and
24:30 - 25:00 therefore you do get finer and healthier quality period This is a topic that I'm actually really passionate about because as I get older I'm trying to eat healthier but when I go to the US it's hard to eat healthy it's just difficult but here in Europe everywhere you go there's like little cafes on the corner they're selling salads and non fried and non- greasy foods and it just makes it a lot easier to take care of your health Europeans recycle more and they focus more on sustainability as you can see where you throw away your traffic there's like different bins for different things and you'll see people
25:00 - 25:30 actually following the rules and putting all the boxes here all the bottles in here and here for the trash just imagine how much cleaner the world would be if everybody followed Europeans lead on this in fact many European countries lead in renewable energy and eco-friendly policies making these practices just a part of daily life it's normal for them to do these things they don't have to go out of their way because it's built into the culture the city is so clean even though there's so many tourists here because there amazing ladies that are just cleaning the city all day long most European countries have strict rules on single-use Plastics
25:30 - 26:00 promote reusable items and have good public transportation that reduces car pollution getting on the trm here beautiful old historic tram of Prague gives it all the tri in the world green spaces and cities encourage outdoor activities and help improve air quality in the US let's just say that we don't care so much about Recycling and it's really a shame this might be changing in recent Generations but even myself growing up we only recycled like big things like a cardboard box or a big cartoon of milk we didn't actually like
26:00 - 26:30 collect everything separately and put it in different trash cans we would just throw a water bottle in the same trash can that we would throw food waste in the US I see a lot of people littering and not taking care of the streets and for such a big country with 350 million people you can imagine the massive impact that it has on the world I will say that some places in the US do put recycling forward but overall as a society as a nation I think we are Lighty years behind Europe and this might not be a problem for us in today's world but for our kids generation it's detrimental recycle police we do care about
26:30 - 27:00 [Music] Earth many Americans dress really casually like myself faceball cap regular shirt or athletic shirt I'm wearing yoga shorts right now a lot of Americans love to rep their universities or their sporting teams and that's just how we are you know hoodies regular shoes socks shorts Europeans on the other hand are really fancy and when they dress up to go to dinners and to go out and just to like whenever they leave their house even if they go to the grocery store they just present themselves nicer and they have fancier haircuts and they're more elegant looking and personally I feel a little bit um like an outsider in some
27:00 - 27:30 situations when I go sit outside on a cafe and everyone's looking nice and I'm just there like clearly there's an American dude that shows up but this is usually how I can pick out Americans from the crowd in any city in the world is like how they dress everything's So Posh and fancy here I feel like I stand out wearing my Des spontaneous shirt we stumbled upon a wedding and I don't think we fit in very well everyone's dressed super nicely this is also reflected in the workplace and the work environment where in the US a lot of companies are more casual with like jeans and just a regular shirt whereas in Europe they take fashion more seriously and people have to dress up
27:30 - 28:00 look nicer and hey there's nothing wrong with looking nice you know there might be many Americans watching this out there that really like looking nice and that's awesome but I'm just saying overall as a society Europeans care a lot more about their looks random side note this Tower called jov Tower in Prague is a really awkward looking building and you can see there's black babies going up and down the side of it right there really really weird and funky let's look in this circle for example all the houses are really nice and neat they're most of them are just Apartments the buildings are right next
28:00 - 28:30 to each other everything's kind of laid out perfectly nicely there's plazas people are reading in the park sitting in their little chairs it almost feels like a fake life like you would see in a movie like a giant movie Set that's how it feels here in most of Europe wow that is wow so cool and it's nice it's nice to hang out walk around and sit down it's freaking beautiful a lot of the buildings are really old they've been here for many years and that's just how they are this is the lovely Prague Castle the oldest castle in the entire world world first time in Milan chilling
28:30 - 29:00 by the famous Duo this really epic looking old structure a dream come true trip right here a lot of times the buildings will have these cool like statues and gargoyles and sculptures like inside of it just because of the history of Europe is really old and cool I think that's pretty awesome one thing that I really don't like about the situation in Europe is that they don't have AC almost anywhere in Prague in summer right now we've been suffering because they just said like oh it's only six weeks of the year it's hot but like it's freaking burning in there and yes I sound like a spoiled American right now talking but it's miserable wow it's so clean here almost
29:00 - 29:30 everywhere you go in the US aside from some of the big cities on the East Coast everything's new the buildings are new which means they can be fancier which means they can have better circulation air conditioning insulation all these things in the us we love our patios and our decks outside and we just like to have a room for things I literally cannot believe how big these houses are Bo in Europe you don't really get that you might get a little balcony that you can sit outside other than that you're really just confined to a smaller space and you're flat which is what they call Apartments here they call them Flats we
29:30 - 30:00 also have huge appliances like dishwashers and washing machines that are really big and nice to use also ders you cannot find those all over Europe a lot of times they hang their clothes to dry many American Homes also have big kitchens taller ceilings things like that whereas in Europe things are a little bit more Tighter and condensed because everyone tends to live like in the city center especially if there's apartments and stuff you just have less space in general like America's things are everything's big like Texas things are bigger in Texas big cards in Texas they definitely card you big in Texas
30:00 - 30:30 whereas here in Europe everything's kind of petite that's all the water we get like just a tiny little yeah in America it's always like this big like my face big but if I had to pick one you're up all the way look how nice this is I can't get over this spot fantastic for some weird reason America uses the imperial system which means measuring distance in miles weight in pounds and volume in gallons it's so funny to me cuzz most of the world has no idea what any of this is here in
30:30 - 31:00 Europe and almost everywhere else in the world they use the metric system that means covering distances in kilometers weight in kilogram and volume in liters all of these things can be pretty confusing for Americans traveling in Europe and vice versa but if you want to be a more worldly citizen I'm talking to you Americans should try to learn the metric system it's really helpful for travel and it's also very simple and convenient based on units of 10 making calculations and conversions much easier also don't forget that in the US we use Fahrenheit to tell weather it's- 22° I
31:00 - 31:30 can't feel my hands or my face right now it's about 85° F but in Europe and the rest of the entire world they use Celsius or right now it's probably around 30° luckily I know both because I've been traveling the world for 12 years so it's easier for me to have conversations with non-americans about things like weather but this is always something that confuses me about the US and I think it's just because we like to be bigger and greater and different than everyone else in the world in the US coffee is consumed on the go with people grabbing their
31:30 - 32:00 morning cups from drive-through places any kind of hot coffee Americo I'll have a I'll have a a latte they're just quickly running into Starbucks ordering on the app and running out we also pretty much only consume coffee in disposable paper cups in Europe it's a whole different story so you always drink while standing at the bar it's cheaper that way it's that bitter taste just like goes through your veins it's like one sip wakes you up I'm serious this is
32:00 - 32:30 like a perfect cappuccino with the foam top look at this first bite of a cappuccino has to be with a spoon The Coffee Culture is alive and real here but people take their time when they drink and they see it as more of like a social thing even if they're by themselves they'll still go to the street corner sit down at a cafe outside of course enjoying the beautiful day and get a coffee and they'll just sit there and either read or work it's more of like an enjoyable Leisure activity they always have like coffee mugs of course Europeans don't like waste with plastic and paper they always just have everything feeling more proper and more solidified and it's all about the
32:30 - 33:00 experience of course got the coffee bringing it now to Grandma am when it comes to breakfast in the US everything is really heavy and greasy think about omelets think about breakfast burritos pancakes hash browns bacon egg and cheese sandwiches these are heavy heavy heavy items that make you really full and have a lot of calories all the flavors of cheese and beans and eggs and sauce on one plate in Europe breakfast is nothing more than a little pastry buttery flaky puffy pastry or a little cookie or
33:00 - 33:30 something sweet this is everything I want right now a small espresso and a chocolate croissant they so great it's so so so different and it's funny like here in Europe all the breakfast places that you'll go to like good breakfast places are like American branded it'll be like American breakfast American sausage american scrambled eggs the breakfast is one of the biggest differences that I find between Europe and the US it's crazy different in Europe if it's not a croissant it's just like a piece of fruit or a little bit of cheese or one slice of bread M soft and mushy absolutely worth
33:30 - 34:00 [Music] it I will say though that the bakeries in Europe are awesome they're amazing they actually bake bread fresh every day in most countries around Europe so it smells good on the streets and you know that you're getting quality bread it's not like processed it's not like ordered on a big truck and shipped over so I definitely side with gear up on this one although I got to admit I do love Starbucks
34:00 - 34:30 this one really makes me feel a shame to be American in Europe why are we so loud and obnoxious like we have to like scream when we're coming out of the bars at night and we have to like be picking fights in bars and be like America I just I really really really really don't like this about American culture for whatever it is I don't know why we always have to be the loud guys and the good guys I think Brits and Aussies are kind of similar in this regard but when it comes to Europeans they're much quieter like there could be a lot of people out and about but they're not like screaming and chanting they're just like sitting enjoying their
34:30 - 35:00 beer or their wine and just like hanging out I like that culture thank you in general Europeans are just more reserved and when you're dining people just don't talk that loud they just keep themselves it's kind of nice social gatherings in America are loud and energetic but in Europe people are more respectful of other people's personal space I also think that contrast and behavior can be seen in customer service where American employees are typically more enthusiastic and outgoing and they kind of won't stop talking to you it's all that like fake like hey how's your day going oh what are you up to today blah
35:00 - 35:30 blah blah blah blah oh we should hang out later it's very American to be like fake in that regard this really drives me crazy about Americans and when I'm home I feel really out of my element I don't know if any of you guys can relate to that but like going to the grocery store I don't need to like share my life story with the lady checking out like just check out you go on with your day I go on with my day I don't need to like tell you what my plan are later and how my work is going and all that like American see this as being friendly but for me I just see it as pointless conversation that just doesn't need to happen because you don't know that person if you know them and you're and they're in your friend group in circle it's different Europeans cut through all
35:30 - 36:00 that especially staff at a restaurant or anywhere on the street interactions they're a lot more formal and blunt and it could be considered rude but I don't know I kind of like it wait look the rotto with the meet another example is if you're on the train in Europe people are just going to sit and keep to themselves kind of like in Asia in the US people might be talking on the phone loudly or hanging out with their Bros and like I guess for me I prefer to be more on the quieter side I
36:00 - 36:30 don't like to be obnoxious in front of people I think I get this trait from my mom who doesn't want to be like the center of negative attention which is a good thing but it's definitely a stark difference between how Americans act in public and how Europeans act in public and this is one of the biggest differences between Europe and the US that I see and I definitely side with Europeans on this one of course another disclaimer is not every European and every American is like this I'm very much generalizing okay but this is just what I see and what I've experienced from spending two and a half years in Europe Irving inside the lamb oh how did that
36:30 - 37:00 go Inn saving one of the best topics for last because I am a huge sports fan athlete I've played many sports and I love watching sports it's a little bit different in America versus Europe I will say that there are passionate fans respectively but of course in Europe it's all about football or as we say it in the US soccer it's super popular here the Euro Cup just happened fans are like crazy crazy crazy passionate about their country about their inner leagues about football or soccer all around Europe and the whole world really in the US it's
37:00 - 37:30 primarily basketball baseball American football emphasis on the American football because that sport is really only played in the US and of course like Golf and Tennis but these are popular in both places Hardon hook them hor sports that are common between the US and Europe are hockey basketball tennis and golf I think those four sports are really active and played among the average Joe in the countries and also for professionals Europe also has Regional sports like rugby and Cricket which you can find in certain regions but not not all over Europe here's a major difference though in the US
37:30 - 38:00 college sports are huge I went to the University of Wisconsin we went to three Rose bows during my college Years which is American football um it's like a big a big event for those non-americans out there we also have really big hockey and we have really big basketball and we go to March Madness every year and like I went to a lot of games as a kid in fact I chose Wisconsin because of the sports that was one of the main reasons I wanted to go to a school with great Sports I'm a passionate sports fan European Sports are like dead I don't even know if there are competitions of like European basketball other teams I actually don't think that that exists
38:00 - 38:30 and if it does exist please let me know cuz I've never heard about it on big college campuses in the US we have massive games that are publicly televised to millions of people and there's a lot of things happening around the stadium there's tailgating and pregaming and all the restaurants and bars are busy near the stadium and it's like a cultural immersion thing when there's a game on a college campusone the class the I will say though the energy and excitement around any European football match is unparalleled to anything that we can find in the US I haven't been to many
38:30 - 39:00 but I have seen them on TV and I have many friends who have gone and I know that the environments are crazy in Europe the football teams often have deep historical roots in their communities which honestly creates a strong sense of identity and pride because these teams have been around for hundreds of years so it kind of makes sense in the US all the big sports are really like big businesses when you think about it and that's why teams relocate and change names it's all about the money in any regard the cultural importance is clear for sports whether it's in the US whether it's in Europe and I find the way way that it's expressed is really really interesting
39:00 - 39:30 all right and that wraps up the cultural differences between the USA and Europe I hope you guys enjoyed this video it was really fun for you to make it keep in mind that this is all coming from my own personal travel experience as an American and someone who's spent over two and a half years in Europe traveling around I would love to hear from you guys in the comments down below which one do you prefer to live in travel in or just be in for me I always prefer to travel in Europe but when it comes to the conveniences of everyday life and just where it hits home more with family friends Sports and everything else I got to say full on Americano I love you all and I'm looking forward to your comments
39:30 - 40:00 in the video down below and I'll see you guys next week peace [Music]