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People Are Calling Out What Is “Typical” In The US But Not In Europe, And These Are Low-Key Fascinating

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“The first time I went to London, I asked a barista — and she looked at me like I had a third arm coming out of my neck.”

Everyday “norms” can vary from country to country — and sometimes those cultural differences are vast, while other times, they’re more subtle.

And there’s nothing like a good Reddit thread to remind you that the cultural norms that seem minor in the scheme of things could be considered a bit taboo in other parts of the world, especially in Europe. I recently got lost reading a thread where u/Raphael_Olbert asked: “What is usual in America, but isn’t in Europe?” because a lot of the responses I honestly hadn’t thought of until now. Here are some of them.

1.

“Driving long distances for things not related to leisure travel.”


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2.

“Parking lots larger than the building they serve.”

—u/Ferna_89

3.

“Amount of water in toilets.”


Calvin Chan Wai Meng / Getty Images / Via Getty Images


Muhammad Rayhan Haripriatna / Getty Images/iStockphoto / Via Getty Images

7.

“Well, while I was in New York, the waiter took my credit card and left, and I was instantly angry. I thought, ‘WTF?’ It’s strange when someone accepts your card and then turns around in Europe because typically all card operations are performed in front of the cardholder.”

—u/Financial-Shallosa


Chadchai Krisadapong / Getty Images/iStockphoto / Via Getty Images

8.

“Standing cashiers. For God’s sake, let those poor people sit down.”

—u/Galad_42

9.

“Not including tax in listed prices — it’s added at the end.”

—u/erichmich

10.

“Public bathrooms that have an inch gap on either side of the door so everyone can see you taking a shit.”


Laura Beach / Getty Images/EyeEm / Via Getty Images

11.

“Waitstaff constantly checking on you, even if it means interrupting a conversation. In Europe, they leave you in peace unless you obviously need something.”

—u/coolhandjennie

12.

“Making small talk. The first time I went to London I asked a Starbucks barista how her day was going and she looked at me like I had a third arm coming out of my neck.”

—u/keto_bagel

13.

“Insanely large portions of food at restaurants.”


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15.

“Smiling at people/people watching. In the US it’s a way to pass time but in some European cities you look like a creep (in my experience).”

—u/sephhugh9563

16.

“The date, putting the day after the month. Why is that? It’s the 4th of July right? So why is it written 7/4?”


Pakin Songmor / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

17.

“The cutlery juggling. US Americans cut their food with the knife in the right hand and fork in the left hand, but then put the knife down and switch the fork to the right hand to eat only with the fork. When they need the knife again, they switch the fork back to their left hand and pick up the knife with their right. They do this several times throughout the meal. Why? And is this done everywhere in the USA?”


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19.

“Honestly, reusable water bottles. One of my biggest issues with visiting/living in Europe is I can’t fill up my water jug anywhere. I’m constantly buying plastic bottles and I hate it.”


Westend61 / Getty Images/Westend61 / Via Getty Images

21.

“The fact that your sick days are not numbered. In America, sick days are numbered by the number of days. In Europe, you can just call in sick for as many days as you are sick. Way better system in my opinion.”

—u/Hashbrownie7777

22.

“Medicine cabinets behind the bathroom mirror. A guy I went to college with said he moved in and for SIX MONTHS he had no idea it was a cabinet. It wasn’t until he asked his dad where medication was that he was told about it.”


Photo_chaz / Getty Images/iStockphoto / Via Getty Images

Are there any American cultural norms that are missing from this list? Tell me in the comments below!

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If Your Life Just Keeps Getting Busier, Here Are 37 Products You Need To Invest In

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Unlike other hair dryers, this one can be held closer to the roots and scalp for a higher volume and lift and helps you curl hair at the end while it dries. It comes with three heat settings and is designed to work on all hair textures — reviewers with 2a–4c hair mentioned it working for them, and especially noted that it helps cut down on drying time!

Promising reviews: “I’ve had my eye on a Dyson Airwrap, but given the cost, I figured I’d try this while I save up. This thing is fantastic. I have waist length hair that’s naturally straight, but gets frizzy when damp. I’ve had salon blowouts that have left my hair looking great, but I simply can’t manage a round brush without it getting tangled in my hair. This device has been a game changer. It works best if you air dry for a while before you use it, then use it to finish your style. My hair miraculously doesn’t get snarled in it, and it leaves my hair looking like I’ve had it professionally styled. I love it, and I’m no longer interested in blowing $500 on a Dyson. Highly recommend!” —Ilsa

Get it from Amazon for $41.45 (available in two colors).

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I Went To Morocco And Portugal For 10 Days With Only A Backpack And Small Carry On Bag…Here Are 15 Items That Made The Cut

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This set includes a high quality plastic bag, four bottles (two different sizes), four jars (two different sizes), two spray bottles, two product spoons, one funnel, one cleaning brush, and one page of labels.

Before buying this I had just a hodgepodge of random travel size products and a bag that didn’t really fit any of it. I wanted to find a cohesive set, all of which actually had a place to go. Enter this guy. Not only is it all matching, but the variety of bottles, jars, and spray bottles is super convenient for all kinds of different products. The labels are also really helpful for making sure you don’t end up conditioning your hair with body wash. The bottles are incredibly easy to fill because the openings are super wide and you can easily pour directly from the full size bottle.

Promising review: “I absolutely love this travel set!! First of all it looks great, clean, classic. Not only does it come with bottles and jars and spray bottles, it also comes with a spoon, a funnel, a cleaning brush and a page of labels. They thought of everything. The larger bottles for shampoo etc, are made of silicone, so you can squeeze the product out. My favorite thing about this set is the size. It fits into luggage so easily.” —Funnymom

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

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17 Solo Travel Safety Tips By Women, For Women

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17 Safety Tips For Women Traveling Alone

I’ve cried on my couch while watching Eat, Pray, Love more times than I’m willing to publicly admit. Apart from inspiring me to sob alone in my apartment, it also inspires me to live my Julia Roberts dreams and travel alone. The only problem is that I’m SCARED. There’s no way I can comfortably eat, pray, or love on a trip unless I feel safe, protected, and relaxed.

1.

“The best advice I’ve heard as a solo female traveler is if there aren’t local women out alone, you shouldn’t be either.”

—u/itstrashbuddy

2.

“Take self-defense classes so you know how to look after yourself if the worst thing happens. You’ll feel more confident in yourself.”

3.

“I take a tampon out of the applicator, roll up my cash, and put it in the empty applicator. I use my flat iron to reseal the wrapper. Someone may steal my wallet, but no one is stealing tampons.”

—nicoleb4563bf301

4.

“Both Android and iPhones have safety SOS settings. You can configure them to call emergency services with options that you can do without even taking your phone out of your pocket and attracting attention.”

5.

“If you feel uncomfortable around people when you get somewhere alone, you can make a ‘fake phone call.’ Say something like, ‘Can you open the door for me when I get the room?’ so no one knows that you’re alone.”

—Anonymous

6.

“If you’re looking to scare someone off, be unhinged. While walking or waiting for the bus, if I get a creep vibe, I stare intensely at something and talk to myself. The less sense it makes, the better.”

7.

“I travel internationally by myself for work a few times a year, and when looking at hotels, I always do a run-through on Google street view of the surroundings so I’ll know what to expect. It helps to feel more comfortable somewhere new after I get the lay of the land.”

—Anonymous

8.

“Write down important phone numbers on pieces of paper and leave a copy in your hotel room, another on you, and another in each suitcase just in case you lose your phone and don’t have important contacts memorized.”

9.

“Ignore people! A lot of the worst behavior I have experienced as a woman on my own comes from business owners who think a female tourist is an easy target for a flirtatious or aggressive sales tactic or men in bars or cafes who think that makes you an easy pick up. Most people with less-than-honorable intentions will back off if you really don’t engage with them!”

—Anonymous

10.

“Get a bag with a zipper! Makes it way harder for anyone to pickpocket you.”

11.

“I’m single and when I went to Cape Town, I visited a local brewery. When a guy started to chat me up, I got a weird feeling…so I mentioned that my ‘wife’ was on her way over and pulled up my friend’s Instagram that has a ton of photos of me and her together and he immediately changed the conversation and tone with me from flirting.”

—Anonymous

12.

“Always share your location with anyone back home — no matter the time difference. It helps in emergencies to track your last known location.”

13.

“Buy a door jammer for your hotel room! It fits perfectly in checked luggage and won’t take up any room in a car. It’s lightweight and could save your life. If you want to add another layer of safety, pack rubber door stoppers.”

—Anonymous

14.

“I always tell anyone I meet while solo traveling that I’m meeting up with friends later. It’s always better for people to think that you have someone who would immediately notice if something happened to you.”

15.

“My friend’s aunt is ALWAYS traveling alone. If she stops at a hotel, especially if there are lurkers around, she always tells the person at the desk that she and some friends are there for a martial arts conference.”

—theicebox720

16.

“I only stay in hotels with doors on the inside (no cabanas, no cottages, no motels) so someone has to walk past an employee or a camera to get to my door.”

17.

And finally, “Nothing wrong with carrying pepper spray.”

—u/sepstolm

I can never get enough of these travel tips! It’s scary out there, so if there’s anything I can do to feel a little less anxious, I’ll do it. Let me know in the comments if you have more safety advice for women traveling alone!

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