So, to the meat and potatoes (arroz y habichuelas in Puerto Rico)! These observations are purely details (with a little bit little bit of my opinion thrown in) and never listed in any specific order. Thanks for studying this far! I am positive you will get pleasure from the remaining. After all, I’ve to say that I did lump Europe, a continent composed of 50ish nations (relying in your political opinions), into one entity, however I used to be cautious to pick out issues that I’ve personally seen and skilled in a minimum of a pair totally different nations in Europe. So, that ought to rely for one thing, proper?
1. Smoking
I keep in mind a time within the US once you would go to a restaurant and they’d ask you, “Smoking or non-smoking?” Now, every thing is non-smoking. Most public locations are smoke-free zones. As a non-smoker, I like this. Nevertheless, shifting to Europe might not have been the wisest place to maneuver for a non-smoker who’s bothered by the odor.
The Europeans smoke – in public, at dwelling, or wherever they need. Granted, there are some places the place you will see a no-smoking signal, however they’re few and much between, particularly if you wish to exit for nightlife. And even when there isn’t any smoking indoors, there are, with out fail, a minimum of three people who smoke sitting proper in entrance of the door of no matter non-smoking institution. Europe appears to be receiving the “smoking is unhealthy for you” rhetoric and scientific proof to again it up, just a bit bit later than the US. Though, I’m conscious that France is aggressively tackling the difficulty and has seen first rate outcomes.
2. Driving
I can’t say with any confidence that European drivers are worse than American drivers. I can say that sure driving expectations are totally different and due to this fact have an effect on how drivers act. For instance, on European highways there aren’t exits each 12 miles with meals and fuel choices, like within the states. Or, that Individuals will go you on the proper facet, however that is blasphemy in Europe. Or, you could flip proper on crimson in America, however that is unlawful in Europe. And, my private/least favourite, there are not any freeway cops, and any ticket you will get will come from a (generally cleverly hidden) digicam on the facet of the street that flashes a brilliant white gentle of guilt at you, and also you get to lament rushing, all the best way dwelling.
3. Meals
Individuals are the undisputed champions of meals consumption. Meals is reasonable and accessible. The grocery retailer within the states is sort of much like a European grocery retailer, however simply add two extra cereal aisles, a full chips-candy-soda aisle, three extra well being meals aisles, take away the wine and beer aisle(s), and voila, the shops are equivalent.
At eating places, should you order a big meal within the states, you anticipate to take dwelling what you did not end. In Europe, sometimes the rations aren’t massive sufficient that there will probably be any meals left, however should you request to take the meals dwelling you might obtained some confused stares, and will presumably go away empty handed.
4. Nature Calls
In America, should you gotta go, it’s fairly simple to discover a restroom at a fuel station or a public place (excluding New York). In Europe there are a number of nations that cost you to make use of the bogs at fuel stations and in public locations, however there are some others that merely do not actually have a bathroom to supply. If you’re accustomed to not going earlier than you allow the home within the states, once you journey to Europe, I would not suggest taking that probability.
5. Buyer Service
All of us knew it was coming. Anybody who has been to Europe (or Europeans who’ve visited the US) is aware of that almost all European nations aren’t identified for his or her stellar customer support (*cough, cough* France & Germany *cough,cough*). Shoot, when you have ever seen a film or heard another person discuss their journey to Europe, you most likely knew that!
A poor customer support expertise in Europe is a kind of issues that is not all the time as unhealthy because it sounds, however it’s going to for positive occur to you a minimum of as soon as; identical to within the US! However, the variations are the motives and your recourse. Within the US, customer support in eating places is over-the-top as a result of waiters work for suggestions. In Europe, they do not, so kissing your butt will not be important to their livelihood. Additionally, in Europe, there isn’t any Higher ciudadanía europea Enterprise Bureau, so if a financial institution teller or retailer proprietor is impolite to you, you simply need to suck it up and never store there anymore.