17 Unusual Things That Europeans Find Peculiar About America

One European traveller said, “Every time I visit the States, it’s like stepping into a different world. The energy, the enthusiasm, the sheer scale of everything – it’s simultaneously exciting and overwhelming.”

An American countered, “I guess we do go over the top sometimes. But hey, that’s part of our charm! We’re bold, we’re loud, and we like things big. It’s the American way!” As much as Europe and America share many cultural similarities, countless quirks still set the two continents apart. 

The Diverse and Expansive Cuisine

America’s melting pot culture means you can breakfast on Korean tacos, lunch on Ethiopian injera, and dine on classic Italian—all without leaving the city. This diversity is thrilling but can be peculiar for Europeans. In Italy, for example, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Mexican-Korean fusion restaurant tucked between the pizzerias and gelaterias.

The Unswerving Smile of Customer Service

In Europe, customer service is characterized by a sense of “professional neutrality,” emphasizing polite efficiency over mandatory enthusiasm or flair.

In contrast, the American customer service mantra seems to be “service with a smile,” no matter the weather outside or the mood inside. A survey by American Express shows that 33% of Americans would readily consider switching companies after a single instance of poor service.

The Proliferation of Flags and Pledging Allegiance

In Europe, flying flags is typically limited to official buildings and national holidays. Interestingly, the notion of reciting a pledge is almost non-existent in the European school system.

From a statistical perspective, it’s less typical in Europe to showcase national flags in personal spaces compared to the U.S., where 51% of American adults have at least one flag in their homes.

“Super-Size Me” Portions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that the average restaurant meal in the States is now four times larger than in the 1950s. A “small” soft drink in the U.S. can be the equivalent of a “large” in Europe, and the famous “bottomless” cups of coffee are akin to mythical artifacts. 

The Overly Air-Conditioned Indoors

In countries like Germany, 3% of households have air conditioning. The European approach is more about adapting to the climate rather than forcefully bending it to one’s will.

The average American home uses about twice as much energy on air conditioning as a European home does on heating and cooling combined. 

Sport Tailgating

Picture this: rows upon rows of cars, trucks, and RVs, their trunks flung wide open, revealing grills sizzling with burgers and hot dogs, coolers packed with icy beverages, and fans decked out in their team’s colors, blasting music and playing games.

In Europe, pre-game festivities tend to happen in pubs or bars or through city streets in organized marches to the stadium, known as ‘corteos’ in some soccer fan cultures. 

The Prevalence of Casual Dress Codes

While in Europe, “smart casual” often translates to a neat blazer, pressed trousers, or a chic dress, Americans redefine casual to the point where jeans, sneakers, and even hoodies become acceptable attire in offices, upscale restaurants, and social events. 

Abundance of Ads for Prescription Drugs

In Europe, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines is not allowed. The European Union expressly prohibits it, making the American medley of pharmaceutical commercials seem like a strange brew.

According to a Journal of General Internal Medicine study, the United States and New Zealand are the only countries in the OECD allowing direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. Abundance of Ads for Prescription Drugs

The Prevalence of Lawns and Obsession with Grass

The average American lawn is about 1/3 of an acre, a sizeable chunk of land dedicated solely to cultivating grass. In contrast, in Europe, gardens are more likely to be brimming with flowers, herbs, and vegetables rather than expansive green carpets.

Americans spend an estimated $36 billion annually on lawn care, including mowing, fertilization, and weed control, as per the National Association of Landscape Professionals. 

The Entrenched Car Culture

In America, the average person racks up nearly 13,500 miles per year behind the wheel, a figure that’s almost double that of their European counterparts. American cities and suburbs are designed with the automobile in mind—sprawling and spacious, making a car not just a luxury but a necessity for getting around.

In Europe, it’s not uncommon to rely heavily on public transportation, cycling, and one’s own two feet to get around. Cities are densely packed, and everything from the local boulangerie to the corner pub is just a brisk walk away. Not to mention the love affair with trains!

The Complexity of Sales Tax

In most European countries, the price you see on a tag is the price you pay. Voilà! This includes a Value-Added Tax (VAT) neatly packaged into the price, typically ranging from about 17% in Luxembourg to a lofty 27% in Hungary.

There are over 10,000 sales tax jurisdictions in the U.S., and rates can swing wildly from a soothing zero percent in places like Delaware and Oregon to a surprising high of 9.55% or more when combining state, county, and city taxes.

The Contradictions of Drinking Laws

In the United States, the legal drinking age stands firm at 21, which might raise a few eyebrows across the pond, where sipping a light beer at 16 or enjoying a glass of wine with dinner at 18 is often part of the cultural norm. 

You might find yourself in a “dry county” (Yes, those exist!), where selling alcohol is prohibited, only to drive a few miles over to where it flows freely.

The Passion for Personalization and Customization

In America, you can tailor your Starbucks order from the type of milk to the level of sweetness, a concept that’s just starting to percolate across European cafes. In contrast, European markets tend towards a more ‘what you see is what you get’ approach. While customization does exist, it’s usually more muted and not as ingrained in consumer culture.

Drive-thru Everything

In the United States, the convenience of not leaving your car for just about anything is extraordinary. Statistics show that there are over 200,000 drive-thrus in the U.S. alone.

Drive-thru ATMs, pharmacies, and even wedding chapels are common in America.

The Sheer Enthusiasm for College Sports

Football (and we’re talking American football, not soccer) games and basketball matchups in college leagues can attract crowds exceeding 100,000 fans, numbers that rival or even surpass those of professional European soccer games. And the fervor? Unmatched!

Athletes in America are celebrated like pros, with their games broadcast nationwide and some even securing lucrative sponsorship deals before graduation! For instance, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) reported revenues of a record $1.16 billion in 2021, a figure that dwarfs the budget of most European university sports programs. 

Cheerleading

While football (soccer, that is!) dominates the European sports scene, with fans passionately singing from the stands, the concept of a dedicated cheer squad, complete with pompoms and choreographed routines, is a uniquely American flavour of sideline entertainment. Cheerleading is a sport in its own right, involving rigorous training, national competitions, and college scholarships.

Bathroom stalls with significant gaps 

“Why do American bathroom stalls have such large gaps? It feels like there’s no privacy!” – Sophie, France.

In many American public restrooms, gaps of up to an inch or more around the doors and even between the floor and the stall partitions are not uncommon. These design choices are often justified by improving air circulation, making cleaning easier, and, oddly enough, deterring inappropriate behavior.

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