This video is closed-captioned. The United States severed its ties
with England and the rest of Europe when it claimed its independence in 1776. But most of
Europe and America have remained allies over the years, and its citizens enjoy
traveling to these far-away lands on vacations. And the difference in history and culture shows.
Culture shock is real when visiting somewhere new for the first time, whether it is being way too
personal or seeming standoffish by comparison, language differences, or different values.
Join us for ten differences in culture between the US and Europe.
Number ten. Religion is less important to Europeans.
About fifty-three percent of Americans say that religion plays a critical role in their
lives. In Poland, that percentage is almost half, and Poland has the highest percentage
of those who place high importance on religion when considering all European Union nations.
American politicians regularly allude to God, but European political figures rarely, if ever,
reference religion. It's seen as taboo in many countries within Europe. The US
and many European countries have a separation between church and state, but some, like France
and Greece, take it much more seriously. Lastly, a lack of belief in God is much more
frowned upon in America than in Europe. Many religious Americans find fault in those who do
not believe or participate in religion, where this is much more widely accepted throughout Europe.
Number nine. Death Cleaning. While this practice isn't used
everywhere in Europe, this Swedish practice is quite practical.
It's simple in concept. For those who are older - and not necessarily in immediate danger of death,
the process is designed to help someone go through their belongings, minimizing
clutter. After the death of a loved one, it can be overwhelming to go through their belongings. The
sheer amount of them and any emotional ties to objects can make it feel like a massive
burden to organize for those left behind. This trend hasn't picked up in America and has
a steep hill to climb to combat the materialistic and sometimes hoarding mentality that is
pervasive in the United States. Number eight. Plastic surgery.
In a 2018 study, it was determined that the United States of America topped the list of
total cosmetic procedures globally with more than 4.3 million. Europe barely makes the top five,
with Germany in the number four slot with fewer than one million surgeries. America and Brazil
together accounted for nearly 30 percent of all cosmetic procedures globally that year.
No other European country made the top five list.
Even the types of procedures that are most explored and booked vary
depending on the location. In the United States, liposuction, breast augmentation, and butt lifts
are the most sought-after surgeries. Liposuction is still prevalent in Europe,
but nose jobs are on the rise in the UK. In France, people seem to be more
concerned about their receding hairlines. Depending on cultural priorities, pop culture,
and views on beauty, the approaches to one's appearance and media help dictate
what people prioritize in other locales. Number seven. Holidays and work ethic.
By and large, Americans live to work, and Europeans work to live. This simple
but startling difference in the approach to work-life balance results in generally happier,
relaxed employees in work settings. On average, US employees take off about two
weeks each year, while those in Spain, France, Germany, and the UK take about 30 days.
Most European countries offer shorter work weeks than their US counterparts, and Europeans are far
more likely to use their vacation rather than let it roll over year to year or expire.
Number six. Drinking age. Legally speaking, there are clear differences
between most of Europe and the United States. In the US, the legal drinking age is 21 years, while
it sits lower at 18 across much of Europe. Beyond the laws, it's assumed that those under
18 probably also drink. Drinking with meals and family is encouraged, meaning it's more
widely tolerated for those who are under the legal age to enjoy a drink or two.
And while cashiers across the United States have signs indicating regular ID verification,
it's far more sparse in Europe. It's such a social activity that loose policies are
accepted since it's scarce for Europeans to get 'sloppy' with their drinking.
Number five. Americans demand food - fast. There might be Mcdonald's and Starbucks across
the globe, but the demand for fast food is uniquely American in origins. Americans move
quickly throughout their days, keeping jam-packed schedules. They prioritize
instant gratifications and time efficiency. As a result, Americans tend to prefer their
food delivery and consumption to be fast. Even indoor seating at fast food establishments
is rushed. Even when eating as part of a group, silence is favored to allow for
quicker eating. Europeans, on the other hand, linger over their meals, making them social
events where relationships are a priority. In France, for example, it's typical to have a
one or two-hour lunch break, allowing employees to relax and enjoy themselves at meal time.
Number four. Europeans and Americans can't agree on cars.
In Europe, it's rare to find someone who prefers an automatic car. Most vehicles in
Europe sport manual transmissions, while Americans might struggle to
drive a car with a manual transmission. Size also matters when it comes to car choice,
with Americans opting for gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. You will be hard-pressed to find stretch
limos in Europe, and instead, you'll see more compact cars like hatchbacks and wagons. Small
vehicles are easier to park along the narrow streets of Europe, especially in cities where
parking on the sidewalk is standard practice. Aesthetically, Europeans tend to prefer more
rounded silhouettes, whereas the cars on US streets tend to be boxier with harsh lines.
Public transportation exists throughout Europe and the United States, but in Europe,
it's less likely that citizens will feel the need to have one or more cars per household.
Number three. Fashion versus comfort. Particularly in COVID times, America has
become the land of the quarantined and the home of the comfortable. Comfortable clothing that is.
Yoga pants, leggings, athletic wear, and business casual pants that are actually
sweat pants have flooded the marketplace. Jokes about people dressing up their top half
to trick co-workers on zoom meetings but wearing little to nothing below the belt.
Running out to do a quick errand doesn't inspire a planned outfit, opting instead
for pajama pants and sweatshirts. Europeans, however, use outings as
opportunities to dress up. They trade their tennis shoes for high heels or fashionable flats
and shapeless clothing for trendy staples. If you enjoy our videos, Join us on our journey
worldwide by subscribing to our channel. Please click the bell icon to get notified
when we publish a new video. Number two. Cigarettes and tabacco.
One of the hallmarks of visiting Europe is the omnipresent cloud of cigarette smoke that seems
to waft from every direction. You're less likely to find designated smoking areas, and indoor
establishments may or may not have rules in place that reduce the amount of smoke you'll find.
A study conducted by the World Health Organization in 2018 found that only 21.9 percent of Americans
smoked tobacco, while Europeans smoked at a rate of 28.7 percent. To further the comparison,
fifteen of the top twenty countries with smokers are in Europe. The number 68
position on the list was the United States. The United States has taken a much more strict
stance on messaging through Public Service Announcements and targeted advertising
highlighting the dangers of smoking. Since these deterrents don't exist in abundance in Europe, it
follows that they have higher rates of smokers. Number one. Measurements of space and time.
Some of the most glaring and obvious differences between these two modern powerhouses are their
systems for measuring and recording time. While both groups follow the same calendar,
they represent the date on documents differently. In the United States,
dates are written in the month-day-year format, whereas Europeans use the day-month-year format.
And when it comes to the time of day, many Europeans rely on the 24-hour system instead
of the 12-hour system. This difference is more often seen between English-speaking
and non-English speaking regions. And when it comes to distance measurements,
there are even more differences. All of Europe relies on the metric system, which
measures things in liters, meters, and grams. Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius.
Americans often learn the metric system in school but abandon it for yards,
miles, pounds, and degrees in Fahrenheit after they finish primary education.
That's it for today's list! Are there shocking differences you noticed after
you traveled throughout both regions? Or were there similarities you found that made you feel
at home? Let us know in the comments below! If you enjoyed today's video, please make sure
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