AMAA - USA vs Europe - 18 Cultural Differences - Reaction by Average Middle Aged American

In this video, I react to and comment on the video: 18 Cultural Differences Between the USA and EUROPE. My commentary is based on my opinion as an Average Middle Aged American who has not yet visited Europe.

Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Kosovo Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom (UK) Vatican City

@drewbinsky

"Can you believe that you have to pay to use public toilets, and to drink water in Europe?! What is the deal with cigarettes being fashionable? And guys are wearing short shorts?
It's about time someone addresses the cultural differences between the USA and Europe!
After just finishing a 6-week Eurotrip -- I've now spent more than 1 year of my life in Europe, and visited every single country on the continent (yes, all 45 countries!)
While many things are similar between American and European culture, there are plenty of little (and BIG) differences that I'd like to bring to your attention in this video!
It took me 6 weeks of compiling this footage, writing this script, and editing this video... so I hope you like it! And if you enjoy, please share with your friends :)"

My channel is about everything that interests me. You will find videos on: International Travel, Other Cultures, Information About America, Watches, Cars, Investments, Retirement, Funniest Videos on the Internet, Weirdest Videos on the Internet, Scariest Videos on the Internet, Best YouTubers I Have Found, etc. All of my videos will be very organized and sorted in playlist by subject.

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights are reserved to the respective copyright owners.

[nelsondcunha]

I think you would like the video of geography now, the episode about my country Portugal, show a lot of food and aren't that small...

[Arch_Angelus]

A little context, sorry longer text hope it is ok and please it is no honesty 😉
Many of these things shown in the video are probably thrown together and mixed from different European countries and are sold here as differences in general. But Europe is not one country. it's different countries and also different rules. i'm only talking about Germany here. Water in restaurants is not free although water is one of the most highly regulated foods in Germany. You can drink it straight from the tap without hesitation. Restaurants are not obliged to offer free water and even if you get water from the tap it costs, which is clear because the restaurant has to pay for the water every month. And somehow the restaurant has to survive and pay its staff. There is a minimum wage here that must be adhered to, unlike in America where employees are dependent on tips. Here, employees are not dependent on tips in restaurants - it's a nice to have. The 2024 minimum wage is €12.41 per hour.
The monthly minimum salary is therefore around €2, 151 gross for a regular working week of 40 hours.

It's the same with ketchup. The restaurant operator also has to buy ketchup, so it is his right to charge for it. The fact is that many restaurants don't make money from the food, but from the drinks.

This Coke can is not standard here in Germany. (Attention average values)
We have Cans in 0.33 l corresponds to 11 us fl oz and 0.5 l corresponds to 17 us fl oz. Also bottles with 0.33 l and 0.5 l and 1.0 l (equivalent to 35.19 us fl oz)
Prices in Germany: if you buy a crate of Coke 0.33 with 24 bottles, the crate will cost you 19 euros without deposit. That means one bottle costs you 55 cents. If you buy a crate of Coke 0.5 with 12 bottles, the crate will cost you 13.50 euros without deposit, means one bottle costs 1.13 euros per bottle. If you buy a crate of Coke 1.0 liter with 12 bottles and no deposit, the crate costs 15.95 euros, means one bottle costs 1.33 euros per bottle.
For the cans:
Coca-Cola 0.33l price: 0.59 € plus 25 cent deposit, Coca-Cola 0.5l price: 1.59 € plus 25 cent deposit. (As I said, the prices vary depending on the provider and offers)

Smoking will decrease over the last years and eventually it will be gone. Smoking is generally prohibited in restaurants. It is only permitted in outdoor areas and designated rooms.

Soccer game: Football matches are of course watched by fans in full merchandise clothing. But many are also simply dressed normally. The sports culture at schools is not like in the USA. There are no specific school clubs. Sporting activities take place in clubs during free time. There are plenty of clubs in Germany for soccer, handball, basketball, rugby, athletics, tennis, bowling, climbing, cycling, fishing, and so much more. Otherwise, clothing tends to be casual, elegant or sporty. Rarely shorts and sandals.

Languages: normal is bilingual, some trilingual or more. In school, English is compulsory from the 5th grade upwards (sometimes even from the 4th grade) and depending on the federal state and/or school, you can then later learn French or Spanish or Italian, for example, even Russian or Chinese is possible at some schools, but rather rarely. It is important to note that the optional languages in Germany can vary depending on the federal state and region. There are also schools that offer other foreign languages, such as Arabic, Turkish or Latin.

A deposit is not a penalty, it is waste avoidance and recycling. It's as simple as that. Period

Why is so much still paid in cash? There is no legal obligation to use cards. “Cash only” is an absolute exception in some countries. In Germany, however, there are still many restaurants and snack bars that do not accept digital payment. What is often on the managers' minds are the fees, as costs have tripled in this area. Depending on the provider, credit card payments incur fees of around one to three percent of the invoice amount, while EC cards usually charge less than one percent. But the way it's still portrayed, it's long gone. For example, I have no cash at all and only pay by card, Paypal or direct transfer. It is always assumed that Germany is cash-based only. Of course, this is often the case in small businesses, but card payment is now also possible. But there are also differences to be made here. Not all credit cards are accepted, and certainly not all debit cards. You just have to ask yourself right before you travel here and it will work out. And by the way The use of cheques in Germany is practically no longer commonplace. In 2001, the guarantee for cheques was abolished. Since then, cheque payments are only accepted if there is a trustworthy business relationship. For this we have online banking and others possible. The US is far behind us. So you could also say quote: Check culture in America corresponds to the same phrase as Cash is King in Germany" But here you see exactly how people judge even though they have the same problems in other areas in their country and you should always touch your own nose first before complaining about something in another country because it is not the way you are used to.

Dinner: This has nothing to do with shovel down and running away but with coziness, conversation, work life balance and culture and enjoyment. We do not have to get it in and run away so that the next one comes and leaves a lot of money as it is so common in America according to the motto quickly handle the main thing. Officially, it's always emphasized how the customer is king but it's just assembly line handling to make money. Not with us. We leave when we think it is necessary because if you sit longer you also drink more and that also brings more to the restaurant. Why stress when you can have it easy. This is probably also part of the reason why life expectancy in the United States is lower than in Europe, always just stress and fear to miss something in life, what brings you the rush and the hunt after money. The last shirt you wear after your life has no pockets. Time is rare but still so valuable that you should spend it pleasant and healthy. It is not for nothing when you say: In Europe you work to live and in America you live to work.

In Germany, recreational leave is a legally guaranteed right for employees. The statutory holiday is regulated in the Federal Holiday Act (BUrlG). According to this, employees in Germany are entitled to at least 20 days of leave per year if they work a 6-day week. The holiday can also be increased to 10 or 15 days per year on request.
The requirement for recreational leave in Germany is that it is at least 24 days of leave if the employees work a 6-day week. Employees who work 5 days a week are entitled to at least 20 days of leave per year.
The recreational leave in Germany is an important part of labour law and serves the recreation and health promotion of employees.
For example:
If you still take the holidays of a year and the vacation days you can come depending on the state up to 41 days off a year.
Also:
According to the German Working Time Act (ArbZG), employees are legally obliged to have at least 15 Sundays a year off from work. This also applies to employees who work on Sundays and public holidays.

There are also other rules for leisure activities:

An average of 24 weeks (6 months) may not exceed the weekly working time of 48 hours.
Employees on call must have at least 11 days off a year.
Employees who are willing to work must have at least 12 days off each year.
There are also exceptions to these rules, such as for certain industries or situations that are in the public interest.

It is important to note that the exact rules and exceptions may vary depending on the industry and individual circumstances. It is advisable to contact an employment lawyer or the employer if you have any questions about the statutory recreational rules.

Example from me personal: I am a paramedic, 53 years old, 32 years in business and have per week 3 or 4 Days shift 2 days 1 night or 3 days or 3 nights or 2 days and 2 nights. 12 hours. So with holidays and free times after shift my workdays per year (without state holidays cause normal workdays for me and for easy math i take only 3 days free time): 186 Days of work, 23 paid vacation, 153 Days free time. And again work for live. This also benefits the employer because he can then count on a rested again fully resilient and motivated employee.
thats all for short
best regards and greetings from germany, have a nice day

and again sorry for the long text but i think a few explanations are important

[arnodobler]

I live in a 3k suburb of a 30k city in southern Germany and haven't had a car for 15 years, and miss it maybe 1-2 times a year. I can get everywhere from here. The city bus costs €1 a ride - 15 stops here in this small village alone. Plus 2 stops for the public bus and 1 train station. But not all European countries are so well connected. Ireland and France run everything via the capital cities - centralized, which is bad.

[alex__andrei]

Please, I hope you can react to my country, Romania, known as ‘a hidden gem’ in Europe! Home to the oldest medieval citadel still inhabited in Europe, first European city with electric street lights and the majority of the continent’s last remaining primeval forests and nature, still left untouched by humans. And of course, incredible architecture. Ryan Shirley’s Top 10 Places in Romania Video is the best one to watch! I enjoy your reactions about Europe!

[TrumpFanClubDeutschland]

1:50
U can ask in a restaurant if they can give u a glass of tab water for free and most will say yes.
But if u just order water, they will give u some kind of bottled water and u have to pay for it. And no free refills.
At least where i live (north-west Germany).

6:49
Food portions in Germany are big enough.
Check out
"THE ULTIMATE German Food Tour - Schnitzel and Sausage in Munich, Germany!" by Mark Wiens

I think its mostly in southern europe with the extra-long dining sessions.

9:43
Between 20-30% of Europeans are smoking. Probably more than in the US, but not as bad as some of these YouTubers say ("they are all heavy smokers in Europe. U cant even breath😃"). And it depents in which country u are. Eastern and south-eastern europe has probably way more smokers than the north and west of Europe.

13:07
Again...depents where u are. The south and France are dressing "nicer" than the rest.

14:36
You are right. Most people speak, of course, their native language and (good enough)english. Some speak 3 languages, a few speak more.

17:04
Lets be honest. EVs are sh*t.
And u should run, when the battery starts burning.

[Joseph]

The thing about the transport in ireland is that it all leads to and from dublin you can get buses between large towns but these are only 3 times a day and they wouldn't take you off the beaten path or to the main sites in the rural areas.There is of course tour buses but these are very expensive and only take you to the honey pot areas, nothing wrong with that they are honeypot for a reason but they are places that are equally as good that you will need a car for and even then the car gives you flexibility you won't get if the service is infrequent which bus services that are not dublin centered

[RaoulKunz]

Some points:
Dressing nicer: not *really* but I consider a three piece suit with proper shoes (Derbies, Oxfords maybe Monkstraps) a tie or Cravat or a bow-tie the minimum the be among civilized people.
But I'm a weirdo.
The "usual" dress in many a European country is jeans and a shirt, in summer more likely t-shirts or polo-shirts, in winter sweater, vests or long sleeved shirts with a jacket or an overcoat.
It's not that Europeans dress to impress, they dress "normal", primarily with considerations of climate and resilience, hence the omnipresence of jeans.
this seems nicer because many US citizens dress abysmally if I'm honest. By far not everyone mind you - but you will rarely find someone wearing what amounts to a glorified pyjama to go shopping.
And football jerseys are actually seen rarely *unless* there's a first or second league game *in the city* or one of the international cups
Languages... yeah that's true, but in the US only Spanish truly makes sense unless you're a lot out of the country because you border only two other countries and one is also primarily anglophone (except Quebec). We Europeans on the other hand have either a ton of neighbours (Germany borders nine other countries, most with fundamentally different languages - two Slavic, five and a half other Germanic languages and another one and a half Romance languages or just have one or two days of travel into areas where completely other languages are spoken.
I personally speak German (native speaker), English (chiefly RP), questionable French, fragments of Dutch, oh and Latin of the Principate (that's the Latin of Caesar, Tacitus, Augustus...) - kind of dead except not, helps a ton with Romance languages.
So it's less an affection and more a necessity, though most will understand and speak English.
Naturally there will be insane amounts of simplification in a four minute video, even presuming that he doesn't mean the fifty countries that are technically Europe but "just" the 27 of the EU...

Best regards
Raoul G. Kunz

[Krokostad]

About the eating out: It's not that we eat for 3 hours. We eat for about 30 minutes, the rest is talking. So it doesn't matter how big the portions are. After the meal, some people will have more drinks, maybe a dessert or a coffee. Oh, and I don't know how fast it is in the US, but ordering drinks, getting drinks, choosing food, ordering food, waiting for food. That's already the first 30 minutes 😂

[hape]

You don't get tap water in restaurants unless you ask for it, but you have to pay anyways, as the waiter/waitress has to bring it and the glass has to be washed. The waiters get a decent wage, that means you as a guest have to pay somehow for this wage, but not through tips but through the bill. Tips are a surplus for good service. BTW: Our tap water is NOT purified, it is pure. Tap water isn't treated at all. It comes from natural wells and/or the ground water and is regularly tested for contaminations, but almost never treated (almost because I think in the Netherlands they have to do something as they take it from rivers, but I could be wrong).

[Peter_Cetera]

In the US you pay incl. tips at least 4 times more for a complete meal than in Europe. But you complain to pay for water???

[arnodobler]

In Germany (and many other European countries), hardly anyone drinks just water with their meal when they eat in a restaurant. People drink water with wine, otherwise beer or soft drinks. The restaurant makes about 2/3 of its profits from drinks*. You can get tap water for free in the restaurant if you ask for it specifically. In Germany, people also drink more sparkling water and less still water.
*No "free" refills

[annfrancoole]

It's not that Europeans don't wear tee-shirts, khakis, shorts, caps, sneakers/trainer etc. Of course they do. It just that they seem to style and wear them better. They just seem to look sharper, smarter, cleaner, more put together. They seem to put more pride into their appearance. Whereas some Americans don't seem to look as stylish. They can look sloppy, as if they just threw on any old top, shorts etc.

[Joseph]

If you try to charge for water in ireland you would go out of business and i have seen it happen.Irish people think thats mean and miserable.This video applies mostly to continental europe not really in the UK or ireland..They are differences between countries but you can still wear sports jerseys and look smart and basically thats what its about not necessarily formal wear.

[tonibaker]

in england we dont count fast food as going out to eat . If we go out for dinner there are normally but not always 3 courses followed by cheese and biscuits and then coffee and then a nice brandy or baileys if you are me lol. we are not expected to leave the restaurant when we have finished eating and are free to sit and chat and drink more

[ElunedLaine]

This YT vid might help - '5 Things American Tourists Shouldn't Wear in Europe' by Wolters World

[Joseph]

The thing about the languages, in some countries like netherlands and scandinavia they are really good at languages.switzerland for example is said that people speak many languages which they do, but its different areas .Western Switzerland they speak french and maybe they learn german at school but a good many would not be fluent, the rest of the country mostly swiss german which actually knows whether its a group of dialects or a separate language to standard german and in the south east its italian.My sister lives in the french part of switzerland spent nearly all her adult life there and she is fluent french but she has never had any need to speak swiss german because its all french in her region

[ElunedLaine]

In the UK, ketchup doesn't have any preservatives, has to be kept in the fridge once opened and lasts 6 weeks, then you throw it away