Largest Way of life Variations US and Europe, From American Traveler

I’m fortunate to have sunshine many of the 12 months in my residence state of Colorado. Because of this, although, I have a tendency to speak myself into staying residence when the climate is wet, windy, and even overcast.

When I used to be within the UK, nonetheless, wet days had been a standard a part of life. I did not need to waste time following my “nice weather or bust” mindset, so I began watching the locals.

For instance, they’d high quality rain jackets and carried waterproof casings to go over their backpacks or luggage to maintain them dry.

I adopted their lead and invested in a extra heavy-duty raincoat, and I rapidly realized that with correct preparation, the chilly and rain aren’t dangerous in any respect. The moody climate usually added to the general ambiance of the day.

When I journey, I actively attempt to accumulate probably the most experiences in an space, from museums and landmarks to native occasions. However, I really feel responsible about not all the time doing this at residence.

It’s much like the cliché that some born-and-bred New Yorkers have by no means been to the Statue of Liberty.

Some of my favourite experiences in Europe weren’t the grand, well-known monuments, however the quirky issues I encountered in small cities.

I cherished seeing a statue of a goat king in Kerry, Ireland, and stumbling upon an older couple giving an alphorn live performance in a Swiss village.

I’m sure there are comparable gems near my hometown, and now I’m decided to search out them.

Many of the Europeans I met had been great at having a “less is more” mindset. They owned fewer issues, like garments and decor objects, and purchased much less meals directly than I did within the US.

They appeared to have a distinct perspective about shopping for issues on the whole. Part of that is seemingly as a result of European residences are usually smaller than American properties.

After buying much less whereas overseas, I’m going to attempt to preserve that behavior stateside.

In my marriage, I’m referred to as the “blanket hog” — although that is nonetheless hotly debated on my finish. So, when my husband and I walked into an alpine cabin and noticed two neatly folded duvets over the mattress, he was ecstatic.

We encountered this a number of occasions all through our journey, and I have to admit, having my very own fluffy blanket to cuddle into was fairly good. The cover covers are additionally method simpler to scrub than a comforter.

Americans nonetheless have not embraced soccer the best way different international locations have. Though I’ll all the time be a diehard American soccer fan, being in Europe for the UEFA European Championship opened my eyes to only how electrifying soccer might be.

From the crew chants and bitter rivalries to the epic watch events, I’ll be setting my alarm to look at some main video games from throughout the pond.

This story was initially printed on November 7, 2024, and most just lately up to date on September 19, 2025.