“A/C Won’t Kill You”: 39 Things Americans Take For Granted That Europeans Should Learn From

Not smoking everywhere. I don’t understand how smoking is still so mainstream in Europe. They're sucking on cancer sticks everywhere.

Disability access.

Put screens on the windows! Many apartments and houses don't have AC, so you have to open the windows. The bugs get EVERYWHERE!! Why is such a simple thing like window screens not a standard thing in Europe??

I'm too tired for serious answers so I'm going to go with: how to make BBQ. I don't mean grilling, I mean proper BBQ. Texas and KC and both Carolinas and whatever else. All the BBQ. With sides.
SheenPSU:
Add Tex-Mex to the list. They’d benefit immensely from some good ass Tex-Mex.

Just got back from the EU, they need more public toilets. It's impossible to find a place to go.

European countries should actually call out their own racism instead of excusing it as part of their European culture. When I bring up racism in Norway (where I lived), I get a bunch of angry Norwegians yelling me because they don't think their racism counts as racism.

Being friendly to strangers.

LilithXCX:
Brit here, now living in the US. I was just chatting to a lovely stranger on the train and discussing how much more friendly people are here.

I'd say they could learn to air their dirty laundry better. There always seems to be a simmering problem that they just don't talk about unless they get drunk. Maybe they need to get drunk more often.

FellafromPrague:
My man, if we were any more drunk, we'd all be dead.

The Americans with Disabilities Act or the ADA. The United States is one of the most accessible nations for those with disabilities. When I went abroad I was shocked as to how impossible it would be to get around if you weren’t fully able. And weed legalization of course.

DeadSharkEyes:
Every time I go to Paris, I wonder how the hell people with disabilities get around. All the buildings are old as shit and have steep steps and sharp edges.

KazahanaPikachu:
They don’t get around. Especially in Paris, it’s rare for me to see someone in a wheelchair, on crutches, etc. I always wondered why, and it’s probably because they don’t go out much in the first place...because it’s too difficult!

Free water at restaurants and smoking less tobacco are the first things that come to mind.

MiketheTzar:
And free soda refills!

Thinking outside of the box. I work for an American company that collabs with a European one every now and then. They are completely unwilling to even challenge conventional wisdom on a topic. For example, here is a scenario that has happened.

European Company: Conventional wisdom tells us that the best way to do this process is with method X. Compounding factors A, B, and C make this so difficult that it is almost unfeasible to do this. However to go against conventional wisdom would be ridiculous, so we will just charge more.

American Company: Conventional wisdom tells us that the best way to do this process is with method X. However compounding factors A, B, and C would make this unfeasible. This is a situation that conventional wisdom was not really meant to address. We are going to try something completely different, and we are going to test it thoroughly to make sure it works. As it turns out, this new method Y works better than method X, so now we have a more viable way of producing this product without having to deal with the complicating factors of A, B, and C.

And then when we inform the European company about this, they freak the hell out because we went against conventional wisdom.

Ice is life. Give me alllll the ice.

A A/C won’t kill you specially on summer.

TrillyMike:
I get that most of the time they don’t need AC, but one place that absolutely needs it is the Tube in London. It's hot as hell on those damn trains!

I am an American who has been to Europe for vacation a bunch of times. At this point I’ve been fortunate to visit most European countries. I have 3 major complaints:

1. Smoking - just why?

2. More free water please. Public water fountains would be be great and also, dear restaurants, the tap water IS safe to drink.

3. Everywhere in Europe (well at least most private residences and hotels, public bathrooms are getting better about touch less) has these knobby faucets that you have to put your whole a*s hand on to operate even if you just got done taking a s**t or chopping up raw chicken or whatever. Please embrace the type of faucets you can operate with the back of your hand or your wrist!

Right turn on red. I discovered it's not a thing in Europe while watching Top Gear.

I have a lot of family and friends in Europe and have been fortunate to have traveled to a majority of European countries. One of the biggest complaints I have is there seems to be more pressure to conform and not stand out as much. The USA accepts individualism so much more.

liberated-dremora:
I have recently befriended a French woman who moved to my city. Taking her out with my friends for Halloween was a real trip. She was SO STRESSED about being in a costume in public. She wouldn't take public transit by herself, wore a big coat to cover up what she was wearing while outside, and talked a bunch about not wanting her doorman to see her dressed up. The real kicker is that her costume was just a '60s hippie dress. Like, she could have worn it any day of the week, and nobody would have batted an eyelash.

The USA has generally better toilets and showers. Sorry, it's true.

sjogerst:
And charging money to use a public bathroom is an inhuman, undignified concept.

Ditch the aristocracy. They are no different than anyone else. Bow to no one.

Free appetizers or side dish. Idk how many times I’ll find out the basket of bread or olives was extra charge in Europe.

From a social perspective As a European id say learn how to be more free spirited, say what you want about Americans stupid or blah blah blah but they know how to live life to the fullest alot of us here in Europe have a giant stick up our asses we're trying to be so perfect like with everything we're to careful. When u go to the states you see so many different types of characters it's like a movie set, then you go back to Europe and everything and everyone is just the same...I know it depends what country in europe you're in is well but most are like that except for southern countries like Italy, Spain or Ireland and UK they're fun.