A lot of things differ from country to country—not to mention continents—making some people quite confused about the way inhabitants of the lands far far away live. Whether it’s faucets, windows, or shopping habits they find surprising, some things might simply make no sense for those not used to them.
Redditors recently discussed the topic after one of them posed a question to the ‘Ask Reddit’ community. They addressed the American members of the group asking what is something that Europeans have or do that makes no sense to them, and the respondents had plenty to share. Scroll down to find their answers below and see for yourself whether they do or do not make any sense.
#1
I’m Canadian, but it’s always baffled me that some Europeans consider a half hour’s worth of driving a long time. That wouldn’t even get me out of the area I’d consider local
TwoFingersWhiskey , Austin Neill Report
Final score: 166points 
Gustav Gallifrey Gustav Gallifrey Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
A friend i hadn’t seen for a long time moved to a town 100km away. In Australian terms, that’s practically just around the corner.
58 58points reply View More Replies… #2
Im from Europe myself (uk) and find it strange some people here have carpet in their bathroom. ITS DISGUSTING
ArtisticAustisic , Ryan Christodoulou Report
Final score: 165points 
Ditto Ditto Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Ewww, who keeps a carpet in the bathroom?! I’m from England and have never seen this
36 36points reply View More Replies… #3
Football hooliganism. You’ll beat people just for wearing the wrong shirt to the wrong bar. Its a horrendous practice
dosetoyevsky , Wikipedia Report
Final score: 142points 
Tobias Reaper Tobias Reaper Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago
This comment has been deleted.
106 106points reply View More Replies… #4
As an idiot american with 2 parties I only understand left wing and right wing, europeans have a party for everything. It’s confusing, but I wish we weren’t a 2 party state tbh
LukmanAbdulkahSilvia , Werner Pfennig Report
Final score: 133points Fat Harry Fat Harry Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
As an American you have no idea about left wing and right wing because, by European standards, both of your parties are right of centre.
155 155points reply View More Replies… #5
It makes sense to me, but it still seems marvelous to me that in France (other places I’m sure, but I learned this in French class) it is common to buy groceries every day. You may wake up and go to the bakery for fresh baked bread, or stop by for fresh produce on the way home to make dinner.
Yes, having walkable grocery stores nearby makes it easier, it seems so much easier to buy 3-4 days or a week’s worth of groceries at a time.
dishonourableaccount , Tara Clark Report
Final score: 132points 
Skinny Pig Skinny Pig Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
I did this in Argentina. I loved being able to just get what I needed every day. Food is always fresh, cuts down a lot on waste, you get a little bit extra exercise, and you can make exactly what you’re in the mood for that day.
62 62points reply View More Replies… #6
Better chocolate. Why can’t we have nice chocolate?
HibibitySkibibity , Tetiana Bykovets Report
Final score: 126points 
Jihana Jihana Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Because since WW2 Americans are used to the taste of butyric acid. It used to be used to keep the milk from spoiling, now it’s added because Americans actually prefer it that way.
45 45points reply View More Replies… #7
It’s not that it doesn’t “make sense,” but the first time I saw those windows that can be moved a bunch of different ways, you would have thought I was seeing a rabbit being pulled out of a hat, that’s how amazed I looked. Tilt and Turn Windows
Final score: 115points Fat Harry Fat Harry Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
So the picture shows non-tilt-and-turn windows… well done BP.
59 59points reply View More Replies… #8
Saw that mostly in the UK, having 2 separate faucets for hot and cold water?? What the hell lol? Washing my hands was the worst.
Athlete_Aromatic , danilo.alvesd Report
Final score: 97points 
Phendrena Phendrena Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Long long ago, in a time forgotten…. Hot and cold water are kept separate to prevent contamination, cold water comes into the house directly from the mains supply and is safe to drink. Hot water was provided by an Immersion heater generally located in the loft of a house and as it sits there it is considered unsafe to drink. Water bylaws prevent hot and cold from being mixed – this still applies today, water is NOT allowed to mix until is exits the tap.
101 101points reply View More Replies… #9
The cute sounding police sirens. In America the police sirens seem like an urgent, semi-deranged warning to GTF out of the way, like **S**T’S GOING DOWN AND I’M NOT THERE!!!!! MOOOOOOOOVE!!!!!!!!”**
Meanwhile every European police siren I’ve heard just kind of politely annoy you out of the way. Like “bee doooo bee doooo, pardon me but a spot of bother has occured and I simply must hasten to it, pardon me as I simply must attend to it, pardon me.”
And the police cars themselves are so small. American police cars are big and brawny, like they might need to make their own garage door into building. The European police cars I’ve seen, where they even put the people they arrest? Granted, I’ve only seen European police stuff on TV so there’s probably a lot I haven’t seen.
Alpha-Sierra-Charlie , Max Fleischmann Report
Final score: 95points Swoo Swoo Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Haha, so I grew up in a town in southern France… the city center dates back a thousand (if not more) years ago, as in many places across Europe. That city is partnered with a big one in kentuky and they gifted a BIG police car to their french cousins. Nice! municipality police was so proud of their shiny BIG AMERICAN car.Butt of the joke : just try and picture that BIG AMERICAN police car manoeuvering in those medieval streets ; the result was hillarious and not efficient at all in cathing wrong doers.
78 78points reply View More Replies… #10
The smoking. I stayed with a host family in France and my 16 year old host sister smoked like a chimney, as did all her friends. Like you’re so young. Why?
101bees , Andres Siimon Report
Final score: 85points 
Zephyr Zephyr Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago (edited) Report
You smoke to look cool the first time then the nicotine hits you, you’ll never be really relaxed without it
22 22points reply View More Replies… #11
Why you guys like to put bathroom light switches outside the bathroom?
XXMAVR1KXX , Steve Johnson Report
Final score: 83points 
Hawkmoon Hawkmoon Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
This is mandatory as a safety measure: the switch must be placed out of reach of the shower or bath to avoid touching it when you are in the water.
86 86points reply View More Replies… #12
In Germany, apartments don’t normally come with a kitchen. It’s purchased/installed by the Tennant. Sometimes you luck out but not usually.
Widegina , roam in color Report
Final score: 81points 
Martin Rezac Martin Rezac Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
This is usual when the whole building is brand new and you are BUYING the apartment. So you can decide what kind of kitchen do you like. I can imagine that sometimes this might happen with some long-term rent, like 10+ years. Otherwise no one will rent a flat without kitchen.
31 31points reply View More Replies… #13
I’m from the Midwest and my family is from the Netherlands. So the society that wouldn’t dare offend you in any way and the society that has no problem dropping truth bombs on you. It’s rough.
philophilo , Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 Report
Final score: 81points cerinamroth cerinamroth Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
As a Brit living in Germany, I feel this in the feelies. Absolutely takes some getting used to. But now I like it!
25 25points reply View More Replies… #14
No a/c, sure fine, but then no screens on your windows so all the bugs get in? (Not sure if this is all of Europe, but def the UK).
Also no top sheets?
Curiosity13 , Darrin Henein Report
Final score: 80points 
Kimberly Erlinger Kimberly Erlinger Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
And nary a ceiling fan.
32 32points reply View More Replies… #15
Was just in southern Italy and it was hot as balls but everybody acted like they hate AC.
We’d go out for the day and when we came back, housekeeping had turned off all the AC units.
Driver wore a full suit but every time we got in the car, AC was off. We’d ask him to turn it on and he would but on low. Ask him to blast it and he would for a minute then sneakily turn it back down.
It’s like they’re reptiles or something.
BurnerForVices , Carlos Lindner Report
Final score: 80points Jihana Jihana Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Or maybe running the AC all the time, even if you are not home, is a waste of energy? Also, you get used to the heat a little bit, but only if you actually experience the heat.
76 76points reply View More Replies… #16
Idk if its all Europeans but Germans have a real big problem with staring like I owe them money. Also paying to use the bathroom in public spaces.
Neat_Serve730 , Mikail Duran Report
Final score: 74points cerinamroth cerinamroth Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Germans are very curious about other people. It takes a while to get used to the staring! (Speaking as a Brit who is now a Brit/German). It’s nothing personal, they are just curious. I like to be considered interesting enough!
45 45points reply View More Replies… #17
Charging for bathrooms and charging for water (at restaurants) are both things that I would have expected Americans to do and Europeans be the ones making fun of it.
Optimistic_Futures , Juan Marin Report
Final score: 72points 
James016 James016 Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Restaurants will charge for bottled water. Tap water is free.
38 38points reply View More Replies… #18
Monarchies
Final score: 67points 
Corvus Corvus Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
It’s mostly because of tradition. Apart from that, they serve no real purpose, indeed.
27 27points reply View More Replies… #19
You all give us so much grief for having bathroom stall door gaps, and then have a one foot wide piece of glass to keep water in the shower…
billsdabills , ONNE Beauty Report
Final score: 64points Jihana Jihana Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
What?
32 32points reply View More Replies… #20
Lack of public restrooms
offbrandbarbie , Buchen WANG Report
Final score: 63points rullyman rullyman Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Totally agree on this. It’s a real problem in parts of England. When I moved back from Japan, where nearly every convenience store has a clean well maintained toilet, it was a struggle for me.
30 30points reply View More Replies… #21
Beans on toast.
Final score: 57points Shark Lady Shark Lady Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Quick, cheap, easy to make. Add some cheese on top to be fancy!
48 48points reply View More Replies… #22
My British grandma always had a plastic tub in the sink to soak dishes. It seems so weird to have a sink in a sink basically.
Final score: 49points 
Mimi La Souris Mimi La Souris Community Member • points posts comments upvotes 4 weeks ago Report
less water, protect the sink, can be use somewhere else
76 76points reply View More Replies… #23
To all you Italians: why can’t I have a cappuccino past noon??
alotistwowordssir , Harris Vo Report
Final score: 48points Tobias Reaper Tobias Reaper Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
because its a breakfast coffee
53 53points reply View More Replies… #24
The poop shelf in Dutch/Belgian toilets.
liz_teria , Giorgio Trovato Report
Final score: 46points Andrew Burke Andrew Burke Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago (edited) Report
Yeah, when I first moved to Germany I was weirded out by this. I thought, what am I supposed to do, drape a flag over it and salute as I flushed it farewell?
42 42points reply View More Replies… #25
It’s not that it makes no sense but I’ve always been curious how carbonated water became the default in many places
thedevilsgame , Mineragua Sparkling Water Report
Final score: 43points Jihana Jihana Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Because tap water is so excellent that you would ask for cheaper tap water instead of bottled water if you wanted still water.
23 23points reply #26
England’s fascination with large print flowered wallpaper with various colors that don’t go together especially when you stand in the hallway and see where all the rooms converge.
Final score: 41points cerinamroth cerinamroth Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Haha!! My MIL is a little bit wild and indecisive. She’s had a traumatic life, poor love, but she’s done good with the cards she was dealt. When I visited, she was trying to choose a wallpaper for the front room – three very different styles, including one hot pink one with black velvet flocking, one with pink roses and another stripy one (I think). Next time I visited, she had simply put all three up in one rather small room because she couldn’t decide. I felt a panic attack coming on when I stepped in there, there was so much to look at! 🙂
23 23points reply #27
Rent their whole lives. I saw this in Germany. I know it’s becoming the norm in the US, too, but it just seemed weird to me the first time I visited 30 years ago that most Germans rented their entire lives and never even thought about buying a house.
RiffRandellsBF , chris robert Report
Final score: 40points 
The Scout The Scout Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
If you have German renter’s rights, there is simply no reason to own a house, as long as you do not really, really need the additional space. It practically is “your” place. You can do as you want as long as you don’t damage the building substance, the landlord can hardly make any demands, eviction is next to impossible without very compelling reasons. Also, even though having increased over the last years, rent is comparably cheap compared to the real estate prices. In most cases, it simply makes no sense to buy, regardless of your income. Also, far commuting (more than an hour of way to work) is rare here, so people want to stay flexible to move when changing jobs.
63 63points reply View More Replies… #28
Do any Europeans have a clothes dryer? Why do I think that’s not standard?
Final score: 36points Fat Harry Fat Harry Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
We do, but we’re not massively wasteful like Americans. We’ll use the dryer if it’s pouring with rain in the middle of winter. We won’t use it on a gloriously hot summer’s day with a gentle breeze where clothes will dry outside in an hour.
80 80points reply View More Replies… #29
No top sheets on beds.
The first time I experienced “European Style” bedding, I was so confused. When I asked about the top sheet, I was told they only use a duvet. I’m a hot sleeper, so I didn’t use it. Ended up sleeping without a sheet over me, which was uncomfortable. But, when in Rome…
Quantum_Compass , Annie Spratt Report
Final score: 36points EEP EEP Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
When in Rome, take the sheet off the duvet if you just want a sheet.
68 68points reply View More Replies… #30
Why the hell don’t you guys just serve tap water (if it’s OK to drink) to tables when they sit down? I’m currently in Europe and a handful of restaurants will not even serve you tap water and you have to buy it. This is in many countries too! Wtf it’s free and right there!!!
Final score: 25points R Kramer R Kramer Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 4 weeks ago Report
Tap water is not free. The restaurant has to pay for it as well, even though it comes out of the faucet. Also, they earn their money mostly by selling drinks, so if you drink free water, you won’t order any other drinks. So it does make a lot of sense.
54 54points reply View More Replies…
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