If you're an American living abroad, there are a lot of things you're used to in the United States that you won't find in a European home. While exact figures on the number of Americans living abroad are difficult to come by, it's easy to agree that Millennials are especially attracted to European cities. Whether it's the reduced cost (or non-existence) of higher education, the arts and cultural scene, or a desire to connect with their heritage, there are many reasons why Americans choose to live abroad. Some Americans go abroad to avoid paying off student loan debt (which I personally would not recommend as a viable plan), while others still choose to live abroad permanently with a partner or spouse.
But whatever your reason for moving abroad, there are (probably) things you'll miss about your home country. If you have good relationships with your family, friends, and co-workers, chances are they are a part of your life in the United States and you would most like them to magically appear in your European home. But on a practical level, transitioning from life in the U.S. to life in Europe might also surprise you: If you never thought you'd miss air conditioning, for example, be sure to read on and see what other differences Reddit users noticed Between what you might find in American and European homes.
To learn more about the differences, check out the full post on AskReddit.
1. White bread
Now, I enjoy a few slices of processed white bread as much as the next person, but I have to admit, bread in America gets a bad rap. The general consensus is that there's nothing better than fresh, homemade bread, and it seems to be more common than the processed foods we commonly find in American kitchen cupboards.
2. Garbage disposal in the sink
Not every home in the US has a garbage disposer, I think they're actually more common in urban areas, but almost every apartment I've lived in has one. In fact, it's become such a common occurrence for me that I'm actually surprised when someone doesn't have something like this in their kitchen. To be fair, I don't know that I'd go to Reddit above and pay to install one - but hey, sometimes you have to invest in something you think will make your day-to-day life better. For some, that's a garbage disposal.
3. Screens in Windows
Depending on where in the United States you live, the idea of windows without screens can actually be scary: If you're in a hot climate where bugs are plentiful, and you have a choice between opening your windows and letting the bugs in... …well, good luck. Personally, I would choose to sweat all night, sleep poorly, and wake up covered in bug bites, but there are pros and cons to both options.
In Europe, though, window screens seem less necessary because they don't have the same bug problems as in Florida or Texas. I still like the screen, though: What if I balance something on the window and knock it outside? you will never know.
4. Multiple vehicles
Personally, I don't have a car because I live in a city with a good public transportation system and I can walk anywhere the train doesn't take me. However, for many Americans, especially those who do not live in urban areas, owning more than one car per household is the norm, and many American teenagers own cars to celebrate their high school graduation or sweet 16th birthday. In Europe it is often more common to have one car per household, and to utilize carpooling, cycling, walking and public transport instead.
5.Maple syrup
As someone who grew up in New England, I grew up slathering pancakes with maple syrup. In fact, I'm surprised that people use it for breakfast with anything else (although melted peanut butter on French toast might be the best breakfast thing I've ever heard of).
6. Huge medical expenses
While Europeans do pay for medical care, and that varies depending on where you live, Europeans generally don't face the massive medical debt that many Americans carry, often thanks to nationalized health care.
7. Thin mints
You're unlikely to find Girl Scout cookies in Europe. It makes sense, considering Girl Scouts are an American thing, but saying goodbye to Thin Mints sounds almost as difficult as saying goodbye to my extended family...although hopefully my family will mail them to me overseas.
Now you have it! To read more responses, you can check out this thread on AskReddit where users are discussing what Americans have in their homes that Europeans don’t. Whether you plan to live abroad or not, it's always interesting to think about how your life will be different in ways you take for granted: Of course, there may be major barriers to moving abroad (such as language fluency), but there are also smaller Questions like the differences between what you find at home and what you grew up with in America.
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