As expected, the culture of Europe thus far has been drastically different from that of the United States. There are some aspects of the culture that you come here to experience, while there are others that make minor things a burden. Here are just a few I have experienced in the first week here.
Pros:
History: There is so much to see in each city we have been too. We have been to more museums this week then I have gone to over the last 10 years or so, and each place has its own unique story. In just today alone, I saw the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa. There aren’t many places in the US where you could see 2 significant historical pieces in one day
Food: While I admit that I have eaten McDonald’s and KFC once on this trip, the food otherwise has been far better than what I eat in the US. The meals you eat here are all from little food shops, not chain restaurants with processed foods. The entire ombiance of the restaurants just make the food taste that much better. My favorite spot thus far has been a small fish and chips shop in Middleburg, Netherlands.
Cons:
Everything is small: From the restaurants to the restrooms to the streets to the sidewalks, everything is smaller here. We can’t fit more than 5 people into the typical spot we eat for lunch. It is hard to take a big group unless you are willing to spend a lot of Euros.
Language barrier: While the people in the Netherlands spoke good English, the experience has not been the same in France. It is fun to try and communicate with some locals. For example, a group of us had a long conversation with a guy on the metro who only spoke French and it was fun to guess what he was trying to say. However, doing things like ordering food has been harder. Today at McDonald’s my burger took 15 minutes and it was tough to voice my frustration with the workers
Overall, the Pros obviously outweigh the cons and I am enjoying the cultural experience/challenge and am excited to see what is yet to come!