American Standards and European Culture: How to Avoid a Disappointing Vacation Experience While Traveling in Europe
Planning a vacation to Europe? No doubt you have certain expectations about your upcoming journey.
Perhaps you’re the kind of person who expects to spend your days admiring amazing architecture and prowling world-famous museums for masterpieces. Or maybe you’re going to Europe to meet interesting people, relax on the beach until the sun goes down, and dance the night away in a local club. Regardless of your European vacation priorities, you certainly expect it to be wonderful!
But stop a moment. Have you thought about your cultural expectations?
Many European vacationers plan their activities and accommodations with the assumption that everything else will be “like America.” If so, think again! Just as Europe and the US are different in landscape, weather, and history, they are also very different culturally. Europeans and Americans have different ideas about manners, time, personal space, personal property maintenance, and language.
So for anyone planning a vacation to Europe, here are a few...