Spending any time at all in a foreign country can throw into relief all the small customs, norms, and traditions that you aren’t used to at home — and oftentimes, it feels like it’d be nice to be able to take those back with you. Recently, this post, in which people shared everything they’d experienced abroad that they wish they could make part of their regular life, garnered a fair bit of attention; so, I decided to share even more answers! Here’s what people had to say:
1.
“After visiting my son and daughter-in-law in Australia, I long to have a neighborhood café. Every morning, I would walk the dog and circle past the neighborhood café, pick up coffee, and walk back home. The beauty of this was not just the coffee, but that my son would say ‘good morning’ to everyone and catch up on neighborhood events and government happenings. The dog, Jack, would check in with the neighborhood dogs and get a treat at the counter from the owner. It was a real community.”
2.
“Every restaurant in Spain HAS to have a public bathroom. Some king made this rule, and they’ve kept it going for hundreds of years because it’s such a great idea. I often leave a small tip, but you don’t have to. It sure makes traveling easier for an old man!”
3.
“I loved being in Portugal and not seeing people on their devices in public spaces. It was so refreshing to see people actually engaging with one another instead of being distracted by their portable devices.”
4.
“On a trip to England with a friend, people would hear our accents and come up to ask us questions. You would never see that in the US. In Ireland, one woman who came up to me turned out to be a fifth cousin of mine!”
5.
“When I lived in Guatemala and ordered a steak, it would come with a tiny pot of hot, melted cheese to dip your steak pieces in.”
—luckyflower653
6.
“I love the little plazas and tree-covered areas in Europe where you can people watch, meet new friends, and enjoy the atmosphere. Here, we cut down all the trees, build huge ugly buildings, and force animals out of their native habitat, and then complain when they show up on our doorstep looking for food. Where did we go so wrong? Better yet, how do we stop this nonsense?”
7.
“I was introduced to the bidet in France, and it quickly became a proponent of the added clean feel of a warm water lavage after using the toilet. To my surprise, after getting home and doing a brief search, I found add-on versions are readily available. I’m moderately handy, and it only took me half an hour to add one — complete with warm water! — to my toilet at home.”
8.
“Australia: I love how many cafes you find with views, in quaint places, and the food is never, ever mediocre. You go on a hike in the wilderness, and there is a great cafe for refreshments in the most remote of places, too. Lonely beach, you suddenly come upon a restaurant with great food. Great coffee everywhere, too. Even 7-Eleven coffee and sandwiches are great. I often wonder why the US does not have cafes in spots with views.”
9.
“In Denmark…the bicycle culture! Everyone, whether dressed to the nines or students going to class, gets around on many different styles of bicycles. There are huge bicycle parking lots outside of the underground transit stations and also scattered all around different areas in the cities. They even have their own traffic lights to follow. There are three sets of traffic lights to watch out for. One set for autos, one set for pedestrians, and a completely different set for cyclists. Their traffic lights also consist of four different warnings. An extra red light thrown in there for… I’m not sure what! Absolutely loved the healthy, zero-emissions lifestyle they follow.”
10.
“Three French customs that I love are asking family members every morning if they have slept well (Bien dormi?), greeting every coworker in your office every day, and being thanked for a gift with kisses on both cheeks (la bise).”
11.
“1. Good trains. 2. Car-free zones, no car exhaust everywhere. 3. Outdoor cafes and street food.”
12.
“When traveling in England on the highways, we were amazed at the small grocery stores, which were everywhere. In the US, there’s nothing but crappy restaurants selling overpriced junk food. While in England, they had fresh fruit and vegetables with freshly made salads and sandwiches, which were delicious. It made the days of highway travel so much more enjoyable and healthier.”
13.
“Trains! The rail system in Europe is amazing. I get excited just thinking about where I can go by train. The experience of riding within cities, across cities, and between countries is all different — and in places like Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands, it is so easy. When I get home, I often think about how much I would enjoy parking my car and relying on the train instead. If you live in the northeastern US, you may get this experience, but for most of us, the European experience is unparalleled.”
14.
“In Paris, every morning at about 4 a.m., street washers come down the street and wash away all the detritus of the previous day, including Pierre Poodle’s poo. So, every morning, when people start their busy days, the streets are clean and there’s nothing icky to step into. I thought that was sheer genius…”
15.
“The simplicity and bliss of sitting in a piazza in Florence with a bottle of Acqua Panna, Coke with the little glass of ice and lemon, and sharing a sandwich is just the best.”
16.
“In Rome, I love the Nasone water fountains, which are constantly flowing, clean, fresh, and beautiful.”
17.
“In Holland, in large and small towns, you find small stalls that sell beautiful cut flowers, very reasonably priced to take as a gift or for your home. They are fresh and last as well as in expensive stores.”
18.
“Practically everywhere in Germany, you can go to a bakery, a bakery in a supermarket, or at the train station and get a freshly made sandwich, and there are many varieties.”
19.
“Universal Healthcare. Nationalized daycare. No gun worries. Nationalized university education… The better list is less frivolous.”
—fiercepotato252
20.
“I first visited the UK in the late 1980s, and I was smitten with my fellow rail passengers who happened to be four-legged and canine. In the Scottish Highlands, dogs confidently boarded trains with their human companions and enjoyed the ride, and even freely stretched their legs when needed.”
21.
“Ireland has repurposed telephone booths to hold easily available defibrillators and instructions on how to use them and prominently marked them. You’ll see them in every town, from small villages to large cities. If someone has a heart attack, their availability saves lives, especially in rural areas where it might take time for the EMS to arrive.”
23.
“In Poland, every tiny town has beautiful coffee shops with beautiful pastries.”
24.
“I love the feeling of safety and security in Japan. As a senior woman, I’ve never felt unsafe, no matter what time of the day or night. Also, if you lose or forget anything, there is no need to worry. It will be exactly where you left it. No one will ever take something that doesn’t belong to them.”
25.
“I spent one month in Spain when I was in high school. I loved the daily siesta!”
26.
“Everywhere we stayed in Portugal, a washing machine was available along with some type of drying rack. We found the ritual and freshness of hanging clothes to dry to be soothing and grounding, as well as quite efficient with the gentle breezes. So we found an excellent rolling rack online and use it almost year-round at home.”
27.
“Back in the early ’80s, I lived in a part of a small city that was half locals who had lived there forever and half college students. On a corner was a little ‘food co-op’ shop. Most of what they sold came from local farms — fresh produce and eggs. If you joined the co-op, the prices were slightly lower, but if you didn’t, the prices were still reasonable.”
28.
“Sunday roasts at the pub in the UK. Large groups of friends and/or families gather in the pub in the afternoon and evening for a roast dinner and a drink or two. Not uncommon to see a table with parents and children next to a group of 20-somethings next to an older couple and their dogs. It’s such a cozy, lovely way to spend a Sunday. I miss the roasts and pub culture in general so much. The US tries to replicate pubs, but I’ve yet to find one that even remotely compares.”
29.
“Countries where it is normalized to have a sauna in the house. I stayed in a hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania, that has a sauna in the suite, which was amazing.”
Let me know all your thoughts in the comments or in the anonymous form below! What’s a cool custom, tradition, or norm you’ve come across abroad that you wish would become popular in your home country?
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