My First Time in Europe (Safety, Food, Infrastructure, vs USA)
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- Thank you for letting me share my experience/thoughts on my first time in Europe! Please like and subscribe if you liked the video, and I'm excited to share more with you about my trip. Thank you all for making this possible.
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#american #education #travel #europe #usa #experience
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From Europe I can't imagine how is it not possible to just walk to a nearby grocery store whenever you need lol. I would go crazy if I had to drive every single time I want to do anything
Some people literally choose where to live based on being able to go shopping without the need of a car, myself included.
not that unusual in rural europe. closest supermarket for me is a 20 minute walk / 5 minute busride to and fro. still not terrible, but hey.
@@ownageDan yeah but in US this and way worse is in the cities as well. And your situation is although not ideal, not that bad. 10mins bicycle I guess
@@ownageDan thats the same in rural us. or, literally rural everywhere.
@@ownageDan But how many time do you go for supermarket for shopping. Closest one for me is roughly 10 minute drive, but we go once a month for a big shopping. For anything else, there is the grocery in our village.
Once, we had a person from the US staying at our house because she had no place to stay until she found a flat and she told us after 2 days to stop preparing crazy meals for her. We told her that we actually didn't and that this was how we ate every day and she was amazed at how good anything tasted and the quality (I'm in France btw).
what did you serve her? from a very cultural and culinary interested german ;)
@@Horrorhorst I absolutely have no idea. It was our regular meals. Nothing specials except there were many cheeses and we cooked everything which is usual.
@@johnsparegrave5996 i mean there are a lot of very fancy, colourful cheeses in the french Repertoire..xD
@@johnsparegrave5996 its maybe not very common. I can emphatise with this American woman, because in therms of cheese i'm a little bit picky.. like my fellow germans. I mean look at our unripe Camembert from Elsass:D
And with 'our' i mean the most sold Camembert in germany - geramont
Yes, even here in Germany there are traffic lights for bikes. But if you want to see how it's done properly, you should pay a visit to our neighbors on the left. Greetings to the Netherlands. 🇳🇱❤️🇩🇪
Here in Italy too.
Shht, don't tell them about the little bicycle Paradise called The Netherlands, which for sure fully trumps Denmark 😁😁😁 Game On! Let's get rid of the cars for small errands
@steiner554 In terms of weather, Dortmund is not recommended at the moment🚫
@@Auvas_Damask To be fair, when has anyone ever recommended a vacation anywhere in the Ruhr Area?
(Hey, I've lived here all my live - just saying when I have all the world to choose from, I wouldn't vacation here^^)
@@Garagantua If you live there it is normal for you and you are blind for the gems in your neighbourhood, counts for everyone everywhere.
My brother in law grew up about 500m from the nordsea, now living with my sis almost at the border of Germany. She loves making trips to the beach and he cannot grap his head around it why she adores the beach. But well, when we where kids we saw the sea maybe 5 times in 16 years..........
A picture is worth a thousand words, but a trip to another culture is worth a million.
I love this!!
Beautifuly said 👍🏻
About the body odor, here is my experience as a European who has lived in multiple European countries as also lived in the US and has had the reverse cultural shock. This is my personal observation on the matter:
- In comparison with US citizens I've observed that we use way less cosmetic products. Multiple times I've had the opposite experience with US citizens where I felt that they smell like fresh paint, and extremely chemical.
- The other one is that they body odor is more a thing at the end of the day in Europe for me. In the US I used to drive with my AC on, park in front of the place I was going and walk back, my average steps were around 6.000 without exercise, in Europe a normal day for me is around 15.000 steps just to do my normal day to day trips. That was a comparison of my life in Austin, TX with car and Edinburgh without car, because I didn't need it.
It's not just the cosmetic products: also Europeans use AC much less and Americans take a shower more often. So we Europeans sweat more in the summer and do less about it, we treat it as a fact of life (although the sweating season is getting longer with global warming). Americans will smell much less body odour in Europe when they visit in the other seasons.
An interesting aside: Americans have a stereotype about French people being smelly. This is not rooted in this general difference between Europeans and Americans (within Europe, the French are the top users of cosmetic products), but goes back all the way to WWII: Frenchmen were the first population US GIs encountered who have been under Nazi occupation for years, and since the occupiers have rationed soap use for civilians (they carried off most of the production for their own soldiers), those civilians were indeed rather smelly even by present-day (or pre-WWII) European standards.
Yep, american tourists are easily recognizable by the cloud of chemicals that follows them around everywhere. It's imho the only thing more annoying than the bewildering amount of noise they tend to make in their faulty assumption that if they can't understand the locals, the locals can't understand them either.
@@Daneelro lol I take two our three showers per day especially in the summer a quick shower in the middle of the day gives you cooling down refreshing start well that's how I'm doing it in Portugal 🇵🇹 and how I was doing it on long Island NY
@@Daneelro Very interesting fact about French stereotype.
@@indus3270 "if they can't understand the locals, the locals can't understand them either" -false assumption is such a real one. Also coupled with the fact that many Americans (at least tourists from my experience) just love to overshare stuff lol. As an American you may not be able to understand any conversations going on around you, but 9/10 of the people around you DO understand your conversations.
And yes it's the same with my American friends with whom I studied in Europe (Italy), they were twice as loud as the general public and oftentimes caught themselves realizing pretty much everyone (at least youth) could understand what they were saying haha.
The security check boarding the flight to the US is "special" for flights to the US, and AFAIK only happens when flying to the US. I believe this is a US TSA mandated check (and popped up after 9-11).
It is sort of a "welcome to the US" ordeal.
This. Those questions you got are mandatory. If they are not asked, countries, airports or companies may be refused to fly people to the US. So ironically... Airport-security is projecting US-safety on you, going home.....
That's the truth. It's only when you're flying to the US and mandated bij US TSA.
the strange thing about it tho' is that it's mandated by the USA because of 9/11 although the flights that got hijacked were ALL internal flights.
so because of very lacks and almost non existant security for internal flights in the USA the USA DEMANDS that everyone in the world takes off their shoes to fly to the USA.
TBH I know this is for us non-US but haven´t expected this to be also appliable for US citizens too... like in EU there are always designated gates at arrivals for EU citizens to go through without some deep checks...
I used to work at Heathrow London and extra checks and passenger profiling was introduced after the Lockerbie plane bombing, the checks were only for US carriers flying into the US, flying out of the US there was only the very basic security checks until after 911
I know it’s hard to get over to Europe from the US but the next time you should pick one place and stay there for a week or two. You get a far better feel for a country or region and you can relax. Americans tend to try and cram in as many countries and cities as possible and half the trip is travelling. It’s exhausting and you get no kore than an impression of a place rather than get to know it.
If you were impressed by the bicycle culture of Denmark, you really should include the Netherlands on your next trip, it will blow your mind :)
And they blow you, if you dont step out of their way :D
Yeah you guys are on the verge of bike extremism 8)
@@joaopina6898 We do. But either you learn quick. And the worst that can happen is a small hospital visit. Cars however kill.
France and Germany also are very Bike.
No, they're not.
What people eat affects their body odour. I think you noticed it because you are not used to the body odour of people eating different stuff than those you eat back home.
That's what I thought as well.
Could be. People get accustomed to their own odor, so that they don't even realize it. And if everyone has the same, it goes unnoticed.
You know, what the best remedy against garlic odor is? Eat some yourself, so you won't notice it. (dad joke)
But I remember the first time I visited the U.S. 15 years ago, what I noticed wasn't any body odors - it was the smell in the air overall.
The vegetation in California was so much different that I noticed it every time I walked on some street that had trees or bushes on it.
One place in San Fransisco had eucalyptus trees. And some places which hadn't any plant life at all also had a distinct odor…
yep spot you use to the smell of Americans basically due to diet and environment so dont notice it, its same for say someone that works in a sewer plant you become nose def basically to the smells that you encounter every day
Europeans eat less fast or GM foods.
@@maddermax74 Ive travelled in 55 different countries - people smell differently depending on their diet and social norms. Thats just the way the world is.
where I now live in Bulgaria, its the norm to use a lot of perfume, to my British senses this is overpowering. On the other hand, the elevators in my building always smell nice LOL
Hi Heidi, about the body odors: the reason maybe very simple. In fact, biking and walking makes you sweat, whereas driving your car doesn’t, right ? Also, body odors are normal, perfumes and deodorants simple are not. I was born in Germany, spent my senior high school year in California, and now have been living in France for more than 30 years. And the one thing that really shocked me in the US was the ignorance most people had about the rest of the world. So it’s really great to see people like you guys travel abroad and being open to learn first hand about other cultures. Please keep on doing so.
The US of today would be vastly different without millions of GIs having left their country for service abroad and returning with different insights (and sometimes a teenage wife). :D
Don’t forget.. she was in Europe during the hottest summer ever 🙈
And, WATER PRICE... Water is expensive in FRance... (And should be: we have water shortage around the world, I'd rather have a few body odors and healthy people, than a destroyed planet with all wild life dead because some "cagole" want some chemical on her future cancered skin),
WE have sticks and soap you know?
I once flew from Paris to Houston. After the flight I was absolutely appalled at the way people had strewn about newspapers, blankets, empty rappers, drinking cups and pillows. It was a pigsty. The stewardess told me that was normal! Well not where I come from. I also went to the Imax theater in San Antonio to see a movie about the Alamo. There were 3 other people there with me. They just kicked over their popcorn bucket and left it all on the floor expecting other people to clean up their mess. Maybe I am old fashioned or something, but who does that??
I have the impression too that inside american homes it s messy and dirty. And the garbage outside system.
For me the experience was so insulting that I never went back there. So I meet my US friends in Canada or in one of the Carribean islands.
@@pierrotlunaire117 Insulting? What happened?
@@secret3957 They took my passport and 'led' me into a room where I was left alone for nearly two hours until some of them came and started asking the dumbest questions about where I was living, who the friends I came to visit were, how come I knew them... when I asked fo a glass of water, they said they didn't have any... then they left and came back one good hour later, basically threw my passport at me and told me to go, without any explanation.
Of course, it took me a while to get my luggage back and I swore I would never go back to that country again.
So far I've remained true to myself... and happy for it.
Pls, USA, has their own way of life. You either get use to it, or avoid being in certain areas.
There is a saying that “Travel broadens the Mind”, how true that is. So glad you enjoyed your trip to Europe.
Which is a very sad thing about Americans. They generally don't travel much. For most of them, going to another state is a huge deal, and when they do, it's often something very touristy and corporate. Akin to that would be something like taking a cruise, which is not really traveling, because even getting off the boat is contrived. The next level would be something like Mexico or Canada, and this is where mind expansion begins to occur. Then there's the touristy stuff in Europe and Australia, and then in the other continents.
For the same price as a ticket to, and a week in, a place like Disneyland, someone can experience a whole new continent and culture, and gain an expansion of the mind that will last a lifetime. Especially if they've got a friend or two there to show them the not-so-touristy places - the _real_ places.
I am very surprised to hear what you said about bakeries! We have so, so many bakeries in Germany. Even the smallest village has at least one, and you will find very good bread and pastries there.
true, am quite bamboozled. Like I step out my house and have access to 4 bakeries and I don't even live in a city
Probably thats the point. I grew up in a village with three family owned bakeries. The best, fresh bread you could get. When I moved to cities to study, I could never find those kind of bakeries at all, or at least easy to reach with public transportation. The most you find are (regional) chain stores which just sell basic, bland stuff.
I live in the outskirts of a big city (Cologne) and most of the small bakeries and butcher stores that once were around my quarter closed down in the last 10-20 years.
The last 'bakeries' that are left are some chains in the city center and the supermarkets with a separated section for bread.
But I switched to making my own bread not long ago - that is, using baking mix and putting it in the bread maker machine - it comes out even fluffier than the 'fresh' one from the supermarkets, which I like. And the packages come with some suggestions for adding ingredients to variations of the recipe.
I do get what you are saying, being a Dane (from Jutland, almost as far away from Copenhagen you can get), when I visit my Brother that lives in Copenhagen, I feel like there is far between the Bakeries, compared to the smaller Towns in Denmark. and to honest (yes I am being biased), I think the Bakeries outside the bigger cities are better than the ones in them.
I have 4 or 5 bakeries within 10 minutes walking distance, but with some of them, you have to know where they are, because they are in side streets for example.
I think the diffrence with stores could also expand to our fridges. As a Polish person, I have like 5 to 6 convience stores in 5min walk and 1 big market. My shoping habits is to buy food usually for 1 or 2 days maximum. I don't usually have a lot a food in fridge that could become ineible and would be thrown away. Bread must be fresh. Great you enjoyed this trip, me also want to visit US one day and see how people live there.
Well, yes, this and the distances are a lot bigger in the US. The properties are lot larger, and there are a lot more single family buildings. As the population density is lower, everything is further away.
You must be living in a city. Here in Austria in the countryside you have to use a car to get your groceries. The next smaller Billa, Spar, is 10 km away. The larger ones between 20 und 40km.
@wolfgangpreier9160 well yes I was talking about cities and suburbs. The countryside is a different topic.
@@wolfgangpreier9160Or just in smaller towns there can be many km to the nearest store if you don't live in the "center". Atleast here in Finland.
I DONT EVEN HAVE A REFRIGERATOR I live n a 15 minute city in Bulgaria - I buy what I want to eat for the next meal.
Within 400m of my apartment, I have 4 greengrocers, 1 butcher, 1 general store, 1 small supermarket, 1 coffee bean shop that roasts on the premises, 2 bakers.
I'm really surprised you couldn't find bread in France and Germany. Germany in particular has quite a lot of different types of breads, and France is typically full of bakery's. In fact the French are obsessive about bread needing to be fresh, to the point that many will go out and buy bread every morning.
German bread is the single most overrated thing on earth. All that Roggen-Dinkel-Vollkorn stuff is just not very good.
French Pain de Campagne and Baguette on the other hand is awesome.
@@JackFate76 Very subjective. I found German sourbreads to be fantastic. Of course, that takes nothing from Frecnh breads, love them too. Just a matter of taste, I guess.
@@agnezabarutanski1963 I agree, sourthough bread is fantastic, even from germany 🙂. When I think of german bread, I mostly think of stuff like Roggen and Vollkorn and Pumpernickel, which all are OK every now and then but overall not very good. It’s all a matter of personal taste, of course.
@@JackFate76
That's kind of an ignorant comment, same I could state that French cuisine is total overrated and maybe that's for me true, it is for sure not true for a lot of people. Taste is a subjective matter and if you like white wheat product it is okay for you, but millions of other people like the more rustic German bread or, like me, both.
To be precise, they do buy some for breakfast AND diner.
But as time passes by, there are less and less real traditional bakeries. Whether you enjoy bread or not, once you try a real traditional bread, baguette or anything else, you just won't buy anything else unless you're really hungry. You will feel like throwing your money away.
I’m glad you found your trip to Europe enjoyable. I hope we can improve all the positive things you mentioned and fix what still doesn’t work, so to make Europe even better for everyone to live and to visit.
I’m also glad you had the chance to travel to a different place. Travelling outside of our own country is a very refreshing and important experience that everyone should try to make.
Fully agree. I’m thankful that I got to grow up in three different countries, it helps see a lot of things from a different perspective other than that of your native country.
Think about how we Europeans feel going through TSA/immigration entering the US not being a citizen or permanent resident. I remember my first time in the US and the 10 min interview about Everything with the TSA agent. That was horrific 😏
2 hour in line, 10 min interview each, full ID and fingerprints taken, and all in all treated like a criminal suspect for the entire duration.. the absolutely least enjoyable airport experience I've ever had..
First time in the US I tried to be friendly in the safety check by doing a play of words with the guy checking my passport, he looked up at me and said: Sir, we don't do jokes here.
Gotcha officer, since then I been very robotic with them.
@@-Rambi- Talk about humourless. I’ve heard so many stories like this. You’d never get that in Britain. The people in authority over there must be so so up their own ***es
@@Real_MisterSir funny to think that entering the "land of the free" has the same procedure as checking into jail.
I guess the only difference is that your Visa is the maximum time you are allowed to spend there, unlike the prison sentence.
TSA basic rule...dont make jokes even if it seems surreal how you are treated...they really have little humour... :D
I'm so happy you had a really nice time here in Europe. Travel is important to grow as a human and to build empathy and curiosity.
I hope you had a good experience in Denmark. I stopped flying to USA many years ago. I got tired of waiting two - three hours for passport control and customs on arrival. There are so many other beautiful places in the world.
I don't know in which areas do you stay exactly, but this with the bakery stores sounds a little weird. And here's a thought: In many places in Europe, bakery stores don't sell only bread, and they don't put it in the windows (maybe because we conseder this as something basic), and they put sweets and biscuits and other bakery stuffs in the windows. So... are you sure you didn't find enough bakery stores, or you passed by? 🙄
In a lot of places, there are no, or very few, dedicated bakeries too though. These days, it's simply just embedded into supermarkets.
@darkoulmer6881
Me, too!
👍
Bakeries have their hugh equipment so they are not that mobile. They stay where they once opened their shop. Groceries find the best possible spot to open a store there. So it is possible that over the years Bakeries are not in the neighborhood of groceriestores
😊
Depends which country (and parts of those countries) in Europe too, there is huge differences on the "bakery" subject even for neighbour countries (Spain VS France VS Italy VS Portugual VS Germany VS ...).
I thought the same thing.... In France, you have independent bakeries on every corner (I lived in Paris for five months back in the day). But they usually put the viennoiserie (sweets) into the windows.
I'm from Spain, lived in the US for five years (two different states). One of the things I found harder there was the lack of grocery-shopping convenience; but of course, one of my reverse culture shocks was "damnit! It's 5am and I can't go do my shopping!"
The first time my mother came to visit me in my current home, she complained that "there aren't any stores close by!"
I pointed out that what she's used to, having a supermarket, a butcher's and a greengrocer's you can walk to without crossing the street as well as another supermarket, two minimarkets (large convenience stores size-alike), two greengrocers and a fishmonger for which you need to cross one street _is not Spain's normal_ and that I was so terribly sorry that I only had four supermarkets (one of them what we call a hipermercado, the size of the larger US supermarkets), three butchers, two greengrocers and six takeaway places all within four blocks, which isn't exactly a food desert 🤣
With respect to the neighbourhood shops, I believe the difference is that US planning laws often separate residential from commercial. Which is why you will only really see a mix in the older big cities. Your suburbs are residential only by design.
Many places in Europe pride ourselves on having walkable cities. There’s also that jaywalking isn’t really a thing here. That was created by US motor manufacturers in the early days of motoring, when there was negative press around cars hitting pedestrians.
I still don't really understand the concept of jay walking 😂😂
Yes, it is called "zoning", and it benefits the bigger stores, as they can put everything in one place and everyone has to come to them.
Where I live (in Germany), I have all of the big name supermarkets in walking distance, and a tram connection that takes me in 20 min to the city center.
Even some fast food and regular restaurants are right around the corner, though I'm living next to the city's border.
I never bought a car in my life, and though I own a drivers license, I rarely had to use one.
@@Cau_No that’s the word I was trying to remember, zoning. Thank you.
US car manufacturers have convinced their country that “car = freedom”, just like their gun manufacturers have tried to do with their products. So they have cites designed more for cars than for people. With comparatively poor public transport.
Honestly, more cities could do with tram systems like yours. When I’ve been to cities in mainland Europe with trams, it’s usually the best way to get around.
Its also dependent on what part of the country you live in.
@@NLJeffEU So in the US, jay walking is basically that crossing the street at a place not by a crosswalk OR crossing the street at a cross walk when the light indicates Don't walk. Its rarely enforced, and generally only applicable to busy roadways. Busy is like 4-6 lanes of traffic and its easy to identify because there won't be cars parked on the side of the road usually. Its basically a law that nowadays is used as an excuse for police to stop a pedestrian or used as an 'enhancement" for fines, should you get into an accident or what not.
The body odour thing (while quite different across Europe) is IMHO part of the larger pattern where many hygiene "standards" in the US are very much consumerism driven (I get this imagery of "picture-perfect fifties suburbia" where many US "hygienisms" may be rooted, possibly even earlier?). By extension of the concept, I've observed the (for a European cosmopolitan) extreme sensitivity of Americans toward e.g. using the same spoon or drinking from the same bottle with a close family member, or by yet further extension also the perceived extreme prudishness of Americans toward things that are considered just natural in Europe, like nakedness, anything "naturally bodily", etc. In the drive to minimise our ecological footprint, it has become even more acute to become more critical of many of those wasteful habits that satisfy "over-hygienic" standards (including but not limited to overusing cosmetics, too much showering, overusing air-conditioning, avoiding walking/cycling to reduce sweating, etc.)
I can totally relate to your grocery store experience. I'm from Europe and from time to time I go to a conference in the US. It is located in some hotel complex and it is really hard to get to a grocery store from there to buy some apples or whatever. You really have to call an Uber to get there and of course also to get back. Being used to just walking to a grocery store close by, this is annoying.
The way people behave towards you depends very much on how you behave towards them. So if you met mostly nice people you probably did things the right way.
Very much true in Denmark. If you ask for help a dane will help you the rest of the day. If you dont the dane will just look like he has the most frozen shoulder in the universe
You have never been to Italy or France.
Many people in France are just outright rude and standoffish. One of the worst things about their culture.
Yes the food in Europe is healthier but also that factor you mentioned: A grocery store or bakery or butcher’s store is always conveniently nearby. You buy food right before you eat. or the evening before. That means you eat FRESH food everyday. It’s detail but it’s huge for your health. Here in usa, we have to drive to get groceries. So we stuff our fridge or freezer once a week usually with food full of preservatives which is in no way fresh. Even the most elemental foods like bread or milk. We don’t eat fresh food every day in America.
One of the things you learn in Europ(exept the UK) is that time isn't money, but a precious gift to spend with your family and friends.
Why "except the UK? " what's wrong with the UK
@@Raven44453 As someone from Eastern Europe who moved and naturalised in the UK, time is indeed money a lot more here than other parts of Europe I've lived in. The hustle culture is very real. At least in urban UK.
@vladutzuli I ve never really felt that in the UK ,but perhaps its because its my home so I don't notice it
@@Raven44453 Possibly a "fish dont notice the water" kind of thing. To notice a contrast you first need something to contrast against.
Actually, time *is* money. The difference is, everyone gains time at a constant rate, while some people earn more money than others.
Time and money can be converted into each other to some degree. You can spend money to save time by not having to make something, by traveling faster, by not having to wait, etc. You can spend time to save money by doing everything with public transportation, by walking, cycling, etc., by making stuff yourself, you can spend time by working in exchange for money, etc.
The more money you earn, the more valuable your time becomes to you. At some point you realize, true luxury is to be able to spend all your time on things you love.
The US seems to be to a large degree about bragging, about selling yourself as well as you can, at the expense of having time for your family. This obviously excludes the bottom layers of society, as they have so little money and not the opportunity (or time) to actually take actions that will save them money, but that is a problem of society in the US. Here in Europe, we have a social network that is actually working (most of the time), so the basic needs are covered and people can take action to spend less money. E.g. a lot of people make do without a car.
I could go on for hours...
In Spain and I think that in the rest of Europe it is also like that, in the vast majority of occasions when a pedestrian is hit by a car, the driver is civilly liable for the injuries caused to the pedestrian, criminal liability is another story. . Driving a vehicle carries with it a responsibility that includes taking into account even the negligence of pedestrians. In Europe the pedestrians are especially protected since we are all pedestrians when we go to school, to the store, to the bar, to the park, to buy bread...
It’s good to hear you had a good experience visiting Europe. I understand the reasoning behind only going for 2.5 weeks, since getting vacation time in the US, can be a bit more tricky than most places in Europe. I hope you can stay longer next time, and you are more than welcomed in Denmark again, so we can show even more of the country to you 😊
I had Mexican mushrooms in Christiania. Then I went to Tivoli and it was a blast.
Visiting 4 different countries in 2.5 weeks, THAT is very American.
LoL
@@fredosinsemilla3896 Sounds like a good time.
I totally get what you mean about the grocery store, I am Canadian, but my family is from Europe so I spent all my summers in Europe. The thing is, why it all makes sense to have so many things in walking distance in Europe is a mixture of many things that tie in together. A big one being the food, in North America we are dependent on hormones, pesticides etc. to get food/fruit available all year round, In most Europe they eat what is in season, this eradicates the dependency on preservatives. So these local stores, are within walking distance to allow access to fresh food to be purchased easily as most people do not buy weeks of food in Europe (like in North America) it is common for them to purchase a day or two worth of food...... btw Also the reason you see smaller refrigerators- not "American-Size". A great way to tell how we differ from Europe is, our bread is packed with many ingredients to last for a few days if not longer in the fridge, in Europe we would walk to the bakery daily to get our bread "for the day", otherwise the next day it is hard as a rock, due to it being so fresh. The other key thing is, I could eat 3x what I eat in a day in Canada but not gain any weight, another item proving that the additives are impacting hormone and weight management in North America. Also many people have less Allergens to foods in Europe. To show the detail and attention that Europe puts into food standards, take a look at ingredients listed on food items, almost 3 quarters of the ingredients added in North America is BANNED in the EU. In relation to the body odor, I get what you mean, TBH I find us supersensitive to Natural Body Odors in North America, Understanding that the heat levels, and the amount of physical movement in Europe is 3x anyone in North America (not talking about exercising, movement to "live ADL's"). I am so chill about that when in Europe, we are generally talking about odors related to sweating, NOT unbathed or "dirty" odors. So I find it absolutely normal and not offensive at all. Glad you got to visit some beautiful countries. Travel is the opportunity to connect w/ different people, cultures a true education of life. One of the main reasons I live in Canada, you walk through so many neighbourhoods and I swear you know which part of the city you are in by the smells of the food being cooked in that neighbourhood. It is a luxury to get authentic cultural cuisine that has not been Canadianized (or Americanized). But I do miss Europe!!!
I think you can feel, that your roots are in Europa
Bread is not hard as a rock after 1 day unless it's not wholemeal or you don't keep it in its waxed paper bag.
Europe is by far, the best region of the world in my opinion. Not only the food, but the living quality, education, transports, climate, and most of all culture. Europe is made of many many countries and regions with its own culture, language, history and traditions. That’s the real richness of this fabulous continent.
You’ve answered the question of why (certainly in the UK) we have smaller refrigerators, because the shops are more accessible
Also, food in Europe has far fewer preservatives than in the USA so we need to go shopping more regularly and buy less.
@@blotski Most UK supermarkets do a 6 pint milk option, a US Gallon is 6.6 UK pints, so not that different.
I Know the 6 pint milk is not the most bought option, I think that is either the 2 or 4 pint, but there is normally a cage of 1, 2, 4 and 6 pint plastic containers in Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys. Not seen 6 pint in Aldi, Lidl or M&S, not sure about Waitrose. The 6 pint fits in a standard UK fridge door, I tend to get 4 pints myself but when the option (at a busy time) was 1 pint or 6, I opted for 6, has same width as a 4 pint. Most UK fridge doors can take 3, 4 pint containers or 2, 6 pint.
@Blotski, also our gallons re bigger than theirs. Many twenty years ago l went to Texas, and when having a discussion with some locals, l said that our pints and gallons were bigger than theirs. Well, you would think l had committed a crime to suggest that something in the US was smaller than elsewhere. This was before Google etc so l could not “prove” it to them, and they just wouldn’t have it!
@@stephenlee5929I always buy 6 pints because it’s better value
@ciert135 Times ne stupid question, how many liters does this correspond ? With these strange units of measurement I can start zero. When my mother was still alive she said with I should buy a quarter pound of cold cuts The conversion has made me crazy.
It’s extremely hot now in southern Europe, heatwave after heatwave, forest fires, drought due to climate change, and men there tend to be more hairy as well aka the Mediterranean: Spain, France, Italy, Greece etc. Body hair means more smell. And what do people do when hot? They sweat. And what you eat also impacts this, especially if spicy foods. As a Norwegian I find people from Africa and south Asia to smell more, due to what they eat. And this is all due to what you’re accustomed/used to. If from that specific culture you wouldn’t notice this compared to someone who isn’t. That’s it. Doesn’t necessarily mean they smell “bad”. It’s just you who isn’t used to smelling it.
I am so glad that you and your partner finally made it to Europe. Can't wait to see the detailed videos! 🤘🏼
Dutchman here! Glad to hear you enjoyed your time in Europe. Yes, their are so many different countries/cultures/lifestiles to choose from, so please come again and enjoy other countries as well. I certainly understand you avoiding the well-trodden touristic cities/sites. That way you see/experience the real European lifestyle and cultures. One of the youtube channels I can advise is "Walters World". He is a really experienced travel advisor and can tell you the pros and cons of almost any country in Europe. Love to hear more of your trips.
I too am a fan of "Walters World"...
Helps that he LIVED in Europe for a while too...
Buy the coffee beans, grind it at home. Usually that type of coffe is better
And much cheaper too
And it tends to keep fresh longer/lose flavor slower.
Or buy one of those fully automatic coffee machines, where you just put in the beans and the water, and it makes you a fresh cup of coffee every time. I have one, and now I don't like the coffee made from coffee-powder anymore.
I know it's at least partly a stereotype, but Americans go to Starbucks when they want coffee, right?
Hey Heidi, great to hear you did it.
There were several prominent authors, all said it slightly differently, but it all boils down to: once you leave your own country and experience others, your eyes will be opened, and you can never go back to being blind/ignorant/less cognizant again. You choose the word that's most appropriate/least insulting.
It truly is a life altering experience. Not necessarily monumental, but important nonetheless. Only when looking back at your own pre-traveling self will you notice the difference.
Edit: now that I've watched your video I can tell you that a) I've been grinning through the video the whole time, and b) been nodding my head nearly constantly in recognition and affirmation when you told your story.
B.O.: potentially less use of overpowering perfumes/deodorant as well as more activity during the summer without AC. Like somebody else said below also the proximity of people due to a smaller or even non-existent personal space in general in Europe. That's the downside of the compactness here. Everyone gets used to smaller personal space.😅😂
Starting to travel was the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life and literally changed it for the better. I really hope that everybody gets the opportunity to experience it as much as they can.
Hi, thank you for the video and "hello" from Germany. You mentioned having been to Germany and I can't comprehend how you could have not had access to a bakery very easily....they are everywhere (!) around here. Come to Mainz and we would be honoured to introduce you to German bread ;-) Lovely that you had the opportunity to visit Europe!
When you talk about grocery stores, I would say that not having a grocery store near an apartment that you would like to sell, for example, it would dramatically lower your price. Having at least a small shop in the neighbourhood is something you absolutely need to be able to live. It is just considered a necessity, same as public transportation.
About the body odour, it might be just summer and a lot of tourists in one place... or maybe you just happened to be next to smelly people. But I have a feeling you are just not used to ever standing close to other people in America. Your personal space is always bigger, so you don't really get to smell other people.
Ive travelled in 55 different countries - people smell different depending on their diet and social norms. Thats just the way the world is.
@@piccalillipit9211 Do you work for CIA or Mossad?
@@piccalillipit9211 that is also true, but I don't feel like european diet would be so different from north american diet. yes, quality of ingredients is different, but as a cuisine it uses the same spices and same basic principles of preparation. if we talk about asian or south american countries they are using different ingredients, spices, procedures (fermentation for example etc) so out of all cuisines north american and european are probably the most similar. and hygiene is also quite similar I would say, people shower and go to work, they shower after gym, they don't use traditional herbal cosmetic products, lifestyle is very similar... so I am not really sure that there is any major difference... I don't know maybe it is different cosmetics, but we all have dove, and head and shoulders and old spice in our supermarkets, products that are used in the US, and it is all widely used and other cosmetics are similar to those. I don't know I am rambling, but sounds odd to me that people in europe would smell more than in the america, it sounds more like a coincidence to be honest.
@@fredosinsemilla3896 HAHAHHA - no I just had a very sh!tty childhood I was running away from for a long time LOL
@@myflyingkidney - I mostly agree. I could not tell the difference if I went from living here in Bulgaria to France. But if I went back to the UK for 6 months and then went to France I could tell the difference. The UK they eat way less fresh food so much less fresh onion and garlic, so I think that might be the answer. OR - she just met some very smelly people - lets be real, it happens LOL
So happy to see that you went!❤❤❤ Can't wait to hear of your experiences in each country
So interesting to listen to your video (I'm living in Germany) and hear your perspective. It's always good to change perspective. When I was several times in Florida, I also discovered a 'new world'
Much love 💕
Matthias 👋
Great video. As a dane I am looking forward to the Copenhagen video. Btw you can find a lot of bakeries in Copenhagen. They are not expensive because of tourism. They are in general just crazy expensive. Thanks for visiting my small country. I hope you will revisit one day
Love the way it was the "smaller" things that excited you , that is kinda charming. And when it comes to security at the Airport, that was for your sake, trying to look out for you (and take it as a strange kind of compliment) , The body odour I think is just random. But nice you enjoyed it , the trip that is :)
And by the way alone in Copenhagen there is around or more than 20 bakeries and more than than 700 in the whole country that is one for every 7800 person. So impressive you missed them :) :)
yes very impressive to have walked through K-town and not meet a Lagkagehuset :D I would call it a super power :D
i think the body odor is just because of everything was new to you...an or maybe cause you seen a lot more people than in just normal 2,5 Weeks...
Well the body odor is prob cause people walk more than drive. In america they drive a lot so i think is just cause people walk way more
Body odor could also be more noticeable because of a different diet. For instance people who eat a lot of dairy smell different when you are usually surrounded by people who don’t. As long as it is not pungent, it’s okay 😅 When you are surrounded by people who eat the same, they smell the same, sort of. You get used to it so you might not notice it as much.
on the body odour: in europe we dont have much of air conditioning or even ceiling fans. It can get a bit sweaty and smelly in European Summer.
Our honeymoon (both german) was going to the US from Boston to Cape Cod to New York (by rented car) to Washington DC (by train / AMTrack) during the fall of 2015/2016.
People were friendly (especially service / staff) and going to cape cod (with the fall coloring all the leafs) and new york (the big apple) afterwards was a huge contrast. But not in a bad way. I will never forget how I felt, when "the whole world / all ethnicities" had passed me after walking some blocks in new york. It actually felt good and wholesome - like the idea of a meltling pot country but materialized/come to life.
I loved seeing the care that was taken for people with special needs / disabilities and liked that people seemed to be more releaxed / less jugdged.
Therefore I am happy that your experience was good and can only give that positive feedback back to the US.
Delighted to hear you had a wonderful time on your first trip outside the US to Europe!😊 Looking forward to watching your videos about each country you visited and how you travelled from one country to the next!
I am very happy you finally came and had a good time. My suggestion for next time you come is to pick one place, somewhere you know you liked the first time, not too touristy, and plan a whole week in a rental, to explore a bit more in depth. This tends to be cheaper because if you have a rental and stay put for a week you can save on moving from place to place and also just eat off the groceries and cook your meals. By staying you may try to live as though you were a European for a few days. Obviously, you will still be on holiday, so no work etc. But it can be a really rewarding experience to just visit local things (like stying in Padua, visiting the lical stuff, taking short distance trains to Venice and Treviso, for instance) and keep a slower pace for a few days, while really getting to know "your neighborhood".
Re BO. Well, we just also consider it normal in Summer. I am not talking about days old stale sweat. But the fact that at the end of a hot Summer day you may not be super fresh is considered normal. Indeed I am going to have a shower shortly because I had a superhot day of walking across Turin yesterday, then just fainted in bed when I got home, so I badly need to freshen up. Generally speaking we prefer being less fresh at the end of the day, but not reek of excessive perfume to start with.
Finally, girl, they interviewed you at the airport because you honestly look 17. You have some good genes going on.
You've built a great channel and community with it, you really can make content for HOURS about your vacation trip haha
Dear, body odor is not a thing we cherish, But when you travel home from a night shift and your deodorant fails you, that´s what happens. Our deodorants might not be as strong as in the US, because we don´t like chemicals in it that harms you. We have stict laws for a lot of things, like what belongs in food od cosmetics. We have in Europe scientists constantly testing things in laboratories BEFORE they are allowed on the market. As I was informed, it is the other way round in the US.
That's the worst excuse ever
I’m Australian. For a few years in the 90s I had an export job, selling Australian office equipment into Asia, Europe and the USA I travelled extensively throughout Asia,Europe and the USA Like you, I revelled in the differences. Wherever I went I tried to avoid tourist spots and go where the locals go. Especially eating One of the striking surprises for me about that whole experience was that in all that travelling, there were only two places I couldn’t make myself understood in English. Those two places were downtown Los Angeles and M street in Washington DC IN LA, the area my hotel was in was a problem because I didn’t understand any Spanish. I don’t know whether the locals (including the hotel management and staff) were just winding me up but I had to walk out of the hotel and down the street to a pharmacy to be understood. In Washington DC all the African Americans spoke a variation of English that was incomprehensible to me, and they would answer my question in ways I was none the wiser for asking.
So glad you enjoyed your time in Europe. Please come back soon to visit more countries.
Always welcome in the U.K. ❤
Hi Heidi ! I really hope you enjoyed your trip to Europe. I just saw your Videos on YT a few days before, but realizing youre quite open minded, i think you are on a good way to experience the differencies between the US and Europe. Although me as a German I am not finished getting all different cultres assimilated until now, i wont stop getting it until I'm done. What european people dont like is ignorant people. So feel real Welcome back in Europe
as a German I am not finished getting all different cultres assimilated until now
As a fellow European, this statement from a German makes me feel unsafe! :D Sorry for the bad joke but I really couldn't resist :D
I did Not get used to Visit all those countries but i will do so
Not goin to invade them
Not a Warrior comin for you😂
@@maiklohre3476 😆Please invade the UK. We need help!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Very interesting to hear. For a European (Dutchie), four countries in 2,5 weeks sounds crazy 🤯. I can't imagine all the impressions to process in such a short time. Most people here either stay in one place and do daytrips, or 'trek' through one country. It helps of course a lot of us get to have multiple vacations a year so we feel less rushed.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_It%27s_Tuesday,_This_Must_Be_Belgium ;-)
If that sounds crazy to you, as a Dutchman, then I, also a Dutchman, wonder if you perhaps never paid attention in geography class. Doing 4 countries in 2.5 weeks from the Netherlands is INCREDIBLY easy due to itself being quite small and having 2 direct neighbours but several other countries very close by. Germany. Luxemburg. Belgium. France. Take a ferry to the UK and go back. You'd have multiple days to spend in each place and plenty of time to travel.
@@classicallpvault8251 I see your Dutch and I raise you my Belgian. We can speak 3 different languages riding around on our bicycles. None of them are English so naturally we learn English too. Then we travel, a lot. And lo and behold this boy met a girl so I learned how to have a conversation with my mother in law who only speaks Bulgarian. Belgium is a small and complicated place full with people. I need peace and quiet so I am moving to Sweden in my retirement.
You'd be surprised that with all these languages to learn I found time to pay attention in geography class but yes, I did. I also became an engineer and worked for a while in Eindhoven. Eindhoven is full of Belgians. My then boss told me ''Give me Belgians, they know their stuff'' It's a different story with our universities. For some reason they are full with Dutch students.
I'll be kind and assume it is because of the beer.
Don't make assumptions about peoples intelligence/education or lack thereof is what I wanted to say.
@@classicallpvault8251 Why so aggressive and personal? Very unnecessary. On topic: We're talking about travel here, not a "how many countries can I pass through in 2,5 weeks-challenge". In 2,5 weeks you don't do any of those four countries justice, imho. Different people like different things, I suppose. Though I can appreciate US Americans doing it, because it's the only time they've got for a whole year.
Agreed. No-rush trips is my family's style as well. Although we went to three countries (Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands) we spent a good number of days in each country. Plus, Brussels to Amsterdam was just a hop away by train so that wasn't a day lost due to travel time. We basically have a loose plan for the day, don't rush on anything, just chill, and soak in the atmosphere. I mean, almost one whole day was spent getting plastered at a winery. That day was awesome.
The past three years really did a number on our finances so no long vacations abroad for the foreseeable future. I miss Europe. * sigh *
I discovered your channel recently. Loving your vids and glad you got to experience this. Good for you! Also that you managed to do it in a relaxed manner. Holidays should recharge you! Best regards from Europe
The fact that in America you need to drive by car to shop for groceries means that food generally needs more preservatives and naturally can't be as fresh no matter how you look at it. The cooling chain is badly interrupted when you take your groceries for a half hour drive and sit in traffic. In Europe, you can get fresh ingredients from the next corner shop every day by walking there and prepare them fresh. In America, you simply cannot. You might prepare a fresh meal once or twice per week but if you wait, food will spoil and you tend to get tired of it and eliminate fresh food from your diet, instead adding unhealthy sugary, oily food that has more shelflife.
So sorry to hear about your experience at the airport. I'm sure the security had to ask these questions if anything raised their suspicions, but I totally understand that that is something you simply do not forget.
I mean the us border controll strip you down take your fingerprints and stuff. Nothing can be worse than us border controll in Airports. Nothing.
Hey Heidi. Glad you had a good holiday and thank you for your description of Denmark. It might be perceived as a smug navel-gazing, but I am interested in how people from other countries perceive Denmark. It is ONE way to learn something about ourselves. Looking forward to your video about Denmark, - my beloved homeland :-)
I loved visiting Denmark as a Brit, but I’m afraid my most abiding memory was the outlandish prices!
@@phueal Well ,- was it worth it ? ;-)
@@phueal Just come to Norway, Denmark will seem very cheap!
Clean, boring, expensive and the people talk funny. Perfect country to raise a family.
@@BjørjaBear Oh yes. If you want to pay high prices for small portions and very low diversity of food products?....come visit Norway :)
Scenery is next level though!
Quite nice to hear a first-time experience of an American in Europe. Here in Paris France there is really a bakery in every street, I think you were a bit unlucky on that point. The body odor thing is probably true. Driving with AC and more deodorants in the US reduce body odor a lot probably. Also my experience is, that you are usually more aware of smells in far foreign countries. Previously I thought body odor had some link to bad hygiene and health risk, but since Covid I found that the two things are quite uncorrelated. Smell is more a taste.
And in Finland many grocery stores have bakeries in them, a bread section with a bakery, so in different cities and countries one had to know where to look for a bakery. We do have independent bakeries as well of course. But yeah quite surprised about the bakery part as I have seen a lot of bakeries all around Europe.
You only can taste sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. Your nose does almost all of the ‘tasting’.
Body odor has got a lot to do with what you eat... They eat differently in other places so there you go.
Great to see someone understanding the car-dependency they've been brought up in, and just how nice it is to be somewhere with other options. Now you'll have to start watching Not Just Bikes and Oh the Urbanity, and Shifter and StrongTowns. Once you've seen it you can't unsee it.
Body odor is a toppic that could fill whole encyclopedias 🤔
First you have to seperate do they just smell or do they actually stink?
The smell itself can actually work like an aphrodisiac. Test it, hug your hubby and smell him right behind his ears after workout. Its just important the sweat is fresh and not 3 days old.
On the other hand the majority of people in Europe just prefer the convienience. We shower once a day, use just some deo under the arm pits and thats it!
No eau de cologne, no aftershave, or other kinds of perfume is needed on an everyday base. If you over do it people even may start to trash talk:" XYZ smells again like a 7floor Brothel!"
... and since nobody here uses AC, sweat management becomes especially handy during summer because of the evaporative cooling caused by the thin layer of sweat on your skin.
Body odor is also very entangled with the food you eat and spices used in it. For example when colleagues from India visited their body odor was very specific. For many Europeans that is noticed, because it is different than any other local. So I think it is mainly a cultural food difference as I do not experience body odor from anyone I encounter here in the Netherlands for example.
As a mexican living in Prague for the last 10+ years, the body odor is real, specially during summer. My theory is that summers weren't so hot in the past and people got used to not showering/bathing every day. Also, a lot of people dont like wearing deodorant because of the chemicals in them.
Very interesting. May be I need to update my cleanliness. I wouldn’t have thought we smell more.
Yes, as🇨🇿: the weather wasn't so hot, we don't use much AC, walk a lot. I think the most people take shower every day (maybe only the old generations not), but yes, we are not fans of deodorants...
Very nice you made it to Europe. I can understand you tried to pack in as many places/countries as possible, but 2.5 weeks (if I understood correctly) for 4 countries are very ambitious. I think that's more of a frame to get a glimpse of just one country, such as France, Germany or Italy. Anyways, I am very curious about your videos and what you have experienced. You should definitely come back for longer. :)
I would say the same! Very short time for so many countries! Usually, when I go abroad, it is for minimum a week per country, and even then it feels too short of a time to really get to know the places.
@@kennethaxi The way I think about it, you have to live in the country for a while and then you get to know the country and the people. + History of that country.
-Fin
@@randomnukke546 That's a quite complicated topic. I have lived and worked in 5 European countries and vistited around 50 worldwide, many of them at least for a month including South America and Asia. Obviously, if you live somewhere the expereince is very unique. But I don't think you necassarily have to live somewhere to get an idea of a country. But what I can certainly say is, that a few days are not enough. Maybe in Andorra or Liechtenstein, but certainly not in France, Germany or Italy.
That’s pretty much the same as seeing California in 3 days..
@@millmoormichael6630 Maybe size-wise, but for sure not culturally wise, sorry
I´m looking forward to your videos of Europe!
*I DONT EVEN HAVE A REFRIGERATOR* I live n a 15 minute city in Bulgaria - I buy what I want to eat for the next meal.
Within 400m of my apartment, I have 4 greengrocers, 1 butcher, 1 general store, 1 small supermarket, 1 coffee bean shop that roasts on the premises, 2 bakers.
It’s so funny listening to your experiences! 😅
As a European I’m surprised by what you said about bakeries. Cause they are literally everywhere and you actually can buy there real bread. I’m not sure what you’re eating in the states but it’s definitely not bread. And your awkward feelings about custom service just shows me that you have to leave your country more often. 😉 If you have never spend 10h in a tiny room, got rid of your clothes except underwear and been asked tons of private questions when you tried to enter the USA, then you never experienced the worst custom service around the whole world.
But all in all I’m happy for you to make your first steps into the world of travelling! 👍
I am a European living in America, and a general misconception we have about the States is that the bread is not real bread and it comes in a plastic wrapper bag. What most Europeans don't realize is that you can get freshly baked bread without preservatives or additives from a proper bakery. Also, every major general store has a bakery that sells European style bread that is hot out of the oven, or only a few hours fresh. It's more expensive, but it's the real thing.
@@m.dewylde5287 I've never been to the US but of course you can find fresh "real" bread there 🤣
@@m.dewylde5287 Well, I’m not sure where you come from, if you would be from a country like Poland, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland where you can find a huge variety of bread you would be disappointed when you go to a bakery in the US. Of course you can buy fresh bread as well. But first you have to rob a bank to afford it, second it’s still full of sugar/? and don’t taste like what I would call bread. But of course taste in North America is different to Europe. 😉
@@meinekleineweltreise I am from Romania where they have an incredible variety of breads. I also lived in Austria for a few years. The variety of European style breads in Portland, OR is not as great as Romania's, but much better than Austria. I never heard of the use of sugar in European bread, so no, there's no sugar in it. The price for a fresh, large loaf of organic bread here is about $5, which is comparable with the prices in Western Europe, but much higher than Romania.
@@m.dewylde5287 I lived in the US 20 years ago and there were no bakeries in downton Boston... hopefully things have changed now. That's the thing, Americans would say "oh, but there's this bakery in this place, off road X" - and to a European, acess to a bakery should not require a trip. I had to make do with supermarket bread (sourdough mostly) and fresh bagels. I seriously missed French bread as much as I missed my family! :D
Bakeries you find mostly in the part of town, where the people live. In City centers you have to be lucky, to find one. In our "suburbans" you have more luck.
Be safe. Elmar from Germany
Well, the TSA is a nice example how NOT to to let a visitor feel welcome :D
On the other hand, we had an exchange student here from the US, and he really asked us when we planned to immigrate to the US as he was under the impression that EVERYONE wanted to live in the US. Well, I explained the many reasons why I rather stay in Europe. After his exchange period he did understand and was amazed how different the US is and in many ways not in the best way to be different, so I asked him, when he planned to move here :D
Oh wow you did 4 countries in 2.5 weeks? crazy, I don't think Europeans would ever travel like that, 2 weeks for one country is so little. I'm so glad for you though that you could experience this, travelling gives you so much more than money can buy. It changes you and your view of the world forever.
I think the thing that happened at the airport is very unusual, I have been to many countries and airports in Europe and this has never ever happened to me. Maybe you looked similar to someone they were looking for?
Next time you travel:
To quickly get over any strangeness or feeling of being the alien in another culture, look for the similarities. Things that you recognise. That's your base, the things that you recognise so you feel more at home, even when on the other side of the world. That's when you can relax and enjoy the differences, because you know that even if you're somewhere they speak another language, they're still people getting through their day, and many of them would be happy to help if you ask them politely.
No bakeries!! In Germany, there is a bakery on almost every road. It is part of daily life to wake up and go to the bakery first to get fresh bread or rolls for breakfast.
I found you by accident. What I noticed about you, is that since you visited Europe, you speak much calmer, you are not that loud when you speak now. That's nice. And it is fun to listen to your experiences from Europe. Next visit Göteborg/Gothenburg?
"The land of the free - whoever told you that, is your enemy" A little Rage Against the MAchine Quote for you there. Hi from Denmark. :D
Hi I'm glad you enjoyed your first time outside the usa and hope you get the chance to spend time in one place and get the chance to chill out and unwind which is what holidays are ment for.
You must know something about Europe, almost every country in it. What you describe at the airport is something that we, the citizens of Europe, experience ourselves. Although our countries are very safe from serious crime and the only danger is someone stealing your wallet, what you encountered was state repression. and there is a lot of it. And don't misunderstand what I'm saying. These two are not related. It is not that countries are safe because there is repression. Countries are safe because the culture and functioning of society makes them safe, and repression exists to keep governments safe from societies. We have a lot of police, a lot of checks, a lot of questions, a lot of cameras... At the airport in Spain there are even live wires so you don't touch the ventilation system
as an european I disagree to this comment. If you think there is repression in Europe then I suggest you visit some african, south american countries and russia and then say your opinion again. To me you sound like a frustrated spoled brat who has no idea how much freedom we have here.
@computerjantje Firstly, have YOU been to those places? Or do you know how it is from what the news tells you?
Second, are you European? Because I am. And as a European, it doesn't make me proud that a girl like Heidi came to Europe for vacation, from America (which is famous for police brutality), and felt uncomfortable here.
Thirdly, as a European, it doesn't make me proud that I feel the same way living here either.
Fourth, I cut you off for middle-aged nostalgia for fascism with a lust for control, so I have no intention of continuing the conversation with you. Anyway, I wrote to Heidi in the first place, not to you
Hey Heidi, greetings from CPH Denmark, great to hear about your overall experiences from your trip. Looking forward to watch videos of the individual places you've been to as well.
You should definitely include Spain on your next trip. Wine, food and people are just next level. No words ;)
The thing about pickpocketing and fraud being the things to be wary about in Europe is it doesn't mean it happens a lot, I've never been very cautious about my stuff and never had anything stolen from me
It is more like a warning that those kind of crimes do happen while heavier crimes are much more rare
Thnx for sharing, I need to go travel again too soon 🙂
It's not a big thing at all except in the touristy areas and some major train stations. In normal everyday life this is basically never an issue
@@LeutnantJoker really depends on the country. For example I spent a few months in Odesa, where pickpocketing is relatively common. (I know the language, look local, am with locals, etc.) But man did I love Odesa. So angry at the russians for launching rockets on the city.
Hope you had a wonderful experience.
She did.
happy to hear that you had a good time in Europe, hope we'll have you back here in the future. Regards from Luxembourg
It's so weird, you remind me SO much of an American friend I have called Angela. Been noticing it since the first time I saw your videos. Slightly in looks, but way more it's your personality, and especially how you talk about the US vs EU and your whole attitude around it. Weirding me out lol!
4:51 it's no later than about 2 hours ago, that I was mumbling to myself "God, Copenhagen has become such a car-hell" when going home lol. Different perspectives :)
Anyway, hope you had a wonderful trip :)
Yay to you for taking the trip!
It is so crucial to make experiences firsthand, so you would understand what "the others" are talking about. And, yes, most Europeans would just consider US Americans to be loud and noisy. But you have to be there, understand it, actually hear the difference. And this is just one example. And overall, food quality in the EU should be better. If not, werwould have seriously screwed up. 😅
And, yes, the zone building in US cities demands for a car. Definitely NOT the European way. I live in walking distance of several groceries stores and restaurants here in Berlin. And I wouldn't want it to be any other way. Because this adds to your quality of life.
Lovely to hear your experiences and to hear you had a good time over here💐
Lovely video. Thank you for visiting Europe. You should taste bread from Finland you will love it. Hope to see you and your family back again soon.❤
Happy you enjoyed it. Watching your videos I'd like to add that checking 4 countries in 2,5 weeks is quite a lot. Usually I (and many people I know) tend to spent 2 weeks in one country alone easily and still want to stay longer, plus the occasional weekend getaway to a city.
There are many touristy places all over Europe, but you can still go there and buy stuff there, not all are rip offs. With the Bakeries, due to inflation and the high prices for everything a lot of small bakeries had to close down in many countries, but you should still see them everywhere, oftentimes around subway or train stations.
Grocery stores ... within 6 Minutes of walking I get to about 8 different grocery stores here in Vienna.
Now about the odor thing: Yes, we Europeans smell :) North Americans (including Canadians, since I stayed there half a year) were quite interested in that topic. Where you guys often shower twice a day, many Europeans do not shower every day depending on their work and such.
Oh, come now. Most ppl shower at least once a day
@@dominika3762 No, most people shower at most once a day. I don't know any European, who showers more than that (except during heat waves) but also I know many that shower less than that.
I was in Padua a week ago for the first time and its a wonderful place. The best part is a bicycle culture in that city, but for the infrastructure you shouldve went to Florence instead of Venice. As for the nature, if you travel to the random lakes in Italy, you would never get disappointed.
about the food, never forget that many ingredients forbidden in Europe are still in use in the US, this says a lot about quality
Glad you liked it!
I like you took some time off on the journey, with the long mornings and lazy days. IMHO, an average (Central European) gets a two week vacation in the summer, books 10 days (not to be rushed with the packing and unpacking), 1 day sightseeing in the place he's in, 2 days to the close local worthy beach/nice view/castle/hike. 2 trips to the 2 closest towns sightseeing, and other 5 days in-between that staying close to the base, visiting local beaches/restaurants/caffes/parks/whatever and just chilling.
I think that ratio is a real vacation. Some itineraries I see look more like a job than vacation...
About the body odour. Is hygene a bigger thing in the us in general? Im an architect and whenever i work with americans they want so many bathrooms. Often one per bedroom. In Sweden the standard is one bathroom per family and one extra smaller guest toilet. Or Perhaps we just dont care as much? 😂
So HAPPY you loved your Europe experience!! Cant wait to see your videos! ❤
I dont know about others, but for me personally, I hate having to share a bathroom.
I'm glad you guys have been here, I live not far away from Padua and Venice and yes I can confirm Venice is a very tourist city! Hope you'll come back again in future, thre are a lot of "authentic" places to visit here!
I went in 1972 and even then I thought it was full of Japanese. But now when I see it on RUclips I don’t think I would be able cope with standing in such long queues and being in such hunch crowds. So grateful I had that experience. .
I'm a 73 year-old American expat. I packed up, sold, or gave away everything I owned and moved to the south of France 6 years ago. I was 67 at the time. I love it here. I only visit the US every couple of years to see my kids. Am I anti-American? No. Do I want to go back? No. Why in the world would I want to give up a stress-free life, good food, great wine, a standard of living half that of the US, and free healthcare? To quote George Carlin "The reason they call it the American Dream is because you have to be asleep to believe it."
Free healthcare?
It’s a very (very) hot summer across much of Europe and there is far less air con. Plus, more people are walking and taking public transport instead of travelling in cars with the air con cranked. Any antiperspirant, deodorant or fragrance will be overpowered in a couple of hours.
Really fun to see your reactions to the world!
Living in Copenhagen with my whole family, I would be happy to show you around next time. Let us know:) Hope you had a chance to at least visit Tivoli, Bakker, The Royal Castle, Rosenberg or Kronborg. (By the way: The potato-thing is kind of true, sorry for us 😊)
She has a Danish friend - someone who studied in the US. Thats why they went to Denmark.
I assume that friend lives in Copenhagen, since thats the place, they went for a few days.
I can tell you she did visit both Bakken and Tivoli - spent -a little more than- *around* 7 hours in Tivoli.
Went through The Kings Garden, so caught a glimpse of Rosenborg on the way to see Amalienborg, on the way to dinner.
Bakeries are quite often not located in city centers, because rents would be too hight there. They tend to be more often in residential areas or public trasport hubs. Next time use Google maps to find some. Especially in Germany and France you shouldn't have had problems finding some.
Great that you took some time to chill, but you still had a hectic schedule - 4 countries in 20 days! Try stopping for a couple of weeks in one place, get to know the local people - I think you would appreciate it.
On the body odour thing, I believe it's a recent thing bc EU recently banned some ingredient in deodorant and now I haven't been able to find one that ''works'' for the whole day, same brands worse quality.
Usually at flights from Europe to the US, the US have their own extra security with american personnel.
I had the same rather confusing experience. I was on a business trip but have no business cards and literally had to boot up my work laptop and show my e-mail flow to prove I work there. I am from the Netherlands and the company was Swedish and I didnt need a passport to fly to the Stockholm HQ...
Yes, they do... at least they had it when I flew to the USA. I found it quite intimidating.
In Holland tgere was a discussion that there should be more 'blue' out on the street. Police should be more visible in the streets .
But when people would be seeing 2 patrol cars , with like 5 cops, people would feel more unsafe : ' what are all those coppers doin here ? What is going on?'.
But then again when p
Travel educates ... that's what they say in Germany - and it's true.
I think that you learn above all about yourself - and that, perhaps, is even the most important thing.
Agree💯%
“Travel broadens the mind” is the classic British saying
Venice is quite a cool and chill place after 6 pm when most of the day tourists left the city
Bakeries is a dying business in Denmark as an independent store. Instead they have moved into or been outcompeted by larger grocery stores or malls. Some of the grocery store chains often has a real bakery working in the store, but a lot of the chains have resorted to bake-off. They get everything pre made and delivered regularly. All they have to do is throw it in the oven and fill the shelfs when needed.
So you're saying that we smell? For me (a Dane) it's pretty rare that I come across someone who smells really bad, usually people are pretty "neutral". And then sometimes you get the kind of people where you can smell their perfume in a radius of 20m (65ft), and that's just as bad.