America is supposed to be the home of the free, but not only are luxuries not free, they might be more expensive here than in Europe. There is a real difference between the ideation of luxury in America versus overseas. While one country might take things for granted, another might see it as something to be coveted. Although our European cohorts might think having these things is no big deal, Americans think otherwise!
Safety
European cities and countrysides tend to be much safer than those in America. Whether it is America's right to bear arms or just the culture, Europeans enjoy a greater degree of safety and much less anxiety over fear of violence and crime. What a luxury to go to bed at night not checking your door several times, just to make sure.
Environmentally Friendly Products
European people tend to take environmental protection much more seriously. Companies and citizens alike value the earth more solidly than their American counterparts. Where Americans usually have to pay more for recycled products, Europeans don't. It isn't a luxury to practice a “green” life in Europe. It is just a way of life.
European Bakeries
In America, we don’t have bakeries on every corner, at least in most cities. Bakeries that exist here are places like Panera Bread and Starbucks, which are both chain restaurants and charge a hefty penny for baked goods. In Europe, bakeries are the norm, located pretty much on every corner. They offer fresh croissants, breads, sandwiches, and other menu items. They also don’t put a high price tag on things that they consume regularly and aren’t outside the regular daily stops.
Vacation Time
Americans tend to work a lot and put their noses to the grindstones. We live a much faster-paced and stressful life than our European friends. Most Americans take one to two vacations per year at most. Those vacations last a maximum of a week if you are lucky enough to afford the luxury of one. Europeans don’t think about time off in the same way. They typically take as many as six weeks of vacation annually.
Healthcare
In America, one of the biggest debates we have every election year is about healthcare. Since Americans are not guaranteed healthcare coverage, it is a luxury for most who have a lucrative career or the means to self-purchase. In Europe, they have universal healthcare and don’t see going to the doctor for free as a luxury. They can frequent appointments, have tests run, and never stress about what an illness will do to them financially. That is truly a luxury!
Time
People in America are always in a rush. Even when they are not in a rush, they are in a rush. Americans rarely feel as if they have the luxury of time. If they aren’t rushing to their kid’s soccer game, heading to the grocery store, or late for a meeting, it is a rarity. European people value time and take it slowly. They are more relaxed about it and don’t feel rushed all of the time. Most shop owners close for a few hours a day so they can enjoy time with friends or even alone doing nothing. What Europeans see as the norm, Americans see as a luxury usually only afforded to the independently wealthy.
Travel
America is a very big country and although people can usually go from state to state, to see another country is not something you can do in a day. In Europe, people travel between different countries daily and inexpensively. They value transportation and have systems all across Europe that take people from one place to another where they can explore different values, languages, and cultures. When Americans want to see other places, they often have to spend a lot and take a lot of time from work, which is also an expense.
Drinking in Public
There are all sorts of laws in America about where you can drink alcohol, who can drink alcohol, and sometimes when you can drink alcohol. Most European countries not only don’t have an age limit, but alcohol is permitted anywhere you want to take it. Unlike the states where drinking is highly frowned upon unless hidden under a roof, Europeans drink and are merry when they want and where they want.
Easy Commutes
Americans don’t get around very easily. Most people who live in European cities don’t drive individual cars; they can rely on public transportation to get where they need or want to be. Americans view being able to hop on a bus or train with ease as a luxury, while it is a way of life for those living in Europe. Big cities like Paris, London, and Berlin use public transportation over having to take a taxi or hire an Uber. It is also a much cheaper and environmentally kind way to live!
Bathroom Privacy
Being in a public bathroom with others within earshot is awkward, to say the least. There are no awkward bathroom moments in Europe. Bathroom stalls often have full ceiling-to-floor doors that disallow someone to see your shoes and who is next to you. That sounds like a luxury most Americans would welcome!
Lack of Corn Syrup
Europeans are much more conscious about their food supply and don't just chock everything up with high fructose corn syrup. In America, it is a mainstay, and you are hard-pressed to find foods without it. What a luxury to have food that only has what it is supposed to in it; those things that occur naturally. How on earth did that become a luxury?
Bicycle Paths
Everyone in America seems to drive. That leaves very little room for those who bicycle, which only makes it more likely that people will hop in a car. When there are no bike paths or set standards where bicyclers are safe, then it becomes a luxury. In America, when you vacation, most people rent a bike because it is a luxury. In Europe, it is the way that people get around.
Bidets
Not only do bathrooms provide more privacy in Europe, but they also come standard with bidets. Bidets are not the norm in America; they are usually reserved for wealthy people's bathrooms. It is amazing how anything bathroom-related is a luxury, but Europeans seem to get it right!
Education
Americans are guaranteed a right to a primary public education, but once you get past that, they are on their own to pick up the tab. In Europe, most universities are either open to the public or so inexpensive, and you are foolish not to go, if you are so inclined. The cost of higher education in Europe is about half of that, that we pay in the States.
Work-Life Real Balance
Since the pandemic, a lot of discussion has revolved around the notion of work/life balance. Unfortunately, due to economics, not many Americans report having a good one. Americans tend to work around the clock and have few days off or holidays, whereas Europeans have more vacations and shorter work days, and it is not frowned upon to take days to see things, spend time with family, or just enjoy a bit of life. What a luxury!
Cheaper Eateries
Anyone who has been to a fast food chain lately can attest to the fact that eating out has become even more of a luxury than it was just a few years ago. The cafes in Europe are much more economically friendly. Europeans can get pastries and food without the high price tag. Things like coffee don’t cost an arm and a leg. Where Europeans spend pennies, we spend dollars for the same food options.
Dangerous Parts of Cities
When you visit a city in America, you have to quickly access those parts of it that are off-limits. That is not the same with most European cities. Crime in the United States is much more rampant and more violent than we see overseas. Unlike parts of Europe, Americans are leaving the cities in hoards to escape. The same is not happening in other parts of the globe. They have the luxury of feeling safe.
Oddly, one country can take something for granted while another sees it as a luxury. Undoubtedly, Americans have things that they don’t recognize as luxuries that Europeans do, but the list the other way seems to be very admirable!
30 Traditional Sayings That Are Now Considered Offensive by Woke Culture
30 Traditional Sayings That Are Now Considered Offensive by Woke Culture
21 Habits Often Associated With Having a Lower Social Status
21 Habits Often Associated With Having a Lower Social Status
25 Social Issues Gen Z are Determined to Cancel
