r/AskReddit • u/danielsoft1 • 12h ago

"those little differences" Americans who visited Europe, what was surprisingly different for you?

386 Upvotes

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163

u/LadyStarblade 11h ago

How much quieter it is. I’ve been to England, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Andorra (and I know, non-European), Japan, and I’m constantly surprised how much quieter it is and how the pace is not as frantic as most places in the U.S.

And I freaking love that.

42

u/redditclm 7h ago

All the loud people left about 300 years ago.

33

u/btribble 8h ago

It’s not just when you’re out and about either. Appliances like refrigerators are silent in Europe. They would never own a fridge with a loud fan which Americans aren’t even aware of.

27

u/leethepolarbear 7h ago

American fridges make noise??

7

u/capitalsfan08 4h ago

No. Not any I've ever heard. My dishwasher is even pretty much silent.

2

u/big_orange_ball 1h ago

You must be wealthy, any rental unit I or people I know live in have non-silent appliances.

4

u/pivo_kozel_10 6h ago

well, the older Europeans fridges make a humming noise as well, almost all of us remember sleeping at grandparents and listening to refrigerator hummin, clocks clocking and the red led light on the TV

2

u/Spyko 5h ago

I live in France and both my fridge and my parent's make lots of noise. It sucks but we definitely have those here too

5

u/slik_nik74 5h ago

Just got back from Madrid. The amount of EVs, hybrids, and small engine ICE vehicles really contribute a lower noise level on the street. You can sit at a sidewalk cafe, and enjoy a conversation without someone trying to show off how annoying their modified vehicle is.

3

u/Your_boggart 4h ago

Coming back to the states after 2.5 weeks away was like re-entering a fever dream

-6

u/degorno 9h ago

Italy though is not quieter than the US.

5

u/YakElectronic6713 9h ago

Where in Italy exactly? Lol

2

u/AtreidesBagpiper 9h ago

Anything south of Rome

0

u/degorno 9h ago

Southern Italy and Sicily.