You Know You’re Back in Europe When—

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I feel like I’m in “Tiny-Ville”!

I just arrived back home in Spain. After being in the United States for three months, I feel like I have arrived in a miniature land. Everything around me seems TINY!

Tiny cars, tiny parking spaces, tiny parking garages, tiny streets, tiny beds, tiny toilets, tiny houses, tiny bedrooms, tiny kitchens, tiny refrigerators, tiny ovens, tiny bathrooms, tiny washing machines, tiny windows, tiny doors, tiny courtyards, tiny cans of soda, tiny grocery stores, tiny cereal aisles . . . tiny everything . . . !

I guess I’ve just forgotten. I have simply forgotten how small things are in Europe.

I have been living in the land of BIG—oversized cars, large parking spaces, wide streets, big houses, spacious bedrooms, full-size refrigerators, extra-large sodas, unending cereal aisles, mammoth grocery stores . . big everything . . . !

It’s all relative. When I was in the U.S., I didn’t notice it. I liked it. It felt comfortable and nice. It wasn’t until I landed in European “Tiny-Ville” that I felt like everything was, well . . . tiny! 🙂 I’m certainly aware of the absence of “BIG”!

Yep, you know you’re back in Europe when . . .

—Everything feels small.

—When you stall your car several times on the first day, forgetting that it’s not an automatic, and you need to push in the clutch when you slow to a stop.

Yesterday, Timothee took our dog out for an afternoon potty break. While walking downtown—with Bernie on his leash—Timothee realized that he needed to deposit a check at the bank.

First of all, if in America, chances are that Timothee would not have been out walking. He would have been driving everywhere! If in America, he would have had to take Bernie back home before going inside the bank.

“NO DOGS ALLOWED.”

Dogs Allowed!

In France, Timothee walked right into the bank with Bernie on his leash, deposited his check, and walked out. No questions asked. No comments made.

You Know You’re Back in Europe When . . . 

—You can take dogs into stores and restaurants . . . and banks . . .

—There’s no Dr. Pepper, no root beer, no maple frosted donuts, no Twizzlers anywhere. (My Favorite Things From Around the World, All the Things I’ll Miss)

—The ground floor of buildings is 0—not 1.

—Recycling bins are on every street corner—plastics, glass, etc.

—You have to pay to pee.

—There’s little to no ice cubes in sodas in restaurants.

—It’s rare to find a fridge with an automatic ice cube maker. 

—There are usually no free refills in restaurants—even if you pay more than 5 euros for a Coke in Paris!

—Most cars are not automatic!

—Duvet covers replace comforters on beds.

—Wash mitts replace wash cloths.

—There’s public transportation in every town (buses, trains, trams, metros, etc.).

—There are bike paths everywhere.

—Dates are written day/month/year.

—No right turn on red!

—There are outdoor shutters on windows that must be closed every night—a big pain—although great if you like to sleep in the pitch dark.

—Fresh bakeries are on every street corner—Millefeuilles (“1000 Sheets”), éclairs, baguettes, etc.

—There are weekly outdoor markets year round.

—1 euro stores replace 1 dollar stores.

—Plastic (“saran”) wrap doesn’t cut, tear, stick . . .

—Washing machines are often located in the kitchen or bathroom.

—You need adapter plugs for all of your electronics.

—Laundry is hanging out of apartment windows to dry.

—People are having picnics everywhere, and there are children’s playgrounds on every street corner.

—There are topless beaches.

—You see castles on tops of hills.

—Foreign languages are heard everywhere.

—There are people from all around the world.

—You have to bring your own reusable grocery bags to the store.

—Milk is cheaper, but not fresh. It’s stored unrefrigerated—until opened—in boxed cartons. It is often consumed “lukewarm.”

—There are bidets in toilets—to clean your buttocks.

—Wine is served at church dinners and for communion.

—There’s often no air-conditioning—even in heatwaves!

—People are smoking everywhere.

—Everything is tiny—cars, parking spots, yards, houses, apartments . . .

—There are tiny fridges, ovens, washing machines, televisions . . . 

—Champagne is served for breakfast at hotel buffets.

—I’m taller than most men and women. 🙂

—Toilets are in separate rooms (WC—water closets) from the bathroom (sink, shower, etc.).

—You have to pull the handle instead of push the handle to flush the toilet.

—People don’t eat dinner at 5 p.m., but rather between 7-11 p.m.—depending on the country.

—Middle schools and high schools are often dismissed between 5-6 p.m.

—Soccer is highly competitive with multiple practices during the week.

—Tea and snack time are between 4-5 p.m.

—Sidewalks are on every street, and there are pedestrians everywhere.

—You can buy chicory café, Têtes Brulées candy, peach-flavored Lipton iced tea, etc.

—You drink lukewarm water.

—In restaurants, they ask if you want “still” or “sparkling” water.

—Bathroom doors are closed even when no one is inside.

—The dining room table is covered in baguette bread crumbs after a meal, and bread is usually eaten off of the table and not off of a plate.

—You eat pizza and french fries with a fork.

—Many stores are closed on Sundays and Mondays (in France)—even grocery stores!

—There are no more stores “open 24 hours.”

—There is typically no class on Wednesday afternoons in public schools.

—And so much more . . . 

Dreaming of Being Back

I’ve been dreaming—literally—of being back in Europe. I’m finally here!

I can remember a few years ago, when our family crossed the border from Spain into France. We stopped at the first French grocery store, Carrefour. David ran in and grabbed his favorite candy and drink—Têtes Brulées and peach-flavored Lipton iced tea.

When we got back into the van, our youngest son, Pierre, rolled down the car window and yelled, “I can’t believe we are in France right now! Oh, to smell the fresh air in France!”

We are back! Yep, we are back in Europe!

—The Cultural Story-Weaver

Let’s Weave Cultures!

Have you ever traveled to Europe? If so, do you recognize most of these “signs” that you are on the European continent? What other ones would you add to this list?

We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures!” Write about them in the comment box below.

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All the Things I’ll Miss

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