4. Date and time system
Europeans write the date in the format "Day
Month Year", whereas Americans use
"Month Day, Year". Americans usually
consider that the week starts on Sunday and
ends on Saturday, while in Europe it always
starts on Monday and finishes on Sunday.
Most non-English-speaking Europeans use
the 24h system, as opposed to the 12h
system used in English-speaking countries.
5. Schooling
Schools and universities are free in most European
countries. Europeans see university as granted, while
American families often have to save for years for
their children to attend one. What is more,
universities in most countries around the world have
entry exams, while only a few European countries do
(like the UK).
North Americans have prom night at the end of the
last academic year of high school (and sometimes also
middle school), while Europeans have no such
tradition.
6. Languages
Foreign-language learning in Europe is now
compulsory in every country since primary
(elementary) school. Most Europeans learn 2 to 4
foreign languages, for obvious reasons. Americans
usually only speak English (+ their mother tongue
for immigrants) because they do not need more in
their huge country.
7. Politics
Europeans tend to be more liberal regarding
soft drugs, prostitution, alcohol, abortion, or
cloning (but interestingly not so for GM
food). Americans on the contrary grant
greater freedoms when it comes to gun
possession, as well as driving a car from a
relatively young age (the norm is 18 years old
in Europe).
8. Sports
It is interesting how the popularity of sports can be
so different between Europe and North America. The
most popular sports in ALL Europe is football
(soccer), probably followed by tennis, cycling, and
Formula 1 (as well as other motor races). In the US,
soccer and F1 are far away in the popularity ranking.
It is baseball, basketball, ice hockey and American
football that attract the crowds and make money.
And as much as European sports lack popularity in
the US, the reverse is true (except for basketball).
9. Patriotism
Americans put much more emphasis on patriotism
than Europeans. Being a patriot is a way of life in the
USA. The term is rarely used in Europe.
Few Europeans would mind rational critics of their
country's government, while a good deal of
Americans find them offensive or disrespectful
(especially from non-Americans). Some Americans
go as far as regarding criticism of their government as
a personal attack. Europeans are only too happy to
hear other people criticising their own politicians or
their country's problems.
