35 Things You Appreciate About America After Living in Europe (Nebraska, high school, elect)

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

Public restrooms are a challenge when traveling anywhere, even in America (I'm looking at you, Key West). I've gotten into the habit of just popping in a bar, giving the bartender a dollar and using the restroom there.

I wish we had more pay toilets in the US. At least in Europe you can find a clean toilet but might have to pay for it. But you find one and there will be some old lady keeping it spotless.

Free public toilets in many US cities turn into a disgusting mess of toilet paper and unsanitary clogged refuse left by homeless people--and those are the less sketchy ones...

[chielgirl]

I disagree with your blaming the homeless.
Public restrooms draw pigs who certainly won't keep their home in the same manner.

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by Dane_in_LA

À chacun son goût and all that, but isn't that a bit of a broad statement?

Yes, the subject of the thread is pretty broad

Originally Posted by Dane_in_LA

The driver education and testing is considerably less rigorous, certainly. Whether that's a good thing is debatable.

That plus less toll roads, cheaper gas and cities are actually designed for cars.

[weltschmerz]

That plus less toll roads, cheaper gas and cities are actually designed for cars.

Cities designed for cars is not necessarily a good thing.

[victimofGM]

Seen plenty of Europeans doing restroom business out doors. Can't find a restroom, go where you can. In the small city I stayed at in Italy, most businesses didn't have set store hours. When they showed up, they were open. When they were hungry, they closed and went home for lunch and a nap. When they awoke, they opened again. If they were tired or business was slow, they closed. I liked the simplistic nature of the hotels. You're on a vacation to see the sights, not live in a hotel room. There are some things I miss about living in Europe. Less uptight about nudity, more relaxed atmosphere.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by Deezus

I wish we had more pay toilets in the US. At least in Europe you can find a clean toilet but might have to pay for it. But you find one and there will be some old lady keeping it spotless.

Free public toilets in many US cities turn into a disgusting mess of toilet paper and unsanitary clogged refuse left by homeless people--and those are the less sketchy ones...

You haven't been to a lot of toilets in Italy, have you.

[Finn_Jarber]

The thing about ice and refills is true.

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by weltschmerz

Cities designed for cars is not necessarily a good thing.

Or a bad thing

[DontH8Me]

Having lived in Europe for nearly eight years, I remember all those sleepless nights of longing for a diet soda, and some ice, and a Solo cup to sip it out of. Oh, the sheer torture!

**what a crock of brown stinky stuff this list is**

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

You haven't been to a lot of toilets in Italy, have you.

Yeah, I've been to Italy several times and they weren't even as bad as the average dive bar toilet where I live for the most part... Yes, toilets were cleaner up north, but all the same I don't remember them being that bad when I was in Southern Italy and Sicily for the most part. Not like Central America that's for sure...

But at the same time that's another reason why these whole Europe is like this, America is like this threads are a bit silly... There's a lot of divisions in Europe from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. There's not just one example of Europe, places vary from country to country in terms of what's standard...