If you’re an American, and don’t do any international travel, this may come as a shock, but: A lot of stuff is similar in other countries, but there are plenty of things that are DIFFERENT, for better or for worse.
There’s a forum online where people from around the world are sharing the “non-American” things that they HIGHLY RECOMMEND to Americans. Here are a few of the better ones:
1. Month-long vacations. Or “holidays,” as they’re called. America is work-obsessed, and is one of the countries that offer the LEAST paid vacation days.
2. Taxes included in the price tag. Not to mention service fees, and tips.
3. High-speed trains. Or trains in general for public transit, not for freight.
4. Towel-warmers in the bathroom.
5. Heated floors instead of vented heat.
6. Bidets. This seems to be the most common response, although bidets have been gaining traction in the U.S. in recent years.
7. Quality of life improvements. Like universal health care, maternity and childcare-leave, and affordable college. (Everyone wants stuff like this to reduce the financial stress for older people, young people, and families, but politicians here over-promise and under-deliver.)
8. Desserts that aren’t insanely sweet.
9. Butter on sandwiches.
10. Poutine. “Still can’t believe it hasn’t found a foothold here – fries, gravy, cheese curds, it seems like it would be right up a Midwesterner’s alley.”
11. The humble Dutch invention, the flessenschraper or flessenlikker. “They’re meant for getting every last bit of sauce or whatever condiment out of bottles, jars, and stuff.” (Here’s a video.)
12. Chicken salt. “It’s uniquely Australian and everyone should try it.”
13. Split duvets. “No more blanket-stealing, and you can regulate your temperatures however you want.”
14. Fresh-squeezed juice machines in grocery stores.
(There were several things that people DO have in America, but are less common here, like electric kettles, non-mint toothpaste, cheese slicers, Marmite, and, naturally, the Metric System.)
