I returned to the US from Paris after four and a half months abroad, and couldn't be happier to return home. There are some things that I found odd, or maybe weird, or just generally different from Europe, being back home after so long:
- Vending machines in the US have more chips and salty snacks, whereas I would say that vending machines in France had more candy in them
- There are toilets available customers in stores in the US (grocery stores, department stores, etc) and it is possible to use these toilets free of charge
- Free public water is available all over the place. I was so excited for water fountains all over the place in the US, and then was reminded that they don't always have great water pressure.
- Cellular data works properly.
- Americans wear sweatpants and shorts and t-shirts and flip-flops. Whenever, wherever. It is acceptable to wear athletic and casual clothing when out and about in public.
- Less expensive bagels, peanut butter, Starbucks, and cookies are available in the US. Also, we have Goldfish and Pop-Tarts and cheap fake Mexican food and cheaper Thai, Chinese, Indian (etc.) takeout.
- Kebabs are not fast food in the US. They are pieces of meat grilled on a stick. Burgers are fast food and fries are not to be put inside the bun.
- TV commercials in the US are not standardized or regulated in the same way that French publicités are. They are also more frequent.
- Europe has better chocolate and gummy candy. There are so many shapes and flavors of Haribo that Americans don't know about!
- It was strange for me to say hello to and make eye contact with perfect strangers here after ignoring the people around me for so long in France. Why do we acknowledge each others' existence again?
- I will never take a long shower again. Well, I will, but I won't use the water when lathering up with soap. I'll only use a few minutes' worth of water but stay in the shower for longer.
- Public transportation in the US isn't as well organized or as accessible as it is in Europe, unfortunately.
- I will never leave things plugged in for long periods of time ever again. Convenience is too expensive and bad for the environment. (Meaning cell phone charger will not be plugged in when cell phone isn't charging.)
- If a person has a foreign accent when speaking your language, you should respect them because they probably know and use more languages than you do.
