1 week Ago
The purpose of traveling is to open your mind and eyes to new experiences and worlds. But sometimes, something catches you so off-guard that it's worth sharing. So, luckily, a few travelers shared their experiences with us when okbud44 asked : "Travelers of Reddit, what shocked you the most when visiting another country?" Here's what they said below.
2. "How good the food is in Europe. The quality and taste blew me away, especially the bread and pastries.
Even the sandwiches you pick up at the train station are fresh, tasty, and healthy. I never had one stomach issue during the whole trip." — emmery1 "Same here! Italy is the best! I was worried about going to England because I grew up hearing the food was so bad.
It was delicious everywhere I went." — KentuckyCandy 4. "I was recently in Germany and France and had several occasions to take the subway.
I'm 67/F and WITHOUT EXCEPTION, someone offered me their seat when I got on. I am nondisabled and honestly, was a little offended at first, but then I realized how respectful everyone was being and saddened to think this would never happen in the States." — Madcat20 "Always been that way in the US.
My mother was pregnant with me and took the subway to her dad's house. No one offered her a seat, and she was (gesturing) out to (gesturing) here. Four hours later, she went into labor.
I heard that story a bunch of times, and any time I see a pregnant passenger standing, I offer my seat, and I'm about your age, too. The rest of them are sitting there staring at their phones." — VapoursAndSpleen 6.
"How slow service is in Jamaica, but how fast they drive cars. I really needed to slow myself down and take in the scenery, fresh air, and actual serenity. Food typically took about two hours, but it was made from scratch.
.. with love.
Always an amazing experience in the islands." — Snoo-15186 "I lived in Shreveport for a few years, and regularly vacation in Jamaica. This is true in both places.
It took us six months to adjust to eating out in Shreveport; we had to plan for an extra hour around eating if trying to make a show or something after, and leave the house when we thought we might be hungry in the future, instead of waiting until it was time to eat." — uncre8tv 8. "In the US, you don’t get the full price on a sticker until you are surprised at the cash register.
" — Mitka69 "I'm from the US, born and raised, and I can't stand this. Traveling in Malaysia right now, and generally when I see something that's nine Ringgit, it's literally just Nine Ringgit. Not nine and 8-11% and 15-22%.
Oh, and in the US, are those percentages calculated on the basis of nine? Who fuckin knows." — Reasonable_Power_970 10. "Infrastructure.
I am currently living in the Southern EU. Northern Europe is 10000 light years ahead in infrastructure and air quality. No.
Everything I saw screams quality and organisation." — ComplexTop9345 11. "Brit here, who’s been living for many years in the US.
The biggest shock I got when I first arrived was the massive gaps on the sides and at the bottom of bathroom stall doors." — nonamethxagain 13. "The abject poverty that exists in close proximity to ridiculous wealth.
" — i_am_not_a_sissy "Manila, the Philippines, was the worst example I've personally seen of this. Hundreds of people live under the freeway at the end of a street with five-star hotels. Also, people living in cardboard boxes on the edge of a sewage ditch right outside the gate of a US tech company's pristine campus.
" — gmwhiz 15. "How much of the same patterns of culture and society exist all over the world. There are hot women and cool guys in every nation.
Every country has corrupt politicians or its version of liberal/conservative battles, etc. The details are different, but generally speaking, we are all the same." — Mr_Ashhole "People want the same things: Decent home, decent income, someone to love, and possibly, a kid or two.
Cultures have an impact on the how and why, but we have far more in common than not." — tanstaafl90 17. "Every person in Greece knew English, even in the small places, and the elderly, I was shocked.
" — ihavenevereatenpie "Every person I met in Greece knew like four languages, and I felt like a moron daily." — BridgestoneX 19. "Netherlands and how clean it is.
Their biggest celebration, ' King's Day ,' with hundreds of thousands absolutely plugging the streets in Amsterdam. The streets were absolutely filled with garbage, climbing over piles of trash that were filled on our way back to Airbnb. By dark, the streets were filled with cleaners.
People, with large brooms, swept the garbage into piles. By breakfast, everything was immaculate again. Not a sign that a massive drunken party had happened.
It was truly astounding!" — boredoma 21. "I am an American and was told repeatedly that food portions in American restaurants are huge compared to the rest of the world — and then I visited Budapest. In the less touristy restaurants on the Buda side of the river.
.. holy cow! 'Excuse me, you appear to have brought me a meal for a table of four!' Portion sizes were insanely huge.
Shockingly huge." — mykepagan "They probably thought you were Hungary." — junklardass.
