Instead of making an entire entry about a low-key Monday, I decided to point out some cultural differences that I've found between the United States and the parts of Europe I've visited so far.
The first and biggest thing I've noticed are the people and their dress code. To begin, Europeans wear a lot of dark colors, but they're very stylish. All of the styles that are popular right now (and a few that we haven't seen yet!) in the States, you can see people wearing that every day on the street. Men and women are well-groomed and generally don't dress as casually as we do. Older people don't dress "old"--you can look at a woman in her 50s and see the same outfit on a woman in her 20s. Even when wearing jeans, the average European will have a nice blouse or button-down, or if in a t-shirt, a cool scarf or nice shoes to complement the ensemble. NO SNEAKERS, EVER. I can generally spot a tourist now by their footwear. There are no flip-flops (then again, it's the middle of January) and grown people don't wear tennis shoes. Even younger people who dress like hipsters have on loafers or boots or ballerina flats. The few times I've seen sneakers, they're usually chucks (and the extra-high top is coming back in style). Nobody wears Jordans, and Nike stores here are just to buy jerseys from your favorite team or athletic shoes to work out in, not to sport as fashionable. Also, it's ok for men here to know how to dress themselves--and others! In the department stores in Andorra, many shoppers were men helping their wives/girlfriends by grabbing things off the racks and bringing it to them. Not a single man in the store picked something I would have rejected. And not a single one was stared at, frowned upon, or had his sexuality questioned.
Speaking of men, European men are just as involved with family activities as the women are. Family is very important in just about every European culture. Everyone eats lunch or dinner together (sometimes both), and often you'll see parents and kids walking the dog together. I was very impressed by the number of men I saw with kids--way more than in the states. By that, I mean that these were men taking their little ones to the park, or having lunch with an older child, or chaperoning a group date with a bunch of teens. I would say that from the way it looks, parenting here is almost 50/50 mom/dad.
By far the biggest "culture shock" is the general acceptance of sexuality and lack of censorship in Europe. Trendy boutiques will have uncensored rap music playing, and even the basic channels on TV show some skin--or a lot, as we all found eventually while flipping stations. However, women, especially younger ones in my age range, don't dress nearly as provocatively as women do in the states. Again, I know it's January and everyone's layered up, but on the warm days women in miniskirts or shorts have on tights, necklines are flattering without flashing, and clothes don't appear to be painted on. Maybe since everyone here is comfortable with the idea of human sexuality, there's no need to pander for attention with your body.
And finally, a few more travel tips thrown into the mix: Bring a washcloth. In fact, bring a couple. Most European hotels don't have them (unless you get them by request? I haven't tried). I brought my own washcloth, just in case, and it's come in handy every single night when I shower. I wish I would have brought a second one to wash my face with in the mornings, but makeup wipes do the trick as well.
Ever wonder why Europeans, especially the French, have such a reputation for being snooty towards Americans? We don't show enough common courtesy. Specifically, when you enter a small store, like a boutique, or a deli, or a souvenir shop, say "Hello" in the host language. Seriously, that's all it takes. In European culture, the person to arrive is the one to greet the room, especially when it's younger people toward elders. Most Americans walk into a shop and just start browsing, and the Europeans are shocked that they didn't speak. They feel slighted and give you a cold reception, and it all goes downhill from there. In fact, it's a good idea in general to know a few basic words and phrases in whatever country you visit: Hello/Good day, Please, Thank you, How much is...?, and Where is...?. Most people, if they see that you're trying to be polite, will help you out (in English, even!). Americans get into the most trouble abroad when they assume that everyone knows English and should speak accordingly. (Most people do, but remember--common courtesy!). Also, when exiting a shop, even if you didn't buy anything, say Thank you. Really, you should practice this wherever you go--if we all used a little manners, the world would be a nicer place.
And, since I have put a few pictures in the past few entries, there are TWO albums for you to browse, here and here.
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