Key Cultural Differences: Europe vs. United States

Broad generalizations (exceptions abound), but notable contrasts:

• Greetings: Europe: cheek kisses (1–3) common among friends. US: handshake/hug; kisses rare outside family.
• Personal Space: Europeans stand closer, touch more during conversation. Americans prefer larger buffer.
• Main Meal: Europe: Lunch (often hot, long). US: Dinner (evening, larger).
• Tipping: Europe: 5–10% for good service; not expected. US: 15–20% standard; servers depend on tips.
• Languages: Europe: Multilingualism norm (EU avg 2+ languages). US: Monolingual English dominant.
• Work-Life Balance: Europe: 4–6 weeks paid vacation, shorter hours, strong labor laws. US: 0–2 weeks vacation, longer hours, at-will employment.
• Alcohol: Europe: Wine/beer with meals, lower drinking age, public consumption accepted. US: Restrictive laws, binge culture.
• Directness: N. Europe (Dutch, Germans) value bluntness. US: "Sandwich" feedback, positivity bias.

Regional variation within Europe (Nordic vs. Mediterranean vs. Eastern) often exceeds Europe-US gaps.