Dates, Time & Measures: In Europe, dates are expressed by day-month-year, for example 23 July, 2002. For most of non-English speaking Europe, time is measured on the 24-hour clock. Europe also uses the metric system of measurments (i.e. kilometer, centimeter, millimeter).
Washing Your Clothes: Usually, European washing machines are front-loaded and only have cold water inlet, as compared to American top-loading machines with a variety of cold, warm, or hot water.
Food: Meal times, quantities, and types of food served are different in Europe than in the U.S. For example, in Spain lunch is eaten between 1-4pm, and is usually the main meal of the day. The evening meal, “dinner” is lighter and served between 8-11pm. Most Europeans eat more cheeses, less fast food, less overly sweet food, and less soft drinks than Americans. Smaller portions are usually served than most Americans are accustomed to eating. Meals also are usually eaten together around the dinner table, not in front of the television, as is so favored by Americans. Food tends to be bought daily, in markets in the city center.
Shopping: In Europe, there are less giant chain stores, like Home Depot or Target. Shopping takes more effort, as you will have to go to many stores to find everything you need. The upside of this is you tend to get more personal service while shopping.
Dress Appropriately: Europe is very cosmopolitan, and Spaniards and Portuguese usually dress accordingly. In the cities dress is fairly formal (meaning no shorts, but nor do you need suits). You might want to bring something for special occasions or for the evening, as the nightlife is an integral part of everyday European life.
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