What I Learned Living in a European Country
When you think of Europe, what comes to mind? For many Americans, the words would be: vacation, inferior, far, dirty, weird, superior… the list goes on. Our media shows us a very narrow view of other countries to encourage more patriotism. In many regards, we deserve a level of patroitism. For one, America is one of the least bigoted countries with a majority-white population. If you consider the numbers, especially thinking about Eastern European countries, most places consist of one or few ethnicities. If you’re from Germany, you’re German. Italy? Italian. Poland? Polish. When you say you’re from America, that means nothing to Europeans trying to figure out your ethnicity because our country is so diverse. For that reason, America has no option but to adjust. That is not to erase any persecution that has happened or continues to happen to ethnic and racial minorities in the U.S., because we know that the Irish and Jewish populations experienced their own host of difficulties settling in America.
With that said, there are aspects to life in Europe from which the U.S. could take some serious notes. The first is energy consumption. When I lived in Spain, we did not have a dryer. Everything was hung to dry, even in the colder weather. Our resident director even chastised our American ideals when we mentioned issues with the A.C. unit during the warmer months, saying, “Well us Europeans like to conserve energy.” Although it seems simple that we like to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer, it’s something many Europeans don’t consider an issue. They’re less rigid about their needs. You won’t find paper towel holders much, or pools of water in the toilets. They operate on a system similar to the newer handles with a singular water droplet and 3-droplet icons in the U.S., where you choose up or down based on how much water you’ll need. Many homes in America only have one option: flush. This uses tons of water — a commodity we are slowly running out of.
In Barcelona, I noticed that produce was very inexpensive and a healthy lifestyle was easier to obtain than living in America. I communicated with international students in Cross Cultural Management class who were giggling when I said Americans really do eat fast food — because when you’re abroad you’re seen as a spokesperson for your country. I explained that, while this is true, the main reason is because it is affordable compared to grocery stores and cooking dinner for a family of 4 on a tight budget. Almost every item of produce I purchased at my local grocery store was less than 50 cents a piece. The best part was… they were fresh! Avocados — if you knew where to find them — were delicious and cheap. All the foods I cherished that seemed like “privileged” foods were readily available. The Mediterranean diet is praised as one of the most holistic and easy to attain diets for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and it is… in the Mediterranean where those foods are constantly available. Fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, all of which are difficult to obtain in parts of the U.S. where it is cold, dark, or rainy 5–8 months out of the year.
Europeans abide by a life spent without the demands of consumerism. After 4 months without Target, it was extremely overwhelming. My first thought was “Why are there so many products? Why do we pretend to need them?” We are taught and told by advertisers that every product is something we need or desire. As a result, we buy and buy. If every time I went to Mercadona — the “supermarket” in Barcelona — I had the option to browse a clothing section, I would’ve had five suitcases to bring back with me. Shopping in Barcelona was a hassle because you had to take the train, get to La Rambla, swerve tourists and hustlers, and finally find sanctuary in an overly-crowded fast-fashion store. So, I avoided the ordeal at all costs. The result: I saved money. Another effect of capitalist “efficiency” is preservatives placed in our foods to keep them fresher for longer, due to the inaccessibility of local grocery stores. For those in rural areas, it can take between15 minutes to an hour to drive to the nearest supermarket. So, our food is consistently pumped with chemicals made to ensure it maintains for weeks at a time. In one grocery trip, you’ll buy for an extended period of time, convince yourself you need chips and guac, and within a few weeks you cease to consume everything you bought, so it goes bad. America thrives on capitalism, convenience, and chemicals.
I’ve mentioned it before, but there’s nothing I love reiterating than how much I love the European’s perspective on time. If you want more incite on this, you can read my article Cafe Con Leche about how the Spanish choose to spend and use time to their advantage. Although time is of the essence, I choose not to subscribe to the belief that “time is a commodity” because time is a virtue. I am a career-driven person and look forward to using my strive for knowledge towards professional interests; however, I have vowed to not let this impede on my enjoyment of life. I spent a lot of my high school career on assignments and soccer. I loved soccer. I did not love homework. Once I got to college, I learned how to balance and made more friends as a result. I figured out how to maintain the same level of academic rigor, while enjoying spending time with friends and doing the things I love like reading/writing or going to the movie theater. After studying abroad in Spain, I understand my personal values better and feel determined to make the most out of life rather than life taking the most out of me.
If you do not have an opportunity to visit Europe, which is understandable given the price of a one-way flight to any part of Europe, you should take care knowing that there are benefits and drawbacks to life in any country. The main goal is to choose which place fits your personal and professional values, ideals, and beliefs.
