After spending nearly three months abroad, I can confidently say that there are many differences between the cultures of European countries and the culture of America. Money, travel, food, everything is on a different level, and it makes for an interesting maze for American tourists to work through. Of all these hurdles perhaps the most frustrating is the language barrier. Sometimes it seems as though there are no two countries on this big blue ball that speak the same language. Fortunately for American tourists such as myself, many European countries teach English as a second language in grade school, although that doesn't mean everyone will retain the language in their adult lives. Communicating with those who speak little to no English usually ends up being a display of a persons best impressions of a mating dance, with incoherent grunts interspersed periodically with exaggerated hand movements and desperate looks to surrounding faces for any form of help. It's an interesting display if nothing else. I have found that usually the best way to communicate with those who are unfamiliar with your language is to use very basic words and understand that some visual representation of whatever it is you want may be necessary. For instance, if one were to order in a restaurant, a combination of pointing to menu items and describing what food you want slowly and methodically usually produces the best results.
Another interesting difference between American and European customs can be seen clearly in the way restaurants operate. For the most part, American restaurants offer free ice water with almost any meal, and only those drinks you order specifically are paid for. Wait staff is also usually pretty timely, checking up on their tables periodically and being quick to return with the check when the meal is over. Tips are essentially mandatory in the states, as waiters live on them. Europe does things a little differently. Water is only brought on request and usually has a charge, which usually is more than that of a beer. Ice is almost non existent, and refrigeration is used sparingly so get used to drinking lukewarm beverages (yes, that includes beer). Coffee is brewed black, and the fru-fru drinks of American coffee shops are not usually on the menu. Wait staff is usually quick to get your order, sometimes coming to take orders within five minutes of a person sitting down. This means you have to be quick in your decision making. After the food is brought, however, waiters and waitresses seem to enter another realm and are not seen again until it is very clear that you are done eating. Unlike American restaurants that would bring the check as soon as the plates are cleared, European restaurants allow you lots of time to just sit and talk and will only bring you the check when you make awkward eye contact with the wait staff for the tenth time in a row or they need your table for another customer. There have been a few times I have been tempted to dine and dash as it has taken nearly half an hour to get the attention of the waiter to receive the bill, which is fine unless you're on a time limit during a trip. Fortunately, I am far too scared of ending up in a Czech prison to follow through with these urges.
One of my favorite stories from this trip features a breakdown of communication and the prominent differences between American and European customs, set in Germany. On our first night in Wittenberg, Ashley, Bree, and I came across a cute little diner and decided to stop in for a bite. The waiter was very nice and actually spoke pretty decent English, so ordering our food and drinks proved to be a very easy task. The problem came after the meal was over. As we were finishing up our food, Ashley started complaining of being thirsty. She'd already finished the drink she'd ordered with dinner and was just craving a glass of ice water (remember this). When the waiter returned to clear our plates, she asked him for a glass of water with ice. He looked a little perplexed but seemed to understand well enough and asked her if she wanted it carbonated or still. When he returned with the glass, he held it out from his body as if it were some kind of poisonous substance with a bewildered look on his face. He set it down in front of Ashley and proceeded to explain that he was unclear if this was the correct drink as he'd never heard of ice water before. We found this absolutely hilarious, as it is such a common staple of American restaurants that we couldn't believe someone had never heard of ice water before. It made for a pretty great end to that meal, and I just wanted to thank that waiter for one of my favorite stories from this trip.
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