One of the great things about traveling is how eye-opening the experience can be. With every new place comes new traditions, customs, cultural norms, flavors, and more. So Redditor u/pelican678 asked, “What's something you've seen on your travels that you wish you had at home?” People said:
1.
“When I went to Canada, I was surprised to see that there were recycling bins and compost bins.” wherever. During our trip, we threw almost nothing into the actual trash. America, it's time to step up your game. ”
2.
“A more vegetarian-friendly food culture. In Scandinavia, I've noticed that every restaurant, snack bar, convenience store, highway stop, etc. has both vegetarian and vegan options.”
3.
“Big squares in Europe. I love sitting on the benches in the squares and drinking coffee on a nice evening. Where I'm from, we don't have that kind of environment.”
Four.
“High-speed trains like the ones I had seen in China. So fast, so clean, so affordable. I was so disappointed in Britain's terrible rail system, where traveling at semi-high speed in crowded, dirty trains costs hundreds of pounds.” Needless to say, the seats all rotate forward-facing before departure. Why do we still have those awful backward-facing seats that make you feel sick? ”
Five.
“Japanese restaurants often have this little button on the table to request service. Coming from America (which has an over-the-top service culture), I didn't want to deal with repeated interruptions and the server… It's so good that they are constantly checking to see if your order is ready or if you need to order something else. “
6.
“There's great bread everywhere you look. When I was in Germany, every sandwich was served on a high-quality roll with good crust and flavor. You can find high-quality bread in the U.S. But that's not the default.”
7.
“Street markets are like what I ate in Vietnam. I love wandering around the streets and finding delicious food at different stalls. Some of the best food I had in Vietnam was at these markets. It belonged to
8.
“A long, leisurely meal, like the one enjoyed in many parts of Europe. People hang out for an hour after eating without thinking about leaving, because it's a good idea to actually relax and enjoy the meal and company. Because it's a cultural norm.”
9.
“High quality, inexpensive wine. In Europe (especially Italy, France and Greece) you can buy a decent wine for less than 10 euros.”
Ten.
“Bidets and high-tech toilet seats like in Japan. When you get home, you wipe it with dry paper, caveman style.”
11.
“Scandinavian saunas! I'd pay for a monthly sauna pass in a heartbeat, especially if it's on the waterfront. Nothing compares to the stinky YMCA saunas here in the States.”
12.
“Affordable healthcare. I got sick in Taiwan and my wife called an ambulance. We spent about 8 hours in the hospital. The total cost (including medicines) was about $250. If I had received treatment, it would have been cheaper.'' ”
13.
“Italian coffee bar. I had a coffee buying experience where I basically didn't share the language with the staff, I couldn't order a 'Mocha La Te Skim Flat Fat' with alternative milk, and an espresso shot cost EUR. I support it. Italians are a culture that discovered coffee decades ago. ”
14.
“It's like the boulangeries and patisseries that exist in Paris, every few blocks. It's nice to have fresh baguettes and pain au chocolat just around the corner.”
15.
“In Spain, we have a tradition of eating dinner late (around 9pm) and spending time socializing with friends and family. I'm a night owl so I love a late dinner, but where I'm from, most People eat earlier.”
16.
“Italian happy hour. When I was in Italy, I used to enjoy this around 5pm after sightseeing. I enjoyed a little wine, cheese and cold meats. Then I had a few drinks before heading out for a proper dinner. It was a relaxing time and I hope this becomes the norm at home.”
17.
“When I was visiting Livorno, Italy, I noticed that people would gather in the streets in the evenings. They would pull out chairs and sit together and chat. They would bring instruments and play music. It was really great. There was just such a strong sense of community. ”
18.
“Christmas Markets in Germany. I was in Germany in December and every town had a Christmas market during the holiday season. There was food, shopping, activities, etc. These markets It was a place where everyone gathered at night. Christmas markets seem perfect for the United States, but there aren't many here.”
19.
“Korean Convenience Stores. Every street corner in South Korea has some type of convenience store, and there are always plenty of options for more than just snacks and bottled drinks. Healthy pre-made meals and hot drinks (in separate containers) You can get “Hot Fridge'' (which I was obsessed with), different types of ramen, and even freshly steamed sweet potatoes for $1 each day for lunch. I miss it so much. ”
20.
“Group Dining in China. When you eat out in China, everyone shares a meal family-style. You order many plates of different dishes at the table, and then everyone just eats a little of what they want. I love this style of dining. “
twenty one.
“Japanese hot springs. The stress released from my body every time I visited a hot spring (even in a hotel with a deep bathtub in the middle of the city) was amazing. Bathing culture has huge mental health benefits. So I would like to see it become more popular. “
What have you seen or experienced while traveling abroad that you wish was more common in your home country? Let us know in the comments or add us to this anonymous form.
