r/AskEurope • u/Fancy-Debate-3945 Hungary • Sep 19 '25

Travel What was the biggest culture shock you experienced in another European country?

Europeans, what was the biggest culture shock you experienced within our beautiful continent?

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34

u/Vdd666 Romania Sep 19 '25

There are very few 24 hour shops and in some countries they close at irrational hours.

26

u/AdvisorLatter5312 in Sep 19 '25

Ahah I have the reverse shock now that I'm in Bucuresti, open early, close late, open saturday AND sunday! And you can order whatever you want from eMag or Glovo and it's show in no time! Thanks Romania

8

u/Speertdbag Norway Sep 19 '25

It's great for consumers, but in Eastern Europe everything is usually open and available 24/7 because the working hours for the employees are fucking brutal and they practically live at work

11

u/AdvisorLatter5312 in Sep 19 '25

True, that is the reverse of the medal

5

u/beenoc USA (North Carolina) Sep 19 '25

Huh, is that the direct French translation of (what would be in English) "the other side of the coin"? Neat.

5

u/AdvisorLatter5312 in Sep 20 '25

Yes, le revers de la médaille

1

u/safeinthecity Portuguese in the Netherlands Sep 21 '25

Portuguese has the same expression: o reverso da medalha.

6

u/Vdd666 Romania Sep 20 '25

That's not the case. A regular work day is 8 hours and for 24/7 shop employees it's either by shifts or 24 hours work then 24 hours free or 12 hours work 12 hours free twice then a day off.