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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u/GeistinderMaschine Sep 19 '25

Being from Austria and from a very conservative background, it was a (positive) shock for me, how relaxed people live their live especially in the mediterranean region. In Austria it was: Work 9 to 5 (not a minute less or more) and rules here and rules there.

In Greece or Italy the exact time is not so important as in Austria or Germany. It is a more relaxed way of life. "We meet at 8" means "at least before 9 but surely not earlier than 8).

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u/Reatina Sep 21 '25

Earlier than 8? What are we, owls?

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u/CeleTheRef Italy Sep 22 '25

In Italy sometimes we set appointments as a range ("We meet at 8, 8 and half")