By: Owen Fugit

Editorial Editor

Over winter break, my family and I traveled to Europe to see the sights and get away from California for a while. While I was overseas, I noticed some interesting differences between Europe and the United States that I think we should try to incorporate into our lives. 

A big difference Americans will notice when traveling to Europe is the food. Everything from McDonald’s to Michelin-star restaurants just tastes better overseas. Speaking of McDonald’s, the European versions of the restaurant are holding out on the US. Going to a French McDonald’s feels fancy and high-class, while a US equivalent feels dingy and unhealthy. Even the names of the meals are better in Europe. We have regular meals like Cheeseburgers and Nuggets, while the French are enjoying the McSmart meal, which comes with a delicious chicken wrap and a burger, all in one meal! French butter is better too, with sea salt and 70 percent fat – it is delicious! Baguettes, too. Safeway’s “French bread” just does not cut it. More than world peace, I want good food here at home in the States. Is that too much to ask?

European public transport is a true model for how public transport in the US should be. Metros, buses, and long-haul city trains make getting around Europe a breeze; in the US, public transport is pretty close to a joke. A country that used to have 200 thousand miles of rail according to my APUSH textbook is now heavily reliant on anything but rails, which to me is a little bit sad. My hope is that someday we can take a train to San Francisco directly from Los Gatos, mostly because driving is stressful and I get very scared of highway exits. There is a lot of potential for a US public transportation system, but sadly, cars are just more appealing. I am certain that many politicians advocate for public rails and buses every day, but they never catch on. I think this is because cars are a status symbol in the US, but in Europe not so much. 

However great Europe may seem, it does have its flaws. Most notably, the notoriously small cars they drive. In the US, cars are getting larger and larger, which is great for big families, or people who just want more space. This may very well be a criminal offense in Europe, though. The station wagon and the smart car reign supreme in Europe, something they won’t tell you in your AP Euro textbook. Out of all the things Europe does differently, the station wagon is by far the worst, especially if you travel with a large family (more than two people). Station wagons, which have long since faded away here in the US, are very popular among all classes in Europe. Rich people drive Audi station wagons, while poor people (the tourists getting rentals) drive Toyota station wagons. There really is one for everybody! So, if you do plan on traveling overseas, you might think about packing a car in your carry-on.