How to Live Like a European

Change cooking ingredients. In Europe, people often favor local produce and regional restaurants. When passing through major European cities such as London, Paris or Florence, it is not difficult to see local products being sold on both sides of the road. Find a farmers market in your city and buy as much fresh food as you can. You should also start looking for local eateries. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

Reduce portion sizes. The average serving in American restaurants is much larger than in most European restaurants. Even when cooking at home, portions of European meals are much smaller. Try to adjust your portion sizes. At home, you can cook less food with smaller portions at each meal. If you’re eating out, try sharing your meal with others or taking leftovers home for lunch the next day.

• In France, people eat much smaller portions than in America. In the morning, the French only eat a piece of fruit or a croissant with a latte, if they have breakfast. Their lunch is more extensive, consisting of noodles, protein, vegetables and fruits that many people often eat together. In the evening, the French often eat another light meal with the family with lots of vegetables and protein. Take your time and enjoy small portions of food you really love. ^[15]

Try different desserts. European desserts are known to be seductive and delicious. Look for a bakery that specializes in European pastries. Find traditional European dessert recipes. You can also buy European imports at grocery stores. ^{[16] [17]}

• Tim an Italian pastry shop. Italian bakeries are famous for their cannpi, which comes in flavors like traditional ricotta cheese, chocolate, strawberry, lemon liqueur, caramelized pecans and pumpkin. They also sell ricotta cheesecakes, meringues, florentine cookies, and layered sfogliatella.
• If you can’t find a local bakery, you can make your own at home. Try making German streusel or Black Forrest cake. Be sure to look for recipes with instructions on how to bake authentic German cakes. Surely you want the dessert you make to look exactly like the locals do.
• Sometimes you can also buy European desserts at the grocery store. Many American brands also have a line of gelato ice cream, a combination of creamy sorbet and ice cream that is very popular in Europe, especially in Italy.

Buy imported food. There are many European-brand foods that are not sold in the US. Even brands that are sold in the US have different flavors in Europe. Look for markets or shops selling imported foods. If you can’t find such a store, you can find online foreign stores that ship to the US.

• Shop for authentic cheeses like Asiago, Italian Parmesan and Mozzarella, and French Brie or Cantalet. Combine cottage cheese with honey, nuts, or grapes. Try to find imported brands like il Giardino or Henri Hutin instead of brands sold in the US.
• Some of the best chocolate you can buy come from Belgium. Try Valerie’s Gaufre Choco Wafel or Ambiente White Praline.
• American candies like Starburst and KitKat sold in other countries come in different flavors. Starburst candy in Ireland has a currant flavor. KitKat in Italy has a caramel flavor. Try to find a shop of these imported candies to enjoy the variations of flavors.

To the bar. Many European countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Wales and Ireland have places for people to gather to drink called pubs (short for public house in English meaning community house), also called bar. Unlike bars in the United States, pubs are restaurants that cater to all needs for guests to relax, play quizzes or bring the family to entertain. Some pubs have extensive menus, but they serve mainly beer, wine, spirits, and fermented fruit wines. You can stay all night in a pub, dine with friends and watch local bands perform. Pubs of this type are so popular that there are quite a few in the US as well. Find a pub in your area. The next time you hang out with friends, you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the bars and relax in the pub. ^[18]

• If you don’t like the atmosphere in such pubs, look for a Spanish-style tavern called a taberna or tapas bar. Large cities in the US like Boston and San Francisco often have these types of pubs. Here they serve regional Spanish cuisine and a full range of cocktails and wines. ^[19]
• If you can’t make it to one of these places, try some imported wine. France and Italy are famous for their wines, so try a bottle of vintage French or Italian wine. Drink imported beer like Guinness of Ireland, Chimay of Belgium, Carlsberg of Denmark, Nastro Azzurro of Italy, or Heineken of the Netherlands. ^[20]

Watch European TV. Although many European countries broadcast American programs, their television programs are also very good and rich. Whether it’s the German soap opera Verbotene Liebe (Forbidden Love) or the British crime drama Sherlock , try watching TV shows from other countries. You can find many such shows on the internet from broadcast networks or streaming services like Netflix. Another option is to find European TV channels that stream on the internet or via cable/satellite for the full experience.

• There is a wide selection of all European countries that you can choose from, for example in the UK there is the sci-fi drama Doctor Who and the crime drama Inspector Luther , Denmark has the TV series political Borgen , and France has the thriller Return from the dead .
• If you are not a fan of watching television, try watching foreign movies. There are many great international films showing in arthouse or independent cinemas. You can also look for regional European film festivals, such as the Boston French Film Festival Boston in Massachusetts or the Nuovo Cinema Italiano Film Festival in Charleston, South Carpina.

Renovate the wardrobe. Although Americans and Europeans dress roughly the same, there are a few things you can tweak to look more European. European style of dress is usually more formal than American style, but today’s European youth tend to switch to a more casual style. Wear it classic and simple. Avoid clothes that are too loose. Check out London and Paris fashion weeks, both on and off the runway, for European style tips for men and women.

• Try H&M, Ben Sherman, Belstaff, Topshop, Hugo Boss, Topman, Lacoste, Mango, Zara, United Cpors of Benetton, and Reiss boutiques. H&M, Lacoste, and Zara are popular fashion brands throughout Europe.
• Men need to wear comfortable clothing. Avoid bright colors and shorts, unless you’re on the beach. Try on a nice t-shirt and well-fitting jeans. When walking down the street at night, try on a button-down shirt or earth-tone sweater and dark jeans. A scarf or tie can also accentuate any outfit. ^[21]
• European women, especially French women, are known to dress well. Whether it’s grocery shopping or taking the kids out for a walk, French women dress elegantly with skirts, skirts, and high heels. Dress simply but elegantly. Wear a pair of black or red skinny jeans, a loose sweater, a scarf or long necklace, and a handbag. Complete your outfit with heels or designer boots, and you’ll look like you just stepped out of a Parisian street. ^[22]
• Regardless of your gender, you should avoid wearing sportswear and sneakers, unless you are doing something sport-related. Also don’t wear flip flops, unless you’re at the beach. Europeans generally do not wear these styles of clothing and footwear, unless they have a reason to do so. Casually wearing tracksuits will make you look like a criminal in Europe, so try to avoid them if possible. ^[23]

Watch soccer. Football in Europe is not like rugby in America. Find a team to support. Learn about each other’s rival teams and the teams that have the potential to advance to the Champions League, a championship competition between European teams. You can even invite friends to join you, watching the team play at your house or at the local pub. ^{[24] [25]}

• If someone asks you if you support this or that team, the safest way is not to answer. Chances are they are arch-rivals.
• England, Germany, Italy, Greece and many other European countries are notorious for football hopigans, whose fanatics often cause trouble, destroy property and get arrested. Although this trend has declined in recent years, some Europeans are still very passionate about their team. ^{[26] [27]}
• If football isn’t your thing, try watching tennis or lacrosse. These sports are very popular in Europe. ^[28]

Change the way you measure. Europeans use a different system of measurement and temperature than Americans. Instead of using British/American units of measurement like inches, feet, and pounds, use the metric system, which includes units like meters, liters, and grams. You should also start describing temperature in degrees Celsius instead of degrees Fahrenheit. People will see you talking and acting like a European. That way, not only will you look like a European, but you’ll also join more than 90% of the world’s population using the same measurement system! ^[29]

• For example, the Austrians would describe the distance between the Austrian city of Vienna and the German city of Munich as 355 kilometers instead of 220 miles, and they would describe the temperature in Vienna as 25 degrees Celsius instead of 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Slow down life. Americans often get so carried away with their activities that they forget to enjoy life. Europeans take time out of the day to enjoy themselves. Whether it’s a leisurely lunch break in France, a mid-day break in Italy or a nap in Spain, Europeans know how to relax and enjoy the little joys. Take half an hour to gather with friends and de-stress in the afternoon. Enjoy your lunch leisurely instead of swallowing it in a hurry. ^{[30] [31] [32]}

• One of the best ways to achieve this is to enjoy longer vacations. On average, Europeans have more holidays than Americans. Instead of postponing trips until you have more money or free time, arrange a week-long vacation and have fun. Plan a not-so-luxury trip, or spend a relaxing week with loved ones. Don’t think about work and leave all the stress behind.

Value community over convenience. Europeans know when they can sit down with friends to chat. In France, people often spend long lunch breaks gathering in groups to chat and eat lunch together. Instead of eating alone with the excuse of being too busy, sit down to eat with your family. You can tell everyone about the day’s happenings and leisurely enjoy the cozy feeling with your loved ones. ^[33]

• Americans are often too polite to each other and can get upset when someone tells them that what they are doing is wrong. Europeans are often more forthright but still constructive. The French are known for being outspoken and are often said to be “straight as the guts of a horse”. When your friends ask you how they do it, be honest with what you think instead of trying to please them. As a result, they will improve, and you will also create a closer and more honest relationship with them. ^[34]