There are, of course, many differences between the United States and Europe.  Many are not immediately obvious – on the surface, things seem the same, but the moment you scratch a bit, almost nothing is the same anymore.

One difference is money.  I don’t mean the obvious fact that in Europe you pay with Euros (except for Switzerland where you still pay with Swiss Francs) instead of Dollars.  What I mean is that Euros, like German Marks used to, use coins up to 5 Euros:  there are coins for one cent, two cents, five cents (no nicknames either), ten cents, twenty cents, fifty cents, one Euro, two Euros.  Then the paper money starts.  The five coins in your hand may add up to 10 Euros already (at the moment equal to approximately $14.32)

Just like with most everything else, the difference is neither good nor bad, things are just – different.  With so many coins, for instance, wallets naturally have to be of a different design.  Credit cards are only very slowly becoming accepted – mid-size to larger hotels use them, stores hardly ever, restaurants somewhat reluctantly and only for over 10 Euros.

Yesterday, in the transatlantic plane, I realized just how much I had been away – truly away – from the States:  one flight attendant in one aisle asked, over our heads, another in the other aisle whether he had change for a $10 bill, for a passenger who had purchased a beer (costs $7).  They started exchanging dollar bills, she gave him the ten, he handed her back some one-dollar bills – and I thought, “he’s got it all wrong!  He’s handing her bills!  She just needs three dollars!”  It was perhaps only a split second, but it did take a moment to sink in that, no, in American money, three dollars are three one-dollar bills, not coins. 

I remember coming to the States, almost 19 years ago, and being completely thrown for a loop with little details like that.