Ok, this is written for Hungary, but I would say this is pretty much a good comparison for any Eastern/Central European way (or even Western Europe) of how things are, compared to USA.


Not gonna quote the whole thing...just parts
Differences of Life and Culture in Hungary and America


(u=USA, h=Hungary)
Compiled by Doug Coppage

Additional contributions by Arden Campbell

Useful corrections by several helpful Hungarians

This edition: 2007.5.29

General Customs


Manners and Morals

u
A police officer may demand personal identification only in strictly defined situations.

h
A policeman may demand personal identification at any time for any reason.


u
“Good morning” is used from early morning until noon.


h
“Good morning” (Jó reggelt) is used from early morning to about 9:00 AM, and only at the first meeting.



u
Newspapers may have slightly racy advertisements (e.g. for strip clubs or lingerie stores), but they never contain nudity.



h
Many newspapers have a photo or two of nude women, often on the front or back page.


u
People blow their noses quietly or, if necessary, they sniffle quietly.



h
It is very unacceptable to sniffle. However, it is acceptable to blow the nose like a trombone.



u
The flag is the most revered symbol of the nation. It may not be used for decoration or clothing.

h
The ancient royal crown is revered as a symbol of the nation. The flag is often used for decoration or worn as a patriotic cape.


u
Americans are taught not to monopolize conversations—especially with new acquaintances. We ask questions of the other person in order to show our interest in them. We refrain from volunteering information about ourselves for fear of seeming boorish.



h
A Hungarian will share something and then stop without asking a question. This pause is the invitation for the other person to share thoughts at the same level. Americans who constantly ask questions without sharing anything about themselves are perceived as intrusive.



u
When two cool dudes meet, they might shake hands, and they just “greet” each other.



h
When two cool dudes meet, they might exchange a kiss on each cheek.


u
A burly, cool teenager would not be caught dead wearing a stocking cap with pom-poms or tails. Nor do they wear hair bands or capris.



h
Cool dudes wear stocking caps with dangly pom-poms along with their nose studs and leather jackets. They also wear capris and hairbands.


u
People wear shoes all through the house unless the shoes are noticeably dirty. Guests do not remove their shoes at the door.



h
Shoes automatically come off at the door of the house. Spare slippers are provided for guests.



u
Clothes are meant to conceal the body.


h
Clothes are meant to cover the body.


u
Modesty is a driving principle. A polite person does not show underwear or too much skin.


h
Modesty almost does not exist. Changing clothes (esp. by men and children) can be done down to the underwear in essentially public places (e.g. at a swimming pool). Mothers have their little kids wee-wee in the park.

Town and Transportation


u
Everyone has a car and drives everywhere. Not having a car is a social handicap and a detriment to employment.

h
There are trains and buses to almost every city and village. Larger cities have excellent public transportation. It is possible to live without a car.


u
The traffic signal is exclusively red, or yellow, or green.



h
The transition from red to green is preceded by a brief (2 or 3 seconds) showing of the yellow light under the red, telling you to “get it in gear.”


u
Parking facilities are well-defined.



h
Parking, especially in older towns, is often where you can get it. Cars are often pulled onto the sidewalk.



u
Signs that give the street names are on poles at intersections.




h
Signs that give street names are on the sides of buildings or fences at intersections. Occasionally there is no sign. Signs are (sometimes) on poles if there is no building at the corner.



u
At intersections there are STOP or YIELD signs to show who gives right of way. Few intersections are unregulated.



h
The Rules of the Road (KRESZ) govern traffic at intersections without signs. If the intersection needs special treatment, then there is some kind of sign or light.


u
A big tractor-trailer is called an “eighteen wheeler,” arranged 2-4-4 on the tractor and 4-4 on the trailer.



h
A big truck has 12 wheels, arranged 2-4 on the tractor and 2-2-2 on the trailer.



u
Horse-drawn carriages are seen in Amish country.


h
Horse-drawn carriages are seen in the countryside.


u
A street sweeper is a truck that runs through town in the very early morning.



h
A street sweeper is a person who carries a broom and pushes a cart through town in the early morning.


u
Addresses are allocated according to blocks and lots, with even numbers on one side of the street and odd numbers on the other. A cross-street usually introduces a new series of hundreds. 201 Main St. is across the street from 200 Main St. Large properties may cause numbers to be skipped, but facing properties have similar addresses.



h
Addresses are allocated consecutively by doors, with even numbers on one side and odd numbers on the other. Cross-streets have no effect. 86 Arad út might be across the street from 215 Arad út. Large properties consume many addresses, e.g. 22-28 Arad út.



u
The skylines of big cities are dominated by skyscrapers, many of which are several dozen stories tall.


h
The skyline of Budapest (the largest city) is dominated by the Citadella, Szent Mátyás Templom, and Parlament. There are few buildings more than 11 stories tall.



u
Shopping carts steer by the front two wheels.



h
Shopping carts have four free-steering wheels.

Food and Dining

u
The big meal of the day is often called dinner, which might mean lunch on Sunday (or, more rarely, on a Saturday), but it is always supper on other days.

h
The big meal of the day is ebéd: lunch.


u
The proper tip for a restaurant server is at least 15%. It is left on the table for them to pick up after the diner leaves.


h
The proper tip for a restaurant server is 10%. They come to tell you the price of the meal and to receive payment, and you tell them how much you will pay. They get the difference.


u
A waiter or waitress will occasionally check in to see if things are okay or if you want anything else. They will bring your check to you when you are obviously finished eating. It is a mistake for them to wait too long to bring the check.

h
A waiter or waitress will very infrequently check in to see of you need anything—especially if you are obviously finished eating and having a good conversation. You must catch their attention and call them to your table for further service or for the check.


u
The napkin is placed on the lap just before eating.


h
The napkin stays on the table to the left of the dinner plate during meals.



u
The fork is held in the right hand, and the left hand is put in the lap. Cutting food involves a switching of the fork from right to left and back again. There is a great temptation to use the fingers of the left hand to scoop food onto the fork.

h
The fork is always held in the left hand; the knife is in the right hand. Hands are kept above the table during meals. The knife is used to scoop food on to the fork.


u
If a guest eats all the food on his plate and asks for more, it is a complement to the cook or host.


h
If a guest eats all the food on his plate, he will be given more. If a guest asks for more, the host might become embarrassed about his own lack of hospitality.


u
Dinner bread is put on the lip of the plate or on a bread plate—never on the table.

h
Dinner bread may be put on the table(cloth).


u
Cold fruit soup does not exist.


h
Cold fruit soup is not dessert and is a wonderful part of a summer lunch.


u
Mayonnaise comes in the white squeeze bottle. Mustard comes in the yellow squeeze bottle.


h
Mayonnaise comes in the yellow squeeze bottle. Mustard comes in the tan squeeze bottle.


u
Coca-Cola is cheap, and sparkling mineral water is expensive.


h
Coca-Cola is expensive, and cheap sparkling mineral water can be bought for about 30 cents per liter.


u
Eggs come in cartons of a dozen (12) and are white with yellow yolks.


h
Eggs come in cartons of ten (or are sold individually) and are pinkish brown with orange yolks.


u
If vanilla flavor is desired, the recipe calls for vanilla extract, which is a brown watery liquid.

h
If vanilla flavor is desired, the recipe calls for vanilla sugar, which is like fine white sand.


u
Microwave popcorn costs about 25 cents a bag in the big boxes of 15 bags.

h
Microwave popcorn is rather expensive.



u
You can’t find the following foods: Turó Rudi, cantaloupe yogurt, Boci chocolate bars. But ice cream (Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers) and pizza are superior to Hungarian varieties. The sandwich bread is nasty.


h
You can’t find the following foods: Oreos, Pop-tarts, chocolate chips, Old Bay, sweet pickles, Graham crackers, Ranch dressing, root beer, Dr. Pepper. But cabbage, potatoes, and (especially) bread are superior to American varieties.



u
Potatoes are white inside and have little taste.

h
Potatoes are yellow inside and taste better.


u
Refined sugar is made from Caribbean sugar cane.

h
Refined sugar is made from domestic sugar beets.


u
The condiments served with pizza are grated Parmesan cheese and hot peppers.



h
The condiment served with pizza is ketchup.


u
Meat is marketed as future food, something soon to appear on the table—not dead flesh.

h
Meat is presented to look as much like a dead animal as possible.


u
Most any produce can be bought at most any grocery store at most any time.

h
Produce is seasonal. Apples purchased in February are not of good quality. Cherries are available in summer.

u
People buy lots of frozen foods that go into rather large freezers.

h
People buy very few frozen foods because most home freezers are quite small.

Very interesting info Frank.. I enjoyed reading this... Thanks for sharing...

Very, very interesting...thank you for the info.

I love watching American tourists here in my country...you can tell we kind of blow their minds....

Very cool Ferenc.

It's interesting over here how different some of it is, and then sometimes how middle of the road it can be, or mix and matched. The shoes off comment was kinda funny, as at my house, usually friends kick off their shoes and wander around barefoot or in socks, when they come in the house.

What time roughly does lunch fall on Sunday?

Farm folk tend to use both dinner and supper interchangeably. During the week, personally, I don't eat dinner later then 6pm and usually around 5. Sunday, supper is about 2pm and that's it for the day. Breakfast is about 7am, and lunch, during the week, is 11am.