Living in the United States can be dull for those who’ve lived their whole lives here. Therefore, one might wonder what life might be like on the other side of the sea, all the way in Europe. To find out, I interviewed a resident of Europe, Josep Palacios Ramirez, my 14-year-old cousin from the Netherlands to find out the differences between living there compared to the U.S. 

   One part of the Netherlands that Josep finds interesting is the climate and nature of the two continents. Josep described his country as, “very-greenly,” with lots of trees and forests in the country and described the United States as like what he has seen in the movies, with the beaches and cities as beautiful and just like what he had imagined. Another thing that Josep noticed during his stay in the United States and in the Netherlands is that the weather is similar, with both countries experiencing significant amounts of rain year-round.  

   Additionally, the interaction with people is similar in America compared to Europe, with the people in both countries being friendly and open to conversations. Josep also noted that the people of the U.S are much more friendly and willing to help compared to the Netherlands. 

    One fact about where in Europe Josep is living the Netherlands, is that they use the same currency, the Euro, as many other countries within the European Union, allowing for an easier time making purchases across different countries.  

   One difference he noticed was that the way of life is quite different between the U.S. and the Netherlands, with different currencies such as the Euro and US Dollar and travel being much more streamlined in Europe compared to America, thanks to most countries being part of the European Union. Another is that the prices are quite different compared to the United States, as gasoline prices in Europe are much more expensive. However, other goods such as groceries and medical products are much cheaper in Europe compared to the U.S. One more thing Josep wanted to say about the United States is that you can make more money in the U.S. compared to Europe. 

    Out of the two continents, however, Josep says he would prefer to stay in Europe rather than America, as he is much more used to where he lives compared to here. Josep noted that living in Europe is only just a little better, and that the United States is still a good place to stay, just that he feels that he has not stayed long enough.