I'm an American who spent 6 months living in Europe. Here are 5 lifestyle changes I'll be taking back with me to the US.

• I plan on taking some aspects of life in Europe back home with me.
• I’ll no longer let the weather affect my plans and hope to find more small adventures close to home.

After shopping less while abroad, I’m going to try to maintain that habit stateside.

I’m excited to continue following soccer.

In my experience, Americans still haven’t embraced soccer the way other countries have. Though I’ll always be a diehard American football fan, being in Europe for the UEFA European Championship opened my eyes to just how electrifying soccer can be.

From the team chants and bitter rivalries to the epic watch parties, I’ll be setting my alarm to watch some major games from across the pond.

This story was originally published on November 7, 2024, and most recently updated on August 20, 2026.