Sofia @ Northern Arizona Uni.

I miss the "European atmosphere" in large European cities. Places where people sit in sidewalk cafés chatting and drinking wine. Or drinking a cappuccino and espresso, not the milky Starbucks version of coffee. Where there are pieces of culture everywhere you look. An old building, a new art gallery, a street musician or simply the interesting view of the dynamic streets. 

I miss that people actually walk from place to place. That it's considered the normal thing to do. No one will look weird at you if you're walking somewhere and no one will think it's strange that I'm 20 years old and faaar away from having a driver's license.

I miss the long history of Europe which is visible everywhere if you just know what to look for.

I miss how old most things in Europe are. Sometimes two-hundred years old, sometimes eight-hundred.

I love all the old churches and chapels. I love to just walk around in them by myself in silence, and be carried away by the holiness and fantastic architecture. I love to try to feel the history of numerous of past generations who came to the churches. How every single piece of the church has its own history. How people sat in those benches praying and sharing their inner life with God. How every generation had their specific problems and questions.

I miss to just walk around in a big European city and not knowing what I will be seeing next. To know that behind that corner I might find the most genuine little restaurant, a 100 year old boutique or a stunning park.

I miss the way (some) people dress in Europe. That it's not considered awkward to dress up in a nice skirt and high heels an ordinary Monday for no special reason. Just that you know that dressing up a little makes life more fun. That people have some sense of style. I miss boys who actually wear something nicer than an old t-shirt with jeans and sneakers when they're having dinner and partying. I miss seeing girls in pretty dresses, heels and cute coats.

I miss being able to sunbathe without a bikini top without people thinking I'm some kind of weird exhibitionist. I just happen to not like tan lines and to keep a cold wet bikini top on.

I miss being able to talk to strangers about stuff like politics and religion without people getting offended.
 

I miss how government and religion are two separate things.

I miss how very different every part of Europe is. To drive from the northern part, through central Europe and down to the south and see how it changes. I miss all the different languages I hear all the time. Swedish, French, German, Danish, Italian, Greek and on and on and on...

I miss the food culture in Europe.