European work culture is great... for

European work culture is great... for rich kids. As an American that move to Paris, I think we need to stop over romanticizing the work culture here. It looks great on paper. Five weeks vacation, 35-hour work weeks, two-hour lunch breaks. But in talking numbers, people fail to mention the average salary, take home pay and cost of rest. In comparison to the US, work is really not a thing here. Long can you eat up any remaining free time and energy? In my opinion, it seems like a lot of this system was built around a specific person. Someone who inherited or bought apartment in the 90s. Someone with a CDI, which is a permanent contract here. Someone who isn't trying to build anything outside the system. designed against and actively discourage freelancers, entrepreneurs and foreigners in the system. Both systems have flaws. But since the European system is so over romanticized, a lot of people move here and humbled by the reality of it. Personally, I prefer the US work culture. It's probably because I grew up in it. The higher salaries and remote life. Ineligible to build my dream life. Let me know if you want part two.