Other countries take their vending machines very seriously. There’s a CHEESE vending machine in Switzerland, China has one containing live crabs, and all over Asia (and parts of Europe) you can find machines that dole out hot french fries, burgers, and even pizza. “Specialty” vending machines aside, you’ll find both cold and heated drinks in every Japanese vending machine. For a couple of yen, you can walk away with a perfectly warm bottle of green tea or coffee. It’s pretty dreamy. Food aside, these convenience stores are one-stop destinations for pretty much anything you can imagine. At the major chains in Japan, you can buy concert or game tickets, use the copier/printer, and drop off your mail and packages while buying a bag of chips. Now that’s the real meaning of convenience. Bike lanes and car lanes are typically separate for safety reasons, and there are special bike bridges and multi-level bike racks. Even in the freezing cold winter, people choose to bike rather than drive. When I visit these cities and rent a city bike, I find it amazing to watch commuters blissfully travel to and from work on two wheels. My Chinese friends say that even their grandparents (ages 70+) whip out their mobile phones to pay for just about everything. When I was living in France, I was in awe of my local friends’ carte vitale, a healthcare card that gives them access to all essential medical treatments and procedures. When they show up to the pharmacy, hospital, or clinic, they present the card, which kicks off a direct reimbursement from the insurance fund. In other parts of the world, PTO is mandated by the government. Several places I’ve visited — like Brazil, France, Spain, and some African countries — offer their employees a set-in-stone minimum of 30 days off per year, according to reporting by USA Today. That means that while we save up our meager PTO for a two-week vacation once per year, working people in Spain are able to plan an entire month off work (something they actually totally do).
