Summer Vacation in Europe

A Japanese businessperson sent to Europe, in countries such as Germany and Belgium, as an expat.

One of biggest amazement that he/she may feel there is how people there takes summer holidays (Vacance in French, Sommerfeirien in German), which makes outstanding contrast to that in their home county.

Around Easter time the colleagues start conversing merrily about their plan in upcoming summer.
Most of them already booked dates and destination. In early July they go off for2 to 3 weeks, for instance, an island in Mediterranean Sea or a village in Provance, France. An upper class manager told me “I will spend two weeks in Ghana with my wife and friends, and explore rivers with canoe. I’ll be totally inaccessible by e-mail and smart phone”.
What’s more astonishing is to notice that there is less traffic on streets in July and August, both pedestrians and car (while aviation are fully packed with tourists). “How that can be possible? Last year I took only 3 days off in mid-August in Japan…(although he is granted to take 20 days of paid holiday) ”

Soon the expat will find out that such style of vacation is not simply a right that all the workers are entitled to take, but is it is accepted by entire society without any question.

People take it for granted that during the vacation season they cannot get their washing machine fixed in day or two. Unfortunately, that not at all the case in his home country, In Japan, in particular in big cities, so-called convenience stores are open all around the clock. We can do shopping at local supermarkets even until 22;00 or 23;00. Technician will visit your home next day to fix washing machine even in Summer.

Which is better in terms of welfare? This is a question that the expat struggles during his stay in Europe.