After living in Europe for 7 years, I brought 4 new habits back to the US — but there's one American trait I never lost

• I spent seven years living abroad in Budapest before returning to the United States. • I noticed many of my habits changed, like the way I viewed work and how I shopped for groceries. • That said, the one American trait I'll never ditch is my love of small talk.

Travel has always been important to me.

In college, I spent two separate semesters abroad. After graduation, I won a once-in-a-lifetime competition that let me spend the summer visiting five continents.

Unsurprisingly, when I got the opportunity to move to Budapest to teach English, I jumped at the chance — and ended up sticking around. I spent seven years building a life in Europe before heading back to the States.

Now that I'm back in the US, I've noticed that I picked up more than a few European habits.

Some are small