Only 2 weeks vacation, what?!

This is the response I receive from Europeans (so far from Londoners and Danes) when I inform them that Americans only get 2 weeks vacation. Then, they almost have a heart attack when they learn many Americans do not receive paid vacation or no vacation. (I go the extra step and explain further that it's common to receive more vacation days after working at a company for more than 3 years, 5 years, etc, usually gaining another week. But this doesn't make them feel better.)

For those of you unaware, Europeans (Western, not sure of Eastern) receive 4-5 weeks of vacation per year! Danes get 5 weeks. EVERYONE gets 5 weeks. No matter who you are, who you work for, or how long you've worked for the company - you receive 5 weeks when you start your job.

The subject of American vacations gets brought up because the US State Department states about 27% of Americans have passports (New York Times story at http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/08/18/washington/18immig.html?fta=y). Europeans have said something along the lines of, "Why don't more Americans have passports; Why aren't they traveling to Europe?"

My answer: Most Americans only receive 2 weeks vacation, so many go to Mexico or the Caribbean to lay on a beach and relax. Or they take long weekends and travel locally. Plus a trip to Europe is not relaxing, it's work. Americans travel to Europe to sightsee, not sit their a** on a beach.

Europeans find it incomprehensible to receive only 2 weeks vacation. I agree.

I think that's why most Americans are so f****ing stressed and unhappy. There's no time to enjoy life; it's all about work. And we work to retire. To what, enjoy life at 65?! It's like we've been brainwashed to believe if we don't work more than 40 hrs than we're not a hardworking, loyal employee. And it's even more f****ed up that there are employers that make you feel guilty or give you a hard time for taking your earned vacation days (and sick days)! I've experienced it, and I'm sure you have too.

One thing is for sure, we definitely live in a business friendly country, not a worker friendly country. And, just because we work harder and longer, does not mean we have a higher or better standard of living than Europeans.