Conversely, I, as an American who had the opportunity to spend a few months in Germany, was surprised at how close all the countries were.
Great culture in all the places I went (Brussels and Prague were my two standout favorites!) Traveling was hella cheap. The food was fire everywhere I went. The architecture was INCREDIBLE. And the knowledge that you could go to the hospital for less than $100 was nuts. Don't even get me started on how legitimately cool it is to sit in a 1000 year old pub.
I didn't want to come back. I nearly cried when I got the return flight info.
It still shocks me to tell people "Yeah, I lived in Germany for a bit and some weekends we would fuck off to France."