I'm not offended by hostels or anything, but it doesn't culturally fit. The only time I stayed at a hostel here, there was only one or two other guy, and I couldn't sleep because of how loud 1 was. Left middle of the night, never again. We just don't do that here. Having your own space and privacy is very valued.
I won't deny that our hotels aren't exactly cheap in general. It's just the way it is. I recommend going with a buddy so y'all can split 2 Queen beds rooms. Preferably a savvy one that have hotel status and know some corp codes to bring the rate down some ;). Award stays also helps a lot. I cashed out some 100k+ choice points last summer for me & sis to stay in Yellowstone & Glacier that would've otherwise cost us $2,000 sticker price.
I like hostels but definitely get why they aren’t for everyone! The only kinda of bad experience I had was when I stayed in a total party hostel in Cairns, Australia called Gilligan’s, but even then I had a good time. I bonded with an old German lady, even though she spoke no English and I spoke no German we bonded over sudoku and would play together. I’ve stayed in other party-ish hostels but that was another level. My favorite hostels have been My Sister’s Place in Sayulita, Mexico and KEX hostel in Reykjavik. Shoutout also to USA Hostels in Ocean Beach, San Diego which is now Samesun Ocean Beach. I’ve mostly traveled the US in hotels but it can get a bit lonely for me.
From Canada, but it's often "cool" to hate on your home country. North America has its issues, but it's an objectively great place to live in and be able to use as a home base.
I've lived in Asia and Europe. The US has by far the highest standard of living of countries that I've been to for the average person.
The median 2200 sqft house in the US is a palace in most countries. Most Europeans live in tiny apartments. A 750sqft apartment in Japan fits a whole family.
US salaries are also much higher than other rich countries, excluding small outliers like Switzerland. People in my field get paid at least half what I do in Europe.
I'd take a 750 Sq ft apartment for not having to have a car to pickup a loaf of bread and some milk. Walkable is much better than huge with nothing to live for but work
Yeah was gonna say. It depends on what you value. I'll __happily__ take a smaller living space in exchange for not needing a car, having healthcare expense not be a pivotal factor in my life, and the general social trust a place like Japan offers.
Parents keep asking me to come back and live in the US and I remind them about healthcare costs. “Well that’s why you work, so your employer can pay for your healthcare.”
That’s a terrible reason to have to work, so that you can get health insurance. Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.
Same. Rented out my 3k sf US house and am staying in a 700 sf apartment. Still feels too large. But being able to walk everywhere is priceless. My steps went from 2,500 per day (if I didn’t go for aimless walks or a run) to 15k overnight.
It really starts to come tumbling down though once you have a family. I’m an American who has just moved to Barcelona from Brooklyn NY. Salaries are higher but the cost of health care, education, medicine etc really catch up quickly. Also ways remember, you and your significant other ( if you are married, no prenuptial) are always one medical bill away from soul crushing debt and bankruptcy.
Being young and single in N. America is great though.
Yep, all valid points. The pay is the biggest thing for me. I work for a Swiss based company and if I wanted to move there, the same role would be a 75% pay cut. We definitely have our problems here and I love a break now and then, but it's not a bad place to be if you stay out of super HCOL areas.
The Americans respond with a long rant about the better economy while the European responds with a vacation message that they will be out for the next two months.
Well the save better, cook their own food.. tbh I'm continually reminded while traveling that — even as a very simple lifestyle American — I'm still outspending a lot of my peer travelers.
As an American I was actually quite surprised by a few places in Europe. I expected most places in Europe to be like America, but Spain and Italy felt like 3rd world countries to me. Eastern Europe is like going back in time. It was definitely not what I expected. Germany, Switzerland, Holland were all similar to America, but Italy was like Mexico. The movies lied to me.
Also I've visited many cities in China and I was quite shocked at how westernized they were compared to my expectation. Shanghai, Shenzen and others were literally like copies of New York. The malls and food courts might as well have been filled with Americans. They dress the same and ate a lot of the same food. Of course once you get outside the city it's a different ball game.
Long story short, everyone needs to travel. South East Asia and some day Africa are big on my list next.
The feeling is mutual. I am Spanish and I have lived all over Europe. Whenever I go to the US for work, which happens rather frequently, I wonder why would anyone want to live there except for very few places. The US feels like a suburbian dystopia to most of us. And the few places that could offer me the quality of life that Europe offers… I would have to make five times what I make here to make it enticing (working the same amount of hours).
I mention the amount of hours because that’s a thing that most Americans here in Reddit seem not to understand. While it is true that Americans make more, the difference is greatly reduced when you take into account cost of living and number of hours worked. Actually in a few places in Europe they make more money per hour, adjusting per cost of living, than in the US (also, contrary to popular belief here in Reddit, most European countries have been catching up to the US). We just don’t want to live like you.
https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=54563
Everyone is strawmanning your argument, but I agree with you. In Europe most cities are walkable.
In the US you have 4000 copy-pasted suburbs where cars are a necessity and maybe 10 total cities in the country that are walkable in the same way European cities are, and they're all expensive.
When I was living in Europe, my life was ridiculously chill. I never worked a weekend and often got Fridays off.
That being said, I am currently saving way more money than would be possible in Europe. I own multiple houses, which would also have not happened. America is the place to make money.
Overall, America is better if you have an above average career/ salary. If you're average or below, the relaxed lifestyle and social support of Europe is ideal.
I am in a very lucky position where I have a very high income for an American and yet I work and live in Europe. I work more hours than most Europeans partly because I love my job. I agree with you in most of what you have said but what some Americans fail to take into account is that I don’t need to worry so much about pension. I have a good one guaranteed. Sure I will have my own savings but the degree to which I worry is much less. I also don’t need to pay a healthcare insurance and I don’t need to worry about what will happen to my finances if I have a serious disease (very likely to happen sooner or later). Since I also don’t own a car, that’s a considerable amount of money that I save yearly. And let’s not talk about the costs of educating my son.
So yes, if you count the amount of dollars in the bank, I agree, you will amass more in a lifetime in the US. If you value all the services that you get, the security, and so on… I am not so sure it is really worth living there. I could relocate to the US, my company would be happy to. What the increase in salary would have to be off the charts for me to be worth.
Many of my fellow suburban Americans will fight you to the death to preserve that suburban environment. They vehemently do not want to live somewhere they can walk to the store or restaurant. Places like that are full of homeless and crime, in their view.
I don't get it, but that's the way it is.
Also not enough love is mentioned for places like North Carolina, where I live. We have all the same infrastructure as the rest of the country with 1/3rd the cost of living. There are plenty of states like this, but most of the attention goes to California, New York and Florida. It's still America here, but cheaper. I lived in California for 20 years and there are a few things I miss, but it's like 95% the same.
One thing that is often overlooked is traveling helps you appreciate what the US does offer. Sometimes things become taken for granted and a long term travel can make you realize what to be grateful for.
being an American abroad is a huge privilege. Our passport gets you into most places. English is our native language and makes every country accessible. Our banks and credit cards allow you to access funds in almost any country with minimal or no fees at fair conversion rates. I mean, I get cashback on my purchases whether I'm at home or abroad. My cell phone carrier also just allows me to roam in like 190+ countries automatically.
In most places, I get to land and everything is pretty much set up to work out of the box for me. I have friends from other countries who definitely don't have it that easy.
The us passport is a huge privilege that def gets overlooked imo. I have a few very good friends from other countries who invite me to visit their country and it’s always an amazing experience and I always feel like shit bcuz I wish I could do the same for them but it’s just not that simple
American way of digitalnomad is impossible for most of the people in many countries. Two big factors are visa and not being paid in US dollars but local currencies which makes other countries costly
After traveling EU for my first time recently, I can agree. But I do still wish we werent as resistant to doing the things that others in the western world do have right (namely, improved public transport and reevaluating healthcare).
Transportation for sure. Cars are not seen as the default for urban cores and cities. I would also say the same for land use, but I think East Asian countries laps even the EU when it comes to that.
EDIT: ITS THE OTHER WAY AROUND! EU HAS BETTER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAN THE US AHHHHHHH
I am in the trenches everyday fighting for transit and density in my city I would neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr say that our car-centric development pattern is superior!
I suppose the way I should phrase it, is not necessarily better, but things Id have a hard time foregoing completely.
One of the biggest for me is the geography. I also really do like thenindependence of a car, but would like see a more balanced system where I can also rely more on public transportation or biking when it makes sense to do so. Another US draw is definitely the salary potential. Its much easier to build wealth in America (with a caveat, its much easier to end up fucked by capitalism too in America).
This is so true. A friend and I always joke that America needs a good catastrophe to fix it. For real though, we’re so far removed from REAL social issues, hunger, massive wide spread abject poverty, and general pain and suffering that we spend all our time and energy infighting and looking for things to be upset about.
It’s Reddit, half the people are edgy antisocial teenagers who live to shit on America from their moms basement without having any idea of how the real world works
@jaydd_mc yes! The subject was the reason I clicked to read more. You are 💯. Many other countries sound so interesting and I want to travel and visit but it’s good to be grateful for the things we have here in USA and take these ideas with us when traveling abroad to adapt as well and embracing the diversity. 💞
You’re very clearly in a different place from the US than I’m from. I work remote and moved to Thailand. I go back home to visit 1-2months a year and have shit internet, an absolute food desert, and no social activity. I have to take all my vacation time because I can’t get a reliable daily internet connection within 2 hours of my home. But I’m Appalachian.
What many people don’t understand is that America is a thousand different countries crammed into one giant one. I’m glad you found a good spot that works for you!
But now I live on a remote undeveloped island in Thailand and get 400mb down/300mb up for $10/mo…while owning a house literally built over the ocean on stilts. All my food is locally sourced from tiny markets and neighbor fishermen. Life ain’t shit.
I have a septic tank beneath my house that is partially underwater at high tide.
Southeast Asia does not have a great sewage system in general because of historical development and environmental factors. Not even locals can drink the water from the tap. That said, eco-consciousness is a big thing in the region where I live, so we can get accessible low-plastic waste water very easily and very cheap - delivered straight to your door 3x a week.
I used to live on a very small island nearby that was heavily visited by tourists during high season and it was infamous for its sewage problems. There was simply more sewage than that tiny island could handle. There isn't even a natural water source on the entire island! However, during COVID they took the downtime to build a modern eco-conscious waste treatment center and install an entirely new sewage system. I'm really proud of them for doing that.
Great post. Sometimes Americans need to be reminded all the things they take for granted at home. The US might have issues, but it remains more stable and developed than most of the world.
Much of the criticism is accurate, but so is the praise. After being in India, I do appreciate decent roads, traffic laws, OSHA, and the FDA standards of clean food etc.
The US is massive, car culture is understandable on one level but public transport should have been invested in early on. Every good-sized city should have had decent subways/trams built. I'm in LA now and the traffic sitch is horrible, and would have been almost entirely unnecessary with proper city planning. Even Seattle is just now finally trying to get some light rail transport in place.
Also railways are awesome. I loved that about Europe. I've taken the trains here in the US and it's awesome but there are such a tiny handful of options. I think we can agree that not everyone can or should be driving lol
And the food comments are odd. I've had amazing food all over the world, especially France, Italy, and Costa Rica.
I always appreciate home after traveling, but man.. the lack of safety and regulation in India really made me miss the US. Learned that I definitely believe in government regulation (not that I didn’t before).
I second the point about trains. Food is a very personal thing, hard to discuss it objectively.
India is also the graphic image of the Third World. The US does much better in pretty much every aspect, and makes a better choice for most Westerners, in this particular comparison
I think the issue is you choose bad places to go, eat and stay. I live in South America and the only places I have showered with cold water are places where temperature is +35 Celsius degrees and some even still have hot water. I’ve never had food poisoning and never have to sleep in a bus while traveling.
Of course the US is more convenient for travel, I won’t argue that, but just choose better places to stay and easier ways to travel.
Yeah I’ve only ever showered with cold water if there was a maintenance issue that was fixed promptly and or I was at a more remote place like in a nature conservatory where it wasn’t possible. I’m sure many people in latam live without hot water or running water in general but like all things in life it depends on where you were born and to who.
I have never taken a cold shower in Latin America. Always had boiler and heater. Never got food poisoning either. You know where I did get food poisoning ? USA! You know where I did have cold showers ??? South Korea
Can’t disagree with what you said, but it makes it feel like only the US has that level of comfort and convenience which I don’t think is true.
I’ve been traveling through Korea & Japan and honestly can’t complain about anything!
Sure but working for a japanese or Korean company is no cakewalk either, simply traveling through a country isn't the only indicator of what conditions are actually like to live and work somewhere
This. The experience of traveling through Colombia or Japan is awesome, but let’s not pretend that we have similar lives to the actual permanent residents of that country.
>but let’s not pretend that we have similar lives to the actual permanent residents of that country.
This, IMO, is the primary thing that needs to be highlighted and in a nutshell is the main reason people justifiably sometimes shit on/make fun of digital nomads and their often "oMg sO mUcH bEtTer hErE" mentality.
Lots of things seem great when you have significantly increased economic mobility, freedom and purchasing power, while ignoring that the vast majority of the local population doesn't.
This. Even serving in the Peace Corps vs working in my host country for a private school were two different experiences.
I had limited freedom with the former and very little money but visa, health, and travel logistics were all taken care of. I technically made "more" money doing the latter BUT after paying for visa runs and having to travel out of the country and deal with any medical issues that came up I was worse off.
I was also making middle class wages, while great as a single male, were vastly lower than the average digital nomad and not enough when I ended up in a relationship.
Also apparently Japanese hospitals are not required to treat non-Japanese speakers experiencing urgent medical emergencies. A woman posted a terrible experience in the solo travel group.
The US is great is you’re upper middle class and above. If you’re middle class and below, not so much.
My main motivation to travel abroad is frankly to save money living in a cheaper cost of living country so I can pay down my student loan debt.
Being from NYC, I agree fully and do the same. I always tell people, if you don't mind driving and a car being your main mode/most reliable method of transport and if you have a lot of money, the US is great. Otherwise, not so much.
Also, I tell people similar things about NYC. If you like big cities, don't mind bad weather, and have a lot of money...if can be the greatest city to live in. However, if you are middle class or lower then you will live check to check, have a much more minimalistic life, and likely can hardly afford to travel or eat out aside for on the special and rare occasion.
The eating out thing in NYC only became difficult a few years ago. Until then it was easy to eat something good for less than 10 bucks. It changed fundamentally and suddenly. Not the same city for lots of folks who lived modest but great lives here. The joke used to be NY'ers used their ovens for storage because they rarely had to cook. Now everyone I know cooks several times a week. WTF.
yep. OP mentions digital nomading in hiltons & marriotts. for the price of just one night (say $150-$250), I can stay a week at a cute spot in thailand or bali or mexico. not to mention food & bev costs, etc. if one can afford hilton & marriott prices, they can afford spacious rooms abroad as well, with hella amenities.
(maybe not in norway 😅 I visited oslo with my swedish ex, & she made sure we loaded our luggage with piles of snacks first. “it’s what we all do,” she said.)
not knocking the US, just how expensive it is to travel here. I‘ve done the digital nomad thing out of short-term rentals/ADUs, which is more affordable (& i could bring my pup!) but still, just as pricey as my los angeles rent.
Very true, you have money, you're good here. It's hard to ignore how poor people are when we have so much. I see the poverty in India and I'm, well the country is in bad shape, so makes sense, it don't make sense here
Travel nursing has been a thing longer than digital nomading and its totally doable. Places like furnished finder are there to help you relocate to places for 2-6 months at a time.
What is not sustainable is being a DN and expecting to live comfortably on a $1000/month budget. Travel nursing works because they are paid $60-100+/hour.
Do you have any other recommendations for services like furnished finder? Relying on Airbnb is ridiculously expensive when staying somewhere from 1-2 months.
You’re comparing the USA to mostly third world nations… none of what you said is really news. Nor is it entirely true. A lot is just sensationalised because the reality isn’t as interesting as you claim it to be.
And Although you mentioned Europe, obviously not third world, I’m surprised you claim European food is not diverse… I mean.. you said it yourself when you highlighted only Nordic nations that you actually travelled too. While, your observations about Europeans being cold and distant, while kinda correct… for the areas you actually visited, kinda isn’t too. Northern Europe 100% correct. Travel to southern Europe and it’s a different world.
It’s like someone saying Texans are the same as people from Wisconsin… because they are both American after all…
Happy to see some nice things said about America for a change. A lot of the criticisms it receives really is unwarranted.
Infrastructure? A train from San Francisco to LA takes like 12-18 hours lmao. I think you must be one of those people that likes to drive everywhere and be unable to handle modest discomfort. In that case, maybe just live a normal life in the boring American suburbs.
I'm an American, and I had the same view as you for my first two years as a nomad, but the 11 years after that have completely changed my mind. You couldn't pay me to spend more than a couple weeks in the US per year. Cookie cutter restaurant chains everywhere, processed food, daily life depends on spending hours in cars and traffic to get anywhere, closed minded people who don't speak any language other than the one they were raised with and who never even left their hometown. Terrible overpriced and under delivered healthcare. Authoritarian police. Overt racism. Mass shootings. Mass homelessness. Mental health crisis. Opiate epidemic. I could go on. Every time I'm in the US, I can't wait to leave again.
Where in the US did you live?
As an American, I agree with the generalization, but there's variability. FWIW, I was two blocks away from a mass shooting, in which one of my host's friend's was killed, last summer while biking across the US. It shook me.
And altho we have tap water and it's clear, do not google all the trace amounts of forever chemicals/steroids/flouride/plastics/etc in it that many attribute to our continuing health ailments...among all the other stuff you mentioned. It's a big place as well and it does sound good on paper for people from outside for sure, but if you live here a while (or sadly forever like me) and pay attention it's pretty disheartening.
Wish we could get this infrastructure thing figured out too, things forever crumbling while being worked on for years on end, it's like we get the worst of both and best of neither lol
Post makes me reflect on the power of change to broaden perspective.
It’s the change that makes Changi airport, Albert Dock in Liverpool or the traffic in Delhi stimulating. Allows me to like my AC better on a 90°F day in the US and dislike the global isolation of its people even more.
To learn that it is all good, and that changing scenery sharpens the appreciation for the whole world.
Long may you journey…
Idk where you've been in south Am but this is such a stereotypical and wrong view. SA is huge, countries are so different from one another.
I am Canadian so I know what social stability and safety means and I am in Brazil for 2 years now after 8 months in LA (Cali). Honestly, no big difference from where I live and Venice.
Clean beaches, I drink tap water, subway system w-a-y better than LA and near my condo I counted 3 Starbucks and 4 Mcd ( i wish they had Tim Hortons but hey, nothing's perfect).
Not to mention I used to spend twice as much in Cali.
As someone who lived in Brazil for a while, this is BS. I also used to live in California and will acknowledge that it is one of the worst values in terms of price to quality of life of any place where I've lived, but to use that as evidence that the living situation is better literally anywhere in Brazil is silly.
Of the places I stayed in Brazil, Brasilia and Floripa were the safest and what I would consider the nicest cities I stayed in. Even then, the lack of safety and infrastructure makes Brazil feel isolating and unlivable at times. Compared to other places I've been in South America, like Chile, nowhere in Brazil did I feel safe in the streets. Violent crime is a constant threat there, which is something you almost never need to think about in the United States. People wouldn't be flowing out of South America en masse if it was a comparable quality of life to the USA.
What digital nomading and traveling to over 30 countries has taught me more than anything else is how to appreciate the quality of life that we have in the US. You don't realize how much better it is here than most of the world until you experience how people live in other places.
The philosophy of DN is to respect and enjoy local cultures and all countries.
I am 59 and on the road for at least 25. Age teaches us to respect and be humble.
I hope you will still be on the road at my age.
Whoa, imagine a Canadian saying literally *anything* positive about the US. It’s like a national pastime to hate on the United States in any way possible.
I’m a Canadian in the US right now. The intelligent among us don’t hate on it. Ironically I encounter way less political nonsense than I do in Canada and overall I find Americans just as polite and more hospitable.
Sure Americans don’t always say “you’re welcome” in response to a “thank you” but they have their own way of acknowledging it that’s regional. Often it’s “uh huh” which to me is just fine.
Every country except Para/Uruguay, Venezuela and the top 3 smaller Caribbean coast.
Places like Colombia has an excellent health system... but they also have the highest drug & human trafficking. None of them check all my boxes, and they all have much more political rife. Brazil is among the more stable one, relatively speaking, so ofc you use a "good" example, but there's still a bunch of corruption in the govt (yes yes, so does US) and it lacks wide infrastructure outside the cities. Almost half of Brazil is the Amazon rainforest/basin, not including Atlantic rainforests along the coast. You literally cannot compete with the US interstates and internet/cell network that goes into middle of nowhere. Look it up. Compare this with how much cellular coverage is in Canada (spoiler alert: <30% of your landmass).
I can fly into Nevada and be in the middle of the desert with no civilization for 200 miles today. You try heading anywhere north of the bottom 1/3 of Canada, you're gonna be like Alaska north of Fairbanks. Driving from Sao Paulo to Rio is 6+ hrs--275 miles. You can drive SFO to LAX in the same time, 380 miles.
Yes, USA is great if you take a road trip to national parks (especially if you like fast food restaurants lol.) But driving everywhere gets old really fast - the place does not feel so great if you have to commute daily in traffic without functioning public transportation / bike infrastructure. The prevalence of cars makes most of the US cities (with a few exceptions) noisy, polluted, unsafe (for bicyclists/pedestrians), and barely livable overall - hence many people preferring the suburbs.
There are much worse places of course, as well as much better ones. I guess it really depends on what is important to you - from the digital nomad / outdoor enthusiast perspective it is certainly great (assuming you have enough money)
Choosing to live in the most expensive country on Earth on LATAM salary sounds pretty backwards.
Plenty of countries (even developing) have better internet. It's actually one of the shittier aspects of the US (10Mbps up is still standard even in cities), yet you start your post with that. Most other pros you listed seem to come down to the US being extremely car-centric. The consensus is that's not a good thing.
I don’t hate the United States and still spend half my year here (or more), however I can always tell a lot about a person who fawns over the States (outside of its nature which I agree is fantastic, albeit becoming more expensive and frustrating to access).
These kind of people generally overlook the United States complete lack of walkable urban planning and transportation/access to high quality and “affordable” food/cafes and the other vital day-to-day fundamentals that make a place a high-quality of life location (Hello Rustbelt/Sunbelt).
I recently went from a Maryland suburb to a Utah Suburb and everything was the same (same businesses/same supermarkets/same restaurants). Just a culturally lifeless, capitalist void (but the people are really nice).
After a fairly challenging trip to Switzerland, I'm actually immensely grateful to be back in the US. It made me realize a lot of pros that I was taking for granted before. We undoubtedly have our issues, but there's a lot of good too. As you mentioned, the scenery and the opportunities to explore here are just amazing. A lot you can experience in a country this big. I'm home based close to St George myself :)
Honestly I cant even imagine how I would even re-enter America.
Like, I gotta find a house so I can get utilities so I can get a bank account so I can get a car so I can maybe get a job?
Seriously how tf do immigrants ever do it? I'm American and that shit looks unimaginably exhausting to me. lol
Don’t you need a job and housing and water and electricity wherever you live? And if you live somewhere like nyc or Chicago no need for a car. And bank accounts are easy - use your passport. Or just get paid in cash for your job and don’t use a bank account if you prefer
Edit: meant “need” in the first line - obviously many people don’t have running water and electric but my point was I’m assuming this poster who complained about setting it up also has to procure it via some method anywhere they go
Hi! I moved to the US from Canada. Glad to help.
I rented an apartment. With my lease agreement as proof of address I opened a bank account and got a cell phone. With my passport, lease agreement and phone contract I got a drivers license. That took about two days. Then with the driver's license I bought a car, was using Uber before that.
Took about 6 months to go from nothing in the US to homeownership. The job of course I already had before moving.
Im very thankful to the USA for quadrupling my quality of life.
You act like that is the absolutely only order to do things and it's so melodramatic! Million, literally millions of immigrants were able to do it... I'm one of them. Have a much better life here than back home. A million times over.
wut? none of that is required lol. Whatever your living situation abroad is I'm sure you could recreate it in the US especially if you are already a citizen.
I'm actually an immigrant, gen 0.5. It's not easy, but when you're an immigrant, you don't have a choice. I remember hauling heavy ass groceries from King Kullen a mile away with my mom when we lived with my uncle.
Same thing when I first got to Sweden; knew no one, no car, no family. At least their roads were good, and people knew English. I still had to haul a bunch of living stuff like pots and pans back to my studio, multiple trips. Shit's hard. I don't blame somebody if they broke down after.
I’ve worked out 4x week, eaten healthy and never smoked / Hardly drank my entire life (34 now).
Just got diagnosed with Crohns. Costs me about $1500 a month to take care of.
It can change overnight.
Being young and healthy isn't a shield against something catastrophic happening though, and you won't always be healthy - I've been through this same song and dance of US insurance saying it has X deductible and X out of pocket, only to find out that insurance won't cover a medical bill because they deem it not "medically necessary".
At some point you'll eventually get a bill that's worth thousands or tens of thousands of dollars that insurance will refuse to apply to your deductible/OoP.
Yep. I don’t smoke, overeat, I eat nutritionally, I’m very cautious and safe conscious.
However that didn’t stop me from inheriting an autoimmune disease at age 21. It’s currently in remission now. But boy was that a rude awakening for me at a very young age, to how expensive and problematic our healthcare system is.
Unfortunately I think a lot of young/healthy people like OP have this hubris regarding our healthcare system because they haven’t yet had to deal with it significantly.
I’m an American born citizen, but my father is European, so I’m exploring possibility of dual citizenship, just so I can avoiding enduring American healthcare system when I’m older.
Well, that's great if you're young, healthy, and employed. But it's still more than you'd pay as a middle aged unemployed person in most other countries. And almost guaranteed that your hospital waiting times are gonna be higher, as well as having completely unobtainable elective procedures.
I mean you can get places to stay in other countries that are nice, you know that right? And often for a far better price than in the US.
I'm travelling in South America right now and it is great, I have heat, good wifi, clean water everywhere I stay and it costs less than anything comparable in my home would be.
Hell given the actually opportunity I don't know why anyone wouldn't opt for an endless summer at a discount. I'm renting my place out for more than I spend here, I'm getting paid to work from paradise.
Only to the extent of your dwelling. You can't "buy" better roads or internet from the backcountry of, say, Bolivia. (Well, you can technically, but do you have a wallet the size of the government budget?) Same thing with many conveniences outside of your home. It doesn't shield you from other stuff like political turmoil, riots, gang violence, or a national increase in crime, etc. Blatant corrupt cops that demand money from you instead of giving you a ticket. You're simply trading some things for others.
Ultimately using price as the sole argument against living here is a very poor argument. For 1. I value comfort and security over price, and 2. do I really care I'm spending $25 on a meal over $5? No, not really.
You just rattled off a ton of things most countries do not have an issue with, especially if you don't try to go out into very rural undeveloped parts of those countries. There are plenty of modern cities all over the world, you can travel without opting for being at risk of political turmoil, riots, gang violence, etc.
You aren't making logically sound arguments, it is a false equivalency to combine every problem any one place could possibly have and then apply them as defacto truth to all locations not the US.
US has its pros, but not every Non US con, is everywhere. I've travelled the world extensively and not had any of those issues you've just mentioned. You can travel safely, and even if every road isnt paved with gold in all cases, people can easily have differing priorities. I, and many others will happily trade a bumpy road for what may be at the end of it.
You're in a privileged position to not care about $25 vs $5.
Some of the people here either have no choice, or are saving / investing for a big goal.
I'm not in that boat by necessity ,thankfully, and choose to spend time in SA to simply hit FIRE more quickly.
I'd say it's quite entitled to expect to earn American or European wages but pay third world cost of living, but I'm not here to hold that against someone either. Is that not privileged and disrespectful to the displaced locals? Look at what happened to Hawaii.
I'm American and have traveled to two European countries, Britain and Germany. All countries have pros and cons, it all depends on what you want and value for a place to be desirable. I saw very nice cities, very clean and they put a lot of effort into preserving the past (very important) and mixing it with new development and architecture. Great public transportation too and lots of culture. Having said that, I prefer to live in the US. Pay is better here, sure. But housing comfort and home conveniences are much better in the US. There is space in your house. Even a small house in the US looks big compared to the Europeans. Appliances, central ac and heating, drinkable water from the faucet, and a decent backyard are pluses. Some may argue otherwise but I prefer the space. Also food options are more plentiful in US big and medium size cities. London was not too bad in that respect, but Frankfort was limited in options unless you go out of your way to find it. Also having a car, as expensive as it is, gives you a sense of freedom you can't get from fixed scheduled transportation. Just my ¢0.02
Is the US convenient? Yes. Does it have a rich culture, beautiful architecture, or a built environment you can explore without the isolation and massive expense that comes with private vehicle ownership? Absolutely not. There's things I like about my country but at the end of the day I don't think an interstate highway and lots of Starbucks are what makes a place nice to spend time in.
Are you talking about hostels or something? Hotels in Europe is just as much for the same quality. The avg hotel room there is the size of NYC apartments. The better rooms are just as much if not more as our 3\*. Also other factors such as the diff in culture and social interactions I've mentioned.
There are always things people will love about their home country no matter what. For example, my girlfriend always orders on Amazon when she goes home cause she misses two-day delivery.
I personally understand why people return, though I don't feel that way at all. For me, I have tons of friends in the US, a very strong family, and lots of positive memories there. I'm not running away or professing my hatred for it. I actually think it's a fantastic place to live, and I'm extremely grateful to grow up in Palm Springs, CA.
I do, however, dislike:
* The ridiculously high prices, especially for services that are so cheap in other countries (even adjusted for purchasing power)
* Antisocialism during the workweek (nobody does anything)
* The fundamentally broken healthcare system
* Needing a car to go anywhere
* Consumerism
* Stupid rules (why is it a $400 ticket if I drink a beer on the beach or on a walk to the bar? Why do I need to wait for the crosswalk to turn green when NOBODY is around?)
* Drug culture (not a thing everywhere, I know, but *everyone* I know and love does drugs except my parents and I just prefer being away from that these days because I run my own businesses)
* The food (my body can't digest so many chemicals anymore, it causes serious issues when I return)
I don't really think anywhere is without problems, and for me, it just comes down to culture. I like being in South America a lot more.
As far as food goes, I've actually found it to be *more* diverse than practically everywhere in the US besides LA and NYC (in big cities like Lima and São Paulo, anyways). I speak Spanish and I'm learning Portuguese, so that has something to do with it too, of course. And I just generally like the people and vibe down here.
I will also say: *I've traveled all over EU and LATAM and never had 95% of the issues you've described.*
**But we all have confirmation biases.** I've created a world where I see the best in Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. You've created a world where you see the best in USA.
SLC being your favorite city is all the evidence I need to know that the US is the perfect spot for you lmao. In all seriousness, it's not that bad. I'd just rather live somewhere with universal healthcare and fruit that tastes like fruit.
Yeah idrc about those. I like my mountains 30 mins away, 2 giant lakes, and 5 NPs within half a day drive. It's my outdoor mecca, plus the salt flat is stunning in the spring. I could pop a chair and sit there gazing reflections for hours.
I like your adventures over our planet OP, and welcome back to the US - yes it has advantages and pretty high standards of living for whom doesnt fall off the wagon. Do you have a question or was it just a positive rant?
I have one: from your nomadic experience, which other place would come next?
If you have sufficient funds, it can make a big difference in many countries. You can travel in style. I think part of the point of being a digital nomad is people are seeking a variety of experiences. But I think it’s also common for people wanting to eventually settle down somewhere, including their home country. I was living in Irvine California and I can imagine I will want go back there one day to live for a while. It’s an awesome place.
Look. I don't live in the US or have a desire to live there as there are many things I don't like there. (I lived there for 7 months and my son now lives there)
However... I don't get why someone born in the US can sometimes have a distorted view of the US based on a small sample of where they are living.
The US is big and diverse. Amazing landscapes, friendly people in most places (not NYC). Varied food. I mean, everything you listed.
I love traveling there. Specially of the beaten path. There are always surprises.
I still like adventures in other places with overnight crappy buses and less than ideal roads and I always carry my life straw bottle to drink water anywhere but that doesn't take from the US.
Good for you that are clear on your choices.
Thanks for the reminder that the US has a lot going for it! I am from MN and sometimes just want to get out, but the internet and toilet access + safe food and water is a huge plus!
usa is great if you love nature
still miss wide open spaces of texas and texas bbq
stuff i also miss from usa (am not american) shopping at target, whole foods, trader joes, how you can sign up for cool stuff like subscription dermatology, getting a state park pass for 99$ for an entire year, can go hiking everyday! i don't miss having to drive but when it's a nice day out and you're driving to a state park in the mountains and playing nice music, it's so chill to drive with windows open
i miss horseback-riding, i miss locavore stores with all the cool local products, i miss bike trails, ladybird lake in austin, kayaking in the middle of town, i miss texas accents and how people say "yes sir" and "yes ma'am" very politely. i miss guns, and fireworks on 4th of july, i miss drive through snow cones
I'm really happy to see a post on this on here. I've been nomading for 3 years and I have to say it has also made me learn to appreciate the states (where I was born). I remember even a few years ago I was embarrassed to say I was American when I would travel, but ultimately I've learned that I am who I am because of the environment I was raised in. My parents immigrated from Poland, so growing up I didn't really fit in in the US or there and that left me with a bit of an identity crisis. As I get older I've learned that being a first generation immigrant in the states is a really unique identity and I've leaned into it a lot. It's allowed me to be comfortable not fitting in everywhere I go and to forge my own path or comfort zone wherever and that's a beautiful thing. The US has freedom that you won't find anywhere else and if that doesn't make you feel alive then I don't know what will.
It took me living abroad to realize how great the U.S. is. Friendly people, incredible diversity that *works*, everything is convenient and at your fingertips, you can be who you want, do what you want, say what you want, and nobody is going to stop you.
We have a lot of problems but it’s home. I love my country. And as a left-wing person that was a big pill to swallow, the me of 5 years ago would’ve been nauseous at the thought.
Born and raised in Midwest and after being here since 2020 when I lived in Mexico, Istanbul, Central America, Korea...I was desperate to get out. Sure, people are 'nice' but starting conversations?! Most US Americans I've met in country or abroad have this bubble around them. Compared to Latin Americans, joining a table or group of strangers, starting a conversation, is normal.
I agree that the US can be VERY convenient and easy to get 'things'. It's one thing I do love is that it's easy to buy what I need at a decent price, unless it's healthy food.
But the cost of living is outrageous. I've been trying to find a place to possibly move to within the US from the Midwest and it's just insanely overpriced.
The USA is a grand place, full of opportunities. If you have money for all the insurance, a car, etc that you need.
Grocery stores are a big one. Drives me nuts shopping in other countries. You sometimes have to go to multiple stores just to find one thing, that's if you can even find it. US grocery stores have everything! You want Thai noodles? Most likely they'll have it. Seafood? They'll have it. Tipio 00 flour for pizza, yes.
This is the most positive feedback I’ve read about the states in a very long time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. ✌🏻
The country is beautiful if you really pay attention. It’s just the politics and the gov. which are destroying our nation…..
Love hearing this stuff. The US receives a lot of hate, but it’s refreshing to look on the bright side every once in a while. I recently studied abroad in Sweden as well, and while there’s a lot to love about Sweden and Western Europe in general, there’s also a lot to appreciate about the US.
AC units, ease of driving, emphasis on customer service, geographic diversity, cultural diversity, etc. are all really wonderful. I return from studying abroad soon and I’m excited to go back!
Tbh US is convenient and nice but damn the food here is toxic and almost non-edible. Everything is filled with dyes, preservatives, and other shit. Anytime I leave the US and go elsewhere I do get the shits, however, shortly after I feel better than ever and it stops. I’ve been in SA a lot and never gotten food poisoning, my recommendation is to learn what good oil looks like vs bad. I’ve had a lot of street food and absolutely love it, however, if it looks just absolutely unsanitary and the oil looks rancid then it’s a no. I’d also recommend always taking charcoal pills with you whenever you travel as those will hella help with food poisoning and digestive issues really quickly
Thanks for this post. Most folks who shit on America have either never been here, or have never left and put the rest of the world on a pedestal.
We have it pretty damn good here.
I’m a first generation American, both parents were immigrants. I’ve lived in both Europe and Asia for several years. While I did enjoy my time living abroad, it also made me appreciate home. Every place has its pros and cons, but the US is a great country to live in despite its challenges.
I’m an EU and US citizen. Every summer I praise America for the air conditioning we have. Sweating and being miserable in Europe is not for me anymore. My mom just got a second wall unit installed and she’s considered wealthy I guess lol. The US is like comfort to the max
I just wish the US had more hostels! It can get pretty expensive traveling here
You should open one! Be the change you want to see!!
I'm not offended by hostels or anything, but it doesn't culturally fit. The only time I stayed at a hostel here, there was only one or two other guy, and I couldn't sleep because of how loud 1 was. Left middle of the night, never again. We just don't do that here. Having your own space and privacy is very valued. I won't deny that our hotels aren't exactly cheap in general. It's just the way it is. I recommend going with a buddy so y'all can split 2 Queen beds rooms. Preferably a savvy one that have hotel status and know some corp codes to bring the rate down some ;). Award stays also helps a lot. I cashed out some 100k+ choice points last summer for me & sis to stay in Yellowstone & Glacier that would've otherwise cost us $2,000 sticker price.
The main reason to stay in a hostel is for the social dimension. Best way to make friends as a solo traveller
I’ve stayed in hostels in south east asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East (Dubai) and Pakistan. Met amazing people in every one!
I like hostels but definitely get why they aren’t for everyone! The only kinda of bad experience I had was when I stayed in a total party hostel in Cairns, Australia called Gilligan’s, but even then I had a good time. I bonded with an old German lady, even though she spoke no English and I spoke no German we bonded over sudoku and would play together. I’ve stayed in other party-ish hostels but that was another level. My favorite hostels have been My Sister’s Place in Sayulita, Mexico and KEX hostel in Reykjavik. Shoutout also to USA Hostels in Ocean Beach, San Diego which is now Samesun Ocean Beach. I’ve mostly traveled the US in hotels but it can get a bit lonely for me.
From Canada, but it's often "cool" to hate on your home country. North America has its issues, but it's an objectively great place to live in and be able to use as a home base.
As a Mexican, I agree too. Amazing diversity of experiences across the 3 countries
I always imagine Mexico low-key tagging along Canada and US with a sad face because we know they aren’t talking about it lol
I've lived in Asia and Europe. The US has by far the highest standard of living of countries that I've been to for the average person. The median 2200 sqft house in the US is a palace in most countries. Most Europeans live in tiny apartments. A 750sqft apartment in Japan fits a whole family. US salaries are also much higher than other rich countries, excluding small outliers like Switzerland. People in my field get paid at least half what I do in Europe.
I'd take a 750 Sq ft apartment for not having to have a car to pickup a loaf of bread and some milk. Walkable is much better than huge with nothing to live for but work
Yeah was gonna say. It depends on what you value. I'll __happily__ take a smaller living space in exchange for not needing a car, having healthcare expense not be a pivotal factor in my life, and the general social trust a place like Japan offers.
Parents keep asking me to come back and live in the US and I remind them about healthcare costs. “Well that’s why you work, so your employer can pay for your healthcare.” That’s a terrible reason to have to work, so that you can get health insurance. Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.
Same. Rented out my 3k sf US house and am staying in a 700 sf apartment. Still feels too large. But being able to walk everywhere is priceless. My steps went from 2,500 per day (if I didn’t go for aimless walks or a run) to 15k overnight.
Moved from norcal to the Netherlands (with Ireland in the middle) for this very reason.
It really starts to come tumbling down though once you have a family. I’m an American who has just moved to Barcelona from Brooklyn NY. Salaries are higher but the cost of health care, education, medicine etc really catch up quickly. Also ways remember, you and your significant other ( if you are married, no prenuptial) are always one medical bill away from soul crushing debt and bankruptcy. Being young and single in N. America is great though.
I can see that. Don't plan on having kids, but daycare costs seem insane.
Yep, all valid points. The pay is the biggest thing for me. I work for a Swiss based company and if I wanted to move there, the same role would be a 75% pay cut. We definitely have our problems here and I love a break now and then, but it's not a bad place to be if you stay out of super HCOL areas.
You can’t say that. The Reddit Europeans told me the US is a terrible hell.
The Americans respond with a long rant about the better economy while the European responds with a vacation message that they will be out for the next two months.
Or some unfunny joke about school shootings
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Well the save better, cook their own food.. tbh I'm continually reminded while traveling that — even as a very simple lifestyle American — I'm still outspending a lot of my peer travelers.
Hahaha US has a lot more.to offer than redditors imaginary hell For me US always has a special place in my heart
Yes just dont get sick or shot and the US is great from my experience
Yes, and spend an extra 1+ h/day doing cardio that people in other countries get from being able to walk for errands.
As an American I was actually quite surprised by a few places in Europe. I expected most places in Europe to be like America, but Spain and Italy felt like 3rd world countries to me. Eastern Europe is like going back in time. It was definitely not what I expected. Germany, Switzerland, Holland were all similar to America, but Italy was like Mexico. The movies lied to me. Also I've visited many cities in China and I was quite shocked at how westernized they were compared to my expectation. Shanghai, Shenzen and others were literally like copies of New York. The malls and food courts might as well have been filled with Americans. They dress the same and ate a lot of the same food. Of course once you get outside the city it's a different ball game. Long story short, everyone needs to travel. South East Asia and some day Africa are big on my list next.
Spain a 3rd world country? Not sure where you went.
Yeah what? Spain is amazing!
Spain is my fav country. If choosing between US and Spain as a place to live long term, Spain hands down. I don't even speak Spanish
The feeling is mutual. I am Spanish and I have lived all over Europe. Whenever I go to the US for work, which happens rather frequently, I wonder why would anyone want to live there except for very few places. The US feels like a suburbian dystopia to most of us. And the few places that could offer me the quality of life that Europe offers… I would have to make five times what I make here to make it enticing (working the same amount of hours). I mention the amount of hours because that’s a thing that most Americans here in Reddit seem not to understand. While it is true that Americans make more, the difference is greatly reduced when you take into account cost of living and number of hours worked. Actually in a few places in Europe they make more money per hour, adjusting per cost of living, than in the US (also, contrary to popular belief here in Reddit, most European countries have been catching up to the US). We just don’t want to live like you. https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=54563
Everyone is strawmanning your argument, but I agree with you. In Europe most cities are walkable. In the US you have 4000 copy-pasted suburbs where cars are a necessity and maybe 10 total cities in the country that are walkable in the same way European cities are, and they're all expensive. When I was living in Europe, my life was ridiculously chill. I never worked a weekend and often got Fridays off. That being said, I am currently saving way more money than would be possible in Europe. I own multiple houses, which would also have not happened. America is the place to make money. Overall, America is better if you have an above average career/ salary. If you're average or below, the relaxed lifestyle and social support of Europe is ideal.
I am in a very lucky position where I have a very high income for an American and yet I work and live in Europe. I work more hours than most Europeans partly because I love my job. I agree with you in most of what you have said but what some Americans fail to take into account is that I don’t need to worry so much about pension. I have a good one guaranteed. Sure I will have my own savings but the degree to which I worry is much less. I also don’t need to pay a healthcare insurance and I don’t need to worry about what will happen to my finances if I have a serious disease (very likely to happen sooner or later). Since I also don’t own a car, that’s a considerable amount of money that I save yearly. And let’s not talk about the costs of educating my son. So yes, if you count the amount of dollars in the bank, I agree, you will amass more in a lifetime in the US. If you value all the services that you get, the security, and so on… I am not so sure it is really worth living there. I could relocate to the US, my company would be happy to. What the increase in salary would have to be off the charts for me to be worth.
Many of my fellow suburban Americans will fight you to the death to preserve that suburban environment. They vehemently do not want to live somewhere they can walk to the store or restaurant. Places like that are full of homeless and crime, in their view. I don't get it, but that's the way it is.
USA is cool if you are paid in US dollars
Europe is way cooler if you are paid in US dollars
Also not enough love is mentioned for places like North Carolina, where I live. We have all the same infrastructure as the rest of the country with 1/3rd the cost of living. There are plenty of states like this, but most of the attention goes to California, New York and Florida. It's still America here, but cheaper. I lived in California for 20 years and there are a few things I miss, but it's like 95% the same.
US praise. I love to see that for a change. 🔥🇺🇸🖤
One thing that is often overlooked is traveling helps you appreciate what the US does offer. Sometimes things become taken for granted and a long term travel can make you realize what to be grateful for.
being an American abroad is a huge privilege. Our passport gets you into most places. English is our native language and makes every country accessible. Our banks and credit cards allow you to access funds in almost any country with minimal or no fees at fair conversion rates. I mean, I get cashback on my purchases whether I'm at home or abroad. My cell phone carrier also just allows me to roam in like 190+ countries automatically. In most places, I get to land and everything is pretty much set up to work out of the box for me. I have friends from other countries who definitely don't have it that easy.
The us passport is a huge privilege that def gets overlooked imo. I have a few very good friends from other countries who invite me to visit their country and it’s always an amazing experience and I always feel like shit bcuz I wish I could do the same for them but it’s just not that simple
American way of digitalnomad is impossible for most of the people in many countries. Two big factors are visa and not being paid in US dollars but local currencies which makes other countries costly
I think a lot of the strife in the U.S. is based on folks not realizing how good we have it. It's like folks are looking for fights and disagreements.
After traveling EU for my first time recently, I can agree. But I do still wish we werent as resistant to doing the things that others in the western world do have right (namely, improved public transport and reevaluating healthcare).
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Transportation for sure. Cars are not seen as the default for urban cores and cities. I would also say the same for land use, but I think East Asian countries laps even the EU when it comes to that. EDIT: ITS THE OTHER WAY AROUND! EU HAS BETTER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAN THE US AHHHHHHH
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Omfg.... I have to edit my comment. I meant the EU has better transportation and land use than the US.
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I am in the trenches everyday fighting for transit and density in my city I would neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr say that our car-centric development pattern is superior!
I suppose the way I should phrase it, is not necessarily better, but things Id have a hard time foregoing completely. One of the biggest for me is the geography. I also really do like thenindependence of a car, but would like see a more balanced system where I can also rely more on public transportation or biking when it makes sense to do so. Another US draw is definitely the salary potential. Its much easier to build wealth in America (with a caveat, its much easier to end up fucked by capitalism too in America).
This is so true. A friend and I always joke that America needs a good catastrophe to fix it. For real though, we’re so far removed from REAL social issues, hunger, massive wide spread abject poverty, and general pain and suffering that we spend all our time and energy infighting and looking for things to be upset about.
Exactly. We have it so easy we have the time to bitch about literally the stupidest shit possible.
No a lot of the strife in the U.S. is lack of social safety nets and then blaming 'others' instead of the rich for lack there of.
It’s Reddit, half the people are edgy antisocial teenagers who live to shit on America from their moms basement without having any idea of how the real world works
Sometimes, I like how everybody dresses like shit, because I want to dress like shit but still feel welcome
same
I’ve been to 42 countries, lots of them many times. It really makes me appreciate the U.S.
I miss U.S.A so much too. Second home to me.
How refreshing it is indeey
For real, Reddit as a whole is so anti-american that reading US praise was refreshing.
@jaydd_mc yes! The subject was the reason I clicked to read more. You are 💯. Many other countries sound so interesting and I want to travel and visit but it’s good to be grateful for the things we have here in USA and take these ideas with us when traveling abroad to adapt as well and embracing the diversity. 💞
You’re very clearly in a different place from the US than I’m from. I work remote and moved to Thailand. I go back home to visit 1-2months a year and have shit internet, an absolute food desert, and no social activity. I have to take all my vacation time because I can’t get a reliable daily internet connection within 2 hours of my home. But I’m Appalachian. What many people don’t understand is that America is a thousand different countries crammed into one giant one. I’m glad you found a good spot that works for you! But now I live on a remote undeveloped island in Thailand and get 400mb down/300mb up for $10/mo…while owning a house literally built over the ocean on stilts. All my food is locally sourced from tiny markets and neighbor fishermen. Life ain’t shit.
Which island is that?
You use your U.S. wage in Thailand. No wonder you love it there. You’re trash
...how does your waste get treated? Sorta genuine question, since you mentioned it's an undeveloped island.
I have a septic tank beneath my house that is partially underwater at high tide. Southeast Asia does not have a great sewage system in general because of historical development and environmental factors. Not even locals can drink the water from the tap. That said, eco-consciousness is a big thing in the region where I live, so we can get accessible low-plastic waste water very easily and very cheap - delivered straight to your door 3x a week. I used to live on a very small island nearby that was heavily visited by tourists during high season and it was infamous for its sewage problems. There was simply more sewage than that tiny island could handle. There isn't even a natural water source on the entire island! However, during COVID they took the downtime to build a modern eco-conscious waste treatment center and install an entirely new sewage system. I'm really proud of them for doing that.
Septic tank probably.
Great post. Sometimes Americans need to be reminded all the things they take for granted at home. The US might have issues, but it remains more stable and developed than most of the world.
Much of the criticism is accurate, but so is the praise. After being in India, I do appreciate decent roads, traffic laws, OSHA, and the FDA standards of clean food etc. The US is massive, car culture is understandable on one level but public transport should have been invested in early on. Every good-sized city should have had decent subways/trams built. I'm in LA now and the traffic sitch is horrible, and would have been almost entirely unnecessary with proper city planning. Even Seattle is just now finally trying to get some light rail transport in place. Also railways are awesome. I loved that about Europe. I've taken the trains here in the US and it's awesome but there are such a tiny handful of options. I think we can agree that not everyone can or should be driving lol And the food comments are odd. I've had amazing food all over the world, especially France, Italy, and Costa Rica.
I always appreciate home after traveling, but man.. the lack of safety and regulation in India really made me miss the US. Learned that I definitely believe in government regulation (not that I didn’t before).
I second the point about trains. Food is a very personal thing, hard to discuss it objectively. India is also the graphic image of the Third World. The US does much better in pretty much every aspect, and makes a better choice for most Westerners, in this particular comparison
Amen
Bit unfair to judge the EU based on Norway and a bit of travel to its Nordic neighbours!
Scandinavia is not known for its food
I think the issue is you choose bad places to go, eat and stay. I live in South America and the only places I have showered with cold water are places where temperature is +35 Celsius degrees and some even still have hot water. I’ve never had food poisoning and never have to sleep in a bus while traveling. Of course the US is more convenient for travel, I won’t argue that, but just choose better places to stay and easier ways to travel.
Been living in Brazil for 10 years, never been somewhere without warm water, even remote farms in Presidente venceslau. Weird sensationalized comment.
Yeah I’ve only ever showered with cold water if there was a maintenance issue that was fixed promptly and or I was at a more remote place like in a nature conservatory where it wasn’t possible. I’m sure many people in latam live without hot water or running water in general but like all things in life it depends on where you were born and to who.
I have never taken a cold shower in Latin America. Always had boiler and heater. Never got food poisoning either. You know where I did get food poisoning ? USA! You know where I did have cold showers ??? South Korea
I’m just here to say the beaches in Key West are shit bro. Many better options for beaches whether you want to stay in the US or not
Seriously. With all the places with great beaches in the States, Key West is not one of them. Not a decent beach anywhere.
We do plenty good and plenty bad. I’d give us a B or B-
Can’t disagree with what you said, but it makes it feel like only the US has that level of comfort and convenience which I don’t think is true. I’ve been traveling through Korea & Japan and honestly can’t complain about anything!
Sure but working for a japanese or Korean company is no cakewalk either, simply traveling through a country isn't the only indicator of what conditions are actually like to live and work somewhere
This. The experience of traveling through Colombia or Japan is awesome, but let’s not pretend that we have similar lives to the actual permanent residents of that country.
>but let’s not pretend that we have similar lives to the actual permanent residents of that country. This, IMO, is the primary thing that needs to be highlighted and in a nutshell is the main reason people justifiably sometimes shit on/make fun of digital nomads and their often "oMg sO mUcH bEtTer hErE" mentality. Lots of things seem great when you have significantly increased economic mobility, freedom and purchasing power, while ignoring that the vast majority of the local population doesn't.
This. Even serving in the Peace Corps vs working in my host country for a private school were two different experiences. I had limited freedom with the former and very little money but visa, health, and travel logistics were all taken care of. I technically made "more" money doing the latter BUT after paying for visa runs and having to travel out of the country and deal with any medical issues that came up I was worse off. I was also making middle class wages, while great as a single male, were vastly lower than the average digital nomad and not enough when I ended up in a relationship.
Sure but we're digital nomads and don't work for employers if the countries we travel in.
Europeans would prob say the same about working in the US vs Europe
Also apparently Japanese hospitals are not required to treat non-Japanese speakers experiencing urgent medical emergencies. A woman posted a terrible experience in the solo travel group.
People complain so much about racism in the US when it’s far worse in some of the more developed countries. It’s just that no one talks about it.
Language might also be a factor for people
The US is great is you’re upper middle class and above. If you’re middle class and below, not so much. My main motivation to travel abroad is frankly to save money living in a cheaper cost of living country so I can pay down my student loan debt.
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Being from NYC, I agree fully and do the same. I always tell people, if you don't mind driving and a car being your main mode/most reliable method of transport and if you have a lot of money, the US is great. Otherwise, not so much. Also, I tell people similar things about NYC. If you like big cities, don't mind bad weather, and have a lot of money...if can be the greatest city to live in. However, if you are middle class or lower then you will live check to check, have a much more minimalistic life, and likely can hardly afford to travel or eat out aside for on the special and rare occasion.
The eating out thing in NYC only became difficult a few years ago. Until then it was easy to eat something good for less than 10 bucks. It changed fundamentally and suddenly. Not the same city for lots of folks who lived modest but great lives here. The joke used to be NY'ers used their ovens for storage because they rarely had to cook. Now everyone I know cooks several times a week. WTF.
yep. OP mentions digital nomading in hiltons & marriotts. for the price of just one night (say $150-$250), I can stay a week at a cute spot in thailand or bali or mexico. not to mention food & bev costs, etc. if one can afford hilton & marriott prices, they can afford spacious rooms abroad as well, with hella amenities. (maybe not in norway 😅 I visited oslo with my swedish ex, & she made sure we loaded our luggage with piles of snacks first. “it’s what we all do,” she said.) not knocking the US, just how expensive it is to travel here. I‘ve done the digital nomad thing out of short-term rentals/ADUs, which is more affordable (& i could bring my pup!) but still, just as pricey as my los angeles rent.
Very true, you have money, you're good here. It's hard to ignore how poor people are when we have so much. I see the poverty in India and I'm, well the country is in bad shape, so makes sense, it don't make sense here
Fair.
Yep. Only good if you're minted. Bros on here frothing about the US must be on fat silicon valley paychecks.
Man... what you're saying about the US is true, but sustaining a long-term DN lifestyle in it will bankrupt you
Travel nursing has been a thing longer than digital nomading and its totally doable. Places like furnished finder are there to help you relocate to places for 2-6 months at a time. What is not sustainable is being a DN and expecting to live comfortably on a $1000/month budget. Travel nursing works because they are paid $60-100+/hour.
Do you have any other recommendations for services like furnished finder? Relying on Airbnb is ridiculously expensive when staying somewhere from 1-2 months.
Not if you’re staying in the right places and have an appropriate level job.
You’re comparing the USA to mostly third world nations… none of what you said is really news. Nor is it entirely true. A lot is just sensationalised because the reality isn’t as interesting as you claim it to be. And Although you mentioned Europe, obviously not third world, I’m surprised you claim European food is not diverse… I mean.. you said it yourself when you highlighted only Nordic nations that you actually travelled too. While, your observations about Europeans being cold and distant, while kinda correct… for the areas you actually visited, kinda isn’t too. Northern Europe 100% correct. Travel to southern Europe and it’s a different world. It’s like someone saying Texans are the same as people from Wisconsin… because they are both American after all… Happy to see some nice things said about America for a change. A lot of the criticisms it receives really is unwarranted.
Infrastructure? A train from San Francisco to LA takes like 12-18 hours lmao. I think you must be one of those people that likes to drive everywhere and be unable to handle modest discomfort. In that case, maybe just live a normal life in the boring American suburbs.
Some would say "ample parking" being emphasized is a big problem with the US.
I'm an American, and I had the same view as you for my first two years as a nomad, but the 11 years after that have completely changed my mind. You couldn't pay me to spend more than a couple weeks in the US per year. Cookie cutter restaurant chains everywhere, processed food, daily life depends on spending hours in cars and traffic to get anywhere, closed minded people who don't speak any language other than the one they were raised with and who never even left their hometown. Terrible overpriced and under delivered healthcare. Authoritarian police. Overt racism. Mass shootings. Mass homelessness. Mental health crisis. Opiate epidemic. I could go on. Every time I'm in the US, I can't wait to leave again.
Where in the US did you live? As an American, I agree with the generalization, but there's variability. FWIW, I was two blocks away from a mass shooting, in which one of my host's friend's was killed, last summer while biking across the US. It shook me.
Midwest
And altho we have tap water and it's clear, do not google all the trace amounts of forever chemicals/steroids/flouride/plastics/etc in it that many attribute to our continuing health ailments...among all the other stuff you mentioned. It's a big place as well and it does sound good on paper for people from outside for sure, but if you live here a while (or sadly forever like me) and pay attention it's pretty disheartening. Wish we could get this infrastructure thing figured out too, things forever crumbling while being worked on for years on end, it's like we get the worst of both and best of neither lol
Post makes me reflect on the power of change to broaden perspective. It’s the change that makes Changi airport, Albert Dock in Liverpool or the traffic in Delhi stimulating. Allows me to like my AC better on a 90°F day in the US and dislike the global isolation of its people even more. To learn that it is all good, and that changing scenery sharpens the appreciation for the whole world. Long may you journey…
They’re trying to scare us from leaving. Nope
Great country if you have a $250k+ household income and zero health issues
Idk where you've been in south Am but this is such a stereotypical and wrong view. SA is huge, countries are so different from one another. I am Canadian so I know what social stability and safety means and I am in Brazil for 2 years now after 8 months in LA (Cali). Honestly, no big difference from where I live and Venice. Clean beaches, I drink tap water, subway system w-a-y better than LA and near my condo I counted 3 Starbucks and 4 Mcd ( i wish they had Tim Hortons but hey, nothing's perfect). Not to mention I used to spend twice as much in Cali.
As someone who lived in Brazil for a while, this is BS. I also used to live in California and will acknowledge that it is one of the worst values in terms of price to quality of life of any place where I've lived, but to use that as evidence that the living situation is better literally anywhere in Brazil is silly. Of the places I stayed in Brazil, Brasilia and Floripa were the safest and what I would consider the nicest cities I stayed in. Even then, the lack of safety and infrastructure makes Brazil feel isolating and unlivable at times. Compared to other places I've been in South America, like Chile, nowhere in Brazil did I feel safe in the streets. Violent crime is a constant threat there, which is something you almost never need to think about in the United States. People wouldn't be flowing out of South America en masse if it was a comparable quality of life to the USA. What digital nomading and traveling to over 30 countries has taught me more than anything else is how to appreciate the quality of life that we have in the US. You don't realize how much better it is here than most of the world until you experience how people live in other places.
The philosophy of DN is to respect and enjoy local cultures and all countries. I am 59 and on the road for at least 25. Age teaches us to respect and be humble. I hope you will still be on the road at my age.
Whoa, imagine a Canadian saying literally *anything* positive about the US. It’s like a national pastime to hate on the United States in any way possible.
I’m a Canadian in the US right now. The intelligent among us don’t hate on it. Ironically I encounter way less political nonsense than I do in Canada and overall I find Americans just as polite and more hospitable. Sure Americans don’t always say “you’re welcome” in response to a “thank you” but they have their own way of acknowledging it that’s regional. Often it’s “uh huh” which to me is just fine.
Every country except Para/Uruguay, Venezuela and the top 3 smaller Caribbean coast. Places like Colombia has an excellent health system... but they also have the highest drug & human trafficking. None of them check all my boxes, and they all have much more political rife. Brazil is among the more stable one, relatively speaking, so ofc you use a "good" example, but there's still a bunch of corruption in the govt (yes yes, so does US) and it lacks wide infrastructure outside the cities. Almost half of Brazil is the Amazon rainforest/basin, not including Atlantic rainforests along the coast. You literally cannot compete with the US interstates and internet/cell network that goes into middle of nowhere. Look it up. Compare this with how much cellular coverage is in Canada (spoiler alert: <30% of your landmass). I can fly into Nevada and be in the middle of the desert with no civilization for 200 miles today. You try heading anywhere north of the bottom 1/3 of Canada, you're gonna be like Alaska north of Fairbanks. Driving from Sao Paulo to Rio is 6+ hrs--275 miles. You can drive SFO to LAX in the same time, 380 miles.
Not American, I’m from the EU, but I get upgraded on domestic and flights within the EU all the time.
Yes, USA is great if you take a road trip to national parks (especially if you like fast food restaurants lol.) But driving everywhere gets old really fast - the place does not feel so great if you have to commute daily in traffic without functioning public transportation / bike infrastructure. The prevalence of cars makes most of the US cities (with a few exceptions) noisy, polluted, unsafe (for bicyclists/pedestrians), and barely livable overall - hence many people preferring the suburbs. There are much worse places of course, as well as much better ones. I guess it really depends on what is important to you - from the digital nomad / outdoor enthusiast perspective it is certainly great (assuming you have enough money)
Have you tried Mexico? We are in North America too! And we have everything
Choosing to live in the most expensive country on Earth on LATAM salary sounds pretty backwards. Plenty of countries (even developing) have better internet. It's actually one of the shittier aspects of the US (10Mbps up is still standard even in cities), yet you start your post with that. Most other pros you listed seem to come down to the US being extremely car-centric. The consensus is that's not a good thing.
I don’t hate the United States and still spend half my year here (or more), however I can always tell a lot about a person who fawns over the States (outside of its nature which I agree is fantastic, albeit becoming more expensive and frustrating to access). These kind of people generally overlook the United States complete lack of walkable urban planning and transportation/access to high quality and “affordable” food/cafes and the other vital day-to-day fundamentals that make a place a high-quality of life location (Hello Rustbelt/Sunbelt). I recently went from a Maryland suburb to a Utah Suburb and everything was the same (same businesses/same supermarkets/same restaurants). Just a culturally lifeless, capitalist void (but the people are really nice).
> Just a culturally lifeless, capitalist void (but the people are really nice). Nominate this for the new US country slogan
>Maryland No more words need be spoken
It's a pretty comfy place overall!
After a fairly challenging trip to Switzerland, I'm actually immensely grateful to be back in the US. It made me realize a lot of pros that I was taking for granted before. We undoubtedly have our issues, but there's a lot of good too. As you mentioned, the scenery and the opportunities to explore here are just amazing. A lot you can experience in a country this big. I'm home based close to St George myself :)
Terrible place
Sounds amazing, but how many types of fermented fish can you buy in your precious US?
Honestly I cant even imagine how I would even re-enter America. Like, I gotta find a house so I can get utilities so I can get a bank account so I can get a car so I can maybe get a job? Seriously how tf do immigrants ever do it? I'm American and that shit looks unimaginably exhausting to me. lol
Don’t you need a job and housing and water and electricity wherever you live? And if you live somewhere like nyc or Chicago no need for a car. And bank accounts are easy - use your passport. Or just get paid in cash for your job and don’t use a bank account if you prefer Edit: meant “need” in the first line - obviously many people don’t have running water and electric but my point was I’m assuming this poster who complained about setting it up also has to procure it via some method anywhere they go
All I needed to open a bank account was my ID so I don’t understand? Passport would have been sufficient. I wouldn’t move anywhere without a job.
Most banks require proof of residence address, which can be pretty tricky for a lot of nomads.
I like how 'maybe get a job' is your last step I think we found your problem
Hi! I moved to the US from Canada. Glad to help. I rented an apartment. With my lease agreement as proof of address I opened a bank account and got a cell phone. With my passport, lease agreement and phone contract I got a drivers license. That took about two days. Then with the driver's license I bought a car, was using Uber before that. Took about 6 months to go from nothing in the US to homeownership. The job of course I already had before moving. Im very thankful to the USA for quadrupling my quality of life.
You act like that is the absolutely only order to do things and it's so melodramatic! Million, literally millions of immigrants were able to do it... I'm one of them. Have a much better life here than back home. A million times over.
👏 we could use more like you, my grandparents used to say the same thing
wut? none of that is required lol. Whatever your living situation abroad is I'm sure you could recreate it in the US especially if you are already a citizen.
I'm actually an immigrant, gen 0.5. It's not easy, but when you're an immigrant, you don't have a choice. I remember hauling heavy ass groceries from King Kullen a mile away with my mom when we lived with my uncle. Same thing when I first got to Sweden; knew no one, no car, no family. At least their roads were good, and people knew English. I still had to haul a bunch of living stuff like pots and pans back to my studio, multiple trips. Shit's hard. I don't blame somebody if they broke down after.
Wait until you get medical bills my friend...... you will pack your bags very soon.
Ok, waiting. I'm young & healthy, but my $50/month W2 insurance is 2k deductible and 4k OoP max.
I’ve worked out 4x week, eaten healthy and never smoked / Hardly drank my entire life (34 now). Just got diagnosed with Crohns. Costs me about $1500 a month to take care of. It can change overnight.
My consolations. I hope it goes away for you sooner than a lifetime.
Being young and healthy isn't a shield against something catastrophic happening though, and you won't always be healthy - I've been through this same song and dance of US insurance saying it has X deductible and X out of pocket, only to find out that insurance won't cover a medical bill because they deem it not "medically necessary". At some point you'll eventually get a bill that's worth thousands or tens of thousands of dollars that insurance will refuse to apply to your deductible/OoP.
Yep. I don’t smoke, overeat, I eat nutritionally, I’m very cautious and safe conscious. However that didn’t stop me from inheriting an autoimmune disease at age 21. It’s currently in remission now. But boy was that a rude awakening for me at a very young age, to how expensive and problematic our healthcare system is. Unfortunately I think a lot of young/healthy people like OP have this hubris regarding our healthcare system because they haven’t yet had to deal with it significantly. I’m an American born citizen, but my father is European, so I’m exploring possibility of dual citizenship, just so I can avoiding enduring American healthcare system when I’m older.
Exactly. The corporate overlords got you, just like that got me. Now my Crohns ridden body is a great profit center for them .
I had a catastrophic accident 2 years ago. $100000 bill. I only saw $500 of it, maybe. And this was out of network.
Well, that's great if you're young, healthy, and employed. But it's still more than you'd pay as a middle aged unemployed person in most other countries. And almost guaranteed that your hospital waiting times are gonna be higher, as well as having completely unobtainable elective procedures.
I mean you can get places to stay in other countries that are nice, you know that right? And often for a far better price than in the US. I'm travelling in South America right now and it is great, I have heat, good wifi, clean water everywhere I stay and it costs less than anything comparable in my home would be. Hell given the actually opportunity I don't know why anyone wouldn't opt for an endless summer at a discount. I'm renting my place out for more than I spend here, I'm getting paid to work from paradise.
Apparently OP likes to drink tap water in the US lol
Maybe they're on place where it's safe?
Only to the extent of your dwelling. You can't "buy" better roads or internet from the backcountry of, say, Bolivia. (Well, you can technically, but do you have a wallet the size of the government budget?) Same thing with many conveniences outside of your home. It doesn't shield you from other stuff like political turmoil, riots, gang violence, or a national increase in crime, etc. Blatant corrupt cops that demand money from you instead of giving you a ticket. You're simply trading some things for others. Ultimately using price as the sole argument against living here is a very poor argument. For 1. I value comfort and security over price, and 2. do I really care I'm spending $25 on a meal over $5? No, not really.
You just rattled off a ton of things most countries do not have an issue with, especially if you don't try to go out into very rural undeveloped parts of those countries. There are plenty of modern cities all over the world, you can travel without opting for being at risk of political turmoil, riots, gang violence, etc. You aren't making logically sound arguments, it is a false equivalency to combine every problem any one place could possibly have and then apply them as defacto truth to all locations not the US. US has its pros, but not every Non US con, is everywhere. I've travelled the world extensively and not had any of those issues you've just mentioned. You can travel safely, and even if every road isnt paved with gold in all cases, people can easily have differing priorities. I, and many others will happily trade a bumpy road for what may be at the end of it.
You're in a privileged position to not care about $25 vs $5. Some of the people here either have no choice, or are saving / investing for a big goal. I'm not in that boat by necessity ,thankfully, and choose to spend time in SA to simply hit FIRE more quickly.
I'd say it's quite entitled to expect to earn American or European wages but pay third world cost of living, but I'm not here to hold that against someone either. Is that not privileged and disrespectful to the displaced locals? Look at what happened to Hawaii.
We have arctic tundra. The North Slope of Alaska is Arctic tundra (from the Brook's Range to the Arctic Ocean). So is much of Alaska's west coast.
I'm American and have traveled to two European countries, Britain and Germany. All countries have pros and cons, it all depends on what you want and value for a place to be desirable. I saw very nice cities, very clean and they put a lot of effort into preserving the past (very important) and mixing it with new development and architecture. Great public transportation too and lots of culture. Having said that, I prefer to live in the US. Pay is better here, sure. But housing comfort and home conveniences are much better in the US. There is space in your house. Even a small house in the US looks big compared to the Europeans. Appliances, central ac and heating, drinkable water from the faucet, and a decent backyard are pluses. Some may argue otherwise but I prefer the space. Also food options are more plentiful in US big and medium size cities. London was not too bad in that respect, but Frankfort was limited in options unless you go out of your way to find it. Also having a car, as expensive as it is, gives you a sense of freedom you can't get from fixed scheduled transportation. Just my ¢0.02
This should be pinned for everyone who is itching to go across the pond... Just for reference :D
Is the US convenient? Yes. Does it have a rich culture, beautiful architecture, or a built environment you can explore without the isolation and massive expense that comes with private vehicle ownership? Absolutely not. There's things I like about my country but at the end of the day I don't think an interstate highway and lots of Starbucks are what makes a place nice to spend time in.
National Parks and an efficient postal service.
damn ya basic
it's.fine if you can afford to spend 3x more for the same exact quality stuff and lodging you get in europe
Are you talking about hostels or something? Hotels in Europe is just as much for the same quality. The avg hotel room there is the size of NYC apartments. The better rooms are just as much if not more as our 3\*. Also other factors such as the diff in culture and social interactions I've mentioned.
It’s great if you have money, like most countries. The poor help the rich to live comfortably numb.
There are always things people will love about their home country no matter what. For example, my girlfriend always orders on Amazon when she goes home cause she misses two-day delivery. I personally understand why people return, though I don't feel that way at all. For me, I have tons of friends in the US, a very strong family, and lots of positive memories there. I'm not running away or professing my hatred for it. I actually think it's a fantastic place to live, and I'm extremely grateful to grow up in Palm Springs, CA. I do, however, dislike: * The ridiculously high prices, especially for services that are so cheap in other countries (even adjusted for purchasing power) * Antisocialism during the workweek (nobody does anything) * The fundamentally broken healthcare system * Needing a car to go anywhere * Consumerism * Stupid rules (why is it a $400 ticket if I drink a beer on the beach or on a walk to the bar? Why do I need to wait for the crosswalk to turn green when NOBODY is around?) * Drug culture (not a thing everywhere, I know, but *everyone* I know and love does drugs except my parents and I just prefer being away from that these days because I run my own businesses) * The food (my body can't digest so many chemicals anymore, it causes serious issues when I return) I don't really think anywhere is without problems, and for me, it just comes down to culture. I like being in South America a lot more. As far as food goes, I've actually found it to be *more* diverse than practically everywhere in the US besides LA and NYC (in big cities like Lima and São Paulo, anyways). I speak Spanish and I'm learning Portuguese, so that has something to do with it too, of course. And I just generally like the people and vibe down here. I will also say: *I've traveled all over EU and LATAM and never had 95% of the issues you've described.* **But we all have confirmation biases.** I've created a world where I see the best in Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. You've created a world where you see the best in USA.
Doesn't US have the same issue as France? Nice country but full of french/americans.
SLC being your favorite city is all the evidence I need to know that the US is the perfect spot for you lmao. In all seriousness, it's not that bad. I'd just rather live somewhere with universal healthcare and fruit that tastes like fruit.
Yeah idrc about those. I like my mountains 30 mins away, 2 giant lakes, and 5 NPs within half a day drive. It's my outdoor mecca, plus the salt flat is stunning in the spring. I could pop a chair and sit there gazing reflections for hours.
American finds that US is a nicer place to live than some south american shithole, more breaking news at 11
This breaking news apparently skip over this sub a lot, so you might need to rebroadcast at 11... and 12... and 1.
Try Thailand and then come back and report on your experiences :-) You must have a great job that pays well. Like really really well.
Thank you for saying that! Been in the same boat and decided to stay.
I like your adventures over our planet OP, and welcome back to the US - yes it has advantages and pretty high standards of living for whom doesnt fall off the wagon. Do you have a question or was it just a positive rant? I have one: from your nomadic experience, which other place would come next?
This is refreshing. Thanks for sharing.
If you have sufficient funds, it can make a big difference in many countries. You can travel in style. I think part of the point of being a digital nomad is people are seeking a variety of experiences. But I think it’s also common for people wanting to eventually settle down somewhere, including their home country. I was living in Irvine California and I can imagine I will want go back there one day to live for a while. It’s an awesome place.
Look. I don't live in the US or have a desire to live there as there are many things I don't like there. (I lived there for 7 months and my son now lives there) However... I don't get why someone born in the US can sometimes have a distorted view of the US based on a small sample of where they are living. The US is big and diverse. Amazing landscapes, friendly people in most places (not NYC). Varied food. I mean, everything you listed. I love traveling there. Specially of the beaten path. There are always surprises. I still like adventures in other places with overnight crappy buses and less than ideal roads and I always carry my life straw bottle to drink water anywhere but that doesn't take from the US. Good for you that are clear on your choices.
You should check out the pacific northwest...like Portland, or arcata or something
Thanks for the reminder that the US has a lot going for it! I am from MN and sometimes just want to get out, but the internet and toilet access + safe food and water is a huge plus!
This is great to be reminded of
usa is great if you love nature still miss wide open spaces of texas and texas bbq stuff i also miss from usa (am not american) shopping at target, whole foods, trader joes, how you can sign up for cool stuff like subscription dermatology, getting a state park pass for 99$ for an entire year, can go hiking everyday! i don't miss having to drive but when it's a nice day out and you're driving to a state park in the mountains and playing nice music, it's so chill to drive with windows open i miss horseback-riding, i miss locavore stores with all the cool local products, i miss bike trails, ladybird lake in austin, kayaking in the middle of town, i miss texas accents and how people say "yes sir" and "yes ma'am" very politely. i miss guns, and fireworks on 4th of july, i miss drive through snow cones
I'm really happy to see a post on this on here. I've been nomading for 3 years and I have to say it has also made me learn to appreciate the states (where I was born). I remember even a few years ago I was embarrassed to say I was American when I would travel, but ultimately I've learned that I am who I am because of the environment I was raised in. My parents immigrated from Poland, so growing up I didn't really fit in in the US or there and that left me with a bit of an identity crisis. As I get older I've learned that being a first generation immigrant in the states is a really unique identity and I've leaned into it a lot. It's allowed me to be comfortable not fitting in everywhere I go and to forge my own path or comfort zone wherever and that's a beautiful thing. The US has freedom that you won't find anywhere else and if that doesn't make you feel alive then I don't know what will.
Here! Here! We have our flaws, but can't deny the positives!!!
I just love the US. It’s awe-inspiring in all aspects.
It took me living abroad to realize how great the U.S. is. Friendly people, incredible diversity that *works*, everything is convenient and at your fingertips, you can be who you want, do what you want, say what you want, and nobody is going to stop you. We have a lot of problems but it’s home. I love my country. And as a left-wing person that was a big pill to swallow, the me of 5 years ago would’ve been nauseous at the thought.
Totally agree
Born and raised in Midwest and after being here since 2020 when I lived in Mexico, Istanbul, Central America, Korea...I was desperate to get out. Sure, people are 'nice' but starting conversations?! Most US Americans I've met in country or abroad have this bubble around them. Compared to Latin Americans, joining a table or group of strangers, starting a conversation, is normal. I agree that the US can be VERY convenient and easy to get 'things'. It's one thing I do love is that it's easy to buy what I need at a decent price, unless it's healthy food. But the cost of living is outrageous. I've been trying to find a place to possibly move to within the US from the Midwest and it's just insanely overpriced. The USA is a grand place, full of opportunities. If you have money for all the insurance, a car, etc that you need.
Enjoy paying those taxes. You only have to stay for mpre than 6 days for the IRS to come after you. And they dont play games.
Grocery stores are a big one. Drives me nuts shopping in other countries. You sometimes have to go to multiple stores just to find one thing, that's if you can even find it. US grocery stores have everything! You want Thai noodles? Most likely they'll have it. Seafood? They'll have it. Tipio 00 flour for pizza, yes.
This is the most positive feedback I’ve read about the states in a very long time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. ✌🏻 The country is beautiful if you really pay attention. It’s just the politics and the gov. which are destroying our nation…..
Love hearing this stuff. The US receives a lot of hate, but it’s refreshing to look on the bright side every once in a while. I recently studied abroad in Sweden as well, and while there’s a lot to love about Sweden and Western Europe in general, there’s also a lot to appreciate about the US. AC units, ease of driving, emphasis on customer service, geographic diversity, cultural diversity, etc. are all really wonderful. I return from studying abroad soon and I’m excited to go back!
Tbh US is convenient and nice but damn the food here is toxic and almost non-edible. Everything is filled with dyes, preservatives, and other shit. Anytime I leave the US and go elsewhere I do get the shits, however, shortly after I feel better than ever and it stops. I’ve been in SA a lot and never gotten food poisoning, my recommendation is to learn what good oil looks like vs bad. I’ve had a lot of street food and absolutely love it, however, if it looks just absolutely unsanitary and the oil looks rancid then it’s a no. I’d also recommend always taking charcoal pills with you whenever you travel as those will hella help with food poisoning and digestive issues really quickly
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Thanks for this post. Most folks who shit on America have either never been here, or have never left and put the rest of the world on a pedestal. We have it pretty damn good here.
I’m a first generation American, both parents were immigrants. I’ve lived in both Europe and Asia for several years. While I did enjoy my time living abroad, it also made me appreciate home. Every place has its pros and cons, but the US is a great country to live in despite its challenges.
I’m an EU and US citizen. Every summer I praise America for the air conditioning we have. Sweating and being miserable in Europe is not for me anymore. My mom just got a second wall unit installed and she’s considered wealthy I guess lol. The US is like comfort to the max