What don't you or wouldn't you miss if you left the USA? For how I see the UK as an American abroad, check out this video next: ruclips.net/video/qaZmoCPLCs8/видео.html
I've been outside of the USA for over 10 years now. I don't miss the horrible healthcare system in the USA, the high property taxes, the bad GMO/insecticide filled food, the billboards/fences, the cost of living, the social tensions, television everywhere, bad fluoridated tap water, glysophate filled wine, car culture and more. I live in the Andalucían mountains in Spain and I don't think I will ever go back to the USA.
Every time I travel abroad it reminds me how many issues I have in the USA but at the same time how many blessings. Every individual is different, so there is no perfect country. I am considering moving back to my country or living abroad at some point in the future mostly because of the cost of living and division here. It's sad but I'm hopeful we can turn this trend around in the next 10 years.
I flew into Frankfurt Germany, got on a train, inside the airport, and rode the train all the way to southern Italy. It was very comfortable, plenty of room, a snack bar, a restaurant etc.
BRAVO .... the USA is SO FAR BEHIND the rest of the REAL WORLD, IT will never catch up, BIDEN is doing his best to REPAIR all the damage every REPUBLICAN did to RUIN the country but it's like pushing a huge rock UPHILL with one hand tied behind your back @@Richard.Cabeza
I am so tired of the tipping culture here...especially now that 25% (or more) is standard and sometimes mandatory. Places that shouldn’t be asking for tips are now asking for them. I wish establishment owners didn’t burden their patrons with this. Pay fair wages to employees. If everyone in the US stood up to this nonsense the businesses would be forced to change.
There was a restaurant in New York that banned tipping and instead just added it to the prices on the menu so that the staff would get a living wage. Trade dropped drastically even though the customers weren't paying a cent more. The owner had to end the trial or go bust. Customers only look at the prices on the menu.
Totally. It is a factor of employers who do not want to pay a living wage. They lay the guilt on us. It is becoming common to hear, They cannot live without your tips...! I am not talking bout waters/waitresses.I am talking about counter personnel who ring up an order. Or some such.
Totally agree with you. Employers in the US are too cheap to pay a living wage to their employees. Why should customers, eating out, have to subsidize a servers wages because the employer won't pay them a living wage.
Country comparison videos usually don't discuss touchy subjects like the character of the people. I find people outside the USA to be more calm, respectful, less invasive and more genuine. This is much more important to me than any of the logistics of living.
I lived in a country that was seen the same way. Friendly and laid back. There were some that liked the idea of hanging out with an American. They were more open minded and friendly. But the general public was different. Once they figured out you're not a tourist they could possible make money from their attitudes changed. Probably rightly so. It's a hard life and everything you do all day has to be geared towards making a living. Most people projected everything bad that they've ever heard about the USA on you. Nothing about being calm or more tolerant just more abusive and intolerant. I never saw so many disheartened and unhappy people in all my life. One time I said good morning to someone on the street. They replied "I don't have to say good morning if I don't want too!". Why? Because he was unhappy with his situation and Americans are seen as privileged people abroad. Compared to them we are. Even middle class USA is rich in their eyes. The average salary there was $400 a month. Before taxes and health insurance were removed. That was minimum wage in 2021. I know because I had a business there. FYI.. I always paid over minimum wage. Keep in mind that prices for everything were comparable to USA prices. The only exception was fresh produce. Lack of regulation had prices way above what the average person could afford. Essentials for daily living like shampoo and toothpaste were 3 times the price in the USA because you need them every day and there is no regulation to keep companies from price gouging. Some regulation is good. They had no way to get out of lower class poverty. The class system there was strictly enforced. If you're not in the proper class you didn't get the job or the apartment. Stepping up in class is very difficult. Some would say impossible. I knew people that lived paycheck to paycheck their entire lives and worked from dusk to dawn. And they still struggled with enough to eat or essentials for their families. I was living in the most prosperous country on the continent. That didn't matter. What people thought of you did. They had discrimination and prejudice within their own race. Isn't that worse racism? Certainly not open and friendly. It was and still is a strictly classed society to keep a working class enslaved in a daily grind with no hope of escape. With no hope they are very bitter and unhappy. Mental illness is prolific. They know that Americans have the ability to move from class to class if you get an education and work hard. Doing it there wasn't a guarantee of success. Even if you have the best credentials you still need to know somebody to get the best jobs. We can get those jobs if we have the credentials and talent. That's depressing for them and leads to all sorts of social disfunction. The grass is not always greener on the other side. Dip your toe in and see what you find. It may come back out of the water and it may go missing. @matrices3987 Sorry for the long winded post. I know you were being more subtle. Just find it hard to stop when I get going. There is such a misconception about living abroad. -Jeff ve,
@@icoder445 Well that is relative.... you have the money you have the access...try being a Bolivian, a Peruvian....etc and see if the Chileans will see you, treat you the same way
@@atta1798 Hello, I think your point is a little off based on what I experienced and still know to be happening in Chile. We have family in Chile. Sure, having the money get's you access to things. However if you have a society designed to hold the class that you were born in under the thumb of the rich and powerful everything is stacked against you. Look at Russia for example. There is a strictly enforced class structure in Chile. And that's not the government imposing it. It's the people. They look at you and decide if you get in to their class or not. Be it an everyday job, a government job or political post. They decide if you advance in society. I have several relatives with degrees and they have a hard time finding work. The ones that are working are doing blue collar manual labor or very low income work. Construction, cleaning, restaurant work ... That's one reason why young men want to get into the police force/carabineros or the military. If you can get in, in other words, if you know the right people, you'll get a shot at way out. Otherwise you're on the outside looking in. I know it sounds arcane but it is real in some societies. My nephew went through the process as a Carabinero Cadet but was washed out. He got the shot because his grandfather was an officer in the Carabineros. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen without bias. I am saying it is extremely difficult to make the transition up to one class from another. Much easier in the USA. I went through the process of getting a green card - cedula in Chile. At the time there was a huge influx of Venezuelan refugees. I am married to a Chilean and I got no special preference over Venezuelans, Columbians, Peruvians or any other nationality. Even the Chileans didn't get a preference over anyone else. In the USA there's a line for US citizens and a line for everyone else. Our business was next door to a Venezuelan restaurant owner. There were other businesses with owners from other Latin American countries, Arab countries, Asian countries and others. We got along really well with all of them. As far as I could tell they integrated into the Chilean society easily, The only real problem was an increase in crime due to the large influx of Venezuelan immigrants. I guess they didn't do a good enough job screening at the border. There were a lot of people coming across the border illegally into Chile. Crime was probably a result of being without the proper paperwork to get a job. There was a sudden increase in street vendors. People trying to make it without the paperwork and without participating in crime. That provoked a tighter enforcement on having the papers for street vending and a vicious cycle ensued. -Jeff
Wow, I had a whole different experience!! . When I arrived back in United States, no one could talk about politics, because there were afraid of people on the other side arguing or shouting at them. When I was living overseas in Western Europe, I enjoyed talking about the politics of the United States, or of Europe, etc. and people are so knowledgeable and interested and can talk about several sides of politics in a knowledgeable way without arguing
@@LisaSoulLevelHealing I'm in South Lake Tahoe and there is no direct bus to Vegas. Have to go North to Reno first. For Sacramento/SF, there is only ONE bus a day and you get to SF around 8pm, meaning you have to get a hotel room right before going to bed.
@@TravelingwithKristinYou have huge conflict in Europe every now and then, as a result we have a huge size of Bosnian refugees where I stay. U.S has problems just like any other country but these refugees thrive here in this Midwest metro area where cost of living is not as high as in Florida, California, New York. It is a bigger " travesty " for most of Europe if Putin blows up the ZZNP in Ukraine. Radiation fall out, prices of food and energy will go up, currency depreciation, huge refugee problem, as I said war or conflict would always occur in Europe. Are you heading to Costa Rica if Putler decides to light up the biggest nuke plant in Europe?
Good point. When I lived in Spain I thought nothing about taking an evening stroll. Here? I won't even drive by myself at night and when I do I have doors and windows locked and the access to 911. Talking about living in paranoia and this is in deed our lifestyle. Car jackings, mall shootings, and on and on and on.
Three weeks in the USA and I had seen enough billboards for the rest of my life. And not only billboards. Commercials in general Here in Denmark we like to look at the scenery without stupid billboards. And you are right, there are strict rulles about signs along the roads. They are constantly challenged, but the majority of people dont like being bombarded with commercials everywhere.
I make it a point to actively AVOID companies with blatant in your face and eff you advertising. I very rarely get cold callers due to the Data Protection laws in Europe, but those that do get rebuffed in good naval language. (But having just driven from the UK to Norway via Denmark and Sweden, I was shocked by the very high cost of the Oresund bridge into Sweden! We avoided it on the return journey)
@@TravelingwithKristin Protecting the population from what, whom? In the US we pride ourselves in not allowing the government to intrude too far into individual property rights and other areas as they do in Europe - cradle to grave. It's what make the US unique and why most of us our proud of our country - warts and all. And People are "consumers".
The car culture is one of a number of things that is bringing this country down. We've been bought and sold by the car/oil industry. Almost all towns/cities in the U.S. used to be connected by rail service. Then the car industry decided that wouldn't do and fast forward, you can see old train tracks threading many areas - overgrown with weeds. Really sad. Every year there are upwards of 40K fatalities due to car accidents. What kind of country doesn't see that as a problem and do something about it immediately and encourage mass transit investment?
I heard of one US city where bridges over new roads to new housing areas were built deliberately low so that buses couldn't use the roads. This forced the owners of the new houses to use a car as the only alternative. The car industry also had a big hand in destroying the streetcar/tramcar companies to boost car ownership.
Plus at every road junction swinging in the wind you have identical ads for Arby’s Roast Beef, Subway, the latest local Chevy retailer flogging this seasons best truck deal etc etc
What a lovely insightful video. It warmed my heart to hear that you were able to chose not to follow the crowd into the corporate world but instead have followed your dreams. I hope you know that your videos with your lovely style bring a lot of joy to lots of people and hope they give you a sense of purpose and satisfaction . Take care Kristin.
Fast food is in Europe too. People need to just learn how to cook again. I think the Pandemic helped people rediscover good food just by cooking at home.
@@nahha9529 yes, there's fast food in Europe as well, but it's better than the fast food crap in the US, plus you have tons of small, family owned restaurants where you can choose from at a very affordable price compared to the US.
Why would you miss racism, greed, people sleeping on the street, mass shooting, hunger, politician who have no sense of morality, a media that works to divide and incite anger and division, rather than instill comfort and hope ? Why would you miss a society that promotes greed and ignorance ? You are very smart to leave...Do what you can to make youreself a better person and help the world become better 🙂 And I love your videos !
Don't worry because greed in America will be a thing of the past and America reduced to a third world country, as we struggle to feed, house and provide an education for the poor migrants coming into the US. 300,000 in the December alone. I am sure you will want to come back and help us to improve the lives of all these people through governmental wealth redistribution schemes.
I wouldn't mind helping improve the lives of people who are running for their lives rather than continue to support unethical and criminal people trying to keep them out.
A rule I made for myself, when the commercials were so long I forgot what I was watching, I turn it off. Its a waste of time. I then stopped watching any TV because it became normal for it to be that way. You have to remember, its YOUR money, its YOUR time, its YOUR life!
I DVR everything and watch it at the point I can skip over all the commercials. If I were unable to do that, I certainly would not watch anything at all.
Same. I can't remember the last time I watched regular TV channels (we don't pay for cable). Now that we have Netflix and Prime videos we can pick and choose our shows without commercials.
Most of the things you list were so bad for my mental and physical health in the US, I almost ended up killing myself. I had to leave to reset. It took me about 6 months to ''detox'' from it all. 5 years later, no regrets.
Good for you dear, I'm truly happy for you, most people would have not taken the risk that you took, real people and less stress in the UK, I hope you agree. 5 years, wonderful.
@@rbnhd1144 thank you. I love life here. Honestly it is Britain's nature, gardening, and walking culture that's been a lifesaver. There is nothing better for my mind than getting out on the walking paths, putting one foot in front of the other, and admiring the stunning scenery at the same time. You have to drive for ages in the states to get somewhere you can do this on public land. There are no public footpaths. Problem is you're working yourself to exhaustion and don't even have the energy for it when you have a little time off. The people in the North are particularly humble, and generally very considerate. I haven't spent much time in the South, perhaps I'd like it there less.
I too have lived abroad for several years in a few different countries. I retired in 2018 and left Belgium to come back to the U.S. Your list of things you don't miss are exactly what I noticed upon returning here and really bothered me. I would say it has taken me a few years now to almost feel like those things are "normal" again. And that worries me a bit. To your list, I would add the inexplicable American fascination with guns, no matter on which side of the political spectrum you fall. They are omnipresent and seem to be in the news constantly, usually in some awful context. It is so refreshing to live in other countries where guns and gun ownership is a non-issue. I also am disturbed by the homogenization of so much of America. If you were blindfolded and parachuted out and landed in a typical medium to large sized American city suburb, you would be hard pressed to know where you are. Absent a geological formation or looking at license plates, it all looks the same. Big box stores, chain restaurants, strip malls containing the same stores as another strip mall 5 miles down the road. The same featureless and boring architecture. And a particular pet peeve of mine is the proliferation of power lines and power poles obliterating the view of just about anywhere you look. Why can't we bury some of these? Money of course because esthetics don't matter much here. Oh, and the absence of side walks so you can't walk in most commercial areas even if you wanted to. I am also confounded by the proliferation of ever bigger and ever more ridiculously priced pickup trucks that are now the best selling vehicles in America and have been for some time. Way too often I see them being used as one person only commuter vehicles to go to their workplace. As to your point of the constant bombardment of pharmaceutical ads and other commercials, that is something that I just cannot tolerate any longer. I have given up cable and now get my entertainment from other media where I don't have to be subjected to that. I even pay extra to have ad free RUclips. It is worth every penny!
. Please break your writing into paragraphs! This is called - wall of text. Last week I read a Facebook post about wall of text from Dana, my friend who writes cookbooks and health related articles. They were several people who agreed how fatiguing it is to read through a massive block of text. I have given up on reading these massive comments. Using paragraphs is a 9th grade, English class skill. .
What confounds me about the dearth of Big Pharma's advertising is that they are the most crooked and rich businesses in the country! The role of a pharmaceutical rep is to invade doctor's offices during a work day so they can make a sale. Where does this greed come from?
Great video Kristin and this definitely resonated with us especially now that we've been living in Europe for the past 6 months. This is the longest both of us have lived outside the U.S and we have to say we're both so much happier and living a more abundant life. We don't miss dealing with the healthcare system, something I (Michelle) had to deal with last year and it was awful trying to sort through confusing bills and figure out how much things cost. This is with good insurance too! We don't miss the food either, the food tastes so much better in Europe and we can eat certain types of food here that we can't in the United States. We also haven't had a car even though we've been living in Albania and Bulgaria the last couple of months, we can still get around by bus or just our own 2 feet! The pace of life is also something we're really enjoying, it's so nice to go out to a cafe or restaurant and just sit and relax like the locals. We could go on and on.....I guess we should probably make our own video! 😀
I miss my layovers in Guatemala. As a Flight crew , I always picked over other countries, people are so welcoming and friendly! Something very rare to find in the USA.
On a recent return trip to Europe we flew from Seattle, Wa. We were shocked by the price of everything, including even "Cheap" fast food options. The one night hotel stay, dinner and drinks, and a small meal at the airport pre departure (less than 24 hours in total) cost us more than an entire week in Europe. No joke. And every single thing we paid for was not nearly as good as anything overseas.
You are spot on about everything you said. Grew up in Europe and moved to the US 20 years ago and I still can’t wrap my ahead about these things. However, where I’m originally from salaries are ridiculously low and and economy still owned by some families that give privilege for them and their friends and if you are not in the circle you will be struggling all your life. So my question to you and most of you living outside the US is, how do you make your living? Are you living outside with American salaries or local salaries? Because that was what made me come back to the US when we took a 2 year break.
Altough I know what you mean, as a non-american, I'd have to say friendliness is probably one of the American's best traits. On average you guys are pretty friendly.
You nail frustrations about the US that I forgot I had. I’d also like to add all the personal injury attorney ads…it all seems to say that hospitals and companies in the US are in the business of exploiting and perpetuating misery.
Kristin, thanks for your observations about the USA. These are things I wish I could not miss about the US. But hey, I'm here. The thing is Americans have taken on the identity of consumers. Consumers of useless and overpriced medications. Consumers of shallow and destructive politics. Consumers of tasteless industrialized food. I keep hoping it will change.
And I hate to say this - adding to the negativity- but I am a senior and that hope that one lives by finally becomes the reality: It "ain't" gonna happen". - it gets worse. I am ready to leave the US even as a senior and truly believe my mental health would improve immensely.
As a Canadian, totally agree with all of your observations, especially health care. Nobody understands why Americans put up with the inequality of a system that denies healthcare to its citizens. Our healthcare is far from perfect, but I don't have to open my wallet walking into a hospital. But, all of your other points, we deal with too. Came back from Asia, and just shake my head how far North America is behind, and falling quickly. Very sad actually.
Maybe, it's because we can see any Doctor when we need to,,, or have elected surgeries anytime we "want" to... and we get to chose our own doctor and have the surgery without a big wait!!
Americans put up with all these things esp the healthcare system because we are kept ignorant of the rest of the world. Americans have no idea that anything can be done better than what they experience, and big interests prefer it that way. And we are also among the most heavily propagandized society on Earth.
@@jjohn4874 This may be true, but we have to pay $2,000 (on the low end) to $9,000 out of pocket before our insurance will kick in. Women are telling me it costs $15,000 out of pocket to have a baby these days. When I had my kids in the early 1990s it was free. Our health care costs are out of control. I work in the health care system.
Your first part is so true. I live in houston and its literally designed around cars, so no one ever really wants to do anything ever. Especially with how hot it is too
You are spot on regarding all the comments you have made . Love your channel as you are so insightful and so accurate with your observations. Enjoy travelling a bunch and you provide lots of great , useful knowledge.
been travelling Europe for about 6 months now. 13 countries. scouting places to live. haven't used a car. love the culture of europe especially Spain and Bosnia. will try to negotiate with the job I have lined up to work overseas
We have the attractive Corfe Castle ruin here in Dorset, just up the road from you, in world terms. So much nicer than billboards! I love ❤ Cornwall, and Devon is pretty neat too en route. 🤗🤪🙋♀️
In addition to all your excellent observations, I would add, bluntly: Daily Homicide Reports. I tune in the local news every morning and, inevitably, there will be a lead story summarizing overnight shootings, stabbings and body counts. I haven't traveled enough to assert that this is "uniquely American"...but I suspect it is.
as a little kid I wondered this silently to myself- why the news was SO heavy and graphic and gruesome...why not other positive stuff? And why graphic descriptions?
In America it's more prevalent. But all media is meant to disenpower people with FEAR. Don't watch the news anywhere. It's not smart. And it doesn't add anything to your life.
It is in not uniquely American but other rich developed countries don’t have this problem and lots of poorer countries undeveloped countries are also safer
Kristin, Would you consider doing a video for solo women seeking to retire abroad? I would like to try another place but not sure where to start. I've watched RUclips vids on Portugal, France, England, Thailand. But it's hard to know which is best.
Everything you said I agree with¬...what I am always shocked by is the aggressive drivers...everyone is in a competitive hurry. The other is that I realize what a weapon a car is. Strange thoughts that I never have outside of the US because I never ever have to think of CAR.
I have relatives that bought a home in Florida.I recently went to event with my family there with the two people that bought homes in Florida. They did not look happy and they looked very miserable and I read their soul and I can see they’re going to hell did they bought those homes in Florida it’s a train wreck there, two children playing on a beach one died when a sinkhole opened up what?Yep. not to mention everybody knows that Florida is flooding like Texas but Florida is even worse and the cost is not getting insurance for your home and losing it and going up in price off. The charts is not a place to live if you’re smart, Florida is not a place to live if you’re smart, I don’t care how much money you have doesn’t matter it’s not a comfortable community anymore to move somewhere else in. I’m trying to find a place to move to get out of United States. It’s turned into a nightmare since the Kovic, China and Russia and other countries don’t respect our president, who needs to go now he needs to leave in that be our president and have a president like Trump that had everything under control that was smart and if you have any common sense, it is the way we need to get back things back to normal having a president that can control the wheel that knows what the hell he’s doing amen
We have property rights in US and wouldn't even think of having our Federal government come in and tell us what we could and couldn't do as far as billboard advertising. The laws regulating billboards are all local, as they should be.
Agree with all that you mentioned...I'm in a rural small town in Mexico but I must say that despite Mexico being notoriously loud with parades and music and parties and celebrations from time to time I don't miss the constant noise I always heard in the US from blowers and mowers! From rural mountain towns in Georgia with tractors and chainsaws and bushogs to riding mowers to Atlanta landscape crews to Florida EVERYWHERE I feel like it was always Mow Blow Go day somewhere. Of course I've got the water guy song, the orange juice guy, the donut horn, the watermelon yeller---but it's all better than gas powered lawn equipment
Interesting. In the dominican republic there was always a load of noise from a man shouting on the street, it turned out he was shouting for people who have scrap metal. EVERYDAY! So noisy with motorbikes. I could never live there
I’ve lived in Thailand for 6 years and I recently visited the US for the first time since before Covid. Having viewed the US through the media for such a long time I was expecting the worst but what I experienced was shocking normal from what I remembered. I was in the San Francisco Bay Area for one week and just outside Atlanta for one week. What I realized that you could be a tourist for a couple of weeks and easily miss the reality.
Bill boards and large signs along the road are another side effect of US towns built solely around cars. Few people walk so shops and advertisers have to make oversized signs that can be read from cars. Europe doesn’t have small towns with 8 lane highways through them.
Kristin great blog and very interesting article comparing your home country to the uk , great to you settled in our country and always welcomed here 😀❤🇬🇧
Another really good video, Kristin. Having lived in Europe previously, I agree with almost every one of your points. We're looking forward to spending a good portion of our retirement outside the US for many of the reasons you list.
The common thread in all of this is unregulated capitalism; the principle that profit is more important than people that seems to govern America. In the UK we're vigorously resisting the creeping introduction of the same toxic ideology
I have been living in Brazil for 22 years. For the Lion´s share of those years I wanted to return to the USA, but that has changed in the last 4 -5 years. From everything I see everyday on news channels, RUclips and other assorted things (like Karen/airline/cop videos) the US seems like a hateful society, filled with ignorance, entitlement, overwhelming materialism where everything seems about money and possessions. I used to be so proud of our country, but now I am ashamed- and keep in mind I am in BRAZIL - not a paradise, with it´s own set of problems- but the hatred and intolerance is less, family is number one and most people seem to realize life is for living
I visited my cousin in Boston, MA in 1993. TV news then was full of shootings and murders, live was the funeral of a police officer that had been shot. One story was chap shot his girl friend and baby in the street. Shocking.
Love your videos! Agree with everything! I was in 6 countries this year and dang the reverse culture shock was strong when I came home. Even in Bern, the groceries seemed cheaper than the US. Gas was not cheaper - I will say that, but there are so many alternatives to driving - I don't see that as a barrier to life. In the US, if we had to pay $9/gallon that would be monthly rent money for some people's commute. The most obvious change, when I got back, was a lot of advertising etc. that push a general dissatisfaction with life. Sigh . . . we are so busy trying work hard to buy happiness and relaxation - we are missing it.
Having spent nearly 8 years in and around LA, everything you said resonated with me, I was there from 1983-89, especially the neon coloured pharmaceutical ads, mostly indigestion stuff...
Kristin, I very much appreciate how sincere and straight forward you are, that you don't resort to using negative emotions to make your points about places you'd rather not be. You're very easy to listen to, like I'm there with you. That's a great attribute to have in how you communicate; a big plus for your YT channel. Thanks for that.
It really is! I'm a Brit in my 50s and my country still fascinates and charms me. From a beautiful church to an old monument with a disturbing history , I absolutely love it. Oxford is my home town and there is so much to see with London less than an hour away. There is so much to discover, learn and enjoy.
Good old US capitalism, took $1k to Tland for a 3 week trip knowing I’d be treating a lot of people to dinners..but..came back with $600 and was surprised because my own estimates were off but, of course, it was a very nice feeling 🙏🏻✈️
I'm traveling all over France this year learning the language. It's easier for me to be healthier, mentally physically and socially, so I'm here every month or so for 10 days.
I also don’t miss the politics in the US but the flip side of that is that I love not talking politics with expats here in Thailand. Because it doesn’t come up in conversation here I get get to meet and make friends with a much wider spectrum of interesting people that I never would have met in the US.
@@georgecooksey8216 In case you haven’t noticed there are people in the US they don’t really talk to each other. We do talk to each other here. There is plenty of international diversity in the expat community here. It turns out it is a lot easier to meet fellow expats. I lived 60 years in the US. I put in my time. Time for something new.
@@martypoll Glad you are happy and hope you have planned for the fact that Medicare will not cover you overseas. I believe it's a gross generalization to say that "people don't talk to each other" for a country so large, diverse and dynamic as the US. I'm not even sure what you are referring to other than perhaps politics. The US has always been a place of very robust public political debate - the noise is, in my view, a barometer of the health of a democracy - and it's always been that way from the first election ever held. Loud, boisterous, contentious, and yes often obnoxious. I tune most of it out - and I respect those who have different views than I do. We're all individuals and citizens of a great country with more in common than not. Good luck..
I grew up in Ireland, but have lived in the USA most of my life. I always found Ireland more expensive than the USA, but maybe thats just me. Ive also spent time in Mexico, Thailand, Laos, (over a year during the plandemic) Vietnam and Malaysia which are all much much more affordable..as long as you are making Western wages. I live in California, which is a very beautiful state, but it has become impossible to live in unless you are making a lot of money or you inherited wealth. I am almost homeless here, I live outdoors in a truck. I became disabled a few years ago and ended up in this situation. Its not all bad, I make the best of it, but I cant afford housing. There are lots of conveniences I miss when Ive been overseas, mostly certain products that are easy to find here whether it be clothing or supplements or anything else that I need and can get via online shopping or a local store. I miss a good burger or steak when Im in Asia, and California weather is hard to beat. The food in the USA is pure poison though, sugar and pesticides. We definitely have a lot of problems here and the cost of living is high, but there are also some very affordable places to live, its a big country. Its sad to see the country deteriorating though. Nowhere in the world have I seen the homeless conditions so bad. Some of it has to do with drug use, but it is also not just that, it is the exhorbitant cost of housing due to greed and the never ending printer of the Federal Reserve.
What is preventing you from moving back to Ireland? I would guess a plane ticket would be a big cost but I have been living in Ireland from Michigan for 17 years and don't find anything more expensive except housing.
@peggygraham6129 Ireland has a housing problem also, and I like warm weather, Ireland is cold and damp. But mostly the cost of housing and living, my $1000 a month income wouldn't cover the cost of living there whereas it would in Asia.
@@peggygraham6129He said he finds Ireland more expensive to live ! It's true Ireland is not a cheap place to live !! Irish people told me they don't feel they are rich,although the country is rich now !!💜🥁🐉🎤🎶✈️💞
We live in an expensive place in Washington State, about 25% more than Seattle. We don't travel extensively, but we spend a couple months each (northern) summer on our boat in Canada and three months during the (northern) winter in New Zealand, where it is (conveniently) their summer. Neither of those places are known for inexpensive costs of living. But we have figured out one key that reduces our costs in both Canada and New Zealand. We simply live like middle-class citizens of those countries,.not as tourists. We estimate that alone results in savings of 25% from what we would incur if we lived as tourists most often do. Net/net our overall cost of living is about 35% less in both countries than at home. One example: in New Zealand we eat and drink like the Kiwis do. Lots of seafood and some great lamb. We buy Aussie wine (like the Kiwis do). It's just as good as Kiwi wine and much cheaper in New Zealand. (We can actually buy Kiwi wine in the USA and Canada for less than in New Zealand. Go figure that one.) We play a LOT of golf and belong to a golf club at home. The total annual cost of membership is roughly $3,000, and our club isn't high-end. It is a nine-hole course with dual tee boxes. In New Zealand, we belong to a club with two 18-hole courses, including one that has hosted the New Zealand Open tournament several times. Our "summer membership" there costs about US$750 (for two). That provides unllimited play on excellent tracks and a wonderful social base with other golfers. There are countless other ways to save without diminishing your lifestyle if you simply pay attention. If anything, we live a better lifestyle in New Zealand than in the USA.
I have been going out of the States for some time, and I really don't miss it either. Fast foods gave me hemmoroids. It's just another lucrative way to send me to the drug store. I quit fast foods, started to switch to organic grown foods, and ever since my sleep has been good, my stress plummeted. The US is a second home to me, but I would love to see it transform for the better. I won't give up, but I don't think it will happen in my lifetime.
Oh I hear you 1000%, you are so right about every one of those points. 👍🏼👍🏼 good for you, for getting out there and seeing the world from a balanced viewpoint.
I haven't traveled very much at all since coming to Canada as a child but what I miss the most is the country this used to be, before corruption was out in the open at every level of government and business. It's truly sad to see regulatory capture everywhere and insanely high prices for things that poor people can easily afford in other countries. I'm much older than you are, just to put this into some context, and sorry if this is an inappropriate tangent.
You've just walked along a lovely , pretty and quite road in complete heaven with nothing but beautiful greenery and birdsong ! Apart from that bike and a siren
I love your point of view and videos. I will be leaving the US in the next year, and I simply can't wait. One thing I've noticed in my travels is that being vegan in any other country besides the US is super easy. I just returned from Tuscany, Italy and even in the smallest medieval villages there would be incredible vegan restaurants, gelaterias, and more. Even in Canada I never have to worry about finding food. In the US, even in so-called "progressive" cities, you can't even get a vegan pancake for breakfast, which is the easiest thing to make. I'm sure it must have something to do with the choke hold the meat and dairy industry has on the country. Ugh. Anyway, so happy you're enjoying Manchester! :^)
In the US, there is a cultural commonality of buying and spending. It's all about the markets--and I am not talking about the farmer's market in most countries but the international markets, profits and sales. It is so extreme and one way, that it is creating great damage to our country. It is almost no longer a democracy, but a market driven political government. It is a shame. The dollar and the material world dominate all aspects of our culture. It is a huge problem. We need to stop contributing to this sort of system. We need to stop consuming so much stuff, especially the big stuff; plastics, rubbers, oil, cars --en fin, we need to stop the crazy consumption in the extreme. Take a walk or ride your bike as often as you can. Use public transportation whenever possible. If you can get rid of your car, do it. Get rid of your fridge and buy your food daily. And if you can build a neighborhood garden, do it.
I always find it amazing that some Americans can drive from age 15. In most of Europe it's 18. In the UK it's 17 but the test is quite difficult (I was 19 when I passed) and a lot of people just don't bother getting a licence.
On the issue of places looking the same, in Dublin, Ireland, there's an infestation of Starbucks. In one shopping mall alone there were 5 outlets. In the city centre, on Westmoreland street at one time there were two across the road from each other and 5 others within 5 mins walk. Something else is 'US superiority syndrome' - we got sked to sign up to a ethics policy in the company I worked for. I refused - the absolute shitstorm that ensued was worth the price of admission. With each level of the corporate ladder that got involved the e-mails got more desperate - until I got the chief legal officer in charge of policy compliance. I just reiterated what I'd told all the lower tiers, a 'one size fits all' ethical code, while nice in principle, is unrealistic. A company if faced with profit versus ethics dilemma will consistently pick the profitable option (and any CEO who stands up at a shareholders meeting and tells the shareholders he did the right thing, but as a result profits are down...will find the next item on the agenda will be the selection of his replacement.) I also said that the policy was also socio-ethnic-economically biased. Strangely I was exempted from signing up to this.
You pretty much nailed it for me, everything you say is really true especially the Drugs, add to that Medicare ads, When I'm in the UK I feel safer, less stress, better drivers, no tipping, food also seems tastier, TV ads are seconds not 5 minutes and no begging.
Know what I miss about Europe? The trains, the old architecture, the different food, the espresso, the people, not knowing the language (I actually prefer to not even hear what other people are talking about), the way it smells, the graffiti. Everything.
Me too!!!🎉 It's a lighter world when you don't have to listen or care what everyone is talking about. The ignorance filter is bliss!!❤ I prefer to enjoy my own thoughts.
The Pacific Northwest, Redwood forests of California, Sedona, Arizona etc, etc. America is a fascinating New World for many people. Notice the high frequency when you get back here in the US!
I just left South Asia, and I’m in Canada now visiting family. We get all the American TV here. I was just telling my friend here how strange it is to see so much pharmaceutical ads on TV. And the political environment it’s too much! Your absolutely right about reverse culture shock!I find it hard to fit in to my own homeland after living abroad so long. Although I think we are a bit better off than the US, but Canada is too close.y tied to our big brother down south, it’s scary.
Thanks Kristn for this video! You are an outstanding and beautiful human being. You are very observant and spot on with your analysis. Probably why your videos are so popular :)
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the video and found the analysis helpful. Your support means a lot to me @brianjones5033! 😊
I feel the food thing so much! If i'm not feeling well and can't cook my options are literally just burgers or burgers. In any other country the options would be endless. I can eat out every meal in China for a week without leaving my block and have something quick, healthy and different for each and every meal.
I’ve visited every US state, most Canadian provinces and six of seven continents. I lived one year overseas courtesy of the US Army. I considered moving abroad but found it too expensive. I could not replicate my home (Annapolis, MD area) for a reasonable cost. The taxes are almost extortionate. My health care costs are reasonable. I agree about the advertising on all forms of media. I do enjoy the transit systems in most of Europe as opposed to the US. That being said I enjoy the freedom of having my own three vehicles to travel at my own pace and schedule. Food and restaurants seem to be expensive. My age and status as a retiree from another generation may account for my differences. I am always happy to return home but then I also look forward to traveling again. At this stage of my life we prefer to fly business and stay in four star properties.
Through the years I've taken 1-2 year breaks,(at a time) from watching tv.And.. you're right those commercials are annoying... Glad I found your channel.. You are my kind of people.
having watched you through a few country, I really appreciate you came to the UK and even more you came to Manchester for a period of time. I wonder where your gonna put your hat (#Paul Young) when time is right.
Here in the UK there are very strict controls on the placing of roadside advertisements, especially in places where they are likely to distract drivers. There are a few greedy idiots who will try to flout the rules by dumping old trailers in fields by the motorway with advertising on them, but they usually get prosecuted in the end. I'm always gleeful when I see one that's been blown over, thus creating a bigger headache for the greedy landowner.
I don't get your logic. It's the farmers land he can do what he wants. You don't have to look at the trailer sign. Keep your eyes on the road and find other things to complain about!
No he cannot. Roadside advertising requires planning permission, and using trailers in fields is a blatant attempt to evade planning laws. It's only lawful to advertise on a vehicle if its primary purpose is as a vehicle, so a trailer in a field is not lawful. The law exists to prevent unnecessary distractions and accidents and to avoid eyesores in the landscape.@@voice.of.reason
It's a field. It's the farmers land. It is not a sign. It's a trailer (mobile) with a sign on it that just happens to be visible at times to the motorist. Not illegal. It's attitudes like yours that really spoil the UK. You must live a very sad life if that is all you can complain about, there are far worse things happening in this country, like the knife crime all over the UK, especially Croydon!@@davidjones332
The number of billboards depends on the state. You'll see more the closer you are to a city. Four states prohibit all billboards: Maine, Vermont, Alaska and Hawaii. If you drive out west through rural Wyoming and Montana you won't see them. We do have the *choice* to mute or turn off the television during commercials. As someone who works in health care, people just Google their ailments and medications (they don't need TV ads, they have social media ads). You can get generic acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Benadryl, etc at the Dollar Store. Many common prescription medications cost $4.00 at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. I agree with you about politics. It gets maddening here.
I enjoyed listening to the comparisons of traveling abroad to the US culture.. Presented very well. Good luck in all your travels Kristin .. thanks for all the previous views and information.
One of the things that really resonates was not what you said but the clip of you sitting in a garden with friends all having a laugh. I'd consider it too mundane to warrant a clip, but that you did shows how much different the pace of life must be. Keep up the great videos, looking forward to when you get a bit more out and about in the North.
YES YES YES! The spam calls and texts here in the US have gotten ridiculous the past couple of years. It got to a point where I was getting them every single day. Then I just went to South America for 3 months… not a single one
I agree on the robocalls, constant bombardment of commercials and ads and the politics in your face a lot in America. I love America but I have travelled to other countries and find it very refreshing to experience other cultures and points of view.
The pharmaceutical commercials that kill me are the ones that don't even tell you what they're for. "Ask your doctor about (fill in the blank)." And that's it. That's the commercial. Unbelievable.
Norway is cheaper than the US??!!? Mind blown, I lived in Norway for a while and compared to the UK it was roughly twice as expensive. Great content keep it up❤
@@antjee NORWAY is twice as expensive as you are not taxed on your income the government makes its money from taxation of goods, mostly imports so food, alcohol pretty much everything YOU PURCHASE is twice the price, for example in dollars a Big Mac meal was about $20 in UK about $6, a bottle of UK whiskey about $70 UK around $25 and a meal in reasonable restaurant about $100 UK about $40
@gmdhargreaves Are you sure Norway has no income tax? Only taxing goods and services would be very regressive as it would hit lower income citizens who have, perforce, to spend a much higher proportion of their income on food, clothing, etc. This would result in the poorer citizens paying a higher proportion of their income in tax than the richer. I don't believe that this can be true as Norway scores highly in the areas that lead to a good quality of life, and one of the most important of these is equality.
@@52power I never payed tax on my income working for a software company for the best part of 2 years and was payed much better than I would have been I London, Norway doesn’t really have poor people, only those that choose through life choices to be homeless, and even those are well looked after. Yes it’s a system that works, you use free education to get a great job and pay your taxes through buying goods it makes sense too me and… for me makes Norway a great place to live, the poorer people are those that don’t work but still live less than crude lives compared to all other countries
What I don't miss about the US is that I can easily feel everything is a service. Everyone is so busy with winning and performance that I can feel disconnected, lonely and isolated.
What don't you or wouldn't you miss if you left the USA? For how I see the UK as an American abroad, check out this video next: ruclips.net/video/qaZmoCPLCs8/видео.html
Hi
I would miss the organic healthfood stores and restaurants; other countries have these, but they are usually very small or far and few between ❤
I'd miss the weather, the music, the natural beauty, the squirrels in my backyard
I wouldn't miss the religion and the politics talk. If I lived overseas.
You are so pretty
I've been outside of the USA for over 10 years now. I don't miss the horrible healthcare system in the USA, the high property taxes, the bad GMO/insecticide filled food, the billboards/fences, the cost of living, the social tensions, television everywhere, bad fluoridated tap water, glysophate filled wine, car culture and more. I live in the Andalucían mountains in Spain and I don't think I will ever go back to the USA.
I live in the US. You said the truth. It is evil. And the white Americans are completely oblivious to their plight.
You made it to the other side, congrats!
Every time I travel abroad it reminds me how many issues I have in the USA but at the same time how many blessings. Every individual is different, so there is no perfect country. I am considering moving back to my country or living abroad at some point in the future mostly because of the cost of living and division here. It's sad but I'm hopeful we can turn this trend around in the next 10 years.
@@gugy68 you are delusional. The USA is an occult abomination
Yes , well stated . Healthcare and Social Tensions / Political division .
I flew into Frankfurt Germany, got on a train, inside the airport, and rode the train all the way to southern Italy. It was very comfortable, plenty of room, a snack bar, a restaurant etc.
I just took a four hour train ride today. Love it so much! I never want to get off the train 😄
REAL TRAINS too, not like the rusty garbage in the USA
I was riding a HST in Italy... I was so comfortable and enjoyed the ride. The US... Amtrak lol. I hate flying in the US too.
BRAVO .... the USA is SO FAR BEHIND the rest of the REAL WORLD, IT will never catch up,
BIDEN is doing his best to REPAIR all the damage every REPUBLICAN did to RUIN the country but it's like pushing a huge rock UPHILL with one hand tied behind your back @@Richard.Cabeza
And wine and beer on board!
I am so tired of the tipping culture here...especially now that 25% (or more) is standard and sometimes mandatory. Places that shouldn’t be asking for tips are now asking for them. I wish establishment owners didn’t burden their patrons with this. Pay fair wages to employees. If everyone in the US stood up to this nonsense the businesses would be forced to change.
There was a restaurant in New York that banned tipping and instead just added it to the prices on the menu so that the staff would get a living wage. Trade dropped drastically even though the customers weren't paying a cent more. The owner had to end the trial or go bust. Customers only look at the prices on the menu.
Totally. It is a factor of employers who do not want to pay a living wage. They lay the guilt on us. It is becoming common to hear, They cannot live without your tips...! I am not talking bout waters/waitresses.I am talking about counter personnel who ring up an order. Or some such.
Totally agree with you. Employers in the US are too cheap to pay a living wage to their employees. Why should customers, eating out, have to subsidize a servers wages because the employer won't pay them a living wage.
Yes, I've stopped going out so much because of this...
Go to Italy, Greece, Egypt, Jamaica and several other countries that are not Northern Europe. Tipping is essential to the wait staff, and the economy.
Country comparison videos usually don't discuss touchy subjects like the character of the people. I find people outside the USA to be more calm, respectful, less invasive and more genuine. This is much more important to me than any of the logistics of living.
I lived in a country that was seen the same way. Friendly and laid back. There were some that liked the idea of hanging out with an American. They were more open minded and friendly. But the general public was different. Once they figured out you're not a tourist they could possible make money from their attitudes changed. Probably rightly so. It's a hard life and everything you do all day has to be geared towards making a living.
Most people projected everything bad that they've ever heard about the USA on you. Nothing about being calm or more tolerant just more abusive and intolerant. I never saw so many disheartened and unhappy people in all my life. One time I said good morning to someone on the street. They replied "I don't have to say good morning if I don't want too!". Why? Because he was unhappy with his situation and Americans are seen as privileged people abroad. Compared to them we are. Even middle class USA is rich in their eyes. The average salary there was $400 a month. Before taxes and health insurance were removed. That was minimum wage in 2021. I know because I had a business there. FYI.. I always paid over minimum wage. Keep in mind that prices for everything were comparable to USA prices. The only exception was fresh produce. Lack of regulation had prices way above what the average person could afford. Essentials for daily living like shampoo and toothpaste were 3 times the price in the USA because you need them every day and there is no regulation to keep companies from price gouging. Some regulation is good.
They had no way to get out of lower class poverty. The class system there was strictly enforced. If you're not in the proper class you didn't get the job or the apartment. Stepping up in class is very difficult. Some would say impossible. I knew people that lived paycheck to paycheck their entire lives and worked from dusk to dawn. And they still struggled with enough to eat or essentials for their families.
I was living in the most prosperous country on the continent. That didn't matter. What people thought of you did. They had discrimination and prejudice within their own race. Isn't that worse racism? Certainly not open and friendly. It was and still is a strictly classed society to keep a working class enslaved in a daily grind with no hope of escape. With no hope they are very bitter and unhappy. Mental illness is prolific. They know that Americans have the ability to move from class to class if you get an education and work hard. Doing it there wasn't a guarantee of success. Even if you have the best credentials you still need to know somebody to get the best jobs. We can get those jobs if we have the credentials and talent. That's depressing for them and leads to all sorts of social disfunction.
The grass is not always greener on the other side. Dip your toe in and see what you find. It may come back out of the water and it may go missing.
@matrices3987 Sorry for the long winded post. I know you were being more subtle. Just find it hard to stop when I get going. There is such a misconception about living abroad.
-Jeff
ve,
@@icoder445 What area of the world were you in?
@@lisagrace6471 We lived in Vina Del Mar, Chile. Considered to be a top destination in the most prosperous and USA like country in South America.
@@icoder445 Well that is relative.... you have the money you have the access...try being a Bolivian, a Peruvian....etc and see if the Chileans will see you, treat you the same way
@@atta1798 Hello,
I think your point is a little off based on what I experienced and still know to be happening in Chile. We have family in Chile.
Sure, having the money get's you access to things. However if you have a society designed to hold the class that you were born in under the thumb of the rich and powerful everything is stacked against you. Look at Russia for example. There is a strictly enforced class structure in Chile. And that's not the government imposing it. It's the people. They look at you and decide if you get in to their class or not. Be it an everyday job, a government job or political post. They decide if you advance in society. I have several relatives with degrees and they have a hard time finding work. The ones that are working are doing blue collar manual labor or very low income work. Construction, cleaning, restaurant work ... That's one reason why young men want to get into the police force/carabineros or the military. If you can get in, in other words, if you know the right people, you'll get a shot at way out. Otherwise you're on the outside looking in. I know it sounds arcane but it is real in some societies. My nephew went through the process as a Carabinero Cadet but was washed out. He got the shot because his grandfather was an officer in the Carabineros. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen without bias. I am saying it is extremely difficult to make the transition up to one class from another. Much easier in the USA.
I went through the process of getting a green card - cedula in Chile. At the time there was a huge influx of Venezuelan refugees. I am married to a Chilean and I got no special preference over Venezuelans, Columbians, Peruvians or any other nationality. Even the Chileans didn't get a preference over anyone else. In the USA there's a line for US citizens and a line for everyone else.
Our business was next door to a Venezuelan restaurant owner. There were other businesses with owners from other Latin American countries, Arab countries, Asian countries and others. We got along really well with all of them. As far as I could tell they integrated into the Chilean society easily, The only real problem was an increase in crime due to the large influx of Venezuelan immigrants. I guess they didn't do a good enough job screening at the border. There were a lot of people coming across the border illegally into Chile. Crime was probably a result of being without the proper paperwork to get a job. There was a sudden increase in street vendors. People trying to make it without the paperwork and without participating in crime. That provoked a tighter enforcement on having the papers for street vending and a vicious cycle ensued.
-Jeff
Wow, I had a whole different experience!! . When I arrived back in United States, no one could talk about politics, because there were afraid of people on the other side arguing or shouting at them.
When I was living overseas in Western Europe, I enjoyed talking about the politics of the United States, or of Europe, etc. and people are so knowledgeable and interested and can talk about several sides of politics in a knowledgeable way without arguing
Yeah and any pissed off American with his or her firearm would threaten you if someone was fully against their side.
And their talking about what they perceive to be reality when it is uninformed and entrenched.
America is gone. This country has changed so drastically in the last 20 years it's shocking.
@@mitchellgeisen1073 I say that all the time. Well put.
The Almighty Dollar rules the USA. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
I mean, it’s still the same racist and classist place it’s ALWAYS been
@@Wee_Catalyst…that because *_you’re_* the racist
Drugs are the biggest culprit I've seen
Tired of the crappy food and public transportation in the USA.
And no one with power wants to change it. I'm over it too.
@@LisaSoulLevelHealing I'm in South Lake Tahoe and there is no direct bus to Vegas. Have to go North to Reno first. For Sacramento/SF, there is only ONE bus a day and you get to SF around 8pm, meaning you have to get a hotel room right before going to bed.
It’s such a travesty
@@TravelingwithKristinYou have huge conflict in Europe every now and then, as a result we have a huge size of Bosnian refugees where I stay. U.S has problems just like any other country but these refugees thrive here in this Midwest metro area where cost of living is not as high as in Florida, California, New York.
It is a bigger " travesty " for most of Europe if Putin blows up the ZZNP in Ukraine. Radiation fall out, prices of food and energy will go up, currency depreciation, huge refugee problem, as I said war or conflict would always occur in Europe. Are you heading to Costa Rica if Putler decides to light up the biggest nuke plant in Europe?
It's a disaster and no one does anything about it.
I don’t miss the feeling of not feeling safe to walk around out cities streets at night time. 😢
Good point. When I lived in Spain I thought nothing about taking an evening stroll. Here? I won't even drive by myself at night and when I do I have doors and windows locked and the access to 911. Talking about living in paranoia and this is in deed our lifestyle. Car jackings, mall shootings, and on and on and on.
Three weeks in the USA and I had seen enough billboards for the rest of my life. And not only billboards. Commercials in general Here in Denmark we like to look at the scenery without stupid billboards. And you are right, there are strict rulles about signs along the roads. They are constantly challenged, but the majority of people dont like being bombarded with commercials everywhere.
In Europe they make a lot of common sense laws. The US could learn a few things about protecting the population. People, not just “consumers”.
I make it a point to actively AVOID companies with blatant in your face and eff you advertising. I very rarely get cold callers due to the Data Protection laws in Europe, but those that do get rebuffed in good naval language. (But having just driven from the UK to Norway via Denmark and Sweden, I was shocked by the very high cost of the Oresund bridge into Sweden! We avoided it on the return journey)
It does get ridiculous
Car dealers
@@TravelingwithKristin Protecting the population from what, whom? In the US we pride ourselves in not allowing the government to intrude too far into individual property rights and other areas as they do in Europe - cradle to grave. It's what make the US unique and why most of us our proud of our country - warts and all. And People are "consumers".
The car culture is one of a number of things that is bringing this country down. We've been bought and sold by the car/oil industry. Almost all towns/cities in the U.S. used to be connected by rail service. Then the car industry decided that wouldn't do and fast forward, you can see old train tracks threading many areas - overgrown with weeds. Really sad. Every year there are upwards of 40K fatalities due to car accidents. What kind of country doesn't see that as a problem and do something about it immediately and encourage mass transit investment?
I heard of one US city where bridges over new roads to new housing areas were built deliberately low so that buses couldn't use the roads. This forced the owners of the new houses to use a car as the only alternative. The car industry also had a big hand in destroying the streetcar/tramcar companies to boost car ownership.
@@nevillemason6791I think you will find it was Standard Oil.
Country that only cares about profit
Now, they prolong the nonsense with electric cars.
Coming from the UK I found billboards in the US for lawyers, bail bondsmen, political candidates, sheriffs and hospitals very odd.
And machine guns to rent 😮
I'm from here in the u s and I hate them
Plus endless tv ads for medicines and healthcare treatments.
And all you can eat breakfast for a $.99 at Big Boys!
Plus at every road junction swinging in the wind you have identical ads for Arby’s Roast Beef, Subway, the latest local Chevy retailer flogging this seasons best truck deal etc etc
What a lovely insightful video. It warmed my heart to hear that you were able to chose not to follow the crowd into the corporate world but instead have followed your dreams. I hope you know that your videos with your lovely style bring a lot of joy to lots of people and hope they give you a sense of purpose and satisfaction . Take care Kristin.
Thank you so much, JohnJames.
In the US, people love dogs more than each other
Don’t you mean guns
I never in my life saw dogs in banks, restaurants, public transport and other public places until I went to Europe.
That is so true.
To be fair....dogs rule. People on the other hand.....?.....not always
@@iron_bison People could learn a lot from a loyal dog
Completely agree with you on the fast food. The food quality is so much better in Europe and other parts of the world.
Fast food is in Europe too. People need to just learn how to cook again. I think the Pandemic helped people rediscover good food just by cooking at home.
So much better. 🍽️
Nahha I’m certainly cooking more since the pandemic
@@nahha9529 Totally agree with needing to cook more. I'm guilty of that myself.
@@nahha9529 yes, there's fast food in Europe as well, but it's better than the fast food crap in the US, plus you have tons of small, family owned restaurants where you can choose from at a very affordable price compared to the US.
Why would you miss racism, greed, people sleeping on the street, mass shooting, hunger, politician who have no sense of morality, a media that works to divide and incite anger and division, rather than instill comfort and hope ? Why would you miss a society that promotes greed and ignorance ? You are very smart to leave...Do what you can to make youreself a better person and help the world become better 🙂 And I love your videos !
exactly
@@ImOk... SO MANY countries DO NOT HAVE the problems the US has, many of them are POOR comparedly
ZERO REASON TO STAY
Don't worry because greed in America will be a thing of the past and America reduced to a third world country, as we struggle to feed, house and provide an education for the poor migrants coming into the US. 300,000 in the December alone. I am sure you will want to come back and help us to improve the lives of all these people through governmental wealth redistribution schemes.
I wouldn't mind helping improve the lives of people who are running for their lives rather than continue to support unethical and criminal people trying to keep them out.
A rule I made for myself, when the commercials were so long I forgot what I was watching, I turn it off. Its a waste of time.
I then stopped watching any TV because it became normal for it to be that way. You have to remember, its YOUR money, its YOUR time, its YOUR life!
Someone once said that TV is the thief of life - I tend to agree (video games and mobile phones too of course)
I DVR everything and watch it at the point I can skip over all the commercials. If I were unable to do that, I certainly would not watch anything at all.
TV free since 2007
Same. I can't remember the last time I watched regular TV channels (we don't pay for cable). Now that we have Netflix and Prime videos we can pick and choose our shows without commercials.
Great advice here. Congrats everyone!
Most of the things you list were so bad for my mental and physical health in the US, I almost ended up killing myself. I had to leave to reset. It took me about 6 months to ''detox'' from it all. 5 years later, no regrets.
Brilliant, where have you moved to?
@@anthonym3351 probably where you'd least expect--northern England, near Newcastle upon Tyne.
@@michellemaine2719 ahh cool, the geordies are my favourite English people, hope brexit hasn't messed things up too much for you!
Good for you dear, I'm truly happy for you, most people would have not taken the risk that you took, real people and less stress in the UK, I hope you agree. 5 years, wonderful.
@@rbnhd1144 thank you. I love life here. Honestly it is Britain's nature, gardening, and walking culture that's been a lifesaver. There is nothing better for my mind than getting out on the walking paths, putting one foot in front of the other, and admiring the stunning scenery at the same time. You have to drive for ages in the states to get somewhere you can do this on public land. There are no public footpaths. Problem is you're working yourself to exhaustion and don't even have the energy for it when you have a little time off.
The people in the North are particularly humble, and generally very considerate. I haven't spent much time in the South, perhaps I'd like it there less.
I too have lived abroad for several years in a few different countries. I retired in 2018 and left Belgium to come back to the U.S. Your list of things you don't miss are exactly what I noticed upon returning here and really bothered me. I would say it has taken me a few years now to almost feel like those things are "normal" again. And that worries me a bit. To your list, I would add the inexplicable American fascination with guns, no matter on which side of the political spectrum you fall. They are omnipresent and seem to be in the news constantly, usually in some awful context. It is so refreshing to live in other countries where guns and gun ownership is a non-issue. I also am disturbed by the homogenization of so much of America. If you were blindfolded and parachuted out and landed in a typical medium to large sized American city suburb, you would be hard pressed to know where you are. Absent a geological formation or looking at license plates, it all looks the same. Big box stores, chain restaurants, strip malls containing the same stores as another strip mall 5 miles down the road. The same featureless and boring architecture. And a particular pet peeve of mine is the proliferation of power lines and power poles obliterating the view of just about anywhere you look. Why can't we bury some of these? Money of course because esthetics don't matter much here. Oh, and the absence of side walks so you can't walk in most commercial areas even if you wanted to. I am also confounded by the proliferation of ever bigger and ever more ridiculously priced pickup trucks that are now the best selling vehicles in America and have been for some time. Way too often I see them being used as one person only commuter vehicles to go to their workplace. As to your point of the constant bombardment of pharmaceutical ads and other commercials, that is something that I just cannot tolerate any longer. I have given up cable and now get my entertainment from other media where I don't have to be subjected to that. I even pay extra to have ad free RUclips. It is worth every penny!
My kids visited Amsterdam and called it "creepy" because they thought everything looked the same. I suppose it's one's perspective.
@@MNP208 Amsterdam is beautiful. Beautiful architecture, canals, museums, bicycle culture, people. Maybe they will appreciate it when they are older.
GUNS are nothing more than an OVER COMPENSATION for a real PP, a brain that works and gonads
.
Please break your writing into paragraphs!
This is called - wall of text. Last week I read a Facebook post about wall of text from Dana, my friend who writes cookbooks and health related articles. They were several people who agreed how fatiguing it is to read through a massive block of text.
I have given up on reading these massive comments. Using paragraphs is a 9th grade, English class skill.
.
What confounds me about the dearth of Big Pharma's advertising is that they are the most crooked and rich businesses in the country! The role of a pharmaceutical rep is to invade doctor's offices during a work day so they can make a sale. Where does this greed come from?
Great video Kristin and this definitely resonated with us especially now that we've been living in Europe for the past 6 months. This is the longest both of us have lived outside the U.S and we have to say we're both so much happier and living a more abundant life. We don't miss dealing with the healthcare system, something I (Michelle) had to deal with last year and it was awful trying to sort through confusing bills and figure out how much things cost. This is with good insurance too! We don't miss the food either, the food tastes so much better in Europe and we can eat certain types of food here that we can't in the United States. We also haven't had a car even though we've been living in Albania and Bulgaria the last couple of months, we can still get around by bus or just our own 2 feet! The pace of life is also something we're really enjoying, it's so nice to go out to a cafe or restaurant and just sit and relax like the locals. We could go on and on.....I guess we should probably make our own video! 😀
So great to hear, guys! I hope we can connect somewhere on the continent this year - enjoy the great food and relaxed pace of life!
I miss my layovers in Guatemala. As a Flight crew , I always picked over other countries, people are so welcoming and friendly! Something very rare to find in the USA.
I have a lot of respect for you choosing the Nomad lifestyle! Next year I will begin my short Nomad lifestyle!
On a recent return trip to Europe we flew from Seattle, Wa. We were shocked by the price of everything, including even "Cheap" fast food options.
The one night hotel stay, dinner and drinks, and a small meal at the airport pre departure (less than 24 hours in total) cost us more than an entire week in Europe. No joke. And every single thing we paid for was not nearly as good as anything overseas.
You were shocked that prices are cheaper in europe or seattle? You wrote even the "cheap" options, which makes it sound more expensive..
@@toddl.3454 shocked at the high food prices in seattle
Have you been to Heathrow and its environs lately? Anything near or on an airport is expensive!
@@patrickdougherty6390 thanks for the pro tip. We travel the world full time, and this is not the case.
You are spot on about everything you said. Grew up in Europe and moved to the US 20 years ago and I still can’t wrap my ahead about these things. However, where I’m originally from salaries are ridiculously low and and economy still owned by some families that give privilege for them and their friends and if you are not in the circle you will be struggling all your life. So my question to you and most of you living outside the US is, how do you make your living? Are you living outside with American salaries or local salaries? Because that was what made me come back to the US when we took a 2 year break.
Teach English abroad
I’ve noticed when I travel abroad how much more friendly people are compared to Americans and I always miss that when I come back to the states
So friendly! Just talked about that a couple weeks ago ruclips.net/video/UQ1Vypg8vbw/видео.html
and respectful...it is so refreshing.
Americans are only friendly to their friends and social groups. They treat strangers like shit on their shoe.
Altough I know what you mean, as a non-american, I'd have to say friendliness is probably one of the American's best traits. On average you guys are pretty friendly.
I hate ads and commercials too. That's why I have an ad blocker on my laptop and I NEVER see an ad at all.
You have a great perspective on life, Kristin. I love your channel.
You nail frustrations about the US that I forgot I had. I’d also like to add all the personal injury attorney ads…it all seems to say that hospitals and companies in the US are in the business of exploiting and perpetuating misery.
You're triggered by personal injury attorney ads? Really?
Kristin, thanks for your observations about the USA. These are things I wish I could not miss about the US. But hey, I'm here. The thing is Americans have taken on the identity of consumers. Consumers of useless and overpriced medications. Consumers of shallow and destructive politics. Consumers of tasteless industrialized food. I keep hoping it will change.
It only gets worse.....
And I hate to say this - adding to the negativity- but I am a senior and that hope that one lives by finally becomes the reality: It "ain't" gonna happen". - it gets worse. I am ready to leave the US even as a senior and truly believe my mental health would improve immensely.
As a Canadian, totally agree with all of your observations, especially health care. Nobody understands why Americans put up with the inequality of a system that denies healthcare to its citizens. Our healthcare is far from perfect, but I don't have to open my wallet walking into a hospital.
But, all of your other points, we deal with too. Came back from Asia, and just shake my head how far North America is behind, and falling quickly.
Very sad actually.
And Fat Ugly American Human Beings
Maybe, it's because we can see any Doctor when we need to,,, or have elected surgeries anytime we "want" to... and we get to chose our own doctor and have the surgery without a big wait!!
Americans put up with all these things esp the healthcare system because we are kept ignorant of the rest of the world. Americans have no idea that anything can be done better than what they experience, and big interests prefer it that way. And we are also among the most heavily propagandized society on Earth.
@@jjohn4874Bullshit. Absolute nonsense.
@@jjohn4874 This may be true, but we have to pay $2,000 (on the low end) to $9,000 out of pocket before our insurance will kick in. Women are telling me it costs $15,000 out of pocket to have a baby these days. When I had my kids in the early 1990s it was free. Our health care costs are out of control. I work in the health care system.
Your first part is so true. I live in houston and its literally designed around cars, so no one ever really wants to do anything ever. Especially with how hot it is too
The US is a sad place right now.
You are spot on regarding all the comments you have made .
Love your channel as you are so insightful and so accurate with your observations.
Enjoy travelling a bunch and you provide lots of great , useful knowledge.
Thank you Bruce 🙏🙏
been travelling Europe for about 6 months now. 13 countries. scouting places to live. haven't used a car. love the culture of europe especially Spain and Bosnia. will try to negotiate with the job I have lined up to work overseas
We have castles everywhere,you have billboards everywhere.
The mighty dollar is ALL that matters.
You must have bl%%dy good hearing to be in Cornwall and still hear the sound of Bow bells. Ha Ha! COYI.
@@HappyHammer69 didn’t you know? Bow church is now housing “refugees”
The bells have gone as the new residents were offended by them.
Yeah, that sums up America - all billboards. Just a really terrible place
Who gives a shix about the dollar!
We have the attractive Corfe Castle ruin here in Dorset, just up the road from you, in world terms. So much nicer than billboards!
I love ❤ Cornwall, and Devon is pretty neat too en route. 🤗🤪🙋♀️
In addition to all your excellent observations, I would add, bluntly: Daily Homicide Reports. I tune in the local news every morning and, inevitably, there will be a lead story summarizing overnight shootings, stabbings and body counts. I haven't traveled enough to assert that this is "uniquely American"...but I suspect it is.
as a little kid I wondered this silently to myself- why the news was SO heavy and graphic and gruesome...why not other positive stuff? And why graphic descriptions?
In America it's more prevalent. But all media is meant to disenpower people with FEAR. Don't watch the news anywhere. It's not smart. And it doesn't add anything to your life.
It is in not uniquely American but other rich developed countries don’t have this problem and lots of poorer countries undeveloped countries are also safer
Kristin, Would you consider doing a video for solo women seeking to retire abroad? I would like to try another place but not sure where to start. I've watched RUclips vids on Portugal, France, England, Thailand. But it's hard to know which is best.
Hi Michelle, great idea for a video! I will add this to the list :)
Street dogs, not sweet
Everything you said I agree with¬...what I am always shocked by is the aggressive drivers...everyone is in a competitive hurry. The other is that I realize what a weapon a car is. Strange thoughts that I never have outside of the US because I never ever have to think of CAR.
The cost of living in Flotida is ridiculous. I totally agree with all your points.
I have relatives that bought a home in Florida.I recently went to event with my family there with the two people that bought homes in Florida. They did not look happy and they looked very miserable and I read their soul and I can see they’re going to hell did they bought those homes in Florida it’s a train wreck there, two children playing on a beach one died when a sinkhole opened up what?Yep. not to mention everybody knows that Florida is flooding like Texas but Florida is even worse and the cost is not getting insurance for your home and losing it and going up in price off. The charts is not a place to live if you’re smart, Florida is not a place to live if you’re smart, I don’t care how much money you have doesn’t matter it’s not a comfortable community anymore to move somewhere else in. I’m trying to find a place to move to get out of United States. It’s turned into a nightmare since the Kovic, China and Russia and other countries don’t respect our president, who needs to go now he needs to leave in that be our president and have a president like Trump that had everything under control that was smart and if you have any common sense, it is the way we need to get back things back to normal having a president that can control the wheel that knows what the hell he’s doing amen
@@Jeffrey-iy1my Politics again. We do not want to hear any of it.
Advertising billboards are outlawed on UK motorways. They’re considered to be too distracting.
Common sense! Refreshing
We have property rights in US and wouldn't even think of having our Federal government come in and tell us what we could and couldn't do as far as billboard advertising. The laws regulating billboards are all local, as they should be.
Agree with all that you mentioned...I'm in a rural small town in Mexico but I must say that despite Mexico being notoriously loud with parades and music and parties and celebrations from time to time I don't miss the constant noise I always heard in the US from blowers and mowers! From rural mountain towns in Georgia with tractors and chainsaws and bushogs to riding mowers to Atlanta landscape crews to Florida EVERYWHERE I feel like it was always Mow Blow Go day somewhere. Of course I've got the water guy song, the orange juice guy, the donut horn, the watermelon yeller---but it's all better than gas powered lawn equipment
😂 that was also my pet peeve
Interesting. In the dominican republic there was always a load of noise from a man shouting on the street, it turned out he was shouting for people who have scrap metal. EVERYDAY! So noisy with motorbikes. I could never live there
I’ve lived in Thailand for 6 years and I recently visited the US for the first time since before Covid. Having viewed the US through the media for such a long time I was expecting the worst but what I experienced was shocking normal from what I remembered. I was in the San Francisco Bay Area for one week and just outside Atlanta for one week. What I realized that you could be a tourist for a couple of weeks and easily miss the reality.
Bill boards and large signs along the road are another side effect of US towns built solely around cars. Few people walk so shops and advertisers have to make oversized signs that can be read from cars. Europe doesn’t have small towns with 8 lane highways through them.
Kristin great blog and very interesting article comparing your home country to the uk , great to you settled in our country and always welcomed here 😀❤🇬🇧
Another really good video, Kristin. Having lived in Europe previously, I agree with almost every one of your points. We're looking forward to spending a good portion of our retirement outside the US for many of the reasons you list.
lots of valid reasons! I cannot wait until I retire to Greece!! thanks for sharing; hope all is well with you!
The common thread in all of this is unregulated capitalism; the principle that profit is more important than people that seems to govern America. In the UK we're vigorously resisting the creeping introduction of the same toxic ideology
Vigorously?
Are we?
I don’t think so
Wish there was a damn sight more resistance.
Support your small, local businesses
I have been living in Brazil for 22 years. For the Lion´s share of those years I wanted to return to the USA, but that has changed in the last 4 -5 years. From everything I see everyday on news channels, RUclips and other assorted things (like Karen/airline/cop videos) the US seems like a hateful society, filled with ignorance, entitlement, overwhelming materialism where everything seems about money and possessions. I used to be so proud of our country, but now I am ashamed- and keep in mind I am in BRAZIL - not a paradise, with it´s own set of problems- but the hatred and intolerance is less, family is number one and most people seem to realize life is for living
I visited my cousin in Boston, MA in 1993. TV news then was full of shootings and murders, live was the funeral of a police officer that had been shot. One story was chap shot his girl friend and baby in the street. Shocking.
Love your videos! Agree with everything! I was in 6 countries this year and dang the reverse culture shock was strong when I came home. Even in Bern, the groceries seemed cheaper than the US. Gas was not cheaper - I will say that, but there are so many alternatives to driving - I don't see that as a barrier to life. In the US, if we had to pay $9/gallon that would be monthly rent money for some people's commute. The most obvious change, when I got back, was a lot of advertising etc. that push a general dissatisfaction with life. Sigh . . . we are so busy trying work hard to buy happiness and relaxation - we are missing it.
I haven't seen TV commercials in many years by watching mostly movies and youtube videos.
She was talking, about Billboards. I totally agree with her on that.
@@sandrabentley8111 She mentioned pharmaceutical commercials.
i so enjoy your channel and am so envious of the amount of travelling you have been able to do gain i am glad you seem to like the uk keep on chatting
Having spent nearly 8 years in and around LA, everything you said resonated with me, I was there from 1983-89, especially the neon coloured pharmaceutical ads, mostly indigestion stuff...
Indigestion from all the garbage we eat, lol
Exactly Lucianne!
Where are you from Flumpah?
A small town called Chadderton, about 6 miles from Manchester (UK)
Kristin, I very much appreciate how sincere and straight forward you are, that you don't resort to using negative emotions to make your points about places you'd rather not be. You're very easy to listen to, like I'm there with you. That's a great attribute to have in how you communicate; a big plus for your YT channel. Thanks for that.
England sounds enchanting. I live in Ecuador. I don't miss the US. In fact I am afraid to return, mostly because of my families politics.
It really is! I'm a Brit in my 50s and my country still fascinates and charms me. From a beautiful church to an old monument with a disturbing history , I absolutely love it. Oxford is my home town and there is so much to see with London less than an hour away. There is so much to discover, learn and enjoy.
Well because of insanity of Brexit we have that too.
If you return, make sure to watch the reverse culture shock video, first! ruclips.net/video/2NENBlCEd9M/видео.html
Good old US capitalism, took $1k to Tland for a 3 week trip knowing I’d be treating a lot of people to dinners..but..came back with $600 and was surprised because my own estimates were off but, of course, it was a very nice feeling 🙏🏻✈️
i so agree with you on all these
I'm traveling all over France this year learning the language. It's easier for me to be healthier, mentally physically and socially, so I'm here every month or so for 10 days.
I also don’t miss the politics in the US but the flip side of that is that I love not talking politics with expats here in Thailand. Because it doesn’t come up in conversation here I get get to meet and make friends with a much wider spectrum of interesting people that I never would have met in the US.
The US is the most diverse country in the world and there are plenty of interesting people, culture, and places if you make the effort.
@@georgecooksey8216 In case you haven’t noticed there are people in the US they don’t really talk to each other. We do talk to each other here. There is plenty of international diversity in the expat community here. It turns out it is a lot easier to meet fellow expats. I lived 60 years in the US. I put in my time. Time for something new.
@@martypoll Glad you are happy and hope you have planned for the fact that Medicare will not cover you overseas. I believe it's a gross generalization to say that "people don't talk to each other" for a country so large, diverse and dynamic as the US. I'm not even sure what you are referring to other than perhaps politics. The US has always been a place of very robust public political debate - the noise is, in my view, a barometer of the health of a democracy - and it's always been that way from the first election ever held. Loud, boisterous, contentious, and yes often obnoxious. I tune most of it out - and I respect those who have different views than I do. We're all individuals and citizens of a great country with more in common than not. Good luck..
I grew up in Ireland, but have lived in the USA most of my life. I always found Ireland more expensive than the USA, but maybe thats just me. Ive also spent time in Mexico, Thailand, Laos, (over a year during the plandemic) Vietnam and Malaysia which are all much much more affordable..as long as you are making Western wages. I live in California, which is a very beautiful state, but it has become impossible to live in unless you are making a lot of money or you inherited wealth. I am almost homeless here, I live outdoors in a truck. I became disabled a few years ago and ended up in this situation. Its not all bad, I make the best of it, but I cant afford housing. There are lots of conveniences I miss when Ive been overseas, mostly certain products that are easy to find here whether it be clothing or supplements or anything else that I need and can get via online shopping or a local store. I miss a good burger or steak when Im in Asia, and California weather is hard to beat. The food in the USA is pure poison though, sugar and pesticides. We definitely have a lot of problems here and the cost of living is high, but there are also some very affordable places to live, its a big country. Its sad to see the country deteriorating though. Nowhere in the world have I seen the homeless conditions so bad. Some of it has to do with drug use, but it is also not just that, it is the exhorbitant cost of housing due to greed and the never ending printer of the Federal Reserve.
What is preventing you from moving back to Ireland? I would guess a plane ticket would be a big cost but I have been living in Ireland from Michigan for 17 years and don't find anything more expensive except housing.
@peggygraham6129 Ireland has a housing problem also, and I like warm weather, Ireland is cold and damp. But mostly the cost of housing and living, my $1000 a month income wouldn't cover the cost of living there whereas it would in Asia.
@@peggygraham6129He said he finds Ireland more expensive to live ! It's true Ireland is not a cheap place to live !! Irish people told me they don't feel they are rich,although the country is rich now !!💜🥁🐉🎤🎶✈️💞
I really hope your situation will be better very soon !!!Stay safe !🙏 💜🥁🐉🎤🎶✈️💞
Corporate feudalism is the current political system in the US.
We live in an expensive place in Washington State, about 25% more than Seattle. We don't travel extensively, but we spend a couple months each (northern) summer on our boat in Canada and three months during the (northern) winter in New Zealand, where it is (conveniently) their summer. Neither of those places are known for inexpensive costs of living. But we have figured out one key that reduces our costs in both Canada and New Zealand. We simply live like middle-class citizens of those countries,.not as tourists. We estimate that alone results in savings of 25% from what we would incur if we lived as tourists most often do. Net/net our overall cost of living is about 35% less in both countries than at home. One example: in New Zealand we eat and drink like the Kiwis do. Lots of seafood and some great lamb. We buy Aussie wine (like the Kiwis do). It's just as good as Kiwi wine and much cheaper in New Zealand. (We can actually buy Kiwi wine in the USA and Canada for less than in New Zealand. Go figure that one.) We play a LOT of golf and belong to a golf club at home. The total annual cost of membership is roughly $3,000, and our club isn't high-end. It is a nine-hole course with dual tee boxes. In New Zealand, we belong to a club with two 18-hole courses, including one that has hosted the New Zealand Open tournament several times. Our "summer membership" there costs about US$750 (for two). That provides unllimited play on excellent tracks and a wonderful social base with other golfers. There are countless other ways to save without diminishing your lifestyle if you simply pay attention. If anything, we live a better lifestyle in New Zealand than in the USA.
You are living your "rich life". Spend money on the things that are important to you, be frugal otherwise.
Very well done! No script, genuine, informative, entertaining and an attractive young lady. May you be very successful!
I have been going out of the States for some time, and I really don't miss it either. Fast foods gave me hemmoroids. It's just another lucrative way to send me to the drug store. I quit fast foods, started to switch to organic grown foods, and ever since my sleep has been good, my stress plummeted. The US is a second home to me, but I would love to see it transform for the better. I won't give up, but I don't think it will happen in my lifetime.
Oh I hear you 1000%, you are so right about every one of those points. 👍🏼👍🏼 good for you, for getting out there and seeing the world from a balanced viewpoint.
I haven't traveled very much at all since coming to Canada as a child but what I miss the most is the country this used to be, before corruption was out in the open at every level of government and business. It's truly sad to see regulatory capture everywhere and insanely high prices for things that poor people can easily afford in other countries. I'm much older than you are, just to put this into some context, and sorry if this is an inappropriate tangent.
No place is perfect when it's full of people
You've just walked along a lovely , pretty and quite road in complete heaven with nothing but beautiful greenery and birdsong ! Apart from that bike and a siren
I can think of way more than 8 reasons to leave the USA. Waaaay more. Thanks, Kristin for the advice and encouragement. Most grateful for your videos.
💯 agree with all your points-feel exactly the same way & look forward to living abroad in my next phase of retirement.
I love your point of view and videos. I will be leaving the US in the next year, and I simply can't wait. One thing I've noticed in my travels is that being vegan in any other country besides the US is super easy. I just returned from Tuscany, Italy and even in the smallest medieval villages there would be incredible vegan restaurants, gelaterias, and more. Even in Canada I never have to worry about finding food. In the US, even in so-called "progressive" cities, you can't even get a vegan pancake for breakfast, which is the easiest thing to make. I'm sure it must have something to do with the choke hold the meat and dairy industry has on the country. Ugh. Anyway, so happy you're enjoying Manchester! :^)
You’re an eye-opener, Kristin. I just found your channel this evening. Like many, I’m considering becoming an expat.
In the US, there is a cultural commonality of buying and spending. It's all about the markets--and I am not talking about the farmer's market in most countries but the international markets, profits and sales. It is so extreme and one way, that it is creating great damage to our country. It is almost no longer a democracy, but a market driven political government. It is a shame. The dollar and the material world dominate all aspects of our culture. It is a huge problem. We need to stop contributing to this sort of system. We need to stop consuming so much stuff, especially the big stuff; plastics, rubbers, oil, cars --en fin, we need to stop the crazy consumption in the extreme. Take a walk or ride your bike as often as you can. Use public transportation whenever possible. If you can get rid of your car, do it. Get rid of your fridge and buy your food daily. And if you can build a neighborhood garden, do it.
I always find it amazing that some Americans can drive from age 15. In most of Europe it's 18. In the UK it's 17 but the test is quite difficult (I was 19 when I passed) and a lot of people just don't bother getting a licence.
Very limited to work from work a lot of restrictions.Must have a adult with them.And the car insurance is very very high.
On the issue of places looking the same, in Dublin, Ireland, there's an infestation of Starbucks. In one shopping mall alone there were 5 outlets. In the city centre, on Westmoreland street at one time there were two across the road from each other and 5 others within 5 mins walk.
Something else is 'US superiority syndrome' - we got sked to sign up to a ethics policy in the company I worked for. I refused - the absolute shitstorm that ensued was worth the price of admission. With each level of the corporate ladder that got involved the e-mails got more desperate - until I got the chief legal officer in charge of policy compliance. I just reiterated what I'd told all the lower tiers, a 'one size fits all' ethical code, while nice in principle, is unrealistic. A company if faced with profit versus ethics dilemma will consistently pick the profitable option (and any CEO who stands up at a shareholders meeting and tells the shareholders he did the right thing, but as a result profits are down...will find the next item on the agenda will be the selection of his replacement.) I also said that the policy was also socio-ethnic-economically biased. Strangely I was exempted from signing up to this.
You pretty much nailed it for me, everything you say is really true especially the Drugs, add to that Medicare ads, When I'm in the UK I feel safer, less stress, better drivers, no tipping, food also seems tastier, TV ads are seconds not 5 minutes and no begging.
Know what I miss about Europe? The trains, the old architecture, the different food, the espresso, the people, not knowing the language (I actually prefer to not even hear what other people are talking about), the way it smells, the graffiti. Everything.
Not knowing the language is always and interesting challenge for me. Being surrounded by English is boring.
@@chipsnmydip Except when it's useful to you?
@@Bertie22222 As a last resort.
@@chipsnmydip Really
Me too!!!🎉 It's a lighter world when you don't have to listen or care what everyone is talking about. The ignorance filter is bliss!!❤ I prefer to enjoy my own thoughts.
The Pacific Northwest, Redwood forests of California, Sedona, Arizona etc, etc. America is a fascinating New World for many people. Notice the high frequency when you get back here in the US!
I just left South Asia, and I’m in Canada now visiting family.
We get all the American TV here. I was just telling my friend here how strange it is to see so much pharmaceutical ads on TV. And the political environment it’s too much! Your absolutely right about reverse culture shock!I find it hard to fit in to my own homeland after living abroad so long. Although I think we are a bit better off than the US, but Canada is too close.y tied to our big brother down south, it’s scary.
Thanks Kristn for this video! You are an outstanding and beautiful human being. You are very observant and spot on with your analysis. Probably why your videos are so popular :)
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the video and found the analysis helpful. Your support means a lot to me @brianjones5033! 😊
I feel the food thing so much! If i'm not feeling well and can't cook my options are literally just burgers or burgers. In any other country the options would be endless. I can eat out every meal in China for a week without leaving my block and have something quick, healthy and different for each and every meal.
I’ve visited every US state, most Canadian provinces and six of seven continents. I lived one year overseas courtesy of the US Army. I considered moving abroad but found it too expensive. I could not replicate my home (Annapolis, MD area) for a reasonable cost. The taxes are almost extortionate. My health care costs are reasonable. I agree about the advertising on all forms of media. I do enjoy the transit systems in most of Europe as opposed to the US. That being said I enjoy the freedom of having my own three vehicles to travel at my own pace and schedule. Food and restaurants seem to be expensive. My age and status as a retiree from another generation may account for my differences. I am always happy to return home but then I also look forward to traveling again. At this stage of my life we prefer to fly business and stay in four star properties.
Unbridled capitalism has crushed U.S. quality of life.
Great video! I am still stuck in Floriduh but working on my exit plan!
You need a lot of money to have a good life in the US
And even then you could be randomly killed by a crazy person with a gun
Money does not help evrybody to have good life in the US.
Not true.
Through the years I've taken 1-2 year breaks,(at a time) from watching tv.And.. you're right those commercials are annoying... Glad I found your channel.. You are my kind of
people.
A very well put together and coherent video. 👍
Loving this chapter of your life. :)
Me too!!
I guess the real reason that it would be the case for me is that, I have my true love in Australia.
having watched you through a few country, I really appreciate you came to the UK and even more you came to Manchester for a period of time. I wonder where your gonna put your hat (#Paul Young) when time is right.
Thank you, Daniel. I wonder the same thing!
I LOVE all of your videos and content, VERY insightful, concise and information. MANY THANKS!
Here in the UK there are very strict controls on the placing of roadside advertisements, especially in places where they are likely to distract drivers. There are a few greedy idiots who will try to flout the rules by dumping old trailers in fields by the motorway with advertising on them, but they usually get prosecuted in the end. I'm always gleeful when I see one that's been blown over, thus creating a bigger headache for the greedy landowner.
I don't get your logic. It's the farmers land he can do what he wants. You don't have to look at the trailer sign. Keep your eyes on the road and find other things to complain about!
No he cannot. Roadside advertising requires planning permission, and using trailers in fields is a blatant attempt to evade planning laws. It's only lawful to advertise on a vehicle if its primary purpose is as a vehicle, so a trailer in a field is not lawful. The law exists to prevent unnecessary distractions and accidents and to avoid eyesores in the landscape.@@voice.of.reason
It's a field. It's the farmers land. It is not a sign. It's a trailer (mobile) with a sign on it that just happens to be visible at times to the motorist. Not illegal. It's attitudes like yours that really spoil the UK. You must live a very sad life if that is all you can complain about, there are far worse things happening in this country, like the knife crime all over the UK, especially Croydon!@@davidjones332
The best thing about the USA is the people, especially the older generation, I have made many friends from the states. They deserve so much better.
The number of billboards depends on the state. You'll see more the closer you are to a city. Four states prohibit all billboards: Maine, Vermont, Alaska and Hawaii. If you drive out west through rural Wyoming and Montana you won't see them. We do have the *choice* to mute or turn off the television during commercials. As someone who works in health care, people just Google their ailments and medications (they don't need TV ads, they have social media ads). You can get generic acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Benadryl, etc at the Dollar Store. Many common prescription medications cost $4.00 at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. I agree with you about politics. It gets maddening here.
You said the magic word "CHOICE(S)"
Agree. But now a days google is no less. You search a keyword and it starts pumping related ads.
I enjoyed listening to the comparisons of traveling abroad to the US culture.. Presented very well. Good luck in all your travels Kristin .. thanks for all the previous views and information.
The crime. Most overseas locations seem much safer.
Don't fool yourself there's crime over there too
@@WildlifeWarrior-cr1kkEurope though, has a lower crime rate overall than the US.
@@kevinmalone3210 I believe it
In the area I live just outside of, it is the opposite of safe.
Most of Asia is extremely safe, even for solo traveller's.
One of the things that really resonates was not what you said but the clip of you sitting in a garden with friends all having a laugh. I'd consider it too mundane to warrant a clip, but that you did shows how much different the pace of life must be. Keep up the great videos, looking forward to when you get a bit more out and about in the North.
YES YES YES! The spam calls and texts here in the US have gotten ridiculous the past couple of years. It got to a point where I was getting them every single day. Then I just went to South America for 3 months… not a single one
I agree on the robocalls, constant bombardment of commercials and ads and the politics in your face a lot in America. I love America but I have travelled to other countries and find it very refreshing to experience other cultures and points of view.
The pharmaceutical commercials that kill me are the ones that don't even tell you what they're for.
"Ask your doctor about (fill in the blank)." And that's it. That's the commercial. Unbelievable.
Always cracks me up: "Ask your gastroenterologist"......well, that's just it - I don't retain any personal "gastroenterologist" !!
Just don't watch them! 🤷♀
I never watch t.v. but once at a friends i saw a pharmaceutical commercial with the endless warnings at the end. that was truly shocking! huh?
Unreal! Should not be normalized. ^also agree with @rschier 😂
in most countries billboards along the roads are illegal. in vast majority of countries medical ads are illegal as well.
Norway is cheaper than the US??!!? Mind blown, I lived in Norway for a while and compared to the UK it was roughly twice as expensive. Great content keep it up❤
Thank you; yes I found the rent and food prices very reasonable in Lofoten where I was living
Twice as expensive in Norway or in the UK? Sorry that isn't clear.
@@antjee NORWAY is twice as expensive as you are not taxed on your income the government makes its money from taxation of goods, mostly imports so food, alcohol pretty much everything YOU PURCHASE is twice the price, for example in dollars a Big Mac meal was about $20 in UK about $6, a bottle of UK whiskey about $70 UK around $25 and a meal in reasonable restaurant about $100 UK about $40
@gmdhargreaves Are you sure Norway has no income tax? Only taxing goods and services would be very regressive as it would hit lower income citizens who have, perforce, to spend a much higher proportion of their income on food, clothing, etc. This would result in the poorer citizens paying a higher proportion of their income in tax than the richer.
I don't believe that this can be true as Norway scores highly in the areas that lead to a good quality of life, and one of the most important of these is equality.
@@52power I never payed tax on my income working for a software company for the best part of 2 years and was payed much better than I would have been I London, Norway doesn’t really have poor people, only those that choose through life choices to be homeless, and even those are well looked after. Yes it’s a system that works, you use free education to get a great job and pay your taxes through buying goods it makes sense too me and… for me makes Norway a great place to live, the poorer people are those that don’t work but still live less than crude lives compared to all other countries
What I don't miss about the US is that I can easily feel everything is a service. Everyone is so busy with winning and performance that I can feel disconnected, lonely and isolated.