Europeans were asked what they imagined life was like in America and they had mind-blowing responses
A few Europeans were all praise for citizens of the U.S. while some were concerned about healthcare facilities and other social security nets.
Everyone loves their home country and finds it odd and awkward to move anywhere else. While each country has its unique attractions, there are also cons to living there. Moving to a broader perspective, people of different continents also enjoy banter and debate about where life is better depending on the laws, lifestyle, and cost of living. For instance, Europeans and Americans have different opinions on where it’s better to start a life. While many argue that European countries offer the most breathtaking scenic beauty, others argue that nothing compares to the glamorous lifestyle in America.
However, there are both good and bad points that people are likely to figure out only if they get a taste of what it is to live in these countries. To get a creative perspective, u/DerpDerp3001 asked Europeans to imagine what it would be like to live in America, and people had striking points to mention. Speaking about finances, living, family and career, many used the information and knowledge they had to share vivid perspectives on the topic. Here are the top 15 outlooks on what it would be like for Europeans to live in America.
1. A little bit of everything
"Impossible to generalize. To the best of my knowledge, it varies enormously from place to place, between socio-political and economic backgrounds, and between various groups. Overall, I'd say the standard of living is comparable, and in the grand scheme of things world-class, but if things go bad, life becomes hell, and when things go well, they go brilliantly. If it helps, I really found visiting America great fun, and found out most Americans are nice people, and you have this sense of optimism and hope, which I really appreciate." -u/PayNoNoticeOfMe
2. A bumpy journey with angels in disguise
"I’m not sure I’d like to live in America personally. America as a nation seems like a hard place to live if you’re not on the right side of the tracks. But damn, Americans themselves are great. You guys are so friendly, every American I’ve spent time with has really put effort into being hospitable. Americans are way better at just being nice to people they don’t really know. I think that it should be recognized more because you guys deserve more attention as people than just the crazy media stuff." -u/binglybeep
3. Insanely concerning life
"I’ve been to the US a few times and never had a bad encounter. A lot of really nice people, and genuinely nice interactions. As an outsider looking in, the working rights and the healthcare are absolutely insane to me and a crying shame for some of the kindest, most giving people I’ve come into contact with as a foreigner." -u/kingjoffreysmum; "Healthcare and the lack of social safety nets and things make other western nations look like a safer option if things go wrong." -u/binglybleep
4. Reality of the 'American Dream'
"Americans don’t get enough holiday time and yes the lower end of the wage spectrum could improve. Things aren’t even close to perfect. Yet, statistically speaking, most people are able to find solid work. Many are able to become uber-successful at a young age. Many immigrants find opportunities here. I tell my European friends how much their American counterparts make doing the same job and they’re always in disbelief. I do believe the notion of 'the American dream' is an actual thing, and while our employment system needs some tweaking, it’s not quite as awful as people here make it out to be." -u/Son_Postman
5. Mixed bag
"If you enjoy roller coasters/ amusement parks, Cedar Point is the place to be. Any lakefront activity you can think of exists there, lots of fun lakeside towns. Some good history of Perry's Monument. Plenty of fresh fish, and good food. If you want to see baseball, Cleveland is close by and has a professional team. Cleveland itself will probably be underwhelming if your other experiences are in Chicago and San Francisco." -u/A_Squid_A_Dog
6. Good for tourism not living
"Seems like a lovely country to do tourism in, but working and living there isn't that enticing." -u/AndyBales "I'm American. The US has many fantastic schools, but I give the edge to European countries when it comes to good performing arts conservatories. It would be much cheaper for me to live abroad and attend a conservatory in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, etc than to attend a similarly prestigious conservatory in the US." -u/usuyukisou
7. Add worry to the list
"Constant worry. Worry about if I have an accident and it will cost me hundreds of thousands in medical bills. Worry about getting a job that will allow me to have some sort of health benefits. Worry about making it through the day and not being shot. Worry about the cost of living from any job I do get because everyone seems to have two jobs as standard." -u/StarGirlLen
8. Working classes and the confusion
"It's to live surrounded by people who believe in a myth of exceptionalism and have never interrogated the way of their own society. I've been to the US (the East Coast) about a dozen times and from experience, people are well-educated and completely lacking in critical self-reflection. The middle and upper class in the US sometimes pity the working class, but they don't understand how their society has created the inequality that is rife. " -u/recaffeinated
9. Uncertainty
"Uncertain..the fact that you can get fired just like that, the lack of paid sick leave or paid absence due to giving birth, the cost of health services...I don't know how you guys do it, without having a panic attack every week." -u/StopIntegral
10. Very different
"I don't know what else to say than different. Very different. I can't even imagine what it would be like." -u/splashofyellow; " I would think that the houses would be really nice and spacious for the same price as a tiny UK house. However, I also feel artificial foods would be everywhere and unnecessary amounts of fat would be in most foods. I feel people would either obsess over my accent or make fun of it by saying 'bo ole of wo a' and their classic tea and crumpet joke." -u/melon699
11. Chaotically overwhelming
"Shitty. Unhealthy and enormous portions of takeaway are cheaper than fresh vegetables, all international food is 'Americanized.' No general health insurance and even if you have insurance you’ll have a lot of bills. Crappy houses with drywall instead of bricks that are blown away in one big gush of wind that you pay as much for as a brick house in Europe. Politics suck. Guns. Do I have to go on?" -u/Apprehensive-Pen531
12. Enriching experience for a handful
"As someone who has traveled to America lots of times and absolutely loves a lot of aspects of the country, especially the landscapes, the national parks and the food. I can say that the US is a beautiful country with lots of great places and lots of great people. But everything you need from a country to make life comfortable when you actually live there is missing unless you are wealthy." -u/Lekoooo
13. Just big
"Enormous roads, non-existent/small public transportation, roads, abandoned or struggling suburban malls, extremely harsh work, being laughed at for not having a car and being arrested because of some 19th-century law." -u/ProfessionalMood1493; "It's like its own little planet. It's so huge, you’d never be able to see beyond your own borders. Everything you know about the rest of the world is from the Internet or TV." -u/Current_Importance_2
14. Straight out of a movie?
"You wake up with mac and cheese for breakfast. You dress up in polo shirts and cargo pants, sneakers and white long socks. When you go outside you first honk the bears away from your trashcan. Then you drive your big ass car to work. Oh, it’s 8 a.m. Time for the national salute. Across the whole country the pledge blasts through the speakers. Everyone stands straight with a hand on the heart." -u/Doggo625
15. A world of your own
"Isolated. You live in houses with gardens. You drive in your own care almost everywhere. The number of chance encounters you have with strangers is minimal, other than in situations where someone is selling you something. People in Europe will have more random conversations with neighbors or people on the street in a week than you will have all year." -u/Danack
This article originally appeared 3 months ago.