I just read a long thread about all of the things US expats miss about life in the US. I thought it would be interesting to ask about the opposite: What do you NOT miss about life in the US?
White republicans
Tipping culture which seems to have gotten way out of hand
Omg, if you haven’t been here since 2019 you wouldn’t recognize the new tipping Idiocracy. Ironically, waiters say they’re getting less than before. Perhaps because we have to give tips to 5 other people during the day before then? I want to save mine for real waitstaff but you can’t. I may need to increase buying everything online to save 15-20% of my income.
I feel like this question is asked everyday and the answers are always the same 5 things.
Americans love to talk about USA. They can’t help it 🤣
I think it’s because it’s always such a shock to go literally anywhere else where the crazy things mentioned throughout this thread don’t exist, or at least to such a strong degree. It’s nice to ask and get the assurance that “it’s not just me,” even if someone else already asked.
Pretty much any forum that’s been running long enough could be shut down if repeat questions weren’t allowed because there are only so many questions you can ask about a thing.
I think it’s because it’s always such a shock to go literally anywhere else where the crazy things mentioned throughout this thread don’t exist, or at least to such a strong degree.
This phenomena is not unique to American emigrants, but the love to talk about USA is something else.
( I had quite “crazy” things happening in my country for a few decades too, no need to have reassurance though)
Having to drive everywhere.
The distance or having to be the driver?
Both. I prefer to walk, bike, or take public transportation.
I moved back to America after 17 years away and this is what I dislike the most. Driving everywhere and all the car stuff (insurance, petrol, maintenance, etc).
Not being able to afford help in the house with cleaning and/or with our children. We parents have it rough in the USA. Back home I was doing everything alone.
where do you live? These services are MUCH MORE expensive where I live than in the US.
MAGA nutjobs.
The fucking news
Everything.
The phenomenon know as Karen, which is rarely seen anywhere else in the world but yet so often in the states.
Yes! Thank you omg. 😱 It’s so much worse in America than anywhere else I lived…and it cuts across the political spectrum.
Car-dependency, guns, MAGAts. But this is very location-dependent. There’s lots of US cities with good public transport, and the blue states have little gun/MAGAt problems.
The coldness of the American people.
I agree with everyone else here, but living in France I miss the openness of Americans
France is one of the few places I’d rather not live in bs the US. Paris fucking sucks
Paris isn’t great, I live in the alps. It’s much worse
I didn’t experience that when I was there but I don’t live in France either. I didn’t find Americans to be as warm as people in my new country.
Just head to the Netherlands for a weekend?
It has to be the right weekend lol
I mean, if you can hit King’s Day you’ll be set . . .
I’d describe it as Dehumanized distance + surface level fake politeness
Evangelical Christian Nationalists
And Karens. The highest per capita of anywhere in the world.
unfortunately we have plenty of them in Europe too - they just dress better here.
Evangelical Christian in Europe? Where?
Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, other Christian nationalist: in Poland, Hungary, Russia, France
Are they holding some of the highest positions in government and as a voting bloc can control a major political party?
Yes.
Toxic politics (exists in my new country, but I disengage), insane healthcare issues, guns and gun culture, people who said “you can’t make me wear a mask” during lockdown.
The amount of people that would pretty much demand low-wage workers die so they could continue getting their appteasers without interruption, and did so without ANY shame is one reason I left.
It’s not why I left, but it’s highly emblematic of a place I no longer want to call “home” or live. The rest of the world seems to have plenty of trouble these days, sadly, being being away from the US just feels better. (Tho I do miss Whole Foods.)
One I haven’t seen mentioned yet…
The military advertising and showing off circle jerk everywhere. Recently streamed a NFL game and I forgot how much it’s everywhere and in your face. Not just commercials for the navy or marines, but the integration of the military in to all parts of life.
Mostly everything but mainly guns, psychotic politicians, the health insurance scam, toxic foods, and brain dead idiots