Things I adore about the USA and Americans

[PermanentTemporary]

No special reason... and it doesn't have to be things other people all agree with.

We're planning a holiday there in a couple of years to see some family so the wonderfulness of the USA is particularly on my mind. But am just thinking about how much I love it.

I'll bring up Senator George Mitchell, who gave years of his life to somehow bring the best out of every politician in Northern Ireland and made it possible for the Good Friday Agreement to be made.

I'll bring up American health care. Because although I don't want to change our system to theirs, the fact is that if you either have good insurance or nothing at all, you can have the best care in the world.

And the Grand Canyon. Not sure I've ever been speechless the way I was the first time I saw it.

I'm wondering if we can drop in to see some distant cousins of my partner's who live in Ohio. We've met once at a wedding. Of all the countries in the world, we can be pretty sure that they will be welcoming and happy to see us. ❤️

I love how they won't pass laws to stop kids getting shot in school, LOL!

I certainly didn't think you could get the best healthcare in the world when you have no insurance.

I used to live in NY and what I found was that everyone was way more friendly than in London, (not saying much, mind!) and that people seemed to like me because I was from there. A lot of people there were from places like a one horse town in Arkansas so I guess I seemed a bit cool?

There's not enough sky in Manhatten. You feel loomed over by tall buildings all the time and there's no green space except the park which isn't all that.

The buildings can sometimes seem like they are chaotically built, even though the grid system is easier to navigate but it makes things ugly. Like fire escapes strapped onto everything and no proper planning.

But I loved the bagels and the diner food. I put on about two stone.
The land of opportunity they call it. I'm not so sure but it was fun and the people were great.

Great thread!

I love many things about USA. The friendly, kind, chatty, relaxed people, the stunning nature. Been to Arizona, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, California (where I have friends), NYC.

How it just all works! Yes to drug stores! You can find anything you need there.

The quirky people there too. Fashion wise, etc.

And yes, they are far ahead with stuff like self-help, therapy etc.

I've travelled solo there and going again solo quite soon. Never had a problem.

Great thread OP!

Not been to America but the Americans I've met here and abroad have been nice.

Loving the general fall vibe on the thread...

I spend a lot of time explaining to leftish Brits like myself that just because a US party or a politician doesn't think the federal government should eg pay for something, it doesn't mean that they hate the thing or want it to suffer - they may well either be happy for states to pay for it, or they think it should be done by charities, often faith-based. And that along with that, Americans are stratospherically more generous than the British with both their money and their time to said charities. It slightly goes against the grain to do this as obviously I am a classic Euro-weenie myself and want my government to pay for things but the lack of understanding of some basics of US government annoys me given that they are very happy to pronounce judgement on Americans who campaign against federal involvement.

Also i lo e there interior desig options. Tske flooring for example theybjudt seem to have much nicer choices than you can get here. I have house envy too.

Country music!

They have an appreciation for Autumn(fall) that we just don’t have here. We should. We seem to go straight from summer into prepping for Christmas!

Seeing homes decorate for fall (not just Halloween), with corn, pumpkins, chrysanthemums. It’s lovely to see

Also, houses are typically so much more spacious and well laid out. And I love how they take pleasure in properly decorating their homes for Halloween and Christmas. There was a thread on here recently about decorating your house for Autumn/Halloween and many British posters were so disparaging and snotty about it.

God forbid you might take innocent pleasure in arranging some dried leaves and fairy lights on your windowsills.

What a lovely thread!
America is a brilliant country.

This thread is.refreshing. When I moved to the US many years ago I had a kindy aged kid and was pregnant with my 2nd. I felt so homesick but the.community here welcomed me & my.family. Threw me a baby.shower, organised a meal.train when I had a newborn Invited us to neighbourhood parties and Halloween events Thanksgiving dinners. All so genuine open and friendly. All the kind of thing.that would make my British friends.cringe. The schools here are fantastic, sports facilities. It has it's issues but in the while I find it to be a country of open minded people with an optimistic anything is possible attitude.

The National Park system. $80 for an annual interagency pass is insanely good value for access to some of the most spectacular places on the planet.

Breakfasts in diners. Especially biscuits.

Hummingbirds, manatees and bears.

Lovely, friendly people.

What?! A thread about the US on MN that is full of actual....gasp....positive comments?! This may be something of a first! 😂

Gosh I don’t agree with your point about healthcare. Have lots of friends and family
in the US and the amount they are
charged, as well as for example refusing to call an ambulance because they’re not covered out of state, is quite harrowing. FIL almost died of a superbug in hospital for a joint replacement, despite paying for excellent healthcare. Being charged for every little thing whilst giving birth including “skin to skin time”… God bless the NHS!

But there are lots of things I like about the US, too. Thanksgiving, how they go all out with decorations at Christmas, shopping malls, Dunkin’ donuts, fro yo places, college sports, cheaper private schools, excellent playgrounds, nice weather (depending where you go), outdoorsy culture with hiking, camping, lake swimming etc, summer camp.

God I love this thread! I lived in the states for more than a decade and I can’t BARE how boring Europeans are with their endless moaning about American / Americans. It’s not perfect - but no where and no one is!

I love the big skies, national parks, biscuits and gravy the southern way, Texas BBQ, Louisiana Crawfish boils, the confidence, the friendliness + positivity….

Yep, this is the big one and the reason we’ve chosen not to live there as a family. Madness.

The wonderful landscape in all its variety. The musical and film heritage. The earnestness. The freedom of individuals. The openness and willingness to tell their life story. The romance of the open road.

Well without trying to be a negative Nelly I will hopefully get this across with some balance

First off it's my favourite place for a holiday ( along with Greece and Majorca) California in particular- although enjoyed New York and Chicago . I love the big skies, weather , the food in California if you paying mid/ top end was seriously good , service in hotels and bars etc- excellent - but I have to factor in it's because an awful lot of those jobs are really reliant on tips- so I do feel a certain amount of the Bon homie is because their livelihood is very dependant on it because it's very much a place where you are on your own protection wise and every dollar is king- it's all about making money - saying all that though I've not had a holiday I haven't enjoyed hugely-

my own view is in terms of living is it's a great place if all is going well and you can afford a good lifestyle and are well covered off with healthcare and plenty of cash and can live in a pretty good area. If anything goes to shit- you are somewhat on your own - The US likes success and other people want to be around you if you also successful and preferably can help their success too-

The downside for me is I disagree with others about openness other than the superficial - on a social level I find it's good for casual chit chat - in business I find US one of the least trustworthy places to do business with- ( and we do deal with it) an awful lot of 'catch you out' clauses , some really iffy practices and no one dares say anything because everyone it seems can be hired and fired at the drop of a hat if your face doesn't fit that week and hence I find their is a great deal of bullshit in business and buck passing.

So for me it's real mixed bag and probably somewhere I wouldn't live, but do very much enjoy holidays.

Did Camp America and was blown away by the straightforward communication, travelled afterwards and so many amazing places and helpful people.

Moved there and discovered the reality of everyday life. Moved back sharpish. But yes, loads of positives.

I think it depends on so many factors, but income is hugely important

The teenagers are much more polite and articulate, and seem to take more pride in themselves than ones do here

I envy the way that it's not totally uncool to take part in things. It's not uncool to try the way it is here. They do things at school, they take part in the democratic process in a way that we don't.

We sneer at enthusiasm, by default, and Americans don't.

My DIL is American. She lives in the UK with my son. She is beautiful inside and out.

I have lots of American relatives.. Waspy types who live in New York, New Jersey & Connecticut. I love how they are so open about the "right" school, "right" neighbourhood etc.. We are more subtle here in the UK 😁
I also love how they may a white t-shirt & jeans look glam!

Oh yes summer camp, forgot about that, I remember forcing my socially anxious British dc on to the bus for daytime summer camp. Picking them up ( somewhat anxiously) I heard the singing from the bus before I saw it, they got off completely filthy having had an amazing time. I wish we had similar in the UK (that doesn't cost a fortune)
Also, on a roll now, it was so easy to sign up for football, sports, drama, art (etc) camps. When we came back to the UK trying to find a football team for ds2 seemed to be via word of mouth!

I love the friendliness and service that seems natural - just comparing welcomers stood outside Apple Store in America and UK.

Variety - NY so different to Pennsylvania or Washington DC.

Automatically bringing water in restaurants.