best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

A quick survey, if I may.

What I liked best about living in U.S:
great schools (people are surprised by this back in UK but our school in Illinois was awesome)
general politeness of society (know this is a generalisation, but I found drivers more courteous, teens more verbal and friendly, generally a bit less aggressive than Uk society
Variety of stores of every kind (my OH loved shopping for electronics!)
feeling of space, we lived in the 'burbs, would be different if we had been downtoen Chicago

What I disliked about living in U.S:
distance from family and friends (specially when anyone got sick or there was an event I couldn't travel back for)
feeling of not belonging (different accent)
making friends but no-one I had any history with
absence of old buildings, the newness of everywhere
lack of good newspapers, documentaries, radio shows. NYT and NPR not bad admittedly

trying to keep this balanced, 5 for each side! Would be interested in your likes/dislikes

Thanks,
Karin.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Ok.

why are you telling us this? We live here already and know the USA has lots of space.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Yeah but she has never driven in GR

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

It's hard to generalise. Some people are more polite and some are far ruder. Some drivers are good and some are homicidally careless. Schools vary enormously, from excellent to war zones. The burbs can feel spacious or Valley of the Dolls weird. Etc.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

1. I was not asking you in particular (as you like 'trying' to be a smart ass)
2. I was looking for people's favorite things. You probably don't have any, so go read some other posts

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Funnily enough, I have....

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

You must have been on a street without any drivers then. There are no way drivers here are more curtious. I have also drivin in Chigaco and Ohio and they are worse than GR.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

OK.
Likes.
Mild winters (here anyway)
my house
My Dh and kids.
Country gravy and biscuits.
San Francisco close enough to go for a day trip or overnight.
my few friends who are great


Dislikes.
Our schools (they were good when oldest ds started he's 21 now)
Cost of a college education. Ds's was $37,000 per year (not including books and food)
Driving and driving and driving to do anything, takes me an hour to get a gallon of milk here.
The summer heat.
Mosquitoes
Scorpions
Spiders
Snakes
Being 24 hours minimum from any family
Dh's sucky job that he's stuck in for medical benefits and retirement money
Being stuck in a job due to medical coverage
Getting horrendous bills for medical even when you have fantastic Cadillac plan medical cover.
Dh getting only two weeks paid holidays a year.
Me not being able to get back to work without driving an hour each way to a decent job
House prices being so low
Being surrounded by foreclosure homes that are going for next to nothing and still aren't sold.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Worst has to be cost of health care and fear of potential bankrupcy form a major illness or accident. I couldn't ever see many major negatives.

Best: weather; positive can-do attitude (yes, at the extreme end it can be a bit tedious); general politeness and friendliness/openness to strangers; customer service; easier to drive; far better work culture (in my profession; I know it's the opposite in a lot of others); lower cost of living (mainly due to low mortgage); grits; cheap(er) Ben & Jerry's; and of course weather ...

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Agree 100%. Trouble is, for many folks it's one hell of a big negative.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Best:

weather
more disposable income


Worst:
Lack of family
Having to drive EVERYWHERE
Medical care/expense
lack of vacation time
lack of vacations anywhere other than to the UK
never feeling really understood

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

[QUOTE=karin_and_boys;8654759]
What I disliked about living in U.S:

feeling of not belonging (different accent)
making friends but no-one I had any history with
absence of old buildings, the newness of everywhere
QUOTE]

Although I know its personal opinion, I really do not appreciate fully the whole “absence of old buildings” thing. That said, it’s not the first time I have heard someone say that. May be I need to spend extended time in England to realize the true fascination of being surrounded by old building. I am all for heritage by the way.

Also, you don’t get the feeling of belonging just because of difference in accent? UK is one of the most multi cultural places on this planet I am told.

For me, healthcare got to be the –ve. I have not been here too long but just to figure out the right cover is a pain in the backside. Also, the banks here seem somewhat slower than what I am used to. 15 days just for a credit card decisions (secured credit card by the by), 3 working days to transfer money electronically from bank to bank, not being able to open a checking account without being a GC holder or a Citizen just to name a few. Not going into ridiculous fees they charge.

But hey, hand on heart there the positives far outweigh the –ves that’s for sure. Cheap cars, gas, food, travel etc etc

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Thats just the LA thing again :) although you are right on all counts...

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Maybe the common factor then is you...

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

hey guys,
thanks for the pleasant informative replies. Always nice to hear different viewpoints.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Best:

the weather
convenience of most things
Home Depot
the International isle at Stater bros
Big trucks with V8's
gas prices
fruit and veg selection and prices

Most of all: The endless opportunities if you are willing to work your behind off, and a country that values and rewards that hard work and loyalty.

Worst:

Gun Violence
Gangs
The international isle at Stater bros (selection)
Being so close to LA (joke)
Crap TV and media in general
Religious extremism

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

That's because everyone and his brother carries a gun - certainly true in my neck of the woods.


Anyway... keeping in the spirit:

Best:
Winter
No family within 500 miles
Being able to drive the Mustang 10.5 months of the year
Sheila's 4WD SUV

Worst:
Summer
No butter tarts!

Ian

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

The best part is American girls.

The worst part is tree sap/aphid honeydew.
Cockroaches.
Filling out these lists of pros and cons.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

the mozzies get pretty bad sometimes don't you think?

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Very bad generic porn here too.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

I find this not the case at all.

you can work your bollocks off and all the while in the boardroom they'll be finding ways to nickel and dime you.

Corporate America has realised the lower middle class will work for around $11 an hour....... and if you don't like it, then your job will go to Vietnam.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Ok, thats just my experience..everyones is unique...the US has been very good to me..

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

I don't like that everything is foreign.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Golden Corral is shit.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Maybe...but dont you have drive through liquor stores in ohio? I seem to recall that...

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

yes.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

I have seen no evidence of loyalty being rewarded.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

okey doke, then ill take my medal as the only one who thinks his loyalty has been rewarded..:)

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

When my Mrs worked for GlobalMegabankCoroporation* in New York employees who completed various 5-year increments of long service could select a present off a big list. Some of the things on there were actually worth having, but we noticed that one of the things you could get after 40 years of service was a treadmill - which is amusing on several levels.

*not their real name.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

It sounds like something in 2000AD :lol:

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

I am really starting to wonder about you.... :huh:

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

It is hands down the best store on the face of the earth...next to M&S..

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

It is freakin' HELL on Earth! And don't you try to tell me differently.. I was in there yesterday.
(and don't tell anyone, but M&S actually let me down last time I shopped in one of their stores too :( )

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Its cos your a girl dear...havent you seen all the men wandering around aimlessly buying all sorts of stuff they will never use....what joy...

Oh..the shame of it...disparaging marks and sparks...Im tellin my mum!!!!

p.s. Im a bigtime gardener and the local HD has a great nursery...thats where I spend all my time..:D

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Me too, but surely you can do better than that! :D
We'll have to start a new topic for this... :)

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

I am sooooooo with Mea, you are CRAZY!

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Has to be Giffords....Ben and Jerrys, the last two tubs I've gotten from them, the saying "through a keyhole", more like through a gnats urethra it was that bad.

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

She has a point though, generally, driving here is much more scarier...just don't flick people off as they have guns down here :D

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

:eek: Where do you live?

Re: best/worst aspects of living in U.S
 

Certainly not in NJ or any other state I've been to. Although I will say NJ drivers are courteous to pedestrians...they tend to slow down and let you cross. Drivers in the UK do the opposite when they see you crossing...they put their foot to the pedal (especially taxi and bus drivers). :D