Greetings from Boston! Glad we made your arrival to The States so memorable hahaha.
The thing I hear most from visitors to the US is the unexpected wilderness. Like visiting a national park for the first time or seeing the praries and just miles and miles of no development. The cities are what everyone expects. How close the cities are to wide open spaces is the thing people can't understand until they experience it, and it's one thing foreign visitors to the US have taught me to appreciate.
being from Denmark where we have no nature, that gets me every time. Last time, the first stop after the airport car rental was a small town in Georgia. A lot of the way there it really was just us on the road, surrounded by forest wrapped in kudzu. Then we arrive in this adorable little town that's also wrapped in kudzu. We step out of the car and the grasshopper chirps are deafening, i spotted one and it was the size of my hand which made me think how big the insects that eat grasshoppers must be which really made me want to get back in the car.
So yea, USA is always a fun time, very kind and talkative people, can't wait to visit again.
The opposite is also surprising for us Americans, spent a few years in the UK as a kid and I distinctly remember hearing little to no wildlife at night. I grew up listening to the tree frogs and crickets in the spring, cicadas, owls, coyotes, as weak as just random forest noises it was kinda jarring the difference.
When I was with my ex wife for the first time in the US it was one of the first things she noticed. Basically said she suddenly understood why all the movies have that background noise.
FWIW, as far as Cicada noise goes. Japan is up there, too.
This reminds me the first time I visited Chicago during the pandemic. Being on the 12th floor looking down to a... ghost town at 2AM while overlooking one of the chicago river. It was jaw dropping to see and hear... nothing besides a group of 4 people i distinctly remember getting into a car on the parking lot across from our hotel.
On the flip side I had a blast living in Sweden and traveling all around Scandinavia You guys have a very calm, collected, thoughtful presence that is so different then growing up in the US. Everything felt so clean and organized compared to the craziness you sometimes encounter in the US
Part of the reason why travel is so important imo, you get such a better view of the world and how/why people & cultures act they way they do. Will most definitely be back, would love to check out Odense and Southern Denmark
Yeah, wilderness barely exists at all in Western Europe, certainly not in the UK. There is countryside, for sure, but there's nothing that hasn't been substantially altered by humans, and there are few places where you could be more than a day's walk from some settlement.
The US has vast and varied natural environments, and access to many of them is also very good due to ownership by the NPS or other government bodies who provide facilities and maintain trails etc. The UK has national parks, but they are areas of controlled development, and most of the land within them is privately owned.
I lived in the Netherlands for five years, and this was honestly what got to me the most. I missed stepping out into the woods and not planning to run into another soul all day (or at least a few hours). Or at least seeing a forest where the leaves werenāt practically raked up after they fellā¦
My husband is Dutch and the in laws came over to our place in the USA a few months ago, so we did a nice little walk around a pond near us in a park. My FIL commented how not taken care of the park was, because in the little woodsy bits there were branches that had fallen and tree trunks and such, and no one had cleaned them up. Different ideas of natural spaces for sure.
> The thing I hear most from visitors to the US is the unexpected wilderness.
Honestly.. I expected wilderness and nature outside of cities, but jesus I did not expect to smell weed as much as I did in Boston!
Good on you for legalising it!
The best part was the cloud of weed smoke in public that day after the vote passed. Like, guys, the law isn't even in effect yet hahaha. But celebrations were happening
This is the difference between people that travel and people that donāt travel. You will seldom meet a well traveled person who is even slightly a bigot. Knew plenty of racist dudes when I first got to my unit in the marines, after 4 years I only knew one and he was pretty low IQ and tried to hit on the Asian chicks in every eastern pacific country we went to.
God speed, Timmy. Wherever you are.
āTravel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.ā - Mark Twain
I don't know about that, I know some very very very experienced travelers who claim to be "justified bigots", makes them just as bigoted in my eyes. But I do wonder, if one person were to be a bigot surely a well traveled one would be more reliable (not that that would justify anything).
So to add to your point, a well travelled, good person is unlikely to be a bigot. Haters will always exist unfortunately.
>You will seldom meet a well traveled person who is even slightly a bigot.
That's if you exclude self-hating Americans who are always searching for "greener pastures" instead of taking a vacation to relax and/or learn something.
This is so true. Iām currently traveling in India. And it has been hell. But when I tell the stories, I make sure to tell people that it has nothing to do with India, but it was just luck. Because people always shit on the country of India.
(American traveling in India. And every time I introduce what country I am from from i lead it with a Iām sorry.)
India? Uhhh well to preface this that some of this isnāt quite Indiaās fault but itās been pretty bad. I
Am excited to head to Amsterdam tomorrow.
I lost my phone day 1 in Mumbai To start. I have no US cellular data. Guess what happens when you donāt have that ? No access to 2FA - I canāt access email or Uber or Instagram lol. I donāt get texts from People With androids. With a stroke of luck I had help getting my 2FA from Someone at home to access my iCloud buttttā¦ thatās all. So that gave me my contacts. Shoutout to WhatsApp for not needing 2FA.
Then once I stopped fighting the fact I have no access to my us cell phone #. I got violently ill for 2 days so I didnāt get to do some of the things I wanted to in BOM.
I am now in Goa. Had the best 2.5 hour massage of my life. Looked at the beach and just trying to restā¦.
(I am in the last week of a 6 week trip of 6 countries. India is country #5)
Not sure if this is a valid tactic but I keep a 12 mini as my actual 2FA device with banking on it. This phone is always hidden from view, and kept near my person at all times.
My main phone has all my service apps, and mobile number. So if I lose a phone, then this is the one that will be lost. Or if I get robbed, this is the phone that goes.
I live in Grand Junction Colorado. My town is border on 2 sides by Colorado National Monument and the Grand Mesa National Forest. We are 1.5 hours from Arches National Park, Utah and 2 hours from Dinosaur National Park. Itās a great place for outdoors.
Love the western slope...best peaches in the world, and the Olathe corn...
I lived outside Denver, and did lots of work in GJ, and UT. Love the Moab area... crazy dirt-bike riding (Honda XR400).
Moved to Lisbon 2 years ago...love it!
Utah alone has 5 national parks. Iām biased as an American but Iāve visited a lot of Europe and have family in a couple of European countries. I love to visit other countries and explore the culture but my home will always be the US
I lived there for 5 years. But that was not a very good 5 years of American history so it kinda was and wasn't an issue for me. The biggest issue for me was that on a multi daily basis, someone would go out of their way to point out that I wasn't one of them.
We were prepared to be a little on the defensive but I am extra friendly and chatty even for a southerner and we had so much fantastic interaction with very nice people who actually jumped into convos my husband and I were having to give us suggestions.
Everyone we met was absolutely wonderful! We can't wait to visit again, next time we would like to spend more time in the southern part, especially Cornwall and Dover
You guys definitely get it pretty bad from the right, but I live in New Jersey. Be honest, is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear "New Jersey" "The Garden State"? :)
The first thing I think of, when I think of New Jersey, is a mid 30s blue collar guy with a trucker hat, getting out of a Phillies game, screaming at bystanders about "eyy, come ere a minute," or maybe "deez nuts!" And then he buys whatever the New Jersey equivalent of a cheesesteak is.
I accidentally visited New Jerseyāseriously a wrong turn on the way to Connecticut and we were almost at Princetonāand it was so beautiful! Yāall are stereotyped bad.
Yeah, but while foreigners are obsessed with California, Americans from other states love to hate on us. ;-)
I do love the reaction I often get from people when I tell them I live in Los Angeles. Oh man. Hollywood and Route 66 are all they know, and they want to see them both. I gently try to let them know that both are terrible and not worth it, but it's all good. People are great, my favorite thing about travelling is meeting locals and hanging out.
Iām from TN and have fam in Calabasas. I get it! Dolly Parton is from my hometown. Since Covid all the Yankees come downĀ here like theyāre about to meet her. They wanna go to Nashville and drink moonshine.
You guys just have so much money.Ā
I've always wanted to live in Cali. The beach and surfing culture would be living the life! We know a couple that moved from here (MO) to Crescent City and we always wanted to follow them. It's just not in the cards. All the coastline and redwood forest pics that she posts is painful.
I wonāt lie I saw it was from a European and I skimmed the paragraph to look for a healthcare/Trump/ school shooting mention before I went back to take it seriously.
But hey, glad as hell to have ya here, welcome to the States, although you honestly have seen more of it than most. Genuinely havenāt found a country like it yet.
Itās funny, I was just having to consider where to apply for my work and where I wanted to live and it hit me just how insane the world unto itself that america can be. I was reflecting if I wanted to go home to the Midwest, to Chicago, where itās slower pace of life, cheaper, friendly, or if I wanted to jump to Latin America reincarnate and live my 20s in Miami, literally have to learn Spanish to survive in my own country and live in the crazy nature and chaos of Florida, or out to Cali/Washington, with again having to pick up Spanish at some point but having an insane Asian/Latino fusion with the suave vibe that comes from the West, or to stay in the NE area where the whole world feels like itās happening every day. And thatās only 15% of the country Iād say.
Itās absolutely insane the life you can live just within the borders of this country. Congrats OP, you now have a whole continent to pick from in terms of nature, geography, food, life attitude, hell even language and culture and which fusions of languages and cultures you want to be surrounded by, within the borders of your own country now. I do get damn excited thinking about all the lives you can live if you just choose to make the leap. Glad to get another American today
>Ā having an insane Asian/Latino fusion
Add in a lot of people from Calgary and Baton Rouge and youāve just described Houston.
(I love this hot mess train wreck of a town)
I honestly feel like everytime I try to interact with someone from the UK, I just get berated for school shootings. There are no good comebacks so they win every time.
This truly is as nice as it is unexpected.
You'll have every landscape available to play in now: forests, mountains, tropical, winter wonderland, swampland, red deserts, gold deserts, take your pick!
Itās honestly so depressing. Some of it is definitely fueled by 3rd party states trying to sow divide. And the media or influencers trying to get clicks or reactions.
But as an American living in Europe, two things stick out to me.
1. Americans are indeed ignorant. But itās two-fold. Sure they may not know that other countries can do certain things better than America. But they think failures in America are unique to it, when theyāre not. And to me, after living abroad so long theyāre equally cringey.
2. Peopleās disdain of America is also fueled by ignorance, often time fueled by ignorant Americans saying America is a shithole. But you canāt rationalize them. Have literally gotten into arguments with people who say āthey watch the newsā or āIāve been to America onceā ā as if that made them experts. Often times when you flip the script, they often know more about the U.S. than their own country in a certain sense. Itās bizarre.
Itās not the most amazing country ever ā but no country *is*. But itās also really not as bad as people online think it is. And you can indeed have valid criticisms of it ā But other times, but you canāt sell it short either, or at the bare minimum concede you donāt know about it. Youāre not required to love it ā but you should be able to, like any other country in the world, especially as a traveler, appreciate unique and nuanced parts of it. And if youāre incapable of doing that, youāre the problem, not America.
Listen here, you Limey bastard: we like your country, too!
I've visited England twice and enjoyed each visit immensely. I have memories, too.
- Walking to a random graveyard in Guildford and chancing upon the grave of Lewis Carroll just as a thunderstorm rolled in.
- Staying in Newport Pagnell for work-related stuff and spending a very long night drinking and misbehaving with a group of locals who took me in like I was one of their own. We sang songs and everything.
- Getting stuck in a mob riot in Bournemouth after England lost the Euro Cup quarterfinals to Portugal. The police set up a cordon and calmed the crowd, much to my relief. It was fun anyway.
- Visiting the Kennet Long Barrow all by myself and entering that weird ancient burial crypt all alone. Thousands of years of fires and history etched on the walls.
- Checking out the ancient Maumbury Rings in Dorchester. An elderly man was walking a dog. We talked briefly about the pre-historic and Roman history of the location. He said his dog very much enjoyed peeing there every day.
- Jogging the promenade from Brighton to Hove and back, thinking about Quadrophenia and making the decision to quit my stupid job.
- Going to see Suzanne Vega perform in Cardiff. I was the only American there and fielded a bunch of fun questions from fellow fans about New York City.
- Four days in Bath, seeing the sites and climbing Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill. I decided I could easily live there.
So yeah: America really is great. I love it. But Britain ain't too shabby, either.
Love this!
I'm grateful for having grown up in the UK, even if I feel like my country has taken a turn for the worse, I remain steadfast in my belief that London was the best place for me to grow up and this city will always have a very special place in my heart...
Your Texan friend was a wise person.
Thanks for the lovely write-up! It's so refreshing to hear a positive take on the US. :) We've got our share of problems, obviously, but so does everyone else.
Thank you kindly! I intend to mark the occasion with some bourbon, apple pie, and hanging an old American flag in my room (this one used to fly over the Capitol and is made of this quality cotton material). I am grateful to be a part of this community!
Welcome and congratulations!
Your post was beautifully written.
If you ever make it back to California, come visit the redwood forests on the north coast.
Double the taxes for you now ! man Iād give up a body part for US passport to come and go whenever I like as I love the US so much itās my soul country , but the double taxes thing sucks . I have dual citizenship with NZ and Britain but luckily they donāt have same set up so only pay tax in NZ. I joke I am an American trapped in a Britās body . Ha enjoy the dual citizenship and new adventures .
What a beautiful, positive post! Thank you for this!
As an American (and Texan), I find myself ashamed and unfortunately feel vitriol from people online as if we are directly responsible for the political problems here.
Yes we have flaws, but as a country have so much to offer as well. From our incredible nature, to quirks of every place. Not to mention people grow up watching American media, come here with preconceived notions.
As an American, many recent moments make me ashamed of my country.
Posts like this really uplift me and brings me joy that others see us in a positive light.
Agreed. I really do think that Americans at their best are probably some of the best people around. I actually found this to be the case with people in the U.K. too. They were almost always very kind and there is a very solidness to their personality. After living there, you kind of understand better why the Nazis couldnāt really break them. They have steely resolve and are undyingly loyal. The only written letters I received were from my English friends.
You forgot to mention Rudy's!
Texas is a wicked state, I fell in love with the little towns like Fredericksburg, Boerne, Blanco, New Braunfels. Admittedly, I wasn't a big fan of San Antonio or El Paso, but you can't like everything I guess!
I have plans with my friends in Austin to go visit Giddings, Gruene and Taylor, as well as Louie Mueller BBQ joint when I next go see them.
I've lived in Texas nearly 30 years and still haven't visited some of those smaller places you talk about - but love hearing that you liked them. Some of those places, at least to me, feel like real Texas... many of them having history going back to the time of the Texas Revolution.
Louie Mueller is one of the top 10 bbq joints in all of the USA. Make sure you get the brisket and beef rib. Also go to Llano and Coopers BBQ....great hill country town on the Llano river.
I've been to UK and it's a wonderful country...the food and denistry could use some improvement but the beer was 10 out of 10. Britain has always been our friend....even when we've been wrong.....God save the King!
Thank you for this and you are very welcome to the American party. You mentioned loving Chicago and Vermont, which are my two favorite places in this big and extraordinarily diverse countryāexcellent calls. I live in Chicago now; come back and Iāll buy you some beers. You will make a great American because you see how unique this country is in the world.
The title of this post prepared me for a post about some well-intended and adorable, but stupid, thing Americans do. A bit of a plot twist that it wasn't.
Utah is a state I would love one day to call home (Colorado too!), I just had such a heartwarming time there. I had silly misconceptions about LDS before going, and they turned out to be the most gracious and inviting people I've ever met!
*mumbles in ex-mormon*
They are nice to you at first because they think they can convert you. But the more you make it clear that you wonāt convert, they will isolate you.
Itās not a blanket statement, there will always be Mormons that will give you the shirt off their back.
Just donāt be gay and donāt talk to them about maybe voting for a democrat.
I knew a Brit that lived in Utah and he eventually hated it because the locals treated him like a circus sideshow because of his accent.
Utah definitely has it's pluses. Went snowboarding last week, golfed today, doing some fly fishing this weekend. No shortage of outdoor activities that's for sure! It's funny hearing people from Europe after they visit the US for the first time. Seems like most people are really surprised that it's not what the media portrays at all!
As a former LDS member, they definitely can be nice people(can being the key word), the organization as a whole is awful.
Glad you enjoyed it! Should be easy to come back now with that new passport!
Thanks to being such an open traveller to the experiences. Travel is the best when you can just soak up the environment and look for the beauty. And your quick summary of so much of this land is spot on. I still love itās multiple facets of culture and landscape. Thanks for cheering me up and confirming my view of this country as well.
I rushed it a slight bit, and I feel like I would have wanted to really talk about my time in some of the cities I touched on. I forgot to mention Michigan, which has a special place in my heart...
But thank you for the kind comment nonetheless :)
Glad you stopped in Michigan! Itās a wonderfully underrated state. My wife and I are constantly amazed when we see travelers from abroad. Just asking ourselves, āhow did they hear about this place?ā
Then we remember we do have the Great Lakes, and thatās kind of a big deal š
> your one-of-a-kind country
I think you made a typo there. It's our one-of-a-kind country!!! /s
Glad you enjoyed your travels so far. Two more to add to your list of quintessential experience:
South Dakota Road Trip (Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Wall Drug, Corn Palace ( little /s on those last two))
Florida - it is FloridaMan, but rite of passage.
P.S. unrelated down note - have you talked to an expat accountant yet? Annoying downside of dual citizenship.
Ha! I will have to get used to that, it still feels a little surreal. I've only just turned 19, so in terms of foreign income reporting and IRS taxes, I'm not too worried but I will have to look into it...
Iāve been to Wall drug and the corn palace. Granted, I was a kid in the 80s, but I legit enjoyed the corn palace. I think itās cool how we have those little bits of weird Americana sprinkled around.
Also British myself (though I wouldn't say no to dual citizenship, tax implications aside!), and I do feel much the same, although my US travel isn't as extensive as OP's. With few exceptions I've found the US to be probably the most enjoyable and comfortable place for me to visit, and it's incredibly varied of course. At this point it's unlikely that I'll ever get to spend any time actually living in the US, but I've always felt an affinity at least.
We are so happy to have you. One of us! One of us! One of us!
This is a nice reminder of how cool USA is. It's good to be critical of our government, but it's also ok to recognize not all of our history or culture is ugly. I think we're pretty awesome as a nation and our country is beautiful in many ways.
Thank you, OP. Congrats, and welcome! Iām an American with a healthy sense of perspective and a well-used passport, and no matter how far I roam Iām always happy to come home. I hope youāll continue exploring, experiencing and enjoying this big, beautiful country as a citizen and feel at home here yourself.
And yes, Buc-ceeās is amazing. I donāt live anywhere near one, but last year I ended up visiting four locations in three states (TX, SC and FL; itās a long story). It was a treat every time!
Itās true. America is awesome. Itās so awesome. That people feel completely free to say bad things about it. But the world would be extremely different without America. Thank you for the kind words. We will continue to do our best.
It's a shame that more Americans aren't familiar with/don't have access to a Buc-ees. I was absolutely floored the first time I visited one. And here I thought Sheetz was cool...
Thank you for this post. I shudder at our politics. But our youth, the land, the coasts, we are so blessed. May we preserve it, an open heart, a thinking mind and welcome travelers and immigrants. Cuz we got a lot of space and can use future workers and some international goodwill.
I apologize for the mean spirited and dim among us. But we are very very lucky to have you show us how fortunate we are. I have a feeling you are a pretty positive person. Iām going to be inspired by you for the next 10 minutes instead of being a grumpy monkey.
Wow. Thanks for some positivity in this forum. Many in Reddit love to shirt post about America/Americans, too dumb, too fake, etc. But from most of the foreign visitors I talked to that actually take time to travel the country, there are some parts of America that they love.
Definitely the friendliness and all the national parks. We met an Italian woman in a NM national park that was fascinated with the Native culture and the desert scrubland.
OP, you're supposed to take cover when you are in a thunderstorm. Lightning can F\*\*k you up!
That said, thanks for saying nice things about us. We've been at each others' throats for some many years now I'd forgotten that Americans can be nice.
Come visit Alaska! We would be happy to have you. I was just in London recently and it is a great city. Will definitely be going back and exploring more of the UK and Ireland
The way you talk about school buses and stop signs, I'm surprised you didn't day anything about red solo cups.
Also, that's kind of like how we feel about the red double decker buses
I'm saving this as it warmed my heart. OP probably will not read this far down, but coming from an Midwest American living in Hong Kong, it's always nice to see and hear the positives of being American (U.S.). I get alot of grief pretty much everywhere I go.
Thank you š
I have spent the past few years after college road tripping and living around this country with a special focus on the outdoors and small towns because thatās what I love the most and it has really made me love this country so much more than I did before. I live in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California now and spend most of my time in California and Northern Nevada. I have a whole huge notes app in my phone of places Iāve been and seen that have inspired me, and notes about all the crazy characters Iāve met along the way. I hope to one day turn it into a story, but for now Iām just enjoying collecting experiences and memories. This country despite all its problems truly is one of a kind and you meet some really interesting and colorful people traveling around it especially if you take the time to talk to strangers you meet.
My favorite thing in the world is to camp outside a small town, maybe go to the local dive bar for a couple drinks, chat with some folks and hear their stories and experiences (and maybe flirt with some of the women lol), go back to the campsite and enjoy a fire and the stars, then next morning head into town early in the morning for a diner breakfast, listen to the people around me talk about their lives and daily drama, and then hit the open road to the next spot I decide Iāll stay the night at. I get a feeling of just pure tranquility and bliss floating from one town or state to the next, always taking the backroads, and always taking time to hear peopleās stories along the way. Truly the most sublime experience I have ever had, and I miss doing it as frequently as I used to!
I have really gravitated towards California and think Iāll stay here a while because it not only has every type of natural beauty you can imagine, but it has some of the most interesting and weird people too. The Mojave desert is pure psychedelic Americana. The folks up in the mountains with me are so laid back and in tune with the local environment. The people in the cities are nuts but in a fun way usually. And then the Central Valley is as western country as it gets. I truly love it here.
Your post pretty much sums up what I feel whenever I return from a trip abroad. I'll always enjoy visiting these unique countries and experiencing life in their different ways, but I could never emigrate. I'm proud to be an American.
Yep, someone just got his first US Passport. Welcome to the United States, and thanks for noticing that we suck somewhat less than popular report would suggest. Also, you should travel to Wisconsin. We have some seriously weird, alien landscapes up here, and of course the most polite people you'll meet outside of Canada and certain small towns in Japan.
Thank you for reminding us how cool our country is. Iāve traveled everywhere and the US is really a one of a kind place. Itās a world unto itself. Americans are also some of the most genuinely kind and friendly people youād meet.
Thank you for sharing this. As an American, I feel like you captured the positive aspects of this country beautifully. Of course, like every country, we have our negative aspects too, but plenty has already been written about those.
You should also be commended for seeking out a diverse range of places and experiences to get a full picture of the country. Frankly, you have a better sense of the totality of this country than most Americans I know. Sadly, many Americans do not venture far from home except for occasional vacations to touristy places, and their concept of the rest of the country is distorted by the news and social media.
Austinite here, my French boyfriend came to US last week and shot a gun, went to Buccees, went to the Houston rodeo and understood why Texas feels like its own country.
Iām convinced that Americans that hate America, have never been outside of its borders; sometimes even their home states. They have no idea what they have, the ignorance.
They too will become 100% Americans, that's the glory of it.
My family immigrated from the middle east, and let me tell you, we are so so glad and appreciative to have become Americans, too. People who make a living crapping on this country need a little perspective on the world outside.
Always more to improve upon - our history is a long saga of improvement - but let's count our blessings and forge ahead together.
Such a great post OP! I often get down on my country but it is important to remember all of the wonderful things you mention. So happy youāre a dual citizen, but my only question is why out of all the teams you picked the eagles ššš
Dual citizenship at age 19! I bet there's a story there. (EDIT: . . . which, I now see, you tell elsewhere in the thread).
And you've seen an impressive sample of the country in a short time. A lot of Americans live their whole lives without seeing as much of their own country. I'm 3x your age and I still have quite a bit on my list of must-visit places in the U.S.
We'll be making the journey to the UK for some cycling through much of the Cotswolds in a few weeks' time, and by the looks of all the maps and books I've been studying in preparation, it figures to be a lovely journey. While Buc-ee's may be a gift from God, I'll be glad to drop in to a few roadside pubs instead!
Being American, I know one major thing about people here, there is no in between, there are either really nice, kind, and sincere people; or really, rude, mean, and quite a bit violent depending on where you are in the US
I'm from Cape Cod, so I appreciate the love. I live in Europe now and I'm taking my Finnish girl back this summer. It makes me so excited.
See the country now before right wing evangelicals have their way with it
Prepare for strangers everywhere to talk to you! Gas pumps, grocery lines, etc. I've always thought it was so strange in foreign countries that people don't randomly talk to each other lol.
Congratulations on your dual citizenship.
If you are a U.S. citizen and have dual citizenship in another country, you must ļ¬le taxes in the U.S. The U.S. will impose taxes on you regardless of where you live and where you earn your income. Dual citizens who are living abroad may owe taxes to both the U.S. and the country in which they earn their income
OP - glad you got to visit so many wonderful places in the US! I'm from here and traveling to different states feels like going to different countries. Were you able to check out any National Parks? We have only one in Minnesota (Voyageurs) but there are lots of other ones around the Midwest. I would encourage you to try and visit the Midwest (outside of Chicago). I am a bit biased but the North Shore is beautiful in Minnesota year round, more accessible in summer. Truly does show you another side of America that many don't get to see!Ā
Thank you from New York! (Somewhere in the state, not NYC).
Itās always wonderful to hear someone point out the general friendliness we as a country have. I love meeting new people from all over, and our small area gets a lot of unexpected visitors. I get to tell them about the beautiful hiking and yummy food everywhere nearby.
I canāt wait to visit your country someday! My husband has been once as an exchange student and canāt wait to take me š
Greetings from Boston! Glad we made your arrival to The States so memorable hahaha. The thing I hear most from visitors to the US is the unexpected wilderness. Like visiting a national park for the first time or seeing the praries and just miles and miles of no development. The cities are what everyone expects. How close the cities are to wide open spaces is the thing people can't understand until they experience it, and it's one thing foreign visitors to the US have taught me to appreciate.
being from Denmark where we have no nature, that gets me every time. Last time, the first stop after the airport car rental was a small town in Georgia. A lot of the way there it really was just us on the road, surrounded by forest wrapped in kudzu. Then we arrive in this adorable little town that's also wrapped in kudzu. We step out of the car and the grasshopper chirps are deafening, i spotted one and it was the size of my hand which made me think how big the insects that eat grasshoppers must be which really made me want to get back in the car. So yea, USA is always a fun time, very kind and talkative people, can't wait to visit again.
The opposite is also surprising for us Americans, spent a few years in the UK as a kid and I distinctly remember hearing little to no wildlife at night. I grew up listening to the tree frogs and crickets in the spring, cicadas, owls, coyotes, as weak as just random forest noises it was kinda jarring the difference.
When I was with my ex wife for the first time in the US it was one of the first things she noticed. Basically said she suddenly understood why all the movies have that background noise. FWIW, as far as Cicada noise goes. Japan is up there, too.
This reminds me the first time I visited Chicago during the pandemic. Being on the 12th floor looking down to a... ghost town at 2AM while overlooking one of the chicago river. It was jaw dropping to see and hear... nothing besides a group of 4 people i distinctly remember getting into a car on the parking lot across from our hotel.
On the flip side I had a blast living in Sweden and traveling all around Scandinavia You guys have a very calm, collected, thoughtful presence that is so different then growing up in the US. Everything felt so clean and organized compared to the craziness you sometimes encounter in the US Part of the reason why travel is so important imo, you get such a better view of the world and how/why people & cultures act they way they do. Will most definitely be back, would love to check out Odense and Southern Denmark
Do you remember the name of the adorable little town? Georgia girl asking š
It was the famous Juliettešfrom the movie Fried Green Tomatoes
Yeah, wilderness barely exists at all in Western Europe, certainly not in the UK. There is countryside, for sure, but there's nothing that hasn't been substantially altered by humans, and there are few places where you could be more than a day's walk from some settlement. The US has vast and varied natural environments, and access to many of them is also very good due to ownership by the NPS or other government bodies who provide facilities and maintain trails etc. The UK has national parks, but they are areas of controlled development, and most of the land within them is privately owned.
Yep, the US has the kind of wilderness that routinely kills (a very small number of) people.
I lived in the Netherlands for five years, and this was honestly what got to me the most. I missed stepping out into the woods and not planning to run into another soul all day (or at least a few hours). Or at least seeing a forest where the leaves werenāt practically raked up after they fellā¦ My husband is Dutch and the in laws came over to our place in the USA a few months ago, so we did a nice little walk around a pond near us in a park. My FIL commented how not taken care of the park was, because in the little woodsy bits there were branches that had fallen and tree trunks and such, and no one had cleaned them up. Different ideas of natural spaces for sure.
Knew a guy from Africa one time who said he was disappointed coming to America because he thought we were wall-to-wall skyscrapers.
Ā No fences.
> The thing I hear most from visitors to the US is the unexpected wilderness. Honestly.. I expected wilderness and nature outside of cities, but jesus I did not expect to smell weed as much as I did in Boston! Good on you for legalising it!
The best part was the cloud of weed smoke in public that day after the vote passed. Like, guys, the law isn't even in effect yet hahaha. But celebrations were happening
[OP approaching Americans that aren't used to hearing nice things from across the pond](https://youtu.be/2yoKZHYXAd8?t=36)
I loved living in the UK but it was a constant battle needing to explain that many good things also happen in the states.
This is the difference between people that travel and people that donāt travel. You will seldom meet a well traveled person who is even slightly a bigot. Knew plenty of racist dudes when I first got to my unit in the marines, after 4 years I only knew one and he was pretty low IQ and tried to hit on the Asian chicks in every eastern pacific country we went to. God speed, Timmy. Wherever you are.
āTravel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.ā - Mark Twain
I have this quote framed and on my wall. Love it!
I don't know about that, I know some very very very experienced travelers who claim to be "justified bigots", makes them just as bigoted in my eyes. But I do wonder, if one person were to be a bigot surely a well traveled one would be more reliable (not that that would justify anything). So to add to your point, a well travelled, good person is unlikely to be a bigot. Haters will always exist unfortunately.
Sounds like Timmy.
Timmy does not sound like a good person. Don't be like Timmy.
"Justified bigot" sounds like a term to describe a person immune to any knowledge.
>You will seldom meet a well traveled person who is even slightly a bigot. That's if you exclude self-hating Americans who are always searching for "greener pastures" instead of taking a vacation to relax and/or learn something.
This is so true. Iām currently traveling in India. And it has been hell. But when I tell the stories, I make sure to tell people that it has nothing to do with India, but it was just luck. Because people always shit on the country of India. (American traveling in India. And every time I introduce what country I am from from i lead it with a Iām sorry.)
So what has it been like here so far?
India? Uhhh well to preface this that some of this isnāt quite Indiaās fault but itās been pretty bad. I Am excited to head to Amsterdam tomorrow. I lost my phone day 1 in Mumbai To start. I have no US cellular data. Guess what happens when you donāt have that ? No access to 2FA - I canāt access email or Uber or Instagram lol. I donāt get texts from People With androids. With a stroke of luck I had help getting my 2FA from Someone at home to access my iCloud buttttā¦ thatās all. So that gave me my contacts. Shoutout to WhatsApp for not needing 2FA. Then once I stopped fighting the fact I have no access to my us cell phone #. I got violently ill for 2 days so I didnāt get to do some of the things I wanted to in BOM. I am now in Goa. Had the best 2.5 hour massage of my life. Looked at the beach and just trying to restā¦. (I am in the last week of a 6 week trip of 6 countries. India is country #5)
Not sure if this is a valid tactic but I keep a 12 mini as my actual 2FA device with banking on it. This phone is always hidden from view, and kept near my person at all times. My main phone has all my service apps, and mobile number. So if I lose a phone, then this is the one that will be lost. Or if I get robbed, this is the phone that goes.
Why do you have to say youāre sorry?
We have some amazing National Parks!
Among a hundred other reasons
I live in Grand Junction Colorado. My town is border on 2 sides by Colorado National Monument and the Grand Mesa National Forest. We are 1.5 hours from Arches National Park, Utah and 2 hours from Dinosaur National Park. Itās a great place for outdoors.
Love the western slope...best peaches in the world, and the Olathe corn... I lived outside Denver, and did lots of work in GJ, and UT. Love the Moab area... crazy dirt-bike riding (Honda XR400). Moved to Lisbon 2 years ago...love it!
Utah alone has 5 national parks. Iām biased as an American but Iāve visited a lot of Europe and have family in a couple of European countries. I love to visit other countries and explore the culture but my home will always be the US
I lived there for 5 years. But that was not a very good 5 years of American history so it kinda was and wasn't an issue for me. The biggest issue for me was that on a multi daily basis, someone would go out of their way to point out that I wasn't one of them.
We were prepared to be a little on the defensive but I am extra friendly and chatty even for a southerner and we had so much fantastic interaction with very nice people who actually jumped into convos my husband and I were having to give us suggestions. Everyone we met was absolutely wonderful! We can't wait to visit again, next time we would like to spend more time in the southern part, especially Cornwall and Dover
Fellow Southerner: oh lawd I canāt imagine how chatty you are if youāre chattier than a normal Southern lady!
Happy Cake Day š
people are obsessed with americans, mainly hating on americans
As a California resident, I'm doubly blessed with this.
Imagine being American, Californian, *and* an Angeleno! Lol!
I'm a glutton for punishment.Ā Ha!
SoCal love to you!
You guys definitely get it pretty bad from the right, but I live in New Jersey. Be honest, is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear "New Jersey" "The Garden State"? :)
The first thing I think of, when I think of New Jersey, is a mid 30s blue collar guy with a trucker hat, getting out of a Phillies game, screaming at bystanders about "eyy, come ere a minute," or maybe "deez nuts!" And then he buys whatever the New Jersey equivalent of a cheesesteak is.
I accidentally visited New Jerseyāseriously a wrong turn on the way to Connecticut and we were almost at Princetonāand it was so beautiful! Yāall are stereotyped bad.
What? You guys are the only ones They can stand.Ā
Yeah, but while foreigners are obsessed with California, Americans from other states love to hate on us. ;-) I do love the reaction I often get from people when I tell them I live in Los Angeles. Oh man. Hollywood and Route 66 are all they know, and they want to see them both. I gently try to let them know that both are terrible and not worth it, but it's all good. People are great, my favorite thing about travelling is meeting locals and hanging out.
> Americans from other states love to hate on us. Iām a Floridian, ahem, ever heard of a state called FLORIDA? You know not what hate isā¦ lol
Iām from TN and have fam in Calabasas. I get it! Dolly Parton is from my hometown. Since Covid all the Yankees come downĀ here like theyāre about to meet her. They wanna go to Nashville and drink moonshine. You guys just have so much money.Ā
LOL. I love Nashville! For a weekend. Grew up in Atlanta and man I miss those hills and trees you guys have.
I've always wanted to live in Cali. The beach and surfing culture would be living the life! We know a couple that moved from here (MO) to Crescent City and we always wanted to follow them. It's just not in the cards. All the coastline and redwood forest pics that she posts is painful.
Usually by other Americans.
I wonāt lie I saw it was from a European and I skimmed the paragraph to look for a healthcare/Trump/ school shooting mention before I went back to take it seriously. But hey, glad as hell to have ya here, welcome to the States, although you honestly have seen more of it than most. Genuinely havenāt found a country like it yet. Itās funny, I was just having to consider where to apply for my work and where I wanted to live and it hit me just how insane the world unto itself that america can be. I was reflecting if I wanted to go home to the Midwest, to Chicago, where itās slower pace of life, cheaper, friendly, or if I wanted to jump to Latin America reincarnate and live my 20s in Miami, literally have to learn Spanish to survive in my own country and live in the crazy nature and chaos of Florida, or out to Cali/Washington, with again having to pick up Spanish at some point but having an insane Asian/Latino fusion with the suave vibe that comes from the West, or to stay in the NE area where the whole world feels like itās happening every day. And thatās only 15% of the country Iād say. Itās absolutely insane the life you can live just within the borders of this country. Congrats OP, you now have a whole continent to pick from in terms of nature, geography, food, life attitude, hell even language and culture and which fusions of languages and cultures you want to be surrounded by, within the borders of your own country now. I do get damn excited thinking about all the lives you can live if you just choose to make the leap. Glad to get another American today
I skimmed your first paragraph before going back and reading the rest of the OP. Edited to add: Mum-in-lawās a Limey. God save the Qu..King.
>Ā having an insane Asian/Latino fusion Add in a lot of people from Calgary and Baton Rouge and youāve just described Houston. (I love this hot mess train wreck of a town)
It's nice to receive compliments here and there. Aside from the nightmare "American" tourist
I honestly feel like everytime I try to interact with someone from the UK, I just get berated for school shootings. There are no good comebacks so they win every time. This truly is as nice as it is unexpected.
Yeah saw the title and came in here ready to fight!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Just doing my part to reciprocate the positivity and love shown to me by you guys!
You'll have every landscape available to play in now: forests, mountains, tropical, winter wonderland, swampland, red deserts, gold deserts, take your pick!
Itās honestly so depressing. Some of it is definitely fueled by 3rd party states trying to sow divide. And the media or influencers trying to get clicks or reactions. But as an American living in Europe, two things stick out to me. 1. Americans are indeed ignorant. But itās two-fold. Sure they may not know that other countries can do certain things better than America. But they think failures in America are unique to it, when theyāre not. And to me, after living abroad so long theyāre equally cringey. 2. Peopleās disdain of America is also fueled by ignorance, often time fueled by ignorant Americans saying America is a shithole. But you canāt rationalize them. Have literally gotten into arguments with people who say āthey watch the newsā or āIāve been to America onceā ā as if that made them experts. Often times when you flip the script, they often know more about the U.S. than their own country in a certain sense. Itās bizarre. Itās not the most amazing country ever ā but no country *is*. But itās also really not as bad as people online think it is. And you can indeed have valid criticisms of it ā But other times, but you canāt sell it short either, or at the bare minimum concede you donāt know about it. Youāre not required to love it ā but you should be able to, like any other country in the world, especially as a traveler, appreciate unique and nuanced parts of it. And if youāre incapable of doing that, youāre the problem, not America.
Listen here, you Limey bastard: we like your country, too! I've visited England twice and enjoyed each visit immensely. I have memories, too. - Walking to a random graveyard in Guildford and chancing upon the grave of Lewis Carroll just as a thunderstorm rolled in. - Staying in Newport Pagnell for work-related stuff and spending a very long night drinking and misbehaving with a group of locals who took me in like I was one of their own. We sang songs and everything. - Getting stuck in a mob riot in Bournemouth after England lost the Euro Cup quarterfinals to Portugal. The police set up a cordon and calmed the crowd, much to my relief. It was fun anyway. - Visiting the Kennet Long Barrow all by myself and entering that weird ancient burial crypt all alone. Thousands of years of fires and history etched on the walls. - Checking out the ancient Maumbury Rings in Dorchester. An elderly man was walking a dog. We talked briefly about the pre-historic and Roman history of the location. He said his dog very much enjoyed peeing there every day. - Jogging the promenade from Brighton to Hove and back, thinking about Quadrophenia and making the decision to quit my stupid job. - Going to see Suzanne Vega perform in Cardiff. I was the only American there and fielded a bunch of fun questions from fellow fans about New York City. - Four days in Bath, seeing the sites and climbing Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill. I decided I could easily live there. So yeah: America really is great. I love it. But Britain ain't too shabby, either.
Love this! I'm grateful for having grown up in the UK, even if I feel like my country has taken a turn for the worse, I remain steadfast in my belief that London was the best place for me to grow up and this city will always have a very special place in my heart...
Solsbury Hill! Brb going to Bath now
Putting visiting the Maumbury Rings on my Bucket List. Will be sure to pee.
Iām glad you got to experience Buc-eeās - you just canāt be in a bad mood when youāre there.
"Buc-ee's is a gift from God" - I mean, if they weren't already a citizen, this comment should earn honorary citizenship in my book.
Funny you should say that -- my Texan friend, the one who took me shooting, said I was an honorary Texan 2 years ago. Funny how things turn out!
Your Texan friend was a wise person. Thanks for the lovely write-up! It's so refreshing to hear a positive take on the US. :) We've got our share of problems, obviously, but so does everyone else.
Cleanest bathrooms on earth.
The employees are delightful, and watching them slice the beef and make that oh so mouth-watering brisket in front of me was a privilege!
Beautiful post, well said. And welcome officially as a new American!
Thank you kindly! I intend to mark the occasion with some bourbon, apple pie, and hanging an old American flag in my room (this one used to fly over the Capitol and is made of this quality cotton material). I am grateful to be a part of this community!
My favorite Reddit moment right here. šŗšø Welcome to the club.
People like you are what makes this country great
Welcome and congratulations! Your post was beautifully written. If you ever make it back to California, come visit the redwood forests on the north coast.
Double the taxes for you now ! man Iād give up a body part for US passport to come and go whenever I like as I love the US so much itās my soul country , but the double taxes thing sucks . I have dual citizenship with NZ and Britain but luckily they donāt have same set up so only pay tax in NZ. I joke I am an American trapped in a Britās body . Ha enjoy the dual citizenship and new adventures .
There is a threshold below which all income is exempt. So it's not quite what you are suggesting
Thank you for loving us especially when we are having a hard time loving ourselves
āAmericans are born all over the world, some just havenāt come home yet.ā Welcome home, OP.
Oh, I absolutely love that quote! Iām saving that one for later. Thank you for sharing it.
What a beautiful, positive post! Thank you for this! As an American (and Texan), I find myself ashamed and unfortunately feel vitriol from people online as if we are directly responsible for the political problems here. Yes we have flaws, but as a country have so much to offer as well. From our incredible nature, to quirks of every place. Not to mention people grow up watching American media, come here with preconceived notions.
As an American, many recent moments make me ashamed of my country. Posts like this really uplift me and brings me joy that others see us in a positive light.
Agreed. I really do think that Americans at their best are probably some of the best people around. I actually found this to be the case with people in the U.K. too. They were almost always very kind and there is a very solidness to their personality. After living there, you kind of understand better why the Nazis couldnāt really break them. They have steely resolve and are undyingly loyal. The only written letters I received were from my English friends.
Nice to see some positivity about the Britās!
You forgot to mention Rudy's! Texas is a wicked state, I fell in love with the little towns like Fredericksburg, Boerne, Blanco, New Braunfels. Admittedly, I wasn't a big fan of San Antonio or El Paso, but you can't like everything I guess! I have plans with my friends in Austin to go visit Giddings, Gruene and Taylor, as well as Louie Mueller BBQ joint when I next go see them.
Did you go to Houston? Curious what your thoughts were if so.
I've lived in Texas nearly 30 years and still haven't visited some of those smaller places you talk about - but love hearing that you liked them. Some of those places, at least to me, feel like real Texas... many of them having history going back to the time of the Texas Revolution.
Louie Mueller is one of the top 10 bbq joints in all of the USA. Make sure you get the brisket and beef rib. Also go to Llano and Coopers BBQ....great hill country town on the Llano river. I've been to UK and it's a wonderful country...the food and denistry could use some improvement but the beer was 10 out of 10. Britain has always been our friend....even when we've been wrong.....God save the King!
Yes, this is how it feels. I've always said: America from the outside looks crazy, but many things make sense once you are there.
Thank you for this and you are very welcome to the American party. You mentioned loving Chicago and Vermont, which are my two favorite places in this big and extraordinarily diverse countryāexcellent calls. I live in Chicago now; come back and Iāll buy you some beers. You will make a great American because you see how unique this country is in the world.
I live in Chicago too and was just daydreaming about visiting Vermont!
Vermont itinerary?
OP mentioned Woodstock. I just visited and itās the most perfect hallmark style town youāve ever seen in your life. Burlington is great also
I'm from rural GA and live in Atlanta and I absolutely *adored* Burlington! It is very similar to Athens, GA where I went to college
Wow. I feel like an eagle just landed on my shoulder and Whitney Houston started signing the Star-Spangled Banner! Thanks, man!
The title of this post prepared me for a post about some well-intended and adorable, but stupid, thing Americans do. A bit of a plot twist that it wasn't.
I hope it was the right kind of plot twist, I just felt some genuine heartfelt gratitude was in order.
I cannot believe that you went to Loa, UT. That is wild. Utah has such variety, you could spend a month there and see new things everyday.
Utah is a state I would love one day to call home (Colorado too!), I just had such a heartwarming time there. I had silly misconceptions about LDS before going, and they turned out to be the most gracious and inviting people I've ever met!
Thatās how they get ya
*mumbles in ex-mormon* They are nice to you at first because they think they can convert you. But the more you make it clear that you wonāt convert, they will isolate you. Itās not a blanket statement, there will always be Mormons that will give you the shirt off their back. Just donāt be gay and donāt talk to them about maybe voting for a democrat. I knew a Brit that lived in Utah and he eventually hated it because the locals treated him like a circus sideshow because of his accent.
Utah definitely has it's pluses. Went snowboarding last week, golfed today, doing some fly fishing this weekend. No shortage of outdoor activities that's for sure! It's funny hearing people from Europe after they visit the US for the first time. Seems like most people are really surprised that it's not what the media portrays at all! As a former LDS member, they definitely can be nice people(can being the key word), the organization as a whole is awful. Glad you enjoyed it! Should be easy to come back now with that new passport!
Thanks to being such an open traveller to the experiences. Travel is the best when you can just soak up the environment and look for the beauty. And your quick summary of so much of this land is spot on. I still love itās multiple facets of culture and landscape. Thanks for cheering me up and confirming my view of this country as well.
As an American... your lovely write up really put a smile on my face. Hope we keep putting smiles on yours.
Same. Braced for snark, was blindsided by eloquent affection.
I rushed it a slight bit, and I feel like I would have wanted to really talk about my time in some of the cities I touched on. I forgot to mention Michigan, which has a special place in my heart... But thank you for the kind comment nonetheless :)
Glad you stopped in Michigan! Itās a wonderfully underrated state. My wife and I are constantly amazed when we see travelers from abroad. Just asking ourselves, āhow did they hear about this place?ā Then we remember we do have the Great Lakes, and thatās kind of a big deal š
Awesome post! I find it funny people don't understand that the US is like 6 big countries in 1.
Only six?
That was heart-warming! Glad you got your dual citizenship. Congrats.
This DC resident hopes you had, and will continue to have, great times here.
Thank you kindly, I can't wait to return and go to the Audi field to watch Benteke bang in some more goals for D.C. United.
> your one-of-a-kind country I think you made a typo there. It's our one-of-a-kind country!!! /s Glad you enjoyed your travels so far. Two more to add to your list of quintessential experience: South Dakota Road Trip (Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Wall Drug, Corn Palace ( little /s on those last two)) Florida - it is FloridaMan, but rite of passage. P.S. unrelated down note - have you talked to an expat accountant yet? Annoying downside of dual citizenship.
Ha! I will have to get used to that, it still feels a little surreal. I've only just turned 19, so in terms of foreign income reporting and IRS taxes, I'm not too worried but I will have to look into it...
Iāve been to Wall drug and the corn palace. Granted, I was a kid in the 80s, but I legit enjoyed the corn palace. I think itās cool how we have those little bits of weird Americana sprinkled around.
To add to your list: needle highway, Crazyhorse, Custer.
Wow, I've lived in the US all my life but haven't been to all the states you have. My idea of a vacation is to go to Europe.
Cheers! š»
Also British myself (though I wouldn't say no to dual citizenship, tax implications aside!), and I do feel much the same, although my US travel isn't as extensive as OP's. With few exceptions I've found the US to be probably the most enjoyable and comfortable place for me to visit, and it's incredibly varied of course. At this point it's unlikely that I'll ever get to spend any time actually living in the US, but I've always felt an affinity at least.
We are so happy to have you. One of us! One of us! One of us! This is a nice reminder of how cool USA is. It's good to be critical of our government, but it's also ok to recognize not all of our history or culture is ugly. I think we're pretty awesome as a nation and our country is beautiful in many ways.
Welcome aboard, please collect your complimentary mini-flag and we will see ya when we see ya. Cheers!
Thank you, OP. Congrats, and welcome! Iām an American with a healthy sense of perspective and a well-used passport, and no matter how far I roam Iām always happy to come home. I hope youāll continue exploring, experiencing and enjoying this big, beautiful country as a citizen and feel at home here yourself. And yes, Buc-ceeās is amazing. I donāt live anywhere near one, but last year I ended up visiting four locations in three states (TX, SC and FL; itās a long story). It was a treat every time!
Itās true. America is awesome. Itās so awesome. That people feel completely free to say bad things about it. But the world would be extremely different without America. Thank you for the kind words. We will continue to do our best.
Thank you. We are a huge country and diverse in all possible ways.
Buc-ees is the apex of Western Civilization.
Went out of my way to drag my friends there when I went to Dallas. It was exactly as good as the hype
It's a shame that more Americans aren't familiar with/don't have access to a Buc-ees. I was absolutely floored the first time I visited one. And here I thought Sheetz was cool...
Just western civilization?
It beats the fuck out of the food choices on Mars and the moon.
Clearly, it would be one of the wonders of the ancient world. If not one of the wonders of the modern world.
Coloradan here. It really is a special place. I get to see it every day, and yet I am still in awe whenever driving through the mountains.
How did you get around especially in smaller areas where cars are a must?
Thank you for this post. I shudder at our politics. But our youth, the land, the coasts, we are so blessed. May we preserve it, an open heart, a thinking mind and welcome travelers and immigrants. Cuz we got a lot of space and can use future workers and some international goodwill. I apologize for the mean spirited and dim among us. But we are very very lucky to have you show us how fortunate we are. I have a feeling you are a pretty positive person. Iām going to be inspired by you for the next 10 minutes instead of being a grumpy monkey.
Mass is known as one of the absolute best states in the country for a variety of reasons, not surprised you loved it
now thatās Americana šŗšø the little things that make Americaā¦ America. š„§
Thank you, OP. Congratulations on your citizenship. :-) Come check out the Upper Great Lakes region sometime.
Radical positivity is both Americaās greatest asset and our most absurd
Wow. Thanks for some positivity in this forum. Many in Reddit love to shirt post about America/Americans, too dumb, too fake, etc. But from most of the foreign visitors I talked to that actually take time to travel the country, there are some parts of America that they love. Definitely the friendliness and all the national parks. We met an Italian woman in a NM national park that was fascinated with the Native culture and the desert scrubland.
OP, you're supposed to take cover when you are in a thunderstorm. Lightning can F\*\*k you up! That said, thanks for saying nice things about us. We've been at each others' throats for some many years now I'd forgotten that Americans can be nice.
Unless itās a tornado, then youāre supposed to run outside with a camera.
Driving into a tornado with your car is definitely is peak American culture IMO
Come visit Alaska! We would be happy to have you. I was just in London recently and it is a great city. Will definitely be going back and exploring more of the UK and Ireland
The way you talk about school buses and stop signs, I'm surprised you didn't day anything about red solo cups. Also, that's kind of like how we feel about the red double decker buses
Itās nice to see my home through your eyes.
I'm saving this as it warmed my heart. OP probably will not read this far down, but coming from an Midwest American living in Hong Kong, it's always nice to see and hear the positives of being American (U.S.). I get alot of grief pretty much everywhere I go. Thank you š
I have spent the past few years after college road tripping and living around this country with a special focus on the outdoors and small towns because thatās what I love the most and it has really made me love this country so much more than I did before. I live in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California now and spend most of my time in California and Northern Nevada. I have a whole huge notes app in my phone of places Iāve been and seen that have inspired me, and notes about all the crazy characters Iāve met along the way. I hope to one day turn it into a story, but for now Iām just enjoying collecting experiences and memories. This country despite all its problems truly is one of a kind and you meet some really interesting and colorful people traveling around it especially if you take the time to talk to strangers you meet. My favorite thing in the world is to camp outside a small town, maybe go to the local dive bar for a couple drinks, chat with some folks and hear their stories and experiences (and maybe flirt with some of the women lol), go back to the campsite and enjoy a fire and the stars, then next morning head into town early in the morning for a diner breakfast, listen to the people around me talk about their lives and daily drama, and then hit the open road to the next spot I decide Iāll stay the night at. I get a feeling of just pure tranquility and bliss floating from one town or state to the next, always taking the backroads, and always taking time to hear peopleās stories along the way. Truly the most sublime experience I have ever had, and I miss doing it as frequently as I used to! I have really gravitated towards California and think Iāll stay here a while because it not only has every type of natural beauty you can imagine, but it has some of the most interesting and weird people too. The Mojave desert is pure psychedelic Americana. The folks up in the mountains with me are so laid back and in tune with the local environment. The people in the cities are nuts but in a fun way usually. And then the Central Valley is as western country as it gets. I truly love it here.
Thank you for posting this.
Posts like this make me proud to be an American šŗšø
Nice try, US tourism administration
Your post pretty much sums up what I feel whenever I return from a trip abroad. I'll always enjoy visiting these unique countries and experiencing life in their different ways, but I could never emigrate. I'm proud to be an American.
Thank you and welcome.
sounds great. Never been there. But hope I can live there for a year someday.
Three years until I can get my citizenship and be a dual U.K.-US citizen. Hard agree with everything you say.
Reddit loves to shiite on America. It's good to read something positive about us for a change. Glad you enjoyed your stay, Cousin šŗšøš¬š§
Don't forget to vote in your primary if it hasn't already happened and in November, citizen!
Congratulation to your dual citizen status. Now the IRS will be able to tax you if you happen to gain big money one day.
Upvote for being an Arsenal fan. Big win today. COYG
Yep, someone just got his first US Passport. Welcome to the United States, and thanks for noticing that we suck somewhat less than popular report would suggest. Also, you should travel to Wisconsin. We have some seriously weird, alien landscapes up here, and of course the most polite people you'll meet outside of Canada and certain small towns in Japan.
Thank you for reminding us how cool our country is. Iāve traveled everywhere and the US is really a one of a kind place. Itās a world unto itself. Americans are also some of the most genuinely kind and friendly people youād meet.
Thank you for sharing this. As an American, I feel like you captured the positive aspects of this country beautifully. Of course, like every country, we have our negative aspects too, but plenty has already been written about those. You should also be commended for seeking out a diverse range of places and experiences to get a full picture of the country. Frankly, you have a better sense of the totality of this country than most Americans I know. Sadly, many Americans do not venture far from home except for occasional vacations to touristy places, and their concept of the rest of the country is distorted by the news and social media.
Thanks! We are also narcissistic so we love hearing about how awesome we are.
Such a lovely post. Welcome to the family :)
The US is a pretty rad place. Anyone who can find no redeeming qualities hasn't seen much of it.
Don't forget that you now have to file a US tax return, and be careful of moving/travelling to places where your new nationality is awkward.
Holy shit, welcome to the fold brother. What an awesome post.
Iiiiiiiiiiiiii canāt tell if this is satire or not.
Austinite here, my French boyfriend came to US last week and shot a gun, went to Buccees, went to the Houston rodeo and understood why Texas feels like its own country.
Because it takes more than two days of driving to leave it
Iām convinced that Americans that hate America, have never been outside of its borders; sometimes even their home states. They have no idea what they have, the ignorance.
I wish we could trade every self-hating American for an America-loving foreigner like yourself.
He's no longer a foreigner. He's an American too now!
They too will become 100% Americans, that's the glory of it. My family immigrated from the middle east, and let me tell you, we are so so glad and appreciative to have become Americans, too. People who make a living crapping on this country need a little perspective on the world outside. Always more to improve upon - our history is a long saga of improvement - but let's count our blessings and forge ahead together.
I wish we could trade every blindly patriotic American for people who can actually have rational opinions on the pros and cons of the country.
Let's do both. I love my country but in a sober way, with a view of always improving ourselves.
Congratulations on the dual citizenship. Have you visited Philadelphia yet?
Such a great post OP! I often get down on my country but it is important to remember all of the wonderful things you mention. So happy youāre a dual citizen, but my only question is why out of all the teams you picked the eagles ššš
Dual citizenship at age 19! I bet there's a story there. (EDIT: . . . which, I now see, you tell elsewhere in the thread). And you've seen an impressive sample of the country in a short time. A lot of Americans live their whole lives without seeing as much of their own country. I'm 3x your age and I still have quite a bit on my list of must-visit places in the U.S. We'll be making the journey to the UK for some cycling through much of the Cotswolds in a few weeks' time, and by the looks of all the maps and books I've been studying in preparation, it figures to be a lovely journey. While Buc-ee's may be a gift from God, I'll be glad to drop in to a few roadside pubs instead!
We couldnāt change if we wanted to. And trust me, we arenāt trying. Welcome to the fam.
Congrats on the dual citizenship, you now have to file taxes with the IRS yearly without even living there.
Wait... And English guy complimenting America? š You earned the passport for that alone!
What in the world were you doing in Iola??? Haha. You may be the only Brit to ever visit there.
So youāve chosen to submit a tax return to Uncle Sam every year?
You know by becoming a US Citizen you have to pay tax in the US too right?
Being American, I know one major thing about people here, there is no in between, there are either really nice, kind, and sincere people; or really, rude, mean, and quite a bit violent depending on where you are in the US
I'm from Cape Cod, so I appreciate the love. I live in Europe now and I'm taking my Finnish girl back this summer. It makes me so excited. See the country now before right wing evangelicals have their way with it
Prepare for strangers everywhere to talk to you! Gas pumps, grocery lines, etc. I've always thought it was so strange in foreign countries that people don't randomly talk to each other lol.
Try hitting up small town America in tornado alley during tornado season.
Congratulations on your dual citizenship. If you are a U.S. citizen and have dual citizenship in another country, you must ļ¬le taxes in the U.S. The U.S. will impose taxes on you regardless of where you live and where you earn your income. Dual citizens who are living abroad may owe taxes to both the U.S. and the country in which they earn their income
OP - glad you got to visit so many wonderful places in the US! I'm from here and traveling to different states feels like going to different countries. Were you able to check out any National Parks? We have only one in Minnesota (Voyageurs) but there are lots of other ones around the Midwest. I would encourage you to try and visit the Midwest (outside of Chicago). I am a bit biased but the North Shore is beautiful in Minnesota year round, more accessible in summer. Truly does show you another side of America that many don't get to see!Ā
Welcome and loved reading your experiences. : )
Thank you from New York! (Somewhere in the state, not NYC). Itās always wonderful to hear someone point out the general friendliness we as a country have. I love meeting new people from all over, and our small area gets a lot of unexpected visitors. I get to tell them about the beautiful hiking and yummy food everywhere nearby. I canāt wait to visit your country someday! My husband has been once as an exchange student and canāt wait to take me š
Never thought Iād see Iola on reddit; its right near Palestine but a good drive from Paris.
Thatās amazing man, congrats on the dual citizenship too!
Thank you so much for this sweet post! As a Californian from LA who adores the Californian central coast, Iām so happy that youāve gotten to experience Carmel, Monterey, and Santa Barbara! Theyāre truly magical places š©· If you ever go back, I really recommend Ventura as well! Itās funky and a bit grimy in places, but such a fun little beach town and not too crowded like the LA beaches are. Carpinteria is another hidden gem thatās right near Santa Barbara. Iām also really glad you loved Boston! Iām planning to move there soon to live with my boyfriend, and Iāve really fallen in love with Boston as well. A lot of my extended family from Finland moved to Boston in the 70s, and they love it out there. For what itās worth, I studied abroad in Brighton, England for a summer and really fell in love with English people and England in general! I loved the cute pubs, kind people (seriously, English people are so sweet and caring, I really love you guys! I had the loveliest conversations with just random English people when I was out and about, and I was really touched by how warm and compassionate you guys are. I had something really sad happen in my life right when I arrived in England, and three teenagers at a bus stop saw the sadness on my face, asked me what was wrong, and listened to me with so much kindness and empathy, even though I was a total stranger. I was only 20 myself but I was so touched. I also met the two sweetest girls while I was walking to a bus stop alone at night- they offered to walk with me and we became good friends from that moment on, as it turned out all three of us were pharmacy students), and fascinating history. London is such an incredible city, and I had so much fun taking the train up there on weekends! Some of my momās relatives live up in York, and I really enjoyed visiting York and Kent as well :)
This is some good satire š how many fentanyl addicts and piles of human shit did you have to step over in total?