How I See the US After Living Abroad for 15 Years [CULTURE SHOCK]

How I see the US after living abroad as an expat for so many years - pros, cons, and reverse culture shock. What's your opinion on living in the US vs Europe or abroad? Join the conversation in the comments.

Resources mentioned in this video:

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👱🏻‍♀️ About: Kristin Wilson is a digital nomad, online entrepreneur, and expat relocation consultant who has lived, worked, or traveled in 60 countries over the last 15+ years and helped 1,000's of people move abroad or travel full-time.

Kristin is also a writer, public speaker, podcaster, and TV host who has been featured on The Today Show, HGTV's House Hunters International, Huffpost, Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, Business Insider, ESPN, and more.

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💛 Clubhouse: @ KristinWilson

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NOTE: This video is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not individual consulting or advice.

#howiseetheus #livingabroad #cultureshock

[thethemperoroftheholybri]

I'll never forget the time when an American friend asked me "hey, so how many sick days do we get?" Which confused me, we take days off when we're sick

[itodave]

I have a Brazilian friend who has been living in America for the past 10 years. I asked him what his impression of America is from the time he arrived to the present. He said "America is an illusion." I think many of us fellow Americans feel the same.

[ameliawilfinger]

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness... per Mark Twain. Whenever I travel outside the U.S., I find it much more difficult to adjust to our culture than I do to places away from home. I miss the simplicity and appreciation for everyday life I experience elsewhere. Thank you for posting this informative video. As a woman who travels alone, friends and family just don't understand what I experience. It's refreshing to connect with you in our like-mindedness. Thank you, thank you!

[daihunter]

As a US born and raised person I have travelled and lived as an expat for nearly 45 of my 80 years. I finally left the United States just over 30 years ago to live in Europe, never to look back, and I haven't. As a now senior citizen I am fortunate that I made that decision and regret that I had not done so sooner. The social system where I have settled is just so much better and supportive, and I am alive whereas had I stayed in the US it is quite likely, nearly certain, for many reasons, I would have been long gone by now.

[brandableinsider]

The USA's greatest weakness is thinking that it has none. As a fellow world traveler, I'm in agreement with all your points.

[DanielHBuchmann]

From Mark Twain, “ travel 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.”

[txspacemom]

I was raised in the US but in a European way. My mother was English and my father was Italian. I always thought we were odd..small house, shopping local, keeping things forever and maintaining things, not over shopping just what for what we needed, homemade meals, my parents didn't allow fast food, being outside all the time and being healthy with homegrown food. Being conscious of how much water and electricity one uses, clothes lines, and wearing the best clothes we could afford but not excessive in the our closets. Still weird like this and I am almost 50. I consider myself a well curated somewhat minimalist and people make fun of me, still. I experience it quite a bit more when I was in the military for 8 years and travelled overseas. America has always thought we had the best, we are the best, etc...reality is kicking in now.

[lindas]

Oh my gosh I am so relieved to hear someone with an objective view point say all the things I’ve been feeling for years now. I’m not just imagining it!

[DG_musician]

This isn't meant to sound rude, but based upon interaction with family and friends in the US, I find Americans the most sheltered and naive people in the west. So much of what's being discussed here is general knowledge, particularly among Europeans. It's extremely whimsical to us Europeans when Americans talk about the US "freedoms". 🤷‍♂️ We have our own set of problems in my home country of the UK, but it can be bizarre to hear some of the US assumptions about the rest of the world.

[ellen]

I am a 62 year old single female who hasn't been much of anywhere outside the western US. Thank you so much for this video. It has given me alot to think about.

[Ajlez]

I feel like the friendliness here in the US comes sort of from our detached way of living, and I could be totally wrong since I'm not exactly "one of them". I've always been friendly and was automatically raised to do things like smile and say hello to anybody I pass while walking, but I've never been a "comfortable talking to people" person. Which is becoming more and more common, people are terrified of eachother. But I do find that people here will express friendliness regardless of willingness to actually have any level of closeness to another person. To me, that's almost like an expression of what you're missing in life.

One time, an online friend from Bulgaria asked me how my health was, and I gave him an honest answer. Then I immediately apologized, because here in the US when you ask someone how they are, you don't really care, you just want to hear "I'm fine" (which I obviously find pointless). He said no no, I asked you because I was actually interested, we ask eachother this all the time and we don't expect the other person to fake. It was very surprising to me. In fact, I felt like I wasn't important enough to actually answer that question honestly, which really shows something wrong with how people treat themselves.

[iampaytontv]

As an American, I agree wholeheartedly. Lately I’ve been seriously considering moving to another country after graduating next year. I’ve notice people have gotten more vain and narcissistic in recent years, and it’s frowned upon (especially in the South) to take time to care about other people. Individualism is pushed heavily here.

[GreenEnvy.]

Every country has a different energy in the air. I'm an American living in Morocco for 10 years and the energy here is calm and slow. The energy in America is so intense and fast that it gave me anxiety. Morocco's energy has cured my anxiety from living in America.

[perthon]

Lack of empathy is the thing that concerns me the most .

[philippadowney]

The US healthcare situation is the most terrifying thing as a brit, especially with our government looking at destroying our NHS and replacing it with a US style system.

[CassieUmali]

Just discovered your channel and watched this as the 2nd video and it’s more relevant that ever even after 2 years of it’s posting.
Thanks for putting your heart into your work to share that side of you. Vulnerability is the real strength.
Subscribed and shared this with my family 👍🏽

[crisiturralde]

I used to live in Long Island, New York... I went on vacation to a place called Mallorca, Spain... I never went back to the states.. That was 13 years ago...

[tasdevl]

Watching this I thought “oh boy, the comments are going to be crazy”. And yet the popular comments are written by reasonable people who understand what she’s saying. Nice job Internet!

[carminfrancisco]

Oh Kristin, thank you for speaking the truth about the US. It has become a superficial, shallow population for so many reasons. I thought that I was thinking crazy, but I feel the way you do. I don’t value a shallow conversation or the materialistic culture. I’m in my mid 50’s and I’m ready to escape the negative, self-centered mindset of the US. It’s time to find a better community for the next years of my life. You’re a fantastic inspiration!

[camillabrandao_ads]

Great video! As a latin kid growing up in Brazil we used to worship the US and dream about moving there. A lot of what we consumed was American, including movies, music etc. Now as an adult living in Denmark, I completely changed my mind. The best definition I can think of is: “The US is a developing country with a Gucci belt”