How I See The USA After 5 Years Living Abroad

My views on the USA after living abroad in Mexico and the Philippines for 5 years.

[christina]

I respect your perspective and the message here. Im American, and ive spent 5 years serving in the Military, and 6 years traveling as a nomad in attempts to recover from that experience. Ive recently returned, after living the pandemic years in Thailand and spending 6 months in Mexico/Guatemala after I left Asia. Im struggling to find gratitude and optimism here, and I feel so disassociated from those around me, everyone seems to prioritize the rat race, work/career, materialism. It's an individualistic society, and not many travel or escape to see things from a different perspective. I can most definitely appreciate the comforts and conveniences here ...if I want hot water I can trust that it will work- for example...But comfort does not bring happiness...and this is why I observed so many developing countries, despite experiencing poverty, they had joy because they had community, family, connection to earth, and simplicity. There are certainly worse places, but i'd argue better, as well. Never the less, I recognize I am privileged to hold a US passport, and receive US dollar, because for better or for worse, those are keys to living more abundantly regardless of where you may find yourself.

[nightwing]

In pursuit of success sometimes we abandoned those things that makes us truly happy, like human connection, positively impacting the lives of others, being present or empathy. Sometimes true abundance is not about worldly success nor material wealth, but it's about having contentment, gratitude and inner peace. 🙏

[VeeCakesTv]

I really love the concept of your audiobook diary theme.

[iamedyboy]

Americans who have lived overseas and then returned to the USA become better Americans. They now appreciate even simple things, such as having a refrigerator, which is a luxury in most Philippine households.

[nikkinfl]

I'm an American who has lived in Mexico for the past 3 years and I'm on my way to Thailand soon. I have traveled to many different places around the world beyond the "nice" hotels. It's quite strange to hear you say things like, living "in an extremely Americanized posh part of town" as if the U.S. is the only place in the world where there are nice places. And living amongst the locals is something that I hear quite often as well as "the real Thailand" for example, which can be insulting. All of it is real! This is real life where some people are rich, middle class and poor in every country. Does that mean that the "real" United States is like the version of a movie where everything is perfect? What is living among the locals? Does that mean living among poor people? If so, it is so untrue. Locals live in different ways, just as people in the U.S. live, not just in the countryside. Just as in the U.S., there are wealthy parts of town and poorer parts of town and they were that way long before any Americans came into the picture. I get it and I understand that there are places in the world that may not be too modernized, and I appreciate your perspective and I have no hate for my native country. There are of course many good things about the U.S., but there are also many good things about other countries as well. I think that you're generalizing too much when it comes to life outside of the U.S. It depends on your perspective and what you're used to. I will tell you that there are a lot of "everyday" Mexicans who have way more money than me and I don't consider myself poor.

[shethewriter]

I'm glad you shared this perspective. While it is very hard to get by in the USA, there are so many things we take for granted in our day to day life. One thing I tell people who want to leave is: what about the luxury of leaving? Just by being born an American, you have more freedom to leave your country than most countries do. So even if you leave, the privilege follows you. There are many things that suck here, but we are relatively so, so lucky. Not to mention, our country is huge and there are so many ways that you can live here. You can change states. You can change things on the local level. You start with more options here than people who are born in most of the rest of the world.

[dumbmutts.]

I've travelled the world, been to over 100 countries but never the Americas. Never had the desire because of their attitude. America is the greatest country in the world. Give me a break. Jeff Daniels summed it up perfectly.

[wanderingsoul]

Learning the high and low makes things easier to position one's self in the middle like being satisfied with what you have and being grateful for what you can or will have

[foddermucker]

We moved from the Philippines to the UAE in 1986, then, to the USA in 1993 where I have stayed since. I could write a book explaining why I stayed here the longest despite all the negatives you see and experience in the US, it is still the best country to live in IMHO.

[jmdonasc]

Moved to the USA in 2007 from the Philippines. OMG, everthing is so convenient.

[AbyS]

My company has hired many people from the Philippines and my manager visited for 3 months a few years ago- he too believes Americans are ungrateful and believes more of us should spread kindness.

[khrysztofferson]

Men in Ancient Days had lived a life devoid of so much luxuries and amenities the people of today's enjoy but they had survived life threats and challenges because of their resilience and adaptability while fostering a sense of community and unity.  While many Filipinos would want to move to first world countries for the reason that they could earn more there and have a better financial life, however not all Filipinos want that way as there are Filipinos value life in different light and perspective despite the pressing issues, incongruences, inadequacies and impoverishment in societies where they belong. There are just some precious things in life that the material wealth can't fill or satisfy. The way you live your life depends upon what you really treasure and value in your life? Having all the comforts and material wealth in your life doesn't always mean living a meaningful, fulfilling and very worthy life. So I think it depends on what aspects of life matters to you the most, perhaps you love or desire the most, like is it the material things or the intangible ones?

[ClarkeAsimov]

Its easy to forget that most of these american youtubers who “left the US for good and will never return” actually still have their US passport AND earn in USD.

[justinw]

A visit to the Philippines even if it's for being on a vacation will make someone understand the gap between living there and in America or any first world country. You will be surprised how the things which are considered basic in first world countries are treated as luxury in the Philippines. When most of my family migrated to Canada, they never came back. I mean why would they? While yes the said country has it's own issues, life is so much better there. Unless you have a "decent" job here in the Philippines, life is going to be tough. Of course there will still be perks in living here, but if given a choice right from the start, the answer is pretty much clear for most Filipinos.

[LeslieCabuling]

I’ve still remembered years 60’S & 70’ - Our Educational System in the Philippines, our Public Elementary School we have a G.M.R.C. - GOOD MANNERS & RIGHT CONDUCT, for 10 minutes Orientation before start the regular class subjects.
Besides of our Traditional Cultures how to RESPECT the ELDERLY & PARENTS despite’s the UNREALISTIC SOCIETY we’re living now in the WORLD…, especially in WESTERN LIFE.

[jojojojo-btsd]

As a middle-class Filipino who attempted to be with my family in the US, the overt racism I could not swallow because of personal pride, the schizophrenics and dangers of walking the streets of America made me go back to the Philippines. Having my own business, I live surprisingly better in my own country than yours. Not even the cakes could make me want to live there. Even a friend who became a celebrated "American" artist came back permanently. You went back to the US because you feel you belong there, not out of anything else.

[enterprisesincxyz]

Yeah, you didn't know your own country until you left it. I am a naturalized American citizen and I am happy to be an American. My father fought for America in WWII. He became an American citizen after that. There is no perfect country.NONE!!!! I am grateful to America for giving me a better life. Blessed and grateful. 🙏❤️

[sophiachavez]

Agree with everything you stated. The US is the best country with all its defects. We need to improve our country. Thank God for being an American. Americans have no clue how blessed we are. And the luxury to criticize one’s country is not available to most of the world.

[Hicks-gm]

I live in the country side of in south east Asia Philippines to be exact and I'm and I'm an American and Canadian citizen. I agree with you on America it's a mess a big mess I'm surprised that it doesn't look like the Philippines

[rowelllumboy]

methinks you should interview immigrants in the us/podcast style