How I view the US after 12 years living abroad

I have been living abroad for 12 years and a lot has changed in the US during that time. In this video, I will talk about some of the biggest changes I have noticed and how my views have changed on these issues. Have you noticed these changes? What other things do have you noticed changing in the US? Leave a comment and let me know.

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[TripBitten]

Corrections and Updates:
1. Australia and New Zealand do have paid parental leave. This was a mistake and I apologize for the mistake. I should have double checked that information.
2. YouTube is pushing this to more people. It is always difficult to know how well a video will perform on here, which is why I was making a point about it in the video. Thank you for watching and commenting, it helps the video reach more people.
3. Some people are commenting that I left important aspects out like race, elections, etc. The video is about things that became more obvious after living abroad. Some of the topics like race or religion were noticeable while still living in the states. Also, there are many good things about the US, but because they were good when living there and are still good, I didn't point that out. The video is about how my views changed over time, so good things are still good and some bad things are still bad and nothing has changed in my views, which is why I didn't comment on those points.
4. Thanks to the comments: Syria does have universal healthcare and it is pretty good according to people that live there.

*I will add any additional corrections or updates here, if I feel the need to clarify any points.

[winkstorm]

Speaking as an American, the more you travel to see the world the more you will feel you’ve been lied to all your life and I’m so heartbroken by it.

[giannadifiore]

I live and grew up in the USA. My mom and step dad travel a lot, they recently took a trip to Italy. My step dad blew his back out on the very first night they arrived, he was in unbearable pain. It was a full blown emergency, he’s a tough man and couldn’t move at all without screaming in agony. My mom was panicked and had no choice but to go to the front desk at the hotel to ask for help. It’s 2am and the front desk called a Dr who literally came to the hotel on his own and treated him with shots and medication. They expected a giant bill as usual but really had no choice. Then the Dr says, okay all finished. That’ll be 20 bucks. UNBELIEVABLE! They gave him 50, the Dr then says “I’m so sorry, but I don’t have any cash to make change.” Absolutely insane from an American’s perspective. I can’t imagine not going into debt for years just for having an emergency.

[oldb-kenobi]

I'm over 50, retired military and after living abroad for well over a decade, I agree with your views, you have addressed the issues that many avoid on other channels. It is no longer the America I grew up in and I'm convinced the US has lost its collective mind. After serving my country for over 20 years I had to move to another country to live the "American dream" and I couldn't be happier. When the US falls it won't occur from a foreign invasion, it will come from self-inflicted damage and its happening right now.

[keesketsers]

Saw a video once about a US girl studying in the UK, when she had to call an ambulance for her room mate. She cried all night because she thought she ruined that girls life because of the medical bills she was going to face. Only later she understood there is no such thing in the UK, you just get medical help, not a bill.

[darkmatter]

I’m from the UK, where healthcare is free. When I was in the States, whenever the subject of healthcare came up in conversation, I soon learnt not to mention that I had free healthcare. I noticed that a lot of people resented that. The typical reaction was, “oh, you have socialist healthcare, right?”. It’s as if tagging it with a derogatory label (in the US socialist is still synonymous with communist) was a coping mechanism.

Obviously they never thought the logic through: if government-paid healthcare is “socialist”, then by definition the US has “socialist” education, military, police, armed forces, road networks, etc…because these too are things paid for by the government.

The most valuable thing we have on earth is our health. Why can’t that be a fundamental right?

[arethagrassi]

I visited the US 2, on my second visit I was harassed by a custom officer at the airport. He flat out asked me if I was actually planning to stay in the US and not return home. I asked why would I want to do that. His answer was because American is the best country in the world! I didn't know how to react, if I should laugh or feel sorry for his lack of knowledge. I am from Denmark!

[docgallagher]

When going overseas for an extended period of time, we were warned about the culture shock in our new location. Nobody ever warned us about the culture shock on our return to the USA, which was significant,

[Case_]

What always leaves me speechless on the issues of healthcare is just how many Americans will complain about having to pay horrendous amounts of money for simple tests or checkups, but at the same time will vehemently defend the US healthcare system and consider more affordable and widely available healthcare and health insurance an attack on personal freedoms or even "communist" (and it always amuses me when Americans use this word, because the American idea of what it means is very different from what it actually means to people from countries that have direct experience with communism). As such, I've concluded a long time ago that Americans simply can't be helped and can't have more affordable and more widely available healthcare, because they're trapped in a hell of their own creation.

[mikecarter]

I’m an American who’s been living in Australia for the last 8 years…and I’m black, and a veteran. I have felt much more free here than in the U.S. After my first two weeks here, I decided never to move back to the U.S., and haven’t once regretted that decision. I don’t have to be afraid police will just stop me and brutalize me for walking down the street in a hoodie, or for having a flashy car. Here, the police don’t shoot first and ask questions later. As a matter of fact, if you don’t have a gun aimed at them, they don’t shoot, for even draw their weapons. My children can go to school, and go places with their friends without fears of being caught up in a mass shooting. There’s no school to prison pipeline. If we have any medical problems, we don’t need insurance to get medical treatment and aren’t fearful of going bankrupt because of medical expenses. Here, there’s no Electoral College, so every vote counts. Voting is also mandatory here, so they make it easy to do so. If a polling place is getting a little crowded, they open up more. It’s also easier, financially, to go to college (university) here, without going into debt for the rest of your life. In the U.S, I was always black. I had to come to Australia to actually be considered an American and live the American dream. Go figure.

[jpsteiner]

My family and I lived in Germany for several years. It was eye-opening how much better "life" was for the every day person for many of the reasons you mention. Better public transportation, better medical, better food, better work-life balance, better roads, better conversations, better schools, better treatment of educators. Returning to the US was a shock, an eye-opener at how complete the constant marketing of fear has blinded us.

[PedroFigs]

As a Brazilian, I grew up with the thought that the US was the greatest place on earth. We have brought a lot of the American way of life here, but it was only after I moved to Denmark, where I lived for 4 years, and travelled to a lot of places and after my parents moved to the US and I went there to visit them, that I realized that the country, although has a lot of things I love, isn't all that I thought. I think you covered most of the points in the video. Travelling is what makes you really see how countries, people and culture are.

[northerncousin]

I'm Canadian and worked in San Franciso for 2 years in a small office with some very nice people but.... I was astonished at how litte they knew about other countries and their overwhelmoing conviction that everything in the USA was done the best way in the world. We had many discussions and I pointed some of the same facts presented in this video - often met with outright rebuke and dismissal. When I left the company, at my going away party, several of the staff came up and quietly confessed that I had made them think that maybe they should look beyond their own borders to see other, more human oriented ways to live. As a new resident in the US what I noticed most was the incredible promotion and hype for all things American. That country's advertising and promotion industry is the most powerful in the world - not the best, the most powerful.

[tmmckee]

I'm a Southern gal who ended up in Russia, Turkey, China and Mexico for 12 years. I had to move back to the US last year and OMG. I am trying to save enough money and put myself in a situation to get out and stay out. This place has gone insane.

[Cavernvision]

I’ve been living in Denmark going on 16 years now. I’ve been able to enjoy freedoms here, as a foreigner, that I never dreamed of while living in the USA.

[ecuapolo]

I am a US citizen that lived abroad for 4 years and it was absolutely beautiful. Life outside the US is way more relaxed and families seem to be more united. It was definitely an awesome experience.

[brianmclean]

Was in Barcelona and walked in a park as nighttime was approaching - lot of families were still socializing, picnicking, playing soccer, skateboarding etc - seemed a lot safer than what one would see in large city in USA

[jean-pierrelinck]

I am a Frenchman who lives in America, I agree with all your points, you should also address the issues of homelessness, crime, lack of decent unemployment coverage and broken retirement system, just to name a few.

[stinkychihuahua]

I’m a U.S. citizen but I’ve lived in Japan for 14 years. I can’t handle social media much because I don’t recognize my country anymore. What are they even talking about?! I’ve only visited the US twice since I left and I felt very uncomfortable both times. My Japanese husband heard gunshots for the first time ever in my hometown. I gained 5lbs in 2 weeks even though we split meals in half… I was terrified we’d get sick or injured. The water was filthy. My family showed off their gun collection to my husband (to his horror). I was embarrassed.

[Jimothythend]

In the US the media gives us a real sense that we are the center of the world. Most people in our country can't even imagine that most of the world operates differently than we do.