6 Major Culture Shocks After Returning to the US From Europe

Рет қаралды 647,530

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 3 700

@scottgeorge4268 Жыл бұрын

More Americans should travel abroad and experience what this man has, they might stop thinking they're superior to the rest of the world.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

I agree 100%. Everybody though, not just Americans

@ravenm6443 Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately most Americans can’t afford to travel. Unlike Europe where there’s many countries all connected or very close, Americans (I’m including all of America continentally), have to cross oceans to get to the rest of the world and it’s not cheap. Even flying within our country isn’t necessarily cheap.

@jessielynn Жыл бұрын

@@ravenm6443I agree. Flights within America are so much more expensive than flights within the entire continent of Europe.

@Phiyedough Жыл бұрын

Exactly, I think something like 60% of Americans live their whole lives without ever getting a passport.

@Matlockization Жыл бұрын

Stop thinking America is superior, however they have saved Europe a few time including right now and that is not necessarily a bad thing. But their food is very bland.

@juhilla749 Жыл бұрын

"America is the only society that has progressed from barbarism to decadence without civilization." -Oscar Wilde

@billythedog-309 Жыл бұрын

Oscar Wilde famously took a trip on HG Wells time machine to the early twentieth century and heard French Premier George Clemenceau say this and then he claimed he said it first.

@andredeketeleastutecomplex Жыл бұрын

Haha, good one.

@eleveneleven572 Жыл бұрын

Even more true today.

@peterlangan1181 Жыл бұрын

Wasn’t it that “America is the only country that has gone from youth to senility without ever achieving maturity”. It now even has a very senile President!

@billythedog-309 Жыл бұрын

@@peterlangan1181 No

@saltaroe19 Жыл бұрын

I'm an American living in Sweden for the past 48 years. Everytime I visit the US I discover a new level of degradation. It is so sad that the oppotunity to better the general publics quality of life is NEVER on the political agenda only look after yourself and give a damn about anyone else. I don't know where I'd be if I'd stayed in the States, having a chronic disease and also re-educated to change careers mid-life. So glad I ended up here in Sweden.

@Daggz90 Жыл бұрын

Bro I'm 33yrs old born and raised here in Sweden, quality of life has only gotten worse over time. You may find it pretty good here now but considering how we've had an abundance of most things to now be indebted for decades ahead, is pretty bad. Our socialist governments have merely been pretty successful in portraying green fields, acceptance and tolerance, etc. It's all illusory, within a decade we'll be a third world country too.

@francisdec1615 Жыл бұрын

"Socialist"? If you mean the immigration, only SD is against it. All parties but SD are guilty of what's happened.

@joravp882 Жыл бұрын

I would tell that the only reason protecting 1st-world countries from becoming 3rd-world countries was the existence of 2nd-world countries (whose almost don't exist anymore)

@athomas454 Жыл бұрын

Daggz90 wich socialist governments roule now?

@noracola5285 Жыл бұрын

@@joravp882 2nd world is coming back tho & this time they're bringing the 3rd world up with them! 😀

@kerriganm Жыл бұрын

I just came back from a three week trip to Western Europe. Unfortunately I had to experience emergency rooms in two different countries during the trip. It was a truly shocking experience. America, at least as regards emergency medicine, is a third world country- and I am probably insulting third world countries. Medicine centered on patients and doctors rather than insurance companies is a completely different universe. I had an Algerian taxi driver tell me that healthcare is even better (and more comprehensive and cheaper) in Algeria than in Ireland. It’s not just fast food and stress that explains our short lifespans and overall poor health. Our healthcare system is purpose-built to fail us while also bankrupting us. How in hell did we let this happen?!

@CitroTeam Жыл бұрын

Because they were bombarded with false advertising. Because fear was instilled and they accepted everything as if it were the best, the safest, the most democratic, the freest. When a lie is repeated daily everyone believes it to be the truth.

@mortisrat Жыл бұрын

It's not just the medicine. If you go out for a meal the staff will be begging you for cash 'so they don't starve, because their boss barely pays them'. Education is so laughable that exams are actually multiple choice, you have the answer in front on you for all questions, and could (theoretically) pass by chance. With no proper employment rights, no real healthcare, and poor education - of course it's a third world country. It is the richest 3rd world country, though.

@kimm.8800 Жыл бұрын

Probably because the cold war-rethoric against everything "socialism", since the European welfare system is social democratic.

@francechou Жыл бұрын

In the United states people were led to believe in a narrative that universal health Care and free college education is a communist Idea. But in fact many western countries that are Just as capitalist have those. They are interrelated issues because one thing that drives up the cost of healthcare is the cost of educating professionals.

@ricardoaraoz717 Жыл бұрын

"How in hell did we let this happen?" - well, because you feel universal health care is "socialist"? You people only allow "socialism" in things that you really care for, like the military... I guess you don't care so much about your own population.

@sionhughes5543 Жыл бұрын

I am English and have lived in Florida for a year and a half . I couldn’t wait to get home . I met some wonderful people but mostly I was faced with ridiculous questions about where I was from and then straight into how I must want to stay on in the US now I have seen it close up . As kind as I was when I explained that I wouldn’t want to permanently live in the US I found myself feeling extremely uncomfortable when faced with statements, such as “America is the best country in the world, why wouldn’t you wanna live in it?” . It was painful to be constantly surrounded by people that never left the country, and had no concept of the world. Outside of the state they lived in. The television gave me headaches, because of all of the constant advertising, and the high-speed sales pitch of everything news, advertising, or just general entertainment. I witnessed several murders and listen to the sound of gunfire every week. I tried never to offer my opinion anything to do with American culture as what would seem a friendly conversation would instantly turned sour at any hint of criticism. The food was horrific and I was constantly feeling, as if I needed something that didn’t agree with me but could not explain what it was. On my return to England, I realised that our food has not been saturated with preservatives and chemicals. That was the cause of my constant nausea. I really missed subtlety of humour. As I said, I really didn’t meet some wonderful Americans. And it’s not all bad, just the food and the lack of healthcare and the lack of social care, and the lack of education, and the lack of any understanding of anything outside of the United States.

@wimve4719 Жыл бұрын

To be honest ... Amen, I had the complete same experience (not from the UK). My feeling was the constant insecurity. I'm a Boomer (as people like to call it these days). The only place I ever saw a gun, rifle, assault weapon ... was in 1983 when I was in the army until I got to the US. After all these years, I still cannot get my head around that one.

@miamihurricane555 9 ай бұрын

You should have come to Miami. We have a nice bubble of sanity safe from the rest of Florida. The only issue is how expensive the city is. But if you have middle class income it is definitely worth not being surrounded by people that don't even have a passport.

@Muswell 3 ай бұрын

And the lack of Workers Rights -- paid holiday pay, paid sick pay, paid maternity leave etc etc.

@frank2107 Жыл бұрын

As a Swede this was a good way to remind myself to be grateful for the things I complain about on a daily basis - such as our public transportation systems - as they could be so much worse.

@chubbymoth5810 Жыл бұрын

In order not to have public services degrade, I can recommend to keep complaining. It may actually improve things if you complain enough and nag your local politicians about it with a group of likeminded people.

@cholpoun Жыл бұрын

as a non-swede living in Stockholm last 18 months, i absolutely love public transport in sweden 😅i think its very good

@shinnam Жыл бұрын

Yes, but we have to guard our good social system. The swing to the right in the last election and joining NATO, could be just as bad for us as George W Bush was for the US. Let's hope little Ulfie is more like Senior Bush.

@fernthaisetthawatkul5569 Жыл бұрын

or you could have none at all like in most of the US 😅

@anthonykennedy5324 Жыл бұрын

Apparently, the Viennese complain about their public transport system... one of the best in the world.

@slash196 Жыл бұрын

I had the same experience. Pretty much zero culture shock when I went to Europe, but coming back was like, wtf this country actually sucks pretty bad. Moved to Europe permanently ten years ago and never even came close to regretting it.

@eustacemcgoodboy9702 Жыл бұрын

Same. 10 years. You can't go back to the U.S. once you've seen it from the outside and realized what it actually is.

@HHalcyon Жыл бұрын

I was in the US for three months. Got to see quite a bit considering I traveled for a month on a bicycle. The US is a dumpster fire. There are obviously good things there but in general it's a third world country with huge military spending. I met a lot of nice people but I was also left with quite a bit of distaste. Distaste in a sense that China is also a hell hole and Russia as well. But for simplification I limited my examples to three superpowers or, well, two superpowers and their retarded alcoholic cousin, Russia. The final verdict? We're not in good hands as it currently stands.

@Ordog213 Жыл бұрын

it got worse in the US since 9/11....was there 1999 for work and 2013 in the same region. everything degraded and i can only imagen that this trend goes on and on and on

@nenadpopov3601 Жыл бұрын

It's funny how most ppl when they're kids want to go to US but when we grow up we realize it's really not that great, it's actually far worse for a lot of reasons.

@vaenii5056 Жыл бұрын

@@nenadpopov3601 The United States used to be better place to live than basically all European countries. That is why people wanted to migrate there. But the thing is Europe learned from the United States whereas the USA stopped learning from others and stagnated in terms of social development.

@christopherdieudonne Жыл бұрын

I"m an American who's lived in France for 20 years and I definitely experience reverse culture shock when I go home and I go to a restaurant. The servers checking in on you every 5 to 10 minutes definitely makes you feel like you are being rushed. It's the opposite in France where the wait staff pretty much leave you alone after your food has been served.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Right! You already know how I was feeling. It’s a completely different world and takes some getting used to.

@christopherdieudonne Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan Oh yeah! I have experienced much of the reverse culture shock you talked about in this video, from the USA restaurant staff rushing you to the food in America being trash. All true ! Plus, the train system in France is very similar to what you described about Sweden. Good video. Subscribed !

@thefirm4606 Жыл бұрын

Lol! I live in Portugal. If it doesn’t take 2 hours for lunch, it ain’t lunch - it’s a snack 😂😂

@christopherdieudonne Жыл бұрын

@@thefirm4606 haha. Same in France. Lunch is definitely an event. Lol

@louis-philippearnhem6959 Жыл бұрын

In Belgium too

@Edmlady92 Жыл бұрын

My boyfriend and I stayed in Germany for a few weeks last year. We went to see a German friend I met while she stayed here in the US for a few months. It was our 1st time abroad and we loved it. We prefer the slow paced dining environment in Europe. I couldn't believe how efficient public transportation was. It was so easy to get around, we took a train from Munich to Salzburg, Austria for a day trip! We are planing to travel abroad more. Great video!

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

I’m glad you and your partner enjoyed Germany! I haven’t been there yet but I am looking forward to It!

@patriciabailey1937 Жыл бұрын

I was lucky to live in Germany in the 80’s. Those were great times and they were sad times, sad because those eleven years were going to end and Britain would beckon? And it did in 1984. Today I relive those wonderful years, where everything worked and everyone behaved with respect for their neighbourhood: no litter; no noise during the night or early morning and no avoidable excess noise in between! A part of me wishes I had never been privy to that civilisation,but on the other hand quite likely I would not know any better and this would be unfortunate.

@spinnetti Жыл бұрын

Two of my favorite places! (family in Munich, mom was born near Salzburg)

@PeterNGloor Жыл бұрын

Public transport in Germany is in a crisis, especially the long-distance trains. Go ask the Germans. They envy some of their neighbours for having a better service. ICE trains are ALWAYS late.

@pashvonderc381 Жыл бұрын

@@PeterNGloorand the S-Bahn service here in Munich is starting to take the piss a little of late…

@cartesiuscartesius233 Жыл бұрын

I’m from Sweden and its comforting to hear your opinion about food, because on my visits to the us food was a big issue for me. It was so hard to find anything I wanted to eat.

@Buttercup697 Жыл бұрын

that's because most American farms are industrial companies... they also use pesticides that are banned in most EU countries (Glyphosate from Monsanto... which was once owned by the US, now owned by Bayer in Germany. Guess what is banned in Germany? Glyphosphate.)

@MayYourGodGoWithYou Жыл бұрын

I have a USAmerican friend who has lived here in Ireland for several decades now. Every time she went back to the US to visit family she was always ill despite trying to always eat organic vegetables and breads. When she came home she would take a couple of weeks to recover and then she was back to her normal health despite eating ORDINARY fruit and vegetables and only organic meat here. So not even the ORGANIC food is safe to eat which is a very worrying issue.

@b.w.1386 Жыл бұрын

183 different ways to eat french fries tells you a lot about a country.

@Cr3ePiO Жыл бұрын

I found it funny how much better mcdonalds was in europe than in the us. (it does vary a lot from county to country within eu tho)

@greenknitter Жыл бұрын

@@Cr3ePiO I had a burger a few years ago in McDs here in Ireland and the meat was actually ok. They use 100% pure Irish beef which is high quality so at least that's good.

@marakara7540 Жыл бұрын

My American friend, a teacher, was SHOCKED to see what we serve as free lunch for school kids here in Finland. Fresh food with proper nutritional balance. She took plenty pictures.

@marisamar3247 Жыл бұрын

This is saddest thing I read today

@be.A.b Жыл бұрын

Americans are extremely ignorant and stubborn and when it comes to food. Even when pilot program for “healthy” food were being implemented, we all rioted and protested about how inhumane it is. Many of us complained about being left with hunger. Why? Because most of the students wouldn’t even eat most of the offerings, only picking through the parts they liked. Eating the vegetables was seen as part of a Marxist grand agenda to some parents. I’m telling you.. Americans are so dumb in that regard! However I will say, gen z seems to finally be faring better when it comes to openness to trying new foods. Social media has been good at exposing and desensitizing them in that regard. Too bad we’re still dumb and cheap

@JaharNarishma Жыл бұрын

In Sweden, talks have started about providing school lunch during breaks as well as during school days.

@prinskorvar9331 Жыл бұрын

in sweden the average is around 50-90 minute breaks with actually good food

@Epicdps Жыл бұрын

@@JaharNarishma needless socialist ideas. This is because of the perpetrated idea that kids are "going hungry" in sweden has been recently making headlines in media. It's all socialist brainwashing

@psychedelicpegasus7587 Жыл бұрын

I have worked in the service industry in Europe and I feel a lot of empathy for service workers in the U.S. especially in fast food chains. The amount of verbal abuse I have received even with a zero tolerance policy in place has been traumatising. I cannot imagine what workers go through when "the customer is always right" is the rule. Also tipping as wages system is absurd. If a business cannot afford to pay its staff wages then it should not be a business. Tips should be a show of appreciation, not something to live on. I really appreciated your perspective and cultural observations 😊

@stepzend132 Жыл бұрын

well said!

@AllLivezmatter Жыл бұрын

Right on!

@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131 Жыл бұрын

In Scandinavia your wages are regulated by law. The Worker's Unions are protecting worker's rights, and each year they demand that wages are regulated to match inflation. Roughly 5 to 8%, in Norway. Tipping is common in restaurants, but it's not mandatory. Curtesy is king. "May I have..." , or "I'd like (so and so), please", will win you a friend. L😘ve from Norway 🇧🇻

@americaisbetterthantherest9848 Жыл бұрын

• I’m originally from Canada. I moved here 25 years ago and I never met a rude or mean American. I’m actually surprised that first person is lying like that. You have clearly never been to America if you actually believe we are rude. Every foreigner that actually comes here actually says that Americans are nice and easy to talk to.

@Istr Жыл бұрын

@@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131 You're mostly right, but wages are not regulated by law in the Nordic countries. The minimum wage is literally nothing, but at least in Sweden we have traditionally had strong unions which makes up the so-called "Swedish model" and makes wages relatively high compared to many other countries. It's a problem though that too few are members of the unions nowadays (which makes the threat of strike and other methods weaker), combined with politics that makes the rich richer and removes bits of the employment safeties we have had. This has lowered the overall raising of wages and now more people have to work more than one job.

@anniehope8651 Жыл бұрын

As a European I like to think that the biggest difference in 'hustle culture' is the attitude towards bills. In the US people commonly say 'I got bills to pay (so I go work every day)'. In Europe we don't say it that way. We say: 'First work, then see what you can spend.' We work certain hours and make a certain amount of money, so there's only so much we can spend. If you can't afford your bills make sure you reduce your bills, not work more. I think it's also due to the payment system. We don't pay with a creditcard, we use a debet card. We can only spend the money we actually have. It seems like in America it's more like: I spend money, I get into debt with my credit card company and now I have to work to pay the bills or (credit card) debt. That way everyone tends to spend more than they really can afford, and so they constantly need to look for side hustles. In general I think things in the US are not much more expensive, so that doesn't make much of a difference in hustle culture. Possibly the low minimum wage and tipping culture does, but I believe it's more due to the general attitude towards work, money and bills, and the particular order they come in. Of course debts happen in Europe too, but things like 'credit score' are not really a thing here. If you are in debt, you must have made some kind of financial mistake. Basically the only things you get loans for are student loans and a mortage. Not your daily costs of living. (By the way, healthcare and education are not free. They are financed in a different way and therefore much cheaper, but they're not free. For example in my country you pay monthly health insurance based on your income, and as a result you don't have to pay when you need healthcare, but that doesn't mean that you never payed for it. That also means that when you get sick, you don't have to find side hustles to pay your hospital bills. Unexpected high costs contribute to hustle culture. I guess in Europe costs are more predictable, but definitely not zero. )

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

I never knew other countries don’t use credit scores. Here In the US people spend what they don’t have. Which is why we just reached a new all time high of consumer debt In US history… 17 TRILLION DOLLARS🤯

@Merecir Жыл бұрын

Many European countries, like Sweden, does not have any minimum wage. Minimum wages has the effect of allowing employers to just set the salary at the minimum level and thus disregard the actual market conditions.

@gaelle4328 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan Actually Sweden does use credit scores but they are based on more your ability to pay as in that you are not overextended ( you are not rewarded in your credit score for more debt rather the opposite) and yes majority of people have a credit card but most people don’t have more than 2000-10 000 dollars in credit card debt

@GhostSamaritan Жыл бұрын

@@gaelle4328 Do people really use credit cards here? Maybe I'm in the wrong circles, but most people I know only use debit cards.

@MrHenrikq Жыл бұрын

@@GhostSamaritan NEver had, never used. 37 year old Swede.

@kaydesign Жыл бұрын

The most surprising thing is that average Americans BELIEVE they live in the best, greatest, most free country in the world. That’s only possible when you never travel or look with a open mind to other countries. This mentally makes it harder to learn or get better as a society

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

I agree 100%. It’s true ignorance at its finest not experiencing other places and cultures but making judgement based from other opinions. Good point!

@Lee-fb4oj Жыл бұрын

I would like to know why everybody comes to America and stays. I see other countries and I am amazed at the beauty. I don't travel but If America sucks, why do people give up everything to come here to live. The answer is important because what lacks in all of these beautiful, clean, friendly counties is most important.

@eddykate3700 Жыл бұрын

@@Lee-fb4oj From these comments it does not seem like "everybody comes to America and stays." In 1960 84% of all immigrants to USA were born in Europe or Canada. However, today, there are less than 13% of immigrants who originated from Europe or Canada. My daughter has MS and she could never live in the USA. Her twice yearly medication costs $US40,000 per dose. What insurance company would cover that for her? Of course, it is free here, as are all her other routine medications, her physical therapies are subsidised and she lives independently because of her preventative treatments! I wouldn't give up my paid rights of employment or superior health care system, or the delicious food to go to the USA and risk being shot at in a church or at a folk festival, or to get too fat to sit in a seat on a plane to go back home! The USA is the business head of the world's economy with a huge focus on profits. Foreign companies sometimes find it lucrative to set up branches in the USA where they can pay their workers the same pittances as USA workers compared to what they are forced to pay in their own countries. Governments in most European countries ensure that paying employees a decent wage and receiving basic conditions like paid holidays and sick leave, maternity AND paternity leave and public holiday pay is guaranteed.

@Lee-fb4oj Жыл бұрын

@@eddykate3700 I am happy to know your daughter is receiving good treatment.

@Threadbow Жыл бұрын

Poignant point, food for thought.

@pork_friedrice Жыл бұрын

So I’m Dutch, living in the US now for over 20 years. The biggest culture shock to me was coming to grips with the levels of racism in the US, and how it is a topic of the daily narrative. I expect that your experiences in Sweden were positive in this regard. I’m glad that you got to experience life in Western Europe. Sweden is a special place. Great content and observations.

@stepzend132 Жыл бұрын

Can you tell me about some examples of racism you have seen in the US? I mean things you have seen happening before your very eyes.

@jakubantal2546 Жыл бұрын

@@stepzend132 have you noticed the NBA MVP conversation had a racial element to it? How could we give 3 straight MVPs to the white boy? Is he better than Bird or Magic? Is he the best white player ever? When Bides wife wanted to invite losing team to white house some argued its because they were white. White girl tauting was cute, black girl tauting was classless and ghetto. How come there are only 3 black head coaches and only x black majority owners etc. ? And that's just basketball... It's always present. At least as a narrative.

@snagaHR Жыл бұрын

There is just one racism existing in US, the one of US Lefties and Democrats against all others, against the whole population of US!

@alexfriedman2152 Жыл бұрын

It's really not bad at all. It's just the elite want to paint a certain narrative. There are some people who casually have prejudices, but it's not a big thing and there is no systemic racism

@daginn896 Жыл бұрын

@@stepzend132 You will find racism anywhere, also in Europe. But while you can be as racist as you want in the USA, in Western and Northern Europe that is an criminal offence.

@cinn5611 Жыл бұрын

Hej! As a Swede, I really appreciated this video. Sometimes I don't think I can fully understand how everyday life is in America, so it's always interesting to listen to that perspective.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching! I really appreciate It!!!

@Noirellion Жыл бұрын

I agree that it is very interesting to watch as a Swede as it provides perspective both ways!

@boosteddiesel1834 Жыл бұрын

I’m glad you enjoyed your time in Europe. Experiencing the cultural differences must have been a big eye opener. When I was young I moved from north to south Europe. The cultural differences even within Europe were massive. That was one of my best life experiences. I think everyone should travel and experience a foreign country at least once in their life, because the world has so much more to offer than most of us realise until we experience it ourselves. A European.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!! It’s eye opening that traveling broadens your perspective to things you wouldn’t have imagined before. I can imagine there was a big difference going from north to south Europe since you are moving from country to country.

@tripleaaakollektiv870 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan you've got the monarchies, and the post-socialist countries (and france and germoney), generally speaking

@tripleaaakollektiv870 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan it's also eye-opening to show strangers, tourists and newcomers your home place, i LOVE walking my couch-surfers around because i see my town with "new eyes" thanks to them

@CrocHudson Жыл бұрын

This is something I think about a lot. I grew up in the US and came over here for a research year for college. I ended up staying, getting married and settling here. I don't go back home often so 23 years later and my entire adult life really is steeped in living over here. I don't even remember my social security number anymore! And I think, I wonder if I would be actually able to adult in America if you just plucked me up from here and dropped me down in any random place in America? I'm honestly not sure if I could! These are all such legit observations you've made you were only away for 8 months - spot on with all of them, man. You're a real one 👍👍👍 I'm hitting that subscribe button!

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Nah you’re a real one!! Thank you for watching!!’

@jayjones7891 Жыл бұрын

I'm in the military stationed in Germany. I've been all over Europe, and every point you made... is true!!! I'm dreading going back to the US.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Man enjoy It while you can because once you touch down back home it’s going to be DIFFERENT! Thank you for watching and thank you for your services 🫡

@amyclea Жыл бұрын

As soon as you get out, snag a job as a contractor on base. A lot of people do it. It is not that hard to stick around.

@i1bike Жыл бұрын

They r gonna move ya to kosovo soon, sh*ts about to happen there haha

@jayjones7891 Жыл бұрын

@@i1bike Rather be there than the States. I'm working hard for an extension and possibly a follow on assignment still here in Europe.

@i1bike Жыл бұрын

@@jayjones7891 chetnicks are tricky, they have no shame or moral. Once hell breaks loose, ull be happy that you are in the US in your warm bed. Bloodshed thats happening in ukraine will look like a joke for how bad it can escalate here. Im croatian, lived thru war in 90s, so if i dont know, noone does. If you do not believe me, there was a video on youtube of chetnicks shoothing with snipers even on the UN peace personel and killing two of them. Now, you can claim and moralize that 'not every person is the same' and you would be right. But im just giving you the statistics, you dont have to accept it, but you will remember my words when they send you to pick up dead kosovar civilians and few chetnick mines blows your convoy up. Also, when there was truce and while our city was under siege, chetnicks bombed with aviation the main hospital in city, where all the pregnant women and newborn babies were stationated, hoping they will have atleast 0.1% of soul and wont bomb it. I know that, seen it with my own eyes, cuz i was in that hospital with mom and a newborn brother. If those are chetnicks, kosovars are the same or a bit worse, they even have a term "blood grudge". And this is not only for movies, its real, very much so

@waynegenthner979 Жыл бұрын

Oh man you are so right on with all of this. I've been living in Barcelona for 6 years and I returned to the States last week just for a couple of days. It was like traveling to a completely different, aggressive and racist reality. It was really hard to take. Yuck. I'm glad to be back in my barrio where we're not afraid to be nice to each other. I hope things improve in the US, those folks deserve to live better than they do.

@tripleaaakollektiv870 Жыл бұрын

spain can be quite racist, towards brown an black immigrants, and pretty classist internally - it's still a monarchy. Catalonia is more different

@Ce0ammer Жыл бұрын

@@tripleaaakollektiv870 What do you mean Spain and racism? Never heard of, except for the situations in various football games and such. Ahh and the Conguitos, that sure is racist as heck. Come to think of it, I must say you are quite right

@suckmygme-darck9996 Жыл бұрын

Funny. That was my experience living in Spain being Swedish. So racist over there. And the stories I got from this Argentinian woman I dated for a while as well with how she was being treated was insane.

@marrlena947 Жыл бұрын

The USA is absolutely the most racist and hateful country I have ever lived in. People get murdered for how they look. Beaten up. Threatened on a scale incomparable to any other country. Doesn't matter what you are. Everyone gets harrassed. I know. I grew up there. I left 20 years ago. Best decision I ever made in my life.

@mariarosahidalgo6845 Жыл бұрын

@@tripleaaakollektiv870¿eres catalán? Los nacionalistas vivís en un cuento de hadas y fuera de Cataluña hay lobos😂😂😂

@AmberBlase Жыл бұрын

Love your video! I visited my daughter who goes to school in the Netherlands recently and everywhere I went people seemed more relaxed than in the states. I think it must make a big difference knowing that things like healthcare and affordable university are treated as necessities for the whole population.

@amani-bm2le Жыл бұрын

I am from the Netherlands and not all of us even consider university and health care affordable! We find the Netherlands incredibly expensive. I moved to Belgium for this reason. Your comment makes me realize just how good we have it, compared to countries like the US. I hope you and your daughter enjoy the Netherlands :)!

@Ruthavecflute Жыл бұрын

I'm sure the lack of guns helps too!

@frederik0014 Жыл бұрын

As a dutch person, I would consider the Netherlands one of the unfriendliest and stressed out nations in Europe. Scandinavian countries are much better. It might not be as obvious or as bad as the states, but especially now a lot of people are struggling financially as well..

@drunkensailor112 Жыл бұрын

@@frederik0014so much nonsense. The netherlands consistantly ranks in the top 5 global happiness indexes. The average dutch person gives their own life an 8+ only Denmark scores higher in this.

@frederik0014 Жыл бұрын

@@drunkensailor112 I go by what I see and experience around me, not some BS "research".

@ExbotHero Жыл бұрын

As a Swede, the part about tip makes me blush so hard. Eight, nine years ago now I started to travel to (and play in) a week-long golf tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC. (I did this once per year.) It was fun and I had a great time everywhere. (Especially at the huge 19th hole with all the free food and drinks every evening.) On the last day of the second year, a person that started to become a really good friend of mine (one of the waitresses at the event) finally told me that she was so surprised that a generous person like me never gave anybody any tip. (Explaining the reality over there, also telling me that I was getting a bit of a bad reputation among the staff as a "cheap Charlie") I have never been so ashamed in all my life. I literally had no idea. (I tried to explain our way of doing it with little initial success.) 😳 It took until she visited me in Sweden. Then she finally understood the Swedish way (and believed my story for real.) Have been tipping since her explanation but still feel that I can't make up for my initial mistake. (Still embarrassed, I'm afraid.) 🤣 Great video mate. Keep up the good work!

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!! You chose the wrong sport to play without leaving a tip lol since golf is on the expensive side. Im glad the waitress gained an understanding after her visit to Sweden!

@ExbotHero Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan 👍

@eleveneleven572 Жыл бұрын

Tipping is demeaning for both customer and staff. Pay your staff right. And FFS put up prices inclusive of taxes !!!!!

@PepperSugarMix Жыл бұрын

@@eleveneleven572 I agree. Tipping is a terrible system, and it is based on notion of being able to get free labor out of people. It's time it was abolished in the United States. Servers are, if anything, more professional in countries where tipping is not expected. Being a server is a real profession with a salary and benefits.

@Naptosis Жыл бұрын

@shortshortshortcom ~ The USA hasn't even abolished slavery yet, I hardly think they're going to start paying their workers a wage they can even survive on. Unfortunately.

@SFzelus Жыл бұрын

I've lived in 7 different countries including the US for 4 years. Even though I loved my time there you are spot on about people being rude and generally more tense. I passed through New York on my way to Toronto recently and there was a tangible difference in atmosphere. The people in Canada felt a lot more welcoming and relaxed.

@landonbarretto4933 Жыл бұрын

Canada is a vastly superior country.

@LMB222 Жыл бұрын

@@landonbarretto4933still, not as chilled as most of Western Europe.

@imisstoronto3121 Жыл бұрын

@SGZelus Noticed that too a long time ago. It is calmer and more peaceful here, and because of that going to the US is off my bucket list.

@Trassel242 Жыл бұрын

I’m sorry if this is weird, but as a Swede I feel really proud that you lived in Sweden out of all countries you could have picked. I hope you enjoyed your stay here. I’m surprised you think the trains are good, most Swedes complain about them because they’re bad in comparison to other EU countries, I guess we don’t know how good they are in comparison to the US trains.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Interesting! Thanks for watching!! I loved my stay In sweden (I wish I could have experienced during midsummer)

@dylanschulz9118 Жыл бұрын

Also it os basically a European tradition to complain about how bad your trains are

@beanem.3989 Жыл бұрын

Complaining about the trains is a national sport in Germany too 😅

@gibroon4418 Жыл бұрын

I live in the UK and the trains are adequate but getting more and more expensive with less and less trains running. They are so overpriced you are cheaper to get a flight which is just horrendous for C02 emissions. The UK government have been useless in upgrading the rail infrastructure and with no incentives to use them. They are only interested in overpriced vanity projects like HS2 that is basically just lining wealthy peoples pockets with tax payers money and it is only going to benefit a part of the country.

@Fordddyyy Жыл бұрын

@gibroon4418 We're living under, over a decade of, tory austerity with a political class so encaptured by an aversion to public works that labour sabotaged their only candidate in living memory to want to make the life of the average brit better. Also we've left Europe. I need to get my Irish passport and get off this rock.

@cstatham2007 Жыл бұрын

…. After spending only 3 weeks in Italy, I can identify with what you are saying. Food is so very good everywhere you go and so fresh. As a Canadian, we have some elements of what is standard in Europe (health care) but it seems so much easier to be healthy in Europe. Walking and food shopping daily is standard in Europe - Here in North America, we drive to the fridge, lol!

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Hahaha that is true! We don’t have to move to much here In the US

@NK-bz9wb Жыл бұрын

I live in Norway but took the trains to Sweden and Denmark a couple times and I'd like to add that in addition to being efficient and clean, the drivers and public transport employees are incredibly kind, helpful and patient in these countries.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Extremely kind and patient!

@ellinor7369 Жыл бұрын

Agree. I live in Norway after having lived in Canada many years. Visited U.S. this year. Shocking to see the difference in culture. No Trains, no buses. Cars. Cars. Cars. Stressed out people, whom I felt sorry for. Corporate greed is apparent!!! Why tip? Because people are not paid enough to live comfortably. I'm very happy to live in Norway and thankful I am a Norwegian. Feel blessed.

@charlesm9190 Жыл бұрын

When I visited the US in Lakeland FL, I felt unsafe walking down to the grocery stores from my hotel. I wanted the opportunity to do a walk exercise. I also saw people carrying guns😮 in a mall in Tampa, that terrified me coming from England. I think that's why everyone prefers to drive. The food in restaurants was hugely intimidating and unhealthy, extra large portions, with lots of fizzy sugary drinks and coloured sauces! I felt sorry for the Americans, who seemed nice, embellished by the culture matrix of the American Dream, and stressed out due to the pressures of living out the dream!

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

It’s a huge culture shock!

@charlesm9190 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan Americans ought to travel more to other countries to learn as for example British have from around the world. It will be good for them culturally and politically

@AK-74K Жыл бұрын

I spent time in Sarasota a few years back and my impressions were very similar. I was expecting all of Florida to be like Miami, but that part of Florida was something else!

@nioc00 Жыл бұрын

@@charlesm9190 Oh yes. Like the Brits are a good example!

@Zerashadow Жыл бұрын

@@charlesm9190 Problem is Americans are konstantly told not to travel, cos America is the best, and going anywhere else is horrible and dangerous.

@Nabend1402 Жыл бұрын

A lot of the problems in the US are down to people not trusting the government and not wanting to pay taxes. And these same people go on and on about how patriotic they are...

@jessielynn Жыл бұрын

But we shouldn’t trust the government and they’re wasting our taxes lol

@Buttercup697 Жыл бұрын

and yet the US government is actually one that is fairly trustworthy (say compared to Italy, Portugal, Greece, and all of Eastern Europe...) All of Scandinavia is very ethical with the most trustworthy governments in the world. (according to the UN) Well, it was your president Ronald Reagan who constantly said "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help. " ... I would agree with him that the republican party is NOT there to help the people unless you were wealthy.

@niklasmolen4753 Жыл бұрын

If people see that the tax money is going to good things, they are more willing to pay. Maybe all too much of Americans' tax money goes to things people don't support.

@Desmo25 Жыл бұрын

I’m currently serving as active duty but I don’t see how my taxes are being spent wisely in Cali. They tax almost everything but offer almost nothing in return. Even people more senior (higher tenure) than me can’t afford to buy a house over there.

@donaldsmith7824 Жыл бұрын

Trusting the lobbied/bribed goverment??? Wtf

@NavaSDMB Жыл бұрын

European here, and I've lived and worked all over Europe, plus the USA and several other American countries. The first one is not that "small talk is not a big thing in the USA". It's a bloody big thing: if you don't engage in it you're being a total weirdo. I've had European, Indian and Latin American coworkers who were so confused by US "small talk" that they just didn't partake and who got called on it by their managers as "not being team players" or other such drivel (apparently "you're not engaging in small talk and this makes you seem impolite" is not in corporate bingo). But the expression means different things in the USA and in Europe. In the USA "how are you" means "hello". In Europe, Latin America, India... people may make more small talk (in Southern Europe you're likely to know the ages and important medical history of all your coworkers' close relatives within days of arriving to the new job) or less talk (in Northern Europe you can work with someone for months before finding out they're married) but we always expect it to be real talk; as you say, if we ask "how you doing" we actually _mean_ "how are you, are you having any problems, is there any joys or sorrows you want to share?"

@henrikginnerup8345 Жыл бұрын

On a related note, I find it annoying, bordering to impolite when people mindlessly ask "How are you?", when they don't actually care. Not being from a culture where it's used as a greeting, "How are you?" is a fairly big question that I have to think about before answering. It's so disheartening to then just be blown off because they didn't mean to actually ask a question

@edtazrael Жыл бұрын

In other words people forcing a conversation with you in the USA?

@NavaSDMB Жыл бұрын

@@edtazrael That's the thing: the USA's small talk is not really a conversation. A conversation conveys information beyond "I was taught manners". "Hello" "hello" is not considered a conversation by most people. It's greeting, not conversing. "Hey, how are you?" "I'm great man! My kid just got his last grade for the year and he's done so. Well. How about you?" "I'm good, finally found some allergy medicine that works!" "All right!" is a conversation. "Oh hi! Man, it's so hot today! Do you know when will the pools be opened?" "June 15th." "So late???" "It's June 15th every year." "Oh. My. God. But it's so hot!" is a conversation, even if it happens every year with every neighbor for about a month. "How are you?" "Fine, how are you?" is a salutation, but one which to many non-Usanians feels like a conversation that got guillotined at birth.

@stefangeibla3824 Жыл бұрын

Omg YESSS!!! The trivial and empty small-talk in the US gives me headaches! What a waste of precious lifetime 😂

@nescionetizen295 Жыл бұрын

Really? As a European myself, whenever someone asks me "how are you doing?" i will say "good, how about you?" My actual state has no part in the answer and i expect the same from the one i ask "how are you doing?". It is a courtesy. I don't want to hear any drama and anyone sharing drama will go straight into the "attentionseeking whiner" category. That is the Dutch way.

@volvoguyV70R Жыл бұрын

Great video, and so spot on. I live in Germany and have absolutely no desire to return to the US. The US has become such a toxic place for all the reasons you mention. The healthy lifestyle comments are so true. The quality of food in the grocery stores is so much higher, and costs less. No rows and rows of mass processed garbage.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

I’m glad that you agree! Companies who produce this garbage knows that their products make us sick but are worried about a $

@slydog7131 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan Companies provide what people want. Definitely people should be choosing better. Buying whole fresh foods is cheaper than buying those processed convenience foods.

@ankra12 Жыл бұрын

Why shouldent public transport be clean? We are civilized.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately some people In the states aren’t 🤦🏽‍♂️

@sunshadow9704 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan some?

@katariinak7257 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan Same issue with many (not all) people native to Russia, especially the sovitized people. They just don't care about things nor nature - they just drop things (like trash, sunflower seed kernels, cigs etc) where they fall when they're outside own 4 walls. As if they had cleaners following them ...

@dudoklasovity2093 10 ай бұрын

Oh please, try to get on a bus in big city (small ones don't have PT anyways :-D), like in LA I was looking for needles before I sat down (don't need to catch a jaundice or sth worse...) The bus was so dirty and trashed, unbelievable! When I asked the driver about a wifi he looked at me like I had two heads and went on driving. It was the most humiliating experience really. American PT is horrible and very dangerous.

@pumpernickelplace Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing this. I think it's super important for us Americans to learn about differences like this. I think sometimes we think our way of life is the only way. I especially hope we start to ask more questions of our society in regards to our for-profit healthcare our lack of fast affordable accessibility with public transportation.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and for the comment! I encourage people to travel if they can do that so their perspective on the world changes. There are so many beautiful countries and cultures In the world

@withhazelnuts2108 Жыл бұрын

What a genuinely nice guy you are man. Much love and success, wherever you go!

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@TR4zest Жыл бұрын

A Brit, I lived in te US for 20 years (I also had 5 years in uppsala Sweden before that). I recognise all that you say. Now back in the UK, my top 3 are food, walking (we have sidewalks in every neighbourhood) and healthcare not being profit/insurance driven.

@ligaskirbauska8652 Жыл бұрын

Food? Most UK has horrible food 🤢 I’m like 10 years in uk and can’t get used to it still.well USA has it even worst,GMOS and so on that are forbidden in Europe

@courtnayj4990 Жыл бұрын

@@sock2206 Brits say pavement, right? I agree...good use of the word "sidewalks"! And I truly wish we had more of them in my quaint rural town. I use the school track quite a bit, but you get tired of walking in circles!

@moptopbaku6022 Жыл бұрын

@@ligaskirbauska8652 Rubbish. The food in the UK is good these days.

@leetleteapot9617 Жыл бұрын

@@ligaskirbauska8652 I was in the UK for a few weeks and there was so much sugar in everything, the bread was puffed up in a bad way and milk tasted like it was mostly water. Kellog's mini cereal packages over there are also absolute garbage, how can they feed that to kids.

@ligaskirbauska8652 Жыл бұрын

@@leetleteapot9617 yeah,too much sugar,salt to change taste of tasteless crap in general.Not much healthy options.Fruit and Veg are pathetic flavour sense.But they pretty much are used to it,same Americans are used to their crap and only see different when go abroad,eat proper quality and then can compare and realise what crap they been eating all lives.I work in food industry,constantly fighting for my product quality,tired of it..can’t even get decent tasting potatoes in this country cos they destroy them buy way they storage and transport them(in cold,frost bitten they turn into sweet and then more salt you need to add and never will get decent taste anyways.Veg and fruit go fast bad cos of it too,so we are forced to buy more often,nothing like being able to storage same carrots,cabbage,potatoes for 6 month(as it should be) it all will go bad in less than week cos they messed up process and it’s done on purpose..And I don’t even wanna talk about crap food like Kellogg’s ,that ain’t food,giving that 💩 to kids is in my eyes giving them diabetes,cancer,obesity and premature death

@kimkristensen2816 Жыл бұрын

I have spend half my adult life in the US and the other half in Danmark where I am from. A kidneystone operation in the US cost 44K usd. A heartsugery in Denmark cost me nothing and received full sick pay during and after.

@22pilgrim Жыл бұрын

"A kidneystone operation in the US cost 44K usd." Outrageous!!

@jarzez Жыл бұрын

$44 THOUSAND DOLLARS???? What even is this country, despicable

@frankhooper7871 Жыл бұрын

The reason for the term "medical debt" - something virtually unknown outside the US.

@ipodman1910 Жыл бұрын

Stop lying! The heart surgery costed you a lifetime of huge taxes. You can’t even afford to purchase a decent car in Danmark due to overtaxation of cars. I owned a Honda S2000 20 years ago and my friend from Danmark told me they don’t even import them to Denmark as no regular citizen would be able to afford such ‘luxury’ car…

@kimkristensen2816 Жыл бұрын

@@ipodman1910 Your friend is the one lying. The car did get importet to Denmark, although not in great numbers. Regular citizens has a vast array of cars to purchase new or used. The Danish tax system enjoys great support of about 90% due to the benefits it provides.

@xiaowei1 Жыл бұрын

I visited the US from Australia with my son when he was about 12. Almost everything you just said was instantly recognisable. Half of the issues can be solved by universal healthcare and proper social security benifits. the other half may be solved by a decent minimum wage. I detested having to leave tips everywhere, much preferring to pay more for the meal (my son could hardly eat what was on offer by the way). I didnt experiance the "rudeness" as much. I recall saying to someone that everyone seems very friendly in the US, that same person said "thats because you are at Disneyland". So i cant really comment on that one. Everyone in the US should travel and experience other countires and cultures, this may assist. Thanks for the content.

@janjordal9451 11 ай бұрын

Oh no, please! No more noisy American tourists - I pray.

@MxMoondoggie Жыл бұрын

The public transport thing was always bizarre to me. From the UK stayed all over Europe and Japan,Korea and all of them have a working public transport system that can get you anywhere in the country while US does not. I worked in Colorado for a year and without a car you'd never be able to go anywhere at all. Even in cities that have good public transport like Chicago or New York it's bare bones and only gets you around one city with multiple trains needed. If you want to go to other cities or states you have to drive or fly there which is crazy to me, the train system barely exists. All these other places I worked I can go anywhere without too much trouble and even across Europe as you say by train if I want to.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

I wasn’t too familiar w/ the railroad system until I got to Europe, and I loved It. Wish the US could use this method of transport

@PepperSugarMix Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan I have the same wish. However, I think that the US has waited too long to invest in good passenger rail infrastructure. I expect that driverless cars will eventually be what the US uses for transportation since roads are our existing infrastructure. That might take another 20 years.

@icebice Жыл бұрын

From what I've heard, the US actually had a pretty decent railroad system but with time and cars becoming more available to the citizens, they starting building highways. Apparently you can still find old railroad tracks underneath some highways.

@ipodman1910 Жыл бұрын

I simply turned out to be obsolete in US where everyone who is not a burden to society is able to travel freely with his own car…

@tregoboing Жыл бұрын

I always remember vividly my time visiting Memphis in the early 2000s. Trying to explain to the hotel reception that I wanted to get to Graceland using a bus was met with uncomprehending blankness. Particularly, (and I hate to mention it but feel its true), because I am a middle-class white male they kept repeating they would call a taxi. In the end I wandered around (thinking, how the flip do I even cross the road, there's no underpaths!) and found a helpful lady in a tourist info booth who pointed me in the right direction. In the UK you give the driver your money and you get change so I stood by the driver while he tried to ignore me until another helpful lady sorted me out (giving me the 10c I needed as I didnt have any change!) It was all great fun. When I got back the reception staff were aghast when I described the areas I was walking around.

@Saarloos1960 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for noticing the things many Europeans are proud of and cherish. And yes we can come across as rude but many times it is just directness and honesty.

@markhepworth Жыл бұрын

He was taking about Americans being rude..

@thefirm4606 Жыл бұрын

And speaking in a second language can make non-native speakers sound that way, but often you have more excellent communication ❤

@louis-philippearnhem6959 Жыл бұрын

@@markhepworth Yes but the Dutch are also very direct in their conversations and are being experienced as “rude” by some other Europeans. I’m Flemish (Belgian) and we use to communicate differently, in a more indirect way (which has its inconvenients too).

@markhepworth Жыл бұрын

@@louis-philippearnhem6959 True,But there is being direct...and there is being rude,he was talking about being rude.

@ellehan3003 Жыл бұрын

This reminds me of melania trump. She was considered miserable, but then I discovered that in Slovenia they just don't smile unless its genuine. They find it weird when others do or disingenuous. So she wasnt miserable, she was just being true to the way she was raised. I'm using that as a point because we all have such different ways of interacting. Most europeans prefer genuine interactions not flattery or fake politeness as Americans seem to like.

@hiking1388 Жыл бұрын

Been living in Europe since 2017, agree completely with everything he says. Now we're settled in Northern Ireland (bought a house), which is kinda crazy as of course I always imagined going back to the US sooner rather than later. But, everyone in the US always seems like they're on the edge of a nervous breakdown. It's really sad, if life weren't so stressful in the US I'd want to move back. Family and friends and just my home state in general are things I'll always miss (though I visit frequently). Though yeah, the food really is terrible in the US. I understand now why people don't eat fruit because it's so tasteless in the US. However, you can get big bags of kale, spinach and frozen blueberries for cheap, so there's that at least in the US!

@katemclelland7872 Жыл бұрын

Juwan, this is an amazing video! Thank you for sharing this with us. I am a Canadian living in Toronto and there are so many similarities between Canada and the United States. We are very quickly becoming a fast food society as it is becoming more readily available. And the obesity rate is rising rapidly. If you live in a city life here can be pretty fast paced depending on your lifestyle. I truly believe that because due to the influx of everything in pricing people feel like they need to catch up because they are falling behind economically. Due to the recession here I have noticed that certain things that were taken care of by the city of Toronto are suffering such as transportation. Are subway cars and busses smell like pee and they break down all the time. Canadians are known for politeness, or so they say. And that is still true if you are in a rural environment. However, people in larger cities such as Toronto are starting to become surly. The values that Europeans have in general are different. People first, money second. This changes the way we treat each other and take care of ourselves. Maybe we need to take a step back and slow things. I think we need to take time and smell the roses. We don’t need to give up the idea of capitalism altogether. But I do think we as North Americans can take a page out if Europeans books and balance a prioritize our lifestyles a little better.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

First i want to say I hope you and your family are safe due to the wildfires in Canada 🙏🏽. I agree with your take as well stating how we should adopt the values of the people first, money second. I’ve never been to Canada but I would love to visit.

@katemclelland7872 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan Oh thank you for thinking us of across the pond!! Yes we are all safe and sound. You should absolutely visit. Canada is an amazingly diverse geographical place. And depending where you go, people can be very friendly and welcoming as well.

@bryanhawkins9418 Жыл бұрын

Well said.

@nikolasvellos3651 Жыл бұрын

Great video! You explained this in such an educated and articulate way, making it easy for people from different countries to really understand.

@BlackDataGeek Жыл бұрын

Please keep up the great work in sharing your experience. It’s truly valued and as someone that has been traveling from American to Italy for the last 15+ years, I can honestly say that what you’ve shared is 100% factual.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching & for the real comment! Will do!

@pattiderosamusic3292 Жыл бұрын

As an American living in Italy for almost a decade, I agree 100%!

@rosamannen Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this great video. As a Swede I can only say that you are right, living in Sweden is actually really really good even though you don't have much money.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Sweden is a great place to live! The only negative thing In my eyes is the taxes. But I’d rather have high taxes and have everything else taken care of for you.

@rosamannen Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan That's how I feel about taxes too. Thank you the nice video.

@rickardelimaa Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan "High taxes" is just propaganda. Just tell people what you need to pay for insurance in the US ... and you still end up paying for doctor visits. Add the high cost of public transportation, how people can't afford homes, how Americans can't change course of life (because studying cost money), how they need to be in dept in order to get credit rating ... and you will realize that America got higher "tax" overall with worse service.

@kimm.8800 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwan Well, high taxes is what funds the welfare system so you can't have one without the other. You will just have to consider what is most important: low taxes or a good welfare system.

@BarrySlisk Жыл бұрын

If you can dodge the bullets and hand grenades...Great country !

@lisbondiaries9212 Жыл бұрын

Spot on! I live in Portugal. My parents and all my family are from here, so I am fortunate to have citizenship here. I was born and raised in the US. The transportation in Europe at large is amazing! I am don’t depend on a car for most of bigger cities like the US. We have fantastic food in Europe, particularly in the EU, because certain chemical and ingredients, which are readily used in the U.S., aren’t allowed here. Life in Europe, especially in Southern Europe, is about the outdoors….esplanadas, outdoor cafes etc. we aren’t rushed to leave right after we eat. Tips aren’t customary here, although they can be given. People don’t ask here …”what do you do for work” right when you meet them. That is used in the U.S. as.l a means to assess status. Often, work doesn’t even come up. Although we have a capitalist system here too, we have a balance of it with the social safety net…social programs, which actually support the people. Yes, public healthcare, low to no cost university tuition, full paid parental leave/maternity leave from several months to over a year in some countries like in Scandinavia. Also, in the EU, employees get a minimum of 22 pays days off of a work a year as vacation, plus paid holidays, which is usually at least a dozen or more holidays a year or more, depending on what country you live in. I bet you miss Europe 😁.

@Petrarca93 Жыл бұрын

As a Romanian I can confirm that you are 💯% correct! For us Europeans people are coming first, money second! In less than a month I will go to your beautiful country. Can’t wait! I salute you! 🇵🇹🇷🇴 🤝

@lisbondiaries9212 Жыл бұрын

@@Petrarca93 Hello! There are actually a community of Romanians living in Portugal. I hope you enjoy your visit to Portugal!

@nessinhacoutinho Жыл бұрын

Como portuguesa, ia comentar tudo o que disseste. 😂 Muito obrigada ❤️ já para não falar que a nossa educação é bem superior à dos EUA.

@lisbondiaries9212 Жыл бұрын

@@nessinhacoutinho Também sou portuguesa 😁. Concordo!

@DaneRThomas Жыл бұрын

Juwan, thanks for your observations! I'm from the US, but I have been living in Stockholm for 25 years, so I recognize the points that you have made. We have family living close to Köping, so I know the town well. Hope that you enjoyed your time over here.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing! I don’t see you coming back to the US anytime soon after living In Stockholm for 25 years lol. I enjoyed my stay as well!!

@deneguil-1618 Жыл бұрын

one of my favorite thing about Europe, and the European Union more specifically, that I hope you can experience one day is how easy it is to travel between countries. And with such diversity between countries and cultures it's such a great combination. I'm french but I can work in any EU country I want without needing a work visa, same for travel. I really want to visit Poland as soon as I can

@i1bike Жыл бұрын

its too cold there, north ot east croatia is much better and much cheaper. Liveable completed houses sold for 10-20 000 euros, comedy haha

@deneguil-1618 Жыл бұрын

@@i1bike i do like Croatia a lot too but i have a specific attachment to Poland since my grandfather is Polish and i don't mind the cold in winter lol, tho i didn't expect Croatia to be cheaper i thought they were around the same

@i1bike Жыл бұрын

@@deneguil-1618 I will try to explain in examples, maybe it will be a longer comment. North east of croatia (east slavonia region), is extremely cheap. My neighbours renovated their house 6 years ago spending 30 000 euros and sold it last summer for 13 000 euros. It was 11×9m groundfloor house with garden behind the house of 1300m2. Not far from that house, my friend bough big newly built house with modern design, having 2 flats in sense that ground floor is leisure/storage and upper is bedrooms/bathrooms. House is 14×12m with garden behind the house of 450m2. He bought it for 52 000 euros, comedy. In south croatia my cousin sold his 12×10m old parents house built in the 80s, for 600 000 euros. That is the difference gap. He also sold the land next to his old house for 400 euros per m2. The buyer built apartment building with 6 apartments, each apartment is 65m2, and price for one apartment + garage is 250 000 euros. That is the difference gap. Germans and rich polish people are buying apartments before they were even built and they ask for more and more, so it will go only higher. If you ask me, if laptop was my working tool i would rather go northeast and grow my own food

@deneguil-1618 Жыл бұрын

@@i1bike oh wow the difference between the prices in the north east and south is massive, 15000€ for a big house on 1300m2 of land is incredibly cheap and quite attractive. It's also funny that you'd mention that you'd go there if you worked on a laptop cause I'm currently studying to be an AI engineer, possibly researcher and I'm interested in developing games so i might be able to work fully remotely

@amjan Жыл бұрын

@@i1bike Croatia has terrible weather - it's too hot out there and no real winters.

@thisislife_after50 Жыл бұрын

I am an American who is currently living in Poland. I agree with almost everything you have said. However, I want to point out one significant difference regarding tipping at restaurants specifically. In Europe, wait staff are paid a living wage for the work that they do. They do not have to rely on tips to survive. In the US, we pay wait staff almost nothing and the money they live off is their tips. Their salary is basically the tips because their "hourly" rate essentially covers taxes and nothing else.

@jamescombridgeart Жыл бұрын

Oof. Literally criminal almost anywhere else

@ldavies3280 Жыл бұрын

Yep, European countries have a minimum wage. Paying staff less is illegal. The amount varies country to country, but it’s always much better than the US.

@ewoutbuhler5217 Жыл бұрын

fully agreed, you're pointing out the reason for tipping in the US. That doesn't make it right. Why don't the restaurant owners take care of their staff? Now you just create the feeling of being rushed, as more tables is more tips, which even is needed to make rent.

@thisislife_after50 Жыл бұрын

@@ewoutbuhler5217 I agree it isn't right. But my point was he was making it sound like the two countries are comparable in this regard and they are not.

@dracuella Жыл бұрын

@@ldavies3280 In Denmark, we don't have a required minimum wage decided by law, just like @benghazi4216 said. However, if you're in a union, there will be an agreed upon minimum wage in place. It's important to distinguish between the two as the government is not the driver in deciding what we're paid - the unions are.

@Vulcanerd Жыл бұрын

Hey, Juwan, just found your video on culture shock and found it very interesting. As someone who's lived overseas for extended periods, I found myself smiling or kinda chuckling at all the things you saw and experienced coming back thanks to all the differences between the US and abroad bc I knew exactly what you meant. Anyway, I know this video's already 4 months old and (I think) you're now in Romania, but hoping you're doing well and gonna go check out some of your other videos. Thanks.

@NOWitsOKto Жыл бұрын

Having lived in Europe for 6 years, totally agree with you. Another thing you didn't mention (maybe didn't experience) is the driving. Overall, I think European drivers are far more courteous than in the U.S. one reason might be because a driver's license is more difficult to acquire.

@einar8019 Жыл бұрын

and also because people can take public transport/bike/walk the people that really shouldnt drive dont have to like in the us

@Danskadreng Жыл бұрын

I think it's because Europeans generally care more about their fellow citizens, compared to the highly individualistic USA

@LutherBlissett94 Жыл бұрын

What really baffles me about drivers in the US is that it appears to be common that people drive off the road and, say, crash into houses. WTF? Can someone explain that to me?

@omglolbbqftw Жыл бұрын

DUDE! You were in my extremely small town Köping? Represent, is all i can say!:P I've literally never seen anything from this town on KZbin and my jaw dropped when i saw commercials from a local diner and that you were in our team. I wish you the best, man. I hope you had a great experience in our humble community!

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

No way! I was In a commercial In Koping??? If you can find the footage please show me because that’s insane lol.

@annelidahl Жыл бұрын

I had the hardest time during my visits to the US to get a "decent" breakfast. At hotels I usually end up eating a bagel with cream cheese and a bowl of yoghurt with fruit. Unless they put pineapple or kiwi in the fruit (allergic). In stores I tried to buy cereal without sugar and had to find the "diabetic's food isle"... Also the tap water isn't drinkable over there. So I definitely agree on the food. But, at the same time I will admit, that the BBQ was amazing! 😊

@petriholopainen4441 Жыл бұрын

Cool to see you in my old hometown Köping. It is a pretty small town so I can understand some impressions don't reflect on Sweden as a whole but I think you got many things right. I've been in the US several times and I have had a great time there, but it is interesting to realize the differences sometimes.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Little ol’ Koping wasn’t too bad for me. I’m glad that my experience resonates with you and others

@dundergud9341 Жыл бұрын

America has a few things that are better than in Europe, but I definitely prefer Europe overall. You've listed some good reasons as to why. The most major thing for me is that you are likely to be financially ruined if you get sick in America. I can't really take that risk. And since the food is worse and you never get time off from work, the risk of getting sick is probably greater than in Europe. It's like if anything goes wrong for you in America (illness, unemployment etc), you're on the streets.

@chinablueliberty2822 Жыл бұрын

What are the few things that are better in America than Europe?

@dundergud9341 Жыл бұрын

@@chinablueliberty2822 The weather, freedom of speech, how it punishes its criminals etc. In Sweden, insults are a crime, and if you're under 18 the punishment for murder is youth care for like 1-4 years. This means that gangs often use minors as hitmen, as they are barely punished if caught. Rapists (when over 18) often get off with like six years in prison, of which they will only have to serve four.

@catarinaf3261 Жыл бұрын

@@dundergud9341 LOL wdym, there is no freedom of speech in Europe? Regarding weather, how about Southern Europe? All Mediterranean countries such as Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Malta, (South of France) etc. have the most AMAZING weather. In what concerns severity of punishments, that depends on the country, but I agree that in my country (Portugal) sentences should be much tougher. Nevertheless, more than half of the US states still apply the death penalty; whereas it has been completely abolished in all European countries (not counting Russia, of course). I am proud to say that my country was THE VERY FIRST to abolish it, in 1976 :) We have decriminalized drug consumption (only selling is a crime) and prostitution (only pimping is a crime). Here, your are FREE to get married and adopt children, regardless of your sexuality. You are also free to get an abortion and euthanasia if that is unfortunately necessary. The government doesn't rule anyone's bodies. Out of 50 US states, I am not sure if any of them has conquered all of these freedoms, tbh... Hopefully, one day. xxx

@dundergud9341 Жыл бұрын

@@catarinaf3261 I didn't say there is no free speech in Europe. But there is less of it than in America, since there are more laws restricting it in nearly every European country. If you're actually going to act oblivious to this, then that merely betrays your bias. In everyday normal conversation, we usually have to make generalisations. I am well aware that Spain has better weather than Alaska. But America is generally nicer in terms of weather than Europe, and places like Florida and Hawaii are far better than anywhere in Europe.

@ivanpetrov5185 Жыл бұрын

@@dundergud9341 Greece and Turkey are pretty comparable to Florida and Hawaii. And they don't have neither hurricanes, nor volcanoes.

@s.stevens4520 Жыл бұрын

I moved from the US to the Netherlands a year and a half ago. The public transportation is amazing! And the food here has such less sugar and salt. What a difference.

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

It’s a huge difference! Haven’t been to the Netherlands but I want to take a trip!

@missjennysenpai9323 Жыл бұрын

@@therealwanplease do I would love to see a video from you about our country ❤

@danielandersson4651 Жыл бұрын

Lets hope we can see you back on this side of the polar circle, you seem like a nice and honest guy, Sweden welcomes that anyday

@therealwan Жыл бұрын

Respect!!🤝