"AMERICAN PROBLEMS" EUROPEANS CAN'T UNDERSTAND I Weird American Behaviors

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⭐ It can be hard to relate to other people's problems sometimes, right?! Even if we want to be empathetic, when it comes to different cultures and different countries, sometimes it can be hard to completely relate to things!
Today's USA vs France video focuses on all those American problems that Europeans just can't understand. I can completely relate to this because when I first moved to France, there were so many French behaviors, ways people do things, french vs american customs, that were hard to understand. So I wanted to do today's video to dive into the subject from the opposite! What are those American problems that the French don't understand? What are the weird american behaviors, different american customs that make the French go, uhhhh whattt?
📷Hope you guys like this week's video and let me know what you think in the comments below! ⭐
#americanproblems #americanbehaviors #wierdamericanthings
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[@mallorymontenegro3924]

I’m from Texas... I learned to drive an automatic and got my license with one at 16, but then I learned to drive a standard at age 18. So glad I did! I taught a lot of my friends too. I now prefer to drive stick shift over automatic 🙂

[@isabellem1945]

Hi, in France it is illegal to forbid someone from keeping a pet in an apartment. Terms of the Règlement de copropriété, the statute handed out by a notary upon purchase of an apartment, as to the contrary, would be without effect. Happy new year! Bonne année !

[@thoughts3897]

I like that. Pets make happier people!! Especially cats. :)

[@pierren___]

Ça craint

[@sarasalam6571]

You deserve so many more subscribers! Love the straight forward approach!

[@Commentator541]

Just found your channel and I love it. Both me and my spouse come from multicultural families and we are of different cultures as well, so I can definitely relate. Also I have friends in France and so does my spouse, so it all ties up. I love your humor!

[@patchworkmermaid]

I had to learn to drive a stick shift on my cross country move after college. Another American problem: daycare expense. For about 12 years while my kids were little, my job which earned me the average American income for a family of 4 at the time, only paid enough for daycare, car payment, fuel to and from work, student loans and food. That means clothing, insurance, healthcare, housing, utilities, etc ...etc all goes on credit unless you have a 2nd wage earner.

[@schurlbirkenbach1995]

That's the same in all developped countries. My mother (central european) born 1920, used to say, modern living standard is the result of two income, one child families.

[@TheGlobalExpats]

The contrast between them is pretty massive! You are so right 😅 The debt normalization is the part that freaked me out the most!

[@jane5457]

You are right on point about the perfect straight white teeth! I was the only kid in my class without braces and felt so left out. Now there's Invisalign and whitening light etc We are probably going to need to make stain free caffeine soon to keep up. Great vid 👍

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

hahah stain free coffee. Or better, coffee that whitens instead of yellows your teeth! Thanks :)

[@veelash3505]

Great idea 😂😆

[@anastasia10017]

I got stuck with a stick shift car in VA. out of desperation, i called a driving school to teach me how to drive a stick and they told me nobody teaches it anymore and they aren't insured for it.

[@susanjaneleitner7670]

Falling in love with you!! Thank you for your tips and humor! See you next time! ❤️ Suzy

[@Cookie-ye5dq]

Eviction is different in each State. It’s not always that easy for evict, it can take up to 3 months or more.

[@jeanmartin963]

in France that is up to 3 years or more. The worst renter know how to cry and are helped by " french associations" who know what to do to put sand in the gears of the eviction.

[@isabella.c.a.]

There was one thing that bothered me a couple of years ago when I was invited for a 2-month internship in the US... I was told to buy a special health insurance for that trip not ensure I would not left in debt if anything happened to me in the States and I would need medical care in a hospital... I think that most French people, like I was, are not aware of that big risk when they book a trip to the US. We are so used to being covered by our national insurances when we stay abroad that we forget this doesn't work in the US, we are simply not covered! I know someone who came back to France with a 4 zero figure debt.

[@mallorymontenegro3924]

Health insurance is so expensive here, I’m really lucky to have a job with benefits that covers my insurance. Then again, to add my husband to my plan, it cost over $600 per month which we just cannot afford. As far as traveling goes, when we vacationed in Europe, my husband (non US citizen) was required to get a visa and part of the requirements was getting insurance for him in case of something happening. Maybe that’s just a standard with getting a visa in general?

[@carriemartinez2933]

@@mallorymontenegro3924 yes, I had to when I went overseas, as well as with my son!! I'm pretty sure it's standard practice!!

[@mallorymontenegro3924]

@@carriemartinez2933 exactly!

[@thoughts3897]

I also think the French system is great for Americans (and assuming ANY nationality) who are traveling abroad and need to utilize hospital. My sister was very ill there --and very well cared for!

[@SusanChristmas]

US has the best healthcare because it isn't free. Would rather pay and know I can get an appt when I need one as well as the best care.I have a friend from Canada his mother was concerned she might have a life threatening health problem was made to wait 3 months for an appointment that is not acceptable. You get what you pay for.

[@megane7742]

This is great!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Thank you!!

[@RottenFruitScab]

You are the beat. Lovely, sunny and funny. :)

[@christinelachance8012]

*best?

[@maxcale5814]

i guess i am one of the few Americans that can drive a stick shift to be fair though i grew up on a farm and the tractors were sick shift.

[@SCGMLB]

Of course, the fact that few cars in the US have manual transmissions only compounds the issue. Americans don’t have any opportunity to learn how to drive a manual transmission because so few cars there have manual transmissions. So they don’t buy cars with manual transmissions.

[@obsoleteprofessor2034]

I was laughed at in Botswana because I didnt know which plant to use to clean my rear after toilet.

[@maxcale5814]

@@SCGMLB this is very true that most people don't have access to stick shift cars to learn on i am lucky to have learn. if you do know how to drive one you can find a car for cheaper and it less likely to be stolen which unfortunately is a problem where i live .

[@SCGMLB]

@@maxcale5814 I was able to learn to drive manual on the visits I made to the UK to visit my relatives. I’ve made it a point of always hiring a manual transmission car. It took me a week to become comfortable with it, but it’s no problem now. What’s interesting is that since I’ve only ever driven manual in the UK I’m only used to shifting with my left hand.

[@lindsey.eldritch]

I love this video!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Thank you!!

[@loladeborman9510]

About credit scores, we have that kind of system too it just doesn’t work the same... For example we would use a debit not credit card for groceries, going out and such. But for a bigger purchase, like a plane ticket, appliances, signing up for college, ... we would use a credit card, Visa (must be payed back at the beginning of each month) or MasterCard (paying a certain amount every month) or else ask for a credit at the bank (for a car or a house). And when asking for a credit at the bank, they look at your income(s), but also how you spend and use your credit card... We also don’t get any points/cash back or what ever when we use a credit card so it’s really not or daily expenses card...

[@DavidMichaelCommer]

Unfortunately, capitalism drives higher education as much as it drives dentistry in the U.S. Working in the higher ed sector has made it clear to me that, tragically, making education available at a premium not only has had a terrible effect on worsening the socioeconomic divide, but also on establishing a false notion that luxury brands in education are equivalent to high-quality education and to students' intellects. Community colleges offer real educational value. Here in the D.C. area, for example, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) has very affordable tuition and it has guaranteed transfer agreements with universities such as George Washington and William & Mary. By going to NOVA for the first two years, the average student could save around $100,000--but of course most students who go to these private elite universities would never consider going to a community college first, just as most American people with healthy, crooked teeth would sacrifice their teeth's health to straighten and whiten them given the option, and just like most American people would choose to wear ill-fitting clothing with a luxury label than sustainable, tailored no-brand clothing. It's pretty sad that we have been duped into thinking conforming and purchasing the most expensive available option always will yield better quality than an option we can afford. Hopefully, the Varsity Blues scandal has opened people's eyes to understand that "the best education" can always be bought, and that often, credentials from the most selective institutions often convey lesser educations that have been purchased than students earn at high-quality public institutions that demand students work hard for their grades rather than guaranteeing high grades to anyone who comes from a wealthy family. Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Tiffany Trump, George W. Bush and Meghan McCain all have Ivy-League degrees...most of us who took our educational experiences seriously would never mistake any of these people to be intellectuals who would have gone far in the world without their families' extraordinary purchasing powers. That's the U.S. in a nutshell: We value assets to such an extent that we not only regard the accumulation and power to influence that money enables as the sole real measure of 'success,' but we actually equate asset holding with intellectual prowess and invidual human worth. The smartest, kindest poor person has little value to the average American person aside from the value of being a charitable cause through which a relatively wealthy person can self-promote, and meanwhile, people who have inherited fortunes need do nothing more than purchase an Ivy-League credential, pay to straighten and whiten their teeth (or else buy artificial tooth replacements), and pay for some other cosmetic alterations and designer duds to be appreciated by the masses. The people are too many at this point to name all those who are not only celebrities but celebrated for their non-values of being heirs to wealth and, secondly, conventionally attractive in photos. Hollywood is an under-recognized American commodity and export. Most people are aware that our military assets and sold goods are a great part of our global advantage, but the image of the United States that we have told and convinced others is worth buying since the inception of the film industry is a façade, just like movie storefronts and New York City brownstones are. There's nothing behind them but 2" x 4" poles propping them up from behind. (Ironically, I got into an argument about this with a French woman who ran an L.A. café on a Disney property about 20 years ago when I was in my early 20s. She maintained that the U.S. is superior to Europe because American people can own as much as they desire by working for it without compromising their individual rights to ownership for the community, whereas I felt American people are blinded by desire to own things and never can be satisfied for any length of time because after they buy one thing, they always need to own something bigger or better in order to feel successful. She refused to give me the egg sandwich I ordered, which had already been made, but a coworker thankfully went back to get it, and all's well that ends well.)

[@virginiav.1172]

Great comment, thanks.

[@johnalden5821]

Yes. Wealth is everything in the United States. From birth until our last medicated heartbeat, we spend our entire lives being sold something. And the biggest thing we are sold is that this makes us the best country in the world.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Thanks a lot for the comment. I really connect with starting out in a community college and this idea that there is something wrong or bad about spending two years, and SAVING THOUSANDS of dollars before transferring to a university. It's such a better option to leave school with loans you can actually afford to pay back.

[@DavidMichaelCommer]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified Yes! Hopefully, or new president and first lady will make two years of tuition-free college a reality. That would drive down demand and would bring down prices at a lot of expensive universities and could go a long way to help with the class divide.

[@bryan143]

@@DavidMichaelCommer Presidents don't have that sort of power. The investment in a good education pays off big time for people in the US, despite the moaning about the cost. Education is the driver of the big income gap in America.

[@liloruf2838]

Content starts at 3:14 Thank me later :)

[@dianeandbrad529]

Her intros can be a bit long!! 3 minute intro for an 11 min video... ?

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Thanks for the feedback! I'll think about the intro the next time i'm filming!

[@sandraleete4682]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified Three minutes of valley girl persona advertisement… Not good

[@yannmonnier4189]

Brrr ... i got chill in my back imagining what it could be to live like this in the US. I wonder now what are the problems in France or Europe an average american cannot relate to.... that would give them as much chill

[@gabriellegeorge2648]

That would be very interesting!

[@hamlet557]

I can imagine buying a rental for investment and having no way to evict a bad tenant. Having to stick with a really uncooperative employee for too long. I guess there is a reason that EU is way behind USA in entrepreneurship.

[@liloruf2838]

Actually in Germany we have the same as credit car store. It's called Schufa. If it's bad, you won't get credits or even an apartment.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Interesting!

[@martah5369]

In Sweden it's not a score but companies (like landlords, banks etc) can make a credit check to see if you have problems with unpaid bills. I don't think however it's a problem for them if you are a young adult and don't owe anything yet.

[@claudetherabbit]

On the topic of eviction, think about it from the landlord’s perspective: what if you had tenants who were trashing your property and not paying their rent and you couldn’t get rid of them? What if that rent was your income? It’s a two-way street.

[@timbuktu8069]

As a landlord I agree. I had two brothers renting. They got into a fight. The poured cement down the toilet. Guess who had to pay for the repairs.

[@eslteacherjillian2373]

Wow..I was surprise that the average student leaves college only $25,000 in debt, in the US. I thought it would be more. I am currently putting 3 children through college in the US (yep..3!!). Holy cow its expensive!

[@bryan143]

But they’ll enjoy a significantly higher income, better standard of living, and a happier life than the 65% of Americans who don’t have college degrees. The return over their lifetimes will be more than worth it.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

I am really proud that renters and employees are protected in France. Also proud that students do not have to go into debt. And proud of our healthcare. Bisoux :)

[@glurp1er]

One more shocking thing in the US : Not displaying the real price. You think you are buying something at $40? Well in fact you should have added taxes and services, and who knows what else, and you discover you have to pay $65. True story, happened to me in NY city

[@solaccursio]

Here in Italy driving schools don't have automatic cars, so you HAVE to learn to drive on a stick shift. And only 20% of the circulating cars are automatic.

[@johnalden5821]

I am an exception to the U.S. majority in terms of driving. I do have an automatic car now, but it is my first one (I am in my 50s), after previously preferring and owning only manual transmission cars. Same with my wife. They generally had better gas mileage, better traction and handling, and were more fun to drive.

[@thoughts3897]

Totally agree. In my 50s, too--well for one more year --and think a stick shift is way more fun to drive.

[@Clery75019]

That is entirely correct. However they made a lot of progress with automatic cars in the last 10 years or so. Even here in Europe they are becoming mainstream as a result. Not to say that now we have electric cars coming up which have no gear at all, which feels super weird.

[@drawingout.net-vmcg]

Wow...I am far too European! With first cousins born and living the the US , I should know more of this but I didn't. Some of this US legislation and regulation seem truly foreign to my ears...losing your job at the drop of a hat or evicting tenants for being 2 weeks late in rent? Scary!

[@carriemartinez2933]

They can evict you if your old crabby, crappy neighbors complain about you too much, even if the complaints are not valid, in many states here, if your old, crappy kareny neighbor calls the police on you 3 times or more, for any reason, they can evict you!!! No joke!! I've seen it happen before, many times!!!

[@thoughts3897]

I don't think you can get evicted for being two weeks late in rent. There is a process, and landlords have to go to court etc. Maybe they wouldn't renew your lease, but that is not the same thing as eviction.

[@annaburch3200]

So much of this video is exactly why we're so stressed out, right now!! Credit scores: maintaining our newly debt-free life, but caring for that damned credit score so we can get a home loan. Pay the rent in time so we don't get evicted. Do we have enough saved up for our son's college? Oh! And he's learning to drive, but only an automatic. And my husband was laid off in November - POOF! DONE! (Merger with another company) but he found a new job, luckily. But that constant worry about job security, so we don't go in debt and can pay the rent so we don't get evicted and we are sick of that prospect so we want to buy a house, but we've got to maintain the credit score . . . Geeze! My heart is racing just writing this!! 🤪

[@eunosnurb4123]

Good luck ! Once you buy your house, will you be able to stop credit cards ? All this seems to me an abuse of the banks. As a French, the only loan I made in my life was for my apartment.

[@annaburch3200]

@@eunosnurb4123 Not really. We still have to keep up a credit score for other things like car loans, refinancing the house, and miscellaneous other things, but we won't have to worry about it quite as much. What is silly about a credit score is that you have to keep a balance on your card. You have to show them that you can spend money, but be able to pay back that money. You have to keep a percentage of your credit limit on the card to keep your score high. It's like a strange dance.

[@eunosnurb4123]

@@annaburch3200 Basically it's a whole system that you can't escape. 😐

[@annaburch3200]

@@eunosnurb4123 unfortunately, that seems to be the case. 😐

[@biburlizaf]

Is at will employment a 2 ways street? Like, if i tell my boss i quit then immediately leave, never to come back, will i get in trouble? Will that make it more difficult for me to get a new job?

[@morethanparisinfrance9289]

Isn't it amazing that just like 30 years ago even middle school students in France were allowed to drink wine at the canteen for lunch O.O

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

What!!! I didn't know this?!

[@norbertfontaine8524]

I must say I doubt it. When I was a student in the 70's there was no wine at the canteen, neither in the middle school or the high school.

[@morethanparisinfrance9289]

@@norbertfontaine8524 Hey Norbert, I was just reading it over and apparently it was stopped in the 1950s! Much more than 30 years! Oops!

[@flirtinggracefullplatypus8496]

@@morethanparisinfrance9289 no i heard stories about small town in brittany. in the 70's.

[@morethanparisinfrance9289]

@@flirtinggracefullplatypus8496 Ahhh! Okay, thanks! When I first found out about this it was recent enough, glad you found that :)

[@deepachristinajayaraj6475]

You could also call it "American Problems Indians can't understand". There is no obsession for straight white teeth. I have never worn braces. I can't imagine being evicted so easily. I have never driven an automatic car., only stick ones. A 1 year tuition fee at my law school is about 950 dollars. A book would cost us about 70 dollars, but we use the library instead. We also use credit cards for grocery and stuff, but never been in debts. Unemployment is pretty common, but not fired so easily.

[@johnalden5821]

In truth, her info on university course books is a bit out of date. Many courses have some or all of their reading materials posted online now, meaning no need to buy books.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

The fact that i'm out of date when it comes to my experience in college makes me feel soooooo old. Don't do this to me John :)

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Good to know!!! :)

[@deepachristinajayaraj6475]

@@johnalden5821 Oh. We still rely on hard copies.

[@christianc9894]

558 / 5000 Since the appearance of double-shift gearboxes, the number of automatic cars has increased a lot in France. The old gearboxes required a lot of torque, so big engines, sluggish like most US engines, but with torque. These engines have a large displacement and in France taxation depends mainly on the displacement. This explains why we have smaller, manual cars. And I'm not talking about the price of hyper-taxed fuel. The French motorist is what we call "a milking cow"

[@Clery75019]

Thanks for this explanation. I didn't know. I did notice that older automatic were really sluggish and fuel consuming but I couldn't explain why.

[@guillaumejeremia8779]

I had never heard of the credit score. It could mean that when the Chinese created their social credit system, they actually borrowed it from the U.S. ! (I'm ironic here, I don't think they did but from Europe that system is seen as something that can only exist in a dictatorship.)

[@Falconlibrary]

There are actually three major credit reporting agencies and the scores vary from agency to agency. The scores are heavily weighted against renters and people who don't use credit cards; they are also racially discriminatory and most non-white Americans have very bad credit as a result. Credit scores are an abomination, but these days, what isn't?

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Good point! No idea!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

I don't know enough about credit scores, but nothing about this would surprise me if it's true. Blah.

[@carriemartinez2933]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified In order to rent a "decent" place you have to have a credit score of at least 650 or higher, with NO evictions, NO bankruptcy, and make at LEAST 3-4 times the amount of rent, just to get approved for an apartment/ house rental, and THEN come up with the first month's rent, the deposit ( which is usually the entire emount of the rental cost, i.e., $700 rent + $700 deposite= $1400!! Plus and application fee of anywhere from $25-75 per person!!) The utility deposits, actual moving cost ( moving truck, packing essentials etc), and God forbid you have even 1 point below 650 on your credit score, because they WILL deny your application( the fee's for said application are non-refundable btw) it can take MONTHS to prepare for a move!!!!

[@Jenny-tm3cm]

You can’t buy a house without a credit score. So that means you had to have already had a credit card for 5-10 years and built up good credit the whole time. There’s actually a lot of stuff you can’t buy without a credit score, pretty much any big purchase. Also if you don’t have credit electric companies will charge you extra because you’re “untrustworthy” even if you’ve been building up good credit for 3 years.

[@angelrays7]

1) American 2) Braces once 3) Indiana At-Will State 4) Student Loan Debt 5) Can drive Stick- No 6) hummmmm, skip You’re so right! I’m learning how to drive a stick in 2021!

[@SylvainBOSSON-og8fi]

US is rough to live, we see on television beautiful things small ville, California, New York, Dallas Huston, Wild nature with wild men , fishers near rivers, Bears Grizzly, . But sometimes there are some good ideas to protect people. University is really expensive and you can t buy a 200 buck a book. Have a white teeth is nice and please me too,.

[@martinasandoval5326]

Lol it is not rough. I am an immigrant and can attest that if you are willing to work and succeed you can do it. I live in a medium size city in FL and it has been great so far. What I love in the US is convenience and the fact that you move upward easier than if you live in a country like the one I was born.

[@erglelergle8476]

Govt. Health care, like all things govt. is horrific.

[@mohamedaminehadji6415]

I didn't understand something with the credit score. Are you telling me that if I'm a young adult without any debts (and also no credit cards in the past), I cannot ask for money from the bank? Like, I'm not reliable to pay back money because I never had to borrow money in the past?

[@fsruiz64]

Basically, it’s why she was saying that parents add credit cards for their kids. It helps them start their credit history from a younger age and hopefully teach them good debt management skills.

[@mohamedaminehadji6415]

@@fsruiz64 That sounds a bit ridiculous and counter-intuitive. If I were a parent, I would like my children to manage a budget (I’m pro-allowances), but not credit. Credit comes later for important stuff like education, house, cars...

[@johnalden5821]

Correct. The best advice is to get one or two different types of card -- a general credit card, a gas (petrol) card, and maybe a store card. Then use them sparingly and only when you can pay the bill at the end of the month. Of course, merde happens, and you might end up using these cards to finance an operation or a car down-payment (now that you can get a car loan). And that's why the banks love this system.

[@mohamedaminehadji6415]

@@LauraPalmerD I’m very confused by your statement. I am not against credit cards. To each their own. I personally don’t want to have debts and I use therefore a debit card. I literally cannot pay something I cannot afford, and I like it this way. And before that, I lived in North Africa where everything is cash only, so even better for budgeting. What I find weird is that someone who decides not to have any credit card in their life will get a harder time getting a loan than someone who had one and knew how to manage it. It shows the system wants you to have a credit card even if you don’t want/need it, and thus creating the need to use it (I got tricked before and that’s why I don’t want a credit card anymore). PS: it’s nice to you got to travel for free, but not everyone is interested in traveling ^^

[@mohamedaminehadji6415]

@@LauraPalmerD A bank could ask for a certain amount of money first (like 10% of the sum) and certain garanties for sure (stable income, some financial assets or stacks). But here it’s like “we want you to have a credit card without really using it” which blows my mind

[@SouthernSara23]

I have to laugh because having not white, crooked teeth was a dating deal breaker for a lot of my friends. And myself honestly, I guess I am conditioned to see anything but as unattractive. I still marvel at my husband’s dreamy white, straight teeth smile! It is truly dazzling! Other than that, I can’t relate to anything else on your list, but know others who do. I worked for a large corporation in the US and it was a very long process to fire someone and if you work for the federal or state government, it is damn near impossible.

[@spicedhazel]

Literally watching this in braces 😬 lol.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

I had braces at 9, 14, and 19. No shame! :)

[@thoughts3897]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified Well, your teeth look nice and straight now. Years ago I lived in Tokyo. Not sure you could even find an orthodontist there! (But, in fairness, I suspect some dental health issues ARE related to getting braces. For example, the teeth crowding could affect other areas of health.) P.S. I bet you are glad you had them! (Maybe not so many times!)

[@performingartseducator]

Facts ✔️

[@susanfudge1737]

Can't smoke until 21 either.

[@E-Beth]

Cute jacket!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Thank you! A friend passed it on to me 5 plus years ago and i still wear it! It's from Zara!

[@SamFournier]

I feel like plastic surgery, botox, lip fillers etc is another one. Maybe because I lived in Los Angeles but it was part of the norm to start Botox, lip fillers in your early 20s. I will say I do miss my crest whitestrips, I haven’t found anything similar in France.

[@virginiav.1172]

Good point, although it is somewhat regional. I'm a transplanted Californian in New Mexico and there is so much less interest here in botox, fillers, and surgery, although it exists. There is so much pressure to not look your age and to be thin in California that I don't feel here at all.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Omg Sam, I so much the crest white strips too. I am ashamed to admit i bring them back from target sometimes. Thought in the midwest, i think plastic surgery was not as much of a thing!

[@SamFournier]

@@virginiav.1172 yes! It’s probably definitely an LA thing, everyone was getting work done.

[@SamFournier]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified haha, I can’t wait to go back to the states and bring back some of my faves!

[@isabella.c.a.]

The American health care system and the fact that poor people need to have several jobs they can't take care of their kids are the 2 things that shock me the most. On a lighter note... I really love your modern rock'n roll yet Chanel classic jacket ! love love love it :)

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Yea the health care is a huge shockerrrr, and thanks! I got the jacket passed down from a friend second hand like 5 years ago and still wear it all the time!

[@thoughts3897]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified French have Americans beat with style that's for sure. :)

[@raquelhwang9819]

You seem not to know much about eviction in the US. Eviction is really tough here too. You have to go to court too and is a painful process. It could take years too!

[@Falconlibrary]

It depends on the state, Raquel. In my home state of Kansas, a landlord can evict in 72 hours. In California, it can take 3-6 months. But you can evict in the winter everywhere in the US and not so in France. French renters have many more rights than American renters in general.

[@raquelhwang9819]

@@Falconlibrary you are right. it truly depends on the state.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Sooooo true!

[@carriemartinez2933]

@@Falconlibrary I'm in kansas too, the eviction rate is astounding, as well as you can almost use any reason to evict someone here in kansas too, within reason!!! Its nuts!!

[@joonjijdjffgh]

What about the Health Care System in America?

[@sheilagolden8674]

It's called the health care industry, for a reason!

[@lgiamYasmine03]

Healthcare for everyone. Canada is like France, healthcare is provided for everyone. Not a concept in the USA

[@Falconlibrary]

It's a concept but the healthcare industry earns trillions in profit and they're not going to give that up without an epic fight.

[@johnalden5821]

From your keyboard to God's ear, as they say!

[@drahthaar4]

Wou ! ......You fit so good in France !!!

[@solaccursio]

about credit cards: I can't seem to fully understand the problem. Why debt? I pay almost everything with my credit card. At the end of the month the credit card sum spent in that month is taken from my account. Not in installments, the whole sum. So if I cannot spend a certain sum of money, it makes no difference if it's cash or card, I can't and that's it... I don't spend it, because I don't own it.

[@verveblack]

wish you explained how credit card culture works in europe

[@charliewntwings]

I can vouch that most people in America don’t know how to drive stick. Especially women. I made the effort to learn and ended up selling that vehicle inexpensively to a friend who needed a car but also needed to learn to drive it. They also changed the law recently so that you can’t buy cigarettes until age 21 too. I know every country has their weird things but seems like a lot of our things just doesn’t make sense when looking at the rest of the world.

[@Falconlibrary]

True. I grew up on a ranch and learned to drive with a stick shift (a 1948 Ford pickup) because many farm vehicles use a manual transmission. I always buy a gently-used manual transmission car if I can because they are so much cheaper than an automatic and more fun to drive.

[@ameliecarre4783]

I rented a car in New York. Of course it was automatic. I had a hard time the first hours to drive without the stick. It goes both ways.

[@figfox2425]

I don't think it's symetrical. After few hours, you get used to automatic car. If you 'd never driven a stick's car, it's almost impossible to learn how to change gear with extra pedal, even in whole day.

[@ameliecarre4783]

@@figfox2425 Probably. But still, driving without stick and the extra pedal is weird at first when you're not used to it, and I drove like I was on my first driving lesson.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Totally understand that the first couple hours were bizarre on an automatic! But i've taken literally 5 days of driving lessons and drove a stick on vacation for the last 5 years and i'm barely comfortable with someone next to me while i drive. It's SO hard to go automatic to stick ;/

[@laurenceclark8754]

Everyone should learn to drive a motorcycle. You work the clutch with your left hand and shift gears with your foot. If you can do that you can drive anything!

[@inesvictoria618]

I’m feeling grateful for not having to deal with such problems

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

I can understand! Everything isn't perfect there, but even if i didn't touch on them in the video, there are lots of positive things too, i promise! 😍

[@mgparis]

me too! I lived in the US for 9 years and I never really adapted, I felt totally European... I just felt like it wasn't my culture, no offense to Americans. I saw people getting laid off on the spot and it freaked me out :S

[@pathallam986]

'Only' $27000 student debt? My eldest daughter left university (UK) with nearer £40000 ($54000) in debt: £27000 alone for 3 years tuition fees + c £15000 in maintenance (living expenses) loans. My younger daughter will graduate this summer with the same. Yes, it only becomes repayable once you hit a certain salary, but it makes American education seem cheap. Not to mention other European countries.

[@emgmin]

Lol me with 130k in student loans with a master's degree and taking home 35k per year. American dream I tell yah. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@krasnoiark]

Damn I wish my french salary was this high 😂

[@Cookie-ye5dq]

LOL, not everyone one in the US drives an automatic.... University are not exactly free either in France. You pay more in taxes, but if the school you want is full, you are then put into a lottery and if you don’t get in...your going to pay for a private school....this is what happened to my boyfriend’s son and they pay for his education every month.

[@Titri79]

J'avoue ne pas comprendre l'histoire des cartes de crédit et les dettes. Comment est-ce possible de s'endetter quand on a pas de revenu ? Et quelles sont les raisons qui poussent les gens à s'endetter pour des dépenses du quotidien ? En tout cas merci pour la vidéo

[@cmolodiets]

en france, si t'as pas de salaire tu peux pas t'endetter

[@hananoush4109]

À mon humble avis, une des raisons principales je pense est la culture économique et politique... en France il y a eu des scandales sur les crédits revolving (petit crédit à la consommation renouvelable qui en 2010 a était mieux encadré car soupçonné de participer à l’endettement des ménages) ! Et la nature humaine fait le reste... oooh de l’argent facile 🤩🤑😵

[@Insaneronald]

Les régulations en général, c'est beaucoup plus facile et ancré dans les mœurs d'emprunter la bas

[@annarehbinder7540]

Il n’ya pas de vrai systeme sociale et de santé,- alors pas de choix !

[@johnalden5821]

If I am translating you correctly, the credit card companies push cards on everyone, and they snare you with initial low rates that then balloon up to about 20% after the initial offer period ends. For many people with low incomes, the credit cards allow them to buy necessities they really need, like shoes for their kids, home appliances like refrigerators. Then they can't keep up with the ballooning interest payments. How can they get out of this fix? Well, they can get another credit card. . .

[@michaelthorn5161]

Here, many states also have squatters' rights, where landlords can't kick out squatters who occupied property and never paid rent to begin with.

[@johnalden5821]

In the U.S., this would be called vagrancy or trespassing, and it would be tolerated for only a little while prior to police eviction.

[@michaelthorn5161]

@@johnalden5821 It depends on the state. In the liberal state of Washington, some squatters occupied house for sale and because of local liberal policies, landlords can't kick them out.

[@laurenceclark8754]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHLQf2ielp5goKc

[@carriemartinez2933]

Kansas has them, and as long as the squatter is there they can't be removed, as long as they are there 15 years or more, that property can then become theirs

[@permblue]

(1)Nothing wrong with being obsessed with straight white teeth. I dated two French guys, romantic and all but their teeth! Yellow and crooked. I couldn't look past them. (2)I wouldn't worry about driving a stick-shift; very soon autonomous driving will render this debate useless.

[@thoughts3897]

I love driving a stick shift. Wish I still had one, but alas, the best deal on a used car (so to be careful of that credit score!) was an automatic. Agree with the straight white teeth thing by the way. The over-whiteness can get to the point of obsession, but yes --much better!

[@2303EK]

Thank God I AM a European!

[@christinelachance8012]

Yes, European!

[@Chesscat2022]

College is a racket. College books are a racket. Health care is a racket. Credit score is a racket.

[@malgosiakaczmarska8036]

There are no white straight teeth in France mostly due to cigarette smoking (there goes the colour), and because dentistry in North America is light years ahead of the European one!

[@meenalaregina7770]

Hi! Lack of access to basic medical care. As a Canadian, I cannot fathom having to choose between my health and my home if I am ever hospitalised. It is a tragic flaw in your country because millions of people are vulnerable - yet billions of federal dollars are spent on the military - industrial complex. People, of all walks of life, deserve access to universal Medicare. Please explain this aversion to universal access to medical care in the USA. Is it a structural issue? Ideological issue? Lack of knowledge issue? Thanks!

[@johnalden5821]

I am from the U.S. -- but unfortunately cannot explain it. Doctors and insurance companies make a fair amount of money (not to mention pharma companies). They can hire legislators and political PR campaigns. That's the best explanation I can offer. But our current system is medieval. A few years ago, it was reported that a child died in my state from untreated tooth decay that went septic. This was before the ACA, which has helped, but I cannot understand why people tolerate such inequality here.

[@meenalaregina7770]

@@johnalden5821 In Canada, we owe our system to the vision and political will of the Honourable Tommy Douglas (maternal grandpa of Kiefer Sutherland); a hero, a leader, and one of the greatest Canadians ever. He introduced the idea in the province of Saskatchewan and then it took seed in Canada. Federally, the government transfers money to the provinces to prevent unequal care across the country, and the provinces administer their respective systems. I hope that Kate can shed some light on what is a great blight of American society. How can you have freedom if you can’t even fall sick without going broke? Unfortunately, there are private clinics in Canada but they are not widespread. A two-tiered medical system exacerbates inequality and punishes the vulnerable doubly so. The test of a just society is how the vulnerable are treated - and universal access to medical care is central to passing the test.

[@JCMayPE]

Manual transmission == security system

[@88Fircar88]

The American Dream ? How can the US be that "powerfull", attractive and how can they make critics on others system with all that nonsense and un-ethic rules (Are they just jealous the Chinese made the rating system a step further before them x') ?) ?! u_u yep, I really can't understand

[@johnalden5821]

I may not have a clear picture of the Chinese system, but from my understanding, they intend to track much more about your behavior, your relationships, what you buy, etc. They seem to be trying to promote social and political conformity, or on the flip side, prevent autonomy or oppositional behavior. This is not something that most people would tolerate or want either in France or the U.S., right?

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

I don't know enough about the Chinese system to comment about that. Interested to hear your thoughts about John's questions though!

[@laurenceclark8754]

I don't see any Americans here making "critics on others system." I see a lot of American bashing here by a lot of Europeans. This is something pretty funny I see al the time. Some European will first say "Americans are so arrogant, they all think they are Superior!" Then they will proceed to tell you how superior they are because they don't have this arrogant attitude. Does no one see the basic error in logic here!

[@bryan143]

Different culture. I wouldn't live anywhere else. Americans are very friendly and easy going people.

[@carriemartinez2933]

@@laurenceclark8754 i see it all the time!! Acting extra superior and judgey, then, accuse us of being the very same thing they are, in reality being!!! Its kinda cute, knowing ALL countries have issues!!!

[@cmolodiets]

I learnt a new expression: To get (one's) panties in a bunch. thank you

[@rufuspipemos]

Some of this explains why France has 12% unemployment for decades and why they are less and less competitive among Euro countries. Don't have to pay your rent, don't have to (insert thing here). Do love their healthcare, though.

[@Clery75019]

Indeed. Before globalization that was still fine and French economy was doing well, but with increasing competition between countries to attract business and capital, that became a real problem. Reagan and Thatcher did their job well.

[@melodiousramblings8470]

Absolutely hilarious 😂 Im paying 1/3 of the price for a masters in the us... by getting my masters in France... I don’t plan on returning to the states after for most of these reasons 😂

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

I feel you! I did masters here too for the exact same reason. Thanks for watching!

[@morethanparisinfrance9289]

Yes!! I hope to do the same. I love that France allows you to stay to work afterwards

[@victors4333]

The problem with the stick rental is a false problem.... the only sticks you might find for rent are specialty sports cars. Maybe 50 years ago.

[@lavinder11]

I'm grateful for my (Black) American upbringing. You learn how to hustle early on and don't expect automatic handouts. While some of my Euro friends, namely French and German, complain about what the government's not doing, I'm already creating my own solutions and moving on. For most people, American upbringing makes you resilient and optimistic.

[@wavetranquility4243]

Yes!!! Nice job!

[@PornIsHate]

Nah, just brainwashed to accept nothing from government even though you pay taxes.

[@SusanChristmas]

well said

[@georgiancrossroads]

I was in Credit Card debt once. Never again. I have no Credit Card. Which means someone else is $12,000 in debt for me. For which I am grateful.

[@johnalden5821]

Yes, I am also a former credit card debtor. Now, we have just a couple of cards, and we pay them off each month. No debt and no interest payments. Thankfully, we are able to do this now -- when I was young I often had to use credit cards just to eat.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Good job!!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

I absolutely relied on a credit card as well. Especially during my college years. But since i moved to France after college, i never ended up having one as a working adult. Glad to hear you're able to manage without now!

[@carriemartinez2933]

I'm 44, and have never had one!! They just seemed to be a major hassle

[@wscottwatson]

I am neither in the military or a diplomat so what business is it of my employer to know my debt status? Next you'll be telling us that they can have you drug tested?

[@Falconlibrary]

I have bad news for you, Scott.

[@wscottwatson]

@@Falconlibrary The bad news is that, because of Brexit, Conservative politicians hope to do away with civilised rules of employment and of privacy and adopt ones from the USA instead?

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

........😁

[@christinelachance8012]

Yes...

[@LivieCaroline]

@@wscottwatson and who voted brexit please? 😂

[@rockeyrocket1224]

So there are ways arround the major problembs. Teeth, brush them thats it. Credit card debt school debt, dont do it. Learn to drive a stick. Keep 2 jobs so when one ends you can either increase hours at the part time job or find another. Eviction, save up a ton of cash to get into a condo to start with, then you can save for a house later. how to save the cash for a condo, dont drink dont smoke and forget having a girlfriend or wife.

[@redcapetimetraveler7688]

salut , bonnes fêtes ! Ma question est sur le "pledge of allegiance" dans les écoles ... heu..... c'est un serment d'obéissance aveugle ou une leçon de civisme matinale ? Franchement ça fleure bon le relent de guerre froide et en Europe beaucoup crieraient sûrement à l'idéologie ultra-nationaliste ou fasciste..hmhm. En France, on ne chante même pas l'hymne national avec ou sans levée de drapeau parce que ça aussi ce serait pris pour de l'embrigadement ! On est peut-être plus traumatisés par le nationalisme xénophobe en Europe qu'en Amérique....ou il y a t-il une autre raison ?

[@evelynmilavsky2690]

Je suis une élève américaine et c’est un serment d’obéissance aveugle. On ne peut pas se demander pourquoi on doit le reciter, surtout quand on est à l’école primaire. Au lycée, la plupart des élèves ne le disent pas, mais il faut quand même se lever et l’écouter tous les matins. Le fait de s’asseoir pendant le serment d’allégeance peut causer des problèmes aux élèves avec certains professeurs.

[@deefitzgerald2906]

I live in the US.........My first car Was a stick shift it was a VW.......Then I bought a

[@timbuktu8069]

Most of these problems seem to be about how to manage money. As an evil landlord, I will allow someone to use my property as long as they take care of it. If they don't, what am I supposed to do; let them keep living there rent free? I think not. For a lot of the others, it is all about you have your life, it is your responsibility to take care of it. Stick shifts-a lot of people can't operate a sailboat either.

[@SusanChristmas]

I am a landlord its my property if you cause problems or don't pay the rent you are out.

[@timbuktu8069]

@@SusanChristmas 👍

[@OptLab]

I believe Europeans don't understand americans having weapons. But we need to understand many escaped european repression or religious persecution. It's also a a counter-power to balance institutions. I am not so familiar with the topic so please Kate explain this to us Europeans :)

[@erglelergle8476]

Self defense is a human right. Simple.

[@oliveraparicio8464]

I'll do you one better and more simple. Hunting is a huge part of the collective American culture its the foundation of gun collection/culture. Its that simple! As sophicated and powerful the US police/military is gun rights can't save you when the government can level any major city by a push of a button.

[@OptLab]

@@oliveraparicio8464 Yes for sure, some wild animals are dangerous. But not in all states. I guess past wars also explain the presence of weapons. I don't have any specific opinion for or against it. Though I don't think it's needed in France in 2021 :)

[@oliveraparicio8464]

@@OptLab the crazy thing is the wild life population(bears, mountain lions, gators, sharks, wolves, elk, moose, bison, deers, hogs etc etc) is exploding here in the USA and they're moving into urban areas. Guns comes down to location in the USA Cities vs Suburbs vs Countryside. Strict gun control in cities with very controlled guns in surburbs and lenient gun control in the countryside. In the countryside you can find military grade weaponry.

[@OptLab]

​@@oliveraparicio8464 Interesting insight. Thanks

[@hannahyoung3533]

You were much more harsh in your list of American problems. Your French problems Americans can't understand were awfully fluffy (stale bread - really?) The level of problems you listed were not really comparable. You certainly present France thru rose colored glasses.

[@honeyfitz3791]

Re: Lingoda. I have decided to start learning French using a set of CDs that come with a text. After I finish that course I am going to try Lingoda. Your videos have convinced me that it is worth checking out.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Glad to hear Robert! Let me know how it goes!!

[@skebir2506]

If you found a good dentist not too expensive in Paris, please charge the address.

[@parisisima8934]

You can go to the dentist for free or for reduced prices with your mutuelle. Ask your employer.

[@DaLionessGirl]

Would love to see "French problems Americans can't relate to"

[@brieb4317]

Yassss

[@erglelergle8476]

Forgot to buy cigarettes so now I have nothing for breakfast...

[@pierreperrin7069]

Next time, you can make a video about french people and their obsession.. I could for sure give you a help...

[@ashleycaroline7908]

FAST FOOD!

[@tulipwindmill]

The straight white teeth is so very American. I have seen people comment on other KZbinrs pages about their teeth because they are not straight and white. I had too many teeth, got 4 taken out and had braces for a while. I hated them. TBH they didn't make much difference. I don't care ,its hardly noticable. As it is using whitening products can actually damage your teeth. The UK is same for credit cards and credit score, but, in Scotland they can't send someone to your house to reclaim stuff, its against the law. One that gets me is the obsession with religion and the need to try to enforce it on others, that and the need to know if you are married and or have kids and if not, why not. Noticed that recently on a premier on KZbin. Are you ever going to have kids, time is running out, don't you think you owe it to your mother???? Person's mum was in the chat and French, she was polite and firm in her response. The woman who asked the question just could not let it go, seems to be a big thing in US. Love your jacket!

[@frogking4491]

Brace face from age 11-16 checking in

[@yankeemike-so6jm]

Your add is too long. Living in the U.S. I agree. But red tape is tough in Europe for those who own apartments and rent them. Renters can use and abuse so much. A better balance needs to be found.

[@marsattaqueladelinquancest9727]

France is the country of humanism not the one of the banknotes. Btw that is why we can have lil issues with Swiss people. After the EU is not a country it's nothing.

[@christinelachance8012]

? Say what...

[@ybreton6593]

l'avantage en France nous avons de très bonnes protections sociales . que ce soit travail , chômage , sanitaire , en + le CCAS une aide en cas de non paiement de loyer , factures d'électricité Gaz et autre . mais Bon ???? quand aux études supérieures elles sont gratuites , sauf certaines écoles de commerces . Après les classes préparatoires vous pouvez avoir accès aux grandes écoles telles : Polytechnique , H.E.C. Essec , centralSupélec , Les Mines , écoles normale supérieure, EDHEC , Science-Politique Sorbonne ,E.N.M , E.N.A. , E.N.A.C. , E.S.E.M.M . E (école supérieure européenne de la Marine marchande ! dont Y. breton c'est bousillés les neurones pendant 7 années ; avec les maths-physique-chimie , calcul de gravité , la théorie des forces et frottement, théorème de Bernoulli , Théorie d'Archimède , calculs des portance , droit maritime , etc ) écoles d'infirmière , sages-femmes, Kiné toutes ces écoles sont gratuites mais accessibles uniquement sur concours . Il y a les universitées : médecines , droit , lettres , Psychos , dont la première année est sélective . ce qui m'énerve au plus haut point est le fait que beaucoups d'étudiants français, font leurs parcours : écoles supérieurs et universitaires gratuitement en France et une fois diplômés partent au Royaumes unis , U.S.A. , Canada , Japon qui leurs offrent des ponts d'or au grand dam de notre pays . je serais pour le principe , tu veux partir travailler à l'étranger ? Très bien ; alors tu dois rembourser l'état français qui a financer tes études . mais actuellement ce n'est pas le cas

[@ybreton6593]

the advantage in France we have very good social protection. whether it is work, unemployment, health, in + the CCAS a help in the event of non payment of rent, gas bills of electricity and other. but OK ???? when in higher studies they are free, except certain business schools. After the preparatory classes you can have access to the grandes écoles as well as the nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy schools. All these schools are free, but only accessible by competitive examination. as well as universities: medicine, law, letters, Psychos, whose selection is by trimesters and end of the first year. what annoys me to the highest point is the fact that a lot of French students, make their courses: free higher schools and universities in France which once graduated go to: United Kingdoms, USA, Canada, Japan which offer them bridges gold much to the chagrin of our country. I would be for the principle, you want to go to work abroad? Very well ; then you have to reimburse the French state which financed your studies.

[@fleurdavril1465]

@@ybreton6593 Merci d'avoir mis les commentaires en anglais comme ca je pourrai les faire lire a mon mari americain.Je souhaite que mes 2 enfants fassent leurs etudes superieures en France ( et qu'ils y restent!!!) car pas envie de m'endetter pour eux mais surtout car je pense sincerement que la vie est bien meilleure en France et en tant que maman on veut ce qu'il y a de mieux pour ses enfants.

[@ybreton6593]

@@fleurdavril1465 nous sommes français , mais comme tous les parents , de tous les pays ; c'est que nos enfants aient les meilleurs instructions et puissent faire après , le métier qu'ils ambitionnent . Quand a mon anglais??? c'est long et fastidieux de faire le commentaire le plus correctement possible en Anglais et pourtant , plus 60% des mots anglais , viennent de la langue française . Tous nos voeux pour la nouvelle année .

[@CHarlotte-ro4yi]

In Germany there is this stereotype that automatic cars are for elderly only :D Also the very first time I drove an automatic car I freaked out because I was so anxious whether the car really knows what it is doing without the stick :D

[@osez111]

my biggest problem : DONT TOUCH THE PEDAL, IT'S NOT THE CLUTCH !

[@CHarlotte-ro4yi]

@@osez111 I cannot even tell you how much I can relate :D

[@osez111]

@@CHarlotte-ro4yi fun stuff, that's one of the fisrt things my father told me when he showed me how to drive an automatic. A few minutes later, he did the mistake...

[@wyattkenyon4673]

I wish i could live somewhere else :(

[@wavetranquility4243]

You can! Go where you’re treated best, as the Nomad Capitalist says! It’s all in your hands!!

[@rashonda]

Everything she says is spot on, especially driving a standard shift. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why anyone would want to work while driving, when you could just put the car in drive and go.

[@SusanChristmas]

agree I liked driving a stick when I was young now I would never buy anything but an automatic.

[@MultiElodiee]

You meant "employment at will", right?

[@phillipsindel2291]

From Australia: I believe that, at 18 in USA, a person can own a machine gun and have it at home with ammunition. Amazing!

[@Falconlibrary]

You can't own an automatic weapon legally; semi-automatics are legal at 18.

[@TheFrederic888]

I missed an opportunity to work in USA 10 years ago. I’m so happy now I did 😂. I was already working abroad at that time, so it was not devastating, though I was pretty disappointed.

[@davidgiblin97]

It's manual not stick

[@peterparcoeur5917]

Why TF does your employer need to know your credit score??

[@virginiav.1172]

As an American, I have never had an employer look at my credit score but they do have a right to see it when you rent an apartment or buy a house, for example.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Seriously good question. They absolutely have the right to look but im not sure why. Hopefully someone will chime in with the info!

[@lavinder11]

It depends on the sector. Government jobs look at credit score to leverage whether or not you have reason to accept bribes and of course jobs in finance check as well to see if you're responsible.

[@ringwe]

200 dollars for a university textbook? Seriously?

[@Rachel-rs7jn]

Oh nowadays they can be double that, for the big science, engineering, and math ones.

[@ringwe]

@@Rachel-rs7jn How is that even possible? It's a textbook! I hope at least that students have the option to download it from the university's library or something.

[@Rachel-rs7jn]

@@ringwe I know, it's terrible. There are other options; for example, they can rent them, or buy used ones. Many find illegal copies online meant for other countries heh heh. The thing is, at expensive schools, the cost of the books is so little compared to the rest of what they're paying that they don't even necessarily think about it. At public universities, where the students really don't necessarily have a lot of money, the faculty are leaning more and more toward using free online textbooks and choosing to make the books they write freely available. It's definitely a huge scam because the authors of the textbooks don't even make that much off of those sales. It's the publishers that really make the big money.

[@ringwe]

@@Rachel-rs7jn It sounds so weird to me. I mean, I studied in the UK and we had to buy our textbooks; sometimes they were expensive if we bought them brand new, but expensive to us was in the range of 20-40 pounds, and really it had to be a very special book to justify that expense. And to be honest, most of us tried to buy them second-hand or copy them so the cost was significantly less.

[@johnalden5821]

Actually, while this may still happen, many texts and resources are posted by the professors online, so students do not have to pay retail at the university book store. Also, online retailers often have new or used textbooks for much less. It all depends on the professor, the course and the book.

[@maiskk6326]

American problems ? Like people from Bolivia have the same problems ?

[@krasnoiark]

I have to say that credit score thing is like dystopian futur shit for me like bruh my employer should not know if I have dept, if I pay my rent in time or whatever like this is a breach of freedom that is so weird coming from a country that values freedom so much

[@parisisima8934]

never been so proud to live in France