American Things I Don’t Miss 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇸 American In England

Things I don’t miss about America.
Welcome to the Hickson Diaries. In this video we are going to talk about the biggest culture shocks I have experienced as US Citizen who has recently immigrated to the UK. Tune in for another fascinating POV of an American expat living in England! 🇺🇸🇬🇧
🤩 Whether you're an expat yourself, a travel enthusiast, or simply curious about cross-cultural experiences, this video is a must-see. 🎧 Grab your tea or coffee, and tune in to see what’s happening in our new life in England from an American's point of view! ☕
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Things I don’t miss about America.
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Things I don’t miss about America.
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US vs UK, Culture Shock, Living Abroad, American Expat, Expat Life
Things I don’t miss about America.

[@boomshanka8743]

Hi, Oregonian in Essex here. Love the channel - liked and subbed. Yeah, life is really not bad here. Brits are great people, the country is pretty, the weather is character building, and after three years I have even gotten used to doing my laundry in the kitchen. 😂

[@charlieyerrell9146]

We have smaller houses so we put into our kitchens what we can .I and most people do not have a problem with a washing machine in the kitchen. It goes under the unit and is out of the way. 😊

[@andypandy9013]

But you still haven't learned to say "got" instead of "gotten" eh? 😉

[@chronixchaos7081]

The weather being ‘character building’ made me chuckle.

[@boomshanka8743]

@andypandy9013 I usually say got, but when I said gotten I had just forgotten. Please don't think me misbegotten. 😁

[@rjw4762]

'character building' - love that ! Actually, I'd rather live in a country with variable weather than one that ....doesn't. I mean, who wants 30 degrees on Christmas Day !?!?

[@ailo4x4]

25 year American expat in east midlands here. I came in the US military, retired, married a Leicester lass, and stayed. I'd say the only thing I really don't miss at all is the different laws from state to state (cough, cough...GUN LAWS!, ahem...) where some states are draconian and others are "laws? we don't need no stinking laws!". In general, the law here is consistent for everybody everywhere (there are some technical differences between Scottish law and English/Welsh law, but minor). I don't miss the health care desert that is America if you do not have job that provides decent insurance. I LOVE the NHS. It is EXACTLY like US military medicine; free at point of service, 2 nurses to few, 2 coats of paint too many, 2 (or 20) administrators too many, everybody going like mad trying to do their best. It's not perfect, but it's really good. NOBODY goes into medical bankruptcy because you can't afford medical care. And you can still have private insurance if you want/can. It's not either/or. I also have guns here. I hunt and target shoot. There is a very large gun culture here, it's just much quieter. My fellow Texans think I've gone socialist because l like the social medicine and reasonable gun control here (gunsafes, etc.) ;-) Don't get me wrong, there are things that drive me crazy (the weather!!), but I do like being here.

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

In Cali there are lots of programs that provide healthcare to low income people. Everyone here has insurance. Maybe in Texas there is another picture

[@SNORKYMEDIA]

@@user-rk3vw3pk4w problem is the money goes as profit into the pharma companies instead of helping sick people

[@stoneagepig3768]

If everyone had insurance (which they obviously dont) why are there programs that need to help? I know that even the best insurance doesn't cover all costs and since only the most affluent can afford top insurance they can also afford the excess charged. You sound a bit defensive which is understandable, but we do not accept that even the homeless who can't contribute in taxes should have to suffer and die needlessly. We call it being civilised many Americans call it communism 🙄

[@monza1002000]

That very comment shows how bad US healthcare is. EVERYONE is AUTOMATICALLY covered, no running round to jump though hoops to see if you qualify ​@user-rk3vw3pk4w

[@andylane247]

A good mate of mine was a gun nut. All in a gun safe, inspected by a firearms officer, big on safety culture. When his mum got dementia, he couldn't have time off for stress, as stress means you lose your licence and firearms. Permanently...

[@carltonurwin3923]

I once heard Stephen Fry say that American’s value Freedom and the British value Fairness. And it’s reflected in our different political and social attitudes.

[@rjw4762]

I very much like Stephen Fry, but he has gone awfully quiet on quasi-political matters this past 5-6 years. I suspect he is seeing what a truly liberal, open society / country now looks, feels and sounds like. It's not pretty. Yes we brits very much do favour 'fairness', but it's being turned against us in most ways.

[@carltonurwin3923]

@@rjw4762 I’m confused by your comment. Do you object to living in a tolerant open society ?

[@rjw4762]

@@carltonurwin3923 Our Tolerance and Open Society is now being abused.

[@albertsmyth9616]

@@rjw4762Boy, are you right about that! So called ‘liberals’ are the most intolerant of all, by a mile!

[@carltonurwin3923]

@@rjw4762 by whom ?

[@marmite1076]

I've tasted Hershey's chocolate and never again.

[@thearmouredpenguin7148]

No way can Hershey's be considered chocolate.

[@morini500dave]

@@thearmouredpenguin7148 having chocolate in it,it should be called hearsay's

[@KathyBarnett-mv5vg]

I've only tried it once whilst in the US and to me it tasted like either cooking chocolate or the dog chocolate that my brother pranked me with!

[@julian-vm5ec]

It’s made of candle wax .

[@Brookspirit]

We had a family holiday to Florida in 1999, me and my sister tried Hershey's, it was disgusting, vomit flavoured wax. Awful stuff.

[@alanmusicman3385]

The founding fathers of the US had a great vision. They wanted a society where everyone could realise their full potential, but where the weak and less able would be protected by society/government. The essential tragedy of the USA is that the first part of that has been made into some kind of religion and the latter part in large part forgotten. A comparable tragedy is that the original intention and purpose of the 2nd ammendment to the constitution has been forgotten. The founding fathers did not want a professional army, but they saw the need for a defence force of citizen militia to protect against any attacks. Thus the 2nd ammendment was passed to allow anyone to bear arms for this purpose. Within 10 years of the founding a professional army was in fact put together - but the 2nd ammendment was never removed. Thus, a reasonable law allowing for defence of the nation using flintlock rifles can now - in extreme circumstances - allow random nut-jobs to turn automatic weapons on women and children - and despite ANY government's first job being to protect its citizens, American government does nothing about it. That is a prime sign of a very broken system.

[@mojojojo11811]

'allow random nut-jobs to turn automatic weapons on women and children'. Is this foul practice exclusively executed only on women and children? No men ever lose their lives in these vile incidents that are the scourge of the US? Are you saying that it's not OK for women and children to die but it's perfectly fine if men do?

[@thadtuiol1717]

America is run for the benefit of major corporations and the state of Is real.

[@deanstuart8012]

The greatest argument for gun control in the UK is our relationship with alcohol. Considering the carnage in most of our town and city centres at chucking out time on a Friday and Saturday night, can you imagine how much worse it would be if we were armed? Taxi rank gunfights anyone?

[@peterburry2014]

exactly.. we're a barbarian nation and would just end up slaughtering each other

[@paulbromley6687]

We’d always apologise afterwards

[@bravo2zero796]

Imagine , the football derbys if we had guns 😂😂

[@serenityinside1]

@@paulbromley6687and form a queue to do so !

[@bravo2zero796]

@derekhough-jm9gc exactly thats what im saying, imagine the carnage if we had guns ..

[@sheilaburns8163]

Wow , how lovely to hear positive comments about our Country, thank you and I hope you continue to feel this way.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I hope so too!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@derekhough-Presumptuous. R u an English native?

[@johnrainford9708]

Hey. Yeh here we don't live to work .. we work to live. Enjoy the Holiday weekend. We get another in three weeks. What's not to like. 😉👍 J

[@dianeleitch]

​@derekhough-jm9gc lived in the States for 31years where paid time off seems to be a privilege and not a right. Fortunately I worked in the British Embassy and got all the British benefits.7 weeks paid plus all the holidays e.g Thanksgiving, Christmas New Year etc. If you are sick you don't go to work, but still get paid without worrying about being fired. So dream on..

[@dianeleitch]

@derekhough-jm9gc Embassy life is the same as every working person. Go to work drove home. Monday to Friday 35 hours per week. Only difference was we were paid by our government and got all the UK perks. I am sure if workers in the States took lots of 'unscheduled 'time off, they would be fired on the spot.

[@johnrainford9708]

@@dianeleitch "...Emotive Brit stories..." Sounds like the emotion manifesting itself here is plain old envy... 😉🤣

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@dianeleitch. Not the worst gig

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@derekhough-jm9gc. Appreciate your comment but Have to disagree with. I’ve never met a “lazy” American worker. And u can take “unscheduled “ time but it’s typically limited. I remember I was off for 3 days in a row with the flu and I needed a doctors note to prove I was sick in order to get paid (& I was in my 30s)

[@jackjames3190]

I first saw your channel a short while after your moved into your first apartment - can I say you look AMAZING - you’re a different person - there’s a lightness in you - if seems like you have a spring in your step - you’re more alive. If that’s the case I’m so very happy for you and I’m glad that Britain is being good to you x 😘

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

You are amazing-thanks so much for the compliment and the support! If you can, join us on the livestream on Tuesdays @ 8 pm. Would love to talk to you more, if you have the opportunity.

[@MissLondon.born.1965]

There is a family from the USA on yt,They moved to Britain, The first thing they noticed was the taste in food here as it tastes better

[@paulnorris2756]

Agreed. Quality not quantity.

[@andylane247]

Brexit may undo some of our food standards. Any trade deal we do with the usa will include hormone and antibiotic treated meats...

[@davidfreja7162]

That’s one of the reasons why Americans can be bigger. Hormones to make animals bigger is going to make humans bigger and put on excess weight.

[@xmorte]

LOL good one

[@logangallagher7050]

​@@andylane247no it won't, the UK has strict rules on that

[@marmite1076]

Being able to live/travel without owning a car? Public transport is regular & reliable. You can walk anywhere (we have pavements). Biking is generally safe.

[@Thenogomogo-zo3un]

On the whole, the US tends to be rather larger than the UK, so having a car would be a given, especially in more remote locations.

[@mojojojo11811]

@@Thenogomogo-zo3un The USA is just a little bit smaller than continental Europe. Yet throughout Europe there is infrastructure in place that ensures the vast majority of people regardless of how remote they live do not require a car to get around. Blaming the size of the USA on it's lack of transportation infrastructure when Europe has managed to do this (despite also being home to almost 50 countries) is not a valid argument.

[@salvadormarley]

The public transport is reliable?

[@mojojojo11811]

@@derekhough-jm9gc How does your statement relate in any way to the above points even if we grant that your statement was true (which it is not)? If you meant to say that Britain is not part of the European Union anymore, even then it's still not relevant to the statements made above regarding transport. If, however, you meant to say that Britain is not part of continental Europe, you'd still be incorrect and your statement would still not be relevant.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@marmite1076 it’s an amazing privilege to have. And I’m definitely taking advantage of it

[@stephennewton2777]

Totally agree with your take on the individualism and personal isolation prevalent in the US. As a gross generalisation, people in the US feel they are in competition with each other whereas it’s much more cooperative and communal in the U.K. Americans are undoubtedly much more stressed than their U.K. cousins.

[@user-ob4wo9po2y]

There is no community in England everyone stays at home and watches tv as the weather sucks. I was born and raised there. Left as soon as I could.

[@stephennewton2777]

@@user-ob4wo9po2y And we are so grateful you did.

[@serenityinside1]

@@user-ob4wo9po2ysorry to hear you’ve gone - you sounded fun .

[@stephennewton2777]

@@user-ob4wo9po2y And England perked up on your departure - thanks.

[@Kim-427]

It’s amazing that you people have taken individualism and made it a bad thing. It’s called freedom and I love it. I’m a black person and we definitely have community in America but we also can think and act as an individual that’s what people fought for in this country. You can have a village but think for yourself as well.

[@susanroberts2289]

In the UK there is nothing to stop anyone paying for their own private healthcare. On the other hand there is no free healthcare. Your contribution to the NHS is taken proportionately from your salary at source. If you are healthy and poor and don’t need hospital treatment you’re lucky but everyone’s small contribution together will help to save lives.

[@mojojojo11811]

'Your contribution to the NHS is taken proportionately from your salary at source.' Yes, most of us pay income tax on our salaries. A portion of this helps fund public services such as the NHS. It is surprising (and also incorrect) how many people think their NI contributions are their 'healthcare' contributions. NI has nothing to do with our healthcare.

[@susanroberts2289]

@@derekhough-jm9gc May be or probably. Take your pick. I’ve paid my dues. I’m retired now so it’s too late for me to stress about it.

[@susanroberts2289]

@@derekhough-jm9gc I do consider that the NHS is a great deal and my husband and I do use the NHS and don’t pay for private health care. I was on holiday in America a few years ago and a town’s local shop had a collection pot for contributions on the counter. When I I asked what the coins in the pot were for I was told that a child in the area needed life-saving medical services and locals were trying to help. I saw first-hand that some in a national community without a national health welfare scheme are prepared to be onlookers as even babies and children suffer or die. Example, in England over ten years ago…NHS, My husband had an angiogram followed by an immediate emergency triple heart bypass performed by a leading chief consultant at a major heart centre of excellence followed by a couple of weeks in hospital, followed at home by GP care and then hospital checkups back with the consultant. Simply the best.

[@logangallagher7050]

​@@derekhough-jm9gcactually we don't, we do pay alot for the service we get but at the moment we pay around 500 per head per year, Americans pay 3 times more per head per year on average.

[@serenityinside1]

@@derekhough-jm9gc100’s of pounds per month just for the NHS you’re saying then ?!! Seriously fella , get your head screwed on.

[@adrianboardman162]

A decent NHS doctor will also be very matter of fact. If you're overweight, your meds need changing because they aren't working, they feel something is wrong and needs further examination, your child is displaying symptoms of Autism or ADHD, they'll talk you through everything, and how they came to that conclusion. It's not in their financial interest to drag it out longer than it needs to be.

[@ailo4x4]

Part of it is that the doctors here do not work for you. They work for the NHS and they treat you. So, they just get on with it. They are not afraid to hurt your feelings because you might go get another doctor. But they are good and I respect them greatly.

[@adrianboardman162]

@@ailo4x4 My Autism Diagnosis took years, but my GP pushed and pushed for Child Mental Health services. He wasn't afraid to call a spade a spade, but at the same time was compassionate. But regardless of the issues, you don't want molly coddling, just the facts, a diagnosis and where required treatment.

[@ailo4x4]

@@derekhough-jm9gc Not as sheet as not having a sheet at all...(welcome to the grossly underinsured and uninsured America)

[@ailo4x4]

@@derekhough-jm9gc As retired US military who used to train our NATO allies in medical intelligence (yes, that is a thing) and have lived in many parts of the world, I think I might be exceptionally well qualified to speak on the subject. It sounds like you may still be confused. Try not to get ahead of yourself, it's unbecoming.

[@ailo4x4]

@@derekhough-jm9gc Well, if spending all my time on expeditions in the Sahara and sub-Saharan Africa isn't getting out more...well, I guess I don't what else you would suggest. I think I get out plenty, thank you.

[@marmite1076]

Better food without the junk chemicals eg, chemical colouring / trans fats. US bread would be classed as cake/confectionary due to the amount of sugar from fructose corn syrup

[@mojojojo11811]

You do know that many UK foods contain High Fructose Corn Syrup right? We just call it Glucose-Fructose syrup or Isoglucose. Remember that the next time you're drinking your favourite brand of squash 🤣

[@marmite1076]

@@mojojojo11811Fructose is the sugar in fruit that makes them sweet so nothing bad per se. Yes it's used in the UK as a sugar substitute to bypass the sugar tax. Except in the US it's added to at a lot of things for no good reason.

[@mojojojo11811]

@@marmite1076 'Fructose is the sugar in fruit that makes them sweet so nothing bad per se.' Actually, fructose is one of the worst of the sugars to consume due to the fact that ONLY the liver can process fructose whereas glucose can be absorbed by every cell in your body unless you're diabetic in which case you need some help from insulin (if you're type 1) or a drug like Metformin (if you're type 2). Cane sugar is sucrose which is 50% glucose and 50% fructose. Do you want to guess the various combinations of fructose to glucose ratios HFCS is available in?

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@marmite1076 yes. Every non American I know who’s tasted it complains about how sweet it is

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

They have a reason for adding it…it’s addicting

[@clivenewman4810]

Welcome to the civilised world🇬🇧 You'll like it here

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

I would not call England a civilized world, knowing what’s happening in Bradford, Luton, Southeast London, Blackpool, etc etc

[@timcarnell5133]

Civilised ? Compared to the USA, yes we are in many ways. Compared to the rest of Europe, no way. We are are backward, uncivilised and uneducated, and as regards to food……… I can’t wait to go to southern Italy next month.

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

@@timcarnell5133 you are not civilised even compared to Americans. I am half Russian half English, being raised primarily in Russia and can tell that. Stop acting like you don’t have colonial past and atrocities that you have done to other countries. You will pay for everything. Selling off your industry to foreigners is just a starter. I didn’t even mentioned that your country is being massively flooded by people from ex colonies that you have looted

[@clivenewman4810]

@@timcarnell5133 fucking stay there then

[@ReallyHowInteresting-ii4nj]

@@timcarnell5133 You really are clueless aren't you. Britain is far more civilised than Europe, why are so many people willing to risk their lives to get here. I can't wait for you to go to southern Italy next month, Hope you stay there traitor.

[@Peterraymond67]

Hi. I live in Wales, I worked on Staten Island (NY) for 6 months in 1994. Over the years on many vacations, so many that the only states I haven’t been to is Arkansas & Hawaii. I don’t think I could have survived there for health reasons. I have chronic kidney failures I have renal dialysis 3 times a week. The NHS pays for this, this also includes an ambulance for transport. As I live in Wales my prescriptions are paid for by the state. It amazes me that those who afford the health insurance regard it as “Socialised”. They usually have no direct contact with the UK and no experience of the MHS.

[@stuartauld3193]

NHS doesn't pay for it. People do.

[@Peterraymond67]

@@stuartauld3193 Please, I am not nieve. I pay taxes here even though I'm a tax paying pensioner. Those of us who were brought up here, me from a few years after the start of the NHS have taken the NHS fir granted and we know it's us who actually pay the pounds and pennies.

[@johnnyuk3365]

@@stuartauld3193 Thank you, you have have reminded me that the first words of the United States of America’s constitution is “We the people “ . They seem to have forgotten that over the last 250 years. Although then “the people” didn’t include women, children, slaves, people of foreign birth, people of non-Christian beliefs. So maybe nothing has changed.

[@normanpearson8753]

They probably regard their Fire Service and Police as socialist , then...same argument !

[@Makeyourselfbig]

@@stuartauld3193 That's how any form of insurance works. The difference is the taxes paying for the NHS is for the common good. Could you afford to pay for dialysis three times a week? How about long term cancer treatment? How about recovery from a serious accident, hit by a car, burned in a fire? The fact is as we get older our bodies begin to fail. But nobody should have to bankrupt themselves to avoid dying. This is why almost all the civilised world, with the major exception of America has some system of universal healthcare. Because it's better than having a system that only the rich can access.

[@claregale9011]

Work to live not live to work , lifes just too short 😊.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I agree. But it’s a tough manifesto to follow in the US

[@DanDownunda8888]

There are right-to-disconnect laws in Australia that provide employees with the right to refuse unreasonable calls from their employers outside of work hours without facing penalties. These laws aim to strike a balance between work and personal time. Here are some key points: Right to Disconnect : Under these laws, employees may refuse to monitor, read, or respond to contact (or attempted contact) from their employer or a third party outside of their working hours, unless the refusal is unreasonable. Criminal Penalties : Employers who breach these orders may face hefty criminal penalties, including fines of up to $18,0003. Exceptions : There is recognition that employers may have legitimate reasons for contacting their staff at home, such as seeking to fill empty shifts. p.s. the first time I went to the US in 1985 there were ads on TV encouraging parents to take their children to a psychiatrist to get them prescribed drugs to make them more compliant. Basically, being a teenager was a medical condition that required pharmacological intervention.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

That’s a fabulous law. I love it!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Those ads are part of the reason for the opioid epidemic imo

[@Duck1985]

Nice to hear some positivity regarding the UK!

[@Whippy99]

Agreed. 😊

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Glad to offer them. Thx for your comment!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@whippy99. Thanks!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Sorry….I don’t understand your comment

[@Ron-uq2hg]

I lived and worked in the United States for 20 years. I didn’t realize it at the time. But I had the best of both worlds. I worked for a German company based in the USA. 1 holidays were almost the same as in Germany. You took your holidays and no argument. 2 sick. Stay at home we don’t want you making everyone sick. 3 if you have to travel during the weekend to get to a customer Monday morning. Record the out of hours travel and be reimbursed. 4 full company managed health coverage. My late wife ran up over 1.5 million in hospital bills company covered with $10,000 co pay from me. Basically we were treated like the staff in Germany. I was sad to retire from them at 68 years old and move back to Canada.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Sounds like an amazing company to work for.

[@guillodean]

Are you also glad to see the back of variable sales tax and the tipping culture?

[@Kim-427]

You don’t have to tip. I hate that this has been drilled in to the heads of people from the UK. No one is going to do anything to you and the sky will not fall on you if you don’t tip. It is a courtesy for you to tip if you like. It’s your money!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Do you mean the "lack" of?

[@Salamanca2040]

Take your leave quota, nobody ever said on their deathbed ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office’ you can’t take the money with you, there’s no pockets in a shroud!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@raymondadams7570]

as a rule the brits are not greedy, some people have gone to america and been paid big bucks, a lot of them gave it up and came back

[@jackjames3190]

Elon musks first wife was British - she’s the mother of his children they had a very good marriage and they are still friends and still amicable - so why did she leave the worlds richest man? Because she missed Britain - not even family - just Britain and the British culture - there’s no where else on the world quite like it - I wish the people that moan about this amazing country would travel more - every time I go away I come back with MORE love for the pace because I realise how spoiled we are.

[@aidyg]

​@@derekhough-jm9gcThink it's because most of the US is like north Korean with it's pro gun Christian rules

[@Kim-427]

I’m 61 years old. Lived in America all my life and have never owned a gun.

[@rbnhd1144]

Very True, I've known a few myself, there is more to life than money, People, Health and Happiness comes first.

[@rbnhd1144]

@@derekhough-jm9gc I'm not so sure that's true although it sounds convincing, it doesn't make the USA a better place, I've spoken to Americans that have moved to the UK and they wont come back to this slave drivers Rat Race, I've known Brits that have gone back too, everyone has their reasons, we all have different values, I can see Taxes are your issue and that's fine.

[@sidney4329]

I would so like to move to England, where my great-grandfather was from, near Maidstone, Kent. Or maybe to the Lake District.

[@Whippy99]

I know Maidstone well. I lived in Ashford, Kent, as a child and still have family living up there now. Kent is, in my humble opinion, the most beautiful county in the UK. 😊❤️

[@sidney4329]

@@Whippy99 Have you been to Thurnham, just a couple miles northeast of Maidstone? I saw (on Google Map!) there's a nice pub there, and some lovely country roads. Supposedly some ancestors (surname Seager) were from there, and East Fairleigh. If I could I'd move there permanently.

[@Whippy99]

@@sidney4329 I have been there. Have a look at Pluckley too. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s where they filmed Darling Buds of May. Smarden is fabulous too. 😊 I hope you get your wish. I had an idyllic childhood in Kent.

[@sidney4329]

@@Whippy99 Unfortunately, UK immigration is pretty strict. I cannot even bring my online teaching job, which seems incomprehensible to me but there it is. I can only dream. Thanks for your responses.

[@IslesGiantsYankees]

May I suggest the wonderful cities of Bradford or Blackpool?

[@whitecompany18]

It's ok to just call it the States.... We (the rest of the world) all know it's not United 😉👍

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

I`ll wager it`s united when it comes to when it really matters : War. I wouldn`t want to wake that Military Machine up - not that it get`s much sleep, with all the troubles in the world.

[@davidjones332]

@@dogwithwigwamz.7320 You'll have forgotten Vietnam then?

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

@@davidjones332 Fair play.

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

Maybe you will regret your words after another Scottish referendum. And it will happen and Scotland will be free

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

@@user-rk3vw3pk4w Yep ! Free to pay it`s own way in the world. You don`t need any money, of course, from England. You can afford to pay for your own free roads, free education, free Nursing Care, free prescriptions...... I have absolutely no idea why you chose to remain a part of the United Kingdom in 2014. lol ! Do you believe in Democracy ? If you do, then the best chance that Scotland ( and Wales, for that matter ) has of leaving the UK ( splitting up the UK ) is that if / when everybody in this so called " United Kingdom" get`s the same vote on the same day. On that day if any of these 3 mainland UK countries support a move to leave the United Kingdom it will far more likely than not be us English. How is it that the Welsh have had their say and the Scots have had theirs, but us English have not - in this " United Kingdom ?" Sturgeon wasted her entire political career on trying to persuade her fellows in Scotland to vote to leave this f`king crappy `Union. `Her time would have been better spent becoming an MP south of the border and petitioning that it`s about time the vast majority of us on this sinking isle should be given our say.

[@davidfussell5735]

Some very interesting points you've mentioned, some things we take for granted in this country,we presume the grass is always greener on the other side

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

It’s not an uncommon POV-particularly if you’ve never experienced anything else

[@karimtemri1664]

Im from Italy and we visited the US 2 weks to celebrate our graduation 🎓 I recall that we bought some tshirts as a souvenirs and they were children's t shirts because the ones for adults were too big lol

[@williamdeypres1122]

It must be utterly soul destroying having saved all your life and having to spend your nest egg on an operation that inevitably makes you poor in retirement.

[@aidyg]

​@@derekhough-jm9gcmust be so irresponsible getting shot by someone you don't know. Think before you type

[@serenityinside1]

@@derekhough-jm9gcreally ? As in cancer / car etc accident etc etc ?

[@aidyg]

@@derekhough-jm9gc you must remember to print a map of the areas where you can never get murdered that would save a lot of people's lives.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Yes-I hope I never have to encounter that

[@1firwood]

lovely your here and happy you enjoy being here cousin 🥰💞

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Thank you! Appreciate the comment

[@Gnaf-mm5rs]

Thanks. I'm definitely not moving to America 😂

[@Kim-427]

@@derekhough-jm9gcThank you! I say the mentality towards America in the UK is so very misunderstood.

[@IslesGiantsYankees]

Enjoy your decaying High Streets and pathetic weather!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Some people thrive-it just wasn’t common amongst my personal experiences and interactions

[@tadasblindavicius8889]

In mainland Europe actually are some countries with a far better healthcare system than in the UK, but yeah, UK has one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

British healthcare is even worse than Russian. I am half British and half Russian. Also right now live in California. I can compare

[@Evus-st5di]

​@@user-rk3vw3pk4wThat's a lie, which makes you a liar!

[@robtheplod]

Really? Currently waiting 3 weeks for a phone appointment with my GPS about a serious issue....

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

@@robtheplod I knew England has the slowest internet in Europe but I didn’t know it was that bad. Poor you

[@Evus-st5di]

@@robtheplod I ring up and get to see the GP the same day, within 3 hours. The Tories are trying to destroy the NHS.

[@janebullock2447]

So glad that you like our country!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I love it. 🥰. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKGueGRoZ9Wpp7Msi=uu8v_lrs6y8tHsnv

[@ivan78174]

One thing I'd like to add... HIGH STREETS Everywhere you live in the UK, you are never too far away from a high street where you can get pretty much anything you need for the week. Even within the larger cities there's a street with a row of shops. Communities and neighbourhoods in UK have character and localised cultures due to high streets. In North America a shopping run is a typically a two hour long mission because of the need to drive.

[@janb200]

That is a ridiculous and uninformed statement. It depends entirely on where you live. You cannot generalize an entire continent, or an entire country like that.

[@ivan78174]

@janb200 maybe travel out of your immediate post code once in a while and you'll notice this is the general trend.

[@janb200]

@@ivan78174 I've travelled extensively in my lifetime, so kindly do not comment on my personal experiences of which you know nothing about.

[@ivan78174]

@@janb200 so stop talking like someone who hasn't stepped out of his immediate postcode.

[@mjc8281]

Having lived in both myself, I think you pretty much nailed what I would have said..... Funny about work culture, my advice to anyone who asks me and is moving across to the US, is liking your job is so much more important in the US, in the UK your job is so much less invasive into your life. Saying that I have been back 15 years now I still can't take a lunch break at work, they actually stress me out!!! I might have include all the Personal Injury Lawyer Ads you get in the US myself, but great job overall on the list!

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

Cost of life in England is not affordable for local wages. My father is from Essex and now he lives in Moscow. I was shocked when I found out that so called developed country the UK has almost the same wages for high skill jobs. The UK ties with third world country in wages

[@mjc8281]

@@derekhough-jm9gc Thanks for that, I will edit... I wasn't saying you have to work harder, although you might, more that work plays a more central role in your life.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Yes. The commercials overall. Good point. You’ve definitely spent a bit of time in the US. My partner expressed to that they are having trouble not working their butt off like what is expected from most people in the US

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@derekhough-jm9gc. I’m glad u had that experience. But pls realise not everyone is that fortunate

[@GreatSageSunWukong]

Depends on the job mine "encouraged" working every weekend and on holidays hinting you'd never get a pay rise or promotion if you didn't, you had to prove you were "supporting the team" and it was a 3 month rolling contract so there was also hints that lack of working overtime would be taken into account when it was time for the contract to be renewed

[@readmylisp]

In other words, slavery.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Excellent example to illustrate the plethora of tactics US employers will use to intimidate their employees into forgoing their rights

[@GreatSageSunWukong]

@@TheHicksonDiaries I'm in the UK, that was SEGA Europe, a Japanese company.

[@tenniskinsella7768]

The weather at the moment

[@normanpearson8753]

And since last July , here in N.W. !

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I miss the US summer so much-but as hard as they are I prefer English winters. I don’t miss snow at all

[@littledinoboy]

I like what you had to say ..... nice job THD

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Thank you. Hope to talk to you again soon

[@johnhall7679]

Eat, drink, be merry for tomorrow we die. Good VLOG, very honest, thankyou.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Thank u! ☺️

[@ImWithBigRed]

Having visited the US a number of times I don’t miss the ad breaks on TV. 8 minutes of the programme 5 minutes of adverts.

[@rbnhd1144]

That's if your lucky, the ads for Prescription Drugs and Begging goes on 24/7 365.

[@IslesGiantsYankees]

And yet your T.V. series have 4-10 episodes a year where American shows have 20-25.

[@user-ze5tu4ck1t]

I Remember when one dogs 🐕 Hadd to be put down at the vets .I Rang my Boss from the Vets very upset ,He stopped me mid stream I was appoligising because I was going to be late .He said don't worry worry take at few days off .You have a Republican Governor a Female writing In a book how she shot a 14 month puppy 🐶 because she couldn't train it to hunt .😮 ho and a Goat Maga are really sick .

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Yes. America is not doing well right now

[@seanmc1351]

Just a little point, which is valid for this topic as yu talked about holidays and vacation, i also wanted to point out, that not to many people know, especially with the text and mobile phones now, (i could be wrong and law has changed, but i have not heard it) if you deceare yourself sick, and put a sick note in, your employer is not allowed to contact you, asking about your return, need you back all that stuff, they can write to ask how your doing, is there anything they can do to help, maybe lighter work, special chairs, work on ground floor if there are stairs, you get the drift, they can however call you in for interview after a period, usually 6 months, to see how your doing, will it be long term, and can they give any help, shorter hours, ease you flexi time, light duties.

[@paulcrawley5687]

one thing i don’t miss about america is i’ve never been there and have no intention of ever going there

[@jackthebassman1]

I lived in Chicago for almost a year with the opportunity to relocate to the USA with my family. Before I went for work (apart from holidays) I thought America was the land of the free and a golden opportunity; after a couple of weeks I realised that it is the land of haves and have nots and especially with that lunatic Trump viying for another term I’m so bloody glad I decided to stay home in 🇬🇧.

[@nicksmith8227]

I have been there once but not again. There are much nicer places to go and people to meet.

[@jackthebassman1]

@@derekhough-jm9gc We Europeans apparently know much more about the world than very many Americans, we travel around and see things for ourselves, we don’t rely on Pox News.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

There’s a ton to see and experience in the US that are unique and amazing. But it’s tough to live there

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@derekhough-jm9gc just curious-have you’ve ever traveled outside the US? If so, where?

[@user-cd6wf6mu8t]

Well said.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Thx

[@davidsmith8728]

The one thing I don't miss about the USA is the tipping culture - which is getting worse by the day. In the USA, every man and his dog have their hand out.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

To be fair to the servers-they only make a couple dollars per hours!

[@davidsmith8728]

@@TheHicksonDiaries I know this is something to which we are not accustomed, however, messing about trying to calculate 10% or 15% - or should we give 20% ??? What is right? WIll her children be able to eat if we only give 20%? It would be much easier if they paid them a decent wage, incorporated the wages into the cost of the food so that the customer doesn't then have to mess around with tips.

[@rmcwil398]

Don't miss the ads. Ads before the show, ads straight after the opening credits then an ad after the show and then the closing credits. What's all that about? During the show the ad just pops up without any warning.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

How else would we sell all our drugs and medical treatments?

[@ChrisBrown-pm4jg]

Its better again in 🇮🇪! Less poverty, less homelessness, stronger community, better economy, benefit of being part of the eu.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Yeah-I think brexit was not the best idea for England

[@arnolddavies6734]

Congratulations on finding out how life is in the “real” world.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

It’s nice to escape the chaos

[@piano40s]

Opposite here I am English, first thing I noticed in the USA is the quality of fresh food when shopping it is terrible not fresh at all a house wife here would never buy it, good thing I liked in the USA is the price of Petrol/Gas we get ripped off here big time.

[@adrianpetyt9167]

I used to know a place in England where they sold double quarter-pounder burgers. They were good, but you had to be able to open your mouth like a snake to bite them! Regarding hunting- 'hunting' in the UK usually means riding to hounds- letting dogs run down and devour a fox, otter or stag while you run or ride along behind. Mostly banned now. Taking a shotgun to pop at birds would be called shooting- still legal but not really common. Taking a rifle to hunt and kill a stag in moorland is called ;stalking'- legal but only really in the upland areas and mostly by very posh people.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

It’s interesting that there’s different names for each type of hunting

[@Roheryn100]

Just for the record, otter hunting was banned in the UK in 1978 - almost fifty years ago.

[@paulkennedy7742]

You're pretty much bang on. I lived in USA for 15 years. In the US you live to work, highlighted by lack of holidays (and therefore family time). However the US State and Metro parks are brilliant, much better than the UK's small local parks. Also don't forget the lack of public transport in the US, which means more people drink & drive. There are Pros & Cons to any country though.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Agreed. It depends on the type of lifestyle you want to live. But the US system is all about the money not its citizens

[@patriciadavison1486]

I lived in America for 13 years and was homesick all of the time. Beautiful places to be in the States but every single thing which you mentioned about America’s are the very things I disliked…and made me unhappy. I was glad to get home. XX

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I’m surprised you lasted that long! I applaud your endurance

[@01jvb]

It does beg the question - why would anyone live in the US rather than the UK given the choice ? I don't know of anything in the US which is better than in the UK. I have holidayed in the US three times, but have no desire to go back again.

[@gerardmackay8909]

Living space (outside of very expensive cities like NYC and SF) is much more affordable. My cousin has a huge (to us) detached house in the Chicago suburbs which is cheaper than pokey 3 bed semis in most of South East England. Other than that I wouldn’t swap lives for anything.

[@gerardmackay8909]

@@derekhough-jm9gc I’ll help you out with that. Mass shootings in the US in 2023 (4 or more people killed or wounded) 693 events. Mass shootings in the UK in 2023 zero.

[@gerardmackay8909]

@@derekhough-jm9gc oh dear Derek don’t you just drip bigotry and misinformation from every pore, you are a perfect fit in the US so please do stay where you are. Struggling to understand the identity of this ‘3%’ demographic who you ‘dare not name’ because of political correctness (I’m assuming you’re not referring to Jews which is as close as you get to 3%) So you’re perfectly safe in the US eh, as long as you’re white and middle class presumably, though you could try telling that to the students at Parkland High or the children at Sandy Hook or concert goers in Las Vegas and on and on… I don’t need the BBC to inform me of anything because my information sources are hugely varied, are yours? (that would be a no). Marvellous that murders are down to 18000 from 23000 (ours are down from 1000 in 2003 to 600, 20 years later). Finally the only place I’ve ever been threatened with a weapon in my entire life was in Los Angeles (I’m in no hurry to return).

[@gerardmackay8909]

@@derekhough-jm9gc ah you avoid ‘certain groups and areas’. Was Parkland High somewhere to avoid? Or how about Sandy Hook? (Not to mention that concert in Las Vegas which saw 59 dead and 500 wounded). It’s true your burglary rate is about 40% lower (sprawling suburbs rather than high density housing is a factor) but your murder rate is 600% higher but congratulations anyway on the ‘big improvement’ In my entire 60 years (including international travel to 50 countries) I have been threatened with a weapon once and that was in Los Angeles. I’m not keen to return

[@tboman4128]

@@gerardmackay8909 It's 13 percent that accountable for 50 percent of crimes. Per the FBI.

[@mjc8281]

Its funny you say about excess, my ex-wife is American and when she first moved to the UK from the US we are at a food court... and I'm getting a drink with my meal and she is getting really irritated.... saying you asked for an "extra large" drink.... and I'm trying to tell her without upsetting the staff... nono here in England this is "extra large" when in the US it would have been a small.... Not sure if its still the case but in the 90s the UK had a trend that sizes where confusing so it wasn't small medium large.... they would make up names so the smallest drink was a large and extra large would be like a medium with something else for the largest size!

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

She might get irritated because she knew that she paid more for less quantity in England. It’s more about the money

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I am on the same page as your wife. Not irritated as such but it made me stop for a couple beats when I ordered a large soda and it was equal to a small in the US.

[@NANov5]

❤

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Thank you!☺️

[@scoops0406]

Lived in California for 6 months, ok not a huge amount of time, I enjoyed it very much, but I did not miss the food, it was pretty poor quality, vividly remember the 1st time eating a hershey bar, I genuinely thought it had gone off! I did miss the weather though.

[@googlestinx]

Dear, you have sussed out the British community perfectly. everyone here is a friend! Im doing the reverse, leaving uk for usa and im super sad - people in Arizona are very private and dont mingle. Everyone in walmart seems to be in their own private bubble and catching their eye is almost intrusive for Americans. British love to chat and gossip with anyone!!! I had a medical experience in usa, the ER was empty but for a reason - expensive! But got seen immediately...NHS is ok if you are happy to sit in ER for 2 days. 😢 Sure the mecical adverts are scary in USA but the my pillow advert wasnt far behind 😂😂😂

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Haha. All true. Where in Arizona if u don’t mind me asking

[@G6JPG]

I like most of what you say (well I would, I'm a Brit), but I was a bit surprised at your take on individuality; I'm fairly individual, but also I thought (apart from survivalists and other such), individualism in the states is often _not_ tolerated - at least in cities. In different _ways_ perhaps.

[@G6JPG]

@@derekhough-jm9gc Would you care to elaborate?

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@g6jpg he can’t elaborate because he’s doesn’t have anything substantive to add to the conversation. I think u have a good take…and I hear what ur saying. I was looking at it from a more macro level…no binding sense of national community. But ur right regarding certain groups trying to get the masses to live by their rules…

[@davidguy209]

my dad lived in America for a few years, before his death. there, he worked as a security guard at a Florida beach hotel. he told me he was awarded 1 holiday per year of working there! in contrast, i was given, as a factory worker in the UK, 25 days + public (bank) holidays. Americans have a really difficult life - i'm not surprised there are so many acts of gun violence there :-( God bless Americans, and God bless the UK

[@davidguy209]

@@derekhough-jm9gc sad but true. the U.S. doesn't need God when countries are forced into historic debt, to her, for weapons to defend themselves. it took the U.K. about 60 years to repay its Lease/ Lend debt from World War 2. War is great business for the U.S.!

[@alanbarnes3569]

I’ve visited America many times as I have relatives living there. My number one complaint is that Americans have butchered the English language. Also the obsession with money and wanting to get rich quick. Girls that want a champagne lifestyle when they are earning beer money wages. Glad you’re enjoying England, Great video thank you! 😊

[@seeker1432]

I cannot believe how clever some Americans are and yet they dont realize theres lives are work only. No one feels it should change until recent. We should work to live, Not live to work.

[@valeriekampmeier8424]

Actually, I lived there for nine years and I agree that most people mostly just work- they only get 10 days off a year and often don’t take them all.

[@valeriekampmeier8424]

@@derekhough-jm9gc I was in California- I guess it depends who you know. The people around me were very driven. Also the maternity leave is only six weeks and my sister-in -law had a really rough time with that.

[@Kim-427]

@@valeriekampmeier8424 You didn’t live here. You would know better than that.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

It’s ingrained in us that working hard will get u up the ladder and eventually will pay off (brainwashing)

[@andypandy9013]

When it comes to commercials you are obviously not yet aware that not only are commercials for prescription medicines banned by law here but political ones are as well. We will be having a General Election here in the UK by, at the VERY latest, 28th January next year. The political parties are only allowed a certain number of five minute 'Party Election Broadcasts', the amount of which is in relation to the number of Parliamentary seats they are contesting. Most of us either change the channel or go and make a cuppa whilst they are on. 🤣 Another thing that is not allowed to be advertised on UK broadcast media: Religion!!!! 👍 And last but not least: Lawyers are also not allowed to advertise. Not only by law but also by their 'Trade Association' The Law society. 👍👍 Aren't you glad that you now live in a civilised country? 😉 P.S. I have just re-watched one of your videos from a year ago (Americans Living in England -Why We Left) and I have to say that you are looking a LOT healthier now than you were then. It appears that the UK diet and lifestyle rather suit you. 🙂

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I’m flabbergasted the election only lasts a couple weeks here

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

And thank u for the info and ur kind words. Appreciate it! 🤗

[@williambailey344]

I love going to America bean twice but wow is it soo messed up!!!

[@raymondadams7570]

we do go hunting

[@roscaines-prentice3888]

She meant hunting with guns. Which we don’t do.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Have you ever been? Curious what it’s like here

[@unitedkingdomoffiveeyes9765]

Never understood the food thing, British food has some of the most famouse on the planet... Cheddar cheeses Pies and pasties Chrisps and chocolate, yes we have the best chocolate Angus beef, cottage pies. Biscuits and tea and tea cakes Breakfast, crumpets. Curry. British food doesnt need seasoning it has great ingredients.

[@paulbromley6687]

Any US or Canadian nurses come to UK we need care workers too, low pay but you will never look back.

[@joanneburford6364]

That's cause all your healthcare workers are moving out here mate 🇦🇺

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I’ll spread the word…it’s a tough gig in the US….hospitals and nursing homes are cutting staff to lower costs and/or increase profits

[@ourfarmhouseinspain]

The excess is probably more important than you realise. Over many years of visiting the USA regularly, I often thought that the excess of food portioning would create serious health issues in the future and the health authorities are now beginning to report exactly this, particularly in younger people. This needs to be considered in parallel with the appalling level of food additives and preservatives in just about all foodstuffs on the shelves. Remember, the FDA works for the food industry, not the public or their protection from toxic chemicals. How do you like the food in the supermarkets, butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers ? Regards, and good luck

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Thanks. Appreciate your support

[@ourfarmhouseinspain]

@@TheHicksonDiaries You're welcome. Most Americans are probably in a situation where they are unable to improve their diet to any meaningful degree. Any effort to purchase ingredients unadulterated with additives, preservatives, sugars, meat production enhancers, pesticide residues, etc, etc, will be defeated, and too many people feel under too much time pressure to consider home cooking, although increasing prices will force some people down this road. I read recently that even the American version of Special K is considered a genetically modified food because of the additives, which is alarming really. Do you think most of your countrymen have adopted a fatalistic attitude about their ability to force a change because of the funding trap many Representatives are in ? Can't bite the hand that feeds their re-election campaigns, can they ? I hope some improvements can be legislated for, and soon. What aspects of food, and food purchasing, are you particularly enjoying, and have you dined on the Continent yet ? Regards, and good luck

[@KevinWood9]

Why they like the guns because most still think it’s still the Wild West

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I can see that

[@margaretharley4111]

Thank you ❤

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Thx for the comment

[@user-vy4hh4ot2h]

Health service in uk is not free you have to NI tax on top of your income tax. It’s only free if you don’t work for a living.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Yes. I had to pay a large sum into the nhs during the visa application process. And I’m paying into it now as I’m working. Personally, when I reference free…it’s in regards to getting a bill after the fact

[@susanvanderbilt358]

Yrs ago ( many yrs ago) I was in USA as daughter went out there for a yr.. turned into 25 n still goin up😂.. but, we went out on girly day n went to eat.. she ordered a mix of things but, there was such a huge amount! Sitting eating the waitress asked if everything ok.. as we’d hardly touched any food.. we had really.. I twigged to her scanning the huge amount n without thinking., i said yeah! Foods great but, we’re British n only have 1 arsehole.. can we have the rest boxed up! Me daughter hid under table .. the waitress’ face was a picture n I’m sitting there smiling.. thinking why are ya shocked🤣.. seriously! Way way too much food and think it lasted for few days., even with the fellas tuckin in.. so yeah! It’s very supersized without asking for supersized ..

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

The portions are huge in the US. Can’t deny that

[@KW-Beach]

I once went to Dicks sports, and you can buy a t-shirt, tennis raquest and a huge shot gun and postol and ammo. Crazy ...

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

Imagine Sport Direct with a small arms section!

[@serenityinside1]

@@etherealbolweevil6268😳

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

They sell arms at Walmart too (Asda like store) where many do their grocery shopping

[@gmdhargreaves]

McDonalds was started by Scottish immigrants it began in USA but its Scottish in reality

[@duncancallum]

@@derekhough-jm9gc How come Angus Beef is loved in the US , IS IT BECAUSE IT IS A SCOTTISH BREED. and dicky cut the crap with saying skirtland, as you lot have virtually fuckall culture.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Haggis is incredibly better that McDonalds

[@dj_paultuk7052]

Ive been in the UK since 2012, absolutely love it here. Things i dont miss is the endless Racism, shit schooling & healthcare, and of course crime / guns.

[@andyboothe4377]

Kiss to you, thankyou xx

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Thx

[@denisebell8422]

We went to America I tried Lay's crisp not for me prefer walkers 🇬🇧

[@mikeantonio3163]

I think it's the same company. Its only in UK it's called Walkers. Probably more additives

[@arnoldmonk6381]

Lays and Walkers are part of PepsiCo. Walkers used to be a British company based in Leicester, Mr Walker was a butcher looking for additional income during rationing after WW2.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Probably the preservatives

[@mikebreen2890]

Well, at least Americans are constantly reminded of home by the IRS.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

U-S-A!

[@vidloop6]

Things I don't miss about America.... Is... America

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

There are some good things about the US….hold on…I’m thinking…

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Aww. Thank you! ☺️

[@ekspatriat]

@@derekhough-jm9gc T..w ...t

[@gerwynmoseley1548]

Actually, I think there's far too much individualism in the UK (especially in southern England).

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Interesting. Curious what makes you say that?

[@johnclements6614]

I know two people who go deer shooting. The farmers allow them to shoot on their land to discourage the deer from the farmers crops. Rich people go shooting grouse and pheasant but it is very expensive.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Huh…I thought it was illegal to hunt deer here….

[@johnclements6614]

@@TheHicksonDiaries No its perfectly legal. Obviously you need a fire arms licence. There are restrictions when you can shoot that may require further licences and the ammunition you can use.

[@joanneburford6364]

The US healthcare system is the outlier, all other highly developed countries have decent universal systems, the UK is just one of them.

[@robharris8844U]

No one in UK has gone bankrupted by medical costs. Also who wants to be scared to ring for an ambulance or a doctor at your lowest ebb of sickness? 😷 Also why would you want to be behind others in lines of gunshot victims? Second Amendment needs a bandaid! 😂

[@user-rk3vw3pk4w]

But maybe people died waiting healthcare in the UK. Stop lying

[@robtheplod]

Really? What about dementia/ altzheimers you have to fund this yourself....

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I agree. It is ridiculous how little those in power care about the safety and security of the average citizen in the US.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@robtheplod not sure what you mean, can you elaborate

[@robharris8844U]

@@robtheplod We are talking about immediate medical help. Longtime care is a problem in many countries not just UK.

[@jonyoung6405]

Criminals do not submit to “ wellness checks “ or follow the laws

[@CMOT101]

Funny, as we have less than a thousandth of a gun crime issue than you yanks do. You'd think all the crims would have guns everywhere. They don't.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Did I indicate that they did?

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

I was in New York City 32 years ago. `Went into Mid Town Manhattan on Saturday the 14th of November, 1992 - for some breakfast. I saw chaps sitting in the bar / cafe whose plates were about 2 ft in diameter. `Saw pizzas as large as truck wheels, but I surmise these would have been designed to feed a party. I also saw waistlines I`d never seen before. I have to admit that I`m not that small myself : 6`1" tall and weighing too much ( 19 stone ), but some of those fellas made me look like Action Man. If guns were as easily available here as they are in the `States only a madman would go out at night. We have not the experience of guncraft those chaps over there have and I think we`d be shooting each other all ove the place. The closest thing ( the only thing ) I have ever come across here in England that matches a US Gunstore is an Armoury in the British Army. Over there you can buy anything short of a Tank or Helicopter Gun-Ship ( maybe a sligh exaggeration ). But you can purchase practically anything you can lift. I am 60 years old and was diagnosed a couple of years ago as having an in end-stage condition called Avascular Osteonecropathy in both of my hip joints. The "end stage" is not as sinister as it sounds - it just means that it`s as severely as advanced as it gets. Both my hip articulations / joints with the femur are dead due to a lack of blood supply, though they don`t feel dead to me : They feel very much alive and feeding on me ! Last October ( 2023 ) I had a total left hip replacement at a private hospital, but paid for by the NHS. This month ( May ) I shall be having my right hip replaced - again at the same hospital. Out of curiousity ( note, not necessity ) I recently enquired about the cost of these operations. I looked at the hospital brochure on line : "Total Hip Replacements starting from only £15,538." That`s over £31,000 worth of surgery - something I`d never be able to afford directly from my own pocket. My house didn`t cost as much as that - when I bought it in the 1990`s. God knows what such surgery would cost in the US - but it would come as no surprise to me if it wasn`t verging on about a quarter of a million dollars. Granted I`ve had to wait in hell - fire pain, ( a dozen different types of drugs, also now free for me on the NHS now being 60 years old ) but without the NHS I`d be living in hell - fire pain `till the day I die and then ( hopefully ) be relieved of Hell - Fire Pain. Ps, I recently read about a young lad ( baby even, I believe ) here in England who was suffering a rare disease called Spinal-Muscular Atrophy. A one dose treatment costing £1million. NICE have agreed to pay for that treatment. That cannot be a bad thing. When I was working in the Health Sector the only time I could be sure that I was not going to get a phone call to come in was when I was in Mexico City.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Incredible story. I hope your hip surgery has relieved some pain for you. Thank you for sharing your story! I hope I get to talk to you again soon

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

@@TheHicksonDiaries I`ve had the second total hip replacement, and am gradually getting back on my feet and ready to get back to work. The pain is Hell, notwithstanding morphine - but I`m happy to be on the mend. I`d love to travel again. It adds invaluable experience of the world we would never otherwise be exposed to. If I`d never been out of my own country ( England ) I`d never know what it`s like to be arrested at the Russian Mission to Italy ( The Embassy of the Soviet Union in Rome ) at machine gun point in 1985 - when Western Europe was still Western Europe and the Soviet Union was still the Soviet Union. Since you are here in the UK, for God`s sake don`t neglect the continent on your doorstep.

[@jimmcfarlane5611]

Is there anything good about living in the USA?

[@Ron-uq2hg]

The weather if you don’t live in tornado alley. Come to think of it. Not really except the people individually are pretty good

[@Ron-uq2hg]

⁠As a Kiwi I have to say savoury pies in the States are an abomination and an insult to the na me pie.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

TBH it's getting harder and harder find them, but there are some perks.

[@juniusvindex769]

Although I agree with free healthcare, it just bugs me ( I'm 51) and paid into it all my life. My mother paid by terry towelling, creams and boiling my crap, literally, paying tax on it all. Yet, others come here and get the same. ( I'm not having a go) it's just we paid for decades, yet strangers get the same........ it's bizarre 🤦‍♂️

[@nicolab2075]

And you get the same if you go abroad to a country with a reciprocal arrangement.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I may not have paid my whole life but I haven’t used it until recently either. And I had to pay into the NHS specifically before I could enter the country.

[@user-ob4wo9po2y]

You don’t have to supersize or do anything in excess. I left uk twice - absolutely hate it there. Miserable weather, miserable people. Terrible Tory govt. Hospitals closed, schools full of racist kids. Anti social behaviour everwhere. 20 mph speed limits. Cameras Everywhere sending tickets and fines to your house but they can’t catch criminals,

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Can I ask where you moved to?

[@user-ob4wo9po2y]

@@TheHicksonDiaries First time to Canada, second time to USA

[@user-xb1er3gc9t]

The NHS has many many faults, and does really need sorting out. Especially if you need to get an emergency GP appointment, almost impossible unless you kick up a right fuss where I live. Even then getting them to prescribe the meds you know you need is almost just as impossible.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I’ve heard this from some but I’ve been lucky and haven’t had any issues so far

[@user-xb1er3gc9t]

@@TheHicksonDiaries you seem to be extremely lucky.

[@EdmondMurphy-nt4dk]

Hershey don’t make chocolate they make solidified brown coloured vomit. I would eat Cadbury’s chocolate every day of the week and twice on sunday

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

A little bit of an extreme take on the Hershey’s part but agree 1000% about the Cadbury. I

[@TheBigMidweek1889]

And to think, there are people here with political clout telling us that we should be like the USA. Crazy!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@Thebigmidweek1889. I agree. Don’t do any privatising and ban lobbying. It’s only led to destruction in the US

[@marmite1076]

No gaps in the door at public toilets. Embarrassment saved all round

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Yes! It is something I never thought about until I moved here!

[@beefsuprem0241]

As a 🇬🇧 thats worked in the US i found American culture to be quite selfish. The attitude to the poor and needy or charity was just off to me. Also i found people to be incredibly rude to people in restaurants and café's and such. And TV over there is more adverts than actual shows.

[@karimtemri1664]

You have to understand 2 things about US 1) most immigrants who came to the US were hustlers 2) protestantism means if you want to see if God loves you work hard dont look up and see how life goes unlike catholics who care a lot about charity

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Yes. On all accounts

[@ReallyHowInteresting-ii4nj]

"From the big church to big river and out to the shining sea, supposed to be the land of opportunity but there's a monkey trial on TV" The UK is superior to the USA in every single way as the Americans in this chat so eloquently prove.

[@ReallyHowInteresting-ii4nj]

@@derekhough-jm9gc What does that prove. Only a massive d!khead would think that proves anything. Off to McDonalds with you lard for brains.

[@SendamYnot-yv8wz]

@@derekhough-jm9gc Just the overweight ugly ones. They feel at home next to you.😁

[@Kim-427]

You can come to these conclusions in America. You don’t have to move across the world to understand this.

[@ABPhotography1]

Also I think you are losing weight young lady.

[@Lily_The_Pink972]

I think she looks a lot healthier than months ago.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I’m trying to thx for noticing!

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

@lily_The_Pink. Thank you. I’m working on it

[@howardedmunds1917]

You mention your in England when you should be saying the UK

[@hypsyzygy506]

No, I think she specifically means England (as part of the UK).

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

I appreciate your comment and don’t mean to offensive or to drive anyone crazy. But I live in England and am aware that not every law, cultural norm etc is the same even within England’s borders. So I don’t want to presume that what I’m experiencing is the same in the other 3 countries of the UK that I’ve never lived in and with which I have limited experience. My experience is unique and personal, and I try my best to make this channel reflective of that. although I may unintentionally slip up now and again using “UK” when I mean “England” and vice versa; I am going to continue to refer to my experiences as England only until I become more confident that the topic of discussion is applicable outside England. Thank you for your comment though. It is appreciated as this is how I learn and grow-through conversation with those who have more experience and knowledge of the subjects at hand. I hope I get to speak to you again in the future

[@Susan-nm3sx]

Why are loads of Americans moving here? We've got enough immigrants.

[@dellwright1407]

We have rifles and shotguns for hunting and shooting here in UK. However you are right, it's much more sensible control of guns. Our gun homicide rate is a fraction as a result.

[@serenityinside1]

No legal handguns here. An average of c 40 firearms homicides a year .. repeat a YEAR. !

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Imagine-National gun control that actually controls the use of guns. Weird

[@marmite1076]

Donald Trump.

[@TheHicksonDiaries]

Most of the politicians tbh

[@joesphbegley3088]

You have tasted socialism !