An American Moves Home || Reverse Culture Shock US vs UK

Matthew describes his family's experience with reverse culture shock when he moved from the UK back home to the US. What was most shocking? What things did they notice the most?
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[@ReddSpark]

I’ve just done the reverse and moved back to the UK after 10yrs in the US. My observations are: 1. Things stay up later in the US. 2. Supermarkets seem cheaper and healthier in the UK though that depends on where in the US you compare to 3. Governmental services are so much more efficient in the UK. Difference is stark. 4. UK towns are smaller but also much more walkable 5. Political scandals and debate in the UK are so much more normal and tame compared to the divided conspiracy theory craziness of the US 6. Fewer adverts on tv and better quality tv in general (not bombarded my medical adverts for one thing!)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I absolutely love how walkable the towns in the UK are. My biggest surprise after moving here.

[@arlenaholmes]

I'm jealous in a longing to go there way!!!

[@TR4zest]

I moved back to the UK after 20 years in Philly. I am not sure I have experienced the governmental services differential. I agree your other points, plus here is what I think: 1. No co-pay and proof of insurance required to get healthcare is much more civilised. 2. Vegetables are a real thing as part of a meal. 3. Restaurant and takeout choices are more international so more variety. 4. While stabbings in the UK are terrible, not having the nightly news dominated by fatal shootings and fatal housefires is a welcome change. 5. Towns still have character, rather than the carbon-copy strip malls every few miles with the same box-stores and restaurants repeated, ad nauseum. 6. Life is less pressured here.

[@Lxx-tc4xc]

2. USA supermarkets near universities, or in suburbs where the typical family is highly educated, are good. But the quality rapidly goes downhill from there. 3. In the USA, city, county and state government are often shabby affairs, staffed by unintelligent people. 6. I have grown more and more impressed with the quality of British TV miniseries.

[@muzzo23]

The tv advert breaks are crazy in the US ,commercial breaks every 5-7 minutes,in the UK its a break after 10/12mins for a half hr show or 15/17mins for an hour show

[@WeAreZilla]

I lived in the UK for several years while in the US military. The military prepared us for culture shock, but when I moved there I fell in love with the country immediately, and transitioned into the culture without a problem. Just a little time to adjust to the British language. I purposely rented a cottage well away from the base, living on the economy and living as a local. The food, the roads, the music, the history, the scenery & nature ... all of it captivated my heart. The thing that tore me apart was moving back to the States ... THAT was my culture shock.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Reverse culture shock isnt talked about enough!!!

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

You will be welcome if you come back.

[@marycarver1542]

Come back! You are welcome !

[@kevinwhite981]

Hope you can get back to the UK 🇬🇧 we love our American cousins coming to see our little land.😊

[@redvelvetshoes]

Our fridges are smaller because most of us are near good supplies of fresh food, so we shop more often.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Best way to do it!!

[@davidcook7887]

Small v Huge. Everything from kale and lettuce to lamb and ham are grown nearby. The US peeps don’t have that luxury!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@davidcook7887 True. The only thing that’s better here in Texas are avocados!

[@wasp6594]

When I worked in the US, I soon realised that to Americans 100 years was a long time and to sn Englishman 100 miles was a long way!

[@welshpete12]

Nice one !

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Too true!

[@Pablosplace]

@@welshpete12 he said English Pete, stand down. 😉🤣

[@welshpete12]

@@Pablosplace Ha ha , same thing only different ! 😉

[@peterdarnell9183]

You got that right

[@VegasVegas618]

Great video… my brother lives in the US and I recognise your list. Our NHS isn’t perfect but it is still amazing… and free at source no matter what your social standing and ability to pay.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

NHS is exactly as you describe, not perfect, but amazing.

[@huwtindall7096]

I'm Australian in the UK and our version of the NHS, called Medicare, is great. Like NHS+. Was based on the original NHS model but from what I can tell the NHS has been significantly underfunded for the last couple of decades. Still an awesome model for healthcare but just needs more funding! Feel super lucky to have lived in both countries with proper healthcare. One of the fundamentals of a functioning society.

[@ForCYP]

NHS England is now being Americanised. Transforming into 42 differently structured Integrated Care Systems based on US Accountable Care Organisations (the Kaiser Permanente Model & Medicare for-profit Managed Care (MCOs) It is not focused on patient care but on balance sheets. It will lead to disintegration, removal of services, extreme private involvement, less funding and denial of care. Privatisation till it is unrecognisable. In addition to this the US Healthcare Insurance corporation Centene now own 58 GP practices in England. This will lead to a reduction in referrals, less clinical resource, reduction of services, less skill mixed staff and commerical use of data. York Hospital is about to privatize the A&E department, this is the so called Integrated Urgent Care. UnitedHealth Group’s Optum (Optum Health Solutions UK) is also set to take control of the ICS budgets, implementing their population health management software (denial of care). Help stop NHS privatisation now search we own it, keep our NHS Public, just treatment. Join a campaign or simply message your MP and all your lower authority representatives. We must reinstate the NHS as publicly owned and publicly operated, fully funded, transparent, comprehensive and accountable to local communities. We must get back to the original far superior Beveridge model

[@ForCYP]

@@huwtindall7096 the NHS doesn’t just need more funding it needs to return to the Beveridge model. It’s literally turning into a privatised US Medicare for-profit Managed Care model. It’s so depressingly sad.

[@sEaNoYeAh]

@@ForCYP the NHS must be protected fiercely. Unfortunately the original principles are not sustainable long-term and eventually we're going to have to figure out what to do about that. The problem is declining public health, illnesses related to lifestyle choices cost the NHS well over £11 billion per year. That's things like smoking, excessive drinking, obesity. We've got 3 million people on the waiting list for non-essential surgery and a good portion of those could have been avoided with people living healthier lives. With people living longer but also being more overweight and less fit, the cost of each person to the NHS is going up, which means the scope of what the National Health Service is supposed to be and needs to achieve has increased. Chopping up the NHS and selling the parts of certainly is abhorrent, but something will have to change and probably will have to be within the next 10 years. Of course if we could just get the population to make healthier choices we wouldn't need to deal with this.

[@glastonbury4304]

I think customer service is great in big cities in US and awful in small towns whereas the opposite is true in the UK

[@samhunter1205]

I just wanted to make a point about your comments about the NHS. While it is currently under more pressure than ever before, I doubt you will find more than a handful of Brits who would swap it for the US healthcare system. That said, British people can sometimes dump on the US way too much - it is almost a cliche here to dismiss a problem (especially racism) by saying it is not as bad as the US. I would just like to say that the US has enormous cultural.impact here, and no-one I know wishes any Ill will to the American people. It is heartbreaking to hear about US citizens struggling with healthcare costs, which is not a thing most people in the UK even think about. I have worked in the NHS and been politically active for a long time, so I am happy to elaborate on the advantages and disadvantages of the NHS (it is almost all positive), but for anyone thinking someone promoting 'socialised.medicine' is attacking the US - please realise this is not the case. It is awful to see our brothers and sisters across the pond deal with some unspeakable situations, and remember, the US spends nearly DOUBLE what the UK does on healthcare per capita. Anyone who wishes to know more, feel free to ask in the comments, and for anyone who feels like 'socialised medicine' is anti-American, please ask yourself what could be more anti-American than a system that impoverishes and denies healthcare to so many of your citizens?

[@jeremypearson6852]

I’m a Brit that’s lived in Florida for 37 years. There is no utopia that I’m aware of. Every country has its problems. I can probably list a dozen things that are better or worse between the UK and the US. We definitely need to realize that whatever side of the pond we live in that we’re very fortunate. Choosing one country over another really depends on where your interests lie. English people tell me I’m so fortunate to live in Florida and Americans ask me why I would ever leave the UK. It’s all a matter of perspective.

[@BassandoForte]

You've even taken up US spelling you traitor - "realiZe"..?? 🤣🤣

[@lucylane7397]

It’s not even the same country that you left very different now

[@musicloverlondon6070]

Nice comment.👍

[@davidcook7887]

The grass is always greener.

[@TR4zest]

I had 20 years in the US and I largely agree. The biggie for me was healthcare. Since my 60th birthday, my prescriptions are free in the UK. They are free for the unemployed. They are free for pregnant women. I just wish the US could change its mindset on healthcare as it could be so much better. Oh, and the guns.

[@KopCole]

“They’re barely food”…that made me laugh out loud ..brilliant

[@nickmail7604]

The customer service differance is because in the state's service workers are paid so poorly they are practically working for nothing, they are so dependant on the kindness of strangers tipping well for their service, In Europe and the UK we pay service trades enough that they can live without having to beg.

[@fionagregory9147]

difference*

[@garymiller1256]

I would think customer service in the USA is better because they expect a tip whereas you don't necessarily tip in the UK

[@RichardBarclay]

Count me as one who feels like it seems fake, customer service in the UK feels like a real person helping you out in the US or feels like an employee doing their job whether they want to or not.

[@gsotoaz]

I looove US customer service.

[@alfreddunn03]

Nice balanced view, what I have noticed in last few years is, how many Americans are moving to the U.K.

[@robertjackson3819]

Hey, Matthew. I'm an American living in the UK since 2018. I love it. I thought we were kindred and always enjoyed your videos. I'm wondering if you'll ever consider coming back.

[@weepair2]

I hope not

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

@@weepair2wtf not ?? Rude Don’t watch if you don’t like

[@lawrenceglaister4364]

​@@phoenix-xu9xj , I think you'll find that he's extracting the urine ie taking the piss , a touch of sarcasm

[@andrewthomas405]

It’s nice to have your observations on our cultures .....I’m British and I have an American fishing buddy (bill) from New Jersey when we’re away on one of our trips I think we both appreciate each other’s outlook on life , plus the banter we have. I think it enhances the trip in general . Just one thing my body really craves fresh greens whilst I’m away 👍👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😎

[@may_68]

Sorry to hear that you had to leave the UK due to Covid Visa issues. I thought you'd just returned for work. Hope you get the chance to come back.

[@robertkirk4387]

Thanks for popping By, I hope all goes well back home.

[@artspooner]

It’s important to note that the issues with the NHS are essentially political/funding. Imagine what the NHS would be like if we spent the same amount of money as the US does on its public healthcare (ie not even including private spending). It could easily be the best healthcare system in the world for outcomes. The U.K. spends very little of its GDP on healthcare compared to other developed nations. It therefore delivers a lot for very little.

[@Theremedialgash]

Delightful as always - I am from the UK but have several American friends, including one of my good friends ex-wife. She started appreciating good curry, but most of all the NHS - I'm in Wales where we have free meds - paid by taxes and it rains quite a bit, my thermometer says it's 27 °C = 80.6 °F - not super warm , but it's July so in a maritime climate it's rarely too cool or hot - it does rain quite a bit bit but I can't really complain. In Wales we have free prescriptions and free access to hospitals - it breaks my heart when I hear of the the population of the richest country in the world going bankrupt for essential surgery Much love from Wales. XXX.

[@davidcook7887]

It’s not free it’s just that you pay out of taxes rather than you decide, or not , to pay an insurance company.

[@grahamsmith9541]

@@davidcook7887 We all know that. We also know how much of our wages go towards it. We get a statement from the tax office each year telling us where our tax was spent the previous year.

[@nw2394]

You're welcome back any time :)

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

We hope to be back!

[@nw2394]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure Well Eastbourne is still here and there are places still to rent + buy etc.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Unfortunately, visas are trickier than just buying a place.

[@nw2394]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure Ya ya problems problems! I know. I have American cousins and an ex-Floridian work colleague who has had to jump through hoops. If you want something enough you'll find a way - if not - perhaps it is not meant to be...

[@lizwood510]

Strange that 'refugees' and asylum seekers can stay here, but legitimate immigrants who do the right thing are asked to leave. Maybe you should have 'appealed'.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Good to see you again Matt! Hope the family are all doing well 💕

[@helenwood8482]

It's sad that after a year in the UK, you still prefer customer service staff to behave as if they are inferior to you. Isn't it nicer in the UK, where a low wage doesn't make someone any less your equal?

[@CrazyInWeston]

What? He never said that. He said that in the US they treat you better and he did mention the word "fake" cos he understands why they do it (tips) In the UK we rarely tip, but unfortunately these people live on tips in the US because there is no minimum wage laws. Customer service in the US often appears fake cos they're after your tipping game.

[@gsotoaz]

Yeah but why can’t the workers be nicer in the UK to the customer?

[@dav6131]

What on earth are you waffling about you muppit!!!

[@amandamarie5219]

Matt, I get you with the humor. I am near Columbus, OH and have become addicted to UK comedians. I am still working from home and watch them on my lunch to relax. I would also like to have the term “nutter” adopted here. LoL. I hope to visit there after all the COVID issues are worked out. BTW, we have kale :)

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

I'm glad you have Kale! Send some our way! UK humo(u)r is just...different. It is nice that globalization has allowed us to have access to uk comedians and the like though.

[@peckelhaze6934]

Yes, nutter or nut-job is popular here (UK).

[@ade1963]

@@peckelhaze6934 really, walter?

[@loopyloo788]

Hope you listen to Sarah Millican Amanda, she’s from the north of England (a Geordie). Give her a try. 🇬🇧❤️ 🇺🇸

[@amandamarie5219]

@@loopyloo788 I will look her up. I have watched all of Taskmaster and follow most of the contestants from there. None of them have disappointed.

[@gillcawthorn7572]

Maybe one of the reasons for the unhealthy food in the USA is because good health does not provide the same profits that illness does?

[@leecal5774]

Thanks! Interesting video. Always good seeing differences from those who’ve travelled and lived overseas.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheLeeroy2525]

Love your vids, keep up the good work mate.

[@danilopapais1464]

Yeah, we in Germany also eat healthier and have a lower diabetes rate but we also are getting closer and closer to the US standard. Somehow Germany always does something the US does (good or bad) and we used to be 10 years behind when I was a child but now the time increments are getting shorter.

[@davidcook7887]

If you are ahead in Germany you cannot be any stage behind the US.

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

Yes U.K. getting more Obese as a nation. No excuse as we have no shortage of great fresh food.

[@tonys1636]

I had some friends who emigrated to the US, he through work, his wife had a baby born with complications and she suffered post natal complications as well, the Insurance refused to pay and after a costly legal battle they had to declare bankruptcy, coming back with nothing to the UK, fortunately his employer provided support once back home but unable whilst in the US. It was a subsidiary company in the US that actually employed him not the UK parent company. Says a lot for US companies providing care for employees.

[@brentwoodbay]

Good grief!

[@grahvis]

It is very telling that the US is the only country in the world, other than a very few small island countries, where employees do not have a legal right to paid annual leave.

[@citizenpb]

@@grahvis Who do you think pays for the "paid" annual leave we get in the UK?

[@grahvis]

@@citizenpb . Largely immaterial, the point is, it exists. You might as well ask who pays for the legal limitations to the hours a person is expected to work.

[@citizenpb]

@@grahvis It's not immaterial. My salary is lower than that of my colleagues in the US despite doing the same job. That's to fund various benefits such as paid annual leave. Americans can take leave, they just need to forego some of their higher salary. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

[@joshsheff7189]

Any sign on you guys coming back to the UK once covid dies down? Loved you vids fella. Hope the family is all safe!

[@petehall1985]

The big one for me is health care and primarily that pre existing conditions cant be covered with the insurance companies and hospitals able to just refuse you cover or care for things that will determine if you are alive in the morning

[@tago69mago]

If service workers didn't rely on tips in the US I think you would notice a difference in service!

[@johnhodkinson2063]

I just can't get on with the American customer service culture, it's so forced and so fake, everyone seems to be working from a script and being "nice" to attract the tip.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Perhaps, but I've noticed this is true even in industries that aren't traditionally tipped. 🤷‍♂️

[@helenwood8482]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure It's a difference of attitude. In the US, staff are treated as slaves, as inferiors, so they have to be submissive and flattering to keep their jobs. In the UK, my customers consider me their equal. I am not some subhuman thing that has to bow and scrape to be allowed near the noble customer. I am a person doing my job and I get respect.

[@gsotoaz]

Wow man

[@gsotoaz]

@@helenwood8482 that is absolutely shocking that Helen thinks the customer and the worker are equals. I’m American

[@vijay-c]

@@gsotoaz I work in customer service in the UK. Customers are 100% equals - if anything, I hold the balance of power over them as they only call me if they need something. And they're only getting help if they're not rude.

[@leelaturanga5461]

Hope that the four of you can come back one day.

[@stuartbeck8111]

There are things wrong with the NHS, BUT you can always use the private aspect of our medical system if you want something faster or it's not available on the NHS, mostly there is an equivalent treatment for most things on the NHS, yes sometime you have to wait for some treatments but usually if it needs doing, then it's done. It's open to all residents and no-one is left without treatment, I'd take the NHS over the American system EVERYTIME.

[@user-xy4ff5yp7b]

True but remember most Western countries have free or highly affordable healthcare and DONT have an NHS system. The US system is not the only alternative. Plus, the NHS has a monopoly so actually there are many aspects of healthcare you can’t receive privately. It’s mostly only elective surgeries.

[@johndillon5290]

Love the large american expanses. This is why long road trips can cover more milage in the US compared to the UK.

[@kathrynmcauley4808]

Thank you for your generous compliments. Americans are very kind at being complimentary, not muted as sometimes people in the UK can be. I really appreciate that in Americans

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

It's always a double edged sword though, isn't it? That can also come across as brash, loud, and too forward. I'm glad you enjoyed the video though!

[@kathrynmcauley4808]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure Hmmm maybe. But I think as a nation we can learn to be more open. There is a difference between being open, confident and friendly and being brash, loud and forward. Take care 🙂

[@normanmart7933]

What appears to be a huge difference is how gullible a lot of Americans seem to be , I feel sorry for them believing what they have is the best when most societies just wouldn't put up with it. How can all these republicans believe Trump won the election' they clearly will believe anything. Why ? It is such a waste.

[@Frazpas]

We ❤️ our NHS. Sure, not perfect, but so much better with a choice of topping up private cover if you want the fastest, most personal care.

[@delskioffskinov]

I stayed subscribed hoping to get this video! i'm glad you have! Nice to see you and your family have settled back in. only one question, did you buy Kale in the U.K. or was there an equivalent?

[@stevegoddard5012]

Customer service is way better in the states. They work harder to get a tip because their wages are crap.

[@waynen6996]

Thank You 💙💎🕊️

[@sueridley5708]

I do like visiting America, and love American people for their friendliness and kindness and have been several times for holidays to different parts of the USA . The thing that bugs me the most is the obsession with tipping. asking,yes asking for 15% to 20% on top of your bill, because the customer has to subsidise the restaurant's wages bill, American having no minimum wage. Even a hugely rich company like Disney, pay pants wages and expect customers to subsidise them. I've been a waitress, so am more than happy to tip, I'm not tight fisted, but people ask for tips for the smallest service, I've had waiting staff actually plonk the bill down and point to the total and tell me what to tip. USA should have minimum wage, it's disgusting that such a rich country treats it's employees like this.

[@johnavery3941]

I think the one thing about social healthcare (NHS) is that it is not political here in the UK, every political party in the UK agrees that free healthcare at the point of need and throughout your life is is a right not just because you happen to be rich

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

Are you really sure about that? I seriously don’t think that about the Tory party at the moment.

[@michaelbolton-a]

It's a shame you had to leave early - enjoyed your videos - I hope your move back went well amybe you can come back sometimes!!

[@maureengreenin3003]

Your health care system doesn’t work for everyone were in the UK it is set up to work for all. We do have people who will pay into a healthcare scheme, if their company pays part of the cost but that becomes prohibitive the older you get older as premiums go up with age, but at least they know the NHS is there. Our medication is also subsidised or free over a certain age, which is another failure in the American system.

[@cubeaceuk9034]

Welcome back Matthew. I was concerned when you took down all of the last videos about what was happening as your other channel still had regular content. Hope you are all well. Ray.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Ray, Good to see you again friend. All is well on this end! All the best to you and yours,

[@AlistairClark99]

Please make a video comparing attitudes to religion in both countries. While I suspect the UK is more secular than the US, there is also respect for religious leaders in the UK as voices of humanitarian and social concern. I'd be interested to know your views (as always, as I appreciate your thoughtful videos).

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

We've actually done one regarding Christianity specifically, though you're right, a video comparing religion in general would be great.

[@alanjjeff]

Yes the uk does have more than 5% that go to church on a regular basis. The reason is most have grown up and left story books behind.

[@fionagregory9376]

@@alanjjeff Richard Dawkins made me an atheist.

[@fiegemanfiegeman5056]

Although I am an atheist, I try to maintain the levels of compassion that are supposed to be the basis of Christianity. It appears that evangelicals and born again American Christian missed the plot somehow.

[@fionacowan2426]

The staff pay you so much attention in the usa and go overboard in the customer service dept is so you will tip them well where in the uk waiting staff already get a decent wage x

[@drdcheung]

Thanks for making an interesting video. Must admit I don't like kale but we still have a long way to try and improve our processed food but we do have a good selection of fruit and vegetables in our larger supermarkets. Love to see a video about work/life balance as I understand Americans have less holiday compared to Brits and Europeans.

[@andypandy9013]

Miss you guys.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Aww, thanks!

[@MrDavfit]

Coming back everything seems huge.. freaky..my car felt a block long..lol

[@stephenpitt6363]

Servuce staff are only interested in the size. Of the tip

[@colcot50]

Like my wife

[@fortuna7469]

Thanks for the video! You have a very pleasant way of expressing your thoughts. Really enjoyed it. Yes, everything is larger in the US. Hence sadly also the carbon dioxide emissions per person are roughly double when compared to those of Europeans per person. In the US quantity instead of quality is appreciated and when everything has grown bigger and bigger, the human scale has been lost. One should consume only what is necessary. Consumerism creates problems for the planet.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

The roads are bigger, the houses are bigger, the fridges are bigger, the PEOPLE are bigger... LOL

[@bryansmith1920]

For a Country that claims to care about the Individual WHY do you not have a National Health Service Paid as in the UK by a National Insurance Contribution direct from your Income But Why Do the US not have a (Pay As You Earn)Tax System ???

[@helenwood8482]

Because the only individual they care about is themselves. I have heard Americans say, "Why should I pay for someone else to have healthcare?"

[@fionagregory9376]

@@helenwood8482 these people are probably Christians too. Hypocrites.

[@tommymiller-ub1cr]

I am so glad you enjoyed good old blighty and I hope you are both better people for the experiance, I am already drunk, see ye, bro. x

[@beforever]

Hope you come back mate

[@LuciusDriftwood]

Come back, brother! You're family now x

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

We'd love to come back! It's tough to move to the UK. 😭

[@briandouglas6329]

120 F 95% humidity, knee deep in snow! When are you coming back?

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

As soon as well see the right opportunity

[@Andy_U]

Hiya. Are you able to tell us what happened with the house? Stay safe. All the best to you.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

We'll have a house update video soon, promise!

[@glastonbury4304]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure oh good 👍👍

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

Cultural differences aside, I'm sure aspects of the UK environment can seem claustrophobic. We could use a bit more space.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Definitely true, though in surprised by how often we got push back when we mention that. "If you think the UK has a lot of small spaces, you've never been to [area we probably went to].". 🤷‍♂️

[@leedsman54]

There’s enough space but too many people.

[@michaelcollett1175]

enjoy your views, since left uk , main problem i have, price petrol costing £1 32p litre, transfer not US GALLON, KEEP UP YOUR VIDEO COMING

[@johnhodkinson2063]

On things being bigger in the US, you missed out mentioning mouths, they are definitely bigger.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Classic, someone mouthing off about out how someone else has bigger mouths! Just kidding, we do tend to notice a difference in personality...the stereotypes do hold up in this regard. Americans definitely tend to be more brash, which is both a positive and negative thing, depending on the context.

[@Pablosplace]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure you guys coming back any time soon?

[@weedle30]

The Wandering Ravens have gone back too - but think they are missing good old Blighty …. What reverse culture shock, shocked them the most was a notice on the door of their local shop “only open carried guns allowed in here ….” Oh myyyy liiiife! 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😱😱😱🤯

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Haha! I haven't seen that one.

[@TTTzzzz]

The US health care issue is cultural. The government doesn't assist the people and many people are ok with that. The US has unbridled Capitalism.

[@cambbrown6205]

Sadly I fear we may be copying their lead

[@redvelvetshoes]

And produce is cheap , though Brexit will soon affect that

[@angelavara4097]

I lived in NJ for a couple of years I hated it.

[@cayminlast]

Coming from Africa, having had experience in both the us and the uk, I found there are more than just pros and cons to living in either country. If I'm honest, the US is huge compared to the UK and there are opportunities to see and experience so much more than I ever imagined.

[@creamesoda79]

From the UK you can travel to the rest of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East reletively easily.

[@fionagregory9147]

Britain is best cos I live here.

[@BassandoForte]

The UK being 53 degrees north - equal in longitude to Edmonton Canada.... Of course the US is going to be vastly more hot... 🤣

[@CrazyInWeston]

And Canada is hotter than the UK (In the summer months) They've recently had their all time temp record broken at 50c!!!

[@BassandoForte]

@@CrazyInWeston - Is that currently true of Alaska too..?? 👍

[@sandrogattorno4962]

Just two words about the customer service. I've see few video like this one of you but ever annoyed me a litte is that evryone who spoke about this is from the point of view of the customer and nobody cares the point of view of the people who doet theyr work in to the shop. I understand that is a plesure wend all the attenctinos are over you (not for ev'rybody, I'm amusing of walk in the store while nobody cares me and I can just watch everythings for myself. If I need I ask) but is not better if the rapport between you and the worker is just the same like you encounter them in any other place? sorry my bad english.

[@airs1234]

I can’t stand US customer service. It makes me feel so uncomfortable.

[@gsotoaz]

It’s nice to have the US customer service person pay attention to you

[@airs1234]

@@gsotoaz it’s so fake though. UK customer service staff will pay attention if you ask them a question. They don’t follow you around and talk to you like they are your friend.

[@marycarver1542]

Americans are a lot bigger too !

[@EASYTIGER10]

3:10. If you wanted to go to Dayton, why did you fly to Chicago? Its like flying to the UK and wanting to go to Newcastle but Flying to London, Heathrow. Both trips are about 300 miles, and that distance is the same whether you are in Europe or the US. The road trip would be the same. If Chicago was the only option to fly to it has more to do with poor air connections than the US being "bigger", surely?

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

We flew to Chicago because of cost, not availability....but that's not really the point of the example. Point was; long distance road trips are not a big deal in the US. Our roads and infrastructure support them, and a "small" road trip (like Chicago to Dayton) is a HUGE road trip in the UK (like similar miles).

[@Loki1815]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure Sorry but I don't get this. I have quite regularly completed long road trips, 1500k (930m) in around 11hrs (9hrs if you want to push it), from England to Spain via different routes and in different vehicles, from Motor Bikes, Transit Van, Subaru Outback, Lexus is300h. I enjoy the mountain roads, especially on the bike and can't bear the thought of dead straight, featureless roads, yes, I have driven in northern and middle American. If you want to do a long journey from England through Germany, you can always have fun on the Autobahns. As for Customer Service, yes I suppose that Americans do "overly sincere" very well, it would be hard not to when your healthcare depends on you jumping through the Corporate hoops!

[@EASYTIGER10]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure Apologies Matthew, my post came across as criticizing, it wasn't meant too. And I understand your point: Long road trips are considered more the 'norm' in the US. But Like Loki 1815 said, you can make just as long road trips in Europe if you want to. The highway infrastructure of Western Europe is as good, if not better than the USA. So why are long trips more the norm in the USA? My guess is: a) Fuel is cheaper, b) More of a 'car culture': Europeans would more likely take a train or fly. c) If you drive 1000 miles people still speak the same language and there are no customs barriers to deal with d) Maybe the main reason: Europe is more 'densely packed' than most of the USA. In much of Europe you are rarely more than a couple of 100 km from a major city or site, so there's less need to make long trips. Would you agree Matthew?

[@jillhobson6128]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure Surely long road trips aren't safe even if you share the driving. As our motorway signs say "tiredness can kill"

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Easytiger, I definitely agree! It's not about the "ability" to take long road trips (because inevitably someone will always say that they take road trips all the time in the US or the UK)...there is a culture of doing it in the US that is unlike the UK, do to exactly the reasons you mention above!

[@kaynpaul]

The health care in the US is sadly in humane a country the size and the wealth of the US they should made healthcare available to all

[@anthonywilliams9415]

Heck yeah!! Dayton Ohio!! Area code 937

[@RichardBarclay]

What's going on with your hair Matt?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Everything is bigger in TEXAS! 😂

[@mattinterweb]

NHS baby.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Do NOT look for kale in Walmart. In the US I can find baby kale in loads of places (just not Walmart)... but I haven’t seen baby kale in a single store here in the UK. And I’ve been to just about every place 😉

[@RichardBarclay]

Asda do a mixed leaf salad that contains baby kale, it's called beetroot, baby spinach & baby kale salad,

[@alimar0604]

Tesco Express in Abingdon.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@RichardBarclay good to know!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@alimar0604 thanks for the tip!

[@TychoCelchu]

Brits tend to be deeply distrustful of what we see as insincere smiles, which is a standard of the US service industry. We know that servers in the US probably won’t even be making making minimum wage, unless they kiss the asses of entitled customers. Your service industry just creates more customers who behave that way because they know they’ll get away with it. Try acting like that in France. Workers rights in the US are virtually nonexistent, and it shows. Your tipping culture is also really confusing to outsiders. Most people will be aware of tipping wait staff, but you guys seem to tip various different kinds of service staff, except fast food workers. So we don’t know who to tip, and how much

[@davidrowlands441]

You state there's not a few but a lot of things wrong with the nhs. Please state them.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50290033.amp

[@davidgray3321]

Glad you are pleased to be home ok, but what’s going on with the hair? Is that an American thing?

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

More of a "covid-hair-might-as-well-try-growing-it-out" thing. I get lots of comments in the US too.

[@davidgray3321]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure Don’t worry about that, it was probably insolent of me to comment I enjoy your work. Thank you. David Gray

[@paulhadfield7909]

what is going with your hair?

[@davidcook7887]

It’s ok you criticising the NHS because you know what you are talking about. You raised that in one of your videos when you were living in Sussex. Americans, don’t criticise the NHS or the Royal Family. It just doesn’t go down well in the Uk.

[@andymac900]

I took a year out from the UK to explore the USA, and to be totally honest the people were great (maybe sometimes false) but really nice to talk to however....when you come.from somewhere like the UK you really learn to appreciate what you have, the USA is so samey (if that's a word) there seems to be no culture no real sense of history, the buildings are all the same it is like Minecraft everything is square and flat, every town has the same shops selling the same things, the fruit and veg is huge and looks luscious but tastes like nothing, nothing is walkable, however there was really little to see, to be honest I won't go back, I found the whole experience depressing as hell, even going out for a drink was weird all people.wanted to talk about was Trump and couldn't understand that it had nothing to do with me, people's politics were obvious just by 5he news channel in the background, as I said the people are so sweet but they are NOT open to contradiction at all

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Definitely feel the truth in a lot of what you said. Especially the "sameyness" and people unwilling to see contrary opinions.

[@Finnec123]

Not very specific regarding healthcare.

[@andyb3712]

Do you not notice tent cities and other homelessness, or opiad and other addicts, people everywhere not outside exercising and enjoying nature - I like your stuff but damn it's middle-class.

[@capablancauk]

Preparing for a car jumping off the road hitting you!? If you could prepare you wouldn't be on that road.

[@skyebates246]

It's freeks me out as a brit it seems so facke

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Definitely a cultural thing!

[@trucktalkvideos]

The best healthcare in the world is in South Korea

[@musik102]

Often, it's not at clear whether you are talking about the UK or the US.

[@davidhutchinson5233]

People who call customer svc friendliness "fake" are idiots. Of course it is. I mean, yeah, on occasion their personality slips in. We're all human right? But having to deal with customer after customer after customer you have to practice it. Fake. It's so uninformed.

[@user-xy4ff5yp7b]

To summarise: extreme Capitalism is a disaster? Perhaps a little humanity and care for other people’s wellbeing matters.

[@DrDaveW]

The UK is very secular. The Queen is the head of the Christian Church.

[@mrharry448]

3% of UK under 24s consider themselves as belonging to the church that the Queen is head of. 54% of the population say they belong to no religion. There is the issue of a handful of church leaders having minority voting rights on legislation in the House of Lords but otherwise yes. A very secular country.

[@8arcasticallyYours]

The Queen is head of the official Church of England, NOT the Christian Church which has many different denominations. Most British people are not religious at all.

[@DrDaveW]

@@8arcasticallyYours Sorry, yes you are correct. And all because Henry VIII wanted a divorce!

[@waynefoster7738]

I live in the uk and I've been to America 5 times and I have to agree there is no customer service in the UK people are miserable now in America I felt more welcomed its nothing to do with tipping um they have got more manners than us in the UK sorry just my opinion if I had a choice I would rather live in America all day long

[@davidcook7887]

Why don’t you do a difference in humour between the UK and the US. 😂😦

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

That's a great idea! I think I will!

[@billweaver6092]

Sorry about your hair

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Interesting thing I've noticed. I can reasonably guess how old someone is based on how much attention they pay to my hair. Any chance you are a balding man over 50?