How I See The US After 8 Years in Europe

[@hereisnowhy2110]

The amount of conversations I’ve had with older gentlemen in Italy randomly about wine, cheese, or cured meats is insane.

[@alicetwain]

Nevermind. We Italians talk about food more than we talk about football.

[@hereisnowhy2110]

@@alicetwain I could add football to that list too actually. Today, while watching a match in Serie D, I had a new best mate for 2 hours.

[@pumuckl0]

After 12 years abroad the cultural difference has just become too great for me. I get culture shock every time I go back to visit family in the US and nothing seems to make sense to me anymore. People are very stuck in their little struggle bubbles and their response to everything is "just wait until the next election". Everyone there thinks I'm nuts for living abroad, but they can't provide any good reasons for why I should move my two young kids (both born abroad) to a place with astronomically expensive healthcare, poor schools and childcare, school shootings and bad food quality. I also find US urban centers to be very ugly as 80% of the architecture has turned into strip malls or these sprawling single-story cookie cutter shopping plazas that look the same in every state. Going to the "bakery" there is driving 5 miles to Panera. I'll pass!

[@piccalillipit9211]

My friend in the US just took early retirement [not really by choice - she was fired after 35 years with the same company]. Her medical insurance is MORE than I live a comfortable life on here in Eastern Europe. Her son needs dental work, they just got a quote $50,000. She is pretty wealthy yet she lives in endless fear of the political situation, the gun violence, where she lives in Utah road rage is a daily thing you have to endure. I have no idea what it must be like for people on low salaries.

[@pulse4503]

the "greed trap thing" in US,....spot on 🙂 painted with a broad brush, perfect english....I'm impressed !😄

[@pulse4503]

As a European I find this video interesting, a tiny gem

[@RafaelDiFuria]

Glad you liked it 😁 thanks for coming to check out this episode 😊

[@ShawnGoff]

Having owned a bidet in the US for 10 years, I'm amazed that people in Europe deal with those standalone bidets. They take up so much space, require extra plumbing, expansive porcelain and they're not even close to as useful as the kind I use here in the US

[@netiturtle]

That hat, worn indoors, is a cultural difference 🤠

[@Arlasius]

yeah that caught my eyes too... that hat inside... i was raised being taught that it was rude when going inside with a hat on. at your home you do whatever you want though

[@natalieohlsson7777]

I really dislike the over sugar consumption in the US

[@marcb4788]

You nailed it! The USA has become a cespool of absurdity, everything is broken or breaking. Can’t wait till my move to le marche (one more year).. I’ll never look back

[@RafaelDiFuria]

It’s really sad to see some of how things have changed over the years 😕

[@danielleventhal9769]

US productivity vs Europe

[@seandavie3672]

Haha, we have Aldi and Magnums in Australia too.

[@RafaelDiFuria]

But the important question is, do you guys have the magnum that’s half ice cream sandwich and half chocolate dipped ice cream? 😜

[@seandavie3672]

@RafaelDiFuria Yes, the ice-cream sandwich, but sadly, it's not as widely available as the regular treats.

[@suzyblake2007]

I loved this episode, it was almost comical and brought up some things I would not have thought of.

[@janmortensen9314]

mmm Magnum icecream... it was originally put together/designed at Frisko Icecream in Aarhus Denmark 1989. I moved to Aarhus that year to start my studies. Everyday cycling past the old production facility, on the corner on Ringgaden; you could see (a glimpse through windows) the unfinished product hanging down from conveyer before they were dipped in the Belgium chocolate.

[@bljah123]

Eu: we learn 1 or 2 foreign languages from 6 years on. At the appropriate level of course. By high school, the general kind, you’re expected to do at least 2 at high level.

[@sterlingwooten2153]

Couldn’t agree more about the division here it’s truly sad

[@geertstroy]

It is all too simply put forward. I would say that the " human experience density " in Europe is the highest in the world. This has only partly to do with languages and state borders. As an example take the Netherlands , most people associate it with Amsterdam. But in this compact country the size of twice New Jersey there is WAY more experimentable , to be seen , felt , tried , savoured , admired , in terms of architecture , cuisines , local history and ways of living , ways of organizing transport , trafic , heritage etc etc that one xan consume , experiment in a lifetime. Imagine this tapestry flowing into neighbouring Germany , the story board gets added ENDLESS new impressions and experimentabilities , imagine this flowing into France which is a COSMOS on its own , I can get on and on. Europe NEVER stops and trying to explain it through " traveling throug x countries and languages" in a day is a self defeating simplification of the endless and intricate complexity of this most unique Continent.

[@Michaelcj-m2d]

Ex Míchigan in Spain since 2000 🇪🇸🇪🇺👍

[@CHess-fq7bt]

Prices for anything in the U.S. just keep going up with no end in sight. Grocery prices are ridiculous but thankfully where I live we at least have Aldi and Lidl. Their prices are typically lower than the major chain stores. Both Aldi and Lidl carry a decent selection of organic foods and foods that are not loaded with additives/chemicals so we have more affordable healthier choices.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I READ A COMMENT* from an "Engineer in LA" who said he buys milk as a TREAT 'when he can afford it' That is just unbelievable to me - the poorest people in my country can afford milk. That just blew my mind.

[@jarls5890]

Same in Europe - post pandemic inflation has been sky-high! Many countries in Europe have had higher inflation than what is reported in the statistics from the USA. Luckily, inflation is now finally slowing down. Gasoline prices are now finally down to "only" $6.10 a gallon (I have converted from Litres and Euro). Regards, from Norway!

[@Michaelcj-m2d]

Neo-liberal capitalism corporate greed made in the USA.

[@ASMRJusTravelz]

in Europe the food has taste...it's still not bombed by mass industrialization

[@RafaelDiFuria]

Idk, you do find a lot of mass factory made foods in this part of the world…. I think it’s partially a matter of ingredients that are legal. But unfortunately you don’t have to look for super processed food in Europe 😕

[@TheJosep70]

Hmm not really, I live in Spain, we have access to a good Mediterranean diet but food is becoming tasteless and increasingly grown in greenhouse conditions.

[@periscope7731]

I’m from a BOT island nation with a horrendously high cost of living index, and I am in the midst of planning a transatlantic move to Portugal for retirement. I have lived briefly in Rome, Italy and have witnessed the significant differences in costs between Europe and Stateside for touristic accommodations, dining options, farm fresh produce, and general safety vibe. Mind you,that was in 1994 on a gap year of living abroad. Obviously if you are taking a train out of Rome’s Termini station, one still needs to be on the lookout for pickpocket theft. My days of regularly paying a minimum $300.00 per night for East Coast USA hotel rack rates are gladly coming to an end. So looking forward to more affordable travel price points and options within the EU.💁🏻‍♂️✈️🥂

[@DianaRose344]

so true, I would be afraid to walk in any city late at night, aside from all t he other stuff you mentioned

[@RafaelDiFuria]

I can’t blame you, even I wouldn’t be excited to walk in a U.S. city at night

[@MartinaValla]

I got recently shocked by discovering that in the US you can get paid WEEKLY for a job. Granted, I only know about italian salaries so it might be a thing in the rest of europe too, but... it sounds so strange to get your money weekly for real jobs, like, not working as a teen at your mom and pop's shop in a small town. 😆

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I READ A COMMENT* from an "Engineer in LA" who said he buys milk as a TREAT 'when he can afford it' That is just unbelievable to me - the poorest people in my country can afford milk

[@RafaelDiFuria]

That’s shocking! It’s unbelievable that we live in a world where that could even be possible 🤯

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@RafaelDiFuria He was not crying poor - it was a video about "raw" milk v pasturised, he was just talking about how he liked to treat himself to milk - when he could afford -WHAT??? Milk as a luxury OMG.

[@theroyalbureau]

Bidets. Yes. Our Tushy is the best ~$100 purchase in the last decade. Speaking of, how are the toilet seat type of bidets viewed in Europe versus the entirely separate apparatus?

[@RafaelDiFuria]

I can’t say that I’ve seen integrated units in Europe, they all seem to be seperate from what I’ve seen in the countries where bidets are more common.

[@lucchese20]

Could be wrong about this but the toilet seat bidet may have originated in Japan. Haven’t seen it in Europe…yet. The toilet seat bidet is much easier to install than a separate bathroom fixture (like in Italy) so I suppose toilet seat bidet marketing in the US has been successful.😊

[@theroyalbureau]

@@lucchese20 I think you are correct. I couldn't imagine installing a separate fixture and taking up that extra space. :)

[@sandrogattorno4962]

@@RafaelDiFuria Look, to tell the truth I think they're selling a lot here in Italy too. Obviously most bathrooms already have a bidet, nevertheless they have a market. For example, there are very small apartments where saving one m2 of bathroom can count. In some houses there are two bathrooms, but the bidet is rarely in both, usually one of the two bathrooms is smaller so some can install it there. And then there are also technology fanatics who may be attracted by Japanese cup covers due to the different functions (such as heating the toilet seat, regulating the water jet, etc.). However, I have a real rarity at home. I also have a really small apartment and it has a bathroom, but by law it must have a shower, sink and bidet. So the old owners had installed a cup/bidet cover but years before the Japanese electronic ones came out. So my bidet, installed on the toilet is simply connected to the hot and cold water and I think I'm among the few in Italy to have one.

[@hal90001]

4 words: late stage American capitalism

[@dougstuart8553]

Seattle here.......... your comments about homelessness caught my attention. It is such a tragedy and I am always so hopeful that our local and regional governments can improve this situation (not fix) but it seems almost impossible to make progress. We are such a rich nation in so many ways and our shortcomings like the homelessness crisis, affordable healthcare and housing, gun violence, etc are starting to lead us to being a failed society. A very few, very rich people and big corporations are leading us down this path because they want to pay lower taxes with fewer regulations. Pretty much all of our ills stem from this simple premise. Very sad. Thanks for the good work you do.

[@buning_sensations5437]

If you buy Garlic 🧄 from Aldi Süd check the country of origin - it wasn't even close to be local. Not even Gilroy California, the garlic capital of the world, self proclaimed ;-) On another hand, In the San Francisco bay area, the massive amount of new gated communities in the '90s. really was the start of the downturn in lifestyle. Several years ago I saw Trader Joe's bag of California walnuts in an Aldi Süd. Still, the produce section at markets can't be beaten in Italy.

[@Lupinthe3rd.]

Trader joes is owned by aldi

[@FRTG99]

Bidets are a total must. But wet wipes will do in a pinch xD

[@catobie1948]

It's insane here. Over the edge. I may leave myself, except at my age I would be hesitant...we never had to learn a language because there was no need. Now, we can't understand our neighbors if they don't speak English. Media created the BIG divide. By the way as far as language goes, you even said you had border countries with different languages, so that makes it a bit easier to pick up some languages. You can drive thru 4 or 5 cultures in a day. Here We can drive 3,000 miles in a week and not find another culture. It has changed so much...

[@tamaramadelin4831]

Great vlog! I just got back from California and all I can say is SHOCKING! The homelessness, prices and you say sweet, but I say salty and bad!! Oh, and a glass of wine...Minimum 13-15$!! Restaurants expensive and bad for the most part and then you have to add 15-20% tip!!! Rents out of control and a shack is half a million dollars! Healthcare...Quacks and expensive because it's all about the money...I'm staying in Portugal!

[@dejabu24]

Like Mario Draghi said , we like what the US do but not all of it

[@LalaDepala_00]

What shocks me about the U.S. as a European (Dutch) is the extremity of politics. People make politics their entire identity. I have NEVER met any person in the Netherlands who openly boasts about their political leanings or brings it up in every conversation. I don't care who people around me vote for. It is a personal choice. Edit: Typo

[@Tj123-h4f]

I plan on leaving the united states in the future and might move to southern Europe like malta!

[@APPR.]

In all honesty, America is one election away from being a third world country.

[@paulm2467]

And that election has just happened.

[@rover213]

bidé perfeito para lavar pés e cus

[@RafaelDiFuria]

I wouldn’t disagree 😜

[@ColumbusDixon]

Ditto 😊

[@critogni]

"mindboggling" ... and unbearable.