You either think America is the ideal place to live or that it's full of crazy people and politics that never seems to be doing anything right. There's not really an in-between. Well, whichever way you feel about it, clearly we're doing something right since there has been an abundance of comments from people who are from outside America that seem to think we are. If you want to find out what non-Americans think America does right, from In N Out Burger all the way to NASA, keep reading.
The People Themselves
"Government is messed up. Media is screwed all to hell. Inequality is staggering, but most American people I've met have been helpful, compassionate, fun, and kind individuals."
It's good to hear that from someone who's not American. It often feels like the stigmas and stereotypes make Americans feel rude or stupid. We can't speak for everyone, but thanks for believing in us!
National Parks
"Your national parks. There are so many parks that I want to visit down there. Hopefully soon after the border restrictions pass....." We love priding ourselves on our nature reserves. They're truly a sight to behold.
If you haven't yet had a chance to visit one, you should book a trip as soon as it's possible. These places are truly incredible and the protected wildlife is beautiful. Even our city parks are big and lucious. We really like to make the grass seem greener.
Museums
"The Smithsonian Museums. Very cool and very fun to walk around and see. And they're free." They really do feel like a magical place. They perfectly capture that sense of wonder and classical museum vibes.
And it's not just the Smithsonian museums. There are a number of large and famous museums around the country that have certain days free and really explore all the topics that you'd love to see captured in a museum.
Talking To Stranger Energy
"I freakin love the energy most Americans give off. You guys are like extraverted extroverts." We don't all feel that way, but we can definitely see how many Americans are not afraid to be expressive.
"If I was introduced to a handful of people from around the world, I could tell you which was the American even with a blindfold, because they'd be the only one to instantly say hello and start chatting when I walk into the room as a stranger. Your talking to strangers energy is almost more than our talking to 20-year-old friends energy."
Engaging Conversations
"Americans always know how to get a conversation going! "Hey, where are you from?" And then they are genuinely interested in hearing the answer even if perhaps they've never heard of that place."
If anything at all, we do really value listening to each other and treating people like they have a voice. Even those who don't really care will probably hear you out.
Different Climates In One Place
"If you guys want you can go to pretty much any climate without a passport. You have a tropical, desert, oceanside, lakeside, mountains etc." If nothing else, America is huge and there are lots of new areas to explore.
We have tropical regions, deserts, mountains, temperate areas, and many more. And you could probably even find many kinds of climates in the same state, so even if you needed a passport between states it wouldn't make much difference.
Ice With Drinks
"The water drinks are served with ice at restaurants." Yeah, this is such a normal thing in America that you sometimes have to specify no ice. Especially at those places with styrofoam cups, they'll fill the ice to the brim before the drink.
We can't imagine living anywhere where this is not the standard. If not iced, the drink at least should be cold. Nothing is better in the summer than a glass-full of pretty much anything iced
State Differences
"It's like each state is a whole different country and I'd like to visit them all." We couldn't agree more. While we're all united, we each pride ourselves in different things.
All states have their own specialties, traditions, and historical sites. Even the food is different, like pizzas or specialty beers. Each state has its own personality, so check them all out!
The Types Of Food
"A lot of Non-Americans think all you eat are hotdogs and twinkies, but some of the best food I've had has been in the US and most of it was regional dishes you can't get anywhere else"
We mentioned some differences with food already, but there's more to it than our classic hamburgers, hot dogs, or pizzas. The south has very different cultural foods from the north, and even state to state specialties can differ.
"The Amount Of Nature"
"Where i live we got a few hills and theres no place anywhere in the country that is completely untouched or so far from a civilization that you cant hear traffic etc"
America certainly is vast. Despite a population of over 300 million, we've covered barely half of the nation. A census from 2014 reported about 47% of the US being devoid of population.
Portion Sizes
"I always hear complaints about the portion sizes, which is fair, they're big. But we gotta give America credit for how socially acceptable it is to take the leftover food home. As a frugal Dutch person, this mesmerizes me and I'm very sad this is not as acceptable here."
We do love our big meals. And you get what you paid for, thus it only makes sense to be allowed to take home the food. It's going to be wasted anyway, and having leftovers from a great night out is always fun.
"The Scale And Grandeur"
"I'm used to nature being small, but everything in America is bigger - bigger storms, bigger mountains, bigger horizons. Even the sky seems more."
"People in America are casually dealing with everything from alligators to bears, pitching tents on the sides of cliffs and walking their dogs through the literal wilderness, I genuinely feel like a hobbit watching Aragorn saunter through Middle Earth like it's nothing while I've never been beyond the end of farmer Maggot's farm before. I love it."
All The Different Grocery Products
"The variety of groceries! I want sugar free? Boom...everything. Oh there's something we have at home but here's 30 varieties of it! Special dietary restrictions? Don't have to order it...here's the stuff at the local target!"
Listen, this is truly one of our favorite things about America. Even the most obscure things are sold somewhere in the country which makes shipping easy, and most of the things you'll need throughout the year can be found in one location or even at a single store!
The DIversity
"How madly diverse it is. Admittedly I’ve only seen it on tv but the fact that the Bronx and Texas are the same countries is mind-boggling." That's the thing is that today's America was built by immigrants, so it's always been pretty diverse.
A census that was done projects the population to become less than fifty percent by 2045. If that's true, then America will very soon be one of the most diverse countries out there.
The Seasons Changing If You Keep Driving
"The ability to drive from winter to summer in 24 hours... Or less!" America has almost any climate you can think of, but they might not all be drivable (such as Hawaii).
Especially in states towards the west coast, you can find a variety of climates, but generally any direction you drive far enough in a day or two should take you to a new type of weather that other states don't experience.
The Kind People
"That a lot of Americans are pretty chill, open, and kind people. You wanna just talk about nothing? You can do that. You have mental health issues? People aren't gonna judge. There's a problem going on and you wanna talk about it? You can do that."
While we do find a lot of stigma surrounding expression of feelings, especially with regards to mental health and gender norms, it's generally accepted that you can really on others for help. Most people are willing to try to help you wether directly or indirectly.
The Wildlife
"Your wildlife. Lots of beasties on that continent." This one is very true. We have a large selection of different animals, with some, like the American bison, being native to North America.
We also love our skunks, rabbits, deer, antelope, and alligators. Oh, and mot to forget our nation bird, the bald eagle. We have so many more species and a wide variety of creatures to find.
Jazz And Other Musical Influences
"The arts. Jazz, rhythm and blues, the early rock and roll that inspired the British Invasion. The authors. The films."
Yup, we sure do love our art. And there's such a big market for it!
Drinking Fountains Galore
"Drinking fountains everywhere. And nearly all public toilets are free." While we do have some toilets that cost money, it's not the general standard to charge. "When you gotta go, you gotta go."
The drinking fountain thing, on the other hand, is a different story. We kind of feel like this should also be standard anywhere to prevent dehydration amd other ailments. We're surprised to hear that it might not be standard everywhere else.
NASA
"NASA is America’s best PR. Sure they could really use triple the budget to seriously get things done, but what they do is admired globally." It really is amazing what NASA has been able to do for space travel.
We would love to see an increase in NASA's budget. NASA was funded the most during the 60s and 70s as a direct cause from the space race. With big ambitions like getting to mars, we hope NASA and Space X can work together to get us there in the near future.
The Film Industry
"The power and quality of their film and TV industry. They can make dreams and fantasies come to life. Jurassic Park to me as a child was like all my dreams had come true."
It really does feel sometimes that America's film industry is leading in the industry. We don't really get too many foreign film advertisements. But other industries Like Bollywood being named after Hollywood just prove it's worth.
The Military
"As opposed as I've been to most of the American military's involvement in the conflicts of the past 20ish years, as a Canadian I have to acknowledge that being your neighbour has made Canada significantly safer."
"We don't need to spend as much on defense because America, our closest ally, outspends everyone else 20 fold."
The Amount Of Trees
"I'm from Portugal and living in US right now. One thing that really impressed me when I got here was how green the US was, and how many trees they have."
We spoke about this before, but about forty-seven percent of the United States is uninhabited. Only a small portion of that is mountains and deserts, and the rest is lush greens all the way.
Southern Cuisine
"Southern cuisine, from BBQ all the way to Creole type stuff... You guys know how to eat down there."
We sure do, and it's delicious!
Air Conditioning
"Their landscapes [freaking] slap. Oh, and air-condition is just a thing." Yes, air conditioning is a thing. It is the best thing to ever grace our homes and we're thankful for it.
If you are unfortunate enough to live without air conditioning, we feel for you. Not being able to adjust the temperature properly must be really frustrating.
"Entrepreneurial Spirit"
"In a lot of countries, including my own, failing at a business you started is seen very negatively, to the point most people will never try, as opposed to the USA where a business failing is seen as a normal part of the process and you just keep trying, taking the lessons you learned forward"
This is an interesting one, since we don't necessarily feel the same way about it. We think there's stigma behind anyone failing at what they try to do, but we do agree that it's the effort that counts and people aren't ready to give up so easily.
Giant Sodas, Bathrooms, And Water Oh My
"As a Brit living in America I’m gonna have to go with; - Not even having to ask for water at restaurants it just comes out! - Giant Sodas cost like $1 - Almost everywhere has a bathroom that’s open to the public (in the suburbs)"
We agree with all those points. Water is a necessity. There won't be a single restaurant that doesn't serve fresh water when you sit down. 7-11 has all the soda you want and their largest size barely scratches two bucks depending on tax. And again with this bathroom thing, why are you not allowed to go?? Nobody wants that on their floor.
Optimism
"The naive optimism. Even if people are disappointed with the way America is going, they still seem to have hope in an American ideal to strive towards."
We grow up with the understanding that we need to do something for ourselves. School is very general knowledge outside of electives and you can even take general courses in college before deciding your major. We're given a lot of time to prepare for the future, so we always strive to get there.
In N Out Burger
"In N Out, no joking"
Ah yes, this iconic institution is truly one of the tenants of our society.
Fruity Pebbles
When someone mentioned Fruity Pebbles, we just had to jump on this one. This is honestly one of the best cereals around. A lot of us spent time in a country that only sells Cocoa Pebble and it's hard.
On it's own, it's already really good, but when added to things like Rice Crispy treats it really adds a lot. And if you're lucky enough to have access to the many variations, consider yourself lucky.
Small Town USA
"The feel of a small town with mom and pop shops and just a certain vibe. The convenience stores". Small-town America is where it's at! Many old movies capture the feel of what America use to be built upon.
While many of us live in bigger cities where there aren't many mom and pop shops (or none at all), you can typically find them closer to the suburbs and further out. It has a certain charm to it for sure.
Turning On Red
"Right on Red!" Americans don't really notice this one as much unless they live in New York City where this is generally not allowed. Usually, you can turn right on a red light unless stated otherwise.
Apparently, there are also 38 states where some intersections will allow for drivers to turn left on red, as long as there is appropriate signage. Just watch out for those pesky drivers who run the red lights.
"Cornbread."
Couldn't have said it better ourselves. Many people like to call us cornfed due to the large quantities of corn consumed. It is a native species after all, and there's a lot of things you can do with it.
Cornbread is one such recipe. Spongey, light, sweet, and absorbent, these yellow squares just soak up flavor and are good at literally any meal. Add butter or jam for breakfast, have it on the side at lunch, or dip it in gravy at dinner time. It's literally one of our most versatile specialties.
Communication Skills
"Verbal Communication skills. When people are interviewed on tv they can really explain in detail what happened and it is easily understood. It’s like everyone has a communication major. in Australia we generally are really bad at this. for example - interviewing eye witnesses to a shark attack in Australia 'yeah Nah it was pretty bad'”
It's funny because a lot o the things we get our entertainment from (like Karen videos) seem to depict a lesser level of communication skills. Despite that, we do tend to try to explain ourselves and are not afraid to flesh out the whole story and its details.
Wide Roads
"Those big roads in suburban areas." This is a pretty convenient perk that sometimes goes overlooked. We've been to other countries where you really have to be careful how fast you're going because theirs barely any room for one lane of traffic.
Because America has so much space, we were able to take advantage of building bigger roads early without many narrow paths, at least in the suburbs. That means that citizens on both sides of the road can park their cars on the street while allowing two-lane traffic to continue unobstructed.
Used Cars For Cheap
"That you can buy a used car for cheap, even if you work minimum wage. In my country even as a college graduate and a full-time emergency room nurse I can barely pay for my 150cc motorcycle, let alone a car."
There are many people, places, and websites here trying to make money from anything they can. People will sell their cars that are in relatively great condition at low costs because they know it'll get people to buy them. And due to their price, it's not a goal that's completely out of reach.
Justice System
"This may sound ridiculous considering it has a lot of flaws, but the justice/legal system. Here in South America, corruption is so bad that we rarely see any kind of justice even for obvious crimes; let alone a good investigation, just collecting basic evidence has to be called a miracle."
We do understand that many countries have a flawed justice system. While ours is anything but perfect, we do try to hold ourselves to a certain standard. If you aren't getting your right to a fair trial, there will be hell to pay.
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
"Among other things the "You are innocent before proven" culture & related laws." This is one of the most important laws in our social justice system. It ensures everyone gets a fair trial.
Because you are innocent until proven guilty, the government is less likely to end up tossing you in jail for no reason. While it isn't foolproof, it does allow everyone to make a stand for themselves and have a chance at a fair trial.
Holiday Hype
"How much you get into holidays. Halloween, Christmas etc. I’d love to go to a nice little suburb and trick o treat!" We do go very hard on our holiday celebrations, with streets lined with holiday spirit.
You can find just about every house decorated for at least a week before and after the holiday comes to an end. We have decorations for just about every holiday you can think of. And getting off of school is one of the best parts!
The Amazing Rollercoasters
"Some of the best roller coasters on earth [multiple emojis]". With so many amusement parks all over America, it's no surprise that anyone would feel this way. We have so many varieties of theme parks!
Most notably is Cedar Point, the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World", Six Flags, And Disney Land and World, as well as some other smaller parks around the country. Theme parks are such a thing that there are even wandering carnivals (of varying levels of safety).
Deliverable Food Of All Types
"That in most places you can get any type of cuisine you want and it’s within 15 minutes of your home". This is easily one of the better things in America. Pretty much any food you can think of is available.
What's more, is that everyone seems to have this 30 minutes or less mentality. Granted, there are certain restaurants that will take longer, but for the most part, they will all deliver within the hour.
"Free Soda Refills"
This is one of those things you don't find everywhere in America but is a consistently common standard. You can find many places that serve free refills including restaurants and especially at movie theaters.
Because the machines that dispense the drinks make it from soda water and a variety of flavored syrups, it only ends up costing the owners pennies to make it, thus allowing for customers to take free refills as an incentive to buy from them.
Freedom Of Speech
"Freedom of speech. You can make jokes about the president and not worry that FBI is going to show up at your doorstep. Life is very different in developing countries."
While that joke makes us all giggle a little, we are also aware that this is not a privilege held by many. Freedom of speech is definitely one of our more important luxuries.
Everything
"New York City. Hot Dogs. Your Friendliness. Hollywood. Yellowstone. Baseball. Ford GT. Road trips. Coke. NASA. Southern BBQ. Burgers. Yosemite. Your infectious love of the outrageous. Jaws. Your love of English accents ;). Harrison Ford. Rock and freakin roll. Nike. Magic Mountain. Pamela Andersen. Red Vines. The Video games / animation industries."
"Dr Pepper. Maine Lobster Rolls. Skateboarding. Ralph Lauren. The Sopranos. Jack FM. Baskin Robbins. Car park cookouts. Wake boarding. Ruby’s Diner. Long Island (Iced Tea). Eddie Murphy. Technological innovation. Soul. Southern California. Star Wars. Bronco jeeps. Key Lime Pie."