Good to be back in the USA

[Alexb2000]

I just got in yesterday from a trip to France. I travel out of the country to various places several times a year. I am always excited to go, usually always enjoy my time there, BUT I'm always so happy to be back in the USA.

Some things I'm glad to leave behind in France:

Having to carry pocket change everywhere so you can use the bathroom (even when you pay it's not guarantee they will be clean)

Paying something like $9 for a bottle of water

Small cars, a Prius is considered a full size car there

Stupid expensive restaurant bills, even a brassarie can set you back $40+ per person for lunch.

Waiters who do not work for tips and thus do not give a s*it

Hotels that ding you every chance they get. Try two billinis for 40 euro.

$9 per gallon car gas!

You NEVER see pickups, ever, I just can't get used to that.

The french NEVER say excuse me, sorry, or apologize for anything. Strangely that became a sure way for me to spot Americans.

Taxi drivers who laugh hysterically at your pronunciation of a 20 syllable name of a train station, but then drive directly there without speaking another word.

Things I like:

People are much better educated, they all speak at least two languages, and they all seem to have a firm grasp of basic math skills.

Public services, trains, buses, bike rentals, work and are reasonably priced.

Other than Hollande I can't name one french politician or any of their current political issues. Many of them can name all the representatives from Texas to my surprise.

The availability and relatively low cost of real quality food sold by small family owned business' is really wonderful.

We all like to complain about various things and there are certainly a lot of things we need to work on. However, leaving the U.S. and going basically anywhere else makes me really appreciate all that we have. I'm really thankful to live right here in the USA.

 

[ScottM]

I just got in yesterday from a trip to France. I travel out of the country to various places several times a year. I am always excited to go, usually always enjoy my time there, BUT I'm always so happy to be back in the USA.

I am in Switzerland (Geneva) right now, was in Ljubljana last week but stopped into Paris for Dinner Friday then took the train to Geneva.

Some things I'm glad to leave behind in France:

Having to carry pocket change everywhere so you can use the bathroom (even when you pay it's not guarantee they will be clean)

I've seen the pay toliets, but I usually just stop in somewhere and get a drink and then use their WC. Better that way.

Paying something like $9 for a bottle of water

Use the refill points, free!

Small cars, a Prius is considered a full size car there

Whenever I get a car there they upgrade me to a giant Mercedes S or C class and I have to beg for a small car. The Citroen C6 is nice, but a PITA to park in the small lots. I would rather have that cool little Renault Twizy! That looks like fun. They had one for rent when I was in Porto in September.

Stupid expensive restaurant bills, even a brassarie can set you back $40+ per person for lunch.

Waiters who do not work for tips and thus do not give a s*it

Yeah but the food is great. Never had a problem with the waiters. But it is considered not polite to hover over people nor to rush them for the meals. So simplay asking the waiter for whatever you want, gets you fast service.

Hotels that ding you every chance they get. Try two billinis for 40 euro.

That is a global issue

$9 per gallon car gas!

You NEVER see pickups, ever, I just can't get used to that.

This explains the pick up truck thing pretty well

The french NEVER say excuse me, sorry, or apologize for anything. Strangely that became a sure way for me to spot Americans.

Sure they do. I hear it all the time.

drivers who laugh hysterically at your pronunciation of a 20 syllable name of a train station, but then drive directly there without speaking another word.

That is because we sound like idiots. BTW they really make fun of the French Canadians!!!

Things I like:

People are much better educated, they all speak at least two languages, and they all seem to have a firm grasp of basic math skills.

Public services, trains, buses, bike rentals, work and are reasonably priced.

Other than Hollande I can't name one french politician or any of their current political issues. Many of them can name all the representatives from Texas to my surprise.

The availability and relatively low cost of real quality food sold by small family owned business' is really wonderful.

We all like to complain about various things and there are certainly a lot of things we need to work on. However, leaving the U.S. and going basically anywhere else makes me really appreciate all that we have. I'm really thankful to live right here in the USA.

Yep pretty much all of that. But I usually am disappointed when I come home and see the endless strip malls and land manatees as well as uniformed, uneducated Americans.

 

[RotorAndWing]

We all like to complain about various things and there are certainly a lot of things we need to work on. However, leaving the U.S. and going basically anywhere else makes me really appreciate all that we have. I'm really thankful to live right here in the USA.

To each his own. I became an expat over a year ago and no plans to return.

 

[Alexb2000]

To each his own. I became an expat over a year ago and no plans to return.

I believe you are in Asia somewhere. I've visited some places in Asia and just like my trip above enjoyed each place for what it has to offer. Being an expat is something I only consider when election time comes around and I get tired of screaming at the TV.

One of these days I'd like to hear about your reasons and experiences.

 

[ScottM]

To each his own. I became an expat over a year ago and no plans to return.

I did that before and am thinking of doing it again. My cousin took another job overseas and I think he has had it with living in the US. This time he is in Asia, last time it was the MiddleEast.

 

[Ted]

I've tended to feel similar. I love traveling abroad, but am always happy to return home. I think international travel is very important to one's personal growth and more people should do it, especially at a young age as I did. But I also am happy to explore this country and all it has to offer.

I've never had issues with French waiters, but it does annoy me how some restaurants (especially in Belgium) will have people standing out front trying to get you to come in. They can be rather aggressive and rude in my experience.

We've had a few times when the prospect of being an expat has come up, and the idea sounds enjoyable. That said, I've yet to find a country I think I'd want to live in permanently, and more than the US. I get annoyed by many things here, but overall appreciate the opportunities and freedoms we have that others don't.

The lack of pickups doesn't bother me, though. Being raised in NYC probably impacts that. It took me used to not seeing European cars everywhere.

 

[bluee]

There are good things and bad things about every place. I lived in Europe for a decade, and I'd love to move back to London, not sure about Germany. Some things about Germany irritate me. They expect people to act a certain way, and if things aren't that way, then it's wrong. Or being called an Auslander, which comes out as an insult, to which I can barely contain myself responding that my German is better than their crappy English. You can also find uneducated people in every country, not just the US. Go to any small town in any country and you will find uneducated people. I have a relative by marriage who is functionally illiterate; I suspect she is dyslexic, but in any case, she can barely read and write. Having said all that, we'll probably go back to Germany for a few years so our kid can spend some time in her country; she is a dual national.