Comments on: Saying Goodbye to America, Again: What We Won’t Miss

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:03:38 +0000

@Katja: The walkability of big cities (in both America and Europe) is something we really value.

Sorry to hear that you were hassled on the street (this was in U.S.? ). Although I’m surprised to hear you were actually hassled, I agree that the American obsession with the physical appearance of the human body (with the great help of popular media) is over the top.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I suppose the best thing we can do is to live our modesty and hope that it will serve as an example to others.

By: Katja

Katja — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:12:42 +0000

I have lived both inside and outside the U.S. I do love my country ( the US) but I am unable to drive. I have had job discrimination in the past over that fact.
I lived a year in Sarajevo, Bosnia and really it was about the best place for me to live in many ways.
Sidewalks can be an issue there, but the city’s older sections are not user friendly for cars. They have decent public transit, and I found news outlet in Englush to be pretty good. They had PRI at certain times on the radio. I speak Bosnian decently, so local news was not impossible. I watched Al Jazeera, and Euronews for content in English.
Here are two things I did not miss.
1. Street hassle. I am over 50, and a grandmother of two. Guys hassle me on the street all the time and I am very modestly attired. I guess they must like how I look…?
In Sarajevo, guys did not hassle me that way.
If they had something to say they did so in a polite way.

2. The lack of physical modesty of many Americans, both male and female.
What is it that makes people wear unbecoming and immodest clothes?
Butt-cheeks, visible underwear, and really tight clothes or damn ugly old sweats, with ugly shoes.
It is possible to dress modestly, attractively and comfortably on a budget. I manage it. I have a neighbor who even manages to do the sweatpants thing and look nice.
A lot of people look like they left the house in their pajamas.

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:37:52 +0000

@US Wanderer: We’re in the States now on another visit and we are also trying to avoid the TV as much as we can. Just last night we ordered Chinese food take out and there was enough for 2-3 meals, not just one!

By: USW

USW — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:44:26 +0000

I agree with you completely! Since I don’t watch TV and I get my news fix from the internet, I can’t complain about the lack of world news coverage. And the food in restaurants – it’s stunning how much you are expected to eat! I’d rather order take out and then put the leftovers in the fridge, and this way I won’t have to feel embarrassed when asking for a doggie bag at the restaurant.

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:55:11 +0000

@Jen: Doggie bags are essential for American restaurant meals! Our experience on our last visit was that even at a lot of ordinary restaurants, servers would look at us strange if we only ordered one main dish to share between the two of us. I imagine that part of this is that they thought they would receive less of a tip because the total bill would be lower.

Even in Europe, we find ourselves sharing meals at restaurants. We’d rather eat small meals throughout the day.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:47:33 +0000

Am I missing some social norm or etiquette? With the exception of the upper realm of restaurants, when did sharing become awkward? Even if it is, that’s why Americans have to-go bags. Two meals for the price of one, or if we are comparing to Europe, half the price of one European meal.

That said, I love Europe and plan to move back to the U.K. in a few years if given the opportunity. haha

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:46:42 +0000

@Doug: Not sure if you’ve read this, but you may want to:
http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2009/03/things-we-will-miss-from-america/
It is the first article in the series, so it might give some context to what we said in this, the second article of the series.

You may also want to read our About Us page to get a sense of our pride in being American. I think that might fill in some of the gaps.

By: Doug Cole

Doug Cole — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:00:23 +0000

The U.S.A. is my home, and I love it. I agree with your assessments of things you will not miss about the U.S.A. but still take great pride in our nation. In fact, your point about American T.V. is long recognized by my family, so we chose to disconnect the T.V. 17 years ago.

This leads me to the point of my favorite aspect to American Life: We generally have more freedoms than any other people on the globe. And so, we may often choose to avoid those points to American life that are distasteful (the T.V.) Other than taxes and other legislated “Must Do” points to American life, we can make our own path. For me, that is an extremely rural life, off the grid power production, home-taught children, self sustaining infrastructure, and self reliance at the extreme. I do not know of many places in the world that will allow such a social disconnect, while still providing close proximity to cultural edification, national security, good medical care, and freedom to be me. In fact, I make my living by sharing my lifestyle with the world as guests travel the globe to visit us. In sum: your dissatisfaction with some points of the American life are shared by me, but the shining points to the American life are what allow me to BE me.

Best, Doug Cole
Marble Mountain Ranch

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:06:43 +0000

@marylouise: Thanks for your comment. I suppose it all boils down to priorities and what the vision is for a society.

Your point regarding the need to drive — and often drive very long distances — in and around retirement villages in the U.S. is a good one. Danger is an issue, but so is quality of life. A life without sidewalks sounds like a difficult one to me. And a life without any public transportation system options sounds limiting, if not a bit prison-like.

By: marylouise sillman

marylouise sillman — Sat, 15 May 2010 17:04:52 +0000

I am American living in Paris for 21 years. Your article on “What I don’t Miss in the USA” is exactly what I say when questioned if I miss living in the USA. The major one is the Health Care issue because as a self employed designer of costume jewelery I could not hope to afford any health insurance plan. Here, I have complete coverage with gratitude to the French Health Plan. The French public transportation system is superb with affordable tickets in cities as well on trains within France that connect to all of Europe. I return to visit family on the West Coast of Florida where there are many retirement villages. Too often, I see on 4 lane highways, very old Seniors with vision or hearing or physical impairment trying to navigate these roads to the local Mall or to the Supermarket. There are NO public buses available in these small towns. The Tap water in Europe is fine to drink although as a traveller in Asia, Africa and often to India, I understand the joy of turning on a faucet for clean water!