Impressions: Best and worst

[BigBubble 1]

Please indicate if you are the U.S. Citizen or immigrant SO. List one, four, ten -- up to you. Discuss!

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I am the USC.

Best of U.S. :

- Freedom (I can paint my house any ridiculous color I want, for example)

- Plethora of choices of goods to buy at cheap prices

- Beautiful countryside

- Stuff is open on Sundays, open 24 hours, etc.

Worst of U.S. :

- Lack of universal, affordable, and good health care

- Two party political system (under/over-represents groups, things don't get accomplished... I won't go on)

- Ignorance/poor education (watch Jay Leno's "Jaywalking" if you don't understand me)

- Excessive pride leads into unnecessary conflicts (Vietnam, Iraq...) and pulling away from international cooperation

Best of Germany:

- Few people fall between the cracks (aid for the poor, unemployed, etc)

- Cheap higher education

- Great innovators (best games, good cars, top designers, etc)

- Public transportation

Worst of Germany:

- Strangers often cold and unfriendly

- Store hours are short

- Expensive

- The language (sorry dear). (such as combining words to make really long

über

words)

You can´t paint your walls in Germany?

[BigBubble 1]

Please indicate if you are the U.S. Citizen or immigrant SO. List one, four, ten -- up to you. Discuss!

--------------------------------------------------

I am the USC.

Best of U.S. :

- Freedom (I can paint my house any ridiculous color I want, for example)

- Plethora of choices of goods to buy at cheap prices

- Beautiful countryside

- Stuff is open on Sundays, open 24 hours, etc.

Worst of U.S. :

- Lack of universal, affordable, and good health care

- Two party political system (under/over-represents groups, things don't get accomplished... I won't go on)

- Ignorance/poor education (watch Jay Leno's "Jaywalking" if you don't understand me)

- Excessive pride leads into unnecessary conflicts (Vietnam, Iraq...) and pulling away from international cooperation

Best of Germany:

- Few people fall between the cracks (aid for the poor, unemployed, etc)

- Cheap higher education

- Great innovators (best games, good cars, top designers, etc)

- Public transportation

Worst of Germany:

- Strangers often cold and unfriendly

- Store hours are short

- Expensive

- The language (sorry dear). (such as combining words to make really long

über

words)

You can´t paint your walls in Germany?

[BigBubble 1]

Worse in US

Expensive to eat healthy

Too many religion fanatics

Too many contradictions

You have to drive everywhere

Expensive healthcare

Wine is expensive

Worse in Spain

Too many gossip people

Unemployment higher than 17%

Cheap and Good wine

Shitty government

I will write the good things later, Im kinda pessimistic today

[MissStacey 1]

Best in New Orleans:

French Quarter

Mardi Gras

Cemeteries

Crab/crawfish boils

No snow (only the rare occasion and it melts fast)

Lots of awesome thunderstorms

Close to lots of great places

Drive thru daiquiri shops

Worst:

Cockroaches, frogs, fleas and other creepy crawlies

Horrible roads and sidewalks

Hurricanes

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

the op left out great beer for germany.

I don't drink beer.

We'll just add that to the bad things about the USC list.

[wayno 9]

Best of U.S.

> full size trucks

> highways

> 24 hour super markets and convenience stores

> affordable fuel

> wide streets

> guns

> fishing/hunting in public areas

> lift your truck if you want to

> Police are on your side

> the military is on your side

*no need to fear either of them.

> the fire department

> ambulances that arive on time-----unless very rural

> very cheap trans to a change of climate without needing a passport

> We have it all

Worst of U.S.

> the current president

>wack job liberals'

> lawers

> were losing our rights

> were losing our use of national parks due to highly verbal eco nazis

#1 IS THE F'N MEDIA

SHUT THE HELL UP YOU ARE ONLY A JOURNALIST!!!!!

WORST OF THE WORLD:

Internet

Media

[SCFsnoopy 0]

I am the Australian SO

Best of US:

Opening hours!! I can actually achieve something on a Sunday! (or after 5pm any other day )

Lots of things are cheap, comparatively.

My fiance, of course!

The vibrancy of the people, esp. in NY - compare to the very laid back culture I come from, where you almost feel like no one cares after a while.

The PIZZA

Several other foods - jalapeno poppers, chicken parm heros, Mike & Ike's... it's no wonder I get fat there.

Worst of US:

Stupid sales tax!

You have to tip... EVERYWHERE (it feels like)

The roads (in absolute disrepair), and the drivers (complete #######, no indicating -ever- and speeding right up your ####)... ugh... not looking forward to driving over there

Your bread tastes horrible. Really. Like you've dumped a barrel of sugar into the dough. It's hard to make a good sandwich with sugar bread =/

Your toilet is IN the bathroom! What is that? What century is it there? That DOESN'T make sense. What if someone needs to poop while you're in the shower?

NO VEGEMITE D:

Best of Australia:

The toilets are separate from the bathrooms in our houses! (except in ensuites)

The bushland and beaches

What it says in the price tag is what you will pay at the counter... no crafty sneaky hidden taxes!

You don't have to tip, which means everyone is getting decent wages.

Pretty good public healthcare scheme

In general, very openminded and worldy culture - our youth love to travel and it's a tradition to do so in many families (usually a "gap year" between high school and university/college is spent travelling)

Thongs = flip flops, and they rule, and we can wear them year round without being stared at.

Worst of Australia:

Can be pricey, but it's not *too* bad.

Kangaroos are actually a pest.

Magpies suck too, for that matter. They swoop >_<

While we're on the subject of animals, our possums are extremely cute but they WILL find and eat all of your food when you go camping. Even those awful lemon cookies your dad likes.

They don't make regular jeans for women with big hips here

Foster's is TERRIBLE. No one drinks that #######.

That's all I can think of for the moment I love both countries, and tend to miss whichever one I'm not currently in.

[NickD 203]

Best of U.S. :

- Freedom (I can paint my house any ridiculous color I want, for example)

Not if you live in a historic district and even if you paint your home a ridiculous color, if you want to keep it, have to pay property taxes on it. If you take pride in your home and keep it well maintained and groomed, have to even pay more property taxes on it. How about fining those that are letting their neighborhoods go to hell?

Really don't want to compare the USA with Venezuela, but with socialism, we are sure headed that way. Jeopardizing those that work hard so the lazy can take advantage of you.

And what's this stuff about freedom, was required by law to attend school for 13 years, then serve my country for another six, practically all of it on active duty, was almost 25 years old, a half a lifetime, before I could make my first decision. Then limited by government controlled interest rates, imports, income taxes with only choices made by where I could find work.

Buy a piece of land that isn't even mine, told what I can do with it, and have to fight with the city because they want their contractor buddies to do the work. If I don't send my kids to their schools, will end up in jail. 55 does mean 55, already was ticketed for doing 57 down a steep hill. USCIS treated me like a criminal and essentially told me whom and when I could get married, provided I wanted my wife to live with me.

Felt sorry for the homeless, but after watching a program on this, they have a lot more freedom than we do! So exactly who are the dumb ones? Sure don't have to worry about the IRS knocking on their door, they don't have one.

[Dave and Helena 0]

I think you can paint your house any colour you like (as long as you own it) anywhere.

ever heard of a homeowner's association?

Don't get me started. People say that Sweden is socialistic but it's nothing to the dictatorship of the homeowners association in our neighborhood. Fortunately, Dave has infiltrated the board, working to undermine them from the inside.

[Otto 83]

I think you can paint your house any colour you like (as long as you own it) anywhere.

ever heard of a homeowner's association?

Don't get me started. People say that Sweden is socialistic but it's nothing to the dictatorship of the homeowners association in our neighborhood. Fortunately, Dave has infiltrated the board, working to undermine them from the inside.

He will be assimilated...

[Heracles 417]

I think you can paint your house any colour you like (as long as you own it) anywhere.

ever heard of a homeowner's association?

Don't get me started. People say that Sweden is socialistic but it's nothing to the dictatorship of the homeowners association in our neighborhood. Fortunately, Dave has infiltrated the board, working to undermine them from the inside.

I refuse to purchase property in a HOA community. I don't even know how those things kicked off here.

[Heracles 417]

Best of U.S. :

- Freedom (I can paint my house any ridiculous color I want, for example)

I am assuming you don't live in a HOA community.

[Heracles 417]

Best of U.S:

• Merchandise is cheap - cars, electronics, clothes etc
• Beautiful landscape and scenery - in places not occupied.
• Great variety and choice of stores
• Generally Friendly people - for the most parts of America (excludes large cities of course)
• Well mannered folk - (excludes large cities of course)
• Free to be as you please - As in, you don't have to conform to a group
• Don't like how things are run, simply move to the next county or state
• Very very diverse country - almost like 50 mini countries.

Worst of U.S :

• Infrastructure - Roads, PT, Parks, Nation's Capital (disgraceful)
• Right or wrong, everyone has an f'n opinion.
• Questionable food quality
• Idiotic Drivers + shitty trucks everywhere
• People can be self-centered - never get in front of a bitchy mom on a mission
• Fail to grasp the concept of world - as in, anything outside the US
• Cut-throat working environment - zero protection or benefits if laid off
• Has-been rundown towns and cities
• Plagued with ghettos and poor areas.

--------

Best of Aus:

• Friendly and easy going people
• Excellent quality of food and produce - fresh
• Unique and beautiful scenery - even around towns and cities; as people have pride in taking care of their country
• Lots to do around cities
• Most metro area streets have side walks and street lights
• Excellent new public transport options (train / tram / Bus)
• Fresh clean air
• Modern infrastructure and cities
• Great working conditions and benefits
• Poor actually get a chance to progress
• Strict yet fair immigration policy

Worst of Aus:

• Expensive to live in
• Larrikinism is popular amongst various demographics
• Ridiculous jail sentences - 3 years for murder is not uncommon
• Can fail to comprehend that what is popular there, not so much abroad
• By the book
• Tall poppy syndrome

Edited September 19, 2009 by Booyah!

[Dave and Helena 0]

He will be assimilated...

I guess resistance if futile.

[Dave and Helena 0]

This is a frustrating but interesting topic. When I told Dave about it he wanted to join in on it too from his perspective.

Best of U.S.

- My husband and his friends treating me like a princess.

- College football and the pageantry. Go BUCKS!!!

- Chick-fil-a chicken sandwiches, Brunswich stew and Chili.

- The liquor stores are open until 11:45pm (even in the bible belt).

- Nice, friendly and interesting people.

Worst of U.S.

- Homeowners associations

- Arrogant and ignorant Americans.

- The question "Which do you like better, the U.S. or Sweden".

- Bad drivers in cars that are way too big.

Best of Sweden

- Beautiful nature

- Summer in general and Midsummer in particular.

- Crawfish parties

- The long, bright summer nights.

- Liseberg, the best amusement park ever.

- Right of public access to the wilderness

- "Fika" i.e. having coffee and cake and gossiping with friends including coffee breaks at work.

Worst of Sweden

- Cold and rainy most of the time.

- Liquor stores close at 6pm (1pm on Saturdays).

- The Jante Law i.e. don't think you're anyone special or that you're better than anyone else.

Dave's list:

Best of U.S.

- The constitution and the wisdom of the founding fathers

- Football

- It's still the land of opportunity.

- Diversity

Worst of the U.S.

- The two-party political machine

- Michigan Wolverines

- The responsibility of "policing" the world because the UN is a toothless tiger.

- Having a target on our back.

- Putting our nose in other countries businesses

Best of Sweden

- Everybody speaks English except for my mother in law.

- The women (He's smarter than the average bear and won't have to sleep on the couch tonight).

- Lagom. A Swedish word with no direct English equivalent, meaning "just the right amount". The definition is "enough, sufficient, adequate, just right". Lagom is also widely translated as "in moderation", "in balance", "optimal", "suitable", and "average". But whereas words like "sufficient" and "average" suggest some degree of abstinence, scarcity, or failure, lagom carries the connotation of perfection or appropriateness. (He says American women just wants more clothes, more jewelry and a bigger home. )

- Long nights and cozy fires.

- Population of Georgia and the size of California - lots of land.

- Dodging moose on the road.

- Vikings

Worst of Sweden

- ABBA (OK, maybe he will sleep on the couch after all...)

- 25% VAT Tax.

- Homogeneous society. Every girl on the road is wearing leggings and a skirt.

- It's too hard to drink there. Absolut Vodka costs more in Sweden than it does in the U.S. AND it is harder to purchase.

- They didn't fight the Nazis. Where were the Vikings when you needed them?

Edited September 19, 2009 by Dave and Helena