Things You dun Like abt America, YET?

[DrissandAmy4ever 0]

Being an American my entire life I think the best thing I like about it is that you are free to leave anytime you wish. Sorry, dont mean to be a poop but you chose to come here, as others said, look at the bright side of things, not the negatives.

[DanielParul 50]

I can't complain about food. I lived in England for some time so food in Texas seems like heaven.

I do miss the people and chaos on the streets and that we can't walk to the bank, post office or walmart (you get the point).

On the whole, I love my life here with my husband and our son (thats family) and I have had to spend 15 months alone here only 3 months after I came to the US when Daniel was deployed. I made that choice and I would do it over and over again

Also, my parents are visiting us on the 26th for 3 months, this is my mom's 2nd visit (this time its strictly for their grandson). I guess, having family visit makes a huge difference

[Bernie C 24]

Try being optomistic rather than pesomistic! My fiancee has been here four days and she has decided each day to list something to be thankful for. There is to much negativism in the world, look for good things rather than focusing on the bad and you will have a much happier life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[soonenough 1]

4) Social security offices need bigger buildings

LOL at this one I live in a small town and if the Social Security office was any bigger it would be a waste of money and space. I lived in a big city and dealt with both sides.. but the town i live inm i walked in the Social Security office and was the only one there. Even the staff seemed surprised to see me... Its almost like that for any building here.. Ever walk into the Driver Motor Vechicle Office and walk out in 15 mins with everything you needed? Small cities are great for that. I know this didnt help your case but just thought i would share lol.

[Lia792 5]

To the OP: I was kinda shocked that you were critical of these things in the US. I am living in Mexico right now, the bureaucratic center of North America, and I can't wait to get back to the US where people have to list their prices in most stores rather than changing them when they see your face or where you have to have references and proof of domicile to even open a bank account...My guess is you are in the culture shock stage where everything seems different and foreign and irritating for the sheer fact of being unknown. Give it some time and you will learn how to do all those things and it will soon make sense.

I really really really recommend a DVR or TiVo if you don't like the commercials. You record all your shows and never watch a commercial again unless you choose to watch a live show.

To ibtd: I would agree that there are a lot of problems in the US. However, it was interesting to me to note that Germany has been historically and is a more socialistic country than the US. You will note that there is a strong fear/ dislike for socialism in the US and a strong attachment to capitalistic values for better or worse. I think that is what is you were talking about in some areas - government support that citizens pay more for.

And nobody is going to argue with you about the immigration process being ridiculously out of hand, or at least I hope not.

Edited January 21, 2010 by Lia792

[Wis-Can 0]

I've been here almost five months....other then the fact that my family is 2000 miles away there really isn't anything I don't like. Well besides the cost of healthcare when your use to the Canadian one. The area that I moved to is alot of farming, which is where I came from, alot of outdoor activity. I've never been ice fishing till I came here, never been on a 4 wheeler before and now we go all the time. The banks took a bit of getting use to, as well as the "barely used" interac, or sorry debit card. Stores take personal cheques, they haven't done that for years back home. You have to use your interac card. Bread well.....lets just say I make my own from time to time. I knew coming here there was going to be things that I liked and disliked but honestly, I'm with my sweetie and I will take all the good and bad that comes with it just to be together.

[jundp 191]

Now I wrote way more than I wanted to. Don't get me wrong folks, there are lots of great things about this country as well.

Just want to say that knowing ibtd and his wife personally, he's not being a jerk here and he DOES like lots of things about America too.

obviously anyone can post their thoughts...stupid

Uncalled for.

PS Even I hate the bread here and I'm the American

[teddy000 0]

after living here for almost 5 years the only real thing I hate about America is that my family lives so far away

I concur.

[Mrs.J06 4]

Wow, the OP has been here for 10 DAYS and already has a list of stuff he HATES? You are working towards ulcers or a stroke really fast if you keep going at that pace. And seriously, bank computers and people are slow - how important is that? SS needs a bigger building - what do you care, do you live there?

Not trying to rip the OP off, but that seems to be a tad overreacting. Complain about healthcare or the lack thereof and important things and I'll understand.

Like somebody said - focus on the good things here, there are plenty of them. There are things you don't like and never will, but I'm sure there were things at home you didn't like and complain about, too.

I do "complain" to my husband once in a while too, but for everything I don't like here he has something he's not crazy about in Germany. I'm sure that's the case for every country.

I personally find it very cool to have the opportunity to live in a different country!

[NCWife 0]

Been here almost 2 years... At first, I had so many things I didn't like and appreciate just because I wasn't used to them but now, I have nothing to complain about except for one thing. USA is such a big country and everything is so spread out! Nothing is walking distance really and driving from one place to another for at least 20 minutes seems to be considered as near For me, that's far LOL and we live very close to the city.....Other than that, USA is definitely a nice place to live in considering the fact that I have lived in different countries.

To the OP, try to give it a little time and you'll kinda get used to it and will learn to enjoy the wonderful things the good ol' US can offer!

Cheers....!

[Aubrey 10]

Just want to say that knowing ibtd and his wife personally, he's not being a jerk here and he DOES like lots of things about America too.

Uncalled for.

PS Even I hate the bread here and I'm the American

Thank you, junp. We love you!

Being his wife... I would say that my husband definitely does like things about the USA, too. Posting and saying one's thoughts, stupid? I thought this was America, the home of the free and the brave. Nobody has to love everything about this country; in fact, it's people like him that speak their mind that help bring change when it's needed. I don't think anyone that really loves the USA would say that the country is perfect. I certainly wouldn't. He is free to have his opinions and voice them, just as the rest of you are.

That having been said, it's also a hard change for many immigrants. It doesn't mean my dear husband is right about everything he wrote. I think some things about the USA take time to understand. I think he is also pointedly right about some things, too; sometimes Americans just don't want to see how broken our own government is. Why do we let corporate lobbyists run Congress? Let the pharmaceutical companies air ads to encourage us to buy drugs we don't need? Leave our poor, our tired, our huddled masses to suffer, yet meanwhile send billions of dollars (on loan) overseas?

Some people think that if you complain, you must hate. I think that if you don't complain, you are complacent. I love my country, and I know it can be better than this.

And on the bread topic... wish I could afford a breadmaker. Fresh homemade bread is the best!

[Iml3g3nd 3]

Wow

I did not think that so many people would be so critical..

I m not that much in shock as im in dissapointment. I have lived major part of my life in Europe.. India.. so its normal for me to compare USA with those places...And yes i found some things which i did not like.. but as i said after a while im sure i will get either used to them or they would not matter to me anymore...

This list was just a way to share the things which i was experiencing..

It was because i heard great deal of America being the finest nation thats why i was a bit dissapointed as my expections were high.. but eventually i would learn to love it as it is... lol

Even i hated 100 things about India but still i loved it same.. so i might hate some things about America but that won`t mean i should leave the country... i mean if that was the case then you might end up with around 100 people in the country because we all tend to have complaints... thats because no country is perfect...

If i have come here and moved to this place does not mean that no matter what i still need to love and smile about everything.. i have every right to be pissed off/dissapoint/hate/complain ...And it is a hard process to start your life from scratch.....i find it hard.. I took a decision to move here because of my Love ... and im sticking to it...

And in the process i guess i will make my life better.....

Its well known fact that in Healthcare and Internet America lags far behind that other nations.

Yes there has been some positive things too.. but till that list grows significantly i will post it all togather in coming times....

Till then those people on forum who Defended America .. soon i will join you and defend it too.. when someone else like me would come up with list like this but till then .... lemme COMPLAIN

[Gemmie 142]

I would also like to say that some of us have moved from countries that are also free. I was just as free to express myself in the UK as I am in the US. So I guess to me, coming back to "at least there is freedom" is an alien thought. I do appreciate the freedom in America, just as I did with England.

I live with Republicans who think that national healthcare and education systems are going to end everything. I find it very strange because in my home country, that's how it is. Hearing them talk about the systems that we have back home and constantly criticize it has been very, very odd (when I believe it works so much better). And I guess that's how it is for them when we criticize things in the US.

[Cortr 3]

I would also like to say that some of us have moved from countries that are also free. I was just as free to express myself in the UK as I am in the US. So I guess to me, coming back to "at least there is freedom" is an alien thought. I do appreciate the freedom in America, just as I did with England.

I live with Republicans who think that national healthcare and education systems are going to end everything. I find it very strange because in my home country, that's how it is. Hearing them talk about the systems that we have back home and constantly criticize it has been very, very odd (when I believe it works so much better). And I guess that's how it is for them when we criticize things in the US.

Well, the Republican Party these days is basically built around the premise that the government can't do anything right, so it shouldn't do anything. To them, anything that expands government involvement, influence, or (especially) costs money, is inherently bad. This is sort of strange, since they ARE (a large) part of the government themselves, but that's the way it is.

Personally, as a US Citizen, I always find it interesting to read others' reflections upon this country - positive or negative. When you eventually become a citizen (and really, beforehand), you have the opportunity to try and make it better, should you choose to do so. That's something that a lot of people in the world can't do. (Yes, I know you're from the UK, so again this isn't so new to you.)

[*Snowdrop* 604]

And on the bread topic... wish I could afford a breadmaker. Fresh homemade bread is the best!

It's really easy to make homemade bread without a breadmaker - a bowl and your hands are all you need - plus all the kneading is a great way to get rid of all your frustrations!

Solve the bread problem and your frustration with the bread problem at one go! Genius.