How is it living in the United States ? When I moved here I was around 27 years old. At first I was a little scared of leaving my country of birth, because it’s a whole different place, the language barrier, and fear of getting lost. Just like some have already shared, it’s just like living in any other developed Western country. In short, it’s kind of a continent, with 50 countries within it.
Infrastructure
America has probably one of the best infrastructure in the world. The roads, highways, bridges, downtowns etc. They are amazing. If you are coming from a not so developed country, you will probably be amazed by the hard work American forefathers have done. I could never imagine how the Holland Tunnel & Hoover Dam were built in the early 1930s, when much of the world, didn’t even think about roads! Coming from Canada, I was shocked at the quality of the roads, and the interstate system. America has great roads, and an infrastructure that connects the 320 million people together, in 50 states. Cities are well organized. There is nothing like the interstate system, as it is truly continental in scale.
Weather
America hasn’t been a fortunate place. While people in the Northeast face the problem of flooding, people down southwest have to deal with acute scarcity. The East Coast is prone to hurricanes, Midwest & central with tornados and the west coast with earthquakes. Weather can be tough here. Pretty often all 45 mainland states get to see some snow showers, while at the same time people complain about the temperature rising to 100F (39C) in New York.
But like me, if you like different seasons, you may like it, especially back east. It changes from one place to another. If you are in the west, it’s great weather all year long, very mild. If you are in the east, it snows a lot in the winter. The fall is just magnificent with all the beautiful colors on the trees. But you have pretty much all the seasons in most of the parts. Up north is really cold for almost 6 months.
Food
Undoubtedly it will be the best place to live in, if you are a food junkie. Even if you are a vegan, you will find some options for you. My only complaint here is the serving size, portions are huge and probably the reason behind the obesity problem. Everything is fried and greasy. It’s nice to see the different cultures though, who bring their own culture, food, tradition when they immigrate. Food choices are just ridiculous, there’s pretty much not anything that you won’t be able to find. Food from all over the world. Eating out is much more common and relatively cheaper than in Europe.
Society
In general American society is really good (unlike how it’s portrayed in the international media). It doesn’t matter whether you are Muslim, Mexican, gay/lesbian, disabled, common people do help you and will greet you in a good way, and accept you for who you are. On this, I think America is a little bit better, than many west European countries, which unfortunately still treat people from other countries as foreigners. Thanks to an immigrant country, it accepts anyone who is ready to accept it. The US is the most democratic country in the world, and everybody has the freedom to do everything. Females are not suppressed for working and living the life they want. They can do pretty much anything they want, go to school, drive cars, have jobs, vote.
Government
This is a bit controversial. Thanks to the bipartisan system, there aren’t many options and eventually not the best people are managing the country. (Democrats blame the republicans, republicans return the favor. Eventually, it shutdowns) While the ancestors assembled the nation and led to the growth, it doesn’t seem to be going so well. I personally feel Americans should speak more openly about their political opinion and just not tag themselves as Democrats or Republicans. Being Independent is perfectly okay too!
Education & Healthcare
Basic education is free for all irrespective off class, but unfortunately higher education is expensive. Also, the cuts in funding for schools is causing degradation. If there is one thing which I find critical, then it’s healthcare. It’s neither universally accepted as with developed countries, nor it’s cheap as any developing or under developed country. It summarizes the cost of a developed country, but the processing of an underdeveloped country. Thanks to the insurance industry, if you don’t have one, you may have a hard time. Otherwise, where on Earth will someone have to pay $2500 for plastering a fractured hand!
Even with health insurance, that costs anywhere from $200 to $2,000 per month, doctors’ fees may be exorbitant or not fully covered. Often, insurance does not cover dental services. Healthcare is such a debatable topic here that you will get a spin if you get to know the real issues with the system here. It is more expensive than the rest of the world but then medical services, are still the best.
Way of Life
I fell in love with America instantly. It was like running into your best friend, who you have not seen in years, and you sit down for coffee, and conversation just flows. That is America, it feels like home. Americans are awesome people. They are the friendliest and easiest people to get along with. You can go anywhere in America, to a coffee shop, a bar, a baseball game and strike up conversations with strangers, who will treat you, like you have been friends forever. They are friendly, outgoing people, who are so easy to get along with.
In a nutshell, living in a capitalist country, like the US, is great but it can be very demanding. Like any country, there are many problems here, but it tops when we calculate the overall benefits, of living here.
With the possible exception of real estate, everything in America is 20-30% cheaper, than in Canada. Americans pay some of the lowest prices for basic necessities such as food, fuel and vehicles. Some places are really cheap because there is no demand. Cost of living changes, as you move from big cities, to smaller ones. A $6K income in San Francisco or NY city, might still make you look poor, but it is a great income, if you live in Wisconsin or Ohio. On an average, rents are anywhere from $600 to $2500 depending on the cities, you are living in.
Alaska and Hawaii are expensive places. Salaries are higher, but the cost of living is too. You need to make double or more, of what you’d make in Europe, to maintain your standard of living, if you have kids. The better the living area in America, the higher the property and house prices will be. But in addition to money to buy real estate, and utility bills, you will also pay relatively high monthly taxes. As a result, owning your home, is virtually no different than renting.
I truly enjoy living in the US. Living in the US feels exciting. There is everything here that you can imagine.
– Bay area/west coast is amazing. San Francisco and Silicon Valley are magical. Living here feels like you live in the most recent part of 2016. It is so updated and the culture is so ‘of today’ that as a young person you can’t resist exploring this region that everyone talks about. Driving through the Big Sur on Highway 101 is the most beautiful drive in the world, it runs along the pacific ocean. Vegas is naughty, a dream in the desert that never sleeps. Try the fountain show at Bellagio, one of the most amazing experiences in this gambling city of the world.
– The Midwest and the Rockies (Colorado and Utah) are beautiful but really cold. In Wyoming it snows even in May sometimes. Aspen, CO is so mesmerizing that you have to visit there to ski. Utah is beautiful, Arizona’s (Grand Canyon) is just spellbinding and you can’t miss it if you are there.
– Northeast (NJ, PA, Washington DC) are all great cities and NY city is stylish. These are the most diverse places as well in the US.
Living in any of these parts are great experiences. Be it driving or being anywhere in public places you follow the rules and can’t be driving the way you want, how you want etc.. Otherwise, a ticket is waiting for you. Just follow the rules of the road and you won’t have any problems at all.
The great thing is, it is still the ‘Land of Opportunities’!
Americans are extremely social, and American society in general, is a high-energy, very extroverted, sensationalist society, driven by a fierce, commercial spirit. Money is mentioned in almost every single advertisement, that isn’t on a billboard. It is also a society that constantly demands entertainment, and the result is a country where entertainment, can be a driving factor, in your success. Advertisements are constantly a show to entertain people.
Humor gets more respect than intellect (most of the time anyways…) Americans are always very outspoken, en masse. People here love to be comfortable, and are willing to break their own backs, to make themselves comfortable. When there is a problem regarding comfort, it doesn’t take long before someone comes up, with a solution.
But, again, individual Americans tend to be more passive-aggressive. That directness you find in European culture, just doesn’t exist here. But directness in a normal context is lacking. The roads in general are bigger, and towns are further apart (in the west) as well. One of the biggest differences between the US and other countries, is the way business is conducted between customers, and those providing services.
There is a general consensus in the business world that you, as a customer, is the king. As opposed to other countries, when you walk into a store, you expect to be treated like a king. This means that employees will smile and greet you, as well as have the utmost patience with you. Talk to you as if they’re your friend, and answer all your questions, no matter how annoying you may be, even when they’re having a bad day. You yourself, as a customer are voluntarily, giving the business money.
Living in the United States offers a unique experience shaped by various factors, including its diverse culture, opportunities, standard of living, freedoms, and challenges. Overall, living in the United States can offer exciting opportunities and experiences, but it also involves navigating the complexities, of a diverse and dynamic society. People’s experiences can differ greatly, depending on their background, location, and personal circumstances.
America, the land of dreams, where anyone can succeed if they work hard enough. This country is a place where success is celebrated, positivity is a way of life and opportunity is a reality. Whether you’re looking for a job, continuing your education, starting your own business, or simply living the American dream, the United States is one of the most popular destinations for immigrants worldwide. When you plan to immigrate to any country, you definitely think about the pros and cons of living in that country.
According to your taste and circumstances, some of these features can be considered as an advantage for you and some, as a disadvantage. The advantages of living in America include cultural diversity, warm and happy people, high standard of living, diversity of climate and nature, economic prosperity, high level of communication infrastructure and internet, minimum censorship in cyberspace and the ease of starting a business.
If you have what it takes, America will give you what you need. This country is full of opportunities, so that it has become known as the land of opportunities, and there are many examples of successful entrepreneurs in America.
The thing is, wherever you live, there are always pros and cons. This is something that no place can escape. Therefore, there are some difficulties in life in America. When you want to examine the advantages and disadvantages of living in America, you must always face the facts and examine the good and bad of America at the same time and away from prejudice and idealism.
Measurement system
In America, the English measurement system is used, instead of the metric system. That is, be prepared to use inches, feet, yards, miles, and pounds instead of the usual units in everyday life.
High immigration costs
Immigrating to the United States is expensive. There are really a lot of things to consider when immigrating to the United States. It is a long and lasting process that is not cheap at all. Another thing to consider is where you are going to live. Make sure you can find a good and affordable place for you and your family.