Walkable cities, fast transit, plentiful libraries, and good farmers markets alone represent nearly 75% of my lived experience. There are definite concerns and deficiencies politically and economically, but life is still good. A lot of Brits I talk to seem to think America might be better, and I try to let them down gently. This is a good country to live in.
this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2024
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Electricity that doesn't go off every day. Running water that stays on and is safe for human consumption. Roads that are driveable. Public transport.
There's not a lot to be optimistic about at the moment, but at least you don't live in South Africa ๐
From an outsider's perspective:
- Intercity Rail Transit that actually works unlike North America.
- A deep history where an "early 19th century" building is considered 'recent'.
- A political system that has at least some humourful moments, and elections aren't between underwear that smells like shit and a diaper full of shit.
Rail in the UK is crap when compared to the rest of Europe.
It really should not have been privatised. Same as all infrastructure really
As an American, the public health care system
NHS. Despite people complaining about it and funding problems it is still amazing. My sister in-law is in Asia and has cancer. Even with health insurance from her job it's still insanely expensive. She basically can't afford treatment. Getting sick is bad enough but imagine that with the worry of money.
On Friday night, on the way back from a night out with mates, one of our buddies starts having complications regarding his diabetes. He takes care of himself but his sugars spike either up or down occasionally. We were worried and called for an ambulance, and I kid you not it was here in maybe 2-3 minutes or so.
His levels got sorted with the right stuff, had an IV drip of something, and by the next morning he was at home.
If he was in another country, he'd have insane difficulty paying for medical. As a mate I'm grateful for the NHS.
The weather, it gives us something to talk about or we might start discussing our feelings.
5he compactness if the country as you can usually be somewhere nice relatively quickly. You get a better perspective on this when you talk to Americans. "We're just nipping out to see Stonehenge." "It's hours away you mad Yank." "So just a short drive then." I was invited to an art exhibition in Istanbul, all the Brits I told rolled their eyes at the idea and the American I mentioned it to went "so did you go? I'd fly that distance home if I had nothing else planned that weekend."
Our sense of humour, because of we weren't laughing we'd be crying and that's not the done thing.
I once took a four hour detour to eat some tacos that I was missing. Just California things.
...I do miss the weather and the nightlife, but little enough else.
We used to be able to drink a lot for relatively little cost. Now they've even managed to take that from us.
Having recently migrated, the only things I miss from the UK are:
- Public right of way networks (country trails, etc)
- Slightly more stable weather
- Slightly cheaper coffee & chocolate
- Starling bank
๐