Hello!
I’ve seen a few posts praising the US and I can’t deny that I’ve also had a very concrete goal of moving permanently to the US eventually. I’m from the EU so the “reality” that I have of the US comes mainly from the media. With this being said, I’d like the brutally honest opinions of those that experienced the US first-hand, whether you’re American, have always lived in the US and absolutely hate it, or if you moved from the EU to the US and are loving the experience.
- As expats, I think we’re all running from something from our home country (work conditions, family situations, etc). What made you move to/out of the US?
- Do you feel your QoL (quality of life) has improved with your move to/out of the US?
- If so, would you attribute this to working conditions/salary? Or living conditions such as more free time, good pension/retirement, etc
- Do you plan on going back to your home country? If so, what is the main driver of that decision?
Last, but not least, for those living in the US, do you believe that the pros of having more/better career opportunities (at least for skilled labor/PhD level) in the US outweigh the cons of living there, namely:
- poor/expensive healthcare
- extremely high tuition fees for colleges
- high crime rates (naturally highly dependent on the place you live)
- small amount of time for maternity leave (I don’t mind the small amount for paternity leave, but in Scandinavian countries mothers can have up to a year of maternity leave which I believe is very beneficial for the kids. I do value countries that value and protect the family structure)
- … and a general low work-life balance? (This last bullet point is not as important to me as I do like and appreciate the hustle culture of the US which makes effort/skills be more appreciated and compensated)
Thank you all! Apologies in advance if this has been asked multiple times before, but I’d like to condensate different perspectives in a single thread if possible as it might be helpful for others as well! :)
America is the best place to live period…providing you have a high income.
Anything close to average and it’s not worth it.
US healthcare itself (quality of medicine) is actually decent, but you have to be very proactive - aggressive even- in advocating for yourself and navigating it.
If you are a female or a POC, you could get treated like your symptoms are imaginary- this is a very real problem. Of course it shouldn’t happen- but in the US we can choose the doctors we want (within your insurance network/plan). Research and self-advocacy is key.
For the most part our doctors and definitely the nurses are decent people who care about patient outcomes.
The negative aspect of our healthcare is based around the systemic aspects - the absolute clusterfuck of health insurance; and unfortunately the people on medicaid and the unhoused who cannot afford insurance use healthcare facilities in a way that drive up medical and insurance costs for everyone else (example- going to the emergency room for a stomach ache or eye infection that’s lasted 3 days).
Because health insurance is unaffordable for these folks in the first place - they manage their medical concerns in a way that is reactive instead of proactive - it is their only choice esp. in areas without low-cost clinics.
So they can’t even get an appointment with a regular doctor as they don’t have insurance- this resorting to only going to the emergency room if something gets bad enough. It’s a vicious downward spiral that costs more and more each year.
Us healthcare system is a disorganized hot mess and an embarrassment - but 90% of the clinicians you interact with are kind people with good hearts who want to heal. Just want to make the clarification as I feel like the view of the actual clinicians gets unfairly wrapped into the perspective of the messed up administration when viewed from outside of the US.
I’m struggling with this too, as an American planning to move to EU in a few years. A lot of things are great, yes. But (1) I’m terrified to grow old in the US, as there are no social supports. I’ve heard of elder care facilities that cost $30,000 a month and still suck. (2) car culture. It’s truly awful. Traffic everywhere, all the time, and parking. It’s enough to keep me from getting out of the house as much as I should. (3) Architectural monotony. Yes, I know the US is large and diverse, but the big-box landscape is depressing. I can feel my brain decaying. I can spend thousands to go on vacation in another region, but the buildings and restaurant options will be largely the same. Ugghh.
Really depends on who you ask, where they are in life and their experiences; what they’re accustomed to and even $$$$$$ they have.
As an American, if you work for a corporation that provides great insurance options, you’re in better hands compared to lesser options. Short term / long term disability insurance is very important in case an illness removes your ability to work.
Also- if you value countries that value and protect the family structure- you might be at a cultural disconnect here, beside from the parental leave. Most babies in america today are born to single /unmarried women. The cohesive family unit is rapidly becoming rare. Just something to be aware of- if it bothers you seeing single/unwed mothers- this is not the country for you.