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By nature of my work and academic life, I've spent a considerable amount of time in other countries (meaning staying in a individual countries for at least four months). I agree that vacationing and living somewhere are completely two different things. I usually go through my euphoric period, which usually lasts under a month, and then I go through the period of settling and getting used to a place (usually another month or so), and then I finally decided whether I like living there or not. I also thinks it's inevitable that people will experience homesickness (the time that this takes place usually varies), which also changes your perspective on things.
I would not say that the US is either overrated or underrated. It's just another place. Seriously, in most countries people boast about how wonderful their country is, it's call being nationalistic, and it's relatively normal. The thing that I love about the US, and what makes it my home, is that I grew up here, most of my family and friends are here, and I am strongly invested in what takes place in this country for those reasons. I love traveling, and that's why I do it, but I think it's important to keep experiences in perspective.
Spent a few days in Copenhagen and Arhus and I had the greatest experience. I had been doing some research about Denmark especially given the fact that they are overall the happiest people in the world and the most satisfied with their health care system.
Everytime I travel to a different country, I just get this feeling that the US is a very overrated country, it also makes me realize how many lies Americans are told on a daily basis, this whole, "We are the greatest, no one compares to us" is truly a bunch of BS. Beautiful country, very safe, no guns, no homeless people, a very happy bunch of people overall
High taxes, and some evil socialism does not seem to be all that bad after all.
You were on vacation, dude. Try living there, including starting a business, buying a home, or paying taxes. Then come back and tell us how great Denmark is.
If learning from the rest of the world were so easy, we'd already have done it if it worked for us. In fact, if learning from our own States were so simple, it would have already been done.
No, you don't learn anything from others because you're TOO NARROW MINDED to absorb anything. When people walk about with a feign sense of superiority, nothing absorbs.
Take all the useless american cars, for example that are junk quality and suck gas like Monica Lewinsky would service Bill Clinton. Germany has made top cars now for almost 100 years. So, tell me; why don't you emulate and finally make a car which is at least half as good?
The same goes for so many other things, not just quality cars.
Is he Belgian? Or is he an American living in Belgium? Big difference. I'm of Belgian ancestry (Grandparents).
He is American living there for a few years. He by no means hates it at all. He has a very balanced view as I stated. There are good aspects and bad as with any place.
Unfortunately the CD posters can neither read for comprehension or respond with any respect. And then they talk about Americans going to places abroad and acting arrogant..
Seeing the world is great. That said: A) a vacation in a place does not tell you much about the reality of living there and B) lists of "the happiest" countries are foolish and if you make decisions based on them, you are acting foolish. Every country has good and bad things about it. Take Denmark, for example: I have Danish blood in me, but you wouldn't catch me moving there. It's too crowded for my tastes and the taxes are sky high and the government discourages individualism and self-reliance (witness the taxes on vehicles, aimed at forcing people to rely on public transit which in turn would force you to live in a city, which while claimed to be for environmental purposes has in fact had the effect of making the cars that are privately owned, older, inefficient models). Also, would you want your tax money going to support an official state church? In Denmark it does, and that church is not my own. For a person who enjoys wilderness, hunting, self-sufficiency, etc., Denmark would be hell whereas in the U.S. we have wonderful states for that, such as Alaska, Maine, Vermont, etc. And regarding healthcare, consider this: Denmark is a tiny place compared to the U.S. What works in a small country may not work in a large one. Half the reason the Soviet Union fell apart was probably its sheer size and the fact that one size fits all policies communists tend to use do not fit all in vast countries. I enjoyed visiting Canada the times I've been there, but, I wouldn't want to live there. The same applies to many countries. If you think another country is where you want to live, go for it. The U.S. would not be the best country to live in for everyone, obviously.
You were on vacation, dude. Try living there, including starting a business, buying a home, or paying taxes. Then come back and tell us how great Denmark is.
Exactly. When I visit Eastern Europe, it's a wonderful experience. You live like a king with cheap goods/services, pleasant people (they're after your dollars), and very ethnic food. Living there? Hah! You've got to be joking. My own family despises their UHC.
Wanna be like the Danes? Kick out all illegal immigrants immediately and restrict immigration like you've never done before.
You can't fit a square peg into a round hole, no matter how hard you bang away at the peg.
Oh you can not talk like that.. everywhere else is better then America to these liberal freaks.
They do not know about the muslim slums in Brussells or the French Dutch divide in Belgium. Everywhere is Utopia compared to the US.
An either very ignorant, or uniformed bunch of liberals, who think they know it all.
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Well said......(Move back if it's that bad)...and no European likes an arrogant American (republican)....(the Republican part was a joke...j/k).
