Should I move to the US?

[JustJulia]

Antibes, it's very sad that you stereotype 300 million people on your 17-year impression of Orange County. Orange County, California is not the United States. As a former denizen, it always saddens me when people from other states regard California as a giant Newport Beach, and sadder still when people from other countries stereotype our entire country. All I can say is that I hope our image improves in the next four years, and that I wish people like you won't always be so small-minded about us.

[Snort]

I was born in the US, but spent a good chunk of my life in Europe, starting from my teens onward. There is some truth in what Antibes says, but I don't agree with all of it. I tend to take Goodfellah's view on this also, but there is something enduring about stereotypes too, and I remember reading something by Bill Bryson regarding the stereotypes of different European nationalities that haven't changed in centuries.
Yes, there's a different flavor (or flavour) to every country, but also to every region, and even to individual towns in some cases.
There are good and bad qualities typical to a place and a people, but that doesn't tell the whole story since there are plenty of exceptions as well.
There are things that charm me about Spain and things that **** me off to no end. The same is true of England, Ireland, Italy, and the US. These are places I've lived or spent considerable time and know well. Oh, throw in Finland too (And yes, a lot of them drink like fish and public drunkenness there is something you won't find in many other places).
I think it's the human condition to find differences and make comparisons with what's familiar, but generalizations and stereotypes are dangerous to a person's perceptions if you start painting with a broad brush and anticipating all the time what to expect next.
Nevertheless, I think it's fair to say that the probability of X happening is greater in one culture than it is in another. Have you ever driven down a one-lane street and have the car in front of you stop to a standstill as the driver gets out to go do business at the bank? This inconsiderate behavior has never happened to me in the U.S., but has happened a number of times in.......(go ahead and guess!)

[VirginiaEwok]

Originally Posted by snort

(and yes, a lot of them drink like fish and public drunkenness there is something you won't find in many other places).

:d

[Charles]

Originally Posted by BRITUSA

I will be doing this on my own as a single mum with 2 kids.. .

What's dad's take on all this? Is he OK with you taking his kids to a foriegn country?