#22
We also asked King if there are any things the US does particularly well that other countries might be able to learn a thing or two about. "I would love to see the world adopt more of the customer service standards of the US," he told Bored Panda.
"I think that Americans, in general, do a better job of celebrating the success of others," he continued. "I know it's a hot take, but I've just generally found that. I am not saying that people don't celebrate the success of others outside of the US, but just that Americans seem to do it more frequently and effortlessly. I feel it may have something to do with the American dream being such an integral part of the American mindset, because they feel success for them is just around the corner."
#24
King went on to add that garbage disposals are a great tool that the US utilizes. "I had never been exposed to them until I started to spend time in the US, and I think everyone could learn to love them as much as I do." (Completely agree! I miss having one dearly!)
"Creating reasons to have lighthearted fun" is another thing King says Americans do well. "I don't think any other country is better at inventing reasons to have a party than the US. I'm sure there is a national day of something that has been assigned to every day in the calendar, and I think everyone should follow that lead and try to do something fun and silly everyday."
King also noted that he's a fan of baseball. "It's a beautiful game, so I really wish the world would give it a chance."
#25
As far as things Americans might complain about when visiting other countries, King noted: "lack of ice in their drinks, shops closing too early, coffees are too small (as they're used to giant cups of brewed coffee where espressos are more common outside of North America), people not speaking English (which needs to stop because it's just rude and ignorant), lack of customer service, terrible tasting peanut butter, lack of air conditioning in buildings, pedestrians not having the right-of-way on roads, their dislike of the metric system, and the serving sizes of food and drink being generally too small."
If you'd like to gain more insight on traveling or advice for your own upcoming trips, you can hear from King and the rest of the Solo Traveler team right here!
#27
2. That in America she had to call it football evenhough it's played with hands.
3. That in America she got asked 'what do you do' a lot.
4. That in America people expected their Doctor to fix them regardless of their lifestyle or eating style.
5. That in America everyone she met said that they’re Italian, French, German, Indian, Polish, Brazilian etc, even though they had been in American for a long time or even if they were born in America.
6. That in America she was a skinny girl everywhere she went and people kept asking her what her secret was.
7. That in America most of her co-workers said they were working there only for the health insurance or because they are waiting on their green card.
8. That in America conversations were always about complaining about everything starting from the weather to customer service.
9. That in America she found people were so happy eating or drinking (fries, soda and icecreams ) while outside everywhere like in beaches, bus stops, trains, cars, parks, malls, theaters, etc.
10. That in America she found nearly every meal had fries.
11. That in America people are so obsessed with sports that they would call in sick to go see their favorite team play.
#28
#29
#30
* Open floor plans.
* Big refrigerators.
* Double hung windows, instead of windows that crank out.
* "Weak" 120 volt 60 cycle mains electricity. "It takes so much longer to heat up an electric kettle." We do have 220V ac in our houses, too.
* Electrical outlets in bathrooms.
* Electrical outlets without switches.
* Front door leads right into the living room. Really, the no-foyer thing is a lot more common with small houses, mobile homes, and homes in states with a more temperate climate, than in a typical house in rest of the US.
* Garbage disposals. "They hurt your sewer system." No more than some giant log from a meal of bratwurst and schnitzel.
* No walls or hedgerows along the street.
* Asphalt roof shingles instead of clay tiles.
* Closets. Really. I've heard Euros complain about closets. They're not as "flexible" as wardrobe cabinets, some say.
* Just home size in general. "Is too big, no?" That's what your mom said.
* Probably the most uninformed statement: "All your houses look alike." Subdivisions in Las Vegas are the exception in the US, not the norm. Europeans seem blind to UK red brick clone boxes, long rows of brutalist rowhouses, and superblocks of brutalist mid-rises.
