5 Things I've Learned About Living in America
My (hopefully!) fifth and final country!
It’s been an incredible and exhilarating 18 months since we first moved to New York City from Dubai. As a Brit, I didn't tend to think of America as a foreign country, mainly because of the English language and cultural similarities but there have been some surprising differences.
It's my first time living in the US although I’ve visited twice before for a kid-free holiday (sorry - vacation!), so I had some idea of what to expect. Thanks to films, I knew there would be steam rising from manholes and that Times Square would be teeming with tourists (although I DID NOT expect the Naked Cowboy - if you know, you know!)
But there were also quite a few things I didn’t know—looking back, some of those things feel obvious like when I discovered how close America and Russia are to each other and NOT on other sides of the world as a flat world map would imply!
Other things weren’t so obvious until I moved here. For example, it’s very hard to rent a place if you don’t have a US credit score, but you can’t build up your credit score until you’ve lived here a while. (Basically, it’s one of those chicken-and-egg scenarios which can only be solved by luck or spending an insane amount of money engaging a guarantor.)
Here are a few more things I’ve learned in the last 18 months. I'm not sure if I'd call them life lessons but they have given me a better understanding of America.
1. The Consumer Culture
In the US, capitalism is a big deal, and you can see it all around you. From the countless ads and commercials to the huge number of big-name brands everywhere you look, the influence of money and business is impossible to miss. It's easy to see where the 'American Dream' comes from. This drive for success and innovation is exciting, but it can also feel like everything is about buying and selling. And the choice! I remember going into my first supermarket in New York and being paralyzed by indecision. I’m now used to the vastness of stores such as Costco, Target, and Walmart, but it was a bit overwhelming at first. It’s easy to see how clutter can become a problem as I was like a kid in a candy shop the first few months!
2. Size Matters
The sheer size of the USA is mind-boggling to someone from a little island like the UK. When I thought of New York, I only really pictured New York City, but the state itself is pretty large—10 hours across by car. And that’s just one state! Alaska (who knew?) is the largest state, followed by Texas and California. If you drove the North-South Highway through California, it would take three days. I’m not sure whether I’m more surprised at the size of the country or the fact that people actually drive these long distances.
3. America Has Every Type of Landscape
The US has it all when it comes to landscapes: deserts, forests, beaches, mountains—you name it, it’s here. That’s probably why many Americans don’t feel the need to travel abroad; there’s so much to see and do right in their own backyard. And what’s interesting is that every state is so diverse, with different laws, accents, and cultural scenes. So far, we’ve visited California, Florida, Philadelphia, and Washington DC - all them strikingly different. Whether you want to hike in the mountains or relax on a sunny beach, you don’t have to go far to experience it — no passport required.
4. It’s Hard to Escape the Politics
Politics is a huge part of everyday life in the US. You’ll hear people talking about it at work, see it all over the news, and even find it popping up in casual conversations. The polarized nature of American politics means that political discussions can be very passionate and sometimes divisive. The two-party system, with its sharp divides on various issues, contributes to a climate where political opinions are deeply ingrained in many aspects of society. If you’re not used to this level of political chatter, it can be a lot to take in. Discussions around topics such as minimum wage, human rights, and American democracy are part of daily lives. It’s not just at the federal level either. There’s a huge emphasis on local politics, civic duties, debates, and voting within the community. This would seem like a good thing but it gets complicated when factors such as capitalism are involved but that’s a whole different article.
5. Patriotism is Extremely Important
Americans are very patriotic. You’ll see the US flag everywhere—on houses, buildings, and even in schools where kids say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. The national anthem is a big deal at sports events and public gatherings. This strong sense of national pride is certainly different from the UK where it’s much more understated, but it’s a huge part of American culture and identity.
❓What surprised you the most about a country you lived in or visited ?
