If you could have been born in any country outside of the U. S., which country and why?

[Simslover92]

For me, it's the U. K. for sure. Mostly for its Universal Healthcare and great accents and awesome lingo.

[NathanDavis]

Japan... that's one strong passport, lol

[Avicenna]

Switzerland or Singapore

[MrChinaski]

Both very expensive places to live, is my understanding. We visited friends in Germany. Their son was buying beef to take to Switzerland on a holiday because it is too expensive there... and beef ain't cheap in Germany

[Avicenna]

@bddddd I’ve spent a lot of time in both of those countries and like their quality of life. Even Austria is more expensive than Germany, but salaries are higher and taxes lower in Switzerland. ,

[Avicenna]

In Singapore, it’s housing that’s really expensive. If you don’t have a car and shop in the Indian community’s stores it’s not otherwise expensive (fortunately for me I love Indian cuisines).

[Cormac995]

Singapore? Are you nuts? They cane you for littering! Also, there's no rule about HOW MANY times they can cane you for it too. They are supposed to cane you until they feel you have "Learned your lesson. They could thwack you once of they could thwak you 50 times it's all up to them. I know they have a low crime rate but I don't want to get beat with a stick because the wind blew a wrapper out of my hand and I can't catch up to it.

[Avicenna]

@Cormac995 : You know, it’s not as totalitarian as say (you get fined for littering). I accidentally spat in public on the first day I was there and though a woman looked at me in horror no one said anything to me,

[Cormac995]

Sorry you're right I got it wrong the caning was for vandalism. Still though.

[Levin]

Well yes, 20 years ago, this country was bliss. But we didn't realise it. And now look at it. Honestly, when I'm driving through certain areas, I can't believe some people think this is a rich country. It's not. @SotiCoto is spot on.

And honestly, I don't know the answer to that question anymore. Western countries are over-run with the most idiotic and self-destructive population. A self-loathing lot who want to see themselves replaced by the third world.

We're safe in surburbia, here, but only for so long. Before the rot starts to sweep in and we get over-run here, too. 50 years max, we have.

[Levin]

And yes, an English accent is blissful to an American female such as yourself.

[Kaneki05]

Yeah England is pretty great. I have no clue where else I would want to be so. My government has treated me pretty right, and I think I get enough money to live on while not been able to work.

And I've never had problems with healthcare service besides one operation that did take about a year to take place but it wasn't a thing I needed to do in a hurry.

Honestly If I was rich I would literally only move to US because they have mountain dew and get flavours to drinks we don't. Plus air con everywhere as standard is great. But I would never want to be born there esspacilly not poor or have health issues like I am.

[SotiCoto]

You wouldn't say that if you were actually here.
The population is rapidly being pushed into poverty through uncontrolled rent / house prices and jobs being outsourced to overseas. Muslims are effectively taking over the country and the police are on their side. People are routinely being arrested for comments posted online or publicly speaking out against the status quo. Much like America the country is being further ruined by both political factions like they're competing to see who can do the most damage to the nation they're supposed to be governing. The NHS isn't fit for purpose, and people visiting hospitals are generally more likely to leave it more ill than when they arrived. The economy has been spiralling downward almost constantly for the past 30 years.
Britain has effectively become a 2nd world country.

[Iron_Man]

I was born in Portugal the Azoror islands on the United States military base Air Force. My dad was a fighter pilot in the US Air Force we came to Miami Florida when I was six months old and I’ve been here ever since but I have traveled the world

[Simslover92]

That's awesome. I wish to travel the world before I get too old. I have 30-40 years left.

[Iron_Man]

thank you you can do it just set up a plan.

[Simslover92]

You're welcome and I will certainly do that!

[Iron_Man]

that’s great. Go for your dreams. You can make it happen.

[Simslover92]

Thanks! I really hope so.

[Iron_Man]

You’ll do it and you are very welcome

[Dongie]

That's cool!

[Iron_Man]

thank you

[Abbycado]

This is where @Circushowcowboy lives and can visit many places XD

[Simslover92]

🤭😂😄 haha

[Circushowcowboy]

😒😒😒

[Gwendoline]

You know when you say universal healthcare most people in the uk are being forced to go private so they can jump the que to see the doctor they would have seen who now works 3 days per week as a private consultant. The uk healthcare system is falling apart. Though I will say that mothers in the us are getting screwed by healthcare costs for having babies.

[andreasderjuengere]

Uganda or so perhaps?

I would not need to think about the world, because likely I don't even notice that there is one.

I'd also have more time because internet cannot distract me much.

Plus, I'd feel more happy, because if you never had something of significance, then you don't need to be worried to lose it.

[Babygirl_S]

Russia and I would be a Russian because I like how men like to provide out there and women are allowed to be feminine. America expects 50/50 or even forcing a woman to do ALL the work in a relationship. I know Russia is a better place for a Russian.

[Cormac995]

Ireland. I like the countries nature spaces a lot of their laws and they have a good economy with a very communal culture and sense of community. They also have a rich history and culture and I'm like 80% Irish myself.

[osmanthus]

I second that. I also heard U. K. can also provide tax paid university level education, so, it's free. The U. S. educational debt is over the roof, here, absolutely insane, and it's all too easy for criminals to just get a green card.

[osmanthus]

But, of course, there are always pros and cons. You might have to put up with the terrible state of the city's infrastructure, outdated rules and regulations that wouldn't make sense, discrimination as a minority, being very careful not to piss off the next bloke who could have a knife to stab you with and keep within your borough.

[osmanthus]

So, yeah, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, UK has a lot of dreary or dreadful weather: rain, wind, grey skies, etc. from what I hear many people from UK complain about the weather, a lot.

[osmanthus]

And forget about shopping at a mall. The UK doesn't roll like that. If you want something, you have to go to a shop along a street and even then their selection may be limited, because they import a lot of foodstuffs from the EU.

[osmanthus]

Property prices and electricity prices in UK, especially in the major city is insanely high even for a small space. It's hardly worth it if you're a very large person (way over 6 feet tall) who needs the leg room.

[osmanthus]

But then, again, they have a generous maternity leave and holiday period wherein most citizens fly out of the country for awhile. It's a thing, there, to just not overwork yourself, unlike the U. S. wherein you're expected not to slack off or your head is on the chopping block. There is no comprehensive labor protections in US as all employment, here, is 'at-will' meaning you could be fired at any moment and without a very legit reason. Most people in US are living paycheck to paycheck, here, but in UK you can earn outside the country and return to your nest egg.

[osmanthus]

But, of course, if you hate travelling to earn a sizable living, then the UK probably isn't for you. It's a completely different lifestyle. Most people never leave the US unless it's for vacation, so, unlike UK, they don't have much incenstive to leave if they could just earn 'at-home'.

[osmanthus]

Furthermore, if you want to do business in EU, you have to learn at least one other language, or else you're shit out of luck. You could end up stranded someplace in EU and not be able to find a person who speaks English.

[osmanthus]

In the US you're likely to find at least 1 person on every block that speaks at least basic English, even if it's broken or heavily accented. You don't often need to learn other languages if you live in the US and keep to most of the major urbane centres. Everything here is written and communicated out to the masses, in English. Not English plus French, German, etc.

[osmanthus]

Further, in US, everything runs by car. No joke. You can't get to many places without a car. In UK, it's passable to just walk it if you can bear the trek or take a train or trolly (bus).

[osmanthus]

Also, the culture varies. You probably won't take to most of the people seeing you as a foreigner who has high aspirations. The general public probably would sneer at you for any success you manage to make. In the US you can go as high as you want, monetarily, and people respect you immediately, no questions asked. But in UK it's more complex than that.

[osmanthus]

You have to keep in mind that UK has a very exhaustive history in comparison to the US. You have to learn to respect the locals while you're there and that's no easy feat if you haven't grown up in the UK.

[osmanthus]

I mean, if something breaks in your UK flat, you better know how to fix if yourself, because God Forbid it happens and you don't have replacement parts because the stove isn't an updated model. In the US you're likely to find somebody who has the parts and know-how, easily.

[osmanthus]

And don't get me started on imperial vs metric system differences. Ha-ha. :)

[osmanthus]

So, yeah, if you're wanting to make a good retirement, the US can give you that opportunity, provided you can handle the competition and the health care costs out of pocket. Retirement in the UK might prove more challenging, so, most citizens travel abroad for work opportunities.

[osmanthus]

But again, US society isn't kind to people who fall through its cracks (meaning, if you can't afford anything, you're probably going to end up in poverty, homeless, etc.); you have to rely on other peoples' kindness more in the US whereas in other cultures this isn't too much of an issue.

[osmanthus]

You might also have to put up with a lot more overt racism in the US than in the UK nearly everywhere you turn. And depending on where you are in the US, you might have to grin and bear religious nut-jobs and gung-ho military people and trailer trash boys and yada-yada. You get the picture? The US has a lot of weird people. Individuals. Nothing is the same from state to state.

[osmanthus]

Now, I'm not saying the church doesn't have any place in UK society. It certainly does, much like how heirarchy still does even if it's a lot more demure than ages past. The way people go about life in terms of religion differs widely from state to state in the US, whereas the difference depends on a stone's throw in the UK (much closer than just crossing a state line).

[osmanthus]

The US is also very expansive in terms of available landmass. It used to be cheap to build housing in US, so, you don't have to hear your neighbor on the other side of you when you can just live some miles away within driving distance so long as you have car fuel, bicycle, etc. what have you.

[osmanthus]

If you like seafood, UK. If you like meat, US. The countries emphasize on what the public likes and what is available. So, if you hate or love seafood or meat, then expect to see either more often on menus across the UK versus US. In US you're expected to tip bare minimum and there is an unspoken tier or tipping culture. In the UK, not so much. In the UK the tax on goods is built-into the price. In the US the tax is on top of or added to the price.

[osmanthus]

So, what you see on UK store shelf is what you pay at check out. What you see on US store shelf is the price before tax that is applied at checkout.

[osmanthus]

In the US you don't legally have to pay to use a public washroom though it is polite. In the UK, you have to carry cash to pay to use the loo; otherwise, expect to piss on a wall in a nearby back alleyway.

[osmanthus]

In the US you won't find many people still smoking but in UK it's still fashionable. People in the UK do not believe in 'water' as in drinking water in restaurants; they have alcoholic beverages. In the US there is water but you might have to pay extra for it, depending on where you are.

[osmanthus]

You are more likely to find bottled water in UK as mineralized rather than purified in the US. UK chips is fries in US. Things are more often fried in UK than BBQ. People don't much BBQ in UK. In US BBQ culture is a huge thing.

[osmanthus]

UK primarily has rugby and football (AKA soccer in US). US has US football, basketball, and baseball. Most UK people ho abroad to experience new sights and sounds. Most US people just go from state to state or their back yard for a mini-getway. You also have to put up with a lot of driving in the states, like, 9+ hours of driving and sometimes insane wait times of 3 hrs or more at the airport and in traffic, depending on where you live. So, if you hate driving, you probably won't like it. In the UK things are a lot closer that getting someplace takes no more than 3 hrs.

[osmanthus]

I mean, the US economy would collapse without cars but the UK would still be standing.

[osmanthus]

You also have to be comfortable with guns in the US. People carry guns like a bottle of wine in their cabinets. It's part of the constitutional right to take up arms, in revolt, against government corruption, if need be.

[osmanthus]

You also have to understand the laws about protection in UK versus US, too, in the US even if you try to protect yourself, you could still be found guilty if you kill the assailant in self-defense using a gun when the assailant doesn't have a gun.

[osmanthus]

So, I always advise people to do their homework about where they want to live. History, culture, politics, legal systems, etc. And find a pal or pals to help guide them through the transition or naturalization process. You can't expect the people to conform to you, you have to conform to them or at least find some ways to adapt wherein you can still be tolerable to the rest.

[osmanthus]

Because the majority rules on what is on store shelves, what the laws are, etc. you cannot expect the society to conform to your way of seeing things.

[osmanthus]

You also have to understand that in the UK they don't always say exactly what they mean. In the US they say all that shit to your face, lay it all out, and then some, plain as fried chicken.

[osmanthus]

You also have to understand that UK uneducated is a lot different than US uneducated. You don't have to bend over backwards in the navy for an education in UK but US nearly demands enlistment in military to have good education costs covered, which is why the US has one of the most robust military in the world.

[osmanthus]

In the UK you likely won't have readily accessible buildings for disabled people. In the US, you likely will find more and more buildings adapting.

[osmanthus]

In the UK sexual jokes are oftentimes passed off as fodder. In the US sexual jokes could get you fired or kicked to the curb.

[osmanthus]

In the UK the concept of manhood vs womanhood is still very much old-fashioned western man as breadwinner and woman as home maker. In the states, depending on where you are, you might not find that every person wants a trad-wife or wants a more egalitarian marriage.

[osmanthus]

In the UK it's a lot easier to find your future spouse through your friends, workmates, etc. but in the US you can find your spouse by just glancing up across the street and approaching. If you want a date in UK, you'll likely have to go through being in closeness, often, first, rather than in the US wherein a relationship could start off by 'love at first sight'. You can't just walk up to somebody and say, 'hey, baby, whatcha doing? you look fine, you and me should get ice cream.' in the UK.

[osmanthus]

People would probably look at you, furrow their brow, and think to themselves 'who the hell is this wanker or twat?' in the UK. In the US this is perfectly okay and oftentimes welcomed. when a conversation starts rolling.

[osmanthus]

So, yeah, it's debateable with many people saying that UK people are snobbish or polite and US people as hoyden or rude. It could go either way, some US people can turn up the hospitality over-the-top and the UK has their own, well, brand of indulgence/decadence, so, it's incomparable.

[osmanthus]

You just have to understand that both UK and US as a country and peoples have their merits and short-comings, like any other country and peoples.

[Levin]

University education used to be highly subsidised here. Now most students come out with roughly £50 k worth of debt. I guess I'm lucky. I come out with like 10k of debt, at like 1 percent interest or some shit.

[Caroline91]

Maybe New Zealand. But, I am glad I was born here. I am particularly glad I was born in California.

[TheoreticallyGreat]

Same. Best weather in the country!

[AviatorTom]

Being born an Aussie mate would be nice. I'd spend my days surfing and the evenings dating the beautiful sheilas.

[PeterLegg91]

The health care system nhs here in the uk is free but you have to wait months if not years to be seen , it's a joke

[Simslover92]

Oh didn't know that.

[PeterLegg91]

It's good we have free health care but it's poor service

[Kaneki05]

It's a poor service in America too. People on waiting lists exists there, I've heard such stories. And nvm not even getting service.

[PeterLegg91]

It's not free tho is it

[Shiprex]

I was already born outside of the US so there's that. I think Australia or New Zealand would be good or somewhere in the middle of Northern Canada

[sage2021]

It would have to be The Netherlands because that's where my ancestry is from.

[DryGermanGuy]

I wouldn't have minded Spain, for the weather and the various islands.

[TsundereMatrix]

I was born in Canada but being born in Japan would be cool too

[jshm2]

LOL, I would rather have been stillborn , than being born in the USA.

[exitseven]

Maybe Australia. I would love to chase kangaroos in a Jeep/

[Dongie]

England or Scotland. I love their way of being. Well, not anymore but back in the 60s and 70s.

[Clyde_123]

Australia I heard healthcare there is good and I want to see Kangaroo in real life.

[msc545]

Italy, Spain, Finland, Greece, Portugal... there is a VERY LONG list of better countries.

[fish5505_87]

Canada, they share a similar culture and history, plus I love hockey!

[DangerouslyCute]

Germany is quite a good choice... :D

[ambitious_male]

I am from India and I would be happy to be born in India anytime.

[jjj101010]

I was born outside the US. I’m happy I was born in the UK

[avery58]

I think Japan would have been cool

[nawtee_me]

If I said the UK it would be got the food…. lol.

[KostasKouvalis]

Anywhere in the EU is fine

[dragoblack]

Whales, Sweden, or Ireland.

[Dorothy90]

Italy be awesome or France.

[Bklynbadboy12]

For me it's just the US I fought for this country

[Anonymous]

I was actually born in South-East Europe.

[zombiewoof]

Australia, its a bit warmer and better health care

[CubaPirate]

I'm happy to have been born in the UK tbh

[alice55]

France 🇫🇷

[Anonymous]

Canada

[Anonymous]

Russia, north pole