Americans, what do you miss about the USA when you travel abroad?

[OfDeath]

[Jay3344]

Familiarity. When I’m in a non primarily English speaking country, the ability to converse naturally in my native language is difficult. The similar tendencies of individuals from back home, like regional interests like hiking or boating or whatever. Comfort foods and friends. I love other places and many times they would be far superior to my own home area but since they are missing a lot of those things it’s hard to stay for longer than a year. It’s possible but it would require adjustments.

[BarryLiverstone]

Refills on drinks

[OfDeath]

Yeah why are refills such a rarity everywhere else?

[Siri137]

Because elsewhere people recognise that if you're going to get more of something you should have to pay for it. Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

[OfDeath]

@Siri137 it is how it works but offering free refills provides customer satisfaction which can lead to spending more on other things and repeat customers. Refilling a watered down soda from a machine is relatively cheap. When they don't allow refills in places with those, it makes one feel ripped off.

[Siri137]

I don't feel ripped off. You people over there are just spoiled.

[BarryLiverstone]

Pepsi and Coke are huge companies in the USA and often the restaurants and fast food places serving food are either owned by them or partnered.

[purplepoppy]

I've asked quite a few Americans here the same question face to face. Nearly all say their family.

[KostasKouvalis]

I don't think that counts. Family isn't a uniquely American thing

[Dinklex3]

Grocery shopping, Ny pizza, and Ny Chinese food.

[OfDeath]

What is so great about grocery shopping that makes you miss it?

[Dinklex3]

I can’t read ingredients in Korean and I’m kind of a picky eater 😅

[BoopBoopBeep]

The ability to acquire anything I need within 24-48 hours. There's no REAL 4-6 weeks for delivery anymore except for custom pieces. If you're missing a piece of hardware you can get it. Missing an ingredient you can get it.

[OfDeath]

Good answer

[Likes2drive]

Places here are open every day and late, not every one speaks English if you go abroad to a different country, dealing with different currencies can be annoying, different cultures can seem rude

[OfDeath]

I understand that.

[D_Bone_Steak]

Not a damn thing to be honest. I would say speaking English, but I ended up learning Japanese so...

[Anonymous]

i can tell you what i DON'T miss, TIPPING ;)

[Iron_Man]

The sports what’s going on in America and the outstanding food when splurging Englands food is not that great

[mommymommymommy]

That most countries in the world, don't speak fluent English, or it's broken

[Nikki1989]

Absolutely nothing. It always sucked to have to return.

[OfDeath]

I'm sorry you feel that way

[humanearth]

Never left the country

[OfDeath]

No fly list?

[humanearth]

Never had a reason to leave. And when I leave. I'm going to be smuggled out the county to were the USA government don't know I left

[OfDeath]

I'm not sure that's possible. Didn't work for Bin Laden

[chicken_nugget24]

Only 37% of Americans have a passport 😂

[OfDeath]

But that is still almost 123,000,000 people

[MementoMori777]

Considering mine has been expired since a toddler, I'll back this opinion

[KostasKouvalis]

Our customer service

[Siri137]

How is the customer service different in the USA?

[KostasKouvalis]

@Siri137 I didn't even get the notification for this.
They're much friendlier. The customer is always right, and they're basically forced to be friendly. Which I'll admit, as someone who works in customer service is kind of a bullshit policy because people can just trample all over you. But in other countries clerks will be rude to you for no reason, and even discriminate or won't own up their mistake or will straight up scam you. And most other countries don't do refunds. All sales are final.
Like in other countries they don't hide the fact that they hate their job, and they see you as just another paycheck. And also tipping isn't really a thing so they have nothing to gain by being friendly to you or going above and beyond what they're being paid to do. I've been to countries where you basically had to beg to be served. I was in Barbados once and I stood at a bar for 15 minutes and the lady didn't even acknowledge me ONCE.

[Siri137]

Okay, explain this to me, because I'm having trouble understanding it. How is the service "much better" if the customer service workers are compelled to be what you call "friendly", and they're told to believe that the customer is always right, even though we both KNOW that the customer is almost NEVER right?
And it's not true that you can't get refunds in "other" countries. I can get them. All you have to do is keep the receipt. Have you ever been outside the USA?

[KostasKouvalis]

@Siri137 They're more pleasant to deal with and you don't have to worry about being scammed. And like waiters approach you themselves and check on you. And they treat everyone the same. No special treatment based on race and nationality.
I don't deal well with rude people, so I guess I'd rather they be fake friendly, then genuinely rude. Of course I have met some very rude and dishonest customer service people in the states, but I'm talking in a general sense.

I really don't know how to explain it any clearer.

I've been to over 30 countries babe. New Zealand is just one of 200 countries. And I feel New Zealand is similar to the US in many aspects. But in a lot of European countries for instance, especially in Poland, where my family lives, all sales are final.

But trust me babe, the U. S. ranks number 1 in the world, at least from the developed countries, when it comes to customer service.

And of course the much loved, free refills and toilets😂

[KostasKouvalis]

Yeah, they basically have to kiss the customers' asses. I personally don't. If they give me attitude, I give THEM attitude.

[Siri137]

The toilets in the shops where I live are free to use. As for the refills, they're REfills - if you want more you should pay for it.

[KostasKouvalis]

@Siri137 See? Our countries are very similar. But others operate differently.
It's not about not wanting to pay. Of course from a logical business perspective, you would think they wouldn't give out free refills. But of course, no one in their right mind would complain about free stuff, so if they wanna be suckers, that's on them.
Water is also free in restaurants and fast foods