Worldwide Picks: What Non-Americans Love About Life in the USA
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Yankee Diplomacy
Americans, at least compared to Germans (my point of reference), are incredibly friendly. I still remember the day when my bus driver wished me a nice day. I had just moved here and stared at him for seconds because I couldn’t believe what had just happened. Still brings a smile to my face.
Americans are very, very welcoming. Despite the nutcases that make the news and the usual bastions of prejudice – and I know they exist -, mostly, no matter where you’re from, you are accepted as an equal pretty much right away. At work, in your social life, there is no awkwardness because you are foreign. You are here. You are a part.
Americans work hard. They have to. Sometimes, though, I want them to fight for better conditions like more vacation time, better pay, and sick days by law without fear of getting fired.
Americans think “in trial balloons”. They always explore new ideas and ways of doing things. A lot of times, silly and mediocre stuff comes out of it, but when a balloon flies, boy, does it go a long way.
Educated Americans can leave you in the dust. It’s true. A lot of Americans may be uneducated, or undereducated. But if you meet a person who has studied hard, you better know your stuff, because they are good. And since they are used to thinking in “trial balloons” (see above), chances are, they have thought about the topic in question in ways that you have never even considered.
Americans (still) dare to dream. This goes with what some other people said: If you fall, you get up and go on. There is not such a great social stigma associated with failure, and the notion that it’s a learning experience is much more pronounced. In Germany, failure is not an option, and ever since I moved to the US, I breathe easier because of this.
