Let's face the facts. America is one of the best countries.

[tamdrin12]

Yes.
I have been abroad for 2.5 years... What I have concluded is that overall... America is definitely one of the best countries to live in in the world. As much as some people who are stuck there and are hating it might not want to admit. Wait till you live in Asia for a few years and realize all the drawbacks of less developed countries. Eventually you realize if there wasn't an abundance of p***y these other countries wouldn't really have much going for them.

America has a clean environment. It has several big and beautiful mountain ranges and tons of clean natural beauty. IT has some of the most interesting and diverse cities in the world. You can get in your car and drive for a week from Maine to California and see amazing sites and experience total freedom. Most of these little Asian countries.. Taiwan.. Thailand the countryside... while having some beautiful areas is rather polluted with ugly builldings and shitty city planning.

So basically there is really no happier abroad.. Unless you have some business abroad and are making serious money abroad... Otherwise.. lets face it.. the only thing better abroad is its easier to meet women and get p***y. If that is the only f***ing reason.. the only thing that is really better you will eventually realize that it's definitely not enough to make you happy in a place.

[J_master]

Lots of people are living happy abroad. I just choose to take short trips abroad for a few weeks or a month at a time. I lived in Germany for three years and was happy to get back to the States. Now I visit Germany for beer and Asia for pu**y. Just be creative and do your own thing, who cares if someone else doesn't like the place.

[tamdrin12]

I'm not miserable abroad.. I have had a good time and don't regret the experience.. There is just A LOT of things we take for granted in America that you won't truly understand until you live in a less developed place..

[Traveler]

I think that's true in a lot of ways. An American with a middle class income can enjoy a better lifestyle in a house with a backyard. Shopping is definitely better in the US. There is more variety and higher quality products. I can get better deals on electronics, food, and clothes in the US. The US has much better dining options. A midsize city of 100k-200k will typically have all kinds of different restaurants. In Asia if you don't like the local cuisine then you may be SOL. I also enjoy the public libraries in the US. I can spend all day there reading books and magazines and using the free wifi.

[KokujinKrusader]

I agree with the OP's points, but some people indeed will be happier abroad, at least for certain periods of their lives. I enjoyed my stay in Mainland China, and yes, getting some puh was a major reason why, but it was also an adventure for me. The downsides were the filth, the food (while delicious, it didn't quite agree with me all of the time), and the racism (and if trends continue, that will be a bigger problem in the US).

[J_master]

If you live in America and have lots of cash and time to travel then that's even better. So get busy on earning lots of cash..

[tamdrin12]

Yeah.. I don't really have the skills to earn lots of cash. I studied religion and philosophy in college. Two totally useless subjects for making money. I thought I would just do what I love and somehow get by. Once you hit 30 you realize you need more money in order to have freedom in this world that we live in.. I'm teaching English in Thailand now and am totally broke... But I am a relatively happy person in general. I tend to attract good people into my circle..

[MrBlueLight]

America sucks because of Americans and their bad attitudes. No amount of beautiful mountains and conveniences can salvage the fact that Americans suck. When going abroad, you see miserable people. In America, people make you miserable. I will take seeing miserable people over being made miserable any day, thanks.

[zboy1]

America sucks because of Americans and their bad attitudes. No amount of beautiful mountains and conveniences can salvage the fact that Americans suck. When going abroad, you see miserable people. In America, people make you miserable. I will take seeing miserable people over being made miserable any day, thanks.

+1!

I think for certain people accustomed to certain things in life, i.e. big homes, nice cars, material goods and comforts, then you're better off staying home or if you do plan on expatriating, then going to another advanced country is better for you...but if you're like me, and you want some adventure, then it doesn't matter where you go to be happy.

The U.S. isn't the only 'advanced' country in the world, btw. ...

[chanta76]

Mrbluelight and zboy are both Asian guys. I really think American racism is big part for Asian guys to feel unhappy in America ..more so compared to the white posters here.

[hammanta]

[Bao3niang]

Wow, I cannot believe there are people on here that DEFEND America. I am not Asian American but Asian Canadian which is basically the same thing. All the five Anglo countries are the same in terms of lifestyles and culture (UK nowadays is basically Americanized).

Yes. If what you want in life are houses, cars, and just being a mindless consumer instead of focusing on intellectual, artistic, and spiritual pursuits then just stay. There is no better place for these things than the 5 Anglo countries.

Even Europeans (Western Europeans) depend on automobiles a lot less than Americans / Canadians / Brits / Australians. This is why you hardly see a heavily overweight or obese European.

I was a 'repatriated expat' for the last five to six years of my life, returning from Vancouver to Beijing, China. Beijing is not the best place to be in terms of dating and environment (both natural and human) but overall I was 1000 times happier back in Asia. Now I am back in Vancouver for university and feeling miserable although I don't show it often. Most importantly my experience in China has helped me discover my thirst for adventure and being an expat.

I will definitely get a CELTA or TESOL certificate. Now that I will likely have to be in Vancouver for the next few years I will keep my heart and mind pure. I will not look into the dating scene here as in the words of William N. Dowd: "There is no dating scene in Vancouver unless you are rich or some bad jerk." I certainly won't end up as a brainwashed sheep.

If you want more information about me as a person, zboy, magnum, and Everdred are the ones to ask.

[zboy1]

[Cornfed]

I think that's true in a lot of ways. An American with a middle class income can enjoy a better lifestyle

Only about 10% of Americans now have a middle class income, and if you could be paid a similar income in much of the world you could live like a king.

[tamdrin12]

I am not DEFENDING America.. Stop being so ridiculous. I am just saying that you end up seeing the good things about it after a long time abroad (in mostly less developed countries)... The things we take for granted there...

I am not talking about liking America for being an overly materialistic country. In fact the other countries want to and are striving to become like that. I am just talking about some of the aspects of it which are good... God forbid anyone says anything good on these boards about America.. This forum is one sided to say the least but look at all the posters coming out now and bitching about the Phillipines and other places which turn out not to be as good as they thought..

Hey if you can be happy in a place like China more power to you. I for one couldn't.. not because of the material life but because of the social isolation I would have living in such a place. I also find Chinese culture to be drab and uninteresting... very sterile. I lived in Taiwan for over a year..