It’s way too easy to focus on the negatives, instead of the positives in life. For example, the United States has been the focus of a lot of gloomy news recently since the coronavirus pandemic is resurging in some states. Whatever your personal thoughts about the US and how it’s handling the healthcare crisis, we shouldn’t forget that the country has plenty of positive sides, too.
Reddit user Imsosadsoveryverysad knows that it’s easy to judge the US but they wanted non-American redditors to share the positives of America that they see. After all, the country isn’t all gray and dreary. There’s lots of good in the US, too, you just have to see it.
Lots of people took up the redditor’s challenge and shared their opinions about what makes America great: from how friendly people are to the amazing entertainment the nation creates. Scroll down, upvote your fave US pros, and let us know in the comments what you think the biggest upsides of America are, dear Pandas. Be sure to read on for Bored Panda’s in-depth interview about the US with redditor Imsosadsoveryverysad. Trust us, it’s worth it.
#1
As an American who left 10 years ago because I was fed up with America’s s**t, I can honestly say that it took me leaving America to see the good in it. One thing I have come to appreciate about the United States, even though it doesn’t apply to me, specifically, is that anyone can become an American. I’ve lived in a few different places in my time abroad and no matter how fluent I get in language and culture I am eternally the “foreigner”. Especially here in Japan. The official word to refer to us is “outsider”. I could live here 30 years, naturalize, forsake my American citizenship, have a Japanese baby and I would never be Japanese. But you, Japanese friend, can be American, as much of an American as I am. And I think that’s really cool.
#2
Hospitality and kindness.
On my travels in America I found the majority of Americans to be kind, keen to help and lovely to spend time with.
Obviously there will be some wankers (there are wankers everywhere) but I associate America with a cheerful, upbeat people who will smile and be pleased to meet a new person.
Image source: sapphobear, Pexels
#3
Free refills at restaurants, still amazed.
Image source: mushroomoose, Mike Mozart
#4
How accommodating many places are to disabled people, especially for people in wheelchairs. There are often ramps and large disabled parking spaces not to mention that there is an entire amusement park for people in wheelchairs in San Antonio!
Image source: misssplunker, zeevveez
#5
The country has everything! You want mountains, you got it! You want forest, you got it! You want beaches, you got it! You want huge cities, you got it!
In Europe, you have to go from country to country to achieve this.
Also the food portions are HUGE!
Image source: Theholynun, luke.af.mil
#6
You are allowed to publicly criticise your government and leader.
Image source: onepuffyeye, gageskidmore
#7
How cheerful and nice you guys are. People had been complimenting me out of nowhere in the streets, a lady noticed I was lost and offered me a drive to my hotel while I didn’t even ask anything, a taxi driver showed me nice touristic attractions for free, a guy helped me chose between 2 shirts in a store, and the list just keeps going!
I was just blown away. At first, it surprised me. Here in France and Swizterland (I live at the border), peoples aren’t that easy going and not necesseraly nice with tourists. We’re kind of cold.
I had some prejudices before coming to the US honestly. But your folks proved me wrong
Image source: ThatMidget, Pexels
#8
You guys invest alot in entertainment. The shows in my country suck.
Image source: Hulton-Sama
#9
NASA.
Image source: edeq_10, Wikipedia
#10
The best food I have seen in 35 different countries visited. The food diversity in the US is phenomenal, and Americans have improved and perfected many cuisines. In Europe there’s way too much attention to being authentic, and in the US it really feels like the melting pot and “bastardization” of cuisines has elevated food to a whole new level.
Image source: Bit-Random, pikist
#11
America has some of the very best museums in the world. I spent a week going through the Smithsonian in Washington and it was amazing.
Image source: Patches67, Wikipedia
#12
– You have some of the most stunningly beautiful nature in the world
– Living in a metropolis like New York or LA is insanely expensive, but it must be wonderful to have so many diverse activities, cuisines, and experiences at one’s fingertips.
– You have some of the world’s greatest museums and universities
Image source: Mind101, Wikipedia
#13
I went to America in February, just before Corona became a real threat in Europe and America and people there are really nice and talkative. Here you don’t ask where tourist are from or begin a conversation just randomly while in a grocery store. Was a bit confused by you guys saying ‘how are you?’ as a greeting tho, I knew you did but still it caught me off guard.
Image source: no_unknown, Pexels
#14
You have access to almost every possible climate and never have to leave the country.
Image source: RagePandazXD, Pxhere
#15
The diversity is wonderful, both in the people, culture, food, architecture and nature.
Also a European accent works wonders on American girls haha, I will always appreciate that.
Image source: MallenStreak97, Pikist
#16
Women rights. Compared to country where women needs permission even to breathe.
Better education system
Image source: khajakhaja, unsplash
#17
I’m from Russia, you can always see dog poop here, I like that in America people clean up after their dogs
Image source: ebukota, Unspash
#18
They make a lot of great music, I’m sort of a metal head and my country don’t have any rock bands.
Image source: Chaos_Primordial, wikipedia
#19
There’s a lot of events in America. You guys have basically every event/convention that a person could ask for.
Image source: ThatSylverDude, mypubliclands
#20
Big living spaces in most of the USA. I live in Hong Kong and our average flat sizes are around 300 to 500 square feet. If you are in a flat that’s over 1000 square feet that’s considered super luxurious.
Image source: TheFakeMercy, F Delventhal
#21
You have a robust arts industry including movies, tv, videogames, etc.
Here in Australia our government routinely undermines are fledgling videogames industry, most of our tv shows lack any of the polish of yours, and with our movies… Let’s just say we literally tried to get people to pay to see a film version of a TV show that was canceled due to lack of viewership on FREE tv.
Image source: lewton_bus, Marvel
#22
The food. The sheer availability and diversity of green leafy salads in the supermarkets. The stuff that gets sold at state fares. Also as many people have said. The space!
Image source: TheMemoryofFruit, pickpik
#23
You make the majority of the best movies and TV shows.
Image source: drifts-randomly, CBS
#24
People are friendly if you’re polite to them.
Image source: Kittytigris, unsplash
#25
Optimism. TBH I hate seeing american optimism in the works, I come from a culture that complains a lot and is quite cynical. When I first started studying in the US it was always oft-putting (and fake) that people were so positive about so many things. But hey, it works. When me and my american friend crashed out of about 20-30 job interviews, I was the one crippled by depression and self-doubt while he simply looked ahead, said there are tons of other good things out there anyway. I simply gave up, while he continued applying and planning. I think americans have a very good attitude towards failure.
Image source: tetriscannoli
#26
Air Conditioning, and also lots of national parks. More than any other country I think
Image source: FoughtStatue, unsplash
#27
Right turn on red lights
Image source: dumbleydore94, publicdomainpictures
#28
Had relatives come in from Norway and they thought highways with 3 lanes where huge. Then they saw a 6 lane highway.
Image source: 406-Not-Acceptable, Wikipedia
#29
I love the innovation in America! SpaceX for example. Literally excites people around the world.
Image source: sarope, Wikipedia
#30
some sort of optimistic mindset, which i consider a very good trait.
Image source: Escanbryt
#31
Safety in rural areas. Our dream is to buy a farm and live peacefully but where I live, it’s so dangerous it’s unreal. When I see movies or programs about people living on ranches or farms in some town in the US, it look amazing. We could never
Edit: I live in a rural area in my country and hearing gunshots doesn’t phase us and house alarms go off every night and you’re like Oh okay, as long as it’s not ours. Not a fun way to live
Image source: 2_kids_no_more, Pxhere
#32
The overall availability of services for people with special needs.
You need to get everywhere in a wheelchair? ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) has you covered as it is required that all public spaces be accessible to all (there are waivers for historic properties). You have a kid with processing, learning, emotional, or another disability that impacts their ability to do well in school? IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) has you covered and requires that they be given the level of services that they as an individual need to be able to learn successfully. For adults, there are group homes and other public services in place to help ensure individuals with disabilities can live life as independently and successfully as possible.
The effectiveness of these services varies based on where you are, but overall the US ensures an amazing level of access and equity for people with disabilities.
Image source: maps_are_cool
#33
My partner is from Mexico but moved here when she was little, and she says her favorite part is about America the musicians we have. Her favorite artist is Marilyn Manson, she loves to wear the shirt I got when I saw him live with Slipknot.
Image source: daboi762
#34
Cheaper housing for huge houses, we could get a villa in Florida for the same price as a semi detached three bed house in uk
Image source: Lrralw
#35
You have a large, well educated population, a dynamic economy, a professional civil service, and arguably the most favorable geographic position among all countries today. You also have a culture of liberty which, although facing challenges, is a potent inoculation against totalitarians.
Image source: krisp_lisp
#36
Innovation. Americans think of really cool stuff and make it happen, from Disneyland to iPhones.
Image source: khal33sy
#37
There is a very individualist philosophy, which is a good thing in many ways.
That attitude of I do what I want because I want to and nobody can tell me what to do or how to live my life.
In a way it is very freeing.
Image source: Frankyvander
#38
That you guys don’t have tribal wars on sports events like big games. You even applaude the rivaling team when they had a good play. So how to behave watching sports; i.e. sports culture is definitely something the rest of the world can learn from the US of A. (and Canada).
Image source: ChrisMess
#39
The fact that high school and college sport is so organised. When I was younger, I honestly thought it was a made up TV/movie thing. Then I got older and actually met a few Americans who all backed it. I was genuinely shocked
It would’ve been cool to have a sense of school/college spirit in sport. I definitely feel like I missed out on that
Image source: neelie12345
#40
Friendly people! I believe that when you go outside, people are more likely to come toward you than another country
Image source: RandomEvilHuman
#41
Holidaying in the US is always amazing. And the people are generally more friendly
Image source: AboutTimeCroco
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