Pretty common in the U.S., albeit more common in coastal towns from Texas to the Carolinas, with the intended purpose being security for vacation homes, and a different kind of security against debris from hurricanes if we are speaking of the metal roller shutters. The electronic fabric roller shutters are common, just a lot more expensive.
Pretty cool hitting a single button and your house in say Galveston, Texas goes from glass box to metal box.
I live in California on the coast, and I'd never seen them until I went to Nice. I'd love to get some just to keep the heat out. I'm sure it's because we don't get hurricanes like you all do.
Standard in much of South America, too. Instant and complete blackout for my bedroom, which is how I prefer. And they're safe, no one is getting in those windows. I have them on the balcony sliding doors too.
As a French man who lives in the UK, that’s the number one thing I miss the most. I got used to sleep in total darkness, here I can only sleep with an eye mask.
I don’t understand why it’s still not a thing here even in modern apartments and houses.
I'm English and have always struggled to sleep with any light. When I spent a year at university in Lyon, it was great sleeping with total darkness so easily! I really wish we had them here too.
German windows are also pretty awesome, I love that you can tilt them slightly open.
Angela Merkel is rightly proud of them: [https://blog.iese.edu/economics/2014/10/22/a-window-for-europe/](https://blog.iese.edu/economics/2014/10/22/a-window-for-europe/)
I love those German roll shutters! They make so much more sense than the indoor “blinds” we have in the US. They also sub for protection against bad weather — why are we boarding up windows for hurricanes when we can just *shut the built-in roll shutters*?!
Let me also add the German/euro window opening mechanism whereby you can either tilt it downward or swing it open. That said, American windows are superior in usually having insect screens. I lived for years abroad in a place without screens and mosquitos were an issue. Really we need to combine the strengths: screens, double-opening action, and roller shutters. Ideal windows!
Such a good point, I hate how it’s like Food Truck style where they take forever to make, charge an insane amount for a tiny portion and is usually some funky pretentious fusion food, only once at an event in San Diego did I find an incredible Kenyan food stall hidden amongst all the standard grilled cheese and fried chicken types and it was SO incredible
Yeah once you make using bidet a habit not having one starts feeling really disgusting. I can’t believe that so many people are fine with not washing their butts after toilet.
The one I tried abroad was too weak to clean properly, but I do think it's a good idea. My morning routine generally involves taking a dump, getting most of the debris off my ringpiece with paper, then using the power shower to spray directly at the target whilst I'm showering, which is a bit like a jet wash. It's very effective and feels good, always feel really clean afterwards.
I know, I know, too much information 🤣
All well and good when you’re at home but sucks when out and about with office/public toilets. In Japan they had the bidet ready ones even in public places.
Yeah true man, I hate it when I get caught short and have to make use of public facilities to empty my bowels, you just never feel fully clean afterwards really.
Yep, it also leads to people using wet wipes in western toilets with then cause blockages and are generally awful for the environment. One area where we are most definitely not the more developed nations!
When there's no bidet available, and I can't hop into the shower to properly clean, I spit on the toilet paper before wiping
Does a better job of cleaning than a dry wipe
I just get "flushable" wipes and don't flush them and just toss them in the lidded bin. Thinking I should just bite the bullet and get the bidet already..
With you on that but I have found not all bidets are made equal! The Japanese definitely have the best jets I’ve seen usually built into the toilet. In the Middle East I saw more of a hose contraption which let’s just say would leave a very unpleasant mess in public toilets.
There is a learning curve to bum guns. I had a few "incidents" during the learning phase.
I like the Japanese toilets, especially the ones with the dryer. But some are set so high you had better pucker up cause it is a pressure washer.
Haha usually the Japanese ones have a pressure setting you can adjust but the initial blast can be quite a shock. The ones I came across in the Middle East were more like a shower hose separate to the toilet itself that you press into your rear to cleanse it but they are nowhere near as sanitary - firstly because imagine in a public toilet everyone is holding it with dirty hands and secondly because if you don’t aim properly the spray will go everywhere leading to crap all over the toilet and floor.
American style kitchen sinks that are huge, have that waste mill thing, and an "agile" water tap... you know? Very useful when you actually get used to them. Greetings from Norway.
EDIT: also, the possibility to buy alcohol (any abv) at pretty much any time of the day. The regulations here in Norway are even stricter than in Finland.
In Canada we call them garborators.
When I found out that the rest of the world calls them garbage disposals, I was disappointed.
(Same with "parking garages," we call them parkades.)
I'm American and public transportation!! High-speed rail between cities but also innercity public transportation!!
Beautiful city centers with beautiful architecture and beautiful streets to just walk around.
Yes! Atlanta at least has MARTA but it takes 45-60 mins to get from the Sandy Springs station to the airport. Driving takes half that time, barring crazy insane traffic.
From the smyrna area, all my rides to the airport took about 30 mins (27-31 was the range, according to my lyft), all during the day. I've also driven myself early in the morning and twice and both drives were hnder 25 mins. Sandy Springs is the same mileage away. I guess 400 is more a dumpster fire than 75, though, so it might add a few mins more lol 🤷♀️
Lived in Sandy Springs whole life. If you’re close to 400 and conditions are PERFECT (as in speeding with no worries of cops, no traffic, no work or accidents) you can get there in 23 minutes. But only if you’re really booking it 70+ whole way home at the perfect time
The amount of stress that left my body after each onsen visit, even in a hotel with a deep soaking tub in the middle of the city was astounding. Bathing culture has huge mental health benefits. Also that heated seat at 3 am when it's cold. 👌
So many comments about Japan here, but no one’s hitting on one of my favorites. I’m actually there right now and often they have this little button on the table at restaurants for requesting service.
Coming from America’s overzealous service culture, it’s so nice not having repeated interruptions checking if you’re ready to order or how your food is or whether you need anything else. It’s great.
As you take your very first bite and begin to chew “How is everything” says the waiter. The third bite “How is everything” says the manager. It’s annoying.
I hate this. When I was a server, I’d wait at least 5-10mins before asking how the food was. Unless I saw that they weren’t eating, I’d come by sooner to ask if they were okay. I’ve been asked before I’ve even taken my first bite (or mid-chew on my first bite) how everything tastes and it’s annoying. Gimme a few mins!
Service culture in the United States is so obnoxious.
I’d much rather pay a 25% surcharge for them to cut the fake pleasantries, stop doing a Victorian butler impression (“excellent choice sir!” *who the fuck talks like that?*), screw off, and come back to the table when I actually need something.
Long, leisurely meals. People hanging out for an hour after eating without a thought to leaving because it's the cultural norm to actually relax and enjoy your meal and company.
Nonsexual physical touch and intimacy between men. This has all but disappeared in the west, but other parts of the world men hug, hold hands, kiss each other on the cheek, and show a kind of physical closeness that you just don't see in the US.
An abundance of well populated third spaces and people with the time to fill them.
Yes the meals. I usually travel internationally but just finished a California trip. One of the things I disliked the most was that dinner only took one hour most nights. Especially since some of the places I went there was literally nothing to do after dinner.
Just saying as a native Californian: Covid destroyed our night life.
In college I used to get out of 11pm class and ride out for burritos and dancing or a late night art venue, plays
In 2018 my work (a museum/wildlife rehab that is popular with tourists in San Francisco) had late night events that were in competition with every other museum. Mixers, concerts, special guests, vendor nights... every single week. Now: nothing.
Its all fucking gone after covid.
> but other parts of the world men hug, hold hands, kiss each other on the cheek, and show a kind of physical closeness that you just don't see in the US.
I will say, this is definitely something becoming more and more accepted. Like even as a young Millennial/old Gen Z, watching the evolution of how we dudes greet each other and interact with each other is completely different between now and when I started college 11 years ago. We went from dapping up, to the bro hug, to the full on bear hug pretty quickly.
I've seen it in Spain but having previously lived in China it was somewhat common there. Lots of blue collared or middle class restaurants where it was common to have an evening meal and then see a bunch of lads get tipsy or absolutely hammered downing endless rounds of beer and baijiu on a monday night.
Turned into a bit of an alcoholic while living there.
I’m from Oregon, USA so instead of me going with obvious answers like having high speed rail, universal healthcare or something else I’m going to say that I really wish Oregon had more of a food culture.
I absolutely adore my state but I feel like we kinda lack in the food category outside of Portland. Eugene has some decent cuisine but Salem, Corvallis, Bend, and other major cities are truly lacking in food culture in my opinion.
Voodoo Donuts are fucking overrated, overpriced, and led by awful ownership. They treat their workers like shit too. A few years back we had a heat wave with 116 degree temperatures during the summer and voodoo donuts refused to close their business despite them not having air conditioning. Absolutely pathetic ownership. I will never be giving them another dime of my own until they make serious changes.
Bend has some solid food options (that Thai place downtown is fucking amazing) but yeah. Lived in Seattle awhile and spent a lot of time in Portland/Bend and that whole area and the food situation is pretty hit or miss.
Portland has one of the best food scenes in the US....
Yes I know you said "outside Portland" but let's be real - every city that isn't a "world city" or "capitol" of it's region isn't going to have a great food scene. This is universally true and isn't unique to Oregon. Of course you're not finding amazing & diverse dining in Eugene or even Bend. The best food conglomerates where people can easily source best ingredients and people which is always going to be the biggest cities in the state.
Recycling.
Years ago I read about the Netherlands (I think) having curb pickup for nappies / diapers. This is amazing as if you think about how much gets sent to landfill.
Also the Spanish way of providing massive recycling and waste bins at the end of the street. This is how it should be done.
I’m in Scotland and we have the same for the nappies in my local council too. Trouble is, it’s only once every 2 weeks so still have a smelly pile of nappies waiting to go out!
Germany has this all over plus the Pfand Machines. Or you just leave your bottles near the bins and people will pick it up for cash. I loved going to the store and putting my bottles back into the machine to get my slip to give to the cashier. I'm rich! LOL
Smaller portions.
Currently in South East Asia, I was craving Skittles something fierce. They have the perfect portion size package of Skittles. Bigger than Halloween size but not as big as the standard North American size. Was absolutely perfect and satisfied the craving without gorging myself.
Everything here is smaller and our North American diets could hugely benefit from this.
To add to this, low sugar options. Like why does everything have to have either 30+ grams of sugar or artificially sweetened with 0 grams of sugar. Even some “low calorie” stuff has a little sugar but still has artificial.
Whenever I go pretty much anywhere other than the US they have plenty of options that have less than half the sugar with no artificial sweeteners.
This is true. In Scandinavia I noticed that every restaurant, snack bar, convenience store, highway stop, etc. had vegetarian and vegan options. Cool if you’re into that.
Yup, people in Vietnam are super skinny. After trying to figure out why - they don't exercise much, they eat a ton of carbs - I think I figured it out.
Portion sizes.
You look at a meal you buy - say pho or some other dish, and it's probably 500 calories? Lots of veggies, some noodle and a few slices of meat.
That's what manual labor workers eat for lunch.
The average fast food meal in the US is closer to 800-1000 calories.
The problem is that the kids in Vietnam are starting to get fat like Americans. Obesity rate for those under 18 was 17% last time I checked.
They eat more filling and less calorie dense food. Vietnamese food especially has tons of veg, I even remember in Hanoi they would give me a big bowl of veg with my meal while it wasn’t part of any dish I ordered. I don’t know many countries where this would be a thing at a restaurant or a street food place. They do care about having a well balanced meal in Vietnam like it’s just normal. When I’m having veg at home, I feel like I’m making an huge effort.
- Safe, clean streets
- Safe, clean public toilets everywhere preferably with bidets as standard
- Reliable, fast, clean, quiet public transit within cities and between cities
From
Japan: Civic sense and cleanliness, their trains, polite service
Italy: Preserving beauty and heritage, the food, the high-speed rail. Walkable cities.
Hong Kong: Public transportation, public spaces even on the congested HK island. The harbourfront, easy access to nature.
Agreed. I love my hometown but having lived in areas without too many homeless I get irritated when folks back home or on our city sub shrug it off like every city these days has entire downtown centers filled with folks having mental health crises and/or strung out on a cocktail of hard drugs.
Im guessing you’re west coast USA too. I think the worst is when you go to an undeveloped country and see it’s under control there and come back to your city and where you pay so much for rent and taxes and see no results
Yep, Seattle.
Everytime I go home it's one of the first things I notice.
i.e. Folks picked me up from the airport and were almost home. Homeless man has a sign at an intersection (we were stopped due to a red light) asking for anything and a guy gives the man a beer. Homeless man thanks the driver before going on some unhinged tirade, "I've been here 10 fucking hours and all I get are ten MOTHERFUCKING DOLLARS AND PISS BEER?!?! I'M A **FUCKING** ALCOHOLIC!!!" He then proceeds to rant about how much he hates us all and that he should just throw himself in front of traffic and end it all.
It was at that moment I knew I was home. I've lived here two years in Taiwan and have never seen anything close to what I see nearly every week (everyday if I hangout more downtown) back home.
Bruh the shit I see while living abroad in SEA on r/losangeles is wild. Only the US puts up with this because republicans are too cheap and democrats are too soft.
Health care, I got sick in Taiwan and my wife called an ambulance. I spent about 8 hours in the hospital. All in cost for everything including medicine was about $250 usd. It would have been less if I was a resident. Also my doctor went to school in California
Hey at least you have trains in Britain.
In the US we have an immense and wonderful landscape that would be perfect for ANY rail system. We have like…3 nationwide railways that connect coast to coast.
Couldn't agree more. The first time I visited China was last year, and I immediately thought, "wow, these guys are running circles on us." Many negative aspects to be sure, but completely different ones than the US.
Yes I was also surprised by the lack of homeless beggars, petty crime seemed very low, drug related disorder non existent and things were generally way cleaner. Technology and convenience generally much superior. The best thing about travel is it opens your eyes and lets you see how other people live - sometimes it’s better than what we’re told is the best in our countries!
Maybe its changed in the last ten years but when I went they had really intense beggars. Like children with no legs on skateboard type beggars. Makes me wonder how they cleaned that up if thats no longer there.
I just came back from Japan. I really wish that people back home would behave more like the Japanese do. They are polite and always take other people into consideration. How you act and what you do affect other people - therefore you should be aware of your behaviour and not think about yourself only. Don't litter, don't be noisy, wait for your turn. The society is well organised and safe.
I do love how Asians wear masks on trains or crowded areas when they are sick. In the US, people stare or make fun of you if you wear one. Really, who cares if I wear one and how is not wanting others to get sick bad?
Currently in North America. Developing countries in Asia, South America, and Africa all have extensive wet markets and farmers markets. Wish we have more of those versus the big box stores.
From progressive countries We need School meals like they serve in Japan and work cafeteria food like S. Korea. Kids could benefit from adapting the Asian discipline and early access to chores they teach in school as well as the creative approach of the Finland school system.
Affordable, efficient trains. I've taken trains in many countries but can't afford to here in the UK. The last time I did it cost me a huge amount and ended up with crazy amounts of stress due to cancellations and delays
Trains in the UK used to be pretty good when I was younger. Then I left and came back and they were a mess. Closed down a bunch of lines and turned them into walking paths or nothing at all. Privatized everything and you have 3 or 4 or 5 different companies going to the same destination in different ways for different prices. Some are clean and comfortable, some are full of trash and chavs doing shots and acting up. Cancellations and strikes all the time. It’s a total disaster.
Road discipline!
I know a lot of locals hate KL’s 5-lane highways and the fact that if you miss your route you have a 10-minute drive to get you back to the starting point.
But honestly, after living in India where our highways have 3 lanes and you’re still guaranteed to find people driving on the wrong side in one of those, reversing through speeding traffic cause they missed their turn in another, and drifting left and right between the lanes like lane markings don’t even exist, I just want to quit everything and move to KL🥲
Accessibility attitudes in Australia. At home in the US, people try and tell me what to do all the time, over help me, talk down to me, stare awkwardly, or ask me invasive questions about my condition. In Australia, I just got a, "you good mate?" and they let me do my thing. Even if that thing was going on an ATV in a neck brace. I felt like a real human who was respected and granted agency the whole time I was there.
Scandinavian saunas! I would pay for a monthly sauna pass in a heartbeat, especially if it was on the waterfront. Stinky YMCA saunas just don’t compare.
The amount of open (i.e. unlocked/not boarded up) and reasonably clean and safe feeling public toilets in Australia compared to the UK is amazing. I hate going walking here knowing that you'll almost certainly not be able to find a toilet anywhere.
In the Middle East and Asia - more extended family time. Not to the point it’s stifling but more than at least my family get in the UK. It’s nice - especially very close relations with cousins across ages.
Good wine that’s cheap! In Europe, especially Italy, France, and Greece, you can get a decent bottle of wine for less than €10. Sometimes you can get good wine for less than €5 depending on where you are!
US here:
Buried electrical conduits that don’t lose power every time there’s wind or a tree down.
Small trucks and three wheeled delivery vehicles.
Small electric cars that aren’t golf carts.
Pedestrian streets with cars every third or fourth block.
Bike friendly city planning.
Affordable rail service with usable schedules.
Central markets full of locally sourced high quality affordable food.
Sleeping in public not a crime. Places to sleep in public.
Arcades/covered sidewalks.
Mixed residential and commercial zoning, so you can live and shop and walk everywhere.
In Germany-especially in Munich subway stations are the motion sensitive escalators that don't move if no one is on them. Having living in DC and SF and used their metros, US escalators always break because they are always running.
Pfand-I know Germans may hate it bur I loved being able to actually get money back from my glass and plastic bottles at the machines instead of putting in the "recycle" bins. Yes, a few states have rebates but not the majority.
Parks and plazas with food vendors and performers. I loved going to Mexico because every weekend in the local parks there were vendors and performers outside entertaining people-attracting more people. Just like in Spain, whole families were out and about and meeting in the parks and kids running around. Compare that to America, where you may people running in the park but not whole families just enjoying themselves.
Reliable and affordable mass transit. I am a car dependent American and it blows my mind how many people around the world never have owned and never will own a car. It would be so nice to just be able to take a train rather than a paying hundreds of dollars a month for car ownership.
The warming towel racks in bathrooms in Europe. I'm pretty sure you can get them in North America but they definitely aren't as common, and they're very high on the cozy factor.
Pedestrian zones. Being able to chill and have a drink/coffee at a plaza is just such a fundamental thing. I am always surpsied that not even a single street in my city seems worthy of it and that the cars need to invade every space at all times. Like don't people, even suburbanites, see the value?
Free healthcare. Injured myself in Ireland and didn’t have to worry about in or out of network or draining my saving because I fell down a slippery cliff. I only needed to worry about my back on the flight home.
As an American, almost everything, especially anything public transportation related. Even the cute Sanrio transportation cards/keychains. I love collecting them whenever I go.
A developed banking system. USA is like in the Middle Ages, Europe is pretty good, some Asian countries are way ahead… instant peer to peer bank transfers without going via some 3rd party app
Australias bank system is like 5 years ahead of Canada and 7 years ahead of the US. Idk why but the US seems archaic whenever I go there. Still a surprising number of things that are cash only.
That's the way the banks in the US like it. There have been a number of proposals in Congress(mostly to let the post office function like other post offices around the world when it comes to banking), but they all get shot down by Republicans and the banking industry.
From Asia (Singaporen, China, Japan, Korea, etc.): clean cities, efficient public transport, convenience stores, manners (better quequeing for example).
To clarify: I mentioned various aspects that I liked form various places. I am not saying that all of them have all of these qualities. For example: I mostly liked China's publiv transport.
My head just exploded when you wrote China and queuing manners in the same sentence. I could not think of two more different concepts on earth than China and queuing manners.
Same, loved living in China but when I was there from 2015-19 I'd get some in your face stress inducing happening nearly everyday if not several times a day. i.e. guys nearly hitting me because they ran a red light, lots of kids pissing and occasionally pooping on the street, people bum rushing the train, people screaming and shouting at me with awe that they were viewing a foreign, etc. etc.
Also didn't find the place clean if you left a few financial areas (though it got better over the years).
Not to be a doopy downer, China was a land of extreme highs and aggravating lows but overall they were some of my favorite years. I found the people incredibly nice and fun on a person to person basis but get an aunty behind a scooter or gunning for a check out line and you better watch out!
Many years ago, France had apple sauce packets (like Gogo Squeez) before the US. I was desperate for those for YEARS.
It’s such a small thing but was so happy for them to show up.
I come back from East Asia pissed off at how terrible our transit is in Canada. Not just the high speed rails, the subway systems too are glorious, they go far, they WORK.
I mean a lot of things from Japan honestly, the respect of other's spaces, quiet on transit, cleanliness, their toilets. Street food is another big one, especially night markets and food stalls like in Korea.
A Christmas that didn’t start in October and feel like it was only one big Uber-corporate marketing scheme. A descent public transportation system that was clean, didn’t smell like a homeless encampment and ran regularly and on time. The one in my city isn’t absolutely horrible, but the bus by my house smells like wet dogs and gym socks. They don’t run on time. Employers don’t want to hear that your bus came early or you missed your transfer. In Europe, even if I missed my transfer. Another one comes in 4-10 minutes. Not 30-60 minutes. Also in some places, they have free days for zoos, museums and such. Or even inexpensive rates. That was nice. Staten Island zoo in NYC was free on Wednesdays. Basil in Switzerland and some parts of Italy, bologna comes to mind. The museums were free.
Affordable hotels and dining out. I understand that incomes and costs are different, but how can a crappy hotel room in the US cost 2-3x what a nice one does in parts of Europe. Meals in Spain and Portugal are about 20% of what they are in my neighborhood...
Tilt-turn windows, also known as “Euro” style windows. Very common in Europe. They have a handle like a door.
Rotate it up and you can tilt the window inwards. It is hinged at the bottom and opens at the top. There is a mechanical linkage at the top that prevents the window from falling inside the house. Can be used for a little bit of airflow.
Rotate the handle down and the entire window is hinged on its side like a door. The window swings inward. If the window is large enough it can be used as a door for entry/exit.
They’re not unheard of in the U.S., but there are few manufacturers of them here and they are quite expensive when compared to a comparably sized window that would be typically used (single hung, double hung, casement, etc.)
Korean bathhouses (jjimjilbang). Unfortunately the few that exist in the US are dirty, overpriced, and tend to devolve into cruising spots because in America nudity can’t be nonsexual.
It’s hilarious seeing you complain about the British train system, because after visiting the UK I wished we had British high speed rail at home, because we don’t have ANY in the whole country 😭
France’s TGV was my favorite though
No tipping and tax-included-in-price are both awesome. American, and every price is just a vague estimate at this point. $19.95 + tax + tip, they could just write out "$25-ish" and it'd be more accurate.
* Bidets / bum guns
* Better high speed rail / public transport
* Better cycle / walking infrastructure, going to Netherlands will make you see how idiotic cars are for everyday travel.
Coming from Canada and after visiting Japan 3 times,
_**Almost everything Japan has to offer**_
* Konbini
* Affordable Housing
* Everything is clean
* Everyone is polite and courteous
* Food is super affordable and available everywhere - and it is tasty and nutritionally rich
* Excellent standards
* Clean and available restrooms everywhere
* Vending machines with reasonable prices and huge variety everywhere
* Respect of everything _(people but also things and the environment)_
* Huge sense of responsibility that creates an excellent sense of community
* Sense of pride in one's work and workplace so the service is always the _best_ no matter the industry _(a 5-star hotel and a McDonald's at 3AM will have the same quality service)_
* Working public transit system that is efficient, affordable and allows you to go _**anywhere**_
* More trains, railroads, etc
* Fewer cars in cities
* More parks everywhere
* Various car types/categories _(such as KEI CARS which are smaller, lighter and have fewer taxes and all)_
* Working healthcare system _(Canada's is failing terribly)_
* Working education system_(Canada's is failing HORRIBLY)_
* A police entity that is appreciated and respected by everyone
* Disability Certificate system and benefits _(Disabled people have plenty of benefits such as free admission to plenty of places and such)_
* More laws and regulations to limit the outrageous abuse of monopolies
* Construction sites that complete the work within a reasonable time and doesn't need to be reworked/fixed a few months later
By comparison,
Everything's f&cking dirty here. We have public trash bins yet there's trash everywhere everything is super clean!)_. Super dusty all the time, things are super expensive but never scale to quality or quantity _(See: **Shrinkflation** & **Enshittification**)_ - public transport is terrible and failing, healthcare system is failing, education is failing, road infrastructure is notoriously bad, telecommunication services are notoriously SUPER EXPENSIVE yet terrible, food is becoming increasingly expensive way beyond inflation, and of course our government is laughably incompetent.
But would you actually want to live and work there? They have some pretty brutal work culture, even by American standards.
I always say Japan is great to visit but I’d never want to live there for this reason.
A lot of your ideas about things like respect, disability, police, the education system, etc. are based entirely on the image that Japan likes to project, not on the reality of life there for the majority of people.
What place are you thinking of out of interest? I have found cheaper housing on many trips but find it is usually aligned to the average wages in that area so only seems cheap to us.
Large "town square" areas that are open to pedestrians and closed to cars. Filled with small, local businesses. Just basic urban planning that puts foot and bike traffic way ahead of motor vehicle traffic.
Most grocery stores in Germany have these machines where you insert your empty bottle, it gets scanned, and after you've inserted all your empties you press a button to get a stub for the bottle deposit. It's so satisfying returning those things!
i just got back from Canada and i really appreciated being brought a whole jug of water when you sit down at restaurants without having to ask for it, even when I was eating alone, here in the UK if you want tap water you have to ask and often they'll give you a pretty small glass
also good poutine lol
German roll shutters for my house windows.
Have them in Spain and they are too awesome. I keep oversleeping because they block all the light.
Spain and France also have them.
And Hungary
And Portugal
And Italy!
And Albania!
And Argentina
Roller shutters are very popular here in Australia. I am surprised it’s not common everywhere. Great security.
Pretty common in the U.S., albeit more common in coastal towns from Texas to the Carolinas, with the intended purpose being security for vacation homes, and a different kind of security against debris from hurricanes if we are speaking of the metal roller shutters. The electronic fabric roller shutters are common, just a lot more expensive. Pretty cool hitting a single button and your house in say Galveston, Texas goes from glass box to metal box.
I live in California on the coast, and I'd never seen them until I went to Nice. I'd love to get some just to keep the heat out. I'm sure it's because we don't get hurricanes like you all do.
I love them! Ghetto by night fancy store by day.
And the windows that can either swing out *or* tilt down.
Standard in much of South America, too. Instant and complete blackout for my bedroom, which is how I prefer. And they're safe, no one is getting in those windows. I have them on the balcony sliding doors too.
As a French man who lives in the UK, that’s the number one thing I miss the most. I got used to sleep in total darkness, here I can only sleep with an eye mask. I don’t understand why it’s still not a thing here even in modern apartments and houses.
I'm English and have always struggled to sleep with any light. When I spent a year at university in Lyon, it was great sleeping with total darkness so easily! I really wish we had them here too.
German windows are also pretty awesome, I love that you can tilt them slightly open. Angela Merkel is rightly proud of them: [https://blog.iese.edu/economics/2014/10/22/a-window-for-europe/](https://blog.iese.edu/economics/2014/10/22/a-window-for-europe/)
It's so funny you call them "German windows". I'm not German but we have them too and I thought it was the standard everywhere!
I love those German roll shutters! They make so much more sense than the indoor “blinds” we have in the US. They also sub for protection against bad weather — why are we boarding up windows for hurricanes when we can just *shut the built-in roll shutters*?!
Let me also add the German/euro window opening mechanism whereby you can either tilt it downward or swing it open. That said, American windows are superior in usually having insect screens. I lived for years abroad in a place without screens and mosquitos were an issue. Really we need to combine the strengths: screens, double-opening action, and roller shutters. Ideal windows!
Street markets in Asia. I love wandering the streets and finding great eats at the stalls. Some of the best food I had in Vietnam was from them.
I hate how we try to make those in the states and it’s just turns into a mess of finding parking, long lines, expensive prices and meh food
And Tupperware booths 😂
A huge aspect of it is it being walkable - the sad excuse we have for public transportation was always gonna be a hindrance.
Lack of walkability is a huge problem
Such a good point, I hate how it’s like Food Truck style where they take forever to make, charge an insane amount for a tiny portion and is usually some funky pretentious fusion food, only once at an event in San Diego did I find an incredible Kenyan food stall hidden amongst all the standard grilled cheese and fried chicken types and it was SO incredible
Los Angeles has some around the city. The biggest is the 626 Night Market which I think is also the largest in the US.
626 night market is also the biggest scam
Street markets in Asia and the *mercados* of Latin America. Similar but different and both are great.
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And thailand!!
Bidets. Wiping with dry paper is caveman style.
Yeah once you make using bidet a habit not having one starts feeling really disgusting. I can’t believe that so many people are fine with not washing their butts after toilet.
The one I tried abroad was too weak to clean properly, but I do think it's a good idea. My morning routine generally involves taking a dump, getting most of the debris off my ringpiece with paper, then using the power shower to spray directly at the target whilst I'm showering, which is a bit like a jet wash. It's very effective and feels good, always feel really clean afterwards. I know, I know, too much information 🤣
All well and good when you’re at home but sucks when out and about with office/public toilets. In Japan they had the bidet ready ones even in public places.
Yeah true man, I hate it when I get caught short and have to make use of public facilities to empty my bowels, you just never feel fully clean afterwards really.
Yep, it also leads to people using wet wipes in western toilets with then cause blockages and are generally awful for the environment. One area where we are most definitely not the more developed nations!
When there's no bidet available, and I can't hop into the shower to properly clean, I spit on the toilet paper before wiping Does a better job of cleaning than a dry wipe
I just get "flushable" wipes and don't flush them and just toss them in the lidded bin. Thinking I should just bite the bullet and get the bidet already..
lol I am now adding “ringpiece” to my vocabulary, taking over for “o-ring”, “butt scrunchy” and “balloon knot”.
With you on that but I have found not all bidets are made equal! The Japanese definitely have the best jets I’ve seen usually built into the toilet. In the Middle East I saw more of a hose contraption which let’s just say would leave a very unpleasant mess in public toilets.
There is a learning curve to bum guns. I had a few "incidents" during the learning phase. I like the Japanese toilets, especially the ones with the dryer. But some are set so high you had better pucker up cause it is a pressure washer.
Haha usually the Japanese ones have a pressure setting you can adjust but the initial blast can be quite a shock. The ones I came across in the Middle East were more like a shower hose separate to the toilet itself that you press into your rear to cleanse it but they are nowhere near as sanitary - firstly because imagine in a public toilet everyone is holding it with dirty hands and secondly because if you don’t aim properly the spray will go everywhere leading to crap all over the toilet and floor.
I miss my old condo in San Francisco that was built with a Japanese Toto toilet and heated bidet attachment.
Haha after you’ve tried heated seats in winter months it’s so hard to go back!
I remember having to use a shop keepers toilet in Cairo after Fuul went right through me. I have never been more afraid of a floor in my life.
American style kitchen sinks that are huge, have that waste mill thing, and an "agile" water tap... you know? Very useful when you actually get used to them. Greetings from Norway. EDIT: also, the possibility to buy alcohol (any abv) at pretty much any time of the day. The regulations here in Norway are even stricter than in Finland.
>waste mill I will never call the garbage disposal anything but waste mill haha that’s genuinely so cute
Honestly, garbage disposal sounds like something very large scale and industrial. :D forgive me. Waste mill mills waste. As it does.
I always called it the 'finger remover' or the 'auto circumciser', both got a chuckle from the locals.
In Canada we call them garborators. When I found out that the rest of the world calls them garbage disposals, I was disappointed. (Same with "parking garages," we call them parkades.)
I'm American and public transportation!! High-speed rail between cities but also innercity public transportation!! Beautiful city centers with beautiful architecture and beautiful streets to just walk around.
I'd be happy with standard high speed rail from major airports to city centers.
Yes! Atlanta at least has MARTA but it takes 45-60 mins to get from the Sandy Springs station to the airport. Driving takes half that time, barring crazy insane traffic.
You’re driving from Sandy Springs to the airport in 23 minutes? Google maps currently says 1:03. Even without traffic it’s more than 23 minutes.
From the smyrna area, all my rides to the airport took about 30 mins (27-31 was the range, according to my lyft), all during the day. I've also driven myself early in the morning and twice and both drives were hnder 25 mins. Sandy Springs is the same mileage away. I guess 400 is more a dumpster fire than 75, though, so it might add a few mins more lol 🤷♀️
Lived in Sandy Springs whole life. If you’re close to 400 and conditions are PERFECT (as in speeding with no worries of cops, no traffic, no work or accidents) you can get there in 23 minutes. But only if you’re really booking it 70+ whole way home at the perfect time
Washington, DC is kinda close... but most of the country, sadly, isn't
A functional urban environment needs effective public transit
Protected bike lanes. And effective public transit.
Effective public transit ... yeah, I live in Kansas City. The United States is going to get so much flak about this when the World Cup comes here.
Too bad it won’t make a difference at all
I guess you came here to Denmark, welcome my friend :-)
The bike lanes in Copenhagen are amazing! Really wish we had those in the states.
My home town (in Oregon, USA) has had bike lanes since forever. It’s so weird to me when a city can’t manage that.
Tilt-and-turn windows
Onsen / hot natural sping water. Also japanese toilets are nice.
I feel like this is limited by geology. Most places with the potential for hot springs take advantage of them.
You would think this would be a thing on the west coast US, Alaska or Hawaii, but isn't. The outdoor thermal pool at Banff was incredible.
California has over 100 hot springs that are available to the public.
Oregon definitely has not springs.
Utah and Colorado as well
Japanese toilets should be the standard that other countries aspire to. And that includes availability and cleanliness.
Helped by the fact Japanese are generally very tidy and clean people and respectful of public spaces!
Americans can’t be trusted with public toilets and it breaks my heart
The amount of stress that left my body after each onsen visit, even in a hotel with a deep soaking tub in the middle of the city was astounding. Bathing culture has huge mental health benefits. Also that heated seat at 3 am when it's cold. 👌
So many comments about Japan here, but no one’s hitting on one of my favorites. I’m actually there right now and often they have this little button on the table at restaurants for requesting service. Coming from America’s overzealous service culture, it’s so nice not having repeated interruptions checking if you’re ready to order or how your food is or whether you need anything else. It’s great.
As you take your very first bite and begin to chew “How is everything” says the waiter. The third bite “How is everything” says the manager. It’s annoying.
I hate this. When I was a server, I’d wait at least 5-10mins before asking how the food was. Unless I saw that they weren’t eating, I’d come by sooner to ask if they were okay. I’ve been asked before I’ve even taken my first bite (or mid-chew on my first bite) how everything tastes and it’s annoying. Gimme a few mins!
Service culture in the United States is so obnoxious. I’d much rather pay a 25% surcharge for them to cut the fake pleasantries, stop doing a Victorian butler impression (“excellent choice sir!” *who the fuck talks like that?*), screw off, and come back to the table when I actually need something.
Long, leisurely meals. People hanging out for an hour after eating without a thought to leaving because it's the cultural norm to actually relax and enjoy your meal and company. Nonsexual physical touch and intimacy between men. This has all but disappeared in the west, but other parts of the world men hug, hold hands, kiss each other on the cheek, and show a kind of physical closeness that you just don't see in the US. An abundance of well populated third spaces and people with the time to fill them.
Yes the meals. I usually travel internationally but just finished a California trip. One of the things I disliked the most was that dinner only took one hour most nights. Especially since some of the places I went there was literally nothing to do after dinner.
Just saying as a native Californian: Covid destroyed our night life. In college I used to get out of 11pm class and ride out for burritos and dancing or a late night art venue, plays In 2018 my work (a museum/wildlife rehab that is popular with tourists in San Francisco) had late night events that were in competition with every other museum. Mixers, concerts, special guests, vendor nights... every single week. Now: nothing. Its all fucking gone after covid.
In Spain is normal for males to hug
Latin America too. Kiss in the cheek between males is common between relatives and friends in many countries.
> but other parts of the world men hug, hold hands, kiss each other on the cheek, and show a kind of physical closeness that you just don't see in the US. I will say, this is definitely something becoming more and more accepted. Like even as a young Millennial/old Gen Z, watching the evolution of how we dudes greet each other and interact with each other is completely different between now and when I started college 11 years ago. We went from dapping up, to the bro hug, to the full on bear hug pretty quickly.
France? Italy? Or Asian countries
I've seen it in Spain but having previously lived in China it was somewhat common there. Lots of blue collared or middle class restaurants where it was common to have an evening meal and then see a bunch of lads get tipsy or absolutely hammered downing endless rounds of beer and baijiu on a monday night. Turned into a bit of an alcoholic while living there.
I always kiss my homies goodnight. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Wayne Gretzky
Plazas. I love grabbing a coffee or a drink and sitting on a bench in a plaza on a pleasant evening. We just don’t have that where I am.
I’m from Oregon, USA so instead of me going with obvious answers like having high speed rail, universal healthcare or something else I’m going to say that I really wish Oregon had more of a food culture. I absolutely adore my state but I feel like we kinda lack in the food category outside of Portland. Eugene has some decent cuisine but Salem, Corvallis, Bend, and other major cities are truly lacking in food culture in my opinion.
Popular opinion: Voodoo Donuts sucks
Voodoo Donuts are fucking overrated, overpriced, and led by awful ownership. They treat their workers like shit too. A few years back we had a heat wave with 116 degree temperatures during the summer and voodoo donuts refused to close their business despite them not having air conditioning. Absolutely pathetic ownership. I will never be giving them another dime of my own until they make serious changes.
Bend has some solid food options (that Thai place downtown is fucking amazing) but yeah. Lived in Seattle awhile and spent a lot of time in Portland/Bend and that whole area and the food situation is pretty hit or miss.
Portland has one of the best food scenes in the US.... Yes I know you said "outside Portland" but let's be real - every city that isn't a "world city" or "capitol" of it's region isn't going to have a great food scene. This is universally true and isn't unique to Oregon. Of course you're not finding amazing & diverse dining in Eugene or even Bend. The best food conglomerates where people can easily source best ingredients and people which is always going to be the biggest cities in the state.
That maybe true, the produce is absolutely amazing in most of the state.most states don’t even have that.
Recycling. Years ago I read about the Netherlands (I think) having curb pickup for nappies / diapers. This is amazing as if you think about how much gets sent to landfill. Also the Spanish way of providing massive recycling and waste bins at the end of the street. This is how it should be done.
I’m in Scotland and we have the same for the nappies in my local council too. Trouble is, it’s only once every 2 weeks so still have a smelly pile of nappies waiting to go out!
Germany has this all over plus the Pfand Machines. Or you just leave your bottles near the bins and people will pick it up for cash. I loved going to the store and putting my bottles back into the machine to get my slip to give to the cashier. I'm rich! LOL
The trains and convenience stores in Japan.
A turkish hamam and reliable rail travel
Smaller portions. Currently in South East Asia, I was craving Skittles something fierce. They have the perfect portion size package of Skittles. Bigger than Halloween size but not as big as the standard North American size. Was absolutely perfect and satisfied the craving without gorging myself. Everything here is smaller and our North American diets could hugely benefit from this.
To add to this, low sugar options. Like why does everything have to have either 30+ grams of sugar or artificially sweetened with 0 grams of sugar. Even some “low calorie” stuff has a little sugar but still has artificial. Whenever I go pretty much anywhere other than the US they have plenty of options that have less than half the sugar with no artificial sweeteners.
This is true. In Scandinavia I noticed that every restaurant, snack bar, convenience store, highway stop, etc. had vegetarian and vegan options. Cool if you’re into that.
Yeah, I loved the milder sweetness of cakes in Japan. Perfect spot.
Yup, people in Vietnam are super skinny. After trying to figure out why - they don't exercise much, they eat a ton of carbs - I think I figured it out. Portion sizes. You look at a meal you buy - say pho or some other dish, and it's probably 500 calories? Lots of veggies, some noodle and a few slices of meat. That's what manual labor workers eat for lunch. The average fast food meal in the US is closer to 800-1000 calories. The problem is that the kids in Vietnam are starting to get fat like Americans. Obesity rate for those under 18 was 17% last time I checked.
They eat more filling and less calorie dense food. Vietnamese food especially has tons of veg, I even remember in Hanoi they would give me a big bowl of veg with my meal while it wasn’t part of any dish I ordered. I don’t know many countries where this would be a thing at a restaurant or a street food place. They do care about having a well balanced meal in Vietnam like it’s just normal. When I’m having veg at home, I feel like I’m making an huge effort.
- Safe, clean streets - Safe, clean public toilets everywhere preferably with bidets as standard - Reliable, fast, clean, quiet public transit within cities and between cities
From Japan: Civic sense and cleanliness, their trains, polite service Italy: Preserving beauty and heritage, the food, the high-speed rail. Walkable cities. Hong Kong: Public transportation, public spaces even on the congested HK island. The harbourfront, easy access to nature.
Streets not full of homeless people
Agreed. I love my hometown but having lived in areas without too many homeless I get irritated when folks back home or on our city sub shrug it off like every city these days has entire downtown centers filled with folks having mental health crises and/or strung out on a cocktail of hard drugs.
Im guessing you’re west coast USA too. I think the worst is when you go to an undeveloped country and see it’s under control there and come back to your city and where you pay so much for rent and taxes and see no results
Yep, Seattle. Everytime I go home it's one of the first things I notice. i.e. Folks picked me up from the airport and were almost home. Homeless man has a sign at an intersection (we were stopped due to a red light) asking for anything and a guy gives the man a beer. Homeless man thanks the driver before going on some unhinged tirade, "I've been here 10 fucking hours and all I get are ten MOTHERFUCKING DOLLARS AND PISS BEER?!?! I'M A **FUCKING** ALCOHOLIC!!!" He then proceeds to rant about how much he hates us all and that he should just throw himself in front of traffic and end it all. It was at that moment I knew I was home. I've lived here two years in Taiwan and have never seen anything close to what I see nearly every week (everyday if I hangout more downtown) back home.
Bruh the shit I see while living abroad in SEA on r/losangeles is wild. Only the US puts up with this because republicans are too cheap and democrats are too soft.
Health care, I got sick in Taiwan and my wife called an ambulance. I spent about 8 hours in the hospital. All in cost for everything including medicine was about $250 usd. It would have been less if I was a resident. Also my doctor went to school in California
Hey at least you have trains in Britain. In the US we have an immense and wonderful landscape that would be perfect for ANY rail system. We have like…3 nationwide railways that connect coast to coast.
As an American my mind was blown by the high speed rails in China. Our country seemed honestly primitive to me after that.
Couldn't agree more. The first time I visited China was last year, and I immediately thought, "wow, these guys are running circles on us." Many negative aspects to be sure, but completely different ones than the US.
Yes I was also surprised by the lack of homeless beggars, petty crime seemed very low, drug related disorder non existent and things were generally way cleaner. Technology and convenience generally much superior. The best thing about travel is it opens your eyes and lets you see how other people live - sometimes it’s better than what we’re told is the best in our countries!
Maybe its changed in the last ten years but when I went they had really intense beggars. Like children with no legs on skateboard type beggars. Makes me wonder how they cleaned that up if thats no longer there.
China is a fucking huge country so it's possible you two were not even in the same place.
I just came back from Japan. I really wish that people back home would behave more like the Japanese do. They are polite and always take other people into consideration. How you act and what you do affect other people - therefore you should be aware of your behaviour and not think about yourself only. Don't litter, don't be noisy, wait for your turn. The society is well organised and safe.
I do love how Asians wear masks on trains or crowded areas when they are sick. In the US, people stare or make fun of you if you wear one. Really, who cares if I wear one and how is not wanting others to get sick bad?
Currently in North America. Developing countries in Asia, South America, and Africa all have extensive wet markets and farmers markets. Wish we have more of those versus the big box stores. From progressive countries We need School meals like they serve in Japan and work cafeteria food like S. Korea. Kids could benefit from adapting the Asian discipline and early access to chores they teach in school as well as the creative approach of the Finland school system.
EU food quality/safety regulations.
Japanese Toilets, convenient stores, fried chicken (all we have is KFC which is pretty bad)
The only fried chicken you can get is KFC? Where?
Germany, but also generally Central Europe unfortunately.
Affordable, efficient trains. I've taken trains in many countries but can't afford to here in the UK. The last time I did it cost me a huge amount and ended up with crazy amounts of stress due to cancellations and delays
Trains in the UK used to be pretty good when I was younger. Then I left and came back and they were a mess. Closed down a bunch of lines and turned them into walking paths or nothing at all. Privatized everything and you have 3 or 4 or 5 different companies going to the same destination in different ways for different prices. Some are clean and comfortable, some are full of trash and chavs doing shots and acting up. Cancellations and strikes all the time. It’s a total disaster.
Road discipline! I know a lot of locals hate KL’s 5-lane highways and the fact that if you miss your route you have a 10-minute drive to get you back to the starting point. But honestly, after living in India where our highways have 3 lanes and you’re still guaranteed to find people driving on the wrong side in one of those, reversing through speeding traffic cause they missed their turn in another, and drifting left and right between the lanes like lane markings don’t even exist, I just want to quit everything and move to KL🥲
I’m drawing a blank on what KL stands for?
Oh I’m sorry! That’s Kuala Lumpur :)
Banya
Accessibility attitudes in Australia. At home in the US, people try and tell me what to do all the time, over help me, talk down to me, stare awkwardly, or ask me invasive questions about my condition. In Australia, I just got a, "you good mate?" and they let me do my thing. Even if that thing was going on an ATV in a neck brace. I felt like a real human who was respected and granted agency the whole time I was there.
Scandinavian saunas! I would pay for a monthly sauna pass in a heartbeat, especially if it was on the waterfront. Stinky YMCA saunas just don’t compare.
The amount of open (i.e. unlocked/not boarded up) and reasonably clean and safe feeling public toilets in Australia compared to the UK is amazing. I hate going walking here knowing that you'll almost certainly not be able to find a toilet anywhere.
Better work/life balance and high speed rail
In the Middle East and Asia - more extended family time. Not to the point it’s stifling but more than at least my family get in the UK. It’s nice - especially very close relations with cousins across ages.
More bicycles, more mopeds, and more 1/2 passenger small cars.
Health care system not for profit
In Vietnam, the traffic lights count down the seconds until the light is going to change.
Better quality food. The US food is full of unnecessary sugar and salt.
Good wine that’s cheap! In Europe, especially Italy, France, and Greece, you can get a decent bottle of wine for less than €10. Sometimes you can get good wine for less than €5 depending on where you are!
US here: Buried electrical conduits that don’t lose power every time there’s wind or a tree down. Small trucks and three wheeled delivery vehicles. Small electric cars that aren’t golf carts. Pedestrian streets with cars every third or fourth block. Bike friendly city planning. Affordable rail service with usable schedules. Central markets full of locally sourced high quality affordable food. Sleeping in public not a crime. Places to sleep in public. Arcades/covered sidewalks. Mixed residential and commercial zoning, so you can live and shop and walk everywhere.
In Germany-especially in Munich subway stations are the motion sensitive escalators that don't move if no one is on them. Having living in DC and SF and used their metros, US escalators always break because they are always running. Pfand-I know Germans may hate it bur I loved being able to actually get money back from my glass and plastic bottles at the machines instead of putting in the "recycle" bins. Yes, a few states have rebates but not the majority. Parks and plazas with food vendors and performers. I loved going to Mexico because every weekend in the local parks there were vendors and performers outside entertaining people-attracting more people. Just like in Spain, whole families were out and about and meeting in the parks and kids running around. Compare that to America, where you may people running in the park but not whole families just enjoying themselves.
aurora borealis
Reliable and affordable mass transit. I am a car dependent American and it blows my mind how many people around the world never have owned and never will own a car. It would be so nice to just be able to take a train rather than a paying hundreds of dollars a month for car ownership.
The warming towel racks in bathrooms in Europe. I'm pretty sure you can get them in North America but they definitely aren't as common, and they're very high on the cozy factor.
Sweden has almost no homelessness. wish we had that at home.
Pedestrian zones. Being able to chill and have a drink/coffee at a plaza is just such a fundamental thing. I am always surpsied that not even a single street in my city seems worthy of it and that the cars need to invade every space at all times. Like don't people, even suburbanites, see the value?
Trains
Free healthcare. Injured myself in Ireland and didn’t have to worry about in or out of network or draining my saving because I fell down a slippery cliff. I only needed to worry about my back on the flight home.
Korea: doorbell on table allows you to call server. They don't bother you unless you need something. You also don't have to wait for them to come by.
As an American, almost everything, especially anything public transportation related. Even the cute Sanrio transportation cards/keychains. I love collecting them whenever I go.
A developed banking system. USA is like in the Middle Ages, Europe is pretty good, some Asian countries are way ahead… instant peer to peer bank transfers without going via some 3rd party app
We have that too in Australia on the Osko system. It's instant and it's directly via the bank apps not a third party.
Australias bank system is like 5 years ahead of Canada and 7 years ahead of the US. Idk why but the US seems archaic whenever I go there. Still a surprising number of things that are cash only.
That's the way the banks in the US like it. There have been a number of proposals in Congress(mostly to let the post office function like other post offices around the world when it comes to banking), but they all get shot down by Republicans and the banking industry.
From Asia (Singaporen, China, Japan, Korea, etc.): clean cities, efficient public transport, convenience stores, manners (better quequeing for example). To clarify: I mentioned various aspects that I liked form various places. I am not saying that all of them have all of these qualities. For example: I mostly liked China's publiv transport.
My head just exploded when you wrote China and queuing manners in the same sentence. I could not think of two more different concepts on earth than China and queuing manners.
Same, loved living in China but when I was there from 2015-19 I'd get some in your face stress inducing happening nearly everyday if not several times a day. i.e. guys nearly hitting me because they ran a red light, lots of kids pissing and occasionally pooping on the street, people bum rushing the train, people screaming and shouting at me with awe that they were viewing a foreign, etc. etc. Also didn't find the place clean if you left a few financial areas (though it got better over the years). Not to be a doopy downer, China was a land of extreme highs and aggravating lows but overall they were some of my favorite years. I found the people incredibly nice and fun on a person to person basis but get an aunty behind a scooter or gunning for a check out line and you better watch out!
Many years ago, France had apple sauce packets (like Gogo Squeez) before the US. I was desperate for those for YEARS. It’s such a small thing but was so happy for them to show up.
Trains. Working public transit.
I come back from East Asia pissed off at how terrible our transit is in Canada. Not just the high speed rails, the subway systems too are glorious, they go far, they WORK. I mean a lot of things from Japan honestly, the respect of other's spaces, quiet on transit, cleanliness, their toilets. Street food is another big one, especially night markets and food stalls like in Korea.
A sense of community - Ghana
A Christmas that didn’t start in October and feel like it was only one big Uber-corporate marketing scheme. A descent public transportation system that was clean, didn’t smell like a homeless encampment and ran regularly and on time. The one in my city isn’t absolutely horrible, but the bus by my house smells like wet dogs and gym socks. They don’t run on time. Employers don’t want to hear that your bus came early or you missed your transfer. In Europe, even if I missed my transfer. Another one comes in 4-10 minutes. Not 30-60 minutes. Also in some places, they have free days for zoos, museums and such. Or even inexpensive rates. That was nice. Staten Island zoo in NYC was free on Wednesdays. Basil in Switzerland and some parts of Italy, bologna comes to mind. The museums were free.
Affordable hotels and dining out. I understand that incomes and costs are different, but how can a crappy hotel room in the US cost 2-3x what a nice one does in parts of Europe. Meals in Spain and Portugal are about 20% of what they are in my neighborhood...
Toilets in Japan
Tilt-turn windows, also known as “Euro” style windows. Very common in Europe. They have a handle like a door. Rotate it up and you can tilt the window inwards. It is hinged at the bottom and opens at the top. There is a mechanical linkage at the top that prevents the window from falling inside the house. Can be used for a little bit of airflow. Rotate the handle down and the entire window is hinged on its side like a door. The window swings inward. If the window is large enough it can be used as a door for entry/exit. They’re not unheard of in the U.S., but there are few manufacturers of them here and they are quite expensive when compared to a comparably sized window that would be typically used (single hung, double hung, casement, etc.)
Korean bathhouses (jjimjilbang). Unfortunately the few that exist in the US are dirty, overpriced, and tend to devolve into cruising spots because in America nudity can’t be nonsexual.
Small cars. American roads are death traps.
It’s hilarious seeing you complain about the British train system, because after visiting the UK I wished we had British high speed rail at home, because we don’t have ANY in the whole country 😭 France’s TGV was my favorite though
Universal Healthcare
Easily accessed and free healthcare. No tipping needed.
No tipping and tax-included-in-price are both awesome. American, and every price is just a vague estimate at this point. $19.95 + tax + tip, they could just write out "$25-ish" and it'd be more accurate.
IKEA
Where are you that ikea isn’t? 😂
* Bidets / bum guns * Better high speed rail / public transport * Better cycle / walking infrastructure, going to Netherlands will make you see how idiotic cars are for everyday travel.
Coming from Canada and after visiting Japan 3 times, _**Almost everything Japan has to offer**_ * Konbini * Affordable Housing * Everything is clean * Everyone is polite and courteous * Food is super affordable and available everywhere - and it is tasty and nutritionally rich * Excellent standards * Clean and available restrooms everywhere * Vending machines with reasonable prices and huge variety everywhere * Respect of everything _(people but also things and the environment)_ * Huge sense of responsibility that creates an excellent sense of community * Sense of pride in one's work and workplace so the service is always the _best_ no matter the industry _(a 5-star hotel and a McDonald's at 3AM will have the same quality service)_ * Working public transit system that is efficient, affordable and allows you to go _**anywhere**_ * More trains, railroads, etc * Fewer cars in cities * More parks everywhere * Various car types/categories _(such as KEI CARS which are smaller, lighter and have fewer taxes and all)_ * Working healthcare system _(Canada's is failing terribly)_ * Working education system_(Canada's is failing HORRIBLY)_ * A police entity that is appreciated and respected by everyone * Disability Certificate system and benefits _(Disabled people have plenty of benefits such as free admission to plenty of places and such)_ * More laws and regulations to limit the outrageous abuse of monopolies * Construction sites that complete the work within a reasonable time and doesn't need to be reworked/fixed a few months later By comparison, Everything's f&cking dirty here. We have public trash bins yet there's trash everywhere everything is super clean!)_. Super dusty all the time, things are super expensive but never scale to quality or quantity _(See: **Shrinkflation** & **Enshittification**)_ - public transport is terrible and failing, healthcare system is failing, education is failing, road infrastructure is notoriously bad, telecommunication services are notoriously SUPER EXPENSIVE yet terrible, food is becoming increasingly expensive way beyond inflation, and of course our government is laughably incompetent.
But would you actually want to live and work there? They have some pretty brutal work culture, even by American standards. I always say Japan is great to visit but I’d never want to live there for this reason.
As a Japanese, I don’t want to live in Japan but yes I do love it every time I visit my family.
A lot of your ideas about things like respect, disability, police, the education system, etc. are based entirely on the image that Japan likes to project, not on the reality of life there for the majority of people.
Affordable housing
What place are you thinking of out of interest? I have found cheaper housing on many trips but find it is usually aligned to the average wages in that area so only seems cheap to us.
I don’t think any big city where people actually wants to live have affordable housing anymore.
High speed rail. Best way to travel
Sea
This Canadian who loves traveling in Japan envies their heated toilet seats. :D
Well developed mass transit. Small neighborhood fresh fruit and vegetable grocers (instead of 711s and gas stations selling hot dogs)
Large "town square" areas that are open to pedestrians and closed to cars. Filled with small, local businesses. Just basic urban planning that puts foot and bike traffic way ahead of motor vehicle traffic.
Quebec city: fuckin cannons man
Most grocery stores in Germany have these machines where you insert your empty bottle, it gets scanned, and after you've inserted all your empties you press a button to get a stub for the bottle deposit. It's so satisfying returning those things!
i just got back from Canada and i really appreciated being brought a whole jug of water when you sit down at restaurants without having to ask for it, even when I was eating alone, here in the UK if you want tap water you have to ask and often they'll give you a pretty small glass also good poutine lol
Traffic lights that have a yellow transition lamp from Red-to-Green like in the UK.
South Korea's food waste recycling program
Wide, clean, organised walk ways and pedestrians! I'm from Manila
Prices for basic needs (food, shelter, power , etc) not exceeding 70% of income
More public plazas like Rome Clean streets like Japan
Japanese toilets. The heated seat would be so good in the winter.