America

[simondenmead]

I've just got back from 3 weeks in Nevada, Idaho and California the first time i've ever been to the States. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! difficult to put emotions into words

1. Why are we bothering reduce carbon footprint with the size of their vehicles
2. They are so big and food portions huge
3. 'murican' flags everywhere.

Other than that great place

[proclaimer]

Not one of the first places on my list.

I've been in the past and can vouch for the portion sizes although Argentina would run them close on the steak sizes.

[Dirtyweasel]

I've just got back from 3 weeks in Nevada, Idaho and California the first time i've ever been to the States. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! difficult to put emotions into words

1. Why are we bothering reduce carbon footprint with the size of their vehicles
2. They are so big and food portions huge
3. 'murican' flags everywhere.

Other than that great place

I'm sure it's residents, famed for their obesity, obnoxiousness, annoyance, arrogance, gang warfare, peedophila and general wa.nkiness, were glad to see the back of you after a very long three weeks.

[saintwayne]

I would live there if I could, it's a fantastic country.

[chief_wiggam]

America, never a place I would ever want to visit.

[OhWell]

On my last trip there I drove 6,000 miles round 26 states. That was my 7th trip to the States. I love it there and have even considered buying a house there.

If you can, it makes a lot of sense to live there, as you'll get a much higher standard of living, including bigger house, car etc and your children will have much better future prospects.

So, why didn't I settle there you may ask. Well, I've spent my whole life travelling around the world and have lived in 19 different countries. But, looking back, if I'd settled in one at a young age, it would have been the USA.

[kernow]

My niece married one and lived there for fif**** years. They now live in Wiltshire.

[PapaLazarou]

Currently in Honolulu for a few days. Have to say that the tubby count here does seem a lot lower here than in some of the mainland USA locations I have visited - fully expect the balance to be redressed when I fly back to LA at the weekend.

[Brazil_Saint]

Americans generally make great hosts and lousy tourists. The whole 'murica thing and flags everywhere may seem a little strange, but it's actually one of the things I quite admire about the US and their immigration policies. If you want to live in the US, you are expected to buy in to the American Dream, love the country, love the flag, and become American. Unlike the UK, where so many people from overseas want to live here, but claim to hate the place, or claim affiliation or loyalty to their home country or culture. We tend to mock their national pride, but they have done pretty well for a country that only got independence a few hundred years ago.

I like the US - sure, there are parts which are bad, and things in their political makeup that I don't like, but overall, it seems that an American with skills in employment gets a pretty good deal. As someone said, a well made house and probably larger than what we would take for granted, and fairly high quality goods & services.

[chiswickmart]

I've spent the last 13 years working for a large Yankee Corp and have travelled a lot round the East Coast on business. But I honeymooned on the West Coast and went again there last year. The two are very different. The flag to house ratio is far higher on the East Coast.

I would happily move to California, a State that can provide the stunning scenery of both Highway 1 and Yosemite, the beaches of LA, the ski-ing in Tahoe and the beauty of San Fran can't be bad.

I'd be interested to hear Papa's views on Hawaii. I'm considering smashing the airmiles on that next year (although rest of family currently favouring Canada).