As a foreigner, you may think that American TV shows are an accurate depiction of life in the United States, but this glamorized version fails to show some of the day-to-day problems Americans experience. According to an online message board, this list of issues is what real Americans deal with that you’ll never see on TV.
Trying to Understand Health Insurance
Countries with universal healthcare will never understand the endless nightmare that is trying to decipher health insurance or the seemingly simple task of making a doctor’s appointment. When asked about American problems, one commenter said, “Starting a new job and spending 2 hours analyzing the benefits package options to find out which plans works best for you.”
Traffic
Many foreign countries have good systems for public transit or walkable streets, but most cities in America are built for cars. Thus, traffic becomes an issue, especially in bigger cities. One American said, “It’s not unheard of to see people spending an hour or more driving to work.”
Not Getting The Driver’s Friendly Wave
On the subject of traffic, an American custom is to give a nice little “thank you” wave when someone in their car makes space to let you into their lane or let you go first at a stop sign. When asked what are some top American problems, one user stated, “The rage every driver feels when you let someone ahead of you but they don’t give the friendly wave back.”
Housing Costs
“American TV shows never touch on how much it actually costs to afford an apartment/house. You’ll have people living in a spacious apartment with plenty of room to film the show comfortably and not get cramped, and they’re like a freelance artist in New York,” says one user. Realistically, most Americans can’t afford large houses or apartments on a middle-class salary.
When You Order A Coke, And They Ask If Pepsi Is OK
Although this one is a bit of a joke, it was rated at the top of the message board, showing that this little grievance is a big bother for many Americans. Some can’t tell the difference between Coke or Pepsi, but some are die-hard for Coke and won’t take a Pepsi if offered.
Getting Judged By Our Government’s Actions When Traveling in Other Countries
We know that people are not their governments, and most of the time, your government is going to do something you disagree with that is out of your control. Yet Americans often get judged and chided when traveling abroad for their government’s actions.
Deer Collisions
This may be specific to certain parts of the US, but in more forested areas, deer collisions are quite common. One commenter said, “just about everybody that I know has hit at least one.”
Parking Problems
“There is NEVER a parking spot directly in front of a building in a busy downtown area. And parking ALWAYS costs money,” according to one user. You rarely see this in TV shows, where characters generally pull up to their destination and park with ease. In reality, Americans in larger metropolitan areas have to budget at least an extra 15 minutes to account for parking.
Vacation Guilt
Real off-time within the hustle and bustle of American work culture can be hard to come by. When asked about their top issues living in America, one user said, “Having vacation days, using them, but having to work 60 hours the week before and after to get the work done. That’s me this week.”
Childcare Costs
“Daycare costs as much as an entire middle class salary,” says one user. As one of the wealthier nations with the worst laws for parental leave compared to other developed nations, it’s no wonder that having children is a huge financial drain in the United States.
Source: Reddit
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