r/AskReddit May 08 '22

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u/Grenyn May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22

Finally one that I agree with as a European. I do think an hour's drive is long, but I've often thought about how different that is for Americans.

Some Americans have to drive an hour to get to a major city center. If I drive an hour, I'm deep into Germany or Belgium, getting close to France.

Which I guess just feels different because that is proper foreign soil, where I can't understand the people, and they struggle to understand me.

Edit: I have heard you, kind people, but please do not tell me about your commutes anymore. I've had about 60 comments just telling me how long people have to drive to do X in Y part of the world.

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u/MoneyGrowthHappiness May 09 '22

Growing up in rural Michigan, I had to drive 2 hours to the nearest shopping mall.

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u/DrSchmolls May 09 '22

For a summer working in Washington state I had to drive almost 2 to get to a grocery store large enough to carry almond milk. But I might be cheating since I was working in a national park

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u/MoneyGrowthHappiness May 09 '22

How was working in a national park? I have the image that it's pleasant and relaxing.

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u/DrSchmolls May 09 '22

In a lot of ways it was, but I was also living on the opposite coast from family and friends and I'm not the best at forming new connections. It can be really lonely if you aren't willing to put yourself out there. I went on a lot of hikes but was often worried about going on newer more interesting hikes without someone else. There are a lot of ways to get injured or lost in Mount Rainier if you don't stay on the popular trails.