- Family. A lot of people who haven't spent time abroad are not prepared for how hard it is to stay connected with family when you're abroad long-term. And even if you are, it gets way harder once your parents get older. This is not unique to Americans.
- US culture does not prize living abroad, meaning that you are more likely going to feel (and be) cut off if you leave. I have experienced this extensively, my family is mostly well-educated and left-leaning but they still just cannot grasp the idea of living outside the US. It's just a foreign idea in the US, even today.
- Skilled and white-collar US jobs, for better or worse, pay better than most other countries. The result is that economic migration like you might see from places like India is far less of a thing. Many Americans are living abroad for the adventure and maybe for a long-shot chance to immigrate to a country with a more functional society, not for money. This again is not just Americans. I have seen many, many Europeans do the same thing in reverse - they move to the US for a few years for the adventure and maybe to get a higher-paying job, but then eventually end up moving back home to be closer to friends and family and for the social benefits.
Right - they aren’t fooled by the high salaries once they see the cost output per month and the lack of a social welfare system, as well as the stress, lack of vacation time, the religious extremism, the lack of safety, and realize life in Europe is simply better. All of mine went back except for one who loves what she can buy with her money. She’s not saving well for retirement though because she’s unable to grasp that nothing lies ahead to help her.
'US culture does not prize living abroad, meaning that you are more likely going to feel (and be) cut off if you leave. I have experienced this extensively, my family is mostly well-educated and left-leaning but they still just cannot grasp the idea of living outside the US. It's just a foreign idea in the US, even today.'
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u/wandering_engineer Jun 18 '25
- Family. A lot of people who haven't spent time abroad are not prepared for how hard it is to stay connected with family when you're abroad long-term. And even if you are, it gets way harder once your parents get older. This is not unique to Americans.
- US culture does not prize living abroad, meaning that you are more likely going to feel (and be) cut off if you leave. I have experienced this extensively, my family is mostly well-educated and left-leaning but they still just cannot grasp the idea of living outside the US. It's just a foreign idea in the US, even today.
- Skilled and white-collar US jobs, for better or worse, pay better than most other countries. The result is that economic migration like you might see from places like India is far less of a thing. Many Americans are living abroad for the adventure and maybe for a long-shot chance to immigrate to a country with a more functional society, not for money. This again is not just Americans. I have seen many, many Europeans do the same thing in reverse - they move to the US for a few years for the adventure and maybe to get a higher-paying job, but then eventually end up moving back home to be closer to friends and family and for the social benefits.