Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of yesterday’s post on our American observations. These observations are my opinion on the good ol’ US-of-A after traveling abroad for a year. You can view Part 1 here.

10. The most aggressive (Western) drivers.

I drove around Ireland, England, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand, and for the most, part people were diligently following the speed limit. Not so in the States, where people are constantly speeding 10-15 mph over the speed limit. When we returned from Spain I was surprised to find I had received two speeding tickets!

11. America is all about making that dollar…

Billboard advertisements line the highway. Websites are covered in ads. You can buy stuff in the air! Yes, America is all about making money. People regularly opt for a higher salary over vacation time, often forgetting to use the 2 weeks they get per year. Contrast that with Europe and Australia, where it’s quite common to get 5 to 6 weeks of paid vacation.

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Mrs. Selfish and I first started taking Thanksgiving trips abroad every year starting in 2006. There seemed to be something poetic about leaving the country during Black Friday – when people are often trampled to death during sales.

We really looked forward to leaving the States and diving into a country where we didn’t understand the language, culture, or customs. There was something exciting (and perhaps a little dangerous) about the whole traveling abroad experience and the States always seemed boring by comparison.

After a year abroad, however, there were many things I missed about the good ol’ USA. There are definitely some crappy parts about the States, no doubt about it, but after having visited 33 countries (25 on this trip), I can definitively say there is no place else like America.

Here are a few things we noticed.

1. Convenience is king.

Trying to get groceries in Germany on a Sunday? Not happening. What about a meal in Australia after 2pm, but before dinner? Good luck. How about a haircut in France after 5pm? Don’t even bother.

America is the home of 24/7 restaurants and next-day delivery. If you have the money you can pretty much get whatever you want, whenever you want. Businesses are open, and they want your money.

2. Food is not as fresh.

Disappointingly the price you pay for convenience is quality. In order to get produce year round America does horrible things to its food. Tomatoes are grown in the swamps of Florida, harvested green, and then shipped cross country. Chicken and beef are stuffed with growth hormones. Base ingredients are just not as good.

Fortunately it is possible to find a good meal in the States. It just requires a lot more research and planning than many other countries.

3. But beer and coffee are the best.

We’ve had beer across Europe, Asia, and Oceania, but without a doubt the best beer is in America – and I’m not talking about the Bud/Coors/PBR crowd. America is home to an amazing microbrew scene that is constantly reinventing itself and is all about variety. Try to get a stout in Germany, or a good IPA in Ireland, and you’ll see what I mean.

And don’t get me started about coffee.

France? A joke – they’re rumored to sometimes reuse their grinds over multiple cups of coffee for different customers. Asia? Mostly instant – Nescafe rules the day over there. Australia & England? It’s amazing they can taste the coffee itself when each cup is more milk than coffee.

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