⮕ Discover Valencia: Your Essential Guide to Living and Loving Life in Spain payhip.com/b/DKdBS\ 📞 Book a phone (zoom) CONSULTATION with me. Lets talk about life in Valencia: payhip.com/b/PQwuk

I am a teacher in Spain. I have two months of paid vacations in summer and two weeks at Christmas ... we have a free public health system also free public education ... Spain is not a socialist country ... it is a social democracy ... that is, a capitalist country that cares about the well-being of its citizens and their basic rights ... and that same philosophy is common in many European countries ...

I had the option of living in Florida ( my wife is an American ). I’m from the U.K. . Spent one year in Florida and decided Spain was for me/us. More taxes here than the US or the U.K. but hands down it’s worth it. Super safe and Spain still has an identity that is Spanish ! This lady is on point with all her comments.We’d be richer in the US due to taxes here but quality of life is all important to us. Viva España 🇪🇸

I lived in Argentina, Ukraine and Sweden. Many years in each of those countries. Now I live in southern Spain and I've never felt more at home in my life. Yes, it has positives and negatives, as any other country in the world. But even compared to Sweden, one of the richest countries in the world, I would still choose Spain in the blink of an eye. Here you dont only exist. You LIVE. I once went to visit a small village one hour away from Madrid with my husband and my 4 kids and I did not realize all the food stores and bars/restaurants would be closed past a certain time in the afternoon and it was already too late so we ended up with nothing to eat at dinner. So with no choice left, I ended up asking for help to a very nice old man, Antonio, if he could give us some food for the night. He lived in a very humble house and clearly did not have a lot of money. Nevertheless, not only he ended up giving us way more food than we asked for, but two more of his friends in the village helped us with what they could and we had a delicious fresh food meal that night and even were left with food to cook breakfast the next day. We had to leave early in the morning, so I could not repay him. But as soon as I get the chance, I am planning to make this man a gift and invite him for the best dinner I can cook when I come back to that village. And I will. You dont find many people like this in the world anymore. Muchas gracias, Antonio. Las cosas buenas que uno hace siempre vuelven!

You are a brave person telling the truth about the US. I visited Spain last year for 3 weeks and plan to move there by the end of 2023. I have traveled to many countries, speak Spanish, German, some French and some Italian, but I choose Spain for the climate, food and culture. Thanks for your courage.

The best thing about schools in Europe is that kids come back home alive

I've been a cop in Texas for over 15 years now, and been to over 35 countries. I agree with you 100%. I'm retiring in under 10 years and moving to Valencia. Your videos keep me and my wife motivated.

I'm American and I moved to Italy in 1979 when I was 21 years old. We don't have homeless people living in the streets. Nobody questions the validity of elections (voters must be registered and show photo ID). We have excellent, affordable healthcare. Fishing is great. We go skiing in the Alpes. Italian food is the best. Our cities are beautiful. My son's Medical School tuition is about €2000 ($2500) per year. Life is good.

I am an American and I have more and more come to the realization that the United States is a cruel country if you are not wealthy and more so if you are not wealthy and old. I am coming up on retirement, and like many American seniors, I am seriously considering moving abroad. One example of things I am concerned about: in America, there are very few places you can live without a car. But as one gets older, it becomes harder to afford a car, and at a certain point, you might not be able to drive one efficiently anymore. Consequently, many elders become trapped at home and totally dependent on others to get around. In Europe, I notice that if you go into a public square, you see people of all ages walking around outside and intermingling. In many American cities, big and small, I can be out all day and it's very rare to see an old person. And if they are, they are usually hobbling about, probably because of a myriad of untreated health issues and not being very mobile. I refuse to end up like this. Also, many older Americans are dependent upon their social security, which you simply cannot live on in most places in America. Rents nowadays, especially in our larger metropolitan areas, far exceed the average Social Security payments. So even if you have additional funds set aside, you're probably going to burn through those too if you end up living a long life, especially if you end up with some major illness. In America, it's all about ambition and greed. We simply live to work and to consume. If one doesn't achieve great material wealth, one is considered a failure in life. It's all we seem to care about and the common good be damned.

I just came back from a month in Spain and the precipitous decline of the US has never been more evident to me. Things the struck me the most are: 1. the infrastructure difference. In my month in Spain I drove from Madrid to Altera, to Malaga to Valladolid, and many places in between including Granada, Ronda, Benidorm and more. The quality of the streets were always excellent, unlike those in the US that are full of potholes and many are visibly crumbling. 2. I grew up in Southern California during the 80's and 90's, and I recently visited Cali again and was appalled by the number of homeless people I saw, in particular in LA. I've seen this mirrored in other cities I've visited recently like Seattle and Philly. By contrast, in my month in Spain I saw maybe 3 homeless people. It's truly shocking how bad the homeless problem has gotten in the US, the supposedly "richest country in the world". 3. Cleanliness. I found Spain to be clean everywhere, including the big cities like Madrid. This is in stark contrast to many cities in the US that are downright disgusting. Walking down the Philly streets you are choking on the smell of urine in the streets, not to mention all the trash. You just don't see that in Spain.

I am absoletely agree with you. I live in Spain 13 years already and I'm deeply impressed by the social policy of the country and the positive vibe of the people . I really feel home.

I totally agree with you. I'm from Mexico and have been living in North America - Vancouver, Canada for 6 years now. One of the things that really shocked me when I moved here, was the quantity of homeless drug addicts living in the streets. In Mexico, we unfortunately have many people in poverty living in the streets too, but they still keep their human dignity, which they don't in this city. It's a very sad thing. Btw, I had the chance of visiting Spain back in 2014, and will never forget the very first thing I saw when I stepped out to the street was a beautiful Spanish opera singer performing. Just like you said - culture overflows naturally in Spain, and it's something North America terribly lacks. VIVA ESPAÑA! Un abrazo enorme desde el Pacífico norte.

I live in the USA, but lived in Spain (valencia) for a year, I rather be in Spain a 1000 times, great country!!

People ask us all the time how and why we could leave the US to retire here in Valencia. You answered that question sussinncly and completely. Thank you.

I am an European who immigrated to Canada, that is very much like the States, except not perfect public health care. I miss Europa my entire life here, regreting my foolish decision. American arrogance is mind blowing - most are brainwashed and never travel anywhere, even within their own country. Thank you for this great video.

Thank you for this necessary video. I am a retired US citizen living in Spain (Asturias) and I am so happy and comfortable here. The point you made about valuing human relationships and care is one of the things I admire about the Spanish. I feel like their values are more balanced. They work hard and they make sure that they have time for their families. They also support local small business more that we do in the States (at least the people do, even though the government makes it hard to have a business). I feel like the Spanish and Americans can learn from each other. I think that our efficiency is an area that they can learn from and Americans must learn to value people over money. I also have heard the Spanish be very critical of themselves and I feel like they can benefit from a more positive self-image. If we pay attention to where we can improve, I believe the whole planet can move in the right direction.

Spain captured my heart and soul when I lived there from 1980 through 1982: It still holds me captive. If I love it so much, why haven't I moved back in the past 40 years? It's a long story. But the bottom line is I'm not dead yet. España is still in my future.

Yes..I lived All My Life 67 years in USA..But Learning about SPAIN..BARCELONA..❤We Love The Quilty of Life..And Health System..AND EDUCATION..SPAIN IS on TOP..Thank You Spain for Welcoming US..🙏🏼❤

I spent 3 years in Germany as a soldier. I visited all the surrounding countries via the Bundes Bahn ( passenger rail road) and never encountered any crime. I was in East Berlin before the wall came down and never had any incident. So, this is what separates us from our European allies, we Americans don't have a shared theme. I traveled by train everywhere by learning the schedule. They ran on time and had shops and restaurants at every train station. We all drive in our SUV's and think we have the world by the balls. Americans are missing out on Culture.

Gracias por ver lo positivo de España, los españoles solemos tener dificultades en verlo. Un abrazo y bienvenida.

Born and raised in america I though that there was no place on earth that compared until I visted the land of my ancestors and lived there for a Time. It changed me totaly Now I feel that spain is mine and will move there as soon as I can.

As Spaniard, let me give you some insights. I have to say I’ve been living for 25 years in the US and I spent 28 years in my country of origin, Spain 1. You go to a store and pay the prize you see, taxes are included, no more “surprise” at register. Prize tag is 25 €, you pay 25€ 2. Organic and fresh vegetables are cheaper than in the US; eat healthy is cheaper than junk food 3. Public health is way better than US 4. Public transportation is one of the best of the world… trains same thing 5. Find a map and you see Spain is in the middle of the world! Fly a weekend to London for 69€ …you read right, same thing with other major European cities 6. Safe safe safe. Walk at 3am 7. Mediterranean diet, unbelievable food and variety 8.Elder people enjoy live at full… they have options like cheap trips under government programs, free public transportation, discount in almost everything medicines included, centers for activities, sports, painting, photography… 9. Weather, enjoy mild winters at south of the country 10. People very social

The more I know Spain, the more I love it. When I get retired, I want to live in this beautiful and friendly country. Viva españa!!

My wife and I moved to Spain in October 2022. We have watched and Liked your videos for some time. Of course, you're right. Health insurance is so expensive in the US. I paid $202 per week for a family of four; and my employer paid $202 as well (that's $404 per week or $1,616 per month!). Co-pays were $25 per visit, and we had a deductible of $3,300 before you pay 20% of any procedure; so that's another $275+ per month if you have any "covered" procedures. We now pay $90 week in Spain, no co-pay, no deductible and EVERYTHING is covered including ambulance. So, we now save about $700 a month or about $8,500 per year! Next year we will all be Spanish citizens and pay nothing for health insurance. Think of what you can buy or invest in with your savings in just three years! This is the one thing I am most sad about. Btw, thank you again for all the work you do to make good videos.

This video detailed perfectly why Spain will always have my heart

Spain is the first child of the Roman republic.

I lived for two and a half years in the US and I loved it, but it made me appreciate much better the good things of my country, Spain: culture, human society, food, healthcare for everyone, affective bonds within communities and much more. There are big problems, too, no place is perfect. While in the US, I couldn't believe how old infrastructure was, the lack of public transportation and privately run healthcare system... Great video, thanks for sharing your point of view

Thank you for an honest comparison between Spain and America. I was born, raised, and educated in LA. I have lived in Floriduh for 20 years after graduating college. I am looking to sell everything and move to Spain. Any and all advice is appreciated.

I liked the video, but you forgot something: Spain is the first country in the whole world in organs donations. If someone dies and their organs can save multiple lives, they donate them. And in organ transplants, I think we are also the first. Life is the most valuable thing you can get.

Dang... this was like a punch to the gut! Sad & true. America is beautiful in so many ways, but we are too individualistic of a culture for any of our big problems in homelessness, health, and education to be solved. You are 100% correct.

A very thought provoking video, thanks for sharing! We have just landed in Madrid after spending two months in the USA and what shocked us about the US was that it was so hard to get around just by walking and taking public transport from city to city. You can walk everywhere in Madrid, can be 2 min from a green grocer or supermarket, amazing cafes, restaurants, theatres, art galleries and more. There is so much beauty everywhere here!

I'm American born and raised but I have to agree, I realized this a while ago. It makes me sick to my stomach when others who live here say stupid things like - "America is the greatest country in the world", etc. but really have no clue what is going on in the rest of the world or only know what is filtered through our news broadcasts. I doubt I'll ever retire some place else, and I don't have any kids to worry about so I'll just stay put and get through it all. BUT I think it is important for people to open their eyes and see the "Land of Opportunity" is exteremely flawed and the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave" really isn't as free as one might think. We are a country of consumers. We are a country of individualists who really don't care about anyone but ourselves. Yes, there many people who are selfless and try to do good for others but they are few and far between. Our food is horrible, even when you try to eat healthy the vegetables are crap and most of it is very expensive - it is the reason we have so many poor people who are extemely obese - lack of knowledge, lack of access to fresh nutritious foods, cheap junk food and a warped idea of what is good food. The area I live in is worried about building a new football stadium over rebuilding or improving infrastructure, or doing things to alleviate other problems or doing things to help lower taxes!!!! Our libraries, historic sites and cultural venues are suffering for funds and nobody really gives a damn if any of these things exist or not as long as we have professional sports (and alcohol, the two go hand in hand) to numb their minds.

As a Spaniard, I appreciate your vision. Nevertheless, we have to admit that while we have lots of good things, we should learn from other countries in the world in many other respects. All the things you say about healthcare, education and more are true, but unfortunately there is also too much room to improve, especially when it comes to unemployment, salaries or labour stability.

You sure have a nice way of explaining things. We live in Oaxaca, Mexico. I agree with everything you said 100% We've lived outside of the United States now for over 14 years & when I was younger, after Vietnam, I graduated from a Mexican University. Mexico, is not as forward as Spain, but the culture is Rich and the people are wonderful.

My filipino soul 🇵🇭 celebrate Spain 🇪🇸 I like your video. Greetings coming from the Philippines 🇵🇭 Las islas de Filipinas 👈🏾

There is no comparison at all. I live in southern Spain. I worked my arse off in my 30s in Australia and am now retired at 44. It costs me 110 euro a week to live comfortably here, including all bills. I bought my house outright so have no mortgage or rent. I live in a beachtown of around 40K people. I can walk from my front door to the beach in 4 mins. From my rooftop terrace I have views of the Mediterranean. Life here is amazing. I love the Mediterranean lifestyle. So relaxed. Everything within walking distance, fresh air, fresh food, 100% safe and high trust. Daily swimming in the Med. Sun all year round....... I've been all over Spain over the years, and yes, all provinces will have a different feel, but I love the attitude of the Spanish people, no matter where I've been. Medical, dental, roads, trains......even the process of setting up here was unbelievably efficient. I was worried that I'd have bureaucratic nightmares, but I've been amazed at how well everything is operated. And by 'richer', I'd say that Spain(or anywhere in Europe) is infinitely richer in culture, in every single way possible. From my rooftop terrace I have direct views of a Phoenician/Roman/Moorish castle and the ruins of a Roman garum factory. In the U.S this would be a McDonald's and a Starbucks. I lived in the U.S for 2 years when I was younger and couldn't get out of the place quick enough. There are some nice little towns in the U.S, but the cities are horrendous. Especially the hellholes tha are ran by Democrats. The food, the transport, the lack of walking routes, the crime, the obsession with race, and a LOT of ignorant people. I love to walk everywhere, whenever I can, but the last time I was in the U.S(Miami) I was walking to the closest shop and everyone driving past was staring at me. I even got pulled over by a cop car and they questioned me WHY I was walking. :D

You only need to see how happy is the majority of retired people and their quality of life. I’m a Spaniard living in US for the last 25 years. Counting the days to retire in my wonderful Spain.

I agree with you. I’m an American and was visiting my boyfriend who is a Spaniard and immediately noticed the differences. Everywhere I went in Spain it was clean. I couldn’t believe how I saw no trash on the streets. I saw no homelessness. Everyone seemed relaxed and seemed to enjoy the simple things. I could live in Spain in a second.

Thank you for your informative video. I grew up in Los Angeles and now live in San Diego. I have been to Europe a few times and I agree with everything you said. I will be making a move to Spain in 2022 to retire. I love your videos!

Spain is not "richer" than the US. But it probably has less unequal income distribution and better public services.

Man, Spain sounds better and better everyday!

Hi ! I completely agree with you !!! I am approaching my 20th anniversary since I moved to this controversial country!! The last 14 years I have been living in Los Angeles . I know exactly how huge the homeless problem is ,specially in California….. The last couple of years significantly opened our eyes about so many issues in the US …. hopefully , we are going to be retiring in Spain very soon… enjoy your life in Spain and I wish you endless creativity!!!!🤗🦋💃

The situation in California is getting really bad especially lately. I live in the suburbs of LA and recently there's a rise in crime, lots of shootings, robberies, racism, home invasions and the homeless situation is getting worse. I've traveled to Europe countless times but never had the chance of visiting Spain. Your videos made me interested in visiting Madrid as a possible destination for relocation.

Many things are hard about living in the USA, the lack of beauty is one of them. There is beauty to be found, plenty, but in nature only. Finding a beautiful US city is hard. And villages with a certain unique identity and charm, they do exist but are very hard to find. I lived in Wisconsin for 26 years .Beautiful nature, great lakes, impressive. But don't expect anything in cities or towns. You drive through the state and see different villages and towns, they are all the same, completely nothing of interest is there, a main street with the familiar two story buildings and then the fast food restaurants, and the supermarkets with gigantic parking lots..Completely soulless, the same everywhere. Driving between villages, many houses with a backyard full of old cars, overall a mess. It gets worse in the suburbs of cities. Soulless design, the same everywhere. Even the shrubs around shopping malls are standardized. Always exactly the same. The book 'Nowhere USA' describes this in painful detail. Forgot the author. The unique identity of European towns and villages is a totally different world. There is no comparison. In fact comparing is almost not fair. But you have to realize that this lack of beauty in the man-made civilization in the USA is depressing thing.

Antoanetta, we’ll said and so we’ll documented. In 2002 when I returned to the US, I was appalled by the decline while away for six years. And it’s continued to tumble further since then. Your descriptions/comparisons are spot on. The US IS too far gone, and there is no way forward, and no reason to stay if you have other options. I hope this video gets 100 million views, your views are important.

Wow, this video is mind blowing. It just woke me up. I thought I lived in "the richest country in the world", but you just proved me wrong. I thank you so much, for providing all this valuable information.

I have a two year old daughter and I am afraid to raise her in America and in the American school system. My sister was at school when another disgruntled student came in with guns and started shooting students during class. The problem is It's only getting worse. You hear about it so often that people have become numb to it. I'm afraid to raise my daughter here. I cry thinking about your many people suffer in America 😭.

It’s called the American Dream, cuz you have to be asleep to believe it. - George Carlin

The US wrongly called "America" when it's only a country in a continent, was never really "great." The "greatness" of the US that some refer to is made in reference to the 1950s when the US had an open access to raw materials, but that ended in the 1960s. The current reality of the US has nothing to do with the past.

You are a very perceptive and intelligent woman, Salute ! I was born in the city of Palermo, we moved to the BS OOPS ! US when I was young. Fortunately my family returned to Sicilia almost every summer and I would travel to other parts of Europe to visit relatives. I could see the difference between Europa and the USA early on and I could have stayed but got married and had tre regazzi, then got divorced after. I would have left but could not leave my children when they were young but now I am ready to return and I hope to live long enough to enjoy every minute over there. In the US you are lied to on a daily basis and believe me they have a willing and captive audience, so much for all the useless college degrees for the masses. I would venture to say that at least 80 Percent of high school grades would not be accepted into European universities. Keep up the good work, maybe a few people will come to their senses ! Stay in touch and Ciao

My wife and I (in the UK) have been travelling to Spain for 20 years now. We only spend between two to six weeks a year there, but we find the culture and pace of life so much slower paced (and the weather is better). If it hadn't been for Brexit, family and elderly parents in the UK, we would have considered taking our savings and retiring there there many years ago.

I've lived in many countries. The USA used to have some advantages over these countries. Not any more. I plan to move to Italia in 2022. Living in the USA can sometimes be like a highwire walk. A serious diagnosis or accident, with out of network med debts, can wipe out savings or force you into med bankruptcy.Profits supplant patients. Also with over 400 million guns, and many assault weapons, combined with inadequate access to mental health treatment, anyone can be a victim of a rando mass killing, while even grocery shopping. I prefer to work to live comfortably, not to work 80 hrs a week to become mega rich - experiences are more important than things...sharing moments with friends and loved ones

Thank you for making this. It’s easy to forget that the US is a place where social services are more a ‘reward’ for worthy people than things that humans just deserve. It feels like most of society is focused on whether someone deserves their success, their lives, etc.

I love Spain ❤️🇪🇦

Muy interesante. Me gustaría comentarte algo. De como hablas del carácter de los españoles se podria pensar que los españoles no estamos interesados en los bienes materiales. Y no es cierto. Los españoles somos tan materialistas como todos los demás países del mundo. Nos gusta tener de todo. La diferencia es que no sólo estamos interesados en eso. También nos gusta disfrutar de la vida en un sentido muy amplio. Tener seguridad y tranquilidad es también una forma de disfrutar

Eres una mujer inteligente. El nivel de vida además del nivel económico ncluye la seguridad, la atención sanitaria, la sensibilidad social, la cultura, el Patrimonio histórico, la belleza, el orden, la limpieza...

In Spain the cities are also very friendly to senior citizens, and you can easily see the older generations mixed with the younger generations in public festivals and events... the older generations are not just put in geriatric places..

I was chased by a street zombie the other night on Melrose. I am so tired of the homeless situation in L.A. ~ it is out of control.I really am enjoying your vlogs. I am going to Barcelona next week.

I have lived in the U.S. for over 50 years and I recently went to Spain and I totally agree what this video says!! I'm even planning to retire in Spain.

No conozco USA pero supongo que habrá zonas de todo tipo, mejores y peores. España es un buen país para vivir pero no todo es color de rosa, también tiene sus propios problemas como todos los países.

Very good assessment of the US. I have lived in the US over 50 years and have seen the decline in many areas of living. I was in Spain couple of month ago and Valencia is the favorite with my wife and I. We are certainly be back to Spain soon.

I live in America you are telling the truth 🎯

You describe yourself as an American not so sure if I can be proud of that, I am a naturalized US citizen and have live here for about 30 years I can now said I chose the wrong country, looking to move to Spain soon where life is more respected and more enjoyable.

This is such a great video ! I am currently living in California planning my permanent move to Valencia Spain and I'm loving this content!

I lived in Spain (Madrid) for 5 years. I loved it. Best city in the world (IMHO). People are great, standard of living (if you're working) very high. The food is wonderful. But I had to comment about the healthcare system. Whilst it is good, no argument there, let's be clear - it is NOT free. You pay VERY high taxes and National Insurance to cover it, plus you pay separately for prescriptions. And if you don't want to wait a veeeeeeery long time for most surgeries or specialist care you will need to go private. NB - I'm not against universal healthcare - I just get annoyed when people say it's free. Nothing in life is free. You always end up paying in some form.

As a Native Texan and having been to Europe many times I too ponder with the idea of moving, I have to admit folks here though not all have not ever travelled or have been to Europe and are totally unaware of what the quality of life is there, Though Texas is pretty conservative and we still have that Texas Spirit it makes it a little hard to just get up and go,But we too are seeing exactly what you mean and things are not getting any better.

Eres muy perceptiva. La riqueza en Estados Unidos se concentra en las manos de la clase dirigente cuando la mayoría est empobrecida y embrutecida. Amo Barcelona y Madrid.

Thank you for appreciating the good things you have seen in Spain. Spanish usually dont understand how lucky we are here as they didnt live anywhere else. I spent 1 year in US years ago and I was really shocked with the health system, homeless people,guns around etc, for Europeans those topics are shocking in general. Anyway, all my respect to every country, thank you for your words and thougths.

Great video Antoanetta! I lived in Uk for quite a few years and it is when you are away when you see things in perspective…and realize how good life in Spain is despite its imperfections (what in this life is absolutely perfect anyway?) and value the many good points we have. Thanks for being so perceptive and taking the time to make such a good video!

You are absolutely right Spanish isgreat country . Living in spain Is outstanding. Hopefully soon for me

I am from Latinamerica, Argentina more specifically, I've been in the US for 10 months and I have a year left, I thought for a moment I should stay here, but after seeing this video and other channels with same topic, I am sure I have to leave, thanks for the info, this is gold

I agree with each idea you' ve said. All of us should understand that consumerism is fooling us , stops us from thinking and makes us very shallow. Happines in our souls influences positively our existence. Wish you all the best.❤

The only ones that don't realize how wonderful is Spain are the own Spanish people.

Hi Antoanetta. I love your videos and am planning to move to Valencia next summer. I am from Belgium, but I have lived in the Bay Area for over 2 decades and I agree with what you're saying, I 've even written a short article about how San Frnacisco looks like a 3rd world country etc. The rest of the U.S is also terrible, many places are worse when it comes to racism, homphobia, etc which often actually causes many people to flee to the Bay Area/S.F. But I do wish you had not said that many people on the street are "sick and should be in mental institutions"...the issue is very complex, but simply calling people who are homeless and are behaving in ways that are odd or unpleasnt can't just be categorized as "sick" or "mentally ill". Racism, sexism, chronic poverty, domestic violence, homophobia and so many other things are what most often lead to homelessness and being homeless leads to being treated like sub-human and that leads to behaviour you might call sick or mentally ill, but it's actually quite sane and normal in the context of how these people were treated before and during their homelssness. Putting/hiding people away in mental institutions is not a solution and just to say, as someone who has been both well off and poor , well housed and homeless and labeled with mental illness and who has been in psychiatric hospitals in California, those mental intitutions are no better than prisons, in fact they are in some ways worse, because in prison you have certain rights and a release date(that said, prisons are dismal and abusive for profit businesses and actually are often used to "house" people who aren't criminals"but are just poor or not white and/or sick and the fuller the prison the more money it makes), for people committed to a psychiatric hopital there is no release date and you lose your right to not be drugged, you lose your right to have a say because you are considered to not have "capacity"...most of the time people in mental institutions are not mentally ill, just like most homeless people are not mentally ill, but rather suffering from a life of abuse, poverty, violence, racsim etc. I am not saying all this from a place of anger, I just am someone who is doing their best to minimise stigma against peole who have already been mistreated so much, and are already very traumatized. I know that you didn't mean what you said in a negative way at all, but even so saying "those people are sick and need to be in mental isntitutions' is very damaging when it's interpreted a certain way and it doesn't work. Mayor London Breed actually introduced a law SB1045 to put people on conservatorship as some sort of solution, which is in most countries a violation of human rights, to just take someone's liberty and and autonomy away because they are homeless and trying to cope by using drugs etc but that was /is the mayor's attempt to put those people in mental institutions so that the streets don't look like they are littered with sick, crazy people and the already overcrowded for profit prisons don't collapse. I really hope you are not offended by my comment, as I said I know your heart is in the right place .

Muchísimas gracias por este video! I am a American citizen and have applied for my Spanish citizenship via "descendent of Sephardic Jew". Hopefully all goes well and I can move out there with my family.

The measure of a country is how they care for their children, the elderly and the ill.

I love Spain!!

beautifully put. Those are all the reasons we are deciding to retire in Spain. To start anew and live life. Greed is so big in America.

I went for vacation to Spain, i loved it, it was cheaper than I expected. Specially the high speed trains.

la historia de USA se escribe en español,sois un pais gracias a nosotros pero nos despreciais por culpa de vuestra soberbia. vosotros seguir con vuestro way of life mientras nosotros disfrutamos de la vida y nos reimos del pais mas poderoso(por ahora) del mundo. aguante la hispanidad.

Spain has the second-largest life expectancy in the world.

I'm from the Canary Islands, Europe and I'm living now in the UK. I've never lived in the US but I've met American people and people living there who have told me about their life. My main NO WAY of ever living in the US is mainly based on the health care, weapons, lack of safety and many of the things you said on the video among other things. I disagree with you when you said homeless people should be on mental institutions though. You never know what led them to be in the streets, their past. They are still human beings and many of them need help from the institutions to get out of that misery. I know it's not an easy situation to deal with but certainly the solution is not to send them to mental institutions. Also in a society where the state doesn't help its citizens in one of the most basic needs like health care it's not a surprise to see so many homeless people in the streets. The Netflix series 'Maid' or the film called 'Nomadland' can be good examples of how bad and unfair the US system is and how judgemental people can be without knowing what led those people to live that way. I know it's fiction though but it's not necessary far from reality. I'd love to visit the US one day and stay there for some time but only some time as a tourist. I would be too scared to think that if I have some sort of accident or I have to go to the hospital/doctor I would have to spend a lot of money for something that is free or almost free in most countries in Europe. I know that there are a lot of nice people in the US and they are not the problem at all. The problem is their Government, politics, the brainwashed 'education' and lack of investment in its social welfare. Instead they focus in investing in military force and unnecessary wars just to steal oil and resources from other countries and in brainwashing people on who is the bad guy. The good guy is always the US, of course. Haha. A nation so rich with so many poor, ignorant, and forgotten people is not a rich nation. What does the American flag or American dream mean to Americans when you have so many American people suffering? It makes no sense. Americans should go out to the streets to claim their basic human rights back.

This absolutely spoke to my heart and why I travel! Not to gain but to grow and find ways to give back and to touch others lives.

That pretty well sums up many issues in the USA as far as I can tell from afar. Hearing it from someone like you, who has lived there for so long, confirms much of what I have heard about over the years. I live in Spain, having moved here from the UK. I've been coming to Spain since the 60s, as my mother was from Spain. Spain then was under a dictatorship, although the Spain of today doesn't bear any resemblance to those times. Mind you, some of those who lived through those times have told me that many of the old divisions still exist. There is divisive politics and media reporting in Spain too, however the vast majority see it for what it is, i.e. propaganda. There will always be those that swing to the extremes in any society, hopefully Spain has suffered enough in its past not to repeat that horror again. No matter what country one may choose to live in, and the vast majority don't have the luxury of choice, it still can be challenging on many levels. As you say, the economic factors play an important role, but so do the values of the society, the culture and its people. Things can change over time, for better or for worse, but the wealthy elite and politically and militarily powerful can run amok anywhere at anytime. Even in a charmed country like Spain, complacency and giving up more freedoms to authoritarian government is just a short road away to oppression and hijacking of democracy. The change you saw in the USA didn't happen overnight, so equally a change for the good will not happen overnight, probably not in several lifetimes. I've seen the signs of this complacency in the UK and also in Spain, it could just take another extreme collpase of the economy to reach a tipping point. Spain has weathered the economic storms of the last decades only by bail outs from the EU, but that debt legacy gets piled onto the next generations to come - in combination with higher taxation and/or austerity measures. Only a small minority get filthy rich in the process, of which most are filthy rich to start with. This is a formula that works for almost all governments and their allies around the world. Spain is trying to develop a more sustainable economic future combined with healthcare, education and fantastic road and rail infrastructure. In many ways it jas already succeeded in this, however, it needs to be maintained and enhanced. This doesn't mean that other groups, within or outside the country, won't try to extract greedy profits from it all - plus not pay their fare dues in taxes. Only time will tell, people just need to enjoy the short life we have and stop fighting over ideological differences. Everyone should have the right to housing, education, healthcare and meaningful activity WITHOUT worrying about getting evicted, not receiving professional healthcare services, safety and security for everyone and their families. Governments, no matter which political party they may be, MUST be held accountable TO DELIVER on these with regular transparent audits on progress. Only put people in the jobs that can SERVE THE CITIZENS, not their financial backers.

All those ‘free’ things in Spain are paid with the money that Spanish workers have to pay in taxes, so for them none of those things is free, on the contrary they are quite expensive because they have to pay them also for those who don’t work, which are a lot since unemployment in Spain is rife, by far the highest in Europe.

Eye opening stuff. Thanks

Everything is as you say. Thank you very much for your illustrative videos.

You are so inspirational. And you are so right. Many of us forgot or never knew the real definition of being rich. It’s not necessarily money.

Actually the Sagarda Familia Cathedral staterd about 130 years ago.

Hi, I love your video. You did a great job in comparing both countries. Actually, I feel sad because I now you are absolutely right about the life in America. Keep posting! Looking forward for a new one

Thanks for publishing this video

Im a well traveled Brit, grew up in London, lived for a time in Dubai, Ho Chi Minh, and now in Valencia. Couldn't agree more with what Antoanetta says, I love Valencia, with my only regret being how long it took me to find this place

Thank you for your most heartening and enlightening video "Antoanetta". Permit me if I may, to add what for me is a salient point about life in Spain, which you have I think alluded to, but for me is a prime benefit of living here. I am now a Pensioner , 73 next month and have lived in several different areas of the "Costa Blanca" for 17 years mostly on my own, as I have no close family left now. I am partially disabled with "mobility problems", but I can honestly say that I can go out of my apartment at any time of the day or night and Not feel vulnerable in any way. On the contrary, I am treated with a degree of respect and consideration, I very seldom found in 12 years of "surviving" in London..! The feeling of "personal safety", not being prone to ridicule, physical abuse or mugging, for those of us in our more "senior years", adds in no small way to a sense of well being and reduced stress. Admittedly I can speak only of my experience in smaller population centres, things may be different in major centres such as Madrid or Barcelona, so I cannot make a "blanket" nationwide statement, but I am sure that it is the case for much of this most appealing country.

Very cool video! I am a Spaniard living in Chicago and I agree with most of you said. I would add that Spain is struggling a lot with unemployment reason why there is an exodus of young Spaniards like me. Anyway, Spain is wonderful and I miss it so much. Hope you have a great time in Valencia!

Gracias señorita viva México! y la hispanidad.

En España la sanidad privada no cuesta 90 euros, cuesta unos 50 euros al mes. Incluso mucho menos si quieres un contrato en el que tengas que pagar unos euros por consulta. De todas formas la sanidad pública es muy buena, en realidad no hace falta sanidad privada.

Hello ANTOANETTA, Thank you very much for speaking so well about my country Spain. Yes in Spain we have good things, but there are also things to improve, but I think that happens in all countries. Greetings

La siesta española se ríe del sueño americano. Nosotros disfrutamos de la vida, por eso somos más ricos, se llama calidad de vida, Felicidad.

Very passioned video! Congrats!

All of the videos you've produced are wonderful, but this one is the best. 👍