"It's called The American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it" - George the Great

As an English woman I watched this with interest. As a young girl my dream was to move to the USA, after all we had been told how wonderful it was. I have never been to the the USA, but have lived in Germany (10 years), Sweden and Denmark. We have travelled the world, and I can honestly say, I no longer want to go to the US. ❤

I think what's so toxic about the American Dream is that you're told that IF you JUST work hard enough, you'll succeed. This makes people believe that those who struggle just didn't work hard enough, which isn't true at all. The promise of the dream makes you look away from those who struggle and never stop and try to make it better. It takes away empathy and solidarity.

I’m a 67 yr old Black American Man. I left the United States in 1995 for China and Hong Kong. In 1997 I settled in the United Kingdom and now have dual citizenship and have made my life here. The trama of life in the USA has faded. I no longer fear my neighbours and strangers. National Healthcare is life-changing. I live without racism rearing it’s ugly head. The educational system is much better here! I will never ever repatriate to the U.S. I constantly travel constantly across Eurrope the civility of the people I meet is overwhelming. I can make small conversation in 3 languages now! I treasure my French, Italian, Spanish, Polish and German friends and they appreciate me. I feel as if I escaped the greatest slave plantation on Earth and have found Freedom to be a whole human being almost anywhere on this planet.

Any job is an honourable job, what's not honourable is having to work 3 jobs or working 40-50 hour weeks and still going to food banks. Hospitals couldn't function without cleaners and domestic personnel yet they're paid the least, and supermarket workers and their delivery drivers kept countries fed during the pandemic. Wealth is no longer seeping down to those who created that wealth in the first place, instead of reward, it's now the practice to keep you on the breadline in order to keep you reliant and fearful, whilst companies keep making obscene profits. Only you can make a change and get this toxic culture neutralised.

Your country need more people like you mate.

I always DESPISED the term "unskilled worker" It enrages me! There is nothing "unskilled" about getting up at the crack of dawn to commute to work and multi-task so many different scenarios while keeping a smile on your face! I would love to see how some of the CEOs of retail companies or restaurant companies would last one day when you are ten tables in and a baby is crying, the one tables steak was undercooked and every time you pass one table they have some nitpicky request. So true what she is saying!

I think one other important thing that sets Germany aside from the USA is, that in Germany traditionally you don't have a "job" but a "Beruf", a vocation. Even for things like working in retail, being a server in a restaurant or driving a bus, you will have to learn 2-3 years and pass exams. You're not just having a job as cashier but you have a profession as a "Kauffrau/Kaufmann im Einzelhandel". In my opinion, this is why even seamingly menial jobs have a higher reputation in Germany.

Al Murray says it all about 'The American Dream'. He says that we, in the UK don't have a 'British Dream' because we are awake!

Poor girl. There is NO shame in showing your emotions and in her case everything she revealed was making personal progress, I think that’s awesome 🙌🏻.

I'm French but my wife is American. She fled the US because she was basically left to die there (medical conditions that costed thousands of dollars to treat). Once she arrived in France she had that same exact feeling that you describe with your trips to Germany. Although she does not speak French, and does not know the country, but from the moment she stepped foot in France, and this is her words, she never felt so much "at home". She is home. And I will add that she is still an "illegal" immigrant, but her health care costs are 100% covered. Because health care is a basic human right (at least here in France).

I am Dutch and I have one son. I raised him with the core belief that when he does his best, the reslut ALWAYS will be OK for me. Even if he did not earn a lot after doing his best, I am 100% satisfied with his achievements. But, I do want him to do his best. And he does, I can proudly say. I also said to him that "achievement" is not measured in money, but in values. Not economic value, but sociological value. I think he got that one too,.

This nearly made me cry. I,ve been in Germany now for 40 years, My kids were very young when I came. Germany has made our aspirations a reality. I have worked as a factory worker, cleaned toilets and eventually became a nurse. I,m honest about where I,m from and have not experienced any bad vibes about that here. I,ve always been an active union member...no bad vibes there either. I say, if you don,t like where you are, try to change things, at home or elsewhere. Do yourself a favour and just go...and good luck to you.

I actually was one of those people, it took losing my daughter to realize what is important in life. I use to work every weekend missed out on many of her milestone moments . In all honesty I wasn't making alot of money, and America isn't cheep. What I've learned is less is more, you're focus changes from working to get the next car, or bigger home. My focus is how I can work less to spend more time with those I love. I know longer care what people who focus on materials think. My focus is making sure my debt is gone so I can leave my living daughter the right message. Life isn't about material possessions it's about the relationships you build while your here

The built-in-america walls around her empathy have crumbled and, rather than being frightened by her new view of humanity, she's humbled by it and learning profound life lessons. What an amazing person she must be!

I'm french, I worked for an insurance company that dealt with americans studying in Europe. Part of my job was to link them to professional psychiatric help. Thru reading the files and hearing the requests of these students, I was amazed at how much America has made them "insane". It's a strong word but it's just because I lack vocabulary in English. What I mean is these kids seemed to me like they weren't prepared at all for the real world. They were all studying in some of the greatest cities in Europe : Rome, Paris, London... cities with everything you could possibly need. + they're all around 20yo. Supposedly the best time to enjoy life. And they were all fucking depressed and wanted to go home back to mommy and daddy. Why ? In my opinion because they were raised with the American propaganda that anything is possible if you work hard, while the rest of the world knows it isn't true when they reach 12-15yo, and even sooner in the worst countries. And probably also because we often don't do small talk in Europe (especially in France, but it's true for other countries too) and so people speak their mind and it's like europeans were lifting the veil of this false reality these kids lived in for the first part of their life. Which traumatized them. I could write a 15 pages essay about this but to sum up : it's like the US is entirely constructed to produce productive cheap workers to profite the elite, while making sure to make people believe they all have a chance at being part of that elite one day, when in fact it's completely false. Americans would be so sane if Bernie Sanders was president. But the propaganda of the US is so efficient that it didn't happen, and probably never will. I don't even know who's gonna take Bernie's role when he dies.

In our office there are just a few persons who are respected by everybody... Nothing would work without them... The cleaning ladies and the people working in the kitchen. The boss is in vacation for 4 weeks.... You do your job like always... All good. The kitchen is closed for 3 days... Noooo way!! I can't work under this circumstances 😆 But without joking... One thing we should have learned during the pandemic is, that we should appreciate everybody who is working at groceries or delivering food and so on. We NEED them! They earn our respect!

As a german, I always thought these attitudes in the american series are just massive exaggerations to let people look bad and arrogant and crappy. so you actually are this way? Wow.

36 years ago i spent my year abroad for business school in ireland. i met this american guy from buffalo, NY and we became best friends. he was my best man i was his. in 2018 he spent a year here in germany working with me in my company. shortly before covid hit he told me that he prepares to move to germany for good. when i asked him why he answered: cause for the first time in my live i felt what freedom is really like. he had to postpone but he will be here in may finally. im so looking forward to have my best buddy with me. :-)

I’m English, we have always had a class system. When I visited the US when my brother was working there, I noticed that Americans have a class system which is all about how much money you earn. They didn’t understand why I was proud of my working class heritage. On some of the videos I’ve seen as well lots of Americans see social health care, they see the word socialist which they assume means communism. Enjoy Germany, it’s one of the countries I’ve never been to in Europe, and look forward to visiting someday soon

I am neither from the US or Germany, but geographically and language wise close to germany. Growing up i was always taught by my parents to respect *honest* work. And that is something i always strive to remember. One example for me is: the people that clean the canal/sewers have a shitty, smelly job, and i wouldn't want to swap jobs, but their job hugely impacts the everyday life of the people for good. I am thankfull that they do their job and i want them to earn enough to make a living and have enough spare time and vacation, that they are concentrated and well rested for their job. Apart from just wanting other humans to not have a hard time just living, it also means i am profiting of all of these: If they earn enough money and have enough spare time, they maybe go on a vacation to another country and use the work i am doing, so the company i work for gets income. And if they have enough rest and are concentrated at their job, they are less likely to hurt themselves in an accident, and more likely to get old healthier. Both things also mean that the health system needs to spend less money o work related health issues. -> everybody benefits.

Hey Nate! I follow Olivias channel for quite a while and her view at Life changed a lot. I can totally feel her because i am married to an american and before we decided to move to germany(i wanted to go back after 1,5 years) my hubby had jobs which were underpayed no health insurance..yada..yada..and he felt horrible and like a loser. Now after almost him living here since 13 years he got critical about the “american way of living). He feels very safe being health insured having 33 days vacation per year and there is no such thing as sick days. But i say..if you grow up in the us and doesn't now different it's normal to believe that this is the way the world works.

This was real eye opener and very moving in places. Thanks for airing this and congratulations to the lady Olivia who’s made peace with life and learned what true value is. It feels like some Americans only understand how deeply flawed things are over there once they leave🤷🏿‍♂️🙏🏿🇬🇧

The high stakes culture in America drives people to seek validation through status and belongings. When there's that kind of artificial scarcity been put in place, then everything becomes to be about money and resources, because that's what people are being forced to constantly think anyway.

It hurt my heart when Olivia started to cry i would have loved to hug her and comforted her if i could have but love Olivia no matter what work you do you can always proud of yourself even if other people tell you something different to say i work in elderly care which is sometimes really difficult but i still love my work. It`s so beautiful that you lived here in Germany.

Dude… after the last 5-6 years .. great to see a American speaking… to reason and tolerance… respect of others…. We all on this ball together

I'm from the UK and I answered a question on a forum once, from a 32 year old American woman whose life was destroyed by ongoing medical debt- she had had to move back in with her parents, despite having a good job. I said to her- move to a country with a better healthcare system- Europe, Australia, anywhere. She got quite angry and said she loved her country and could never leave- I said you are stuck then, I love my country, but I always remember it cannot love me back.

When I heard how waitresses are treated in America I was shocked, they are little slaves being paid by customers tips. It's awful and disrespectful , and they have no rights whatsoever

*Don't judge someone, until you walked a mile in their shoes.*

Nate bro, I thought this was just a reaction channel but I’m happy I was wrong! These are the kind of Conversations that can actually change peoples lives. It ALL starts in our minds!! Everything! Cool man keep it up, I’m coming back for more 🙂

I was born and raised in Europe and for me it's incredible to hear this, I never thought I could be judged for the work I do. Any job, even the humblest, if it allows you to live and you're happy is fine. I don't understand why in the United States they teach you such a stupid thing. I've had so many different jobs in my life and I'm not ashamed of it, I don't earn much money but I'm happy, I have my friends, I have time to travel, I have time to live my life. Who cares about a cool job without having the chance to enjoy life? If this is the American dream, sorry but it just sucks. (no offense to anyone, it's just my opinion)

I live in the UK, there is alot to be said for the national living wage that we receive. This story is heart breaking.

I have never been in the USA, but I met some very nice americans here in Germany who had the same perspective like you or Olivia. My older sister travelled three times to the states (Westcoast, New York, Florida) together with her boyfriend and they really enjoyed these trips. She loved the incredible nature and landscapes and also how friendly and openminded most americans are. She is herself also very openminded to other people and cultures and a very humorous person, so it is very easy for her to get in touch with others. But she is also very empathic and sensitive. After every trip she said, that she never could imagine to live in the USA because she always had the feeling during her trips, that there is something very strange going on in the american society. Here in Germany, we are far away of being a "perfect society", no doubt. We also have a lot of snobistic assholes like every country on earth, but in the opposite also many people, who are tired of superficial materialism. I have been living in an apartment-sharing community for nearly 7 years now. Three years ago, one of my flatmates bought a bigger house with a big garden and a lot of space because he always had the dream of starting a "house project", based on community and solidarity. So our living community of three persons moved into that house. Now we are like a big family of 7 people, and I love every day living here. My flatmate, who bought the house, spent all his money for this project, so no bank credit was needed. He is a psychiatrist and in his fifties and he made a lot of money during the last decades, but he never drove an expensive car or had a rolex or other things to show how wealthy he is. Since a few years he only works three days a week, like most of my flatmates. I am actually studing at the local university (social work) and I am also not dreaming of a 60-hours-a-week-job after the graduation. Working for money is just a necessity, but not the meaning of life. In my opinion, the meaning of life is to give your life a meaning. And our life is short enough. Wy should I waste it with making a lot of money to buy things just to impress people I don't even like?

My almost 17 yrs old daughter is working since she is 15 at mc Donalds for about 12 hours a week. She loves it so much. She feels appreciated for her hard working and they are very kind there to the teenage employees. She made new friends there and during the lockdowns she felt lucky to still have social contacts and not being just at home. Right now she is in Egypt on holiday from her own earned money. Next week she is coming home just one day and the day after she is again in the plane to join us on our family holiday. We live in the Netherlands and she sometimes get questions from non Dutch customers why she is working there. They seem not to understand that it is part of our culture that teenagers work some hours a week but still go to school as well and not working there because they are from a poor family. A few months ago there was a probably Indian middle aged couple, the woman had a red dot on her fore head. They asked her why she was working at mc Donalds, the woman made pictures of her without asking and told her that she was very beautiful, they asked her age, her study, very weird. Suddenly the man asked her with a serious face why she was not taking a sugardaddy instead of working at mc Donalds like she was just desperately in need of money and having a " low job" at mc Donalds. My daughter went to the manager and he was so angry to these people to talk like this to a 17 years old girl that he kicked this couple out. I am so angry and I feel like they touched the honor of my independent, sweet, kind and hard working daughter who is also studying hard. Sometimes they face arrogant customers, asking for the manager, but they don't know how the team, including managers, is making fun of them.

Great Video ! Thanks from Switzerland . I'm glad to see that not all Americans have gone insane and at the same time I'm shocked to learn about that kind of peer pressure that got so much to that wonderful young women. I didn't know it was this intense in America, because we have all those problems too, but seems to me it's much more intense in the US. In any case ,welcome to Germany or Switzerland or wherever it may be . Both of you are beautiful human beings and that's what's important in life. Not what you have but what you are

I appreciate that she has had her eyes opened, and yes, it is important to remember that we don't know peoples' circumstances, but also keep in mind that if someone is driving for Uber or working in a grocery store, or a fast food place doesn't necessarily mean that something tragic has happened to them. There are people who genuinely enjoy working those jobs. There was a woman at my local McDonad's where I grew up who was there for years. She loved interactring with customers and was proud of the work she did. I have known people who work in retail who do it because they enjoy it. And not all of them were in mangement, or aspired to be. The key is not to judge and not to assume/take pity on people who work these jobs because we don't know why they work the jobs they do. Assuming that something tragic must have happened to cause a woman in her 60s to drive for Uber Eats is still placing less value on the job and the person in that job.

As a Scot found this very interesting. I had a feeling Americans were really driven to succeed but what’s the cost of that? Work to live don’t live to work. It’s a shame she’s embarrassed about as she certainly shouldn’t be. It’s great she’s been able to live in another country to get different perspective to open her eyes and hopefully find happiness. Short time on earth, happiness is all that matters. Do whatever makes you happy…

Imagine North America without truck drvers, stockboys, cashiers etc. The Entire economic system would screech to a halt without these people! IMO

Translating the "pursuit of happiness" into the "pursuit of dollars" is probably the greatest shortcoming fo the "American dream". That is probably why there are more unhappy people in the USA than in any other "western" industrialized nation.

I used to work as a server in a restaurant, in Canada, which is kind of like America Jr. in this respect. I'm post secondary educated and I have an entrepreneurial background, but hard times caused me to fall back on this skill set. People would ask me "Why are you a waitress? You're so much smarter than that". I would say "Waiting tables is something I DO. It's not WHO I AM." and just watch the gears grinding behind their eyes.

As a single person in America (SA TX) never been married and unlikely to have kids as I enter my 50's it is interesting how many people with children admire my situation and on occasion my admiration their family moments. I just came to the conclusion that the rat race of work, family, kids, soccer, etc. adds to the pressures in life. I now have a career that has enhanced my life but my focus is on retirement as I work to avoid never being able to retire. The pandemic has revealed a lot to the working class. The politicians, the billionaire class have achieved squeezing the absolute life out of this country and it seems they are ready to kill democracy with absolute lies. I hope we use collective outrage and direct it to make permanent change that improves the lives of all but especially the struggling which is almost half of this country at this time.

I think in Europe most people (not all people) value society more than self. I think it comes from the working class people of Europe. The whole of Europe had to be rebuilt after two world wars. That rebuilding could never have be done without people coming together. Following the end of the second world war, people in Europe had very little and coming together was a matter of survival. I think that is where the cultural differences stem from.

We're having another conversation about respecting one another. This young woman has just recognized the depth of her own compassion.

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” ― Albert Einstein Great video btw

I’m 52 and Australian. I started out at McDonald’s at 15 and then worked as a server in a restaurant while studying. In my start up years, I only ever got judgment from one person. I was more judgmental of myself than others were. Worked my way up to Exec management in my field. Got made redundant at 46 and struggled to find work, so I bought commercial cleaning equipment and cleaned people’s houses and drive for Uber. It wasn’t humiliating, I never copped any judgment (if I did, I long ago learned that what other people think of me is none of my business and so I didn’t care). I made sure that everything I cleaned I gave it 100% and was proud of every spotless toilet and streak free shower enclosure and every spotless kitchen. Eventually got into academia and now teach at a university. I bring all of my experiences to my classroom. Life throws curve balls at all of us, we do what we do to get by. Everyone deserves dignity and I am ruthless with culling people from my life if they so much as hint at treating people with less “power” with disrespect. I loved this video. Thank you

I find the argument of "this job requires no skill therefore people who do it should work for pennies" to be incredibly stupid. Jobs that require no skill are also often the most boring ones and for that alone someone doing this job shoud receive a decent wage regardless of the skill requirement. And I would even go as to say that if you don't pay someone enough for him to eat and pay for his basic needs, what is the difference between that an paying him nothing ? In both cases it's not enough for him to survive which is indecent when you demand of him to work for you.

My grans sister married an American during WW2, he came over early with the peace corps. We're still in contact with cousins over there. Some of them came over 2 or 3yr ago for a visit and while out for a meal i was chatting with some the early 20s cousins who were asking me if i fancied visiting the US any time. I was like well i'm into history and whilst i'm sure if i went to the US i would be able to find stuff of interest its never gonna be top of my list, the flashy Vegas lights & co mean nothing to me. You just can't compete with places like Egypt, Greece, Europe, heck i don't even need to leave the uk, even here each country is different with its own history and culture. Its a bit like the weird thing going off in China where they replicate famous monuments and stuff from other countries, its fake and not particularly interesting, if you can see through it.

Respect, that was a tough one. 👍 Since North America is far apart from so many other countries it went some kind of astray. In many cases I have the impression the american mindset is a bit as: people who do not work enough or do not work at all, should not eat. And it is their own fault of course. And it is their fault if their education is just enough to be the greeter at Walmart. That is reducing a human being to his productivity. We had this 80 years ago. Europe does not have all these service jobs because they would never pay off to the company (unless they pay you two Euro per hour, which is not allowed). Sorry to say that Nate, I would never swap any european society with the US-American. You are not the traitor, the US is a beautiful country with many nice people around, but if you and your family want to live a different life you need to change the society. I do not think that the US is going to change soon.

It's really courages of the young woman, living and working in Germany, to express her emotional experience of inner change. Awakening from what she thought, she was entitled to, the american dream. The US mindset is that of winners and losers, the have and have not, the rich and the poor, and to that a human life is being judged upon. This is devastating for the measure of selfworth, it can only make people feel they're losers if they don't live up to the expectations of the american dream. Question; isn't it time to start teaching young children otherwise. I mean , as in the schools in education. To change society within it's perception of eachother, the value we give to work, to family, the value to oneself as a person and a human being, does not have to rely on jobstatus or money and all the bs from the american dream. The children are the future, and to change the innerworkings of society, emotionaly, financialy, I think we should start there. Thx greetings from the Netherlands

All good points. I grew up during the real 'American dream' era, but it is long dead now. I had a good paying career not long ago, but then came an accident, loss of career, and almost the loss of everything in my life. The downward spiral was so rapid and humiliating. I experienced the reality of poverty and the threat of homelessness that so many experience here in the US. I felt shame when I had no choice but to visit the local food bank and request utility assistance from the community. I feel that shame comes from societal ideation that we're taught from day one. It was eye opening to say the least. In short, our government has little in place to protect citizens that fall on hard times, and attitudes aren't going to change I fear until the US burns itself to the ground (figuratively speaking). My 27 year old son and I are planning to move to Europe where I hope he and his future children and grandchildren can lead long happy lives, because I don't see possibilities for that happening in the future US as very promising.

Your thoughts and statements to this impressive video were spirited and sympathetic. I appreciate them entirely. As you have mentioned in your video Germany is not a perfect country. But in comparison with the US it is by far a better place to live. I welcome you and your family and I wish you good luck with your settling in and your future endeavors !

Just found your channel over the last few days. I've watched a few of your videos. I appreciate your takes. This video hit a nerve. Very touching. These American snobbery takes are extremely foreign to me, as an Irishman. Nobody is above anyone else in Ireland. If someone gets too big for their boots, they're very quickly brought down a few pegs.

Yes after living in Germany for 15 years I can say I do admire hte fact that in Germany the lower level workers are considered more highly...Hell I almost fell off my chair when I learned that to work in Mc Donalds here you need an "ausbildung" or training program and they start at a wage Americans can only dream of!. Americans have bought the Idea that every one of them can become rich when actually the reality of the world is that most of you will never become rich and many of you will have unfortunate circumstances in your life that cause you to end up in the situation you are in...In Germany they accept this fact and make sure that everyone can get a living wage and every job is respected. That said Germany has other problems I do not like but the social system and the health insurance is paradise on earth and it does not take away at all from Capitalism! YOu can still get rich in Germany even with more social programs (The next lie I was told in the USA)

I grew up in NZ and worked my whole life, could never save any money or go on holidays at xmas, 15 years ago, got offered a job in Australia and thought why not.... I lived,worked there for 10 years , had a great life and could afford to go on holiday every year at xmas, buy stuff I needed and was never short of cash. In NZ we were taught to get a higher education etc work hard and you will have a good life, I started working in an office doing quotes in the building industry, till i found out the tradesmen doing the installs were earning WAY more than me on my salary, swapped to being an installer, moved to Australia after 5 years, and never looked back. Most of the economic values I was taught in my youth turned out to be false and I am glad I realised this before it was too late.....

I thought when I was young the US was great, but then lived in Germany for three years working the American Armed Forces and after that experience knew I'd never want to live in the US, however, my sister married an American and has lived there for 26 years and seems have gone the opposite way from Olivia where her views are so far removed from the Scottish, there is no way in hell I'd live in the US nor would I encourage anyone I love to move there. Beautiful scenery and as individuals mostly seem to be good folk but as a whole the capitalism and greed is disgusting.

The main reason why shops are closed on Sundays is that as many people as possible should have this day off together with everybody else. It isn't even aproppriate to mow the lawn on Sundays because of the noise. Everybody has to chill out a bit. 😅

zum Bsp.: ich könnte es nicht ertragen, dass jemand meine Einkäufe packt Jeder im Supermarkt verdient meinen Respekt, wie jede Putzfrau auch, nicht weniger wie Ärzte. for example: I could not stand someone packing my groceries Anyone in the supermarket deserves my respect, as does any cleaning lady, no less than doctors.

good for you that you want to move to germany. Frankly, i've lived in the usa, and never have i been happy there. Always a lot of problems, bad healthcare, rude people, status and money problems i've never had in my life as i'm a dutch citizen. And i'm feeling so much more SAFE here in my own country as i never felt safe in the usa. Am happy to be back in my own country.

I am happy to live in Austria - would never ever want to go to the US these times. The kind of capitalism in the US is just crazy.

She did a very interesting one called "My thoughts on America one year later" (one year after moving to Germany), which I coincidentally watched a few days ago. It was good stuff - honest, thoughtful and incisive; and more focussed on general "culture shock". You may be interested to watch it.

oh i can back you up on the enjoyment thing. I know a guy, Dr. in chemistry, a great scientist working 10 years in research...he quit his very high earning job at the local pharmaceutical company and became...a bus driver. Why? Because according to him, he loves to drive, and he loves hearing children chat about school and just get away from the grim reality of life for a few hours a day. He could start working as chemist in any labratory he wants but he is a bus driver for the fun of it. Now i myself am not superqualified but i applied for a job as mailman. "Why....mailman?" "Why not?" "You are way overqualified to be a mailman" "so you think i cant do the job?" "well we think you can do that job but also way better jobs" "but...i want to be a mailman" "Why?" "Flexible hours, lots of fresh air, and moving around at work and i can go home once work is finished i dont need to sit around idly waiting for the clock." "ok well then i guess you are hired"

This happens when you get out of the bubble, it's a good thing to see things differently that just makes you more rich

19:40 this feeling is definitely not exclusive to Americans, I'm Dutch and I have something similar which I would place in the category of "measuring life with 2 sets of rulers", one for the rest of the world and one for yourself. Me personally I don't look down upon anyone really, I believe that as long as people are happy that's all that matters, whether it's working as a supermarket cashier or having your own successful business or whatever. However when it comes to myself I believe that as long as I'm successful that's all that matters, I fear I could never be happy being a cashier, and everything inside me resists the idea that not being successful in terms of profession is okay as well. Scary stuff Btw good on you for finding a home in Germany, it's a great country! I can definitely vouch for them as their neighbor, plus there's open borders in the entire EU when you're a citizen "here"

Not to mention how dumb it is to view nurses as lesser for being uneducated. It takes quite alot of studies at university to become a nurse, on top if the hard, highly important job they do.

Be aware that we do have sentiments against people in lower paid jobs here in Germany, too. It may just not be as extreme as in the U.S. and the major difference certainly is that still the vast majority of people respect others regardless of their job. People are usually looked down on only in case they´re clearly unwilling to work and when they claim social benefits and don´t make any efforts to find a job ...

The healthcare-system alone is going to change to the better, only if 'the sun starts snowing'...

There’s no such thing as the American Dream. There’s just the American Nightmare.

I was always taught 'you can take pride in how well you do your work and how well you treat those you work with/for' (For being both your bosses and the customers if there was direct customer contact) So if you flip burgers, take pride in how well you do it, how quick you do it, how consistently you do it, and how well you treat the people that you work with (don't just throw empty packages on the floor, if they are walking with a big tray, take a small step forward so they got more space) and work for (be respectful of your boss, be on time, be kind and attentive to your customers). This way you can take pride in who you are at work, not what you do at work. If I want to go to McDonalds, at least 6 people had to come in to work to operate the store, the kitchen, the FOH, keeping it clean.. How can I look down on people that provide for me what I want? The bus driver is a G, so I always thank him/her, if they didn't do their job I couldn't take the bus. If Sewage workers do their job well, you will never notice that fact.. There's people literally wading through feces to ensure those people that are connected to that sewer don't realize anything is going on.. How can I not be thankful? It's the "drones" that carry the load. To have disdain for those that keep your society going, I just can't do them mental gymnastics.

British comedian Al Murray, addressing an American in the audience, "You American's, you're dreamers, you've got the American dream. The America dream! Now , we in Britain don't have a dream. We don't! It's not because we lack some moral imperative. It's not because we don't have some sense of a manifest destiny awaiting us in the future, No! It's because WE'RE AWAKE!. What is that American dream of yours, anyway? Life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. I'd be embarrassed to write that down if I were you". From Al Murray versus America on YT. YT link, for those interested, kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gthnla6KstvJonU.html

Nate you're a very sincere man,I hope your move to Germany is a smooth one,I'll look forward to seeing more of your videos once you're settled in Deutschland (not sure about the spelling).

The difference between the US and Europe is summed up in 2 words. Those two words are at the root of all the crap. And those 2 words? American exceptionalism. There's a belief in America that only Americans are exceptional. And that every citizen must succeed in some form of business to have value.

Didn't see for a certain time any reaction from this channel, but now I remember why I subscribed a few months ago. I love your reactions..Greetings, from who lived very long in Germany but is from the Netherlands...

I was brought up with the idea that if you do your best, that is enough. Fortunately in the Uk, though not as enlightened as some of our European neighbours, my work ethic, integrity and honesty have always been enough to garner respect. I also never judge others on anything but their behaviour towards me (and even then I try to allow some leeway for what may have drawn out poor behaviour).

Germany is a beautiful country, I was born there and spent a good ten/eleven years there within the British army community as my father was in the British army, I have now lived in England for a very long time, but for quite a few years would have loved to have gone back, but was unable to. I have been back a few times on vacation, and I have been to Italy a few times too. But now I am content in England. I am almost 60 and unwell spend most of my time in bed and miss travelling, but it does make me glad I don’t live in the US as I would not survive there with their health system. I’d like to have seen some of the sights there though as the country itself (the land and landscapes) are incredible, but I will have to be content with just seeing the pictures now. Hope all goes well for you in Germany. ❤

There are always people who work with hand always some who have not learned a profession . If they work a simple job we should appreciate this ! If its a trgic incident or only because they can t do anything else doesn t matter. They work for life and mostly they work hard ! I have a relative with a learning disorder but he made his sort of school and works hard ! He lives in a home for people who need help in their life but he works full day and he is proud of it ! I think he s right !

We all need a work/life balance to be happy and this should be a measure of success. I think America needs a good understanding of social responsibility. They need a good understanding of compassion. Americans have very selfish goals and singular measures of success.

Hey, Brit here living in the USA, what you're saying about getting more attached to the place you moved to (in my case, the USA), I've lived here for 28 years and I've not become attached, I miss the UK every day and appreciate it the older I get. People might say, "don't like it? Then leave", but that's ok, but I'm married to an American, have a mortgage, debt, etc, so it's easier said than done. If I get the opportunity to go back, I'm jumping on the chance. I was recently made unemployed and subsequently lost my/our health insurance, with a husband who had cancer twice, leaving us in a terrifying situation. I came to the USA for work experience, I regret it now, which is so sad.

Just a bit of personal sharing. I am a 75 yo Aussie who failed school at 14 back in the end of 1961. I have worked all my life in areas that it seems America would have destroyed me for if I had had the same disposition as an American. Warehouse gofa, foodstore shelf stacker, grocery packer, small goods assistant, lawnmowing (hand nonpowered), yard maintenance .... and I'm sure you get the picture. I have NEVER borrowed in my life and only buy what I can afford ..... back then there was no other way. So in those early years, from 1961 through to the early 70's Australia hadn't been touch fully by the American Way and there was no stigma, and nor where there good unemployment benefits as there were later. It's only in my older years that I have found I have a very common, and only recently discovered, autoimmune disease that effects diet and therefore memory: No matter how much I'd wanted to learn .... and I did ... my short term/long term memory transfer system wouldn't allow it. A primary cause of this disease is the refinement of foods, such as sugars, gluten, yeast, processed meats and foods generally that are slow to digest. If America had put as much time into looking into the health of their people, as they do into making capitol, how much richer would she be?

Growing up in poverty in a small Midwestern town, I think my views were much less about status and more about comfort and security. Everyone had guns, almost everyone hunted, and many of the people that were considered wealthy in the area started out building their own company off their own sweat, blood, and tears. We wouldn't mix with the upper crust often, but we didn't feel judged. Many of us had proven that we understood the other person's job and that we could manage if our roles were reversed.

Personally, I see the 'keeping up with the Joneses' brigade as weak-minded and insecure.

Great video and insights. And I just noticed your beautiful blue eyes!

Because I am dead against hyperbole, a couple of years ago I would have considered "toxicity" as overstating it - but then we started getting some of those People Behaving Badly videos, and most of us sat there, disbelieving, at the way people spoke to each other in the United States; it was a complete culture shock for people around the world. (Most of whom were stuck in lockdowns and had started watching day-time tv). And then quite recently someone reacted to a video that said something like "How many times have we heard people put down people who work at low-paying jobs..." and that was such a shock/horror moment I had to turn off the computer & go for a walk! See, we are aware of the 2 great, world-changing social Revolutions: the French Revolution and the Russian Revolution, so without having to stage revolutions ourselves, we understood that in order to go forward, people must have equality. In fact in all the countries I've lived in, I've never heard of it being "normal" for people to treat others without dignity or respect...based on the job they do? That's archaic to many (including me). I'm so very sorry for the girl's emotional upheaval, for her discomfort, and for the guilt. But she's already taken the first, and most difficult of all steps. Once one's mind opens up to the complexities, differences, excitement, and possibilities that exist in the world, it becomes much easier to accept that a) there is no "greatest" country in the world and b) there are all sorts of possibilities for change.

That was one of the smartest posts i have seen in a long time. Happy to see you and your family in germany! You are welcome.

I love her honesty. She’s speaking from her heart. A favourite saying of mine is that before you judge someone, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. You never know what anyone’s life situation is.

Man, the last couple minutes of your video really hit home for me. I’ve been grappling with those feelings for years and you vocalized it so well.

We're not woke , we're awake . Im from the UK. We find "the American dream" rather funny.

I feel this will be an interesting one because it must be an enormous shock having your whole belief system dismantled and your eyes opened to how life could be, must be heart breaking in some respects. I'm from the UK and I know it isn't perfect but i am so grateful for everything we have, sometimes I don't appreciate it, but then I just have to watch one of these vids. Just as an extra example of the differences in society, my sister owns a campsite, she has people staying from all walks of life, rich and poor but they all rub shoulders together, drink in the bar together, do kareoke together and are loyal to the campsite, not because the campsite has amazing but because they consider the other campers as a kind of extended familly.

I felt at home every time I returned to Europe. I appreciate what America is and I would not give up citizenship, but I feel much more at peace when I am in Spain or Germany. Great Video!

I ain’t gonna lie I love her emotion and passion on this subject, it really makes you understand how messed up it is.

I paused the video after 10 minutes, the part where you were talking about being successful, to write a comment, because the way I view life's goals fits in there. The way I describe it is if your goal is to be successful, you will forever chase it. If your goal is to be happy, you can be successful every day.

In the US you live for working , in Europe we work for living, we enjoy our lifes, our kids, our families, our friends, etc... That's life.

I feel this woman’s pain Nate and my heart goes out to her 😢

While this mentality exists, the low salary will stay in place. You need to unite and support one another. Enjoyed this video.

Just Subscribed, I lived many years in Europe and around the world, both in the military and as a civilian, and now live in Arizona. Love the intelligent conversations!

Wouw, what a topic to discuss, which you commented very well, I think. 👍 Imo culture grows on the nation's system. The American system is like a mountain slope, the European system is like a flat field with some heaps and ditches. The perspective of people to society is very different; looking up, down or sideways to other people (who form the culture) is so different in both setups. In the middle ages the system in Europe was a two step system, nobility and peasants. In the early days of America there was a plain level system, everybody started in on the same level (except for slaves). So for me, the system determines the culture which determines the mindset of an individual. Combined with the character and circumstances of a person, it determines the wellbeing of a person.

I live in the UK we have our problems but seeing the tent cities all over America and the amount of billionaires there are is astonishing.as you said the American dream is gone.so sad we used to love America! been there never again.

Very interesting video/reaction. America needs more self aware individuals like urself Nate...ur no traitor for choosing to do something with ur life...isnt that the freedom of choice that is ur inherent right 😏 Really felt for the lady going thru a cultural change/awakening (? Not sure what to call it!) Her analogy of the US being the sun ...well thinking it is...with every other country orbiting was spot on.... Nice reaction..thankyou 🤘🏻🙏🇬🇧

In Germany, we are already influenced in such a way that one should earn as much money as possible. So I tried that for 30 years. Most of the time in the financial sector with real estate. I never got rich, but I had more money that I threw out to celebrate I was never happy with it! I got sick and couldn't go back to work immediately after my illness, so I went to a company where you could work in the social sector for 1 euro an hour to get used to it again. I stayed 2 years with this company and it was the happiest time of my life. Not because of money, but because I could help people with this job!!!

Hi Nate, I just found your channel and watched a few videos. More will follow for sure. I like that you think in your own way, are open minded and show the cultural differences between the US and Germany in a "normal" way without exaggeration. Very interesting points of view that make me think about. Greetings from the middle of Germany.

We have this problem in Australia, where a lot of our jobs are looked down on as jobs for teenagers such as retail or hospitality so adults are embarassed to do them. It forms a vicious cycle of low pay, poor training and a belief that those jobs don't matter from people working them and people interacting with them.