In honor of America’s birthday, here is a list of things America has that other countries don’t have that make me proud to be from the land of the free and home of the brave. (Please note: it is not the ONLY country to have the following, but it is the country I care most about)
- Water you can drink from the tap.
- Starbucks. And just a surplus of coffee shops in general
- Toilets that can flush toilet paper
- Western toilets
- So much soap and hand sanitizer.
- Public Trash cans
- A waste management system
- Trash cans for Recyclables
- English. Lots of it! Other languages are fantastic, but I’m only fluent in English.
- Pets.
- Veterinarians
- Really incredible hospitals
- Lots of reliable WiFi
- Paved, smooth highways and roads
- Appreciation for personal space on public transportation.
- Lots of efficient systems for things.
- Dishwasher machines
- Washer and dryer machines
- Stable homes
- Four seasons (at least, in Maryland we do)
- Freedom of speech
- Pant sizes for girls with hips.
- No judgement for showing your knees or shoulders or ankles
- People too focused on themselves to pay attention to me walking down the street. (Sometimes just let me be invisible)
- Reliable electricity
- Chipotle.
- Chick-Fil-A
- American shoe sizes
- Set Prices
- Actual name brands, not just knock-offs
- Air Conditioning
All of these are things I took for granted before leaving. America has a lot of problems, sure. America has a lot to improve upon. Yes, we sometimes (often) mix up our priorities and work too much instead of spending time with friends and family. America is not perfect by any means. This list is just a friendly reminder to sit back in your comfy leather office chair or soft couch, sip your coffee/tea and count your blessings. There are many wonderful people in this world who would love a nice, clean mattress to rest their head on after a hard day’s work.
