10 Best Things About Living in America After 20 Years Here (Part 1)

The Good Things About America After Living Here for 20 Years

Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive.

Today, I’d like to share 10 great things about America that I’ve personally experienced after living here for 20 years.

This is just my personal perspective, so of course other people may feel differently.

In this article, I’ll cover the first half: points 1 through 6.

Video version available here!

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1. Freedom

In America, you can really feel a sense of freedom.

Of course, if you belong to an organization, you need to follow its rules, but in everyday life there’s a huge amount of freedom.

For example, I hardly feel the social pressures that are often seen in Japan, like the need to “keep up appearances” or to behave in an “age-appropriate” way.

People don’t worry so much about what others think, and everyone tries to live in a way that feels true to themselves.

Whether your hair color is flashy or your clothes are unique, no one really cares.

There’s a culture of mutual respect and acceptance.

Everything comes down to personal responsibility and your own choices.

“If you want to become wealthy, you work hard and put in the effort.”

“Instead of restricting yourself because you’re worried about what others think, you can live more freely.”

In that sense, I think choosing to live in America is a wonderful option.

2. Diversity

America is, as everyone knows, a nation of immigrants.

People come here from all over the world, and many different cultures coexist.

This diversity is one of America’s biggest strengths.

Looking around me, the owner of the building where our company is located is German, our neighbors are Canadian and British, my child’s friend’s family is from Sweden, and our dentist is Korean — it’s truly diverse.

What’s interesting is that America has no official national language.

We use English as a common language, but it’s essentially just a communication tool.

Just by living in this kind of environment, you can experience cultural diversity firsthand every day and naturally develop a more global perspective.

3. Vast Land

America’s national parks are overwhelmingly vast and beautiful.

There are numerous world-famous national parks like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite.

When you visit them, you can’t help but feel how small your own worries are and how short your few decades of life really are.

And the journey itself is a wonderful experience.

For example, you might drive through the desert for five hours and arrive completely exhausted.

Then you see the magnificent scenery spreading out in front of you and you’re overwhelmed with emotion.

In moments like that, I’m reminded what a privilege it is to live on this Earth.

That feeling becomes a driving force in my daily life.

4. Taking Fun Seriously

Americans take having fun surprisingly seriously.

This is especially clear when it comes to watching sports. Everyone wears their favorite player’s or team’s jersey and cheers with full enthusiasm.

Watching people get excited over their team’s wins and losses or their favorite player’s performance is really impressive.

The sense of unity between players and spectators and the energy of the entire stadium are things you just can’t feel through TV.

These events have also become hugely successful businesses.

Sports events aren’t just games; they’ve become major entertainment.

It’s the same with entertainment shows.

They bring world-class entertainers from around the globe, spend enormous amounts on marketing, and put on events of astonishing scale.

Broadway musicals and Las Vegas shows, for example, really are world-class in both scale and quality.

The best example would be Las Vegas.

It’s like a city where everything is dedicated to entertainment and fun.

Building huge hotels and an entire city in the middle of the desert and dedicating everything to entertainment — the level of technical ability and financial power behind it is simply amazing.

5. Kind to Women, Children, Pets, and Pedestrians

Although it felt strange at first, I was surprised by America’s culture of consideration for others.

For example, when pedestrians are crossing the street, cars usually stop right away and let them go first.

This is a scene you don’t see very often in Japan.

The idea of “ladies first” is also deeply rooted.

Things like men opening doors for women happen all the time.

I wasn’t used to it at first, but now it feels natural to me.

I feel this culture isn’t just about manners but an expression of caring for others.

The environment is also very friendly to children. Stores often have small treats prepared for them.

Many public and commercial facilities also have spaces just for children.

For families raising children, it’s a very comfortable environment.

The same is true for pets — many stores allow you to bring them inside.

Even when you stop by cafes or clothing stores while out on a walk, you can often go in with your dog.

Some places even have treats and water ready for pets. This shows that pets are respected as members of the family.

6. Close Family Relationships

The way Americans spend holidays and special occasions is a bit different from Japan.

For example, holidays like Christmas and Labor Day, which couples often spend together in Japan, are usually spent with family in America.

Of course, some people spend the time with their romantic partners, but many people go home to spend time with their families.

During these holidays, it’s common for families to have barbecues or go on trips together.

Especially during major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, family members who live far away often gather for big family reunions.

These occasions become precious opportunities to strengthen family bonds.

Also, driving children to and from school is a normal part of everyday life.

In Japan, elementary school children often commute on their own, but in America it’s normal for parents to drive their children to school all the way through high school.

This isn’t just a custom — it also has to do with America’s geography and safety considerations.

Parents follow a daily routine of taking their children to school in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon.

There are clear reasons for this.

First, schools are often not very close to home.

And safety is a major concern.

Because America is so spread out, in many cases walking to school simply isn’t practical.

Since children usually have to go by car, parents need to provide transportation.

This daily pick-up and drop-off routine creates more chances for parents and children to communicate.

Through conversations in the car, parents can learn about their children’s school life, friendships, and concerns.

Thanks to this environment, I feel the parent-child relationship is very close.