Things about the US that both boggle and beguile my British brain
And how I kind of get why nearly half of Americans never leave
Until late 2024, I’d only been to the US once to NYC when I was 12. Somehow, I’ve been back six times in the past twelve months. All to the West Coast: California, Las Vegas (twice - obsessed with that silly place), Arizona and Oregon (my favourite).
As a Brit (the obvious elephant in the room aside), there are a few - mostly mundane - observations that continue to baffle me about the US.
Flat Whites are not a thing. Even when they’re on the menu, you still get a perplexed look… and end up receiving a cappuccino sized cup (the smallest size I came across) of very milky coffee. The mini cups of coffee that actually originate from Australia are very popular in the UK, but haven’t fully made their way over there yet. I thought they’d be everywhere in calorie conscious Los Angeles at least - but no.
Contactless/Apple Pay - considering Apple Pay was literally invented by Apple in the state of California over a decade ago, it baffles me that so many places are only just starting to introduce contactless. In restaurants, mobile card machines to take payment at your table are a rarity, with most places having to actually TAKE YOUR CARD (!!!) away to the register to tap on your behalf. Insane. Contactless and roaming readers have been the norm in the UK for many years now, and I only experienced it for the first time in a restaurant in San Francisco this summer, so hopefully it’s being rolled out across the country now.
And to add to this…you’re often still asked to handwrite your tip and sign receipts. In the UK you only have to do that if something is very wrong! Although, in a random Whole Foods in Bend, Oregon, you can do the terrifying ‘pay with palm’ thing. One extreme to the other.
Adding tax to the price at the till - I’m aware I’m definitely not the first tourist to moan about this, but I don’t understand the rationale of not pricing the items on the shelf as the total price the customer pays. Why does the customer need to know the price before tax? I know it’s only an extra 8%, but it seems over-complicated for no reason at all.
The default transport system is driving or Ubers. In LA at least. I realise now that we are so spoilt in the UK with the tube, trains and buses. Trains are stupidly expensive at home (something I could - and do - whinge about all day, I’m literally in a WhatsApp group with my commuter pals called “F TFL, F National Rail”), but you can get anywhere in the city/country relatively easily. If they invested in a better train network, the country would be so much more accessible and wouldn’t be so reliant on airplanes.
The utterly excessive portions. Every meal I’ve had there is an abundance of food. There’s a totally avoidable, obscene amount of waste. And when you embarrassingly explain that you can’t take it home because you’re travelling, the server looks personally offended.
Tipping culture - yes, again, I’m not breaking the internet with this one, but it really is unfair that workers can only make a good living by relying on customers tipping in the US. The only situations you’d tip in the UK are at a restaurant, housekeeping at a hotel, or potentially your hairdresser. But you’re asked to tip at every card machine in every store over there (even Erewhon!), and it’s expected in most situations. My friend and I were screamed at by a porter at a nice hotel in LA once because he took our bags out of our taxi for us without being asked to, but we had no cash on us as we’d just arrived. He actually screamed at us!
Americans definitely do some things better though..
Halloween is on steroids there - Their commitment to the bit is commendable. Giant skeletons and spiders guard perfectly coiffured front lawns. Even the sidewalks are adorned with decorations. On my trip to LA this time last year about 3 weeks before Halloween, I walked past a lady in a fairly fancy restaurant in West Hollywood wearing a 3 foot tall witch’s hat, who greeted me with a casual ‘Happy Halloween’ as I walked past. I absolutely adore it. Us Brits are up for a laugh, but take ourselves a bit too seriously to be cutting about in fancy dress on a Wednesday lunch time.
Ubers in LA arrive almost immediately. Compared to the UK where you can be waiting 10-15 minutes or longer sometimes, even in London! Also: the option to request a female driver is a revelation. Can we have that, please?
Erewhon! Ok, this only exists in LA, and I know this is like tourists saying they’ve been to the Harry Potter 9 and 3/4 platform at Kings Cross, but I strongly feel that (my) happiness levels would be supremely improved if we had access to a supermarket like this in the UK. Especially for someone who is mostly vegan, it’s a game changer. Yes, we have M&S, and people often compare the two, but Erewhon is next level. 30 different types of ginger shots, 20 different types of coconut yoghurt, freshly made falafel wraps ($17.50 for the privilege, no less) and deliciously bizarre concoctions you’d never see anywhere else (‘raw’ cinnamon rolls made from dates and pecans! Who knew). I would live like a very poor but content and healthy Queen. Erewhon was also the closest I got to a Flat White too, so extra points for an almost decent coffee.
This is controversial, but to an extent, I totally get why 42% of Americans have never left the country (Time Out). The United States is enormous and genuinely stunning. It has so many variations of landscapes, climates and ways of life. With New York City, Las Vegas, Montana, Utah, Oregon, California, Alaska and even Hawaii (!) all within the same country (among many other incredible places), Americans are spoilt for domestic holiday destinations.
US TV and billboard adverts are hilarious. Weight-loss jabs with a jolly theme tune on telly and comical STI-test ads on benches. Why not!
Pets on planes! I was delighted on my internal transfer from Seattle > Oregon last year to see all different sizes of dogs in the cabin. I would LOVE to be able to take my dog away with me. Even allowing pets on the London > Paris / Amsterdam Eurostar routes would be a welcome start.
Finally, the cars are just way more fun in the US. Ours are so boring here. To be fair, whenever I see the random orange lamborghini driving around Bedford I think ‘what a tit’, but I really appreciate the iridescent Cybertrucks and orange G-Wagons in Beverley Hills.
All that to say, I remain fascinated with the place, and the quest to find a Flat White Stateside continues.
Rosie x
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