What the US / South America / Europe gets right and Reflections on a Year Abroad

So now that I've been back in the states for a few months, and fully reminded of its joys and horrors - and after spending a year each in Latin America and Europe and America in the past 3 years, let's look at where the U.S. "gets it right," and where Latin America and Europe get it right.  Keep in mind this is, of course, fairly subjective, but I will TRY to be as objective as possible.  Also keep in mind that if I had done this same exercise, say, 40-50 years ago, things would be DRAMATICALLY different (esp. in regards to the U.S.).

Let's start with HEALTH CARE. Most folks will not be shocked to find the U.S. fails at this miserably - and in almost every marker: access, cost, quality. Sure, if you're filthy rich you can BUY better health care, but the U.S. remains woefully behind every single modern country in this regard. I accessed health care at multiple levels/disciplines in Ecuador and, again, ACCESS/wait times and cost were WAY better - and quality was comparable, if not better.  Ditto for Europe.  Mexico was a little more spotty, but it wouldn't take much to get established with quality providers once settled there. 

COST OF LIVING. Again, no surprise here: even in "cheaper" areas like Oklahoma, the U.S. remains insanely expensive compared to Latin America, and outside of wealthier countries in Europe where I wouldn't be able to retire anyway, more expensive than there. The biggie is rent, of course, and since that's folks' #1 expense.... As mentioned, health care is way cheaper abroad, groceries are cheaper, eating out, entertainment, etc. About the only thing I found that may be of similar cost is electricity - and still cheaper than Oklahoma.

CHOICE: So I did wanna throw in one area where the U.S. still excels. I remember when I was in Peace Corps/Kazakhstan a fellow volunteer showed some kids a pic of his mom in the grocery store (medium sized store in medium size town). The kids asked what was on the shelves. Bill told them, "Looks like jelly." The kids: "What else?" Bill: "Jelly. Just lots of different brands of jelly." Kids: "Why so many different brands?" Bill: "Um...."  So, yeah, the U.S. has more choice/options, but you quickly find you don't NEED 50 diifferent brands of strawberry jelly - especially since Latin America and ESPECIALLY Europe doesn't allow the absolute SHIT that America allows to be put in its food. Boo hoo, there's only one KFC in town?  Well, at least they offer veggie tenders that are not only way healthier, but actually REALLY tasty and I preferred them to the regular/real chicken.

SAFETY/QUALITY OF LIFE: Again, not even close. The everyday stress here is insane. The ignorance, The violence. The hate and racism. The greed. The entitlement. The complete disregard for the environment. I could go on and on. Not too long after we got back here, both DJ and I started having stomach issues and I'm having to spend limited funds on good probiotic supplements to keep us (relatively) healthy. And don't get me started on the possibility of being gunned down in public by some rando angry white dude.

So, on the whole, while it's nice to see family, and nice to have more (CHOICE) of Tex-Mex restaurants, I'm pretty unhappy to be back in this shithole country and am counting the days when I can leave for good/retire. So with THAT in mind, what am I thinking right now?

Firstly, I was very pleasantly surprised with Ecuador. I could totally live in Quito if need be, BUT in a year or two, I plan on going again and checking out Cuenca, which is supposed to be an even better fit for expats and is even cheaper than Quito, and lower elevation wise which would be nice. And strong expat community.

I could totally live in Porto, too, and loved the vibe, the outdoor culture, etc. But I'd probably wanna share an apartmnet with someone there as it's more expensive than Ecuador. But Europe is still the goal for travel options. The one biggest takeaway from my year exploring is that Ecuador is an even better option than I originally thought.  I would also consider a quasi-nomadic life where I go in with someone and buy a home "base" in, say Cuenca or Porto, and then sublet it when I'm traveling, maybe doing trans-oceanic month long cruises, etc.

That being said, to help me be sure, once I can get this little monster stabllized, I'm planning on one more scouting trip abroad to check out: Medellin, Colombia; Cuenca, Ecuador; somewhere in Spain; Estonia and/or Lithuania; eastern Europe (Georgia, Romania); and possibly Hanoi, Vietnam (apparently one of the few places in Asia where it's not ungodly hot/humid most of the year - AND so my little monster can see his "heritage.").

Seriously, America, WTF?

So I try to shield DJ from all the horrors happening now in the states. He's a worrier, and would be particularly worried something bad might happen to his Grams, or other family members. But he plays Roblox and other games with kids in the states and I guess an older kid brought up Renee Good so he comes ino the living room and says:

"Dad, did ICE really shoot someone's mom in the head and kill her?"

(me, grimacing) "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because they're Nazi pigs and she wouldn't 'obey'"

"What was she doing?"

"Picking her kids up from school."

Then there's a long pause as he chews on this and then, suddenly, he starts to tear up. "What if that happened to Auntie Amanda?" (my sister in law) "Or Auntie Angel" (my sister) Or Auntie Angela? (another sister in law).  So now, *I* am imagining that and my brain starts warring between extreme anger, fear, and horror over the possibility of that happening to the 3 young/youngish suburban moms in my own family (I have another suburban mom sister in law but she's married to my Nazi brother, so yeah, fuck her).

Anyway, after he "makes" me hug him and comfort him and assure him (not falsely, I hope!) that his aunties and Grams are going to be okay, he asked me, "Why isn't anyone doing anything?" And I thought.......and thought.  And finally said, "Well, lots of people are trying. Your Grams is going to a protest tomorrow..." and here I get interrupted as he starts freaking out and saying, "Is she going to be okay? I don't want Grams to die!" and then more tears and more comforting and assurances before he goes back to his game and I sit and rage. And cry.

So, yeah, America, WTAF? What is it going to take? If this shit were happening in France, they'd burn that country down--hell, they burn shit to the ground when the legislature even considers adding one year to the retirement age. And yes, I fully admit it's "easier" for me to judge since I'm not there right now, BUT, as mentioned above, I have friends and family in the states and it ENRAGES me to think of them living under this shit. And don't EVEN get me started on how I'd feel if one of MY white suburban mom family members was shot in the head three times leaving my nieces/nephews without a mom.  

But it also enrages me that people aren't doing more.  Mostly, the spineless cowards in Congress, but it's time to STEP. UP. people.  EVERYONE. So, as a history major who's looked at this shit before, studied the endless, "What did the Germans (or others) do or not do and what worked and what didn't," I have some suggestions.  Some are easy. Some are definitely not, but I feel like it's time for people to stop complaining and DO more if you REALLY don't want to see this get worse. Because believe me, it WILL. It clearly has been already.

1) Protest/speak out. This is obvious, and lots of good folks I know are doing this. Go to a march/demonstartion. Organize one yourself. CALL your reps and Senators and ask what they're doing to stop this madness. Again, CALL. It is more effective. Even if you're in a ruby red state, call them. Tell them they also represent you, and you need to add your voice to drown out the propaganda-swallowing maga filth. Call each time you hear/read about something awful happening. This literally takes up 10-15 minutes of your day.  

2) If you haven't already (and I know most everyone I know already has), you have to COMPLETELY shun any MAGA filth from your circle. Don't care if it's a lifelong friend, your sibling, your parent, your fucking dog. This is psychology 101. People who adhere to vile beliefs feel justified when otherwise good people still validate them by not shunning them. While I personally would choose the route of shaming them forcefully, you can also just politely say, "I'm sorry, but my values and conscience don't allow me to associate any longer with people that support what's happening right now in this country." Stop making excuses for these filth. They are not "otherwise good people." They are monsters who should be treated as such. No excuses.

3) This one's trickier and I know more difficult for some folks - but not as diffcult as you'd like to believe or rationalize: If you work for an entity that is providing material support for this regime, or even if they support them on any level, really, then quit. And make sure they know why. If, by your labor, you allow a filthy Nazi idealogue to continue supporting this shit, then you are flat out enabling it. Look for a job in an NGO/non-profit. Take early retirement if you're 62 - and if you can't afford to live in the states on it, move abroad. Will your standard of living take a hit? Maybe/probably, but you can mitigate it by the following:

4) Stop consuming at the level that you are--this is an obscenely corrupt capitalist oligarchy. All they understand is money/profit. One of the things I learned from moving abroad is you really REALLY don't need so much STUFF. It was painful for me to sell everything I owned. I even tossed years worth of scrapbooks, memorabilia, trinkets I've collected for years, and more. Clothes. Books. Media. On and on. You'd be amazed at how little you actually NEED to live a good life if you shift your priorities. Stop shopping at large businesses that support this filth. Tell them why. Stop eating at chains that are taking your money and using it to actively suppress your rights and kill you--or the rights of your loved ones. Shop/dine out only at mom & pop businesses that aren't playing Fox news on their screens.  If you go to a place and they are playing Fox, or Newsmax, or OAN, turn around and walk out, and go give them a one star review and state why.  

5) Shut. The. Country. Down. Again, using France and other countries as an example, they just stop working. They stop spending. They go full COVID peak time and grind the country to a halt until the "powers that be" stop their BS. Or they cut off their fucking heads. lol  This is no doubt the hardest because you really need mass participation and leaders driving it. So become one of those leaders.  Remember Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 

Finally, let me end with the words from a meme I recently shared, in case you missed it:

It's fucking 2026. Stop being afraid to speak out about Trump and ICE. Stop being afraid, you're going to lose friends, business, family. You should want NOTHING to do with anyone that supports this. This is not normal. They are murdering innocent people in broad daylight on the street and telling us we don't see what we see. Be brave already.