How we feel about America after living in Denmark for 5 years

I'm also an American living in Denmark (have lived here for 33 years, since I was 25). The unfortunate thing that I notice about The US, is that the government absolutely doesn't reflect the people. Like you two mention in your video, the politicians are too busy with their own interests, and not the peoples interests. My father was a US diplomat, so as a child, we moved every 4 years to different countries, and had Washington D.C. as our "base". I feel fortunate to have been able to experience different cultures (India, Germany, Switzerland, and now Denmark. Though I miss a lot of things from The US, I always have a feeling that there's too much of an imbalance when I visit. Joshua and Maya, there's nothing more eye-opening than being able to travel, and experience different cultures. It makes one more patriotic about being a human being more than a nationality, which is something that I feel is extremely healthy!

American living in DK since 2010 here. I understand the guilt you two expressed because I felt it too. I made the choice about five years ago to stop closely following the news from the US and start following the Danish news. I cancelled my NYT, WaPo, and Slate subscriptions. 99% of it was irrelevant to my life here, a sinkhole for time and attention that could be better directed to the place where I actually live. Have you actively tried to shift more of your energy and attention away from the US and towards Denmark, even if that is only spending more time reading Danish news and absorbing Danish culture? Thanks for sharing! It's nice getting the perspectives of some people in a similar situation.

I moved to Sweden from the USA over 20 years ago. I have never looked back with regret to still be here in Sweden. It is very refreshing to see other Americans seeing the problems of the American society. When I moved here, the first question Swedes would ask is "Why did you move to Sweden from America? The US is so great"... After saying that if the picture they have of the USA is from films or TV.. they have a very distorted picture of the real US. What I find funny is that I don't ever get that question anymore and some of those have said after seeing the US objectively, they agree with me.

I saw an interview once, that I believe was made by Jon Stewart. He asked a US House Representative something like "what is the most important thing for you to accomplish as a politician". His answer, without any hesitation, was "getting re-elected". Not making the world a better place, not ending poverty, not securing decent living conditions for poor children, not helping the homeless... But getting re-elected.... That says it all, I think.

Josh and Maya. I hear ya and it's perfectly fine that you get a new perspective. I have traveled a lot outside of the US as have you and quite a few times to Denmark and I always feel relieved when I'm out of the US just to get away from all of those sound bites and all of the negative news. I get a bit depressed when I come back home from travel. When I'm abroad I experience clean transportation, clean streets and environments, feel less threatend, more relaxed and a bit more of feeling alive again. I'm happy for you folks, keep living, loving and have the opportunity to enjoy life. It's ok here in the US, but not what it used to be.

As a dane who lived some of my life abroad i found that I would appreciate danish society more, when I saw the problems other countries have to deal with. But it also makes me annoyed when I hear danes complain about minor problems, like they dont realise how good they have it.

To me it seems obvious that the Two Party System is a large part if the polarization problem. There are only two teams, whereas, as you know, in DK we have like 10 parties or however many it is right now which force discussions to be more nuanced. Ranked choice voting would give third parties a chance.

I can recommend East Idaho News for some wholesome local news. I, as a Dane, watch it regularly although I have no connection to Idaho whatsoever. I just really enjoy the positive small town vibe they convey - whether it’s a segment about some local food truck that started serving meals or their Feel Good Friday segments. It provides a different positive perspective on the US 😊

Oh wow! Everything you have said is spot on. I live in Sweden, moved away from South Africa. I totally get you on this topic, the quilt, the disconnected feeling of your friends, family and country, how you start to see your own country from another perspective. Its crazy.

This is a funny coincidence! This video randomly popped up in my YouTube feed, and after watching a part of it I realised that my daughter (also named Maja - only with a j) went to “folk”-school with your daughter. We were talking a bit after their graduation day at school back in 2020 as well 😃

I think a lot of that disconnect comes from the difference in the news media in the US vs. Denmark. I have lived in the US for 6 years and I find that Danish news still offer me more than just news on the political landscape, that helps me keep a sense of 'I'm Danish'. But really what i found is that I tend to put Denmark and Danish culture on a higher pedestal, celebrating and comparing all the things I knew, to how it is over here. So I -- probably unfairly -- view Denmark more positively than when I moved away. And, since I see all the failures in the political level more closely over here, and how they affect and polarize the people around you, see the US in a more negative light than I did before.

Much love from Sweden <3 You have very good thoughts and show great signs of critical thinking which is very important in this world. You have great insight and thoughts, continue being you <3

As a Dane I really appreciate getting a more neutral perspective on the US from people like you, because judging from the news (on either side) it sure as heck fire oftentimes feels like the US is one big ultra polarized war zone where you're either on team Blue or team Red and no mercy is shown to anyone with a different political perspective than your own. So, thanks for making this video and allowing me to restore some confidence that the US is not on the brink of total destruction 😉👍

Im a Brit who lived in the US a few years ago in San Diego. I was treated so well and never had a single issue with my American cousins who were kind and helpful to me and my family during our stay. I came away feeling very positive and actually miss the vibe and the courtesy and manners of most Americans I came into contact with.

Really interesting to hear your inside-outside perspective on both USA and the world in general, thanks for sharing. Would love to hear more of these kind of reflections. 👍🙏

I really can't wait until I turn 18 so I can leave the US, luckily it will be very soon!

As a Dane I have traveled a lot, Europe, Egypt, many times, China, Bali and I do appreciate the fact that we live in one of the absolute "Buttercups" of this world. Natural disasters are hardly felt, decent wages and conditions and everything functions well. Even as now basic pensioners, my handicapped wife and I are able to travel if we feel for it. I have also invested well, I admit, so we will hardly miss anything in our lifetime.

Seems like such a genuinely family all of you. Hope you the best.

I'm from Germany and live in Norway. I definitely am way more disconnected and view Germany in a more critical light than when I moved from there. In the beginning I kept up with reading German news. Now I can't even remember when I've last read anything on there. In the beginning I went back for visiting family several times a year. Now it's been 5 years since my last visit and I don't miss it. Contrary to most of my expat friends I do not feel like going home when visiting my home country. I left in the first place because it never felt like home, so maybe that is the difference for me. I feel like I'm going home when I go back to where I live now.

Thanks for your videos, it's very interesting to see things from your point of view