So, What’s It Really Like Living Outside the U.S.?

The Question That Always Comes Up

Every time I meet someone from the United States, whether it’s at an airport lounge, an online forum, or a random café conversation, there’s one question that almost always pops up:

“So… what’s it really like living outside the U.S.?”

It’s never asked casually. It comes with genuine curiosity, sometimes even a hint of surprise—as if life beyond American borders is some grand mystery waiting to be decoded.

And every time I hear it, I pause. Not because I don’t have an answer, but because the answer isn’t simple. How do you sum up entire cultures, cities, and daily lives into one neat sentence?

Why This Question Matters

At first, I brushed it off as small talk. But after being asked repeatedly, I began to realize something deeper was going on.

For many Americans, especially those who haven’t traveled widely, life outside the U.S. feels both fascinating and foreign. It’s easy to imagine it as either idyllic or difficult depending on what you’ve seen in movies or news reports.

So when they ask me, “What’s it really like?” what they’re really saying is, “Help me understand a world I can’t fully picture.”

And that, I think, is a beautiful starting point for conversation.

The Assumptions Hidden Behind the Question

Over time, I noticed that this question often comes with assumptions—sometimes spoken, sometimes not.

• Assumption 1: Life must be harder. People will ask, “Do you have access to the same technology, healthcare, or conveniences?”
• Assumption 2: Or life must be simpler and better. Others imagine charming cobblestone streets, slower living, and romanticized traditions.
• Assumption 3: Everyone wants to move to the U.S. eventually. There’s an unspoken belief that America is always the ultimate destination.

What’s interesting is that none of these assumptions are fully right or wrong. Life abroad can be challenging and enriching, complicated and joyful—all at once.

What I Actually Tell Them

When someone asks me what it’s really like, I try to move past broad stereotypes and share personal stories instead.

I talk about the simple joys—buying fresh bread from a street vendor, festivals that light up entire neighborhoods, friendships formed across language barriers.

I also talk about frustrations—bureaucracy that can take forever, adjusting to a different pace of work, missing certain foods or family traditions from home.

These stories paint a more nuanced picture than just “better” or “worse.” They show what real daily life looks like: messy, beautiful, human.

Why This Question Resonates

The reason this question keeps coming up, I think, is because it’s universal.

Even if you’ve never left your country, there’s an innate curiosity about how other people live—what they eat for breakfast, what their streets look like, how they spend weekends. These details seem small, but they bridge cultures in ways that big headlines can’t.

I’ve had conversations where we ended up laughing about things as random as favorite snacks or debating which country has the best coffee. (Spoiler: everyone is loyal to their own.)

Memorable Conversations

One of my favorite moments happened on a flight from New York to Istanbul. I was sitting next to a college student who had never traveled outside the U.S. Before takeoff, she asked me nervously, “What’s it like over there? Is it safe? Will people stare at me?”

By the end of the flight, after swapping stories and tips, she was scribbling down places she wanted to explore. Her fear had turned into excitement.

Another time, an older gentleman I met in Chicago told me he’d always wanted to see Asia but felt it was too late for him to start traveling. We ended up talking for hours about food, culture, and bucket-list dreams. He left saying, “Maybe it’s not too late after all.”

These interactions remind me how powerful curiosity can be when it’s met with open conversation.

What I’ve Learned from Being Asked

Being asked “What’s it really like?” has taught me two important lessons:

• Curiosity is connection. Behind every question is a desire to understand and relate.
• Perspective is everything. The things I take for granted can be fascinating to someone else, and vice versa.

When I answer honestly, not to impress or judge, but simply to share, I often see people’s eyes light up with possibility.

Advice for Anyone Wanting to Know

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever wondered what life outside your country is like, here’s what I’d suggest:

• Ask, but also listen. Be curious without assuming you already know the answer.
• Travel if you can—but even if you can’t, explore virtually. Read blogs, watch videos, connect with people online. There are countless ways to broaden your view.
• Look for similarities, not just differences. Culture varies, but people everywhere laugh, cry, dream, and strive for meaning.

Why This Story Belongs Here

The reason I wanted to write about this question is that it reflects something bigger than geography—it reflects our shared human instinct to understand each other.

The world feels divided in so many ways, but a simple question like “What’s it like where you live?” can open doors to empathy, friendship, and even inspiration for someone’s next big adventure.

What I Tell People Now

These days, when someone from the U.S. asks me, “So, what’s it really like living outside the States?” I smile and say:

“It’s everything you imagine—and a lot of things you’d never expect. But the best way to find out is to see it for yourself.”

And often, their next question is, “Where should I go first?”

That’s when I know curiosity has done its job—it’s sparked the desire to learn, to see, to connect.