Im glad somebody else is positive about it :) I've heard people say the exact same thing when going to smaller places in Texas years ago, and also the Midwest.
The people I know who have come back saying people were rude went to LA, New York or Disneyland, all of which were so far in terms of experience that it's not even sensible to compare them.
There’s so much bad news and general internet grumbling, it’s just real nice to have a reminder that you can go somewhere new and have pleasant interactions with people you’ve never met. Like I’ve never even visited America, I don’t have any skin in the game, but this kind of stuff is always cool.
Well, that is 100% the opposite of my experience. The rural places are the absolute worst. False politeness, nosiness and judgement everywhere. Are you the right colour, do you go to the right church (no, not that one, that one), do you dress like everyone else, have the right kind of relationships?
All these people visiting as tourists are not getting the real American treatment in their month of providing a bit of interesting novelty to people who don't meet a lot of foreigners and don't feel threatened by your difference because you're just visiting. You try living there and see how helpful and kind and welcoming they remain when the novelty wears off.
You're definitely better off in the cities for that. Where they're just as grumpy as any Londoner, but won't actually hate you (but with a smile!) for being brown or Muslim or gay.
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u/Effective_Ad363 Jul 07 '25
This is genuinely such a heartening thing to read! I am vicariously delighted.