American Content creator Evan Edinger explains how living in London reshaped his views on guns, healthcare, transportation, government, and everyday life in America.
When New Jersey–born YouTuber Evan Edinger moved to London 13 years ago, he expected a brief study-abroad adventure before coming back to the United States. Instead, living overseas reshaped nearly every assumption he grew up with, changing his views on safety, politics, food, money, and what it means to feel free.
A Shift in Perspective After Leaving Home
Edinger says he never intended to stay in the U.K. long-term. But the longer he lived abroad, the more he questioned the beliefs he once viewed as uniquely American.
“The longer I stayed in London,” he shared, “the more I began to notice all of the assumptions that I’d grown up believing in America… it turns out they weren’t true at all.”
His viral breakdown includes nine major realizations that changed how he understands life in the U.S.
1. Guns: From Normal to Unthinkable
Edinger grew up surrounded by firearms.
“In my family home in America, we had a 12-gauge shotgun, a 10-gauge, a black powder rifle, and a .410 shotgun for the children.”
In contrast, living in London gave him a sense of safety he says he never experienced in many U.S. cities.
He recalled visiting New Orleans and being told that a tourist had recently been killed after being hit by a stray bullet inside a fast-food restaurant.
“I’ve pretty much never felt that level of fear in London at all. And that alone was enough to sway my opinion on guns.”
2. Government: The Myth of “World’s Best Democracy”
American students are often taught that the U.S. system is the global model. Edinger says adulthood, and distance, revealed a different reality.
“Once you become an adult and you see how dysfunctional the U.S. government is… you settle on ‘Well, at least it’s not a third world dictatorship.'”
He argues that parliament-style governments in Europe, while imperfect, experience less gridlock.
“Most systems in Western Europe are far more effective than what I grew up believing was the ‘best in the world.'”
3. Walkability and Public Transport
In London, Edinger has never needed a car.
“After having spent some time living in walkable neighborhoods, I would never ever choose to live in a car-dependent place ever again.”
He says daily walking and cycling naturally improve his health, an experience he finds rare in the U.S.
4. Food Quality and Food Prices
Edinger points to regulatory differences between the U.S. and Europe.
“Europe’s food agency focuses on possibilities and the U.S.’s focuses on probabilities.”
The strict European approach means fewer additives, he says, and easier access to fresh groceries thanks to walkable communities.
“It’s much easier to be healthy in Europe than in America.”
5. Healthcare: No Fear of Bankruptcy
Perhaps his strongest contrast comes from experiencing universal healthcare.
“If my health does have issues, I am glad it’s not something that would ever bankrupt me.”
Edinger even challenges common critiques of socialized medicine:
“There are only two types of people that are against the… social safety net that is universal healthcare: people that have never experienced it and people that profit from the broken system.”
6. Consumer Protections: Rights Over Corporations
A faulty MacBook exposed another major difference.
“If you buy a tech product in Europe, you have a reasonable expectation that it should last you at least two years free of defects.”
He received a full refund under European law and says these protections prioritize individuals over corporations, something he feels is often reversed in the U.S.
7. Worker Rights and Paid Time Off
Edinger highlights the dramatic gap in labor protections:
- 28 days minimum paid holiday
- One year paid maternity leave
- Two weeks paid paternity leave
- Guaranteed sick leave
His experience in the U.S. looked nothing like that.
“I worked five years at a Pizza Hut in New Jersey… Never got a single day of paid vacation.”
8. Money and Quality of Life
While Americans often earn higher salaries, Edinger argues the trade-off isn’t always worth it.
“If you earn a lot of money… you can feel a lot more successful in the U.S. But… the stress and cost tradeoffs and quality of life erode the value of that higher salary quite quickly.”
9. Do Americans Romanticize Europe?
Edinger says many Americans aren’t idealizing Europe, they’re longing for things polls show they actually want:
- Universal healthcare
- Longer paid vacations
- Walkable neighborhoods
“If America were an actual democracy… they could have everything they wanted in the country they were born and raised.”
Still, he acknowledges Europe isn’t perfect. And there are things he genuinely misses from home.
“The main thing… that I miss about the U.S.… It’s just Mexican food and good ice cream.”
Why Edinger’s Reflections Matter
Edinger’s video resonates because it captures something familiar to anyone who has lived abroad: distance sharpens perspective.
By comparing two systems he knows firsthand, he highlights the trade-offs Americans face, between independence and infrastructure, opportunity and security, prosperity and quality of life.
His reflections also echo broader debates happening nationwide about healthcare, labor rights, transportation, and safety.
A Look at the Bigger Picture
Edinger’s story taps into a growing conversation among young Americans:
- Why does daily life feel harder in the U.S. than in other wealthy countries?
- Should quality of life, not just wealth, be part of the national conversation?
- And what does “freedom” actually look like in practice?
His observations don’t suggest that Europe is superior, or that America is broken, but they raise questions about which aspects of life are shaped by culture, policy, or simple habit.
Final Takeaway
Edinger didn’t set out to compare the U.S. and Europe. But by building a life abroad, he discovered that many assumptions he once held were not universal truths.
His message is less about choosing sides, and more about learning to see your home country with new eyes.
And if nothing else, he’d really like some good Mexican food.
Featured Image From Youtube: Evan Edinger