After Visiting America, We Expose 5 Lies Europeans Are Told!

Overview

After visiting the United States, the creators argue that several common “Europeans are told” stereotypes about America are exaggerated or outright false. They frame the video as debunking five “lies” (though they begin by saying 10), based on their own experiences across New York and Texas (including San Antonio and Austin).

The “Five Lies” They Debunk

1) “Cities are dirty.”

• They claim the opposite: New York was notably clean and orderly, despite expecting chaos.
• They say San Antonio was similarly clean.
• They report feeling safe and comfortable in both places.
• They mention being told they’d see rats, but instead saw mostly squirrels (at most one rat).

2) “Everything is expensive.”

• They disagree, saying that while some things may cost more, many essentials were cheaper or comparable—especially groceries and everyday shopping (they cite Walmart).
• They note that comparing costs is complicated because housing and taxes involve local details Europeans may not fully account for.
• Their takeaway: “everything expensive” isn’t accurate overall.

3) “Cities are violent / Americans are unsafe.”

• They were worried about crime in New York, but say they found it safe in practice, especially while spending time in central Manhattan.
• They add they didn’t explore areas they personally considered more problematic.
• They observed many police officers and generally didn’t feel unsafe.
• They report feeling safe in Texas as well, even more so than in New York.

4) “Driving/traffic is a nightmare.”

• They distinguish between New York and Texas:
  • New York: driving can be problematic.
  • Texas (San Antonio/Austin): driving felt surprisingly smooth, with many lanes and generally fluid traffic.
• They acknowledge other regions (e.g., California, Florida, Miami, Los Angeles) might be worse, but say their Texas experience wasn’t a nightmare.

5) “Americans eat fast food all the time / only fast food.”

• They reject the “Burger King/McDonald’s only” stereotype, arguing there are many food options beyond fast-food chains.
• They highlight trying multiple restaurants and say America offers diverse cuisines, including regional and “traditional local” foods.

Additional Stereotypes Addressed Within the Same Framework

• “Texas is a desert.” They expected an Arizona-like desert, but found places like San Antonio/Austin greener and more mountainous (Hill Country), with a different climate than anticipated.

• “Americans are overweight.” They say people come in many shapes and fitness levels; the stereotype feels exaggerated, even if American food can be tempting.

• “Tipping and sales tax are too confusing.” They say it becomes easy after a day or two—especially because tipping options are shown on many payment systems. They do note tipping can feel awkward in cash-only coffee shop situations.

• “All Americans carry guns.” They report seeing guns mainly among police, not civilians openly carrying in the states they visited.

• “Bathroom stalls have huge privacy gaps.” They acknowledge gaps can be larger than in Europe, but argue the concern is exaggerated and not as invasive as people claim.

Closing Message

They invite viewers to request a part two only if they receive enough interest (joking about “large like targets”), and they say they likely want to return to America again—possibly in a different state.

Presenters / Contributors

• Sara (main speaker/partner)
• S (referenced as “S,” co-presenter)
• M (referenced as “M,” co-presenter)