Why do some people on SW talk about the US as if it's the only country in the world?

@FrankietheFly because their generation has not travelled

@InOtterWords agreed babs, most think going to another state is something different lol

@FrankietheFly one reason is that they do not actually get much annual leave

@WindOfAdolf you are not making sense

@InOtterWords Interestingly, I thought I was in a huge minority because I travel internationally for work and personal travel. I believed, just as you do that Americans do not travel abroad often. I apparently saw the same news article as you that reported that only 10% of American population had a US issued passport. I read an article a couple months ago that was written in 2018. It proved me wrong (based on multiple reports) as the article says that 42% of the US population holds valid passports and have traveled outside the USA at some point in the last 5 years. I was even more surprised however that there were 13% of adult Americans that had never traveled outside their home state or fewer than 10 states in their lifetime . I'm trying to find that link because I used it for a research project I was doing. If I find it I'll send it to you because it had a lot of interesting info. Not that you would be interested because you are not American but it was interesting to me.

@InOtterWords And my favorite country other than the USA would be Germany, followed by Canada, and then probably Scotland.

@InOtterWords Geography explains why "most" Americans according to you have not travelled outside the US...which I am unsure is true anyway.

@Fungirlmmm I am interested, I have no objection to Americans I am just trying to give some reasons behind it.

I am guessing that many of those travellers are first generation immigrants that now hold green cards.

I based my assumption from talking to my American friends and relatives who told me that they only got about 2 weeks annual leave a year alongside their public holidays. I used to get 6 weeks in comparison.

@Abrienda I know my geography quite well, I have travelled to many countries, including America. The world is a beautiful place.

@InOtterWords Well you are right of course but when you consider America is separated from Europe and Asia by oceans which cost several thousand dollars per person just to cross that most families do not have that kind of money to spend on such a luxury and that Americans have an entire continent to travel within (including two foreign countries) it is not surprising really nor something for Europeans (like myself) to be snarky about (and not saying you are).

And yes nearly all Americans have only too week vacations not the month long ones common in Europe🤗

@Abrienda that was the point I was trying to make. I was not being snarky....but why spend thousands and travel for hours when you have a beautiful country on your doorstep.

@InOtterWords And I specifically wrote you were NOT being snarky...I was referring to Europeans in general of which I am one.

@InOtterWords you're right. It depends on who you work for because there is no mandated vacation, but if you work for my employer and not as a contractor persons with my level of service get 8 paid holidays a year, 30 days of vacation, and 10 personal days/sick days a year. Given I have worked for the company since 1993 (before I graduated from college). Employees are allowed to carry over the personal days but they cannot exceed 30 or you lose them and they have to be taken in full days not partial ones. It just depends where you work and for how long. And I'm interested in how all people live. One of the most interesting persons here (to me) is a woman my age that is Iranian. I adore her because she shares so openly with me about her personal thoughts and challenges as well as the beauty of her life. I love when you guys share your "football" stories and all the interesting word differences. That is one of the things I like about this place. There is a lot of diversity here.

Here is an article that talks about the leave by country.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_annual_leave_by_country#Countries

@InOtterWords and I didnt think you were snarky btw.