American YouTuber Shares 9 Realizations About the U.S. After Living in London

Evan Edinger moved to London over 13 years ago and shares how his perspective on American life has changed.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Evan Edinger, an American YouTuber, moved to London over 13 years ago to study abroad and ended up staying. He shares 9 realizations he's had about the U.S. since living in the U.K., including observations about gun culture, government dysfunction, walkability, food quality, healthcare costs, consumer protections, worker rights, and work-life balance.

Why it matters

Edinger's insights provide an outsider's perspective on American life, highlighting areas where the U.S. lags behind other developed countries. His experiences challenge common American assumptions and prompt reflection on potential areas for improvement, from public policy to cultural norms.

The details

Edinger grew up in a pro-gun household in New Jersey, but living in London has made him question America's ubiquitous access to firearms and the constant fear of being caught in crossfire. He's also been struck by the U.S. government's dysfunction compared to the more effective parliamentary system in the U.K. Edinger appreciates the walkability and robust public transportation in Europe, as well as the higher food quality standards and lower healthcare costs. He's also observed stronger consumer protections and more generous worker rights, like mandatory paid time off, in Europe compared to the U.S.

  • Edinger moved to London over 13 years ago to study abroad.
  • Edinger has been living in London for the past 13 years.

The players

Evan Edinger

An American YouTuber who moved to London over 13 years ago to study abroad and ended up staying.

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What they’re saying

“The longer I stayed in London, the more I began to notice all of the assumptions that I'd grown up believing in America, the things I was brought up to believe were undeniably true and just the way the world worked—it turns out they weren't true at all.”

— Evan Edinger (YouTube)

“After having spent some time living in walkable neighborhoods, I would never ever choose to live in a car dependent place ever again. It is truly one of the most life-changing parts of living over here.”

— Evan Edinger (YouTube)

“There are only two types of people that are against the freeing social safety net that is universal healthcare. People that have never experienced socialized healthcare and people that profit from the broken system. That's it.”

— Evan Edinger (YouTube)

The takeaway

Edinger's reflections on life in the U.S. versus the U.K. highlight how an outsider's perspective can challenge long-held American assumptions and prompt critical examination of areas where the country could improve, from gun laws and healthcare to worker rights and urban planning.