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

Evan Edinger reflects on how his perspective on American life has shifted after over a decade abroad.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Evan Edinger, an American YouTuber, shares nine realizations he's had about the United States since moving to London over 13 years ago. His perspectives on topics like gun culture, government, walkability, food quality, healthcare, consumer protections, worker rights, and work-life balance have shifted dramatically after experiencing life in a different country.

Why it matters

Edinger's insights provide an interesting outsider's perspective on American society and culture, highlighting areas where the U.S. lags behind other developed nations. His reflections touch on issues that are often debated in the U.S., such as gun control, healthcare, and worker protections, offering a fresh viewpoint from someone who has experienced life on both sides.

The details

Edinger grew up in a pro-gun household in New Jersey, but his views on gun ownership have changed since moving to London, where he no longer feels the constant fear of gun violence. He's also been struck by the greater effectiveness of the U.K.'s parliamentary system compared to the gridlock of American politics. Edinger appreciates the walkability and public transportation in London, as well as the higher food quality standards and lower healthcare costs. He's also been surprised by the stronger consumer protections and more generous worker rights 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 and has since gained a new perspective on American life.

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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)

“Visiting Philadelphia when I was younger was always scary to me because I never knew who had a gun, who wanted to rob me. Visiting New Orleans a couple years ago, I was told by my hotel staff that a few days prior, a tourist was shot and died in the local Popeye's Chicken because he caught a stray bullet of two people having an argument in the restaurant. So, that's just something that people just have to deal with. This constant fear of I could just die being caught in a crossfire and there's nothing I can really do about it because freedom. I've pretty much never felt that level of fear in London 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. And because I'm always walking everywhere, because I'm always cycling everywhere, it's so much easier to be healthy and physically fit without even trying.”

— Evan Edinger (YouTube)

The takeaway

Edinger's reflections on life in the U.S. versus the U.K. highlight the trade-offs Americans face and the areas where the U.S. lags behind other developed nations. His insights challenge the notion that the U.S. is the 'beacon of freedom' and prompt readers to consider how their own country could improve in areas like healthcare, worker protections, and urban design.