America calls itself ‘The Land of the Free’.
But travel blogger Kalyn Franke, who moved to the UK from Florida, claims that she feels more free in Britain than in the U.S, despite the latter’s claim.
In a video for her Girl Gone London YouTube channel that’s garnered over 160,000 views and 3,100 comments, she explains her reasons, which centre on healthcare, religion, public transport, jaywalking and annual leave.
She told MailOnline Travel that many Americans would be unaware of the differences between their country and Britain, ‘because our news can be very local and America-centric’.
Read on for more on the entries in Kalyn’s list.
HEALTHCARE
Travel blogger Kalyn Franke (above), who moved to the UK from Florida, claims that she feels more free in Britain than in the U.S
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is one of the most significant contributors towards Kalyn feeling freer in Britain than the U.S.
She says on the video: ‘It’s not just the fact that I can go to the doctor here and not pay anything or have surgery and not pay anything – it’s also to do with the fact that I’m self-employed. If you’re self-employed in a place like the UK that has a nationalised healthcare system, it means you don’t have to factor this into your job.
‘In the U.S, having health insurance is essentially mandatory to be able to go to the doctor. Typically, health insurance is attached to a salaried job. In the U.S, those who are self-employed have to source that health insurance and pay the monthly fees, which can be extortionate – we’re talking at least in the multiple hundreds per month.’
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is one of the most significant contributors towards Kalyn feeling freer in Britain than the U.S
Kalyn told MailOnline Travel separately: ‘The freedom of having a national health service and not having to worry about going into debt if you get ill, or choosing a job based on health insurance, is the most important freedom I feel I have in the UK that I would love to have in the U.S. It really makes a big difference and eliminates a huge stress that people feel in the U.S.
‘They’re always shocked about the ease of using the NHS. One thing that really makes them jealous is that you won’t be billed in the UK after having to use an ambulance – you will sometimes have to pay thousands for this in the U.S.’
PUBLIC ACCESS TO LAND
Kalyn loves the UK’s right to roam – remarking to MailOnline that many Brits she’s met ‘didn’t realise that the ability to access public footpaths and walk across private land is quite special’.
She says in the video: ‘In America, it’s a much more private system with no public access or right of way in that sense. Of course, you can go to a national park, but I feel I can move a little more freely in the UK.’
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The vast majority of the UK is really well connected by trains and buses, says Kalyn
Getting around is much easier in the UK, says Kalyn – thanks to public transport.
She says: ‘America for the most part is run on cars, and so is a lot of the UK. However, the vast majority of the UK is really well connected by trains and buses and other forms of transportation – so I have more options.’
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND PAID LEAVE
Americans are often starved of vacations, remarks Kalyn – with Brits blessed with far more leave.
She says: ‘In the UK, if I were to work a traditional nine-to-five salaried position, I would be guaranteed by the government 28 days of annual leave per year. In the U.S, if I were in the same exact position… there are no federal government requirements for how many days I could have off.
‘They’re seen as a perk of the job – so you hope to pick a job that offers enough leave or enough days off. It could be zero! And even when you do tend to get vacation days included in your job in America, it’s usually much less than in the UK.’
JAYWALKING
Brits – savour your right to cross the road. That’s the message from Kalyn, who explains: ‘In America, there are lots of laws in different states that say you cannot simply cross the road wherever you’d like to cross the road [known as jaywalking]. By law, you have to cross the road at a dedicated crossing – and if you don’t you could run the risk of getting yourself a ticket.
‘You’re not likely to be put in jail for jaywalking, but it’s still something that is codified as not legal. In the UK, I can cross the road wherever I want to cross the road [except motorways]. I can look to see if there’s traffic with my own eyes and I can just decide to walk across that road.’
RELIGION
Kalyn remarks that in America ‘it can be more difficult for someone to be in a position of power without being a part of the majority religion, which is Christianity’
Kalyn remarks that in America – it’s difficult to hold a position of political power without being Christian.
She explains: ‘In the UK, I feel like there is much more freedom to become somebody in power – whether that’s at a local level or national level regardless of your religion.
‘In America, it can be more difficult for someone to be in a position of power without being a part of the majority religion, which is Christianity.’
For more from Kalyn visit www.youtube.com/@GirlGoneLondoofficial and girlgonelondon.com. To see the original YouTube post click here.