The United States of America is a country that needs no introduction, for most people. From a very young age, no matter where we were in the world, American culture has influenced us in one way or the other, more so now with the growing use of social media such as Youtube, Twitter and Facebook. The country is made up of 50 states, each with their own governors and regulations which also leads to the diversity in sub-cultures. My first visit to the US was in 2016 when I flew stateside for work. As I was already in the country, I extended my trip to explore this country, which I felt I knew so much, through growing up on American TV and their strong media influence, was I in for a few surprises. I visited towns/cities in Texas and California. I can’t explain my experience more clearly than, ‘I felt like I was living inside my TV’. 

It is difficult to write one summary about the US because it is so varied and expansive in its offering. It is incredible to be able to visit a lot of the places I’d seen on screen. For example, my first visit to Walmart was a 2hr affair. I just needed some fruit but decided to go through all the isles to see what else was on offer. Americans do processed food, and they do it well. There was a whole isle dedicated to 2l and 5l tubs of ice cream. There were at least 20 flavours of Ben and Jerry’s I had never seen before. The popcorn, the crisps, the cereal, chocolate. It is unreal and everything I tried was so delicious! 

The country has a wide range of interesting natural and man-made places of interest. The Pacific Coast Highway drive was one of reliving childhood memories and utmost beauty with all the beautiful landscapes. A visit to Hollywood and Beverly Hills was fascinating as it literally was ‘AS SEEN ON TV’. 

Sport in America is a really big deal! They do it big. American football, baseball and basketball game are the major sports and people really follow their sports with such a passion. The atmosphere at sporting events is electrifying with the event organisers pulling off all the stops, with entertainment during the breaks. Interestingly, kiss cams are not just for the movies. Even if the sport itself does not interest you, I recommend attending one sporting event to experience the atmosphere. 

If you are a food lover, I challenge you to find out the foods that are most popular in the states/cities you visit and try it out. While I was in San Antonio, I had to try their BBQ and some TexMex – San Antonio had some of the best margaritas I have ever had outside of Mexico. While in San Francisco, I could not leave without trying their famous clam chowder and sourdough bread. Most places I went to had great food but it is a great opportunity to also try out unique food experiences that one is unlikely to find in other places. Think ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ or ‘Food vs Man’ or search for the restaurants with the historical/cultural stories to amplify your senses with a dash of nostalgia.