How Other Parts of the World Live

I am watching Oprah right now. She is visiting and interviewing women from other parts of the world, learning how they live compared to Americans.

COPENHAGEN
Denmark, a democratic country with socialized views (free healthcare but taxes can be up to 60%), has supposedly the happiest people in the world. Generally, people are off work by 4pm and riding their bikes home. Meals are eaten as a family. People feel so safe there that they can leave the babies in strollers outside with no adult supervision. The Danish focus on happy living and not consumerism. Another difference Oprah noticed is the "cramped space" that families live in, very small apartments. That is the norm. A Danish husband said, "less things, less space, more life". That comment resonated with me so much so that I decided to blog it.

DUBAI
Dubai, a bustling metropolis, is a city with beautiful mosques, luxurious hotels, and the home of the tallest building. Only 10% of the people who live there are considered local. Houses are huge and it is very traditional to live next to your family - aunts and mother-in-laws, for example. Eating with all the family is very traditional. Hired help from the Philippines or India - housekeeper, cooks, drivers, etc - is also very common. There is no homeless as they are well-taken care. Everyone has medical care and no taxes. The woman doctor that was interviewed said to Oprah, "I can't imagine living in a country where there is no healthcare like in the United States, where the poor are not taken care of" to which Oprah could not answer.

RIO DE JANEIRO
White sand beaches, hot bodies and carnival! Home of the 2016 Summer Olympics. People are fit and do a lot of exercise (that's where the hot bodies come in)! Rio is a city of economic contrast but the people are optimistic. Many people buy homes with cash or small bank loans - no such thing as mortgages.

Oprah also interviewed women from Istanbul and Tokyo. It was an interesting episode.