As an American, you probably think that being able to adjust the AC or choosing exactly what you want to eat is completely normal. However, these everyday conveniences are actually considered luxuries in many parts of the world. Here are thirteen regular things that people in other countries see as a sign of wealth. Prepare to feel grateful!
Featured Image Credit: Y-Boychenko/Depositphotos.com.
Reliable Internet Access
Trying to watch your favorite show & the internet just keeps buffering is pretty annoying. But imagine that being your everyday internet experience—or even worse, not having internet at all. In many places, a stable internet connection is something people can only dream of. They often have to go to internet cafes or wait for hours for a bit of slow (and unreliable) service.
Clean Drinking Water
Most of us don’t drink water straight from the tap and we’ll use a water filter instead. Yet in lots of countries, simply having access to clean water is a treasure and people need to walk miles to fetch water. In some cases, they’ll even spend a large portion of their income on bottled water. It’s a daily struggle for a sip of something that we casually use to water our plants.
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24/7 Electricity
Nobody likes sitting through a power outage but in some countries, that’s a regular occurrence. These people don’t have the luxury of constant electricity—so no late-night TV or keeping your food cold. And there’s definitely no charging your phone whenever you please! Somehow, those brief outages don’t seem so bad anymore.
Public Libraries
When was the last time you visited a public library? There’s so much to do there, including reading books for free and using the internet. Sadly, not all people are so lucky because many countries lack libraries. Access to free books & information isn’t a given in those countries—they’re things you don’t truly miss until you don’t have them.
Central Heating and Air Conditioning
Walking into a cool home on a hot summer day or feeling the warmth during winter is a pleasure most of us take for granted. Even in many countries in Europe, climate control is more of a luxury that less than 10% of people have in their homes. They have to find other ways to beat the heat or keep warm.
Free Public Restrooms
The idea of using the restroom without paying a penny should be the norm but it’s not. In many countries, finding a free public restroom is practically impossible because you might have to pay a fee or buy something from a local business just to use the facilities. Knowing this makes those roadside rest stops along the highway sound rather good!
Widespread Supermarkets
Not being able to find everything you need for your weekly meals in one place seems rather bizarre. However, in some countries, large supermarkets with aisles of choices are not a thing & people shop at local markets. They may even have to visit several small stores with a limited selection. All the choices you see in the grocery store are conveniences not everyone enjoys.
Fast Food and Delivery Services
Whenever you crave a pizza at midnight in America, you can have it delivered to your door. Yet not everywhere is like this as in many parts of the world, fast food & delivery is often super expensive. Or worse—it’s just not available. Our late-night snack runs or lazy evening orders are a special kind of luxury that we don’t show enough gratitude for.
Owning a Car
Here in the USA, it’s practically impossible to survive without a car — yet in many other places, it’s a sign of wealth. Sometimes, it’s because they have so many public transport options, while other times, it’s because of the cost. Either way, owning a car isn’t necessary or feasible for many people—remember that the next time you’re stuck in traffic.
Disposable Diapers
For lots of parents, disposable diapers are a diaper bag staple although not all families are this lucky. They’re a pricey luxury in many places and this forces parents to use cloth diapers or other methods to keep their children clean. Even the simplest of parenting aids can be a big deal elsewhere.
High-Quality Education
No matter your opinions on the education system, we expect to have access to well-equipped schools & skilled teachers. Unfortunately, in many countries – such a level of education is only available to those who can afford private schooling. Children have to make do with overly crowded and massively underfunded schools to learn instead.
Personal Computers and Smartphones
Having the latest tech in their pockets or on their desks is relatively normal for most Americans, yet owning a computer or smartphone is a major investment in other countries. It’s not a simple purchase for them. No, people in these countries see it as a luxury that only the richest people can afford.
Ample Closet Space
We’ve all had those moments when we complain about not having enough room for all our clothes. In many parts of the world, the concept of having a closet (let alone one that’s spacious) is unheard of because people live in smaller spaces. They have to deal with having much less. It’s enough to make our walk-in closets seem like rooms of their own!
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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