- Many visitors were struck by American friendliness — from helpful Uber drivers and welcoming hosts to attentive hospitality staff — making strangers feel at home.
- Tourists expected the U.S. to be politically divided based on media, but often found curious, open conversations (and a lot of people who didn’t even know the World Cup was happening).
- The trip doubled as a cultural sampler: oversized everything, first bites of Raising Cane’s, Buc-ee’s pilgrimages, porch hangouts and spontaneous dance in Central Park.
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