POLL: Do you want to live & work in Europe?

[Schadenfroh]

im too scared of mad cow

 

[freegeeks]

maybe we can swap jobs 😉

I want to work in the US for a couple of years

(edit: I live in Belgium, the chance that an American wants to stay here is close to zero)

 

[StageLeft]

Work there? Possibly, but not in France. A friend of mine who works fairly high up for IBM regrets moving there dearly; and she was a pretty strong leftist when she left Canada. Working conditions and efficiency, healthcare, roads and traffic, infrastructure (namely telephone lines) are all hellish, in her opinion.

My younger brother just moved to france to teach english for a while and he's said basically the same thing. The unemployment rate in France is around 12% nationally, and the average joe works very little hours/week. Everything is so socialized that, in my opinion, it's started to remove the motivation for a lot of people to work. He said that some museums have four rates: kid, adult, senior, unemployed. Not kidding. Pathetic isn't it? And restaurants sometimes close for a couple of hours during the day so that people can eat lunch. Then in terms of store hours they're open far too little. Forget sunday, and saturday is like a half day. I think perhaps banks are closed on monday or something, and then I can't remember what else he said. Basically it sounds like a nation of lazy wine drinkers.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Xiety

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Xiety

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I wouldn't want to live in any of them. I've live overseas allmost all of my childhood - Turkey, Germany, greece, and panama. The only place I'd really want to live, outside of the US, would be panama.

parents from military?

What did you think of Turkey?

Yea, the Air Force. I like Turkey because it certainly is a beautiful nation with rich history, but it is hard to get over the culture shock when you're there. Not to mention getting treated bad consistantly by many Turks (but I would expect to get looked down upon in any 3rd world country).. One incident that I remember was when the turks who worked on base went on strike over theri wages (hell, they were already making WELL MORE than the average Turk made), and they threw broken glass into the base swimming pool. Not to mention that theft on base was pretty bad.

One think I do miss though was visiting the ruins of the country's many castles, and being friend with the Mayor of a seaside town. His estate encompassed an orchard and was right on the water - we stayed in his beachside villa often.

Heh... interesting, being from Turkey myself, whenever I visit my home country, I see that most civilians welcome Americans in every way they can...
I am guessing you were living in Adana, where I am actually from, and I lived there for 17 years. Whenever I go back home, it's always fun to see an American family checkin out the stores in "Real" (new built mall - biggest mall in Europe, size wise) and start a conversation with them... I usually exchange information and usually meet up with them for dinner and everything...
I think the biggest problem with Americans in Turkey is the lack of communication between Americans and Turkish civillians...

Adana, cool. Make me an Adana kebeb will ya and post it to Kemer, just outside Antalya. I'll pick it up in May, should be well seasoned by then 😛

/0

 

[Megatomic]

My wife would like for me to get a position in western Europe, I've looked into it but it is such a hassle. And it doesn't look like too many European countries want to help an American with 4 dependents relocate to their nation. 🙁

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
My wife would like for me to get a position in western Europe, I've looked into it but it is such a hassle. And it doesn't look like too many European countries want to help an American with 4 dependents relocate to their nation. 🙁

why does your wife wants you to get a position in Europe


just curious

 

[LordJezo]

Been there, done that.

Now I am back in Jersey.

 

[conjur]

I'd do a year-long stint there if offered the chance. Someplace like Germany, Belgium, or Switzerland. Or, of course, England/Ireland/Scotland.

 

[Rias]

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Ive been to Englad, Italy, Russia, France, Greece, Switzerland, and Spain. I think i have a decent idea what Europe is like. Out of the ones i have visted i did like Spain, Switzerland, and Greece but i defintely wouldn't want to live there.

So, you only went there on vacation or what? Seriously, you have no idea what it is like living there if you have only been on vacation there.

In case you weren't just on vacation, how long did you live at these places?

</someonewhousedtoliveineuropebutnowlivesintheus>

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
why does your wife wants you to get a position in Europe


just curious

For adventure, travel, and cultural reasons. It would be good for our children if I could only make it happen.

 

[StageLeft]

Anybody who is a citizen of a European Union nation can work in any other european union nation with little restrictions AFAIK (obviously not in a top secret gov't position).

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Anybody who is a citizen of a European Union nation can work in any other european union nation with little restrictions AFAIK (obviously not in a top secret gov't position).

true (the Schengen treaty)


more and more people are also doing it

 

[thereds]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Anybody who is a citizen of a European Union nation can work in any other european union nation with little restrictions AFAIK (obviously not in a top secret gov't position).

Yes, they can.

Thats the whole idea behind the EC. Work, live, and travel anywhere freely.

edit- The UK is not a schengen state so different rules apply but u can still move freely in and out if you're from a member country of the EC.

 

[Growltiger]

I lived in Sweden for a while last year. It was a great experience and I learned a lot, but I love the U.S. far too much. Also, their gov'tal structure was to socialist for my liking. We think our taxes are bad...

 

<--- just wants to surf there. 😀

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Growltiger
I lived in Sweden for a while last year. It was a great experience and I learned a lot, but I love the U.S. far too much. Also, their gov'tal structure was to socialist for my liking. We think our taxes are bad...

Europe loves their heavy government 🙂

 

[Luagsch]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Anybody who is a citizen of a European Union nation can work in any other european union nation with little restrictions AFAIK (obviously not in a top secret gov't position).

you mean like mexico/usa? 😛

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Luagsch

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Anybody who is a citizen of a European Union nation can work in any other european union nation with little restrictions AFAIK (obviously not in a top secret gov't position).

you mean like mexico/usa? 😛

Touche!

 

[TheCorm]

I'm happy working in England....not ambitions to go over to mainland Europe and work....may do some site visits out of the country from time to time, that'll be interesting.

 

[Que-TiP]

I would do it, I spent 6 months working in Europe and I loved it. I spoke the language, I made friends. It also didn't hurt that I was living well on an American salary. If I had the opportunity I would jump on it.

 

[burnedout]

At one time, I'd seriously considered living in Europe. Europe is wonderful. There is much to see and do over there. I almost purchased a cottage in the Orkney Islands (~$12,000 in early 1985). Also checked into purchasing an apartment in Germany.

But to me, the good old USA offers much more in the way of opportunity and convenience.

 

[vi edit]

Don't know if I could get used to the insane tax rates there. My bunghole is still bleeding from ridiculous prices that you paid for stuff in Ireland. Pretty much any country in the EU would suffer the same fate.

 

[Danman]

Hmmm....since I never been to Europe or out of this country for that matter, I don't know if I would like to live over there.