What country? (1 Viewer)

[Philip_G]

that's what they said about Germany, no way I'd live there without speaking fluent German.

Germany was cool, add that to my list.

 

[Andy Sheets]

I think Germany for me. My girlfriend is German so she could help me out with getting around and communicating. I was about to say Italy but then I realized that if you're in Europe, many interesting countries are right there and popping off for a vacation might not be as complicated as it is living in North America

 

[Lew Crippen]

Not everyone is an American Elinor.

Having lived outside the US over 25% of my adult life, I have some views. There is no perfect place but I’d be happy in any of these places:


Australia:
Plus:
The language is almost the same, although the inexplicable campaign to eradicate the letter ‘zed’ is a bit of a worry (true of the Empire as a whole).
Some of the very best wine in the $10-$25 range in the world.
Some of the very best food anywhere—I used to live about 5 or 10 minutes from the Sydney Fish Market—one of the great places in the world to buy fish. The produce is of the highest quality and the cheeses are on their way up.
There are plenty of great places to eat—from hotels (pubs) to silver service restaurants.
There is some of the greatest and most diverse scenery that can be found anywhere—from tropical Queensland to Tasmania. Americans especially find the outback attractive. Aussies love the outdoors and it is easily accessible. Bush walking (hiking) is a national sport—and there are plenty of places to do this.
Medical care is of the highest quality, widely available and very cheap (you don’t have to opt into the national health care system, as private insurance is not hat expensive.
The Aussies love sports and their national sides do very well on the international levels. Aside from that, there is participation down to the grade school level.
Snide comments from the Poms aside, the big cities have plenty of culture available. For example, I saw the entire Ring cycle in Adelaide (Boulez conducting).
Minus:
There is a general level of prejudice as to Aborigines that is about equivalent to what existed in the deep south in the 50s here.
I’m not a big fan of the ‘tall poppy syndrome’—a concept where a poppy that grows a bit higher than any others in the field gets chopped down.
Higher education is not of the quality (or quantity) of the college and university system in the States. Not only are there no schools like Yale, Rice, Stanford or CalTech, there are none like our best state schools (e.g. Michigan and Berkeley) or our small liberal arts colleges like Williams, Grinnell, or Pomona.
Housing is expensive in Sydney and Melbourne.

Japan:
Plus:
A rich country in almost every respect.
Great cultural history
The arts and artisans have places of respect and prominence.
Places like Kyoto and Nara have no equivalents here.
The cuisine is wonderful.
Minus:
Japan, especially the major cities (where one would probably have to live in order to make a living) is very crowded. In practical terms, crowded train comutes of over an hour are common.
Unless you come from some place like NYC, housing will seem very cramped to Americans.
Everything is expensive. The more so in places like Tokyo.
The language is quite difficult for Americans,
There are many places where non-Japanese are not welcome (or even allowed). Japanese only signs still exist outside of some establishments.

New Zealand:
Plus:
English speaking.
Diverse scenery.
Very small population.
Much more of a socialist society than the US (or Australia, for that matter).
Outdoors is magnificent.
Sports are viewed as important especially participatory ones.
Great white wine (and Aussie wine is easily available)
Super produce and seafood
Cost of living is low compared to the States.
See Australia for medical care.
Wonderfully diverse scenery.

Minus:
Small, rural population does not mean that there are not plenty of big city problems. The teen suicide rate is very high, for example.
Culture is not so prominent as in Australia.
New Zealand is even more inaccessible than Australia (I mention this as it not easy to get back to the States quickly in case of a family emergency.

Korea: Very different than Japan, but there are many of the same pluses and minus for Americans as Japan. Not quite so expensive, but the language is difficult and English is not widely spoken outside of Seoul (and a few other places). Also as there are a lot of GIs stationed in Korea, there is some inherent prejudice towards Americans (both good and bad).

Singapore: One of my favorite cities anywhere. One of the great restaurant cities of the world (from hawker stalls to fine dinning), English is all you need and there is always something happening. The safest place I have every lived. But many Americans would find the political system very restrictive. Free press is not a concept. Housing is expensive and things like wine have a heavy sin tax. A very culturally diverse society.

Malaysia: While I love KL, I would find the societal preferences given to the Malays not to my liking were I to live there. On the other hand, censorship is not so heavy as in Singapore. Bahasa is not a particularly hard language to learn. Also a very diverse set of cultures (but not so tolerated as in Singapore).

Thailand: I would find it too hard to live long-term in Thailand (except as an expat). While I love the country and people the day-to-day practicalities would be hard for me. The language is very hard. Traffic in Bangkok is overwhelming (as it is in almost all major Southeast Asian cities) and good medical care is not as available as in most of the countries I have listed. (It is different if you are a student or an expat working for a Western company). If you live here, you must be prepared to accept corruption as a way of life. Great rich culture with a long history.

Indonesia: My wife’s favorite place to live. But see the problems in Thailand, to which one can now add some prejudice towards non-Muslims (Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world). I would only live in Jakarta as an expat, but I could see living long-term in Ubad. Still this is a politically unstable country, with a history of violence towards non-Malays (the Chinese don’t even use Chinese names). But this is a beautiful country (although it is very crowded) with a rich cultural heritage. Corruption is omnipresent.

Venezuela: My favorite (though inexplicable) place to live. But I’d not live there now, as conditions have deteriorated considerably since I lived there. Spanish is not that hard to learn.

Argentina: Probably an easier place to live now than Venezuela. Many Americans would find the politics difficult (the home of South American populism—and the ‘disappeared’ are still on everyone’s mind).

I have not lived extensively in Europe, but I think that I would find France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and England all very satisfactory. I have never been to any of the Scandinavian countries, so I can’t comment on them.

 

[Evan M.]

"Are you kidding me? British women are the most unattractive women in the world! Pasty, doughy, chain-smoking, snaggletooths. They are easy, though. You can find much better looking women at the Mall of America. Plus it rains 99% of the time."



LOL!!!!!!!!
Yeah that UK comment struck me too.
This is a tough question. Living in Maine I LOVE having 4 REAL seasons.....however I am an avid golfer. I would would say Canada because of the 4 seasons BUT living in Maine we are FILLED with French Canadians.......no offence to any french Canadians....they are wonderful hard working people very family oriented....I just think I would want a change in culture too. With that said....I love the Carribean......British Virgin Islands...The people are great and VERY laid back. After spending a week there and coming back to America I couldn't believe what a rush everyone is in up here....AND I LIVE IN MAINE!!!!!!!!!!!
My roots are Italian (Sicily)....and I can think of worse places to live. None of these places really satisfy my 4 seasons and golfing pleasures though.....Both do a little bit though. Hmmmmmmmm Maybe you all can help me with where I should live......What country has 4 solid seasons and good golfing???? I have been around but not extensively.

 

[Steve Christou]

I see the forum doofus's are on the loose again. Run away!





You chaps should seriously ask yourselves if British women (or any woman for that matter) would give you a seconds notice before pointing your fat little fingers and laughing your fat little arses off.

 

[Philip_G]

Right-o.
I saw plenty of attractive women in london. Too bad none of them were speaking English

oh oh, I take that back, this one nice girl stopped and asked us if we were lost whilst consulting a map, she was pretty easy on the eyes.

 

[Jeff Gatie]

Which means the terrible electrical systems are shorting out on all those "beautiful" cars and you have to get out and walk in the rain and bump into all the ugly, pasty, snaggletooth women.

 

[Philip_G]

especially the older jags that push all the relays out to the corners of the car where they get wet. Beautiful system.

 

[Jeff Gatie]

Not to mention the MG's and MGB's. Ever notice when people sell an MG the first thing they list is "completely rewired"?

 

[Philip_G]

hehe, I've never owned an MG. Came close....
the miata is a close enough knock off, and more reliable.


Interestingly enough, it's actually pretty difficult to ex-pat from the US. No one wants us. Just read an article about it the other night.

 

[Chris]

Figuring the US ceased, but the land was still there, I would stake out a plot of land and declare my own fiefdom. Welcome to MyHome-istan.

But, if that wasn't an option, probably Argentina, Belize or Jamaica. My wife has family in Jamaica, it's pretty country.

 

[Christ Reynolds]

it is clear to me that you (or anyone else who is hopping on the 'british women are ugly' bandwagon) have never spent a minute in london. you cant turn around without seeing a beautiful woman, or a lamborghini or porsche 911 turbo rocketing down the street. i could be wrong, but unless i happened to visit during "hot women and car week" in london, i dont think i am.

CJ

 

[Lars Larsen]

If I couldn't live in Denmark, I'd pick Australia. The climate is nice, they country is beautiful, and I like the accent. And there's sooooo much space :-D Not like here in Europe where we got 300+ million people in such a small space. Not a lot of wild nature here. Either it's urban or agriculture. Not very exciting.

 

[Michael Harris]

For me the easy choice would be Greece since my parents are from there and own property on the island of Crete. But, that would be too obvious.

While I was on active duty in the Navy I had the chance to live in London, Spain, Portugal, and Japan as well as travel extensively through out Europe so I got a good taste of itnernational living since I always lived off-base.

So, other then Greece, I'd choose the Netherlands for the following reasons:
1. English is widely understood
2. A very tolerant society.
3. A great location which allows for easy travel to other countries.
4. Bicycles rule!
5. An integrated national mass transit system (easy to implement due to the size of the country).
6. AMSTERDAM! 'nuff said.
7. The greatest concentration of beautiful women from all over the world.
8. Superb arts and culture.

 

[Antonio_B]

Here's my choices:

1-In the Caribbeans(on a dessert island)
2-Japan(Okinawa)
3-Lebanon

In other words,anywhere where i could relax and where you wouldn't stress out 24/24...

 

[Lew Crippen]

As an aside, I did not list the actual country to which we are moving: Mexico.

 

[Chris]

Job moving you away? My cousin almost had to shift his job to Mexico, as his employer was contracted to do new construction there, and they were getting supervisors to move. I'm not sure if he took the gig though.

 

[Michael Harris]

No stress in Lebanon?

 

[Gary->dee]

Steve are you kidding? I've never seen as many overweight people, women especially, as I did while I was in London. I keep hearing on the news here in the US about the problem of obesity but I got some real perspective when I was in London. Not only from the visual sense of seeing people around me but realizing what these people eat in the form of fat-laden, high-in-calorie foods and such.

Anyway look this is turning into a bit of a contest and that's not what I want to get involved in. I've stated my point of view based on my experiences, however short they may have been. Bottom line is I'm not moving to Sweden because of the beautiful women and it's very likely I'll make way to London and France again. None of my choices will have anything to do with women and I wouldn't be a damned bit surprised if I end up finding a girlfriend in London or basically the place I expect least.

Oh and also for the record, Christ I dated a wonderful woman in Massachusetts that I wouldn't have given a second look at normally but in my opinion she's one of the most beautiful women I've ever been with because she had substance and a great deal of creative flair.

Looks ain't everything!

 

[Seth Paxton]

London in a heartbeat. Love that city, love the public transport, love the pubs, love the girls (er, wait, my wife has to come with me :b )


Yes, I have been to England and I saw plenty of hot, fun-loving girls when I was there. And you can get pisser drunk and then catch the tube/train home.

Lots of great parks as well.

I would have interest in trying France too, although my real 2nd choice would be Australia. It's not an English language thing, its a type of environment thing. I love the beach and wildlands aspect of down under. For example, I would have little interest moving to Canada, Indy is already too north for me.