Your Thoughts on Various European Countries

well. after i finish up High School, do my post secondary, and build up some savings i am thinking of moving to somewhere in Europe. Its nowhere as simple as i wrote it i know. moving is hard enough. to another country across an ocean is a whole new ballpark

I've been doing some research but nothing compares to info from people who live there themselves. So give it all. the bad, the good, the ugly and the mediocre

I'm mostly thinking of the northern places*Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Faeroe Islands, Norway, Iceland* but the UK also seems nice to me.

So fire away with things a person needs to know if they are considering moving to these countries. Thanks in advance for any help

 

Nazi Censorship is alive and well in Germany

 

Just some general thoughts: what do you plan to do? Study? Work? You know that you will have to apply for a visa first if you're not a citizen of a country within the EU or Norway. The job/place of study you find will limit your options anyway. If you're going just for holiday or apply for a "working holiday" visa then it's somewhat easier.

And then, regardless of what anyone will say about his/her country, your experience might be completely different in the end. Just go for it. Choose one and see what it's like. An adventurer is you!

 

i will say one thing, the UK is pretty expensive especially if you plan to live in one of the larger cities. It can also be pretty grimey and grim thats why a lot of people are leaving

just realised how pointless my post is....sorry! i`m sure you already know this.

 

just live. and everything involved. From working to having my own place

i am planning a trip through the countries first but i like hearing all takes on everything

 

If i were you and had money , i would take a tour to all countries and you will know which one at the end!Personally i wouldnt change my country for anything.:dance:

 

Why not come to The Netherlands? Very easy for foreigners to live here, and it's more of a challenge than say the UK. Plus, you know what's legal here ~_~ hehe

 

Exactly, I was just about to say that, it's quite a friendly place (if you can deal with the mild anti-American sentiment that rears its ugly head at times)

Oh and I'd sure as heck consider Italy. You might have a harder time adapting (the general level of English is not as good as further north), but the climate's definitely more agreeable.

 

i'm from good old canada so anti american sentiment shouldn't be too bad i don't think

 

If your planning on living in London be warned it is expensive. £100/week rent for a single room in a shared house is reasonable for somewhere moderately central and in a nice area, beer is £3/pint in all but wetherspoons and uni bars, and a nice meal will be £15-20 for 3 courses without drinks. Also don't forget petrol at £0.95/litre at the moment (£3.80/us gallon)

Despite this, its a great city, with plenty to do and things going on constantly. With a population of 8 million there are of course some scumbags, but they're easy to avoid, and usually fun to laugh at at the pub later.

 

HOOKERS!:lol:

Actually isn't it only like an ounce that's legal?

 

I think the rule is 2 gram, but you can buy as much as you want in the shop: if the police actually search you(they only do when you're arrested for something else) they take it away, and that's it. No fine, no punishment, nothing. Not like they ever do that though. It's the Dutch policy: we don't agree with it, but we won't do anything to prevent you from doing it in the future. We just take it away and tell you it's bad, and then you're free to go.


EDIT: Damn it, there's a lot more that's nice about the Netherlands, why does it always end with drug talk .

 

Hmm don't come here [Greece that is] you will regret it :evil::rambo:

 

Azraelscross: there are good sides and bad sides to every country, so it is up to you what country you choose.

 

Don't go Canada -> UK! I went UK -> Canada, don't regret a thing .
Issues with UK:
Prices are high on everything
Huge class segregation
Worst school system ever
Uncontrollable youth
Government

 

Why not fly the other way and visit Asia instead? :lol:

If you have your mind set on Europe then it's worth looking at a rail pass as you get to see more of Europe that way.

http://www.eurail.com/

I would recommend Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Finland and Estonia.

 

Avoid the UK, its rough here & quickly getting worse. I'll be leaving the country as soon as I can after my wife is better. Serious social problems right throughout society. Serious lack of morals being tought in our schools, no dicipline. Public services are all messed up since everything was sold to private companies.
Go anywhere in europe other than here!

There is a good music scene here in Leeds though which is nice

 

If you're planning to go live in a non-English speaking country then I would visit it first to see if you like it, then learn the language when you are sure it is right for you. Backpacking around Europe for a while will give you an idea of how things are there. Believe it or not, there will probably be quite a culture shock to get over when you arrive. Different cultures and ways of thinking, different lifestyles and ways of doing things. In Greece you can't flush toilet paper, for instance :lol:

And ignore the people that rag on the UK. It's a fine place to live and you realise that once you leave it. Of course, you might not be 'escaping' the USA as much living in the UK as you would in other European countries but it also makes it easier to settle down. Greece and Spain are nice countries to live in, as is Germany (for jobs).

As an American expect the visa process to be rather lengthy and expensive, unless you can find a company willing to help sponsor you. There is also a certain anti-American vibe in Europe, worse in some countries more than others. Definitely travel around a bit first and plan the trip well. I recommend the Euro train network. Also look into TEFL courses and teaching opportunities as a potential way to stay in a country for a short while to 'break yourself into things'. Many TEFL jobs require a degree these days though.

 

Granted its not perfect in the UK but its pretty sweet. As the gentleman above rightly states its only once you leave it you realise it.

Germany/France has High unemployment.
France or poss just Toulouse is full of Up there own arse`s people.
Italy is in economic turmoil.
Japan has a language barrier and can be anti white man.
Easten BLoc prob best to stay away.
Middle East - narrr!

 

I lived in England for 6 months last year, and it was abysmal. Alcoholics are everywhere (booze is a huge problem), school system in which the only thing teachers say is "SHUT UP!" and "tuck your shirt in" and I just felt unsafe walking down the street, how much of that was my mentality, I don't know, but I feel far safer here, in a country I wasn't even born in and in a town where Canada's worst serial killer lived (I can pretty much see the murder site from here). I stayed in a beautiful cottage in Lincoln last summer, and I loved it (great weather, quiet, beautiful house, nice sound system ), if you can live somewhere like that (this was a tiny farm village, about 20 minutes outside Lincoln), then great, but I wouldn't abuse any children I may someday have by sending them to a British school (and that's not just cause I disagree with a uniform system).

Edit: and I've lived in several places in England, too: North Kent, South-east London, North London and Lincolnshire.