For any brit who has left the UK - where did you move to that made you happy?
Posted by madzuk@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 618 comments
For anyone who's left the UK, where did you move to that made you happy? What city? What do you do for work and what's the lifestyle like?
I left the UK for Melbourne and though there's a lot to love, the day to day isn't really living up to what I was hoping for when leaving the UK.
Mywords74@reddit
Having travelled a lot of the world I always come back to the uk. You generally find it’s only people that haven’t travelled that slag it off. It’s not perfect but it’s diversity , value and salaries equal out to as good if not better than anywhere. On the weathers not perfect but it is still a fantastic country.
I would rank it on a par with Australia , the cost of living there is extortionate and above the USA, which is just a hell hole at the moment.
Canada is superb and for cost of property etc France and Italy .
But as you’re seeing, most people don’t know what they’ve got til it’s gone.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
Salaries in the UK are literally a joke compared to peer nations. My equivalents in the US were making over double what I made in London. When I lived in East Asia my net pay each month was significantly higher than what I made in the UK two promotions higher in the organisation.
20-25 years ago London led the world in wages. We haven't moved since then (actually down when factoring in added taxes etc) while many countries have been growing wages in real terms by 2-5% annually. We are so far behind now that people in the US, Singapore etc genuinely don't believe the pay rates in the UK. The come to London and wonder how we can live at these payrates, and it's a good question given most people here feel.lile they're drowning even at the higher salary levels.
steak_bake_surprise@reddit
They might be making double, but pray you never get seriously ill.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
Such a pointless answer, those making decent money also have insurance. Maybe if you're retired, unemployed or already I'll your point is valid but then why we arecomparing salaries anyway in that instance?
Even you think the American system isn't good, it's just not a good reason to big up the UK, who has low salaries AND one of the worst medical systems in the developed world. Honestly, pray you don't get I'll on the NHS. It's getting worse and worse and I know people who have suffered very serious negative health outcomes due to delays and incompetence in the NHS.
Get ill in Singapore and you'll still have double the money and you'll also have world class socialised healthcare. That's what we should be aspiring to, not 'well at least you don't have to pay a lot like in America (in some situations).
jloome@reddit
Assuming they don't find one of a myriad of reasons to deny you, which happens constantly.
Luigi Mangione and his family weren't poor.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
Literally no health system gives care to everyone for every condition.
The NHS regularly makes cost benefit assessments and people suffer or even die if their condition isn't economically viable. People also die here because the NHS is not functioning well and waiting lists to see specialists are 3-6 months as a matter of routine. All that despite us paying a record amount of tax and the government indebting our grandchildren borrowing to pay for healthcare services we literally can't afford.
There isn't a single health system in the world the catches everyone as their cold reality is that there isn't enough money to deal pay for some conditions. That's true whether the healthcare is funded socially (taxes and debt) or via insurance (ie also socially but with a profit motive).
jloome@reddit
I mean... an entirely pointless generalization. I covered health care in North America for more than a decade for newspapers and the horror shows that occur in the U.S. daily simply aren't a concern in countries with socialized medicine.
Or are you advocating good health care only for those who can pay a profit premium?
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
Alright, if it needs to be stated, the point salient to this thread is 'dont go to America if you have a medical condition that insurers won't cover'. I wouldn't argue with that but I don't see it as being overly relevant. Don't also go if you are poor and unemployed. I'm just not convinced those are valid reasons for the vast majority in this thread, given those people wouldn't be getting a visa anyway.
As is implied in your post, if (like most people here in a position to consider the move) you are in decent health and are employed, you are better off in America than relying on a barely fit for purpose NHS if the shit hits the fan.
W51976@reddit
I wouldn’t live in the USA for one reason. Gun crime.
---x__x---@reddit
Brit living in the US. I find this a strange answer.
It’s not even in my top 100 worries here.
Most gun deaths are suicides (notable because they’re recorded in the statistics in a way they typically aren’t in other countries) and gang bangers killing each other typically in very bad neighborhoods.
If you’re an average joe loving in a decent area you don’t really even think about gun violence, unless you’re consuming too much of the 24 hour news channels.
It’s similar to British people from small villages who are convinced that if they step foot in London they will be stabbed.
My neighborhood here has a lower violent crime rate than my neighborhood back home, and both are incredibly safe.
Something that’s actually worth worrying about here is the extreme weather. And the roaches, fuck them.
gizmogrl88@reddit
I agree 100%. We just had to pay £6000 to get my husband's surgery privately. The NHS had him waiting for 8 months when he was in daily pain.
If we had still been in the US, he would have been booked into surgery within a week of diagnosis. And we would have only paid about $250-$500 with our insurance.
The NHS is a joke.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
My daughter had symptoms severe enough she needed to see a specialist - 4 month wait.
She needed a drug this week that had to be administered in a specific day (potentially fatal if not). They couldn't get it together despite plenty of forewarning and an shared understanding that it was urgent. So we had a highly stressful day scrabbling around before finally finding someone who could do it privately (at great cost, naturally).
I had worrying symptoms last year - told by the NHS that I should go private because they wait would be so long the risk was too high to wait if I could I could afford to pay (which I thankfully can).
It's just awful. Not only is the NHS not for for purpose (despite bankrupting the nation) the private sector here is also laughably bad because of the regulatory strain the NHS puts on doctors who want to work privately. People think I'm exaggerating but as I get older I more seriously start to consider the fact that it is, relatively speaking, dangerous to live in this country compared from other places I could go.
niomkt@reddit
Anyone who says this has never been seriously ill in the UK. I almost died due to NHS failings because they wouldn’t scan me, presumably to save money. Sign me up to pay for good, efficient and quick private healthcare any day.
blizzardlizard666@reddit
Pray you never get seriously ill in the UK.
MacViller@reddit
If they have a good enough job to make double, their job will also come with health insurance included. Doesn't help you if you're poor but if we're talking about comparing a well paid professional in both countries healthcare isn't really an issue.
Appropriate-Cycle-31@reddit
When I lived in the US, I had insurance as does nearly everyone with a job (unless they choose not get insurance) and my deductible was only $250. I received amazing care from one of the best hospitals in the world, Mayo. The facilities are very modern, and every department seemed well staffed.
I know it goes against the British narrative about the NHS, but I didn’t hate the insurance system at all.
---x__x---@reddit
What were your premiums like?
My deductible is $2k with $4k being the max out of pocket (which isn’t terrible) but premiums are only around $800/yr
Boring_Funny_6604@reddit
This!!! I make almost double my UK salary in the US but my £9 inhaler in the UK costs me $79 after my one of the best insurance pays $240 for it. My reading glasses cost $245 AFTER my best insurance payers $235, my pair of glasses from specsaver £17. I don’t even dare to drive, monthly car insurance is $250 a month for a regular not even fancy car, my Audi a7 in the uk cost me £500 a year.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
And yet if you're even halfway sensible with your money you'll be decades ahead financially (relative to your UK peers) than if you'd stayed in UK.
Boring_Funny_6604@reddit
I own a 4-bed house in the UK I bought with my uk salary. There is no way I could afford a house in the US, the home owners taxes alone would decimate my salary and I would poor for the rest of my life.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
Means nothing unless you elaborate on locations and your job.
BossingtonFox@reddit
Our engine is built differently. It's more regulated, it's much harder to get that kind of growth funding, and we have policies like a high minimum wage that prioritise a social floor over a high ceiling. So while a barista in London might do better than one in Alabama, the software engineer or banker gets left way behind their US equivalent. It's a system that compresses the pay scale.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
Yes indeed. Sounds good for a bit but decades of it just results in a dead economy, declining oving tankards, higher taxes and eventually and a massive wealth and brain drain (happening now).
CoastalChicken@reddit
The US is below the UK on almost every metric. If you like it, fine and great it's worked for you, but the overall stats and empirical evidence just don't match your experience.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
In 2008 the US and UK were nearly on a par in terms of GDP per capita. The US is now nearly double the UK. It has been one of the greatest divergences in modern history. UK is now no longer really a top tier nation in terms of per capita economic metrics and is towards the bottom of the developed world on subjective measures life happiness, mental health statistics etc. Take London out of the UK and the UK is nearly the poorest nation in Europe (looking it up). And yet living in London is an unpleasant experience even for the high earners who fund the rest of the UK, with most people feeling like even with a good wage it's impossible to buy homes, start families and save for their future. The most able, ambitious and wealthy are leaving for good reason.
It is an utter calamity, it's shameful and embarrassing, and it's only going to get worse due to the general apathy and the clear ignorance of the drivers of the collapse embodied by the general populace and the political class.
CoastalChicken@reddit
Guess it depends on if you think GDP is the be all and end all. Take that out and the UK has better health outcomes, better dental outcomes, better educational outcomes, better social mobility outcomes, better social security outcomes, better transport infrastructure, higher levels of academic achievment and higher life satisfaction...and when you break it down further into demographics, unless you're a rich white person over 40, the USA is effectively a dead end for you.
All countries are struggling and it's only going to get worse for everyone, but to blindly think the US is OK because of the size of its economy is naive at best. Like I said, if it is working for you then you're one of the lucky ones.
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
Your post is so riddled with objective errors it isn't really worth continuing. Also an error of comprehension if what you took from my post was the GDP is the be all and end all.
Dazzling-Werewolf985@reddit
I’m not even sure if this is true anymore like I know a girl my age who works as a receptionist in Atlanta that makes more than I will as a chemical engineer once I graduate
TheDreadfulCurtain@reddit
what is it like living in Mexico I would have loved to have travelled more ?
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
I don't follow sir?
TheDreadfulCurtain@reddit
Sorry I replied to the wrong person
MountainousTent@reddit
Do you work in tech?
GanacheImportant8186@reddit
Finance Director.
inevitablelizard@reddit
US has high salaries but awful healthcare, very high car dependence and is just in general a very individualist country. Employment rights are also pathetic compared to ours.
Our salaries are a joke. But I like having time off work and actual rights in the workplace, and I would not accept US level salaries as a trade off for not having those.
Over-Space833@reddit
Hard agree. Someone doing a similar job to my partner gets nearly double in Denmark.
melvin1888@reddit
"But as you’re seeing, most people don’t know what they’ve got til it’s gone." - 100%
Having travelled a fair bit, I can honestly say i am thankful to come back to the UK.
It's far from perfect, but the pursuit of perfection is what kills the joy of the present.
People are mostly colour blind and always think the grass is greener elsewhere. Never stop to think they can make their own grass greener.
If you single out one specific item, then sure you'll find a comparison that makes the UK lesser or weaker. It has to be looked at as a whole, and its a lot better than most people think.
dejavu2064@reddit
I disagree, I definitely tried that, but the UK (not individually, rather on a general population level) is just far too defeatist and pessimistic about local improvements - especially if those improvements might include some level of (temporary) personal inconvenience.
An attitude of "that's awesome but it would never work here" is common, people vacation in European cities and enjoy the quality of life afforded by walkable pedestrianised zones, dense but high quality apartments, outdoor cafe terraces - yet aggressively oppose any attempts to establish similar things in the UK.
Eventually you realise it's easier to just move to the higher quality of life place, because the UKs individualistic culture is just unlikely to change within our lifetimes.
jloome@reddit
I've been in Canada for four decades and it took me until COVID to realize I've never felt comfortable here, really. There are serious differences in personality and general character between people in the UK and North America.
madzuk@reddit (OP)
In what way? I've been curious to try Canada.
jloome@reddit
Like Americans, Canadians only really openly discuss non-controversial and largely singular issues, as the entire culture is based around people not offending one another.
Personal tastes in things -- politics, religion, culture -- are often off-limits outside of very close friends, as even the risk of offending makes them uncomfortable.
I don't see this as some failing, it's just a consequence of decades of low population and vast wilderness requiring trust between people to survive. It has held over into the modern world.
I find that unfortunate. I know other Brits who moved here and like it precisely BECASUE people really talk outside of mundanities, and as long they stick to the same rules "everyone gets along."
But I find it dull and infantile. People should be able to like people with whom they argue or disagree, and someone liking something should not automatically be seen as condemning those who don't.
There's a lot of presumptive offense in both Canad and the U.S. "Oh, you like such-and-such political party; well you're going to hate me then."
A lot is seen in binary terms that way. Part of that is probably also the strong religious influence over much of the continent's development, and a general controlling move to keep people in narrow lanes.
But ultimately... I'm a loudmouth. I like to say what I think, and presuming it's meant to offend because someone disagrees with it personally is stupid. People just disagree on things. However, here, that is socially often a dividing line.
They on the other hand would see me as grossly insensitive. I'm not; I was a print journalist for three decades and wouldn't have had any success talking to legitimate victims and legitimately traumatized people if I was. But that's how being open, direct and only having one social "face" -- your actual one -- comes across here.
slickeighties@reddit
I think generalising whole countries as not being accepting is not realistic or a fair reflection. I have travelled to Aus/US/Europe and most countries are civilised and don’t have as big a gap in financial inequality as the UK.
People in the UK (not just white communities) have the capacity to be racist. I’ve seen what is considered as ethnic minorities racially abuse others here
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
Aussies are way more racist.
madzuk@reddit (OP)
In the countryside yeah. In the cities no. When aussies are racist, it's often lighthearted. In the UK i find it to be a lot more hate filled and sinister.
NotAnEarthwormYet@reddit
That was my experience of Australia too unfortunately, especially outside of Sydney, Melbourne etc
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
Yeah on the fringes of cities and in the sticks. They're still using terms like w@g and p@kis in open casual conversation.
Engadine_McDonalds@reddit
P@ki isn't considered a slur in Australia. It's used fairly neutrally, like how you would refer to a British person as a 'Brit'. People of Pakistani background use it themselves.
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
I liked living in Melbourne. But visa ran out and had to come home.
madzuk@reddit (OP)
Visa strictness in Australia is quite frustrating tbf.
Lower_Hospital1268@reddit
What did you enjoy about melbourne compared to the uk? Are you from london?
12EggsADay@reddit
I'm afraid to do the WHV because I'm going to love it and then not secure a permanent visa...
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
Yeah. I had a nice little setup. Aussie girlfriend etc.
I met an Irish chap there who'd overstayed 7 years. Lol.
12EggsADay@reddit
No vegas wedding then!
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
Sadly no shotgun wedding
madzuk@reddit (OP)
I do miss the UK but one thing that is infinitely better imo is the easy going nature of the people in Australia. People can be a bit miserable and unfriendly in the UK. At least in the south anyway.
Cost of living is definitely worse in the UK than Australia. The wage is a lot higher in aus. Food and going out is more expensive in Australia. But the general bills is much much cheaper in Australia. All in all cost of living is better in Australia.
Tdot-77@reddit
As a Canadian the UK is fantastic. Public transport, shops, grocery, diversity, acceptance, gender equality, etc are great. I would like to have a word though about people who put together bathrooms. The one thing I miss every time I’m here from Canada - water pressure, proper shower heads and the lack of shag carpet or bath rugs in the bathroom. Otherwise, the UK is fantastic.
osberton77@reddit
What is a shag carpet???
DunkinDippers@reddit
When you say proper shower heads I hope you don't mean those awful fixed ones that stick out of the wall
BloodDrunkYharnamite@reddit
I’ll add to your point and say that the UK is one of the most accepting places on the planet, yes it can be better, but when I see people say how awful it is here it makes me laugh because they clearly haven’t travelled much.
FireLadcouk@reddit
Out of interest. Are you a minority?
AS2500@reddit
My thoughts exactly. I get fed up of the amount of people that harp on about how 'bad' it is. They have no idea how good they actually have it.
Positive-Spite6629@reddit
Maybe these people feel they have seen best days behind them. I can’t hold that against them if they see a significant fall in values and efficiencies of our society.
Crandom@reddit
I'm convinced much of this nostalgia though. You tend to remember the good and gloss over the bad. The past usually seems better. Where as today's bad is right there eating away at your anxiety.
Betaky365@reddit
I think you’re spot on.
It’s gotten worse in the past few years and people are comparing it to how it used to be.
The stagnating wages, the fall in public services, the rise in hate for minorities are all things we can see happening.
I’d also agree with the idea that here is still much better than in other places, the whole world is going in this horrible direction of decay and less acceptance of differences.
W51976@reddit
If I had this conversation with a group of people in a pub in 1980(don’t know why I choose that year) you would be hearing ‘it was much better in the 50s and 60s’ comments
W51976@reddit
I don’t think it was ever a paradise though.
My uncle tells me it wasn’t good between 1979 until 1990( under the Tories), with mass unemployment, and London was much dirtier back then.
W51976@reddit
It’s the usual ones who constantly watch their newsfeeds about ‘boats come over’ or some other bloody nonsense.
Natural-Cat-9869@reddit
You still get people who don’t have a great life in the UK but think that they’ll be able to sell their modest UK house, buy a palace with a pool overseas for half the price and live like millionaires. Unsurprisingly the reality is usually somewhat different and the UK is far from being the only country with insane property prices.
W51976@reddit
People will moan about their backyard, the world over. Plenty of people hate where they live in other parts of Europe, Canada and the USA, regardless of how good their situation might be.
W51976@reddit
I have a few people in my office who say ‘this place is a hellhole’ ‘it’s lawless’ and ‘this country is finished’
Just comes from a lack of imagination, and way too much negativity.
Yes, I know the NHS is on its knees, properties are expensive and not affordable, transport and infrastructure is under pressure, weather sometimes isn’t great, but, it is a nice country to live in.
I lived in Canada for 2 years, enjoyed it, but probably couldn’t settle there, not that it’s a bad place. But, I could see myself living somewhere in Europe, because of its proximity to the U.K
sandboxmatt@reddit
Ironically, the exact reason I've been in Mexico for 14 years. They put an income limit on visas so I couldnt live in my own country with my own wife when she has taken a year out at University generating no Income.
Mexico said to me, want to pay taxes? Welcome.
Bethbeth35@reddit
From the UK but I used to live in Malta and when I wanted to leave (high prices, poor job opportunities, bad traffic etc) I extensively researched most other European countries as I was reluctant to return to the UK. Annoyingly, the UK came out top for many things including jobs and property so we came here. Employment was really one of the main things, if you're an English speaker it's much more difficult to find well paid employment elsewhere in Europe. We looked at Switzerland but the set up costs there like paying months of rent in advance and just the general cost of living made moving there in the first place basically impossible. Any of the nice sunny Mediterranean countries are ruled out because of the poor employment opportunities. Basically, if you want to stay in Europe the UK is actually a good option. I think everywhere has its issues, the other places I'd consider are Canada and Australia (prefer NZ but work and property are big problems).
MountainousTent@reddit
Canada is superb in what way?
danddersson@reddit
It goes on down the line, people of Facesmack going on about how bad their own town is, describing problems that are pretty much country/Western Europe wide issues.
DueCamera7968@reddit
Salaries are higher and cost of living significantly lower in Germany. Also, the quality of life is higher. From: a Scot living in Berlin for the past 8 years.
Mywords74@reddit
I lived there too when in the forces. Berlin is great. But I wouldn’t say it’s any cheaper for groceries etc than the uk. Although it has been a few years since I last visited
W51976@reddit
Bavaria is nice. That’s a part of Germany I could Easily relocate to. Munich itself is a fairly nice city.
DueCamera7968@reddit
it definitely is cheaper. i’m back in the UK regularly and the cost of groceries is always a shock to me.
majkkali@reddit
No, salaries are not better than anywhere. In fact, they’re much lower than in other Western countries. Please let’s stop accepting that.
FlappyBored@reddit
They are absolutely not ‘much lower’ other than US basically.
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
They really aren’t much lower than most other western countries though.
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
But they will pay higher taxes and the cost of living will be higher too, it’s swings and roundabouts.
Mywords74@reddit
And how about the cost of living? That is much dearer in a lot of countries
majkkali@reddit
There is a cost of living crisis in the UK as well. Food is very expensive here.
Ok_Finance_2001@reddit
Food is the one area where we compare great to other countries. Competition between supermarkets is fierce. Housing and public transport is where we get fucked
majkkali@reddit
Agreed.
Mywords74@reddit
I agree it is. But soo much cheaper than USA, Australia at the moment
Appropriate-Cycle-31@reddit
It would depend on the state in the USA and even more specifically the town or city. The prices in Chicago, IL are far more expensive than the prices in Winona, MN.
Mywords74@reddit
Nowhere have I said we have the best salaries in the world. I earned double in western Australia but the cost of living there was very expensive too. Grocery prices through the roof
YellowBentines69@reddit
I mean that's not true, is it. Quite a lot of countries have significantly higher salaries and disposable income: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disposable_household_and_per_capita_income
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_wage
JavaRuby2000@reddit
That Wiki Shows the UK as 14th in disposable household income. Sure it could be better but, until you get to Luxembourg there is very little in it.
Moving4Motion@reddit
My wife is Portuguese and we got married there a few years ago. The venue was supposed to stay open all night as is normal there, they shut it down before midnight, saying they'd run out of alcohol and food. We found out later throat their restaurant in the city had been closed down by bailiffs the same week.
Absolutely nothing we could do. Made me appreciate the UK because at least you know a wedding venue will stick to their agreed contract.
Hatanta@reddit
My wife is Portuguese and is always impressed by the consumer and workplace protections we have here. Equally at times in Portugal I’ve been surprised by the “tough shit” attitude to getting substandard products/services. Having said that - have you ever complained and asked to leave an official complaint in an establishment’s “book”? Never done it but apparently that solves every problem!
sevika-@reddit
Portuguese immigrant in the UK here - I can definitely relate! I've had people look at me funny when I told them that I fully intend to live here for the rest of my life. I think that a lot of people unknowingly look at Portugal (and other "holiday destination" countries) through rose-coloured glasses, because they've never actually lived there (while earning a regular Portuguese salary, might I add; not a "digital nomad" one). There's a reason why we call PT "a country of emigrants" lol.
While I don't romanticise the UK either, and am well aware of its issues, I'm glad to be here. I do miss being able to drop by my grandparents' house and leave with a carrier bag full of figs from their garden, though...and some bacalhau...and a 5L bottle of olive oil from their hometown. But that means that nobody can judge me when I eat my weight in figs next time I visit :)
Icy-Contest-7702@reddit
I think i just want to dodge tax here and ill be happy.
SnooMacarons9026@reddit
People who leave the UK are often out off by the diversity and movement to homogeneous countries like those in Asia. The vast majority of them in fact.
numberoneloser@reddit
You always come back to the UK because for you, that's home. I don't mean this offensively but if you miss home that's not a failure of the country you have moved to but a failure on your part to adapt.
Mywords74@reddit
Living up your name
numberoneloser@reddit
It's ok to like your home, it's normal. I just think your comment that the UK's value and salaries are equal to or better than anywhere slightly dubious considering you claim to have travelled a lot of the world.
apeliott@reddit
I left for Australia, spent a year between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, then settled down in Tokyo.
Quite happy now.
Necessary_Tour_5222@reddit
How did you make Tokyo work? Did you speak Japanese?
apeliott@reddit
Yes, I speak Japanese now.
What do you mean by "How did you make Tokyo work"?
Necessary_Tour_5222@reddit
Like how did you find an opportunity that would give you a visa while speaking english?
Did you speak Japanesr when applying?
noodledoodledoo@reddit
Look into getting a TEFL certification, lots of jobs available abroad for native English speakers to teach English, even if they don't speak the local language.
deadpanpecan@reddit
Go for a CELTA certification if serious.
apeliott@reddit
I met a Japanese girl in New Zealand when I was staying in Australia. We hit it off, and she invited me to Japan.
I didn't speak Japanese when I arrived as a tourist but I ended up meeting a karate master who offered to teach me if I stayed so I accepted.
I got a culture visa to do karate, then picked up a work permit and started teaching English at a night school.
Later on, I found better jobs, married the girl I met in New Zealand, picked up a couple of spouse visas, and then got a permanent resident visa when I wanted to buy an apartment.
__e_n_t_r_o_p_y__@reddit
Congratulations. I did 6 years on a spouse visa. Unfortunately, the more I understood the Japanese culture, people and language the less I liked it. Hope it works out for you.
Whalesmouth@reddit
Hey, just curious, what are some of the more disagreeable aspects to you, if you don’t mind me asking?
FlakyCelebration2405@reddit
Probably them weird cafes where old men pay high school girls for company n stuff
Whalesmouth@reddit
Oh yeah, those are gross. I’m aware of them, but don’t know how they’re seen in Japan, or how representative of the people and culture they are. Does seem like there may be some unfortunate cultural attitudes towards women over there
GifuSunrise@reddit
I can't speak for everyone, but I was born in Japan, grew up mostly in the UK, and spent some years living in Japan as an adult.
People tend to assume that the disagreeable aspects will be stuff like the classic "vending machines with questionable inventory" or the weird cafés etc, and those things do exit.
However, most of that stuff isn't present in daily Japanese life. You might get hints of it now and then, but you'd have to be specifically looking for it to find yourself inundated.
The actually disagreeable aspects for someone living there are less obvious cultural things, like:
These, and many other things, start to take a toll when you've lived there for a couple of years. It can be really hard to understand why Japanese people are doing the things they're doing.
Ultimately I think there's a trade-off. Many of the best things about living in Japan are a result of the factors that can also make it a suffocating environment for Westerners. It just takes a while to understand that.
Norklander@reddit
I work in Japan occasionally and I can vouch for a lot of that. I’d also add the misogyny is really bad in japan and so ingrained most don’t even realise there’s a problem.
WeUsedToBe@reddit
I read about a Japanese woman who was fired because she was too good at her job, which was showing up her male colleague who hadn’t been at the company nearly as long. Somehow demonstrating competence as a woman = not letting men save face.
Norklander@reddit
Wouldn’t surprise me. Saving face is a big thing in Japan
GifuSunrise@reddit
Yeah, I'd actually rather live in Japan (there are many pros to offset the cons), but I work in a male dominated field and I just don't think it would work in Japan.
Whalesmouth@reddit
That’s really interesting to know. Thank you for the insight
Responsible-Cap-8311@reddit
Go on?
apeliott@reddit
Yeah, I know what you mean. There are a ton of issues here.
Overall though, I've made it work for about 20 years now. I'm relaxed, secure, happy, and will probably end my days here.
superjambi@reddit
Man, what a phrase. just reading that made me feel content as fuck. Good for you mate.
apeliott@reddit
Cheers. It's been a ride lol
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
Sorry I feel like you've just breezed straight past this like that's a normal thing to happen? 😆
apeliott@reddit
I arrived at the end of the year which is when there are lots of end of year parties going on.
I ended up at one in a bar with some of my wife's friends from her school. I got talking with one girl and she asked me what sport I was into. I don't really like sport but I did do karate back in the UK so I told her that. She said her father did karate and I should meet him. I didn't really give it much thought as we were all drunk in a bar and it was just talk.
A couple of days later she calls my wife and says her father really does want to meet me. He lived nearby so we go over to his place.
We have a few beers, talk about karate and he invites me to his dojo.
I start training with him a few times a week, then I also start training at a different dojo which is run by his friend, the head of an organisation he's a part of.
Eventually, he offers to sponsor me for a culture visa to learn karate. I accept and we do the paperwork for it.
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
That's awesome. You are very much a main character in this world.
Quinn_27@reddit
Is this Karate Kid 6 ?
apeliott@reddit
Dunno. I've only seen the first one lol
Quinn_27@reddit
Save yourself
Don’t bother after Karate Kid 2 (originals)
rambocanreload@reddit
This was starting to read like a movie “meeting a karate master” 🤣
apeliott@reddit
Best part is, I turned down a job offer from Mi5 to go to Australia lol
TheAdamena@reddit
Swear I've read this before. Do you tell this story on Reddit often?
apeliott@reddit
Yeah. I've been on Reddit for years and have told this story many times.
It very nearly didn't happen. I was scared of taking a risk and leaving a safe, comfortable, and boring civil service job.
But I'm glad that I did. And I'll happily tell others that you can go out into the world, have an adventure, and make some fun stories to tell.
I don't want people to just waste their lives like I nearly did.
TojiEnjoyer2@reddit
Dude is actually living the dream
a_boy_called_sue@reddit
Bro needs a movie made of him
Carnivore_92@reddit
Wow, this put me on a good vibe. This is like everyone’s dream.
fucks_news_channel@reddit
>I didn't speak Japanese when I arrived as a tourist but I ended up meeting a karate master who offered to teach me if I stayed so I accepted.
Swear I've seen this anime
apeliott@reddit
It could be, but I'm not a fan of anime and I haven't really seen much of it.
conor747@reddit
Sounds like Jay from the inbetweeners
apeliott@reddit
I've heard of the character, but I've never watched it.
It's all true, though. I'm leaving out a lot because it would sound made-up.
MeAni786@reddit
Mr Tamlyn is that you???? 😭😭😭
apeliott@reddit
Lol who's that?
Important-Plane-9922@reddit
Very jealous about Tokyo. Funnily enough, zero interest in Australia though
Speesh-Reads@reddit
Denmark. Aarhus. Currently on my lunch break at Aarhus Universitetshospital. Wonderful.
professoryaffle72@reddit
Copenhagen for me. Not moving back.
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
I loved Denmark when I visited there a few years ago, but the countryside was a bit underwhelming.
Speesh-Reads@reddit
It’s pretty flat, that’s for sure. Not as flat as Holland, but close. I think the highest point is the top of some freestanding radio mast or other. I heard Denmark described once as a giant beach. So the ice had nothing to stop it making the whole place flat. Dreadful amounts of chalk in the water too.
superioso@reddit
Depends where you visited - there's plenty of nice areas in northern Zealand for example. Southern Sweden is also a short train ride away from Copenhagen which is also pretty nice
professoryaffle72@reddit
The countryside is very flat and dreary.
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
But some great beaches though
professoryaffle72@reddit
Yes, we have a family summer house at Marielyst that we use regularly and that’s just beautiful
Plumbus93@reddit
What’s are the wages and cost of living like compared to the Uk?
Vast_Pudding_698@reddit
What is it like in terms of life, socially and how is the education -how do the local children act/teenagers? How is the food? The organic product? Etc Is it safe? Do you feel safe?
superioso@reddit
Generally Copenhagen is pretty great to live in, always rated as one of the best in the world for livability (and safety), though it is pricey.
Socially can be more problematic if you don't create yourself a social circle, and if you don't speak danish you'll inevitably get left out somewhat.
Mangodust@reddit
Also in CPH but moving back in a year or two as having kids without any family support is so hard!
Like today: like the 4th public holiday this year, but not for private companies. We were caught completely off guard and have had to tag team to take care of our toddler and work. Tbf this is bad planning on our part but there are just so many times when we needed someone to lean back on and didn’t have them.
If I didn’t have kids, I’d stay here!! In every other way, our QOL is so good.
professoryaffle72@reddit
Oh that's strange, as we both work for the private sector, and we had this Thursday and last Thursday off.
It gets easier when they get a little older, I promise.
aussieflu999@reddit
What job/how did you end up there? It’s a wonderful place.
professoryaffle72@reddit
Missus is Danish so moved over. Got a job fairly quickly and been employed ever since (3 different jobs). Not a massive issue.
TomBz87@reddit
Can I ask how you've found integrating socially? We're strongly considering leaving the UK and the nordic countries have always been at the top of my list, but I've heard that being accepted in the community there can be more difficult than other places. Would be interested to know how you've found it.
Advanced-Essay6417@reddit
I lived in Norway for a couple of years, the Nordic default is to mind your own business so you will be left well alone. If you want to make friends and have a social life you have to put effort in to make it happen. They won't do it for you. But the opportunities are there if you look for them.
Speesh-Reads@reddit
Learning the language is a must. You'll probably always feel like an outsider otherwise, no matter how good Danes are at English. They pretty much always have respect for someone what has mastered their 'hot potato in the mouth' of a language.
I avoided the English community over here as well. To help with learning the language. So I only really know Danes. Apart from where we used to live, in the road behind our house there was an English guy, who'd been here even longer. And he was from the naffing Cleckhuddersfax area. He's still there too. Still got a Yorkshire accent you could cut with a knife.
Society-wise, much more sensible. 4-year-olds in nursery, Christmas, surrounded by lit candles. US parent: "Aren't you worried they'll touch them?!" Danish teacher: "Why would they do that? They'd burn themselves." Actually happened.
Don't put imaginary roadblocks up. And stand your ground. Danes will try and take the piss when you're giving some of their sentences, like 'rødgrød med fløde,' a go. Just hit them with (as I've mentioned elsewhere), SQUIRREL, THROUGH THREE TREES and WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE. Shuts 'em up fast. Oh, and SQUASH they're not too keen on either. Also point out that they eat something which is based on old bread, soaked in beer - with cream. For breakfast. Or, smuggle some Marmite over (it breaks several Danish / EU food rules somehow) and get them to try it. By telling them it tastes like Nutella. That'll do it.
Otherwise, give it a go. Just make sure there's nothing you're gonna be unable to live without from the UK. I'm actually Danish now. Dual citizenship. Don't have a valid British passport anymore. Coming over there in July. Gotta pay to get in!
aredditusername69@reddit
I lived in cph for a couple of years and found it difficult. I wouldn't say that the Danes are xenophobic necessarily, but I felt they sort of have their groups and don't mix much outside them. I found integrating with the locals very difficult, and all my friends were other immigrants (mostly Icelandic).
unseemly_turbidity@reddit
Another fan of living in Denmark checking in. I expect I will go back one day, but hopefully not too soon.
My boss thanked me for working late today because I was staying until 5!
Speesh-Reads@reddit
Yeah, they stare at me dumbfounded sometimes, when I say where I used to work (small ad agency, Leeds), we felt we were sneaking off early if we left at 18.30. Here, I start at 08.00 and am dust at 15.30. Finest kind! Work to live, rather than live to work, I guess.
heavy_sid@reddit
Aarhus, in the middle of aar street
Speesh-Reads@reddit
Blimey! Never EVER heard that one before.
Pity Aarhus isn't pronounced that way. But good effort all the same.
Engadine_McDonalds@reddit
I remember going on a stag do (to Benidorm obvs) and chanting that at a group of passengers at the airport boarding a flight to Aarhus.
Traditional-Roll-102@reddit
Brilliant
12Keisuke@reddit
Heard good things about aarhus, on my list to visit
morecbt@reddit
This is my dream. The exact city. How long have you been over there?
ShortNefariousness2@reddit
I visited Aarhus. Really chill place.
dial424689@reddit
I feel like one of the Nordic countries is where I’d consider, too. I love them just for a visit as well!
melo24s@reddit
I left for the USA. Lived in Boston for two years, now living in LA. I like the UK but I’ll never move back, there’s just more opportunities out here in my opinion and I feel like I resonate with the culture here a lot more
Ok-Practice-518@reddit
Could you give me some advice on what industry you work in , a few of my friends from uni have done this and have found it way better as there are many more opportunities , but I have no relatives
DarmiansMuttonChops@reddit
How did you get over there? (and I don't mean by plane)
melo24s@reddit
I was working for an American based company in London. Worked there around 2 and a half years, then following a colleague moving to the US under the same company I explored it too. Went through rounds of interviews until they accepted to take me on stateside. Firm and I went through the process, got my L-1B and made the switch. Then applied for permanent residency (EB-2) which took nearly 2 years to process but now finally hold my green card
Calm_Supermarket_470@reddit
We moved to Sydney and then down to Melbourne but career pathway was difficult for me because I’m not natively Australian and I don’t talk blokey sport talk. So I hit a glass ceiling and we came back to the UK. I’d rather be in Australia as that’s where my family all are, but house prices there are as ridiculous as they are here. I like the outdoors-iness of Australia. My other half hated it. We both felt unfulfilled culturally and artistically. We found travel overseas to be painful and time consuming. There’s a certain blandness to Australian suburban life, especially if you don’t have children and are not part of the “Aussie working families” demographic. I hate what the UK has become in the past 10 years so I’d be happy to move anywhere sensible but here. But I’m now too old to keep moving about and it’ll have to be a retirement project. At least I have Aus/NZ as an option.
mamamuse71@reddit
What has the uk become in the past ten years? I have been in CA for decades but miss England
Straight-Buy-7434@reddit
I moved to Sydney 18months ago, I live an hour outside of it, I do like australia but the house prices are silly, hence I will stay for the next 5 years, then go home and pay off my UK mortgage.
Im a field calibration engineer, did the exact same job in the UK for the same company but salary is double in Australia, hence Im saving half my salary every month so that I can pay the uk house off
CUPOllie@reddit
When you say double, do you mean it's £35k here and $70k there or more like £75k there, so $150k?
I keep getting conflicting information about if its actually double or even that much more, at least in my industry.
Straight-Buy-7434@reddit
I went from £40k including overtime to £85k including overtime, about $170k.
Ive found supermarket food is basically double
Eating out is slightly cheaper
Gas, electricity and water is half
Fuel is half(but doesnt effect me as had company vehicle in both countries)
Houses are roughly double for the same thing, my UK house is worth £200k and here the same sort of thing is £400-450k, most of that is because there are tighter pension restrictions here and nothing like ISAs so everyone piles money into property, most guys I meet even in their 20s in engineering already have one buy to let
noshothaha@reddit
When we say double we literally mean double accounting for currency difference. I'm currently on 45k £ in the UK, for doing the same job I could easily get around 130k AUD
Clogheen88@reddit
Here’s a comparison of public sector wages all in pounds, which is usually a good indicator across most industries. I’ll use NSW (where Sydney) as the state, which actually often pays the worst in Australia - some of these are higher in other states. This is also without penalty rates, which again are much higher in Australia than in the UK.
Private in the British Army: £35000 in Australia, £26000 in UK. Newly Qualified Nurse: £39000 in Australia, £31000 in UK. Police officer: £39000 in Australia, £30000 in UK.
Keep in mind that holidays/annual leave are generally the same, overtime in higher in Australia and in Australia the public sector are warded with long service leave, that doesn’t really exist here.
My family members who work in the IT industry and marketing, have moved to the UK for a few years and have taken a wage cut (about one quarter to a third) in real money terms. They moved from Sydney to Liverpool though, so their costs of living (mainly rent) have dramatically decreased. They would not have experienced these same decreases if they moved to the south of England.
Yes_Dear_@reddit
In the Uk I did IT Helpdesk Tier 2. UK Salary: £29k ($70k)
I am currently doing an entry level Labourer job on casual contract AUS Salary: $75k(£35k)
I am now currently looking at finding work in IT (Difficult as I am on a WHV, employers don't like them) and salary range for the job is anywhere from $75k - $100k.
The pay here in AUS is certainly better. But I wouldn't say by double.
rectal_warrior@reddit
It will depend by industry, have a look on seek.com.au
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
Tech salaries are roughly similar at current currency conversion.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Dubai. Not everyone’s cup of tea but the quality of life is so much higher for us. It’s extremely safe, schools are of a high quality, salaries are high, no tax and excellent weather. It’s not what you see on Instagram, most of the people are not attention hungry influencers, it’s mainly young families living normal lives.
scoschooo@reddit
Do you have servants?
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Why did you not include the other parts of the story? Such as the 28 days paid holiday, more than double the minimum salary, health insurance etc. or are you just trying to present one side of the story to others.
scoschooo@reddit
I don't actually believe people working as domestic helpers are getting this. Especially this: "28 days paid holiday". I can ask my friends working there, but I don't actually care to debate anything with you.
You never answered the question I asked right? How would you feel working 12 hours a day with only one day off a week?
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
I wouldn’t want to but if someone paid me enough I would. It’s simple economics,
scoschooo@reddit
yes, your helper comes from a place where people are desperately poor and can't get enough food. That is why they are willing to take that work, and she can't get work in her own country. Or it will pay very low and isn't enough. Most helpers have children and family members at home who can't get enough food, and have no other option but to work abroad. And many are trying to help their children go to college.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Just because you have a mate that isnt being treated fairly doesn’t mean all domestic helpers are treated poorly, I really hope your friend gets the help she needs. But don’t generalize all people because of your friends experience.
scoschooo@reddit
You are very wrong. It isn't because of a mate. I know many people in the OFW community working as domestic helpers.
Just because you don't have any clue about how helpers are treated in general, doesn't mean I don't know about it. I have expert knowledge of domestic helpers in many countries - speaking with over 40 people first hand. Also, in the helper community, it is very well know how employers are in general.
I am sure you don't want to take the time and learn more, but I could give you a face book group with thousands of domestic helpers discussing this and many posts every day about their experience as helpers. That information is there. Just you and most people don't know about it.
You are completely wrong about this. Some helpers are treated well with good employers, but the majority are not.
Again, you could actually learn about this and see that it is true, but you have no interest in doing that.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Ok bro. Well I know I treat my domestic helper well and I’ve shown you why. Not bothering with the conversation anymore. I accept there are bad employers, I’m not one of them so stop going on about it to me. Don’t bother replying as I won’t reply back.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Google Federal Decree Law No. (9) of 2022 in the UAE. It’s actually 30 days I was mistaken.
scoschooo@reddit
ok, I guess you don't want to answer that.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Apologies, I thought I did. In all honestly I wouldn’t want to, but if someone paid me enough I would.
scoschooo@reddit
yeah, take care
scoschooo@reddit
I am pretty sure many domestic helpers are not given all of these, and also employers often deny health care when a domestic helper needs it. Do you think all families treat their maids well (serious question).
If UAE has better laws for helpers than nearby countries, then that is great. It's good if they did that. Many domestic helpers (in other countries) have no days off int he week and no vacation days in a year. They are absolutely abused, and I would bet a ton of families in UAE are also abusing to their servants. But I believe you that you treat your maid better, and she is lucky if she has a good employer. So many domestic helpers are depressed, seriously being abused and are helpless and suicidal. A very close friend I am talking to by video call a few times every day (for the last 4 years) is being abused by her employer and is a domestic helper. She is powerless - if she quits it is very expensive to fly home and stay for a few months until she can get a new employer and she will have a bad record for quitting. If she does quit there is a risk (and a good chance) that her next employer will also be abusive.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Do I think all families treat domestic helpers well, the answer is no. Do I think the vast majority do? Then absolutely because of the strict laws surrounding their employment.
Yo
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
I have a maid/nanny that I pay fairly.
scoschooo@reddit
You have a live in maid? How many days off a week do they get? How many hours off every day?
Of course you know in Dubai many live in helpers never have a day off or any vacation at all - possible getting some time off once in 2 years, or less. And many don't even get 9 hours off a day to sleep, shower, and do anything for themselves, like call their children at home.
For anyone else reading this, many families in Dubai horribly exploit poor women from PH and Indonesia and other poor countries. Have a servant that works every day with never a day off is normal, and pay is very low. Often they do not get enough time off each day to sleep and shower, or have a little time for themselves. It's slavery that the women accept because at home they can't get work or food for their kids.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Thanks for the questions:
My maid gets 1 day off per week, there are no fixed working hours however she will typically have around 12 hours between finishing work and starting the next day.
She also gets 28 days paid holiday per year and we pay for her flight tickets back home once per year. We pay nearly double the government mandated minimum salary. We pay for her work visa and health insurance.
All of the above is government mandated (apart from the salary which we do bump up).
scoschooo@reddit
ok thanks
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
I'd disagree with your assertion that most people treat their maids poorly. I'm not doubting that it happens but there are severe penalties for breaking the government mandated rules around domestic helpers which can include the revoking of residency. I have certainly never encountered a family that treats their helpers below the required standards.
scoschooo@reddit
I am not sure about Dubai, but in many nearby countries they are exploited and have no days off ever. I have a close friend who worked in Saudi for 5 years. She had no days off every. No vacation, no chance to go home. This is really common for many middle east countries. She always had headaches because she was not allowed to sleep even 6 hours a day. I have another friend who was help prisoner after her contract because they employer didn't want her to leave. She was was kept there for at least 8 more months with the employer refusing to let her leave and she was pain almost nothing. Her room was very cold, they would not give her a heater. She was constantly asked to massage her employers and was so tired and in pain from that. This is normal - if you know OFW helpers in the middle east: no days off ever. Another friend working there as a helper also has no days off ever, and is not allowed to go out by herself as a woman - just trapped in the home and a windowless room always.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
I'm not sure why you are telling me about domestic helpers in other countries, I was talking about regulations in the UAE.
You do raise good points about time spent working per week. But at the end of the day maids earn double (if not more) what they would be able to earn in the Philippines or Indonesia. They have a choice whether to do the work or not, no one is forcing them to be a domestic helper and the vast majority are treated with respect and provided with time off in the UAE.
scoschooo@reddit
they are exploited because often they are starving back at home. they are desperate. In those countries you can't get work in many places. Many stay with abusive employers because they don't have the money to leave and try to find another employer - often their kids and families can't get enough food at home.
st3g3@reddit
What your occupation that you could move to Dubai?
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
I mean any occupation. Lots of Marketing, tech, consulting and finance roles. Getting a work visa is relatively simple and inexpensive for employers.
st3g3@reddit
Did they sponsor you to relocate? Or did you just get the job then move over? Or vice versa?
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
I was headhunted from the UK by a multinational company based in Dubai and then all visas etc were sorted out prior to me and my family moving.
They paid for relocation and accomodation for the first month and also my daughters schooling.
I wouldn't advise moving without a job as it's a fairly competitive market and you wont be able to rent without an Emirates ID which you can't get without a sponsor (either family member or employer).
st3g3@reddit
This sounds like you achieved the best possible scenario. Congrats! Were you quite senior in the UK role before being headhunted?
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
The only industry i know that provides relocation for less experienced employees in real estate but it's a real cauldron of fire there, some of the stories that I have heard about the employees there would make you scream.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
I was manager level at an MNC, but had been at that level for a few years, the new job provided me with a promotion. One thing about jobs in Dubai is that if they are relocating you they want to see many years of experience, it's very rare they will headhunt a below manager level employee or someone with less than 5 years experience minimum (more like 8 years in practice).
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Also it depends what level and type of company you are. In my company the relocation packages are different based on whether you are a manager, senior manager or director etc.
guareber@reddit
Dubai excellent weather? Isn't it like 30C for 8 months of the year? I wouldn't enjoy living trapped in aircon.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Why would you be trapped in aircon in 30 degrees weather? The only time when you could say it’s too hot is from May - August and even then it’s only mega hot during the midday Sun. Mornings and afternoons are actually quite nice even in the summer.
guareber@reddit
We may just have different tolerances. I've lived in places with avg temps between 28 and 30 year round and it's quite oppressive. Can't go out 5 minutes without sweating like a pig, everywhere is aircon all the time. Not for me.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
That’s fair. For us as a family we are OK up to the mid 30s. Once it gets to around the high 30s and low 40s it’s too hot. But like I said Thats only every now and again in the summer and only at the hottest part of the day.
-isitallfornothing-@reddit
Mid-May to mid-September will have a lot of days above 40c. Brits with kids will try to go back for long summer holidays. The rest of the time has maximum temperatures between 25 and 35. It barely rains.
Yesterday the high was 34, we spent 4 hours at/in the pool at our apartment complex.
Holiday_Historian@reddit
30c is not bad. But then again I hear it gets to 40c. Screw that!
East-Present1112@reddit
Where in the uk did you leave from- it’s a big country
madzuk@reddit (OP)
North London. But I did live in Sheffield for 6 months before I made the move.
East-Present1112@reddit
So you left London for Marvellous Melbourne. Weather is pretty similar when I lived there and even had four seasons in one day…
JBG0486@reddit
Sydney Australia. Been here 9 years. Lots to love about the place; good weather, great food, fantastic healthcare.
Some strong negatives; a narrow focus on what constitutes success in life. Ie an expensive ugly house. We’re very far from everything and culture isn’t as vibrant as the uk or Europe.
We’ll probably head back soon for family reasons.
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
I visited Sydney briefly. Things are far apart, cities, and you can't really fly anywhere quickly - I can see that becoming tiresome.
W51976@reddit
The problem with the U.K. Sometimes though, is you get years of grey nothingness, where there’s no real summer or winter.
JBG0486@reddit
We've had entire summers wiped out by never ending rain or wildfires. In the UK you can be off to Europe relatively easily, we're 6+ Hrs from the nearest overseas break.
W51976@reddit
Not everyone can afford to head to Europe, even if it’s only 3-500 miles away to the warmer areas of the continent.
JBG0486@reddit
True but the cost of domestic travel in Australia is pretty shocking. Like a lot of our economy there is a significant lack of healthy competition. So a few airlines control the market and set prices as they please.
W51976@reddit
Yeah, and that’s a shame. There’s probably a lot of nice parts of your country to visit
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
This is true. Miserable nothingness.
W51976@reddit
Or Beautiful Otherness as Bent said in their song.
W51976@reddit
But it did give us those great new wave post punk bands of the late 70s and early 80s. The grey climate gave us those dreary sounds, and I love that.
JBG0486@reddit
Hot as shit! I weirdly miss seasons. They’re much less pronounced here.
Houses in apartments in Sydney are cold as shit in the winter.
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
It got to hellish 47 degrees mate. I guess Brits just aren't built for it.
JBG0486@reddit
Oof 47 is too much. 😂. Yeah it’s in the genes. Nice to see some variety though.
ilycats@reddit
i’m aussie (briefly lived there and partner is born there) and i notice lots of ppl from the UK say similar things about aus being quite superficial and materialistic, interestingly.
JBG0486@reddit
I mean all we do in Australia is sell expensive property to each other.
And yeah culturally it’s a bit narrow. The distance to other places will do that unfortunately.
Lower_Hospital1268@reddit
Can you explain the differences in culture, by comparing Australia to Uk and Europe? Would love to hear your opinion! Maybe this is why I loved London (as a euro aussie)
JBG0486@reddit
It’s not a perfect analysis and I should stipulate my pov comes from having lived the first 30 years of my life in the uk and travelled around Europe before moving to Australia where I’ve been for the past 10 years but there’s some foundational differences.
Australia is a really young country for 99.99% of the population having arrived in the past 2 centuries. So ‘australian’ culture isn’t that deep rooted in the same way that there are centuries and Millenia of culture across Europe which has remained the dominant culture. This means the arts, architecture, cuisines has developed over generations. Australia is still at the very start of that journey.
Another factor is the innescapable distance. Meaning faster moving culture music, arts, technology isn’t as rich, invested in or as connected as the rest of the world. This distance also means. That intersections of cultures and peoples is a lot less. Again I’m comparing this to London and the uk where folk from all over the world come and go frequently and easily. That movement creates dynamism and new ideas.
Australia in my mind has a bit of a curious identity issue. It aligns itself with the us and uk but really it’s an apac country and should lean more into that alignment it would benefit it more economically and culturally.
No where is perfect but having spent good time and now hold citizenship in both countries it’s interesting to observe the difference and value each brings.
60sstuff@reddit
Excuse me but you do seem to be producing some excellent rock music atm. I’m pretty confident the 20s might be dubbed “the Australian invasion”
lightpeachfuzz@reddit
As another Aussie living in Scotland, I've noticed that all the British people that say this on Reddit tend to live in Sydney, a city that I also think of as quite superficial and materialistic, and tend to assume that all of Australia is like that.
ilycats@reddit
yeah i agree, mostly. lol i’m from perth and i’ve noticed a decent amount of british people who move here complain it’s boring and then seem to think that means whole of aus is boring 🤣
CanIhazCooKIenOw@reddit
It kinda is when compared to Europe. Everything is pretty much the same - sure there’s amazing nature but it’s not like the big cities are that much different. Specially when comparing with different European capitals.
Heck, there’s not even proper accents between states. Either normal or bogan.
ilycats@reddit
i do agree and i think this is probably what a lot of them are referring to when they say it’s boring. it’s probably difficult to get an idea of scale until you’ve actually been in australia.
the state of WA can fit several european countries in it but the population is something like 2.9 million and i think 90% live within perth and the immediate south west region.
CanIhazCooKIenOw@reddit
I think it’s less about the size because the US is also big but states can be completely different with different things to do, see and even way of life. The same is not really true in Australia where things are more the same same.
Also distance to anything remotely different - Bali probably is the closest? And that’s 5/6/8/9 hours depending on which major city?
It’s a big adjustment for anyone anywhere else in the world really.
W51976@reddit
I think the Brits who moan and complain about England, and think ‘Australia is amazing’ should move there instead of moaning about the U.K. to me. My Co worker is one of them, and he keeps slagging the U.K. off. He’s only going by what he sees in London and his Essex neighbourhood. He has no idea what the Lake District is like or somewhere else.
I bet he would whine about Australia if he lived there for a longer stretch of time lol
W51976@reddit
As a Londoner who lived in Toronto, I don’t think I would stomach Sydney, if I relocated to Australia.
It would have to be somewhere less hectic, maybe Melbourne or Perth.
MaxJustice@reddit
Pomme with Aussie wife and kids with 16 years in Sydney. Definitely note we say Sydney. I can't speak for Victoria, don't know it well, but I didn't get that same sense of materiality from Queensland. Sydney is amazing, but the people can be something else when it comes to work and the rat race.
ilycats@reddit
i’m in perth and i don’t think it’s as pronounced here. people are obsessed with property here too, but i think it’s in part due to poor renters rights and how quickly the prices move.
New-March-1275@reddit
How is life in Perth? How much is a rent for a 2 bed flat in a good area?
ilycats@reddit
perth is good, depending on what you’re into. wages are much higher than the UK in most industries. i live in an area where something like 30% of people were born in the UK and my friends/family from there mostly speak positively about perth and want to stay.
only bad thing is low home vacancies means prices for rentals have gone up and it can be difficult to find a place atm. apartments are usually around $650pw which i think is roughly £310pw ? could be really expensive or really cheap depending on where you’re living currently.
rectal_warrior@reddit
I'm 6 years in Sydney, I find people talk about property a whole lot but in general have a better work life balance than the UK, the amount of time people spend outside is massively noticeable for me.
CanIhazCooKIenOw@reddit
Definitely Sydney where it’s all about the suburb you live, if you own the house (not a unit), if you have any IP and what school you and your kids are going to.
W51976@reddit
Materialism becomes very boring and tedious after a while. It’s like how many young people in London ask each other ‘what job do you do’ as if that defines who you are as a person?
Go to Manchester and other parts of the north of England, and people don’t care much about your job, but more about what kind of interests you have.
I think all big cities across the globe have that materialistic attitude
rectal_warrior@reddit
I'm so lucky that my colleagues and friends don't have this mindset, maybe it has something to do with being in my 30s and childfree
CanIhazCooKIenOw@reddit
I must say if only see in with people (educated and travelled) but never really moved from Sydney
rectal_warrior@reddit
So strange to hear 18 year old apprentices talking about investment properties and how much certain suburbs have done up in value.
But it's all their parents talk about so it's what they learned a conversation is.
Ambitious_League4606@reddit
Yeah there's benefits. Culturally wise it's quite limited unless you really enjoy sports.
I was surprised by the many pineckity laws and regulations.
coldbeers@reddit
Came back after 12 years in Qld.
It’s nice to be back but there’s also a lot to miss about Australia.
Ok-Interview-814@reddit
And the spiders too I'd imagine
JBG0486@reddit
Spiders aren't too bad, the roaches are dicks.
Historical_Stress_64@reddit
I left my home country of Ireland at age 17. I am now living in country number 24. Married a Russian beauty. Had our kids in the Czech Republic. They grew up mostly in Italy (not recommended...nothing works there). Enjoyed Japan but the culture is hard to adapt to. China was splendid. Saudi, very kind people. The UAE a shithole. Russia, the nicest people you could ever wish to meet. Estonia is a favourite. Currently in the Caucuses - Violent and aggressive people. Time to go somewhere else.
Daxnn@reddit
Damn thats quite a list, how did you jobs in all of those countries?
Ash009909@reddit
Canberra, yes it's boring but I could never earn the amount of money I'm earning anywhere in Australia by contracting directly to the government.
aricaia@reddit
I’m in South Korea and love it! I do miss home though.
StruggleNo2535@reddit
Me and my partner moved to Toronto in what was meant to be a 2 to 3 year stay and just recently received our Canadian citizenships.
It's a mixed bag, we both really enjoy living here, it's 'easy' and very comfortable but the social side is hard, the winters are difficult, there's some serious economic issues taking root too and we generally wish we could be closer to family and friends... We'd love to move back tbh, but there just is no justification to do so. But I don't think most Brits currently living in the UK realise just quite how bad everything has gotten over there. The UK is now a developing country, with developing country problems but none of the advantages.
The lifestyle in Toronto is very nice, for Canadian standards it's seen as the 'workaholic', work-focused city but compared to London it is so so chill. Vancouver has a whole other vibe apparently and so does MTL. It's a seasonal country, in Summer we get out of the city a lot to go to cottages, camp, hike and enjoy the weather. In winter most people try to huddle in and do more indoor activities. Alberta and BC have a huge snow sport culture, but Ontario is sadly a little too flat for that.
The Good - We both work in advertising, salaries are much higher than in the UK experience is heavily valued here which shelters us from the HCL and some of the more obvious economic issues. - Better work life balance, and because we were in lock-down for much longer remote work is more common. - Health / Outdoors: people are much more health-conscious, there's a big outdoor culture (camping, hiking, canoeing). Most people have decent private healthcare through work so while non-emergency surgeries are still slow, you can generally get exams done relatively quickly if you are an white-collar worker. - Much more chill drug laws and attitude is legalized and shrooms are semi-legalized (they're not but there's literal shops), not as much coke/ket/party drugs as in the UK. - Rental laws, we pay the same rent we'd be paying in London but we have a massive rent-controlled house (2 bedrooms, living room + dining room, immense kitchen, porch, shared garden), bills included, legal deposits are illegal, we can redecorate (repaint, put things on the wall etc) and there's just more renter's protection in general. - Incredible food scene. - Very liberal attitude to LGBTQ+, including Trans rights which I appreciate.
The bad - Insane housing market, yes, much worse than the UK. Buying here is a nightmare and we've decided that it financially doesn't make sense for us to even try despite our salaries being around 3x the median. - Lack of growth opportunity, it's a small country population wise so budgets and opportunities are smaller unless you can work with the US. More work life balance but I find the overall work culture wishy-washy and people seem to avoid decision making. Much less direct that the UK which is already not a particularly direct culture. - The winters are truly long. They're dry so they're less of an issue temperature wise and they're more 'comfortable' than the UK's but they go on for so fucking long... You can still get slush on the ground in May. - It's kinda... Dull. I really miss the culture that is available in the UK specially when it comes to art galleries and museums. There just isn't much to do here that isn't outdoor related which is only really an option in Summer. - Same for people, Canadians are very polite and surface-nice but it's difficult to break the shell. There's a tendency to see discussions as confrontations which they're very uncomfortable with so it's hard to meet people and talk about anything that isn't surface level. Very little interest in politics and current affairs which is also seen as confrontational topics. - An undertone of racism that I find vastly more uncomfortable than the UK. Outside of the workplace I see no cultural commingling and interaction i.e. white people simply don't attend Caribbean carnival here. There's a veneer of inclusivity that masks lack of integration and deeper discrimination.
jloome@reddit
Having lived in Canada now for 40 years and yearning to go home, I cannot stress to people who are intellectually curious how reserved people are here with respect to being open and honest about what they think and feel.
Do yourselves a favor: I was forced here as a teenager by my parents and it's taken this long to become financially independent enough to (hopefully soon) move back. But that sense of everything being off-limits will NOT change the longer you're there.
If you value your social life, run, do not walk. Unless you really, really, really like talking about hockey, the weather, or the price of houses.
StruggleNo2535@reddit
It's no coincidence that our circle of friends here are mostly a) Canadians who have lived abroad b) Canadians married to Europeans c) Other immigrants.
Having a real conversation here is painful. I love being here but I heard it described that "Canadians are nice, but they're not kind" and this is spot on. Everyone will be very nice and very polite but nobody wants to inconvenience themselves or go out of their way to help others. It's a very much a stay in your lane, don't rock the boat kinda country.
LankyYogurt7737@reddit
I moved here 7 years ago and am now a citizen as well. I also worked in advertising in London and was surprised that I was able to more than double my salary over here, for the same role at an Omnicom agency, the same group I was working for in London. Me and my partner aslso went from renting a box room in east London with 4 other people to having our own place right downtown.
Canada and Toronto has its issues but I feel like I’ve lived and much fuller life since moving here, it could have been a mindset chance that came with the move but London was depressing to me, felt like i was constantly just in a routine of work work pub kebab sleep, and barely keeping my head above water financially. Being in Canada has given me the money and perspective to live a bigger life that’s way more social and active. I do miss the UK in recent months but not ready to head back just yet.
StruggleNo2535@reddit
Yeah, we're basically in the same situation lol. Also lived in a box East London with 5 people before we moved in together to an expensive box for the two of us.
We have become much healthier and balanced, and I related hard to the routine you were talking about. That's why I laugh when people say Torontonians are workaholics because compared to London work life balance here is very chill.
Downsides are the lack vacation time, I do miss public transport, and the galleries and museums in London (although they are now so eye-wateringly expensive that I don't even know if I'd be able to enjoy it).
We missed the night life London had as well, real club nights and DJs and some really cool venues buuuuuut we kinda eased on that since COVID and London is destroying it's own night-life anyway so we're not missing out on much anymore.
snowandrocks2@reddit
Moving somewhere won't automatically make you happy. Lots of people blame a place for their misery but often they just continue to be miserable in a different place.
Work on yourself and you can be happy (almost...) anywhere. Then think about if you still want to move.
HardCaner@reddit
did fifteen years in Thailand and 15 in the Philippines now back in the UK. came back to look after my parents ended up stuck with kids in UK schools, life was way better in Thailand.
iamnogoodatthis@reddit
Switzerland (Geneva). I love the mountains, and I can go skiing every weekend in winter for about the same overall cost as a one week trip from the UK. It's also very clean, the trains are great, summer evenings are warm and the lake is lovely to swim in. I can cycle into the vineyards in about 5 minutes from my house, which is 20 minutes cycle from the main station. I'm in way better shape than I ever was in London.
Downsides: even though my French is pretty good now, I'll never be native level so will always slightly miss out on things. Most of my family and old friends are in the UK, so my life isn't particularly social (I'm not a hermit though, and a decent part of this is just everyone getting older and busier). Job security and employment rights are a bit worse here, and while taxes are low you have to pay for health insurance.
In general I'm happy and in no rush to move back. No clue how I'll feel in a decade or two though.
ReflectionIll7460@reddit
Can you elaborate on ‘job security and employment rights are a bit worse here’?
iamnogoodatthis@reddit
My impression is that it's a bit easier to fire people on permanent contracts - I think you can be fired for more or less no reason with 3 months notice. And things like parental leave are much worse than the UK.
ter9@reddit
Not sure how well you know the system, but whilst rights at a job in Switzerland aren't great, the biggest perk is unemployment insurance, you can lose your job and get paid 70% or more of your salary for up to 2 years while having to make a very moderate amount of job applications (2 a week), provided you worked for 12 months, that for me is of invaluable worth
iamnogoodatthis@reddit
Yes, that part is awesome.
EhUWot@reddit
In a similar position - agree with the pros and cons.
Fun-Accident-8222@reddit
Austria
oggupito@reddit
NZ- Whangaparāoa Peninsula / Hauraki Gulf (north east Auckland Region). Since 2005. RN in Psych.
Coastline & islands, big vistas. Walking for hours.
AmeliaxSofia@reddit
I also want to move! Just don’t know where yet it seems like everyone is moving to Australia but idk :/
Funny-Force-3658@reddit
Utrecht in the Netherlands
CheshireCatastrophe@reddit
This is a post I'll save and show so much love, as someone who moved to Canada in 2018 with my family, it wasn't at all what we expected. Especially as we'd spent a solid amount of money teenhood waiting to go, I put off school, friends, anything permanent just waiting for the day I could finally go. Arrived in Vancouver, too expensive. Moved to Kelowna, BC, cheaper, but still way too expensive. Moved to New Brunswick because its so much cheaper.
It's a total hole, even known by other Canadians as the worst province.
Realized that as many provinces as there is, the only one worthwhile is BC, which is a great quality of life but will destroy your finances.
In 2024 we visited England and were blown away by how amazing it is. Moving back as soon as we have the funds. England is a paradise that we will never underappreciate again.
vippaddingtonbear@reddit
As a Canadian who moved to the uk, I’m happy I’ll never live in that frozen hellhole again. I HATE Canada. People are shocked. There’s no quality of life there.
CheshireCatastrophe@reddit
So glad to hear someone agree, the cold is something I feel very strongly lowers quality of life, cuts straight into the spring and I just can't stand it, we are all adamant to not go through another winter, but God knows we are gonna have to.
Glad you made it to the UK, for real, that's a massive achievement! My girlfriend is Canadian and has always wanted to go, so we went, and now we are hoping to move there
FireLadcouk@reddit
I love it. Not for everyone. But i know exactly what im going to get. Can pack away summer stuff and get out the winter stuff. I can use the underground walk ways (mtl reso) then back to the bixi as cycling is much better here.
Horses for courses.
The chips arent as good!!! But they do put gravy and curds on them so swings and roundabouts
CheshireCatastrophe@reddit
I think it must depend, I mean New Brunswick is truly the least ideal, but Vancouver I'd choose easily over England...
Vanilla_Chinchillaa@reddit
Are you me??? Moved from Canada 10 years ago and people in the UK are shook that I moved out of Canada.
I’m sorry but I refuse to spend most of my time in a car to get anywhere and half of the year feeling like my toes might fall off from the cold.
vippaddingtonbear@reddit
haha I moved here in 2019! I find a lot of Brits tend to romanticize Canada. I'm glad my husband doesn't because I don't want to move back. The weather would take a horrible toll on both of our mental health and we'd have to choose between owning a home or having a decent job. But yeah, there's nothing like doing a 12 hour shift, getting home to shovel your driveway, going to sleep and getting up to your car being snowed in to make you want to end it all.
Substantial_Pilot699@reddit
We discussed moving to Canada but went with Italy. Part of the reason for not opting for Canada was - I was concerned with the QOL in Canada. I HMhad extensively read that the cost of living and the cost and quality of family accommodation was in a crisis! Seem like that's true?
maybenomaybe@reddit
I'm originally from Canada, been living in the UK for 12 years now.
COL and low quantity is as much an issue in Canada as the UK. However the quality of housing stock is much better. Canada's housing is generally larger, far more modernized, has more outdoor space and is built to deal with weather. UK housing is by comparison small, crowded, outdated, damp, and mouldy.
Lanky-Big4705@reddit
Canada has 10X as much habitable land per person hence larger properties (calculated here), houses are more modern because the country is much younger, Brits tend to prefer older houses too. If your house is damp and mouldy you're not managing it properly.
Shallowbrook6367@reddit
Do you plan to return to Canada at some point?
We're hoping to return to the USA next year, partly because of the housing issues you mentioned.
maybenomaybe@reddit
Pretty unlikely. I work in an industry in the UK that doesn't really exist in Canada (the reason why I emigrated in the first place).
stevegraystevegray@reddit
I'm pleased to see someone has chosen and made a life for themselves in Italy, I've been twice this year already I love it. I was always led to believe it's a tricky place to move to, what is it you do for work may I ask?
Substantial_Pilot699@reddit
I worked as a Chartered Surveyor in London for 17 years, and my wife was a specialist nurse. My wife is now going to be a stay at home mum for a decade or so, then probably try and find work at the local hospital.
I am starting a YouTube channel showing Italian Property. My dream is to earn enough off that for us to live off. Probably needless to say, we saved before moving here, and have some investments - but providing less than what we earned in London. If the YouTube content doesn't work out, I'll have to figure something else out. I need to learn Italian before I am employable. None of this would have been possible without putting in the grind in London. Overall, we consider it a better environment for our children here.
Puzzleheaded_Gain493@reddit
How did you make the move if you don’t mind, and are you originally Italian ?? I don’t know about Veneto region, I was in Milan and did like it despite worse services than England , food quality in supermarkets wasn’t great and the people are a little hostile, but I’d love some type of work where I can go back and forth between uk and Milan
TravellingAmandine@reddit
Where in Italy did you move to, if you don’t mind me asking?
Substantial_Pilot699@reddit
Sure! North-east Veneto region.
How come?
stevegraystevegray@reddit
So that's very interesting and hats off to you for cracking on! So I too am a Chartered Building Surveyor and whilst I've moved over to PM work in Infrastructure I'm absolutely still chartered. I doubt the RICS has much of a presence in Italy but I bet there is work in the industry somehow but yeah, learning Italian is key I guess
Substantial_Pilot699@reddit
Thanks, and nice to be acquainted with you.
I did PM for five years first in-house and then moved client side, before moving internally into Property Development and Investment Agency role.
RICS isn't really present here in Italy. The concept of surveying actually doesn't really exist. I'm not sure how everything functions in this regard - it is just very different. Architects do a lot more here.
But I feel I'm done with RICS surveying now. I am maintaining my membership as an insurance, just in case I need to return to employment. It was a good job for my life in the UK, and my surveying-hat will hopefully give me a small edge in making YouTube content about buildings here. You're very right that I definitely need to learn Italian asap!
FireLadcouk@reddit
We considered italy. But my wife is black… so yeah…
Not as bad in the UK but she can never feel at home here. Constantly being asked out the blue where shes from etc. Get tiring fast. Yes we could have probably moved to a big city but a move is a move
StruggleNo2535@reddit
It depends on where you are. I would say that for purchasing Canada is on par if not harder than the UK.
Rent varies depending on where you live. I'm in Toronto and I pay 2000GBP a month in rent in an area that is still within Toronto proper (25 minutes cycling downtown) which I would say is in the very high end for the city. However:
Housing, specially for renters, is one of the main reasons we don't want to return to the UK.
jloome@reddit
I've lived in Canada for 40 years, not by choice, really, as we moved here when I was a teen. And we're retiring back to the UK. My character and personality fits there, but doesn't really here. People are socially very different in North America, and as reserved as English people think they are... they have no idea.
I spent three decades interviewing people for newspapers, so it's not for lack of trying.
Social anxiety is just drilled into people from an early age, and the ability to forge genuine bonds outside a handful of people -- or just to have an opinion without people taking offense not just to the opinion but the statement thereof -- can be quite difficult compared to England.
People here have different social faces for home, close friends, work, casual friends... it's exhausting.
CheshireCatastrophe@reddit
I dont know why people believe that Canadians are so polite, on top of everything else you said, which I completely agree with.
Never has anyone thanked me for holding a door open or sorry'd me excessively, found all those things a shock and rude, went back to the UK for the holiday and omfg I felt everyone was way more welcoming, kind and polite, also said sorry a ton more than Canada...
jloome@reddit
Canadians are reserved. They are sometimes polite. People mistake reserved for polite and polite for nice.
Neither of those things equates to actually being nice. You have to get to know them really well before figuring that out, and then it's as much a crapshoot as any country.
My wife is Canadian but is quite happy to come with me back to the UK because she's spent a lifetime tired of treading on people's toes. IT's as common for them to be upset THAT you brought up a difficult subject as it is for the subject itself to upset them, even if it's something important.
They have lots of admirable qualities. A British friend of mine who had a difficult upbringing finds Canada quite soothing as a place to live, because no one ever brings up anything contentious or debatable.
But he also told me that when he went home, first to Bristol and then to the north, for the first time in 20 years, people were so blunt about what they thought and felt he couldn't take it.
I grew up in the English prep school system before moving here, despite not having the money of my upper-class schoolmates, and got quite used to arseholes identifying themselves shortly after they enter the room.
So having to constantly parse who and isn't open and direct, who is and isn't a humanistic person, who is and isn't a snob, has been exhausting.
And God help you if you ever point out difference. I remember about fifteen years ago a journalism friend asking me why I didn't click with her other friends.
I said because they mostly like hockey, talking about sports, talking about their home life, and talking about things they've done together in the past.
I like talking about politics and art and the larger world, think my personal trials are both no one's business and duller than dishwater (as are most of theirs).
I don't need to talk about any sport continually, especially hockey. I like football, but once I've watched it and a day of debate has passed... well, that's about it.
To her, that was a snobbish judgment. "You're a snob," she said outright.
No... I just don't enjoy hockey, or hearing about people's most banal and least offensive personal trials, or how much they drank together a year earlier, or how their workday went.
It's not a moral judgment of quality, it's personal taste. But here that often IS seen as a moral judgment. Any time you might even disagree a little isn't just a difference of opinion, it's a condemnation of the other person. It's just very tiring and unnecessary.
And Canadians are nowhere near as bad as Americans for the same issues, despite Americans seemingly being loud and boisterous (as long as it's completely inoffensive.)
CheshireCatastrophe@reddit
Thats something I never really thought about, Canadians being way more reserved, for sure calm, collected, pretty quiet when it comes to strangers (which I was actually fond of) i guess it comes down to the fact that Canada is a big place and everyone comes from everywhere, nobody NEEDS to interact, but England is very heavily packed with people at all times, it's difficult to avoid interacting or with finding a crowd that suits you best.
I really couldn't say (anymore) that I can make any kind of comparison between the two because like anywhere in the world we are all very different, I think it's just easier to make judgement when we all speak the same language
Last_Peak@reddit
As a Canadian living in the UK I miss Canada so much 😭😭my QOL has definitely been worse in the UK. What you get for your money in Canada is just better even in Toronto (despite people constantly talking about how expensive it is). Really prefer Toronto/Ontario weather and am dreading another UK winter as the houses here never get properly warm and have ridiculously uneven heat distribution (radiators just don’t seem to work anywhere near as well as forced air), and the damp is brutal. Summers in Ontario are also a lot nicer than here imo. Plus I had to wait 2 months just to get an ultrasound here when it would be available same day in Toronto (and 3 weeks to get a blood test??? The longest I ever waited in Toronto was 2 hrs during covid). The UK definitely wins when it comes to beautiful buildings though and despite how insanely expensive, and often unreliable, the trains are I do love how many places you can get to using them.
DarrensDodgyDenim@reddit
New Brunswick has one thing over the other provinces though. It has the biggest road signs, as it is the only province that has both French and English as official languages.
TouristStunning9063@reddit
Settled in Ontario this year, I'm personally liking it.
JohnCharles-2024@reddit
Israel.
TwoPintsYouPrick@reddit
Lived in France for a spell. But now live in the Caribbean. Corporate chef, nice salary, live by the sea, very good hours.
81Bottles@reddit
Interested to know why you left France. How did you find it compared with the UK?
TwoPintsYouPrick@reddit
I was a seasonnaire at that time, so spent winters and summers in different places each time depending on the job. Always in the alps though. Beautiful part of the world, I’d have carried on doing it but Covid completely fucked everything up.
81Bottles@reddit
Ah ok, would you have stayed if it wasn't for Covid then?
TwoPintsYouPrick@reddit
Yeah I had jobs lined up for summer and winter 20’.
PanzerPi@reddit
This sounds brilliant.
Do you mind me asking how the move came about?
I am looking to make a move in the next few years and trying to figure out a landing spot.
10+ years hospitality, General Manager in bars restaurant nightclubs and Food and Beverage amanger in hotels.
TwoPintsYouPrick@reddit
My circumstances are unique, so I wouldn’t give advice apart from have a look at high end hotel chains, they often recruit from all over the world, and can and do include relocation packages for a lot of roles.
NFTArtist@reddit
when racists say go back to your own country, I wish they would buy me plane tickets to the Carribbean
nattynay@reddit
Nice, which island?
TwoPintsYouPrick@reddit
Grand Cayman.
trojanj12@reddit
Coming to the end of my first year of teaching English in Bandung, Indonesia. It's a large university city surrounded by mountains and tea plantations, the atmosphere is relaxed yet vibrant and the people are very calm and kind. Luckily the city is high above sea level so the climate is much cooler than the rest of SE Asia, although it's still very hot compared to the UK. I got really lucky landing a job at a respected school when I arrived, and whilst the pay isn't much for a UK wage it's enough to live a good lifestyle and save money.
Its been surprisingly easy to make friends, the locals are really friendly and have welcomed me like one of their own, I'd say I've already made friends for life- and unlike in the UK everyone here supports eachother and really wants to see eachother do well. The language is harder than it's made out to be (some say it's the easiest language for English speakers to learn), but I think/hope by the end of my second year I'll be close to fluency.
Things aren't perfect but I love life here, and whatever happens can't see myself going back to live in the UK.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Ah I love Bandung, I used to live in Jakarta for around 6 years, and would make regular weekend trips to Bandung. You don't meet many non pribumi that live there.
The language does get easier, it took me probably around 2 years to feel confident that I could understand pretty much anything anyone said either through understanding the context or understanding the actual words. It takes a long time to really learn how to speak the formal Bahasa Indonesia though, although it's easier to understand.
PsychologicalLack155@reddit
Weekend trips to Bandung is such a Jakartan thing to do.
SnooHamsters5480@reddit
Well yeh obviosuly, its within driving distance and is better than Bogor. Why wouldn't you go for the weekend every now and again.
Grouchy-History-6185@reddit
As soon as the war in Ukraine is over I will be selling everything and moving there with my wife who is from Ukraine. It’s such a beautiful country has some wonderful cities and things to see. And the cost of living compared to the UK is world’s apart.
I wouldn’t be able to retire here for at last 20 more years and I’m 55. When we move there I will be pretty much semi retired.
Lanky-Big4705@reddit
I went to Kiev a couple of times a decade or so ago, was fun but seemed fairly generic Eastern European to me. Obviously everything was cheap but that's because local wages are low. Massively corrupt too and was noticeable even to a visitor.
You'd miss variety living somewhere like that, everywhere and everything is kind of similar. My friend who lived out there teaching English also noted the lack of diversity, not as in different coloured people, but more that everyone tends to like and do the same things, they don't have the same sort of variety of culture that you do in the West and especially in Anglosphere countries.
Grouchy-History-6185@reddit
I don’t need much, as long as there are some places to go with my camera I will be happy living in our own bubble
theskyturns@reddit
It will never be over tho...
Grouchy-History-6185@reddit
Well that’s probably true enough maybe a couple of years pause before it kicks off again
LuxRolo@reddit
I moved to Norway, my SO is Norwegian, so I moved to him on the west coast. Not in a city but close enough to a town to not feel like I'm in the middle of nowhere (feels like rural UK living in a village).
Overall I'm happy here, I very much enjoy my free time, nature on the doorstep and a great variety within a short driving distance. Some days suck when the wind and the rain make me not want to leave the house and the winter darkness can get to me some days. Work is work like it was in the UK.
DarrensDodgyDenim@reddit
As a Norwegian, it is not often I see Brits here. You're mad to move to a country with even worse weather than the UK.
I was fortunate enough to study in York in the late 90s, during the early Blair years with Britpop and cool Britannia. You couldn't have wished for a better place to study.
Best of luck in Norway!.
snapjokersmainframe@reddit
Define "worse". At least we get guaranteed winters here (Buskerud, cabin in Hallingdal). Yes it can be super-cold, but it's rarely as miserable as any given English December. Wasn't born with skis on my feet, but I've learnt to love langrenn. I have a friend in Scotland who likes to ski, you should see some of the stuff he thinks is acceptable to ski on!
Lanky-Big4705@reddit
I never get this, how can it be said that Scandi weather is 'better' when for several months a year you have to arm yourself against the climate whereas in Britain you just might need to bring an umbrella?
DarrensDodgyDenim@reddit
Fair enough, I live in Rogaland, so our winters are pretty much the UK but darker. There are people in the Central African Republic that ski better than me, so I'm sure you do very well!
LuxRolo@reddit
Haha, I like when summer here is on a Saturday ;)
Tbf, I don't find it so bad, the rain is fine, but when it's combined with the wind and gets into your bones that I'm not a huge fan...
Thanks :)
plasticirishman@reddit
I’ve been in Munich for seven years now. It’s safe, clean, green, has an amazing location in the centre of the continent and loads of great (English speaking) job opportunities. In particular, I love being able to see the alps from work and drive to them in an hour.
The airport is huge and it’s a two hour flight home so I can go back regularly when I miss the UK (the beer is great here, but I do miss a proper pub).
Ironically, Germans love a good moan and if you were to spend a few minutes on r/munich you’d be forgiven for thinking that this place is an unliveable hellhole. Maybe some things are universal.
ancapailldorcha@reddit
How is the cost of living there? I do see the odd job but Bavaria looks expensive.
plasticirishman@reddit
It’s definitely expensive, compared to both the UK and most of the rest of Germany. When I moved here, rent was comparable to South East England and food prices maybe double that compared to the UK - things may well have shifted in the last years though. In general though this is totally offset by wages being much, much higher (especially in my industry) and the quality of stuff being pretty good too.
However, for the equivalent of £7 I can get a litre of amazing helles beer fresh from the barrel, so there’s at least one thing that is cheaper in this city!
ancapailldorcha@reddit
Thanks! I'm in London so I would expect it to be pricey but I do see the odd opportunity advertised in Munich. Are salaries really so much better? Would you not lose the benefit in higher taxes?
plasticirishman@reddit
It depends on your industry, but I doubled my wages overnight coming out here. The same applies to other people I know in my industry (engineering), but I think it’s less of a difference in finance for example.
Taxes are definitely higher - the trade off here is that public transport is generally pretty good and cheap, the roads aren’t full of potholes and I can see a doctor very quickly and easily. Trains are shit though, Deutsche Bahn consistently deliver a service comparable with the UK!
It’s worth noting that everything I’ve said above is a massive generalisation based on my narrow set of experiences out here - like everywhere, it really depends on specifics and what you’re able to make of it.
ancapailldorcha@reddit
I see. I'm in life sciences. I've toyed a bit with applying for intellectual property roles and Munich is a hub for that sort of thing. Thanks for the answer.
And everyone seems to hate Deutsche Ban!
plasticirishman@reddit
DB prove that German efficiency is a myth!
ambadawn@reddit
Roadworks and the municipal governments also prove that!
ancapailldorcha@reddit
Seems to be the case!
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
I think I saw recently that the German trains are the worst in Europe
plasticirishman@reddit
Perhaps in terms of punctuality? Switzerland stopped letting some cross the border because they messed up their timetables apparently. It’s a shame, because they’re not too bad when they’re actually working!
findchocolate@reddit
As my dad said, you're still you, wherever you are in the world. So if you're an unhappy git in England, you'll probably be an unhappy git anywhere else in the world 😅
That being said, I loved my 2 years in Belgium. Good quality of life, interesting work, good sense of community.
superjambi@reddit
Never a truer word said. Happiness comes from within. I lived abroad a lot, back in the UK now and loving it. I can’t see myself moving abroad again, at least not for a long time. Maybe when all my friends start moving out of London and having babies and don’t want to hang out anymore, but I just miss British culture when I’m overseas.
LuHamster@reddit
Strange I was much happier in Canada then I've ever been in the UK.
I guess I shouldn't take random quotes from ppl on Reddit as gospel.
W51976@reddit
I preferred the weather in Toronto to London. Their summers are hotter and sunnier, and the winters are colder and snowy, with also long periods of sunny frosty periods. The cold can get to you when it stays below -5c for a week or two at a time though. Sometimes summer days are stifling hot at 34-37c(this was back in 1999) and the air is really humid(proximity to Lake Ontario) but the autumn September and October, can be pleasant, while also May and June can be nice, without being too hot and humid.
FireLadcouk@reddit
I always say. Canada (mtl) have 2 seasons. Winter when you definitely get snow. And summer where it’s scorching. England you barely have four as you never really know what youre getting for either 😂.
W51976@reddit
Yeah, it’s more defined in Canada, but it also depends where you are.
Vancouver for example, doesn’t have great summers, same as Newfoundland and the Atlantic provinces(I’ve never been, and would love to visit at some point).
Toronto isn’t always guaranteed snow at Christmas either
FireLadcouk@reddit
Yeah thats true. It’s the second biggest country in the world. With many different cultures a long the way. You’re right. You cant generalise it
W51976@reddit
But I did love living there. It wasn’t perfect all the time, I still heard Toronto folk moaning about how crap things were(some of them weren’t from TO either, which I noticed a lot of the time), and ‘why did you come here’ as to say, isn’t England better than here? lol.
I said, I needed a change.
Most of them had never even travelled beyond Ontario, so in turn, it was the same narrow minded view on the world.
Also, I remember hearing a conversation outside a pub about 10 years ago, and this involved one bloke who was visiting London from Italy, and another local bloke who laughed and said ‘why did you come to London, there’s better places to visit’ so I stepped in and defended the Italian’s choice to visit my city and shot the local bloke down with ‘why does anyone visit anywhere’.
This was me telling him, it’s the same attitude all over the world, with people negatively shitting on their local town, city of village. People can have a love/hate relationship with their backyard( I sometimes do) but at least I’m not in a war zone
LuHamster@reddit
Oh 100% Toronto has actual summers that are more then 4 weeks or the odd week heatwave every month. The sun is a bit thing getting more daylight hours made such a difference to my mood.
W51976@reddit
I never remember worrying about the weather so much, despite summer 2000 being a bit dodgy by their standards. It was mostly sunny and warm or hot for at least 2-3 weeks at a time between May to September, and I witnessed some spectacular thunderstorms, also it snowed a lot from late November, on and off until early March.
That said, I had people telling me it used to be colder in the 80s (-40c days) but due to global warming, Toronto has warmed since the late 80s.
Summers are definitely better there, and it has a sunnier climate all year round.
You only get a week or 10 days if grey dull weather, before it turns sunny for a week or maybe two without any interruptions.
Unfortunately for the U.K., we lie on the side of a massive ocean 3000 miles wide lol
findchocolate@reddit
Very true! I think it depends what has made you unhappy. If it's something that can be changed by moving, then yes for sure. But if you're someone who is always going to look for the negative in life, you'll do that wherever you are!
I moved to a coastal town years ago, and that has made me much much happier than my previous home. Fresher air, I can easily do my favourite activities etc.
W51976@reddit
Whereabouts?
FireLadcouk@reddit
Yes i believe in this 💯. However i still prefer life in canada. I dont hate England though
breakola@reddit
Yes. Wherever you go, there you are!
Lifeisabitchthenudie@reddit
Where in Belgium? Did you speak the local language?
newslang44@reddit
Yep your dad is exactly right - wherever you go, there you are!
Caddy666@reddit
yeah, but he went across the 8th dimension.
BeastTank1@reddit
You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another, and all that.
selffulfilment@reddit
Wherever you go, there you are
Elegant_Cockroach_24@reddit
Relevant sketch: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TbwlC2B-BIg&pp=ygUWQWRhbXMgYW5kbGVyIHNubCBpdGFseQ%3D%3D
Will you see a different type of squirrels? Probably yes. Will you be happier? No.
BabaGanoushHabibi@reddit
The are surprisingly friendly the belgians
No-Body-4446@reddit
Very rarely do people with a good job, lots of friends, good relationship, good family, own a house, hobbies etc - have a burning desire to leave. (There are exceptions of course before anyone gets upset)
I think a lot of people think moving abroad will magically fix one or some of these. It’s a way of achieving something without really doing anything.
iMightBeEric@reddit
Yeah, there are a lot of truisms spoken by parents that we don’t fully grasp until we’re older … but I’d definitely say that’s not one of them :)
I’ve contracted around the UK and I’ve lived in a couple of counties. I’ve always been me, but some places I fit in much better than others
Fire-Wa1k-With-Me@reddit
Yeah I'm pretty sure parents only say that bc they don't their kids living fair away.
Your environment very much influences how you feel. Denying that is crazy.
Ok-Background2868@reddit
We moved to Canada (Alberta) in January 24 and came home to the Uk last month.
The grass definitely was not greener - but I’d encourage anyone who’s thinking about it, to give it a go.
Life’s short, make some memories ❤️
BitchofEndor@reddit
Canada. Very happy here.
dm_me-your-butthole@reddit
Chongqing China was incredible. why the fuck did I come back
suzienewshoes@reddit
Been in NZ for 15 years. It's not perfect, and like any country there are some hefty downsides - the cost of living v relatively low wages, the poor housing stock, the cost of getting anywhere. But it is a lovely place to live, and especially to raise children. Our son is a little kiwi through and through, and has a level of freedom and style of living that doesn't seem too common from visiting family and friends back in the UK.
The main downside at the moment is the reality of ageing parents, balancing the guilt of living on the other side of the world with the cost of going back (we try to get back once a year), versus trying to figure out the practicalities of what would happen if we needed to head back quickly.
rainbow84uk@reddit
Ireland, Spain, Mexico, the Netherlands, now back to Spain. The UK seems poorer and more depressing every time I visit.
Puzzleheaded_Gain493@reddit
Everyone in this mini thread seems to disagree with you. I haven’t been to Spain only Ibiza so can’t comment, there was a thread where a guy who grew up in a poor part of east London managed to get a remote gig in IT a few years ago and keeps bashing the uk even though growing up in England gave him the opportunity in the first place, and now he thinks Alicante in Spain is the best place on earth, probably due to his purchasing power
I know Ibiza isn’t representative but I noticed building quality is lower than uk, services aren’t as great, the shops stock poor quality products in comparison to uk, only thing that wins is view of beach and fresh produce , which is what the guy who works remote in Alicante gushes over but to say it’s overall better is an over exaggeration especially as it seems bureaucracy is backwards here and generally economically dead , tourists are ignorant they only have purchasing power because they come from stronger economies
rainbow84uk@reddit
This is hilarious. Enjoy your superior services and high quality products, I guess.
guareber@reddit
I dunno mate, everytime I spend a while in Madrid (wife family lives there, we go very regularly for weeks at a time) I just miss London instantly. Most of Spain is too hot, too close minded. And I speak the language fluently!
Now, San Sebastian and the Basque country I liked, but Spain has its own problems.
Tennisfan93@reddit
You take away the tapas, historical areas and landscapes and Spain is a truly shit country. Low wages, ignorant rude people, awful working conditions and practically unliveable for half the year due to heat. You can't even sleep without Aircon on for two months. That's extreme weather. It's not nice. I'd take dark winters any day.
every time I go to the UK it's like stepping back into the 21st century. I feel like the trick to enjoying life there is really about staying off social media and avoiding politics.
Puzzleheaded_Gain493@reddit
Thanks for giving me more insight , I’m on a euro trip and im so shocked how poor and unkept some of these major European cities are and people have the cheek to complain the uk, yes its in a bad period but still hasn’t stooped down to how backwards some of these other places are like Budapest , Warsaw, milan etc I haven’t been to Spain only Ibiza so can’t comment, there was a thread where a guy who grew up in a poor part of east London managed to get a remote gig in IT a few years ago and keeps bashing the uk even though growing up in England gave him the opportunity in the first place, and now he thinks Alicante in Spain is the best place on earth, probably due to his purchasing power
I know Ibiza isn’t representative but I noticed building quality is lower than uk, services aren’t as great, the shops stock poor quality products in comparison to uk, only thing that wins is views and fresh produce (even that’s questionable)
Can I ask specifically that makes it bad or worse country , I’ll be honest I was born and bred in England to parents who came to study here from a 3rd world country which is a rich country but they always told me they didn’t go back due to corruption which destroys public services etc , shame UK’s services have got worse things it prides itself on which were top notch in the 2000’s like NHS , hopefully it will bounce back but if you could tell me the real cons which are worse than Uk, these Reddit moaners keep saying live in Barcelona it’s best city way better than England
rainbow84uk@reddit
Sounds about right for madrileños. To be fair, I'd rather live in London than Madrid too 😅
Chuy14@reddit
Can I ask where in Spain?
My wife and I are bouncing between moving to either Spain or Portugal with our young children (pre-school she) and aren't set on a location yet.
Looking at Valencia or Málaga currently (and south of Lisbon for PT.)
Wife is EU citizen so it won't be a problem re: visas.
Have you encountered anybody pushing back as you're an immigrant? Would love any recommendations you have.
Happy_Pea_3089@reddit
Don't assume that you'll be ok in Portugal because your wife is EU. She'll be ok but you'll have to go through AIMA which is barely functioning and it may take years for you to get your visa.
guareber@reddit
Economy speaking Spain is popping, where Portugal.... Isn't. The small cities will be less forgiving towards migrants though. As much as I dislike the vibe of the city, you might need to consider Barcelona.
traveleverywhereido@reddit
I live in Valencia. I miss the UK so much. But I’ve made my life here, so I’m stuck here. Whatever you do, do NOT work here. Employers are ruthless and will exploit you. Don’t expect to be paid on time. Sometimes you won’t get paid at all. And then you have all the rich foreigners coming over, gloating how cheap everything is. Renting is almost impossible. Most people earn 1400€ a month, but renting a one-bedroom flat is 1100€.
Even_Guest_9920@reddit
It is. Such a sinking feeling in the UK. It's in a death spiral
Positive-Spite6629@reddit
Poorer than itself or where you came from last
rainbow84uk@reddit
I was thinking than itself, but actually both.
agirlingreece@reddit
I left in 2022 to become a digital nomad. Started in Easy Africa, planned to travel the world, ended up in Athens and immediately felt more at home than I ever did in my life. Might be because I’m ethnically half Lebanese and grew up in a very twee, racially un-diverse, rural county in the UK, which I’m still very fond of, but I always had the feeling I was in the wrong life until I came here to Athens. Life abroad definitely isn’t easy, especially when there’s a language barrier, but I battle to make it work because I feel in my heart that this is my place. I’ve felt true happiness here at 42 for the first time in my life and would be gutted to ever have to move back.
mrafinch@reddit
If I may ask, how easy is it to get remote work? I would love to do it before I potentially start a degree next year, but can only find senior roles
agirlingreece@reddit
Unfortunately it’s very, very difficult. I started my own freelancing business in the UK in 2018 and that’s how I’ve been able to support myself remotely. But even that hasn’t been easy, holding into West-Midlands-based clients while in a different country. I lost my biggest client in the move and have had some very financially scary months here but I genuinely slog my guts out to bring in whatever funds I need. Not for the faint hearted for sure. And can’t be employed by a UK company anymore because I’m out if the country more than 183 days of the year. Freelancing is the only way.
ABigTongue@reddit
That's pretty impressive! I'm trying to do the same thing at 32. Built a website and I have 2 clients after 3 months of setting everything up. My website is www.magicautomatic.com. When did you know you were ready to leave full time work.
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
Thank you for being one of the only people to admit that it's not incredibly easy as many remote workers (usually software engineers) like to make out
agirlingreece@reddit
Absolutely spot on. I think people imagine remote workers are generally just chilling on a beach somewhere, occasionally dabbling on a laptop. I live a 10 minute walk from the sea and haven’t made it to the beach once in 2025 because I work 7 days a week. Trying to build financial stability from abroad is actually terrifying. But would still rather do it from here.
butterypowered@reddit
Conversely, where did you see those senior roles?
I can see my current job going from remote (since Covid) to hybrid, and I’m tempted to go fully remote elsewhere if that does happen.
mrafinch@reddit
I googled “remote work” and there’s a few indeed type website geared to that. I’m out with the dog at the moment but when I’m in, I’ll try and fish out some from my history :)
agirlingreece@reddit
There’s now so much competition for remote work that most of the jobs on sites like Indeed get up to 2000 applications, which I learned last year after applying unsuccessfully for 68 roles. I think you need a very specific, senior and in-demand skill set to stand a chance - like software architecture or project management - which I didn’t have.
Striggie@reddit
How was East Africa?
agirlingreece@reddit
Mixed, and not an experience I’d want to repeat to be honest. But it was a good grounding for solo traveller life. I started in Addis Ababa and found it very hostile; there were a lot of tensions with the Tigray situation, not the best time to have gone in hindsight. I much preferred Ukunda and Mombasa where everyone was much friendlier but didn’t always feel relaxed there as a solo female traveller. Glad to have done it though, I learned a lot.
careersteerer@reddit
What are some of your favorite things about Athens?
pigeonJS@reddit
I love Athens. Cheap, great weather, great food and close to beautiful beaches
antmack94@reddit
Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, Philippines, never looked back at the UK
Puzzleheaded_Gain493@reddit
How did you move out there , work or retirement?
antmack94@reddit
Just saved
Johnny_english53@reddit
Is Phillipines where you are now?
antmack94@reddit
Yes it is
Johnny_english53@reddit
Am 59 & considering retirement in these countries - any advice as to the merits of them?
antmack94@reddit
Lots of people doing the same thing, easy to make friends. I would personally go for The philippines or Thailand, for retirees they are quite similar.
Milky_Finger@reddit
Cheap, warm. And I think for a lot of people hitting retirement, it's nice to move to another part of the world where you don't know people and you're left alone. It can be a very peaceful life that the UK could have provided if pensions weren't so meh in this country for the majority of people.
Loonytrix@reddit
I'm in the process of heading that way soon. Is the humidity as bad as they make it out to be?
antmack94@reddit
it's pretty brutal to be honest but you definitely get used to it!
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
I lived in SE Asia for years and never really liked the weather, tbh.
This isn't a joke but I really think UK weather is better. Sure, it's rainy and cold for half of the year but the other half is amazing. In my book that beats an entire year not being cold, but also being too hot to really enjoy being outside.
But if you're not an outdoorsy person I can see that you might prefer it.
lukea123@reddit
Ive just arrived back in the Uk after 4 months in SE Asia, trust me you are idolising them few non overcast days we get a year. I got back over a month ago and havent seen one day that the sun stayed out for more than an hour. Today it’s raining all day with 20mph gusts. Would give anything to be back in that sticky 38 degrees!
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
Wow, whereabouts in the UK? It’s just been one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record here!
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
You were unlucky with the timing. Before last week it barely rained for six weeks and was sunny for days in a row.
Each to their own - but for me, UK weather is much better - having lived years in each place.
CranberryOk5523@reddit
Where in the UK are you? We've had a surprisingly warm and dry few months now! It's only rained a handful of times in the last several weeks in the midlands, though I will admit it has seemed to pick up over the last few days. Otherwise it's been warm and sunny more or less consistently since March!
CranberryOk5523@reddit
I'm from one of those super hot and humid countries and I prefer the UK's weather anyday. I'd happily layer on another coat instead of being perpetually sweaty and uncomfortable at 38 degrees and 90% humidity. I think people just enjoy hating on the weather because they're too used to it and the complaining about UK weather is kind of a meme at this point
superjambi@reddit
This entirely depends on how well you personally handle humidity. And I guess whether you’re well off enough to have air conditioning throughout your house. 85%+ humidity is normal. Going from a 20 degree air conditioned room to the outside is like stepping into treacle.
Loonytrix@reddit
I've spent several years in Atlanta and down Florida way ... it gets pretty humid there too.
superjambi@reddit
South east Asia is far more humid than south eastern US. The US gets a reprieve in the drier winters, not so in Asia. It also fluctuates more in the US, 70-90. SEA it’s pretty consistently 85-100.
Loonytrix@reddit
Good to know. I'm planning a recce/ fact-finding trip first, so that's just moved to the top of things to check out.
bfm211@reddit
Southeast Asia is super humid and sticky. But it's amazing.
fanacapoopan@reddit
I moved thirty years ago to Italy. But it wasn't a big deal as I am half Italian. I do miss some things about the UK though it has changed so much. I am happy here in Rome because my children are here and the cappuccinos are a million times better.
Puzzleheaded_Gain493@reddit
I think the coffee is better but recent trip to Milan surprised me, I expected Italy to be a bit more modern but the services are a little outdated plus the supermarket foods like drinks and snacks etc weren’t of same quality as in uk. Other than that I did like it especially as I love fashion , I’d prefer to have work that allows me to travel back and forth between uk and Milan, how were you able to move, what work did you take up, because I did ask people what they do & they told me economically it’s not the best place , people are either landlords, architects or finance especially in Milan
Substantial_Pilot699@reddit
Yes, the cappuccinos are way better here, I agree! 😂
joe_by@reddit
I’ve moved to Spain twice. Both times I cried returning to the UK. The job market was just horrendous. I am currently in a medium term plan to move out there again and this time permanently
espressob4bed@reddit
I left the UK and also moved to Melbourne.
I'm now glad I did and would not move back (but I reckon it takes a while).
butt3rflycaught@reddit
I am planning on retiring to Malaysia.
coryreddit123456@reddit
Canada!
mono8873@reddit
I’m 57 and been living in Thailand for 10 years. I always loved leaving the UK and hated going back. I also lived in Portugal and Brazil. I haven’t been back for 5 years. I doubt if I’ll ever live there again but I’m looking forward to visiting Europe soon but so many places in Asia to visit first!
FitYesterday7581@reddit
Been in Singapore for 11 years. It’s a great place to raise kids , so safe and clean. Plus kids stay kids for longer. In uk 13 year olds dress and act like they’re 20 all hair extensions, nails and make up. Here girls dress appropriate for their age, no great obsession to look like a tik tok celeb!
Loose_Replacement214@reddit
Moved to Singapore a few years ago and the money is great but the work/life balance and weather is shocking. Me and the husband are moving back to London next month.
breakola@reddit
Originally left for Hong Kong around 2008 - absolutely loved it. I booked a flight and got a job within a month, eventually a wife. We ended up eventually moving to Thailand. Thinking about moving to Australia next. Lifestyle in HK and Thailand are way above what I had in UK imo. I’ve thought about moving home many times but I can’t see any benefit in it now, which is a shame.
Lemmas@reddit
I don't hate the UK, I visit often and like being back, but it's definitely tired, run down and being squeezed from the top.
I moved to Malaysia ten years ago and am now settled here.
No_Pack_3183@reddit
Hi, I really want to move to Malaysia in the next 5 years. I lived in the UK for 20 years now. How was your experience? I’m coming for a holiday soon. I have had a certain pull to Malaysia for a long time now
Lemmas@reddit
Well, I stayed, so I definitely like it. You have to go in knowing what you want to get out of it. Nowhere is perfect
idiotabroad19@reddit
I move to Russia after graduating. Met my future wife, we then lived in Poland and Cambodia before moving back to Russia. I teach in an international school.
Obviously moving to Russia is not exactly on anyone’s to do list but it works for us. Pay vs COL is fantastic and I just love living in Moscow.
jrflynn90@reddit
What’s great about living in Moscow? Genuinely curious
idiotabroad19@reddit
The arts scene is obviously amazing, theatres, ballet, museums. Then the cafe / nightlife scene, just take your pick really. I also love the different opportunities afforded in winter / summer. I regularly go ice skating in the parks in winter, it’s a really special atmosphere.
Metro system is superb (and cheap). App deliveries are very well developed. City is walkable and bike friendly. There are so many parks which can give you a feeling that you’re not in a major metropolis.
Plenty of food options and ones you don’t always frequent in the UK. I’m a big fan of Georgian food for example after moving here.
I just love the fact that I can jump on the metro, go someplace new and discover something.
It’s not perfect, there are plenty of drawbacks but hope this answered your question somewhat.
_Wodan_@reddit
Would you know of any opportunities for a fellow British man to move out to Russia?
idiotabroad19@reddit
Aside from teaching and not being fluent in Russian? None really.
PolishBicycle@reddit
Username definitely checks out on this one
batch1972@reddit
Went to Sydney to watch a rugby World Cup final. Ended up getting married. Been there over 20 years. Sister moved a year later to Adelaide. Best mate from UK moved to Brissie same year as me.
midnight_trinity@reddit
My partner left the UK and settled in Sydney and loves it. She’s been here over 20 years.
LeFuzzyOtter@reddit
I'm in the process of putting money aside, to move out to Finland. Hoping to do so in the next 18 months - 2 years.
My other half lives over there so that is the main reason but I just prefer the way of life out there. Sure things are more expensive than the UK and tax is higher but you see the benefits more. Pace of life is slower, easier access to nature, and the quality of food.
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
Is the quality of food better in Finland? It’s not renowned for its cuisine
LeFuzzyOtter@reddit
I found the fruit and veg to be a lot fresher
CressEcstatic537@reddit
Don't underestimate the darkness in winter. Depending on how far north you're going to be. I lived in the geographic middle of Sweden which is cold but I got used to that. The darkness in the winter months was brutal.
LeFuzzyOtter@reddit
It'll only be Helsinki but yeah, I am fully aware of how miserable the winters can be 😅
thescottishstallion@reddit
Live near Clearwater, Florida. Been here for nearly 3 years and love it - American girlfriend, house in the suburbs, even drive a truck as a daily driver so proper American lifestyle. I love it. I work in recruitment.
Lifestyle is great - live in a small town with a Main Street full of bars/restaraunts similar to a UK high street (rare for America) but with palm trees, good live music scene, outdoor breweries. 20 minutes from the beach.
Can’t see myself coming home; the only thing I miss about the UK is sausage rolls and friends/family, though they come to visit me and I’ll do a holiday in Europe every year to meet them.
DarmiansMuttonChops@reddit
Does hurricane season piss you off?
thescottishstallion@reddit
Nah bit of excitement
Emotional_Estate_631@reddit
Iceland…. I didn’t mean to stay more than 3 months but the quality of life is far superior. Yes, it’s insanely expensive but salaries are higher and there are lots of small things like being in a union, fresh air and water, no insane bills, etc. language is very hard and it’s so difficult to integrate but instead I’ve just met lots of great people from elsewhere :)
Unusual_Sherbert2671@reddit
Got a approached for a job in Riyadh, good money and opportunities.
If it wasn't for the money I wouldn't be there, it's no Dubai or Doha
MountainousTent@reddit
What field?
Adventurous_Bears@reddit
Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦Nowhere is perfect, but it’s a privilege to live here & after 10 years it’s 100% home.
DarmiansMuttonChops@reddit
What sort of salary makes you comfortable in Vancouver? Does $150-170k for family of 3 sound ok (looking for comfortable, we know we wouldn't be rich)
Adventurous_Bears@reddit
It really depends. The cost of living in Vancouver is outrageous. Honestly if you want to live in Vancouver “proper” that’s more what a couple could maybe live off, but they’d still be making a tonne of sacrifices. Add a child into the mix, and you’d likely need more $$ coming in, especially if you have childcare needs. Rents are high, house prices are also bonkers, food, utilities, entertainment & transport are all super expensivo.
BalthazarMcgee@reddit
For 3 years, Vietnam. After that, Vancouver Island.
redhood84@reddit
Moved to Nova Scotia 7 years ago. The capital Halifax is growing rapidly and the place is booming. Setup a business here and all love life.
Very safe, some quirks, but a very welcoming place.
Proper winters (once hit -35) spring is mud and fog, incredible summer but humid (now hitting 40 these days) autumn is the best (pretty and warm).
Now very multicultural, lots of nature (bears, coyotes, eagles), miles of pristine untouched beaches.
We did experience wildfires 2 years ago, but thats a global problem and not unique to here.
At the time we moved property was dirt cheap for incedible locations, swapped a 3 bed semi in the Welsh valleys for a forest location with 2 acres, 3000 sqft home, 30 mins from Downtown. (Same value in 2018 but its rocketed since).
Visiting the Uk for the first time in 7 years this summer.
kitaj19@reddit
What were you hoping for when you moved to Melbourne? What is it there that isn't quite hitting the spot? Friends from the UK who lived there said they missed British humour. That's going to be true wherever you go, isn't it.
Healthy-Releas@reddit
I left for North Korea and I am forever grateful for the sun and the moons.
MontgomeryBumSnuffle@reddit
Morocco. I now moan about it being hot all the time 😂
bananatoastie@reddit
I live in Iceland. It’s pretty cool and I like the people.
The swimming pools, cheap energy, scenery, internet, proximity of useful things, libraries, universities/schools and low-crime
TeacherJustin1@reddit
Let's see. I moved to China, back to the UK, Spain, then Saudi, Kuwait, South Korea, China, UK, Saudi, Mauritania, Italy, China, Thailand, Malaysia, UK, China.
CarfireOnTheHighway@reddit
I’ve been in Alberta, Canada for 12 years and wouldn’t move back to England for all the money in the world.
AdExtension917@reddit
I'm seriously considering it.. Thinking maybe Portugal
Dazzling-Werewolf985@reddit
I heard property prices and salaries are both really bad there
butterypowered@reddit
Me too.
amythstqueen@reddit
Anywhere.
jimjarspace@reddit
I left the UK to live in Croatia, been a difficult adjustment but I'm happier here. The weather is great, lifestyle is more relaxed, work/life balance is good.
neonpride@reddit
Literally anywhere, I’ve lived in France, Spain, Portugal, all infinitely better places with happier people, and slower pace of life, and a better cost of living
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
France isn’t cheaper and all have lower salaries- so swings and roundabouts
Grouchy_Conclusion45@reddit
I left the UK nearly 8 years ago. I've lived and worked in the US (though I also spent a lot of my childhood here), Ireland, Portugal, Poland and the Netherlands.
The US was my favourite overall. It has the easiest conditions to make a 6 figure salary, land is cheap and you can pretty much do whatever you want on that land. And, controversially, it had the best healthcare experience for me (my premiums were covered by my employer).
Traditional-Job-4371@reddit
I moved to Bangkok for 5 years in my early 30s and had the best time of my life.
Moved back to the UK for a number of reasons:
I'll probably retire there one day, but for now, I am happy with being back home.
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
When I told Malaysians I was moving back to the UK because I missed the weather and the food I think most of them thought I was joking.
PromotionRare7576@reddit
I am native southeast asian and the main reason I settle in UK is the weather. Even as a native I can’t stand the heat and humidity
Traditional-Job-4371@reddit
This time of year it's pretty unbearable, especially as I am used to exercising outdoors every day.
Looking at the weather forecast it's 3 weeks of solid thunderstorms.
Milky_Finger@reddit
I have to say, in the UK for 9 months of the year we miss the warm weather but its a sort of "I will make the most of it when it finally turns up and the sporadic days it comes and goes"
But when you're in a hot and humid country and you miss the cold, you utterly yearn for it. People who can jump between two places in the world throughout the year and can have both is my envy.
Substantial_Pilot699@reddit
Why is real estate so expensive in Bangkok? Too many rich old men moving there to retire?
Traditional-Job-4371@reddit
Recently it's been an influx of Chinese and Russian investors. - Mostly Chinese, that had pushed the prices up. Places are lying empty though.
Sure you can get a £200 a month room in the middle of nowhere, but if you want to be close to the BTS (Sky train), then it's BIG money for apartments which are pretty small.
upsidedown-aussie@reddit
I'd like to offer a different perspective.
I'm an Aussie that moved here to the UK. Everyone says to me "but the weather..."
You guys honestly don't know how good you have it. I'm from Melbourne first off, so I'm used to the cold. Our winters are short and our summers are long. Sounds good? Sometimes it doesn't rain for months on end. I bet that also sounds good! Everything goes dry and brown. My British husband came with me to Australia one summer, he said it was like the world had had a grayscale filter put on it. And I have to agree, the first time I flew into the UK, I had never seen anything so green in all my life! That's because it rains here!! In Australia it can be really tough. The farmers really struggle to care for their livestock, and the wildlife struggles to find water. We are told to conserve water. I was born in 1995 and lived the first 10 years of my life in drought. Short showers, baths filled only a few inches, couldn't water our gardens, taught that every drop counts.
That's before you take into account that months of no rain turns the leafy state of Victoria into a giant pile of kindling. We have "total fire bans" on particularly high risk days (heat + no rain for many days), which means you can't have any open flame, including BBQs. It doesn't take much for a fire to start, and before you know it the whole state is on fire. People lose their homes, sometimes their lives. I remember Black Saturday in 2009, being ready to go to a party with my family and we were all dressed up. We lived about 40 minutes from the fires. The air was full of smoke but we were lucky to not have to evacuate. It finally started to rain, after MONTHS! But because of the smoke, the raindrops were black and stained our clothes. It's haunting because 150+ people lost their lives that day.
Then there was the 2019/2020 fires. I'd flown home from here for Christmas, and when I landed in Melbourne the fires were mainly up in Sydney and rural New South Wales. Still, down in Victoria, there was haze and the strong smell of smoke. When I flew out again, the fires had travelled down to Victoria, and I'll never forget the wall of smoke that I could see from the plane. From the ground to the sky, I've never seen anything like it, and knowing that that week people had been trapped on the beach, and had to be rescued from the sea. I get shivers now just thinking about it.
Up in Queensland it's far more tropical, so they have cyclones and tropical storms every year. It's not all a summer paradise! Then there's the spiders and snakes, can't just go traipsing through the woods, you gotta be careful! I couldn't believe it when I watched my husband walk through long grass here on a warm day without a care in the world, every instinct in me was SCREAMING to get out of the long grass, as in Australia, that's prime snake territory!!
So yeah, you're a first world country that has no natural disasters, no animals that can kill you, proximity to SO many places in the world to travel, incredible scenery on your doorstep. It's truly such a lovely country.
Unfair-Ad-9479@reddit
Lived in France for a year and a bit, and found life exponentially more enjoyable and exciting. Planning to go to a Nordic country soon for 2 years, so will be interesting to see how that pans out as well.
Drive-like-Jehu@reddit
France - exciting?! Where were you?
cat793@reddit
Perth, Australia almost twenty years ago. I love the UK so I wasn't going to Oz to avoid the UK. I wanted a change and I earn vastly more here than I could in the UK. I love the sense of space in Australia and the ease of getting out into nature and away from it all. It is easy to have real outdoor adventures here. I might return to the K when I retire but worried I would miss Australia. UK a bit claustrophobic.
Abject-Direction-195@reddit
Sydney. Love it. Safe, friendly, great produce, sea, harbour bush walks
Holiday_Historian@reddit
Haute Savoie, France (alps). Left UK after uni and have lived here for 15 years. Big skier, and into mountain activities in general. Working in Geneva. Very happy, and no plans to return to the UK anytime soon.
MrPilgrim@reddit
Different perspective to the question here - I was never quite 'happy' in the UK. Living overseas for several years in the US made me appreciate the UK more and appreciate our flaws too. I wanted to start a family and moved back. I think of it like leaving your hometown, gives you perspective
kettle_of_f1sh@reddit
I’m moving to Saudi Arabia for 2 years in November.
ThePromisedPrince89@reddit
Congrats, how did you manage to do this if you dont mind me asking?
kettle_of_f1sh@reddit
Thanks! I was headhunted by a major UK defence company.
ThePromisedPrince89@reddit
Lovely, as someone who has been, its quite nice there. Hope you enoy1
Dazz316@reddit
I also briefly moved to Melbourne. Wonderful at first, nice weather, new surroundings, new things to see and do. But it wears off and I found myself just being not much different than being at home. Doing my 9-5s, weekends...it becomes kinda the same. You stop going to the beach to enjoy the all the time, stop doing things and become less of a tourist and more of just a local.
UK and Australia are so similar in so many ways it wasn't that different. I found myself annoyed my the difference for longer than I did enjoy the benifits. So bugs there are worse here, spiders, cockrochaes getting into the house and stuff like that. You have to be a lot cleaner there than here as the bugs will explore, find shit in your cupboard and just like that there's ant's or cockraoches everywhere because the sugar wasn't fully sealed. Internet was shitty. Dunno, just little things here and there that aren't exactly bad but bugged me mildly.
For the length of travel to be home, not being near family and friends. Not worth it. It would need to be something BIG to make me want to move. Huge increase in salary or something.
flippertyflip@reddit
Weird isn't it. The beach was like 2 minutes from where I lived. I hardly ever went after the first couple of months.
Although the bay is pretty boring compared to actual proper coast. With waves and stuff.
But the flies drove me bonkers. Chilling outdoors. Have a fly in your face. Swat the fly away. Have some more flies. Repeat. It's relentless.
Or the mozzies. I think pommes are ala carte for those fukers.
Icy_Consideration409@reddit
Moved from London to Colorado.
Still a civil servant, just work for a different government.
Pay is astronomically higher. Worked myself up to a senior role. While that’s doable in the UK, it’s much more doable here.
Quality of housing is infinitely better, and having fixed rate mortgages for the whole term stops the uncertainty that plagues so many in the UK.
Tax rates are insanely low, which makes the healthcare costs affordable. Obviously access to affordable healthcare is a huge issue for many in the U.S., but for the majority of the population it is affordable and the level of care far exceeds the NHS. No waiting lists in my city for anything. Though I do hear that some parts of the country have doctor shortages.
The weather in my location is glorious. 300 days of strong sunshine per year. Winter nights are cold, but the city and county copes with the occasional snow that we receive.
Biggest downside is the lack of leave. I’m on the maximum amount allowed at my job, and it’s still below the starting rate when I first joined Customs & Excise in the UK.
I-live-in-room-101@reddit
I travel a lot with work, opportunities to live wherever really. But, even with its problems, London is simply the best city in the world.
Ewendmc@reddit
I moved to Lithuania 30 years ago. I was very happy but the wages were crap so I moved to Ireland 12 years later. Been here ever since and it is ok and the wages are better.
AiteMatee@reddit
I moved from UK to Berlin about 9 years ago now, got a nice job in an international company, learnt German and about to get the passport. Quality of life is a great improvement, still possible for cheaper rents and used to love the party scene.... Not so much anymore haha
Ricky_Martins_Vagina@reddit
West Africa, and then the Middle East.
Home will always be Leeds but living in the UK is soul destroying, in terms of cost of living Vs quality of life.
Harvey_Sheldon@reddit
Helsinki. Finland.
I didn't move here to be happy though, I was happy in the UK, I'm happy here. Some things are better (many things), but some things are worse. It's all about trade-offs.
front-wipers-unite@reddit
I left the UK for Germany, Iserlohn. It's northern Germany, a stones throw from Dortmund. I absolutely loved it, the people, their mentality, the roads, transport, working out there, the cities, the countryside, the food. Everything. Unfortunately I made the mistake of coming back to the UK for a short, perhaps 6 months to a year. That was 10 years ago. ☹️
G01ngDutch@reddit
I moved to the Netherlands and it’s great here, mostly. Work/life balance is amazing - me and the mister both work 4 days/week. We live in a little medieval city so it’s really pretty, I never get tired of seeing it. Cycling everywhere is the ultimate freedom. It’s been a fantastic place to raise kids, too. It’s expensive but salaries are good, we’ve been very lucky to end up comfortably off. Safe, open-minded, healthy society. Most people speak English too, so you can get by immediately.
cherryTHEmunch@reddit
Brit that's lived in France, Japan and Canada.
Canada is my favorite and the only reason I'm not still there is because of covid. The pay and general job security was a huge step up from the UK. The outdoors were incredible. I lived in the tricitie area Vancouver and I could be at the beach in 30 minutes, a lake in 30 minutes, forest in minutes, skiing in an hour. I also lived on the plains just outside Alberta and it was equally as amazing albeit further from things.
The people, the weather. Everything was better than here. The drinking culture was also different, bars were way more fun and social, country bars and night where the whole town would come out for drinks and dancing. Sports bars with basketball, baseball, pool, dance floors you name it.
Legalised cannabis was a big win too.
MainCartographer4022@reddit
Germany first which I enjoyed but found integration difficult, even though I speak the language. However I did appreciate how well everything works there and the quality of everything.
Been in Ireland the past few years and absolutely love it here. Love the people, the culture and our neighbourhood. It's been so easy to integrate. We also live right by the sea. The nature here was one of the biggest draws. There are enough similarities that it feels familiar (stupid things like having Tesco) but it's still different enough, especially culturally, that it doesn't feel like England.
It's been almost 10 years since we left the UK and I can't see us moving back now.
DesignerKey7502@reddit
Will be leaving for Australia having lived in a few other countries. And I’ll be earning a very comfortable salary there compared to the UK. And I don’t quite fancy dying along an A/E corridor just yet.
TouristStunning9063@reddit
GTA Ontario Canada, it's great to finally not be reminded by deep class divide our abhorrent nation has.
TroopersSon@reddit
I agree with you about the class divide. It wasn't until I left I realised just how deeply it seeped into everything in English culture.
TouristStunning9063@reddit
Literally, I grew up in an incredibly disadvantaged part of the UK , I'm fortunate to gain the privilege I had to leave.
nsthj@reddit
maybe i have to go.. just cant fit in in this country... i am not enough of any class to be accepted by anyone really lol
TouristStunning9063@reddit
If you can I would, the UK is becoming a nation of nothing.
nsthj@reddit
Was it always this way? Did we just pretend it was more? If you don't have a good friend group from young, what can you have. Although is nearly everyone only pretending
i have money and time to go anywhere, and i stay here wasting my life away
al8555@reddit
I feel this in my soul
nsthj@reddit
I tried my best to fit in, i really did, but i never could. and it's like the drawbridge is closed to what i maybe am, or am not
do i just have to forget this country, is it never going to happen for me here, i'm just wasting away my life.. 33 now. succesful, and have never lived.. what is living, idk
GluonicPenguin@reddit
I did my PhD in the UK, and during that time I spent a year and a half in Geneva, Switzerland. I hate saying this phrase, but I "found myself" while living there, i.e. I found what hobbies I liked (cycling, hiking in the Alps, etc), I grew a sense of travel and adventure, and I began to appreciate what amenities I had and didn't have in different places. Living abroad rather than holidaying that made me appreciate more the place I found myself in, and for sure I wanted to live out near the Alps again, but somewhere different (I wasn't the biggest fan of the city of Geneva, in particular the nightlife).
I was living in the UK for a year to finish my PhD after Geneva, and I just found the sense of getting out and adventuring was a lot harder. I was in Bristol, and without a car it was so much harder to travel (sure I'm comparing to Switzerland but still). I made it a mission to try and visit every county in England anyway (missed about 7 in the end) but the mix of it being hard to get out even a few miles from your city (public transport doesn't seem set up for "leisure" but rather for work) and paying a rent that was \~70% of my PhD stipend each month really made me resent the last few months of my time there, and made the push back to the Alps easier.
I now live in Turin, near a different part of the Alps to Geneva, and I love life here. It's a lot easier to travel as a postdoc abroad (my current work) and despite the bureaucracy and difficulty in getting things done in general (e.g. doctors, medicine, driving licences and permits of stay etc) on the whole there's lots of benefits too. The way of life here can be more orientated around leisure if you make it like that. There's plenty of trains and buses to the mountains (not to the same extent as Switzerland though) and although my postdoc wage is lower than my UK PhD wage was, I'm at least making money each month rather than losing it. I think the only downside is I live alone, and without having grown up somewhere it's harder to make friends in a place (especially in a country that speaks a different language to you). But I can keep myself busy enough with hobbies that it rarely ever bothers me.
In the future I want to travel to a different place (I don't see myself living in Italy longer term), and obviously that depends on the work available, but I see myself eventually settling back in the UK. I want to make the most of my 20s abroad before I start taking my career more seriously. I just hope by that point there is more in the way of jobs in the UK e.g. civil service or continuing research in my field (which has unfortunately been cut in the UK recently).
For sure I think there's always a "grass is always greener" element to where you move, or even FOMO of a better job with better pay elsewhere, but you never know until you've tried it. For example I always see there's postdoc roles with good pay in Germany, but if there's little in the way of enabling my hobbies, maybe it's not where I want to be.
TroopersSon@reddit
I lived in Auckland NZ and Melbourne, but ended up settling in Vancouver, BC, and am now a Canadian citizen.
I love it out here, and have no plans on returning to the UK.
Knackersac@reddit
Spain. I work as a linguist and WFH. I bounce around Spain a bit and have lived in most major cities, now in Madrid; I'm moving further south in August. You couldn't pay me to return to the UK.
Cautious_Seesaw2073@reddit
I left London for Thessaloniki Greece .went for 6 months, stayed 11 yrs...sea Infront of you, mountains behind you ..rented flat for 200 euro month,no council tax . hardly any bills, safe and quality of life was of the scale..you finish work at 2 am .go to the beach,have a beer , great food..no fear of getting robbed or any safety issue....pure bliss!
Appropriate-Cycle-31@reddit
Just outside of Minneapolis, MN a place called Eden Prairie. I lived there for 12 years until my mother died and dad fell ill, now Im back in ol’ blighty. I miss it a lot, but it’s good to be with Dad.
Elisecobrauk@reddit
Germany. Ludwigshafen. Not the prettiest, but got me a great job that has bought me a 750k€ house after only a couple of years saving. Wife is German which helped with the move. Lifestyle is great, area here is beautiful. Work life balance currently fantastic. Have around 30 days holiday plus bank holidays. With my profession not chance I’d have the same quality of life in the UK.
oishisakana@reddit
Poland. It's just fantastic. Helps that I also have Polish citizenship....
dwair@reddit
I've lived in many countries over the last 40 years and the ones that have stood out for me are southern Spain, SW France and the Alps, and the western cape in South Africa. I enjoyed living in Morocco and Kenya too but I'm not sure I'd move back to either country permanently.
daddy-dj@reddit
France. Was near Bordeaux (a city I love but has absolutely insane traffic problems), but now living near La Rochelle. Over the years, I've also lived in Paris and the Cote d'Azur but I feel at home where I am now.
Moving back to the UK definitely isn't on the horizon. France has great weather, amazing scenery, stunning beaches, amazing mountains for skiing, cheap and reliable public transport, fab food, best wines in the world, mostly affordable housing (notwithstanding certain hotspots like Paris, Nice, Biarritz, La Rochelle, Lyon).
What I particularly appreciate though is that work isn't the "be all and end all". I'm not having to work stupid hours, and I get an insane amount of holiday each year. I couldn't go back to the rat race that is working in the UK - and I have turned down roles in the US because of their work culture too. It's hard to explain until you've experienced it... In France, people just don't care about what your job title is or how old your car is or where you're going on holiday this year. They treat everyone the same, and judge people by their character not by their bank balance or by the size of their house.
French TV is shit though.
Mywords74@reddit
I hasten to add I love a lot more countries than just the uk. That’s why I travel so much. And these are just conversational comments. My point being wherever you live after some time becomes just the norm and you find its downsides as much as its upsides. We are very lucky in the uk compared to a lot of places in the world.
Valuable-Flounder692@reddit
Tenerife
MoreBoar@reddit
Left the UK 10 years ago. Since lived in Belgium, Sweden, and Switzerland. Switzerland is the best, and quality of life is far higher than in the UK. Have to learn German / French though.
Loud-Butterscotch234@reddit
A sleepy French village to enjoy the countryside, cows, dog walks, butchers and bakeries.
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
What exactly made you unhappy in Melbourne might I ask? I've never lived abroad, and my wife would never do it, but I've always had that wanderlust in me and could do with suppressing it a bit.
umm_sa@reddit
Trying to leave the grey mighry skies of out kingdom I see
Basabose@reddit
I left for 7 years, realised it wasn't that great and came back with a renewed appreciation for the UK. I love it here, yes there are downsides but having a positive attitude makes you appreciate how great the UK really is.
Lost_property_office@reddit
the situation is bad in every country, only the problems are different. TBH I see myself building a digital nomad lifestyle buy a villa in south of Italy, quietly.
Departed00@reddit
I left and ended up in Vietnam. It's classed as an LMIC (low-middle income country) which means it's still developing in most areas. This means it's incredibly cheap to live here, but there's little regulation or oversight in almost all areas. Kinda like the wild west, which can be good, and can be terrible.
It's given me a profound appreciation for the UK in many ways, but every time i head back for a holiday i feel a sense of sadness and disappointment and am keen to leave. It's a real shame that the average person now can't afford to buy a house, wages are stagnant, and everything feels very overpriced.
To bring my educated, fluent in English and very hard working foreign spouse back to the UK would be incredibly expensive and bureaucratic. I would have to pay an NHS surcharge for 5 years for her (even if she never used it) and even if she was working and paying taxes. The visa fees are massive, i think some of the highest in the world. We get a lot right in the UK, but there's a lot wrong as well.
For comparison here, there's no such thing as council tax. My electric bill for a family is around £20 a month, water is about £1 a month and waste collection is free and picked up every morning. Fast broadband is around £5 month, there's no such thing as car tax, and petrol is cheap. On the other hand, local law enforcement and government is typically corrupt, healthcare is low quality, there's no such thing as recycling, and air pollution can be bad.
Acerhand@reddit
I moved to Tokyo in Japan about 7 years ago. I prefer it here except for being away from my family. However if i had to work for a typical Japanese company all the benefits that make it better to live than the UK would be not worth it imo.
So if i couldn’t work for myself i think regardless of my feelings about family I’d prefer it in the UK
arabelladusk@reddit
What kind of work do you do, if you don't mind my asking? And did you speak Japanese fluently before moving? I've always wanted to do this too. :)
Acerhand@reddit
I spoke no Japanese at all before moving relatively speaking. I learned to fluency in a language school immediately though because i didn’t see the point of moving here if i didn’t speak the language.
That enables me to work for myself because I can so my taxes easier and the job itself.
I run an online business. I do various things though including software development and fixing electronics. I make more than enough to live comfortably here doing it and I enjoy it.
That said i’m thinking of moving back home and only spending 3-4 months a year here
arabelladusk@reddit
That's really interesting, thanks!
ewangreenwood@reddit
I lived in Madrid for a year, I was working remotely as a maths tutor full time whilst learning spanish and teaching a bit of english on the side. The way of life there was incredible, i loved living fairly central, the culture of cafes and bars lining every street, the centre itself being walkable, the architecture, the feel of the city and then not being far at all from an expansive mountain region to explore. The weather was great too, with the blue skies throughout winter being a game changer for me (though i didnt live there during july/ august which i have heard is hellish).
At the time i think It had some ups and downs in terms of building that sense of community; coming home to london i realised my friendships there were what i really value, and that it is truly difficult to build that depth of relationships with people from the ground up in a new place. You really have to push yourself out there to meet people, and without continued energy it is unlikely you will forge those deep friendships which i at least longed for. Its pretty telling that whilst i did find good friendships groups, my connection with them have all but dissapeared in the year since i have left the city.
Having lived in Barcelona, and now Bremen since then, I do look back very fondly on my time in Madrid though, the way of life, culture and vibe of the city is pretty hard to beat, and i think i would like to live there again in the future for sure.
Would i prefer to live there long term over the comforts of home in London? thats a different question that speaks a lot to living abroad and building up a sense of appreciation for the UK (I will be the first to admit i was a uk hater when i first upped and left, but that has changed - though i do still love a good moan about UK housing, prices and transport).
Apprehensive_Area_83@reddit
I lived in Hong Kong for a long time. Many benefits - very low tax, very easy to make friends and have a great social life, very easy to get around - public transport clean, cheap and easy. Local food very good quality and cheap. Weather mixed - wonderful from October - April, May through September unbelievably hot and humid and long periods of dark, heavy rain days. Surprisingly great outdoors, beaches, hiking etc. Extremely safe, as a woman you can walk pretty much anywhere in the city at any time of day and feel safe.
Cons - accommodation is vastly expensive and small, so much more than UK (even London). Very few have meaningful outdoor space unless far out of the centre. Pollution is awful most of the time - some days it appears foggy it is so bad. You can taste it some days. Western lifestyle is as expensive if not more expensive than UK. Supermarkets no where near as good quality - in terms of availability, range and quality of produce (unless you go to vastly expensive ones). Quite a ‘me first’ culture in a lot of ways - cars don’t give way to ambulances. People don’t say thank you for opening doors etc. Frenetic and crowded in most places - unless you go out into the sticks. No safety nets - if you lost your job or source of income things could get pretty bad very quickly. There is public health but it is not as good as NHS.
joyousjoy23@reddit
I left for Thailand in 2010 and I'm still here, love the country love the people and I love my life here. it's relatively easy and relatively cheap, I'm far more social than I ever was in England. It's not perfect, nowhere is but the good far out weighs the bad in my books.
Beatballs@reddit
Finland. Clean , safe , homogenous & high trust and high SOL, bit boring now and again, dull food, narrow cultural practices.
raekwaan@reddit
Planning on moving to Punjab with the wife in 2 years when her current visa expires (her family owns a farm there and we would never have to work again if we chose not to)
UK is now an economic country. Use it to make as much money as you can and then go somewhere that money is worth a lot.
It's what everyone else is doing.
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
Moving from the UK to India is a brave one!
12EggsADay@reddit
It is relatively quite safe and you can live like a king there.
There are a lot of people of colour so maybe it is unsafe... ^^^/s
Routine_Ad1823@reddit
Hah, it's just more that's it's not a very nice place to just wander around - trash and noise everywhere.
Obviously I didn't visit everywhere but I've travelled pretty widely there.
bitofrock@reddit
My wife is Polish, my family is half Spanish, and various reasons including work I've essentially lived for at least six months or more in the UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Spain.
I'd say France was the place that made me happiest, but if you don't speak perfect French it feels like a constant struggle professionally. A lot of people won't give you a chance, even as a specialist. Only if they're really stuck would they consider a foreigner. Lower income jobs are easier. I think a part of this is the difficulty of firing people.
I also like the UK. It ain't perfect, especially weather and healthcare, but outside of places like London it's quite affordable. Paris is easier on a low income.
Belgium is also a nice place to live. So is Luxembourg. And Spain. They're all nice. But they're different.
In all of them, the more qualified and skilled you are, the better you'll do.
I think the best way to sum up the countries is by dancing. In Spain they dance freely, with joy. In France coolly with a smile. In Belgium they try to avoid it. In the UK dancing is woke. In Luxembourg you either do it properly or not at all.
And ultimately, if you're miserable here and it's not because of the weather you'll probably be miserable there too.
kindtom@reddit
Just got back after two and a half years living in Bogotá, Colombia - absolutely class! Still can't quite stomach the cost of living increase now back in Blighty.
Significant_Gur_7587@reddit
I’m from Medellin, currently living in London and honestly wondering why did I decide to do this to myself.
Efficient_Chance7639@reddit
US (California) for 5 years then Prague for 5 years. Loved both.
bfm211@reddit
Where in California did you live?
I've been twice and I love the variety of nature (mountains, beaches, deserts 😍) and the perfect climate. In some ways it would be a dream to live there, but the car culture is frustrating.
Efficient_Chance7639@reddit
I was in San Francisco. Ludicrously expensive but had a great job in Silicon Valley so it was manageable. Also rented a cabin in Tahoe with friends for the whole winter so lots of snowboarding too. I was 25 when I moved out there and had such an amazing time.
bigredsweatpants@reddit
I was in Prague for long time as well! That’s the first place I lived after my hometown so it’s like home for me. Miss it terribly.
sizmore@reddit
Prague is awesome if a little parochial.
Safe, cleanish, spectacular architecture and I can hit multiple European capital cities in <2 hours.
Property prices/rent is diabolical though.
pallascat4life@reddit
Norway
Jolly_Report4@reddit
Southern Ireland…. Loved it
Glittering_Vast938@reddit
I quite fancy Ireland. Great grandfather moved from I think Waterford to the North west of England.
Genre-Fluid@reddit
Ireland is really fit and you would
Johnny_english53@reddit
Ooh! Hope you never refer to it as "Southern Ireland" while you're there....
Jolly_Report4@reddit
😂 if I’ve said then people would be asking North/South ? I should’v said Eire
Smooth_Leadership895@reddit
Say Republic of Ireland.
Milky_Finger@reddit
Oh, I'm not brave enough for politics. South Northern Ireland will do fine.
Johnny_english53@reddit
Worked there for a while and a colleague sed "Southern Ireland" and was firmly corrected for doing so! There is Nor'n Ireland - and there is Ireland, he was told..
12EggsADay@reddit
/u/madzuk
What were you expecting, actually?
paddyblue@reddit
I lived in Australia for over 5 years and have a passport but I would rather live in the UK. Oz is cool and all that especially for the first few years but dont hate me for this I found I dont quite click with them or the humour as much as I do with the Brits. The Brits are very welcoming way more than other countries I have lived and I just click here with most people. So yeah the weather might be average but get out there as its a great place to live!!!
BppnfvbanyOnxre@reddit
Lived in Penang for a while, loved it mostly, could spend a great deal of time outside in warm weather, gym provided by our apartments. Yes did miss family and the 2 years odd of plague were not great albeit Malaysia handled it way better than the UK we were stuck.
Came back because of serious illness in the family in UK, think we're stuck here now by circumstances, both family and our own health. I'd love to go back more often even if it were just for the winter but not sure how possible that would be around everything else.
emergency_fun5366@reddit
I’ve lived in Banff, Canada for 4 years. Don’t see myself returning home, but the older I get the more I miss the uk.
Dr-Werner-Klopek@reddit
I visited Banff last year. Very nice place, did some really lovely walks around the town which really felt you were in the middle of nowhere at times.
emergency_fun5366@reddit
Yeah it’s a crazy place, living here does have its challenges but I’m very lucky to be able to call this place home.
Dr-Werner-Klopek@reddit
So you work for the national park right? I can’t remember exactly but all residents are something to do with that?
emergency_fun5366@reddit
No, I’m a chef. You do have to work in the town of Banff to be able to live here, but it can be any job.
Dr-Werner-Klopek@reddit
Ah right, well all the best to you and your culinary skills!
emergency_fun5366@reddit
Thank you!!
Johnny_english53@reddit
How did you get a visa?
emergency_fun5366@reddit
I just applied for a work holiday visa, relatively easy but things have a changed since I did it. Since then I’ve been sponsored by a company (LMIA visa), and currently applying for permanent residency.
truckedoff@reddit
I spent 6 years in rural France 2003 till 2009. Was a great experience. But was doing manual work, and my appendix burst. Was unable to work and marriage failed. Came back to the UK. Now living 8 months in Thailand and working 4 months in the UK
fkin0@reddit
Koh Phangan - Thailand for 2 years.
A year in Penang - Malaysia
Best time of my life. Now live in Seoul. Its OK but pretty shitty compared to the others. All 3 are miles better than the UK
Eastern_Bit_9279@reddit
I'm in Melbourne aswell, I love the move to Australia. The city of Melbourne itself it gets boring quickly, it blows its own horn of city of culture to much, I mean it's alright , I work as a chef every restaurant and Cafe is identical to the last. But if i moved to Australia for the city life and food and culture i may aswell of just moved to London or forced my way into Europe somehow
Every God given opportunity im not in the city, im camping , hiking , watching stars, going to wineries, snorkelling, riding my motorbike down quiet twisting roads for literally hours upon hours.
I love it here, but yes if you moved to Australia from Europe for the city lifestyle you've done it wrong.
I'm moving to qld in a year to better utilise the outdoor lifestyle.
Illustrious-Divide95@reddit
Vancouver, Canada.
I loved it and was there for 7 years. It took at least a year for me to settle and feel like I was home
Haze641@reddit
Moved to Germany to do my masters, should have been for 2 years, it's been 10. Met my husband 7 years ago and made a life here. I'm in a small city surrounded by friends. I'd only go back to the UK too look after family if needed
Nyx_Necrodragon101@reddit
The US it didn't make me happy so I came back.
snapjokersmainframe@reddit
I moved to Norway, qualified as a teacher, and I teach sixth form ESL. This is a large country with a small population, which means there's an awful lot of scenery to go round. You can do a fantastic walk on a beautiful day, and not see a soul. Once you learn to ski, the winters are excellent. It's easy to afford a cabin without being particularly well-off, which means a hidey-hole in the mountains, living the simple life (think oil lamps, cosy fireplaces etc.). It's also a great place for introverts - politeness in Norwegian society is leaving people alone unless they specifically ask for help. Note that this doesn't count when you end up in a ditch after slipping on a snowy road (it happens), at which point people magically appear out of the woodwork and give your car a push.
Froomian@reddit
I'm leaving for Singapore in one month. I'm pinning a lot of hopes on it. I've really come to hate it here. But I am sure everywhere has its problems.
CanidPsychopomp@reddit
I live on the outskirts of Madrid and have done for 23 years, with a three year gap when we lived in Boston. When I was younger I lived in Chicago, and in Colombia for a while.
I think you can make a good life in a lot of places, and also that stress and worry will be a thing at some point, wherever you are.
Boston was great in terms of work- my wife and I made double what we make here, and we found Americans really easy and fun to work with. However, life in the US feels stressful and precarious in a different way to what I have experienced in Europe.
Madrid is a fantastic city in an amazing country. I live in a biggish house in the countryside, with a pool and so on but only 20-25 minutes from the city. I love having the mountains nearby and I am thoroughly acculcuturated. Now that my wife is back in decent employment we live pretty well, but salaries here are no great shakes and the summer weather is brutal.
I was back in England for a few months the year before last, and honestly I loved it too. You have to live somewhere, it's what you make of it that counts
bigredsweatpants@reddit
I’m American and have lived abroad for almost 20 years but in the UK for maybe 7? Anyway, a long time. I’m married to a Brit though and we left the UK when he finished uni maybe 15 years ago. We left for CZ and DE to get careers started. When we were younger, our only choice was to slum it in London basically, in a house share and we were already married and had travelled. There were no decent jobs for us anywhere else. So as appealing as that was, we went back to CZ where we had met and lived before and had a nice life. Climbed corporate ladders and lived really well til we had our child. UK was the best for that for us so we came back.
Everyone’s circumstances and priorities are different. I’m not totally sold on the UK, and I really can’t imagine I’ll live out the rest of my days here, but it was the right choice and my child has roots here, which is really important to me.
The UK has a lot going for it (a lot to improve, sure) but I think it’s a great place to raise children. Couldn’t have the life we have now in CZ or Germany.
Randa08@reddit
I moved to Luxembourg I worked in bars and loved it. Life was just better in Europe.
SparklingWaterFall@reddit
Isn't UK in Europe ?
hkdalek@reddit
I’ve been on Vancouver Island for 16 years and I love it. I’m a teacher and although it took me a while to get a full time contract (8 years) I love the space and nature out here. The weather is very similar to the UK, although where I am we get a week ish of snow a year and a snow day or two. I miss good pubs and my family, but that’s about it.
LuHamster@reddit
Move to Canada and I was super happy much happier then in the UK but sadly had to move back to the UK temporarily and man in just 2 and a bit years the country feels worse then when I left.
Trying to get out again but permanently this time.
Fun_Definition_3697@reddit
Tried, aged 28, to go live abroad in Spain. Lasted 7 years and didn't actually like it that much. Have done another exit aged 48 to Thailand and think it is wonderful. One year so far (this time) and love the place.
Opinelrock@reddit
Australia is just a thing now. Herds of people move there, stay a few years til they find a partner, then move back once they have kids so their parents can babysit/help raise them. The reward for everyone else is having to listen to these people talk about living in a country that's nearly identical in culture to ours as if they actually went travelling.
RedditAltUsername@reddit
Tuscany. Left the UK around 10 years ago having followed Tommy Robinson. I recognised he was ahead of his time. I moved to a part of Italy that is quiet and very friendly. The day to day is relatively relaxing. I see many locals, one chap sits with his newspaper every night reading. The food is drastically cleaner then the UK and fresher and bigger. I visit the UK every few months to see relatives and each time I go back, I recognise the country becoming more and more like a third world country described to me when I was younger.
sokorsognarf@reddit
Krakow, Poland. I really like living here.
Pros:
Cons:
E5evo@reddit
Not me but my mate's son went to NZ in December 2019 with some kind of work visa. He drives plant. JCBs, 360's and remote access stuff. He ain't ever coming back here. His lifestyle is off the scale for a lad his age with his interests IE, shooting, fishing and riding off-road motorbikes.
xxlozzaxx@reddit
Ye, if you're the outdoorsy type. NZ in unmatched. The pace of life is so ridiculously laid back, it's probably why they've got such a big productivity issue aha.
olibolib@reddit
Spent almost a decade in Australia, rural NSW and then Sydney about half and half. I like it a lot, back in the UK now, but may well end up moving back.
melo24s@reddit
I moved to the US; Boston, MA. Then from Boston to LA. I love the UK but I’ll never move back, there’s just more opportunities out here if you’re willing to work for them and I feel like I resonate with the culture here more
Altruistic-Move9214@reddit
Lived in Osaka, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Berlin… and still missed this glorious shithole. I unapologetically love the UK.
Lowest_Denominator@reddit
The vast majority of the people who move thinking it'll make them happy find out the same because the country they were living in was never the problem, it was them.
flippertyflip@reddit
How long have you been in Melbourne?
I only did a year. Would've stayed for 3-4 more but I knew pretty soon I couldn't stay there forever.
Wonderful city/country. But not home.
TweakUnwanted@reddit
I left for Spain 21 years ago, and have loved every minute. I have to go to the UK this summer for a few months for work and I'm absolutely dreading it, apart from seeing my family.
Tacklestiffener@reddit
I moved to a rural mountain village in Spain for my retirement. Absolutely loving it even though surrounding villages are being invaded by Dutch and Belgians.
For all the bad rep of Brits abroad, it's interesting to note that when the Brits "invaded" in the 80's and 90's, they used Spanish workers, Spanish restaurants etc. The Dutch and Belgians are moving at a younger age and opening their own businesses and their own restaurants. Ironically local restaurants have become too expensive for locals to eat in.
MaximusSydney@reddit
I moved to Australia and it made me very happy. I went from working in a job I hated and living in what felt like a bit of a loop to working for an amazing company, earning way more money, living it up partying on the beach/harbour and exploring a new country.
Melbourne is nice but it seems odd to me to go all that way and live somewhere that feels relatively similar to places we have in Europe. Why not check out Sydney? Arguable a lot of the positives of Melbourne but with added sun, beaches, beauty etc. The lifestyle there is wonderful, so focussed on outdoor living and enjoying the weather/nature.
In Sydney I worked in Marketing Consultancy and it was amazing. Shit loads of money flying around so it was constant free lunches, trips, nights out etc. Was a wild time.
I am now back in the UK as it fits our current needs much better (young family) but we can always go back as we are all Aussie citizens now.
WestMean7474@reddit
Japan. Been here since 2005.
Substantial_Pilot699@reddit
I left London with wife for north-east Italy. I'm a British London and she is Italian having lived in London since 2011.
It is incredibly better here. Instead of a shithole area and shithole flat and no community, we now have the complete opposite of all of this. It's honestly like moving from vomplete shit to paradise.
CressEcstatic537@reddit
I was desperate to leave the UK for quite a few years and lived in a few countries, I realised that the problem wasn't the location but me. But I did like being in Denmark for a year. I won't say lived because I wasn't working or paying bills there. Unless you're sorted with a good job with good money moving abroad is going to present a lot of challenges of boring things that you take for granted. The ideal in my opinion is to housesit and be a digital nomad or live somewhere with reciprocal agreements, like the UK used to have when we were in the EU.
fasicle@reddit
Moved to Madrid a few years ago from London, love it here! Great quality of life.
DevOfTheTimes@reddit
Budapest
jack5624@reddit
I’ve thought about moving, how do you find it?
oldplanA@reddit
can you speak hungarian? love the city but couldn’t imagine moving full time. Also are you on the buda or pest side? thanks
DevOfTheTimes@reddit
Not fluent but enough to get by. Most people speak English so it’s easy enough and Pest.
Goldf_sh4@reddit
Still got to put the bins out, but upside down?
wongl888@reddit
Moved to Hong Kong, love the energy and buzz of the city before Covid. Now it is not quite the same with most shops and restaurants closing at 10pm and bars closing around midnight.
Might look for another high paying low tax country like Dubai or Singapore as my next stint.
jack5624@reddit
I moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands twice. Lived there for 11 years in total and loved the island.
Obviously it is quite similar culturally to the UK, but it is very expensive. London house prices and food is more expensive, you do get higher salaries, but it balances out. What I really miss is the lack of commute and safety. Jersey is just unbelievably safe, you don’t really consider crime a thing in your day to day life. It’s just a very stress free place to live.
Ultimately, I moved back to the UK for 2 reasons, it’s boring for a 20 year old and hard to travel out from. I couldn’t afford to rent or buy a place which I could in the UK. I would like to move back eventually though.
DaenerysTartGuardian@reddit
Paris and Orange County, CA. Was going to move to NYC just before COVID, moved back to the UK instead in 2022 so my parents could see their grandkids.
The thing I learned is that every place has positives and negatives, there are few places that are "objectively better" than anywhere else. If the positives suit what you want and the negatives don't concern you, then great!
YxngestVlad@reddit
One day this gonna be me.
EstimateLucky@reddit
You take yourself wherever you go.
FormABruteSquad@reddit
Once I left myself behind, but they wouldn't let me board the plane because I only looked like the background of my passport photo.
amanset@reddit
Sweden. Nowhere is perfect but I like it here.
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