If you could choose to live in another country...
 

.....which country would you choose - and why?

Alternatively, if you choose to remain where you are, why would you not emigrate?

I was born in England and emigrated to Canada after having met my wife on the internet.
It's one of those stories that didn't go wrong. I wasn't really contemplating anything when I joined a site like this one, things just escalated and she chose to come to England to visit but she never returned. That in itself created complications with the immigration services although we finally sorted it out.

We later married and as I had no relatives left in England we moved here where my wife has an extended family.

I don't regret the move and now hold Canadian citizenship.

Also a Brit expat. I love it here in the US, but that's not to say we wouldn't move on if the opportunity presented itself. i really fancy a spell in Aus.

I have lived in the US for all of my life, I would like to visit some other countries before I make move.

Difficult to say...if it were just me, I might move to any number of countries...I've had my eye on australia since I was in grade school, and have always wanted to visit there...but I'm terribly interested in japan as well, and northern canada was beautiful...like here but colder, lol, so for a while I fantasized about moving there also.

However, I'll probably live here until I die, I'm very close with my family and don't want to be far from them.

Does New England count?

since this is pure fantasy....I'd buy an island in the South Pacific. You could call me Jim.

Tahiti. I'd also consider Bora Bora.

Probably Mexico, because I've lived there before and I like it.

I'd encourage any American to get away from North America for a few weeks.

It will probably change your entire view of the US and the world.

Plus, if you are a pleasant traveller, you'll probably have a great time.

Now, this doesnt mean that once you are away you wont love the US anymore, just that you will have a different perspective. That's often a very good thing.

i want to live in the highbury project. North London. actually no. i want to live right where i am, but have enough money to own a flat there and fly in for match weekends.

Lookout, send me the money and I'll live in Nooorf London and you can kip on the sofa.

The only country I'd really consider is Canada. No real problem with the language (I even have basic French), real seasons and a reasonably intelligent government. I'd miss England like crazy though. It would have to be for love. Any tips BeeVee?!

Tips? On love or your basic French or intelligent government?

I live in the west island of Montreal and don't need even basic French. Most people speak English or understand enough for a reasonable conversation.

Intelligent government? Well, I'm not so sure about that. At the moment the Quebec Party, although it's not in power in the province is pushing for every immigrant to be able to speak French before they are granted residence. This from the party leader who cannot even speak English in what is a bilingual country. The present Federal Conservative government is having problems too.

That you would miss England like crazy? Only maybe until you have settled here.

The weather. It's cold here in winter but it's not humid as it is in the U.K. So, although it might be -10F today, I don't have that feeling of dampness when I go out. It's just the snow that bothers me. None ot that London two inches that disappears after 24 hours. Once it starts here the snow remains until spring.

Well it was tips on snagging a Canadian man... or any man... actually.
But your information was well rounded and appreciated :)

BTW the intelligentsia follow Canada's laws far more closely than what's happening in the US. Oh and I do too. Some of the laws you have make us swoon.

id go back to ireland, i enjoyed the company of the leprachauns and all the magic pubs !

Il fait tres froid la bas tout l' temp. Ici aussi. Au montaines la neige restez beaucoup plus longue qui au plateau. :) :) :)

mygods thats what i was about to say!

I haven't traveled enough out of states to give a definite answer, but Canada is a high possibility (I'd like to study the grizzly, kodiak and kermode populations), and my girlfriend wants to retire in Kenya.

Stress my best friend emigrated to Kenya - it's a lot easer if you don't have to work, they've been tied up in red tape for over two years buying a bar.

And bribes are still definitely a part of life, as is begging and social obligations to "staff". But apart from that, they (friend & husband) seem to love it there.

I was thinking of moving to New Jersey for a while but came to my senses.

Dream on, eh?

srsly, it's hard to move to a country which allegedly uses the same language because (a) it doesn't really; and (b) the expectation of being able to understand the language spawns a false expectation of the ease of cultural understanding and assimilation.

A couple of months ago I would have said I'd have no problem. Now, not so much.

yeah, the culture shock takes a couple of months, but boy does it kick in with some power, huh?

Excellent point.

I couldn't have said it better.

England, or Scotland, or Australia. Maybe Canada.

But why?

Razz, you're in college, right?
Anyone with 12 years of English language education and a bachelor's degree can get a visa and a job to teach English in Japan. The pay is enough to save maybe US$5-6000 in a year and see a fair bit of the country.
It's a viable option to finish your degree, do a year in Japan, then with your savings spend a few months touring Australia. Pop by New Zealand while you're down there.
Just a thought.

I'd like to live in Ireland, Scotland or New Zealand for a little while, not necessarily forever, just because they appeal to me for some reason.

my sister did the same thing in Seoul, Zengum. She travelled a ton and still saved money. she made less there than she did teaching here, but somehow saved money.

I'm an angliophile. :)

And, I guess those are places I think I would like to visit, but have never had a chance, and the lack of any real language barrier appeals to me.

I could add New Zealand (did my 8th grade social studies paper on NZ) and I could have a real chance of going because my (ex) sis-in-law lives there and likes it.

Wouldn't I need at least the bare bones of Japanese in order to teach English?

Nope! I have a ridiculous number of friends who did programs like this, Razz. Every single one of them loved it. One has stayed for four years now, and has no intentions of ever leaving. They usually have you teach the junior-high-ish aged kids, whose English is already good enough that they don't need you to speak any Japanese at all. Plus, from what I hear most of the other teachers speak at least some amount of English. Picking up the basics is useful from a culture-shock standpoint, but in no way necessary for your job.

I'd move to Lesbia. They have a LOT of hot chicks there.

oh, i think razz is just afraid of turning japanese.

I really think so

(ba da da da da da da)

:lol:

LJ, maybe you are thinking of Lesbos, the home island of Sappho. Go ahead, if you like women with mustaches.
(Apologies for the stereotype.)

Razz, a lot of people come over here "cold" - no Japanese at all. It does make life a bit challenging (which is half the benefit) but many Japanese people can get by in English, or know someone who can.
Your school will help you set up your life - typically arranging an apartment, and guiding you through the banking/phone/foreigner registration etc etc you need to do.
Most schools expect English-only in the classroom. You communicate with gestures and English.
It isn't a paid holiday. It is a job, but a fairly interesting one, in a place with novelty value.

nono. it's Lesbia. I'm sure of it. I met a girl from there one time. She wouldn't date me though.....she was a verrrry Patriotic young lady.....said she could only date other Lesbians. Oh well.....i got jinx, so all's well.....etc...

Lesbos is a Greek Island whereas Lesbia is a whole cuntry.

Monster, you are being very naughty today.

I had to read it twice before I noticed it though.

I don't know, I thought Muenster was being a little cheesy. :rolleyes:

I love where I live and wouldn't choose to live anywhere else. If I were to try living somewhere else though, it'd be somewhere in the States. I'd love to visit America, and I could see me living there for a year or so, if it didn't mean leaving family and friends, but overall I like where I am:)

I like it here, but if I were going to move, I'd like to move to DanaC's valley.

Me too! With Pilau, no less! :)

Because of my year on the other side of the Peak District, I would naturally move to DanaC country.

Any edge of the District will do. I would like a month or so to check out each small town. With placenames like "Denby Dale" and "Hathersage" and "Bakewell" and especially the obvious "Penistone". (These names are utterly British to Americans. As American as "Kansas City" or "Dodge" or "Dallas" are to a Brit, I suppose.)

Seems like poor Dana could have a house full....Count me in!
:) (Poor Pilau would be spoiled terribly)

You could always visit me Dana! I have lots of room and would consider wearing a muzzle....

btw Dana....seems like you've been too busy for us cellar losers lately..Hope you've been doing alright!!
:)

Oh and I'd also like to go to New Zealand...my dad has been there several times and loved it!!

I have a similar story to you, BeeVee. I was born in Australia and emigrated to Sweden after having met my husband on the internet. I've been here seven years now and like you, I've taken out citizenship in my new homeland and intend to stay here for the long haul.

While I am a hot weather person and somehow it seems cruel that fate sent me a man from a country where reindeer roam free and Santa spends the off season, I'm quite settled and happy here.

Hmmmm... off the top of my head; Australia, NZ, Iceland, any tropical Island with adequate food, water, and transportation, I have actually looked property in Costa Rica.