You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe • Hacker News Board

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#11

Post by Sir_Substance » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:16 PM UTC

I move from Australia to Iceland. Icelanders always go "what the hell man? why would you do that?" when they find out.

It's complicated. Broadly speaking, it's an even split between:

1. Icelands software industry being considerably more vibrant than Australias, which is really sad for Aus.

2. Australias government increasingly intervening directly in it's citizens lives whether they like it or not. The Icelandic government is pretty hands off, þetta reddast etc.

3. Icelanders have no idea what the word "heat" really means. They've never under-clocked their computers to keep them stable during summer. I'll take Icelandic winter over Australia summer any day of the week.

It's been hard, but I wouldn't take back my decision, no way. Any one of those reasons is good enough for me.

We're living in the first age in human history where you can really just pick up all your shit and straight up move to the opposite side of the planet, no dramas. I paid ~$8,000AUD to some dudes, they rocked up at my place with a truck full of boxes and paper and wrapped up literally the entire house and drove off. Three months later some other dudes showed up at my new place in Reykjavik and unboxed everything for me. 8k isn't nothing, but it's not unreachable either, and I also paid for the full service move. Easiest move I ever did, but you could probably do it for half the price if you packed yourself.

Out of the whole planet, what're the odds that you were born in the place that suits you best? It's definitely worth shopping around.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#12

Post by macroexpanse » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:17 PM UTC

ukulele wrote: post #10

DanielDent wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Florida has embraced open records laws, while other US jurisdictions have not - certainly not to the same extent. A significant portion of your observation can likely be attributed to reporting bias: it's easy/cheap for a journalist to browse the website of their local Florida police department. In another jurisdiction, that same story might involve: hiring an investigative journalist, spending 3 months, and fighting…

My family vacations there every year and my grandparents lived there for 30 years. I can assure you the crazy is real and not imagined.

You're not wrong about the crazy. The point is that it's not just Florida.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#13

Post by kurthr » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:18 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #6

ojbyrne wrote: post #2

The US has a lot more to offer than Florida, especially when it comes to the complaints (heat, health care and mass shootings) in the article.

Can you explain the healthcare differences? From what I know it is pretty bad all over the USA compared to say France or Germany.

Well, to be clear Health Insurance and the US companies that supply it often do so poorly (Kaiser isn't too bad except for mental health), but the healthcare itself can be top notch. People travel from all over the world to get the best treatment, but basic healthcare (preventative etc.) is expensive and not even uniformly acceptable.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#14

Post by dapreja » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:20 PM UTC

mavdi wrote: post #3

I moved from London to Lisbon and then to Brazil. I get the same kinda "wtf" reaction from Brazilians. The bottom line is, with all that's wrong in Brazil and given my circumstances and my remote well paid job, I'm a lot happier living here than anywhere else in the world. I truly love this place. I don't think one needs to try to make a place work for them. Sure you can try and adapt. But ultimately most people read…

Well paid US job? Could you please provide ball park estimate and what exactly do you do. Also how do you deal with currency exchange and are yoy a native brazzilian speaker? I've been contemplating moving to south america as well.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#15

Post by SirLJ » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:24 PM UTC

The only problem with the US is that you have to report to IRS even if you live and work in some other place...

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#16

Post by holydude » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:25 PM UTC

The grass is always greener on the other side. Being born in Europe and living here is suffocating me.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#17

Post by alva » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:27 PM UTC

Sir_Substance wrote: post #11

I move from Australia to Iceland. Icelanders always go "what the hell man? why would you do that?" when they find out. It's complicated. Broadly speaking, it's an even split between: 1. Icelands software industry being considerably more vibrant than Australias, which is really sad for Aus. 2. Australias government increasingly intervening directly in it's citizens lives whether they like it or not. The Icelandic gove…

Would love to find out how you got a job programming in Iceland. What were the requirements for language, Visa, how did you find the role etc?

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#18

Post by amaccuish » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:29 PM UTC

What's it like in Tallin? I'm thinking of going to study there after I'm finished with my first degree? I like what they're doing to encourage startups etc. Can you speak Estonian?

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#19

Post by yardie » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:31 PM UTC

We moved from France back to the US (Miami, specifically) in the last year. Going back to France has come up a lot in our household. Salaries are definitely higher here but once I deduct the major expenses (healthcare, childcare, healthy foods) it comes out to be only 10% bump salary wise.

In our travels the one thing we have found is that medical tourism is becoming a better known option to Americans. I've met doctors and surgeons who keep a small office in Miami for consultation but the operations are done in Colombia, Brazil or Mexico.

Re: You have options – Why we left the U.S. and moved back to Europe

#20

Post by theyinwhy » Sun, Apr 01, 2018, 9:31 PM UTC

kurthr wrote: post #13

jacquesm wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain the healthcare differences? From what I know it is pretty bad all over the USA compared to say France or Germany.

Well, to be clear Health Insurance and the US companies that supply it often do so poorly (Kaiser isn't too bad except for mental health), but the healthcare itself can be top notch. People travel from all over the world to get the best treatment, but basic healthcare (preventative etc.) is expensive and not even uniformly acceptable.

The quality of health care is so high in Europe that I really cannot imagine any European going to the US for treatment apart from perhaps very few experimental treatments that are not permitted in Europe.