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Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

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Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#21

Post by greggarious »

082349872349872 wrote: post #18
greggarious wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism. Space! Have you heard of a man named Elon Musk? ;-)

[flagged]

I left my PHD ABD, and also I'm actually fine with my feet on the ground, but doing infosec or programming for the systems related to launch would be cool and fun if it was something long term and stable.

I don't have any issues with Russian people -- as someone who has Asperger's it can be simpler dealing with someone who's blunt and doesn't talk a lot -- but I can't pretend not to despise Putin :-)

Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#22

Post by greggarious »

082349872349872 wrote: post #16
greggarious wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd take an Italian course if I became Italian and intended to stay in Italy permanently, I only speak English and a little bit of Spanish/German -- more enough to get a bus ticket or meal or avoid a bar fight in the latter two. But I don't actually have any connection to Italy -- my family on one side is from Poland, another side from Italy, but that was many generations ago. I am an American, I speak American Engli…

In NL, I'd recommend Texel (or maybe Groningen), but it sounds like you're aiming at major urban destinations. Veel succes! [Edit: dutch is pretty easy for an anglophone to acquire, but cultural things that might take some acclimatisation include herring and seriously passive-aggressive christmas poetry]

I’d be ok living someplace rural and occasionally staying overnight in a larger city as long as the issue we have in America doesn’t exist in NL - in USA rural means lots of annoying right wingers.

Also not great transit whereas in NL could get by wo a car right?

As for herring, not a vegetarian, and while I’m usually a full on dirtbag leftist in terms of interaction style I’d be ok turning it down to passive aggressive for diplomacy’s sake, especially when it’s a holiday ;-)

Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#23

Post by greggarious »

cko wrote: post #15

I moved from the US to Romania. The major cities are safe and low-cost. Spain and Portugal are on my radar. The Romanian language can at times sound Italian. You could bounce between the two countries.

Thanks for reminding me Romania is in the EU. Would I have issues there as a queer person?

(The only folks I spoke with from there were some Romani who didn’t have the best view of the folks who reside permanently.)

I worry I’d not fit in in Spain since I don’t think Catalonia becoming a nation is justified (not like Scotland where you’re throwing off royals plus staying in the union), and the other areas are more to the right.

(Also I speak a small amount of Spanish not Catalan)

Galicia was nice when I went there for PETS but got the impression they also have a big chunk who don’t speak Spanish + wanna take autonomy to an extreme for autonomy’s sake.

(Anyways I’ll pause my thinking aloud - I’ve been to Spain it’s a nice country. More laid back than DE :-))

Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#25

Post by mikewarot »

If I was going to have to leave my native land, sell the house and move, I'd move somewhere north of Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Close enough to things to be able to get medical care, supplies, etc.. but out of town. Port Washington seems quite nice.

Back in 2000, California looked really nice on our honeymoon, but I've heard it's all gone way down hill since then.

Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#26

Post by aebtebeten »

greggarious wrote: post #22
082349872349872 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In NL, I'd recommend Texel (or maybe Groningen), but it sounds like you're aiming at major urban destinations. Veel succes! [Edit: dutch is pretty easy for an anglophone to acquire, but cultural things that might take some acclimatisation include herring and seriously passive-aggressive christmas poetry]

I’d be ok living someplace rural and occasionally staying overnight in a larger city as long as the issue we have in America doesn’t exist in NL - in USA rural means lots of annoying right wingers. Also not great transit whereas in NL could get by wo a car right? As for herring, not a vegetarian, and while I’m usually a full on dirtbag leftist in terms of interaction style I’d be ok turning it down to passive aggress…

> I feel bad about it being an Italian passport

I'll defer to any HN actual Italiani, but my impression is that they have a similar[0] relationship with bureaucracy as the french: the man spends so much time keeping you down, that if you find a loophole that works in your favour, go ahead and stick it to him.

Other NL suggestions: Bergen, Noordwijk, Laren. Especially the last, if you're looking for cosmopolitan outlook.

Don't worry about lots of annoying right wingers in rural areas. There may be somewhat more proportionately[1], but they won't be annoying[2]. Minding one's own business is, it seems, more of a european[6] virtue than a US.

[0] imx "verboten" means people don't do it; "defense de" means not if cops are watching; and "vietato" means sometimes even the cops do it.

[1] where I live, the far right party is nominally a "farmers' party" (despite being controlled by urban industrialists). But just about the only way I'd know they have a lot of support here is by the number of placards (which used to feature the national flag but they've since figured it wasn't working for them) at election time. And I am an obvious foreigner[3], even without opening my mouth[5].

[2] bumper stickers are few and far between here, so jacked up pickups festooned with political flags are right out.

[3] one of my favourite anecdotes is the guy who was telling me about all the problems with foreigners[4], only to pause his rant in the middle so he could go help a swarthy young mother in religious headcover get her baby carriage onto the train.

[4] "I'm a foreigner too, remember" "Yes, but you're not one of those foreigners"

[5] fwiw, I feel more at home here as a foreigner[6] than I did in the Old Country as a native-born citizen.

[6] the local stance is less one of left/right identity politics and more one of (regardless of one's political views) sorrow for all those poor saps who have the horrendous misfortune to live in one of those neighbouring villages, 10-15km away.

Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#27

Post by hayst4ck »

You don't sound like someone who has traveled a lot. I would encourage you to digital nomad in different countries for 2-3 months at a time (most countries will let Americans stay 3 months at a time). There is understanding to be gained that can only be gained through experience.

There is great divide between civility (you are part of a culture because of your values) and ethnicity (you are part of a culture because you share a history with other people from that culture -- your parents were that culture).

There is a great divide between high trust and low trust societies.

There is a great divide between rich and poor.

There is a great divide between liberalism and authoritarianism.

(mostly) Functioning institutions in a high trust, rich, liberal, civil society, which America, particularly educated America, is, is an oxygen you don't know you are breathing.

A little travel will let you be a little asphyxiated and therefore more appreciative of American institutions and culture.

It will also show you that America is definitely in decline and that American exceptionalism is ridiculous. San Francisco is a horrible city compared to many abroad.

Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#28

Post by cko »

082349872349872 wrote: post #20
cko wrote: post #15

I moved from the US to Romania. The major cities are safe and low-cost. Spain and Portugal are on my radar. The Romanian language can at times sound Italian. You could bounce between the two countries.

polymer currency FTW, too. Is that Edelweiss on the 50? (just curious: how is the war affecting you all?)

Plastic cash is awesome, but definitely less foldable. I'm looking at a 50 right now and it says Aurel Vlaicu under it.

I'm in the Transylvania region. I think I've seen some Ukrainians here but pretty unaffected by the war, besides high energy costs.

Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#29

Post by cko »

greggarious wrote: post #23
cko wrote: post #15

I moved from the US to Romania. The major cities are safe and low-cost. Spain and Portugal are on my radar. The Romanian language can at times sound Italian. You could bounce between the two countries.

Thanks for reminding me Romania is in the EU. Would I have issues there as a queer person? (The only folks I spoke with from there were some Romani who didn’t have the best view of the folks who reside permanently.) I worry I’d not fit in in Spain since I don’t think Catalonia becoming a nation is justified (not like Scotland where you’re throwing off royals plus staying in the union), and the other areas are more to…

Spain is very queer-friendly. I was recently in Valencia and it's also super bikeable. Malaga is also worth considering. I'm not really aware of the politics though, since I tend to live in a bubble wherever I live.

Romania is not known to be queer-friendly. Where I live (Cluj) is as progressive as it gets (it's full of foreign students from Germany, France and Israel), but I wouldn't walk around all flambuoyant and decked out in rainbows.

Re: Ask HN: Where Would You Emigrate To?

#30

Post by weatherlite »

> Where would you go if you woke up one morning and felt like your US Passport was worthless?

I get that you feel that but you have no idea how privileged that sounds...a huge chunk of humanity would love to trade places with you. Even Europe isn't having a ball lately economically. I really do hope you immigrate somewhere just to get a healthy perspective on your situation.

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