Announcing Google Research, Europe • Hacker News Board

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#31

Post by chinathrow » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 12:52 PM UTC

s3nnyy wrote: post #17

Roritharr wrote: post #3

This really makes me consider moving my family to Zurich. Looking back at growing up in Germany/Europe made me really feel disadvantaged compared to people growing up in more tech friendly environments. I would want my child to grow up somewhere where technology is not overwhelmingly debated about in a negative light. So much good stuff is coming out of ETH that it really seems to be a place where people talk more en…

I am well-connected in the tech-scene in Zurich and if you're thinking of moving here and getting an IT job, feel free to contact me - you find my email address in my HN profile. Also you can read my blogpost "8 reasons why I moved to Switzerland to work in IT": https://medium.com/@iwaninzurich/eight-reasons-why-i-moved-t...

Are you a recruiter?

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#32

Post by tluyben2 » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 12:53 PM UTC

RBerenguel wrote: post #21

tluyben2 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Berlin, Munchen, Madrid, Barcelona London (for now), hell even Malaga are tech friendly and much easier (in my experience, but that is totally a matter of taste: I find Swiss too stiff) to settle. Really wondering where you are from. Edit: fixed Barcelona

Barça is only used for the football team, the city is Barcelona, Bcn (for short) or "down there" if you are not in the area but still in Catalonia

Did not know that. Noted for the future!

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#33

Post by Roritharr » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 12:55 PM UTC

tluyben2 wrote: post #10

Roritharr wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My (single)mother was looked down upon for buying us a computer when my sister was 16 and I was ten. It went as far as the local priest calling social services because he assumed neglect. It's not like I grew up around Amish, but its just generally a very acceptable stance here to be skeptical of all new technology. It's very apparent especially when you look at the discussions centering our school system. We still d…

Sorry where was that? I do not think you have to move to Zurich to experience something better. I have never heard about this and I grew up in a bible belt region in EU.

I grew up in the Rhine Valley, in a small town of 2000 inhabitants.

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#34

Post by tluyben2 » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 1:00 PM UTC

linza wrote: post #13

tluyben2 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry where was that? I do not think you have to move to Zurich to experience something better. I have never heard about this and I grew up in a bible belt region in EU.

TIL the EU has a bible belt. Can you expand on where that is?

This was in a rural place in the middle of the Netherlands: 3 times to church on sunday, not allowed anything else on that day but reading the bible. No contraceptives allowed so most families had children until they could not anymore (8-10 children were not strange), learning and reciting bible passages and singing hymns by heart etc during the week and sundays. And yet the very strict grade school got a computer when I was 9-10 (1984) and I was to teach the kids and teachers how to use it. Although they were not even allowed TVs in their houses, the town 'elders' recognized that this was the future of sorts.

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#35

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 1:02 PM UTC

tluyben2 wrote: post #10

Roritharr wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My (single)mother was looked down upon for buying us a computer when my sister was 16 and I was ten. It went as far as the local priest calling social services because he assumed neglect. It's not like I grew up around Amish, but its just generally a very acceptable stance here to be skeptical of all new technology. It's very apparent especially when you look at the discussions centering our school system. We still d…

Sorry where was that? I do not think you have to move to Zurich to experience something better. I have never heard about this and I grew up in a bible belt region in EU.

[deleted]

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#36

Post by Roritharr » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 1:08 PM UTC

igk wrote: post #9

Roritharr wrote: post #3

This really makes me consider moving my family to Zurich. Looking back at growing up in Germany/Europe made me really feel disadvantaged compared to people growing up in more tech friendly environments. I would want my child to grow up somewhere where technology is not overwhelmingly debated about in a negative light. So much good stuff is coming out of ETH that it really seems to be a place where people talk more en…

Can I ask you for details about your background? I grew up in central Europe and never experienced what you seemed to have experienced

I've answered some in other comments. Its not extreme.

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#37

Post by yunque » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 1:27 PM UTC

tluyben2 wrote: post #11

Roritharr wrote: post #3

This really makes me consider moving my family to Zurich. Looking back at growing up in Germany/Europe made me really feel disadvantaged compared to people growing up in more tech friendly environments. I would want my child to grow up somewhere where technology is not overwhelmingly debated about in a negative light. So much good stuff is coming out of ETH that it really seems to be a place where people talk more en…

Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Berlin, Munchen, Madrid, Barcelona London (for now), hell even Malaga are tech friendly and much easier (in my experience, but that is totally a matter of taste: I find Swiss too stiff) to settle. Really wondering where you are from. Edit: fixed Barcelona

Malaga? I visit every year, and last time I checked there was only Ericsson, Siemens and a group at the university doing human centred robotics... A quick online search leads me to the MalagaMakers meetup (which unfortunately has been quiet since January) and a few small tech companies. Do you know of any hubs or interesting companies there?

I certainly noticed the city becoming a bit more modern in recent years, with the whole SoHo thing and the Pompidou, but it generally always seems to be aimed towards boosting tourism. I'm really happy to hear that there's something else going on [:

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#38

Post by spacecowboy_lon » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 1:28 PM UTC

wbhart wrote: post #12

I wonder if this is because Google is having trouble recruiting people to the US, due to the crazy political system there, or because of visas or because of people with concerns about surveillance, gun control, the death penalty, lack of whistleblower protections, etc.

why would they do that when they can get their pick of european talent and pay them 50% less than they would in SV

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#39

Post by XCSme » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 1:30 PM UTC

Roritharr wrote: post #3

This really makes me consider moving my family to Zurich. Looking back at growing up in Germany/Europe made me really feel disadvantaged compared to people growing up in more tech friendly environments. I would want my child to grow up somewhere where technology is not overwhelmingly debated about in a negative light. So much good stuff is coming out of ETH that it really seems to be a place where people talk more en…

I have actually applied to Google Zurich (but after 10 interviews they didn't hire me) and studied a bit how the life is there. There are many advantages or living there, but the cost of life and the fact that most people in Zurich are immigrants makes it a pretty cold city where it is hard to make friends or stay for a very long period of time. I think that now your point about "tech friendly environments" is not relevant anymore, because many countries support tech companies and offer a lot of grants for programmers and tech-related activities.

Re: Announcing Google Research, Europe

#40

Post by spacecowboy_lon » Thu, Jun 16, 2016, 1:32 PM UTC

linza wrote: post #13

tluyben2 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry where was that? I do not think you have to move to Zurich to experience something better. I have never heard about this and I grew up in a bible belt region in EU.

TIL the EU has a bible belt. Can you expand on where that is?

The Wee frees in Scotland can be like that one very senior Scottish politician was excommunicated for stepping inside a catholic church (for an old friends funeral) a few years ago.