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Funny how the abusers always plays the victim and the sycophants want to support the abuser
Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
51–60 of 166 posts
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
You don’t need to become fluent in a European language before moving there. Most expats don’t. Having some familiarity will help, it’ll become much easier to learn the language when you’re actually in the environment, and no one will expect you to suddenly speak their language when you get there.
Yeah, I know. I guess I just consider it a polite and respectful thing to do. At a minimum you should speak enough to "get around in an emergency" before you move there. Maybe that's just my midwestern sensibilities.
I’d second parent’s point. Im Swedish, lived in the US for 8 years now, and am moving to Spain. I speak a little Spanish. Obviously I intend to learn more, but it’s not a prerequisite to know everything up front, that’d be a catch-22. This is of course how I treat others as well.
Learning is 99% for yourself to socialize and thrive, and maybe 1% showing respect. I think actions speak louder than words, and being kind and respectful can take many forms.
I say this because I’ve seen first hand how travelers, expats and tourists from the Anglosphere self-limit at least a bit more than us who grew up speaking less common languages. We’re used to the discomfort and misunderstandings, and hand gesture our way through sometimes. I’d say most Europeans can relate to this strongly. (Of course, we always joke about the French, who refuse to speak English even if they can, but I think even that’s a dated stereotype these days)
Best of luck with your plans.
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
But I do have A/C and a clothes dryer. Again, things like that are easily affordable if you work in the tech or professional fields in Europe.
Is it vented to the outside, or is it the kind that doesn't work? (Japan also only has the kind that doesn't do anything. No personal experience elsewhere.)
My current building is different than majority of buildings with A/C here (and note - A/C is non-standard in central Europe).
In my case the entire building I live in has "central A/C". I'm not an expert, but I believe it works by circulating cold water in the pipes and then each apartment has fans in the ceiling that blow cool air. You regulate it by setting the desired temperature in each room using a thermostat. IMO it works very well.
Majority of other buildings with A/C have a more traditional A/C units like in the US that blow air outside.
Like I mentioned in the first paragraph, A/C is non-standard in the country I'm currently in. Some of my friends who don't have A/C use devices similar to humidifiers, but you put ice in them instead of water. They say it's good enough to cool down one room in a an apartment (like a bedroom or an office).
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
#54I moved from the US to Europe a year ago and I think articles like this don't capture quality of life in Europe well. Just think about healthier food, walkable cities, great public transportation, safety, free education and healthcare. The way I see it, life in Europe is less stressful and more enjoyable than in the US. Having less money translates into having a smaller house or a car, but in my opinion that doesn't…
I assume you're a tech worker - that places you in the top 5-10% of the population, wealth and income wise. Most of the 'other half' isn't doing so well - living in shared apartments well into their late 30s, never being able to afford a home, no kids, no travel except for a handful of cheap spots and staying in hostels, eating out perhaps a handful of times a month, many small quality of life things that add up (old…
>I assume you're a tech worker - that places you in the top 5-10% of the population, wealth and income wise.
No, it doesn't. I live in Austria and as a tech worker you're not in the 5-10% income. As a tech worker you earn as much as the unionized tram-driver, ~2500 Euros net/month.
Also, INCOME != WEALTH. It takes time and a big income to build wealth and we don't have that, and most wealth here is inherited cross-generation via zero-inheritance taxes. There's people making minim wages spending all day smoking weed and walking dogs, who's families own entire apartment blocks and several houses, yet you'll pay way more taxes than them and be financially less well off.
If you move here for work, the high taxes, low wages means you won't build any wealth (legally).
I agree with your other points. All the great social services in Europe are underfunded relative to their usage.
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
#55Don't believe any article that uses AVERAGES instead of the MEAN when it comes to wages, because average wages are worthless to consider and are more easily skewed by extreme outliers.
Since Jeff Bezos moved to our village, we're all multi-millionaires on average.
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
#56Many of the examples given in the article are complete rubbish: > The French are eating less foie gras and drinking less red wine. foie gras involves torturing animals, and drinking less alcohol is healthier, so good for them! > Across Germany, meat and milk consumption has fallen to the lowest level in three decades yes, more people are eating less meat - good for them and for the environment! > TooGoodToGo, a compa…
So according to your "analysis", not going on holydays anymore, or to the restaurant, or having smaller houses, is not the sign of being less wealthy... "because it is good for the planet". Green-leftism summarized righ here !! :D
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
#57Many of the examples given in the article are complete rubbish: > The French are eating less foie gras and drinking less red wine. foie gras involves torturing animals, and drinking less alcohol is healthier, so good for them! > Across Germany, meat and milk consumption has fallen to the lowest level in three decades yes, more people are eating less meat - good for them and for the environment! > TooGoodToGo, a compa…
I assumed the article was playing on clichés to make a point; as a French, I spoke with my mother yesterday about how people buy lesser-quality food and sometimes skip meals more often.
She's volunteering at a food and clothes bank and noticed the increase in demand; even from the working class, the struggle is real. And, pardon me for the directness, but your patronising tone really isn't helping workers get on the side of what you see as "good".
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
#58I moved from the US to Europe a year ago and I think articles like this don't capture quality of life in Europe well. Just think about healthier food, walkable cities, great public transportation, safety, free education and healthcare. The way I see it, life in Europe is less stressful and more enjoyable than in the US. Having less money translates into having a smaller house or a car, but in my opinion that doesn't…
>I moved from the US to Europe a year ago and I think articles like this don't capture quality of life in Europe well.
Europe isn't a country. Where exactly in Europe did you move?
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
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"Superpower" implies an ability and willingness to influence the rest of the world. Europe couldn't even align with itself to intercede in Bosnia, they just left it to a very reluctant United States. Joe Biden said it best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwYVKptqH_o#t=0m54s
Re: Europeans Are Becoming Poorer
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just think about having to post this comment every time Americans ask why you don't have ice water, air conditioning or clothes dryers, and why you have half their purchasing power and are buried in cookie banners. Btw, the main reason people think European food tastes better than US is because we enrich our flour with extra nutrients. You just don't like the taste of iron.
But I do have A/C and a clothes dryer. Again, things like that are easily affordable if you work in the tech or professional fields in Europe.
>But I do have A/C and a clothes dryer. Again, things like that are easily affordable if you work in the tech or professional fields in Europe
In which country do you live? In Austria you're not allowed to install an split unit AC due to building regulations. You could if you own your own single family house but you need to be very wealthy for that, beyond the average tech worker. Tech worker is blue-colar work here.