Moving to a foreign country?

If you thought it was a good idea to move to a different country, where would you go?

I like Mediterranean climate--wet winters and dry summers.

I like very mild winters.

I also like somewhat mild summers, but that's not a deal breaker.

I only speak English, so I would like to live somewhere where most of the people speak English.

I want to live in a first-world country.

Given those parameters, I think the only country that would work for me is Australia.

Specifically, Adelaide or Perth.

Now those two cities are pretty isolated from the rest of the world, especially Perth.

Also, there's the huge ozone hole in the Southern Hemisphere, but I don't spend a lot of time outside, so maybe that's not a big issue.

Where would you go?

Depends on budget and income. If not some nice, remote island on Pacific it would be New Zealand.

Dear Raccoon City,

You might want to consider Singapore.

I have been working here in this so-called “Little Red Dot” for nine years. I am a Thai from Bangkok.

Singapore has four official languages: English, Chinese, Malaysia, and Tamil.

The claimate is similar to the Mediterranean, although there is no “winter” weather here. Mostly tropical and sunny days with seasonal rains. Singapore is very green; its is also known as the “Garden City State”.

The healthcare in Singapore is world-class. Its mass transit systems, such as subway (all subway trains are driverless) and air-conditioned bus, are excellent — much better and cleaner than in Tokyo, Paris, and certainly New York City.

Moreover, the public security here is also top-class. Very safe for locals and foreigners alike. And the cost of living here is much lower than in Australia. If you cook, you would enjoy cooking here because of fresh supplies from all corners of the world.

From Singapore, you can fly to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, as well as the rest of Southeast Asia in just a few hours.

Termsak

> Where would you go?

Palm Desert, CA. Now we only need an Aussie moving to Lower Saxony.

On a second thought … no, I’d probably move to a more northern state. North Dakota?

Wildlife of Australia.

I have worked and lived in four countries so far, with smaller stints in three other nations.
More than five years and/or currently living in: USA, UK (England), Switzerland, Canada
One year or less: Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Italy
Three months or less: Hungary

Moving around was my biggest achievement in life, and also the best life experience. Learned many languages, got to know cool people and even cooler girls :wink:

If I moved country, it would probably be Argentina or Paraguay. Maybe, just maybe, Mexico.
I’m a Latin American in blood and spirit, can’t see myself moving off to anywhere else. Even Germany, the country I have ancestry in.

South America… Cheap gas, blow, booze. Kinda dangerous on the streets.

I have traveled (vacationed) in about a dozen countries, enjoyed them all. Through traveling the wife and I learned there are so many awesome places and cultures to experience, that if we dont try and get out there and just do it we will never know what else the world has to offer... I envy those who have been able to LIVE in other countries, but i feel lucky to at least visit some. Of what i know, what i've visited, and what i've looked into, my top 5 would be (and biggest reason why):

Italy (culture)

Finland (nature, also my favorite bands/music generally come from here/Norway - heavy metal)

Canada (Nature)

New Zealand (Nature)

Thailand (Culture)

This is the best country in the world. People dream to be able to live here. We have warm states,cold states, what ever you desire. The freedom and opportunities you have here do not exist anywhere.

Monaco :person_with_crown:

New Zealand is definitely a wonderful place to move to. And I have read somewhere that people in New Zealand have the best chance of surviving the Third (Nuclear) War!!

Before that happens, one major item on my bucket list is to bring my wife and a few flashlights on a month-long camping tour of New Zealand.

Thailand, my homeland, offers warm hospitality, excellent foods, marvellous culture and fun-filled colourful festivals. But now we are suffering a deadly “third wave” of the COVID-19 infections with a daily death toll of 30-50, and 3,000-4,000 new infected cases each day.

Nevertheless, Phuket is going to open to welcome foreign visitors under its experimental “Sand Box” model starting on 1 July.

Nah, I’m good here. I can’t think of anything I could ever want that isn’t available right down the road (figuratively speaking).

Portugal.

If WW3 will happen in my lifetime, then New Zealand for furthest distance from blast zones; otherwise, Canada for best food & water security and resilience against global warming / rising sea level.

So in short, depends on which one gets to me first, fire or water.

Spent my life in England (both inside and outside of London), Finland, Canada and the US.
Vacationed in >25 countries.
Moving is fun and exciting, if you are young and without a family (yet). Way more difficult with wife/kids and a home.

Moving is traumatic.

Qualifying for immigration to a new country is much more restrictive than simply visiting as a tourist.

here is a survey that ranks NZ #3, after Singapore and Switzerland

just about everybody in Europe speaks English, in addition to their local language.

details to figure out
will the country let you live there without a time limit,
or do they just want you to come visit, spend money and leave?

if you want to prolong your stay, do they force you to leave every 6months to reenter with a new visa…

if you want to move somewhere permanently,

do they require a minimum amount of cash in one of their banks, including requiring you convert USA currency to local currency,

do they only accept people with certain professions?

will you be allowed to work there, or only allow you to spend money, but not earn any…

What are your goals in moving?
Are you interested in less gun violence?
Are you interested in Political Stability?..
will the locals welcome a USA person or are USA people unwelcome…

lots to figure out… Why would you want to move, and will it worth the effort to jump thru all the hoops?

Here is some info on moving to Australia

“things are MUCH more expensive! Rent is way more too… Drinks cost WAY more

The de facto and permanent residency were very VERY hard, expensive and a LOT of work!”

Malta...ex British colony, in the middle of Mediterranean see

USA is #26… here is a snapshot of the score:
(pic is a link)

note the particularly low scores for USA in
Mental Well Being and
Political Stability

by contrast here is Switzerland, #1:

note the much higher Mental Well Being and Political Stability in Switzerland compared to USA.

here is Australia:

Australia scores even better than Switzerland for Mental Well Being

Here is Spain:

Spain looks really good to me, for quality of life

I live in Missouri so if I wanted to move to a different country it would probably be Texas. :slight_smile: