I want some more opinions

24POSTS

9 years ago

33 year old American citizen who has a Hungarian father. I've been to Budapest in 06 and 08. It's not perfect and I like it. I'm a simple living person, a minimalist these days, I like places that have good public transit. I often think about becoming an expat and think about choosing Budapest but some Hungarians say don't, it's hard and there aren't much jobs etc.. Some are more optimistic. I just want some more opinions here, should I just forget the idea and focus on relocated in the US? I currently live in FL and it is nice but I really want to be somewhere in the US or the world that is very walkable etc. Seattle WA and Portland Oregon come to mind . . . NYC is just a whole different animal that I may or may not like. What do you think go to Budapest or Portland Oregon? I am open to other options also. But wherever I go I will be stuck for a long while since I can't just afford to up and leave whenever I want, working and paying bills keeps me grounded so I just enjoy what I have. Let me know!! Sorry this is long

Joey

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GuestPoster279 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

graciegjj wrote:
33 year old American citizen who has a Hungarian father.

First question: Do you speak Hungarian? If not, then finding work in Hungary will have limits.

Second question: What is your profession? If you plan to work in Hungary then your work skills may or may not be in demand here. The world is uncertain, especially with work, so I would not recommend a move anywhere unless you have first secured a job, or at least some good job prospects, in that location.

graciegjj wrote:
What do you think go to Budapest or Portland Oregon?

I have experienced both. Very different types of climates, local and regional environments, infrastructures, cultures, politics, etc.

Difficult to give much advise since there is far more to consider about a city than just walkable with good public transportation. But if that is indeed an overriding consideration, then there are plenty of "top 10" lists of US cities which are walkable, or have good public transportation for you to consider, such as:

http://www.businessinsider.com/cities-w … ems-2014-1

graciegjj wrote:
But wherever I go I will be stuck for a long while since I can't just afford to up and leave whenever I want, working and paying bills keeps me grounded so I just enjoy what I have.

If your moving funds are limited and if you have possessions (car, furniture, etc) to move, it is probably cheaper to move within the continental US than having to ship or re-buy most everything abroad. You said you have a minimalistic life, so maybe you do not have such possessions. But even it not, if well budgeted, you may even have enough left over from one intra-US move for a re-move within the US, than for a remove if you move abroad. I know, as I have done both inner US moves and moving abroad.

GuestPoster279 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

fluffy2560 wrote:
Bangkok

I knew someone who lived in Thailand. Said it was a great place to live as long as he did not read the news.

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fluffy2560 Hungary Expert

15074POSTS

9 years ago

klsallee wrote:
fluffy2560 wrote:
Bangkok

I knew someone who lived in Thailand. Said it was a great place to live as long as he did not read the news.

It's not just that kind of news not to read, it's just about every other bit of news.

There are lots of sad expats in Bangkok looking forlornly into their beer with bar girls attached. Some expat people in Bangkok get depressed and take a header off of the high rise apartment buildings.

But if you have a cultural and intellectual life, positive outlook, reasonable health, decent activities, get some quality workmates and do not hang about in Soi Cowboy (notorious area/street), then you'd be fine.

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Marilyn Tassy ViP

7248POSTS

9 years ago

If you really have your heart set on living in Hungary I would advice to get your HU citizenship first
You don't want to deal with the hassles of immigration here, with your HU citizenship you will have a easier time
You will not have coverage for the first year as a HU citizen with the national health though, they make people wait a year before it is valid, good for emergencies only. You must have some sort of health coverage if you live in HU.
My husband returned to HU as a citizen and was required to pay for a years coverage in monthly payments before he could use the coverage, the second year he didn't have to pay a thing, like he had to pre-pay. After the second year he pays monthly out of pocket.You will have to pay out of pocket as well unless your job covers you in HU.
If you do not work, you must pay health care yourself.
Knowing how to speak Hungarian is a huge plus.
OUr dual citizen son, US/HU lived with his HU wife in Budapest 15-16 years ago. He barely spoke HUngarian but was hired at a downtown casino, he decided not to take the job because it didn't pay enough, his wife had no problem blowing through more then he would of been paid every month. They moved to the US after a year and his $35,000 savings was gone.
HU isn't as cheap overall as some people tend to think it is.
It might be nice if your father still has family in Hungary that you can live with for awhile until you find a job or decide if it is for you or not.
At age 33 you will have many work years ahead of you, sadly not many places one can move to and not have to work, either you have your own business savings or a generous benefactor.
Good luck, my son tried it out and couldn't afford it, the wages were too low for him over here.
At the time he was only a games dealer, they hired him in Hungary only because he was a HU citizen and he had Vegas experience and his wife talked them into hiring him. He was told to learn how to count fast in the HUngarian language for 2 months time and then he could start working.
You need some sort of language skills even with a counting job.
For the past 10 years he has become a casino manager in Vegas, I doubt he could of risen that fast in Hungary without knowing the language.
Our Hungarian nephew was born and raised in Hungary, went to cooking school in Hungary, worked in the US for awhile doing some sort of hotel work in the east coast.
Shared rooms with other young HUngarians to be able to save money.
Now he lives and works as a cook in Austria, he has a teenage son here in Hungary.
Even with all his experience and skills he left Hungary to make enough money to help support his son.
Sad, wages are really low in Hungary even for those willing to work hard.

graciegjj Member

24POSTS

9 years ago

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to try and make this short as I want to get to bed now. I'll try and touch on some points I just read from you all. Not too interested in Asia, but I could always change my mind, mostly interested in Europe mainly Budapest. But... Considering who I am and what I want and willing to do a move within the US is probably my best bet and the least risky, meaning it will all feel normal to me and the jobs are there etc. I have mostly worked retail which is everywhere in the world but some places have more than others etc. My Hungarian is not very good but I have learned many words over the last year but it is so tough coming from English and the sentences are hard, may never master it and living in the US spending all my free time learning it is not a priority ..

Recently started learning Spanish because in the US that is more useful and can be practiced a lot. I have some things to think about... I appreciate the feedback. I would love to travel the world and visit many places but that will not happen without having a lot of money either earned from work or inherited, I really enjoy working in retail but it is not a high earning job but I choose to do it so I just live according to my means and enjoy life

I have looked at many US cities so I am thinking things over. I just seem to be interested in Portland or Seattle and if I go anywhere I will be stuck there so I want it to be a good place to be stuck

Good night all I'll catch up later and see what you guys want to say. I appreciate it and sending you good vibes. Joey

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Marilyn Tassy ViP

7248POSTS

9 years ago

Wish you the best of luck no matter what you decide to do.
You aren't the only person who feels a change in the air.
I do not know much about OR or WA state, rainy for sure though.
My friend lives in Spokane,WA and loves it.
Hungary is always a option for you at a later time,you are still very young and have time to do everything.

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GuestPoster279 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

graciegjj wrote:
Portland or Seattle

Both good choices. Personally, if it were me, I would select Portland. Mainly because I lived in the cool, rainy, overcast North West coast for many years. It was fine at first. But after a few years I got to missing the sun. Portland is a little bit dryer and warmer.

anns Serial expat

493POSTS

9 years ago

#10

I am semi retired and a professional so don't have pressure to scrabble for work but It's much harder without having the language. However Budapest has many English language speakers unlike the countryside where I garden and grow things and so on.

Recently I have been helping out in a language school for sociable reasons to help me through the long winter and have met many younger English speaking people who may have several paid jobs ranging from babysitting, hostel work, bar work, housekeeping, tour guiding, language work, qualified and unqualified teaching, Internet based work and so on.
They look to me as if they are having an OK lifestyle and social life in Budapest and get by financially.
Sometimes I have met people who have lived that type of lifestyle for a few years. Some of them are older like me but many of them are usually 30+.
In terms of accommodation many people live in shared accommodation and hostels. Like anywhere else it takes time to meet other people but as a free agent and minimalist you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

GuestPoster279 Guest

0POSTS

9 years ago

#11

anns wrote:
may have several paid jobs ranging from babysitting, hostel work, bar work, housekeeping, tour guiding, language work, qualified and unqualified teaching, Internet based work and so on.

Just want to point out many of those are the most common job types done by vagabond travelers (some without a work visa), and some are not uncommonly done in cash and "black" (i.e. outside of official, legal employment and paying income taxes).

In any case, I do not recommend most of those as serious sources of income for a semi-permanent move.

anns wrote:
hostels.

Yes, well, that is a certain type of "living" abroad. But, do consider the 22 Things You Should Know Before You Stay In A Hostel

anns Serial expat

493POSTS

9 years ago

#12

People with vision have to start somewhere. I don't pry into people's personal circumstances. Many people register themselves as self employed and have to do more casual work to start with. But even with part time work we all have to give ID and insurance details. I would not suggest otherwise.