Choice of country ?

Hi Urielle!
Well, I'm from France and I am living in Canada, but if I had to move again, I'd love to go to Italy.
I like its history, its culture, its way of life... the climate is wonderful and so is the food...
Moreover, I really like the language.

For a European citizen, it has become easy to move there...

But this is not (yet?) on my agenda.

Olivier

Well it also depends of what you like

I lived in the UK and now in Spain ... From my experience I can say that the spanish way of life is a good choice!

This country is one of the cheapest (with Portugal and Italy I think) even if it is more expensive than it was 5 years ago ... medical care is not bad, education is good (ok, I do think that because my girlfriend is a teacher), it's quite easy to find a flat/house, and to meet people. Spanish people are open minded and it's not very hard to make friends

well that's my experience, I still have to visit most of the countries in your list (I don't know them) ... I'd like to go for holidays in Belgium some friends told me it's a very nice country!

I'd like to go to Rome it is said to be a fantastic city!

From my experience and considering my tastes (warm weather and mediterranean lifestyle), I would move to Spain or Portugal (but I only understand so much Portuguese...); those are two countries that I totally feel "in synch" with, for some reason. Barcelona and Lisboa are my favorites.

Just went to Rome in January: no way I would move there. Just not at all "la dolce vita" that people talk about. I don't "feel" the Italian lifestyle like some people do; it totally does not inspire me. Just like Paris actually: great to visit, not so great to live. And, it is NOT cheap.

It's very personal, anyway. If I didn't like warm weather so much, I would probably enjoy Iceland or Denmark, Sweden, etc. I love the Netherlands too. Amsterdam is one of my favorite places. But it's north, unfortunately.

That was my little input, for what it's worth.

There's no question for me. It would be the Netherlands. Sorry that it wasn't on the list. I live in Germany, but over the course of three years spent most of my weekends in Holland.

Am I going blind, or France is really missing from that list? Well if there is one country in Western Europe that appeals to me is just that.

This is mostly due to the rich culture, history, the lanugage, the culinary artistry, and the wine country. Having lived in North America for a long time, I would love a more laid back place. I have the feeling that the French know how to live well.

-- However, moving around the world shouldn't be just for the sake of moving. Grass is NEVER greener on the other side. Some people will be happy wherever they are, and some people will never be happy no matter where they are. Every place on earth has the pros and cons, but finding happiness with what you presently have is the key to the "good life". -- what do I know, eh? ...

For me it would be probably a scandinavian country ... Sweden or Norway ... I don't know yet.
Maybe Norway because fjords are very beautiful, and moreover Norway is the best place ever to live according to the UN yearly report on living conditions.

Actually, the first question is : will I choose an european country next time ??? It could be Australia ... we will see

I live in Russia.  I find all my news listed under europe on Yahoo so I guess I vlive in Europe now.  I moved here from California in April and we love it here!

I'm from France and I moved in the West coast of Finland for a year.  I felt in love for this beautiful country because I'm interested about the nature, the lifestyle (both Scandinavian & Balt) and especially learning the language..

For me who live now in Norway, it would probably be Sweden or Belgium.

I've lived in Greece, Italy and now in the UK. I've also spent time in Ireland. I think it depends on what you are looking for in a country. I have voted for Ireland. The only con about Ireland is the weather, but other than that, it 'seems' like a great place to live - good wages, safe (low crime), cheap, great lifestyle!

I'm living in Spain, but not really. The local area is growing fast with enormous numbers of people coming here to live: people bringing their own language and culture with them. The (British) Foreign Office say there are around 700,000 (!!) Brits living in Spain although Spanish official figures (i.e. 'residentes británicos') are 227,000. It's still a lot and comes, no doubt, from Spain's many attractions.
Unfortunately (perhaps), the Brits like to live in particular areas where there are already fellow-countrymen at hand as most of them find it too hard to learn Spanish (the average age of 'los ingleses' is 57, so they tend to be retired and hoping to take things easy). In my province - Almería - there are said to be 25,000 Brits. In Málaga, there are probably 250,000!
Spanish figures just out claim 44 million people here, of which 8.5% (they reckon...) are extranjeros: that's a minimum of 4 million scattered about the country! Mainly Moroccans, followed by Equatorians.. and including large numbers (in order) of Rumanians, Columbians, Brits, Argentinians and Germans...
So Spain. There is the 'costa' which is most of the Mediterranean coast, where you can live a type of English-in-the-sun life... and the rest of the country, with its many attractions, and where you can learn/join in the culture and society of España.

Hey Julien - It's a great site. Enhorabuena. (1000 posts!?!)

The majority of people chose Italy... I am expatriated in Italy... but it is not the country I would have chosen (I mean, we looked after an interesting job not a destination)!
I would have preferred a Scandinavian country, where there is snow in winter, and wonderful fiords in summer. But I am happy there I am... with sea so close...

Olivi€R wrote:

For a European citizen, it has become easy to move there [in Italy]...

Humm... perhaps more easier than getting the Canadian nationality. But I do not agree with you Olivier. I am maybe unlucky... but it is hard in Italy to obtain the official papers proving that I work and have my residence there. And if you do not have one document you cannot go further with administrative stuff.

My wife and me are french and we live in California, but we are thinking to go back in Europe, France for a moment, and then another country. we are actually thinking to move in Italy (for the culture, the weather... and the cuisine !) or in Greece (same reasons), even in UK (to continue the practice of english, which, in my case, is very bad :p).

jujuly25 wrote:

But I do not agree with you Olivier. I am maybe unlucky... but it is hard in Italy to obtain the official papers proving that I work and have my residence there. And if you do not have one document you cannot go further with administrative stuff.

Italy and some other european countries have huge reforms to do in that matter... After all, it should be as easy to move from France to Italy than to move from a region to another in the same country.

Things should be made at the EU level to help the Europeans to enjoy their freedom of move and work inside the whole Union... which is not currently true.

manu wrote:

(to continue the practice of english, which, in my case, is very bad :p).

Come here and practice with us! No complex!

When do you plan to move, Manu?
Are you excited to go (back) to France or will you regret many things of your life in California?

Well, this is a difficult question to answer, of course, and were I to move to a new country (again), it would probably be for work reasons rather than just for the heck of it. However, let's assume for a moment that the company I was working for had an office in all those countries listed and I could choose, then I'd choose either Ireland or Sweden, as those are the two which interest me the most and which I'd be keenest to get to know better. Spain would be a close third, though. As you can see from my choices, weather is not high on my list of reasons to move somewhere! :-)

Olivi€R wrote:

manu wrote:

(to continue the practice of english, which, in my case, is very bad :p).

Come here and practice with us! No complex!

No complex at all, Olivi€r, don't worry

I've been living in Dublin for the past 9 months and I must say I do not care for it at all. It's wildly expensive, the wages do match the cost of living, and it is generally dirty (I stayed so sick during the first six months that the physician advised me to wear a face mask and never eat out...) The people are nice enough, but the weather totally sucks.

My vote on this list would be Spain. I move to Denmark in two weeks, and maybe it will win out--who knows. But it certainly cannot be worse than Dublin!

I have already been to Spain (Barcelona) , and i know that I could not live over ther. Like in London, people are quite unfriendly, it's too touristic and very busy. I don't even evok the cost of life.

I moved to Ireland 3 weeks ago, and I really enjoy it.
I found a very good job, people are quite nice, prices are affordable in general.

I have been living in Piemonte Italy for several years now and I find the people to be very friendly and the life style is so much more relaxed. The cost of living is cheaper as regards food and drink, the utilites are about the same as the UK. It can be hard finding work here if you have no Italian other than teaching English. My wife and I are truly happy here.

hmmmm why mostly people choose Britain?
I like my country
And I like Ukrain

But I would like to live in Asia

It really depend on what your are looking for. If you are looking for a place where to retired, I would say the mediteranean country. On the other hand, if you are looking for a place where the wages and the cost of life are good enough to live properly: it's better to be on the north europe.
I really don't know the Eastern Europe: how is it to live overthere? it seems to be the Eldorado (economicly), but a wave of people is doing the way around.

expatstud wrote:

I've been living in Dublin for the past 9 months and I must say I do not care for it at all. It's wildly expensive, the wages do match the cost of living, and it is generally dirty (I stayed so sick during the first six months that the physician advised me to wear a face mask and never eat out...) The people are nice enough, but the weather totally sucks.

I have been living in Dublin (Ireland) for five beautiful years. I definetly didn't have your experience but I agree with you: Dublin is dirty, smelly... Temple Bar closed on the 25th dec. a must to smell.
We shouldn't forget that Dublin isn't the country! They are so many other towns: Galway, Waterford, Wexford... so nice to live in. Quiet, beautiful scenery and people.

Wages in Italy are pretty low when compared to the UK however the cost of living is a little lower. There is also less wind and rain!!

coconath wrote:

I have already been to Spain (Barcelona) , and i know that I could not live over ther. Like in London, people are quite unfriendly, it's too touristic and very busy. I don't even evok the cost of life.

I moved to Ireland 3 weeks ago, and I really enjoy it.
I found a very good job, people are quite nice, prices are affordable in general.

Finally, someone who posts some truth! I have exactly the same experience and for posting this got jumped on by some broad who called it racist but don't even live in Barcelona, and who compares local people's lives and situation in the city with those of expats!
I live in Barcelona but know this is not at all where I want to be, or will stay in. I have a friend who moved from Russia to Barcelona and loved it. The first few months. Now she plans to move. I think you can 'love' a place like this only if you come from something much worse and are struggling to get on, but never if you've experienced normal life or just what in the rest of Europe would be quite ordinary.

bcnexpat wrote:

I think you can 'love' a place like this only if you come from something much worse and are struggling to get on, but never if you've experienced normal life or just what in the rest of Europe would be quite ordinary.

I've just joined this site and was hoping to find some advice about moving to Barcelona. I must admit I was quite surprised to find so much negativity about the city in this post and took the liberty of looking at a few of your other posts. You really don't like the place, do you? I'd jump at the chance to rent a flat in the part of the city you are in at the price you are paying. Let me know when you're leaving.

Oh, btw, I have plenty of experience of 'normal' life and I certainly don't live in 'something much worse.'

bcnexpat wrote:

I have exactly the same experience and for posting this got jumped on by some broad who called it racist but don't even live in Barcelona, and who compares local people's lives and situation in the city with those of expats!

Maybe she should have said misogynist Anyway, what's so wrong with comparing local people's lives with expats? I've lived in several places in my lifetime and everywhere I've lived I've wanted to know more about the local community. I certainly don't want to spend my life in some expat ghetto.

Maybe your perception of Barca would change if you got out a bit more and mingled with some locals?

Like a lot of us, I'm seeking sunshine and good lifestyle somewhere. There are many very positive posts about Spain, Portugal and Italy and I've definitely been interested to read more about these destinations.
But, is it just me ? Only nobody has mentioned the NOISE in Spain.

I had the good fortune ten years ago to spend a free couple of months in Barcelona as a guest of Spanish friends in Australia. I lived both in the centre of Barcelona - Eixample - five minutes walk to the Ramblas, and up the coast a bit at Premia de Mar at their beach house.

It truly is a fascinating and often beautiful city, in an equally beautiful part of Spain, Catalonia.
(I did find that I couldn't use my limited Spanish as most people I met were strongly Catalonian-minded and defiantly spoke only Catalan. So I spoke a lot of French which is related).
But the noise was my biggest disappointment. 24 hour car horns, barking dogs, 3am garbage collections, neighbours simply living, loving, arguing, but all at a decibel level that I found disturbing as a Brit. I'd been living for a long time in Australia before that trip and had not been prepared for that cultural shock of noise, as Aussies, like British folk in the U.K. are generally very considerate and have strict noise pollution regulations and a general cultural sensitivity for others - although, of course, there are sometimes, unluckily for those poor souls who live close by, those in a society who are totally oblivious or simply completely selfish and insensitive.

The noise actually started at the departure lounge in Rome airport and didn't cease until I arrived back in Rome airport. It was incessant. And it troubled me greatly as I need a quieter environment.

I've lived in S.E.Asia for a very long time and noise is a big problem in many countries there. The worst place in my experience has been Thailand where local markets use huge loudspeakers that only have one volume setting - Maximum! And it's a culture where no-one ever complains, and they have no concept of noise pollution.

So, can anybody please respond and tell me that I was just unlucky in that particular part of Spain, or is it nation-wide and just simply part of the Meditteranean culture ?

If I had the possibility I'd like to live in Switzerland for the mountains, the lakes and the countryside. Their fields look like lawns. Perhaps a wee bit too neat.
I know... too expensive.
Unlike you young folk I haven't travelled much.
I went to Dublin for a long weekend. My son said the Irish were friendly people but those who say it is dirty are right, and too wet and too expensive. A shame.
I was in Watford UK three years ago, at my Dad's home. The health service was lousy, the social services better than here in France. I like the people of course but the culture has changed so much since I was young. I don't want to go back. It's money, money, money.
New Labour stinks. I'm a dinosaur.
Goodness knows what France is going to turn into now. We've had elections, if you didn't know...

I will say Netherlands, been there a lot of times and loved it, and also because i got a lotta family out there, my older sister grew up there and she still lives there, and i grew up in America. The only thing is that i think dutch is a hard language but i think i can handle it. But then i will probably move after a couple of years, after learning the language, i think i will move to switzerland and try and learn french, germany,italian and then finally move to spain to brush up on my spanish!!

I know most of Western European countries (from Switzerland on, I have to travel a bit more ;-)), and if I had to leave France, I'd go to the Netherlands ! :-)
I'd never ever live in Portugal again, I hope I do have the choice in the future, we never know ;-)

I've lived in England (1 yr), Austria (6 mo.), Switzerland (1 mo.), Belgium (2 yrs), and now Spain, and I have to say that this is my pick out of all of them. Because of the weather, because of culture and food, the city's beauty, openness and friendliness... I love Italy as well, but I think things in BCN (though not perfect) are much more smoothly run than in Italy. Drawbacks: disproportionate wages (low) to housing costs (high) [though we've been fortunate in this regard], some bureaucratic chaos, and noise (as someone mentioned earlier).

The noise is a tradeoff for the sunny atmosphere and life lived outside, which I would rather have than Brussels' totally deserted residential streets. It does help to find a quieter street, get double-glazed windows, and get accustomed to the noise. I wish they could require scooters and motorcycles to be quieter (and emit less pollution)!

I fell in love with this city while I was falling in love with my husband, and I feel an affinity for Spanish (and now Catalan) culture that started when I was in high school, so I guess that's all part of it. I'm sure everybody will have a different spot in the world that feels more like home than others.