Moving Abroad

[Hoof Hearted]

So I'm currently considering renting my place out and moving abroad somewhere. Who here has moved to another country? I'd like to hear your experiences. Where did you move to? Did it take you long to settle in? Did you end up moving back home? What were the biggest obstacles in moving abroad, visa issues, culture change, language barrier etc.?

 

[John Wang]

I haven't, but it sounds tighter than fire!!! Good luck out there brah. Stay safe

 

[Peteyandjia]

I usually start with wrist control, and go from there. That way they can't scratch you or strike you, and you should not strike them either, not just because you are a man, but also because there is no need to anyway, unless she is armed. After you establish wrist control, you can put one arm behind her back and then move them wherever.

Edit - my bad, I just read the title. Carry on.

 

[Hagelslag2]

I'll be moving to Australia in September. Have been dividing my time between the Netherlands and Australia for the last 4 years. Last time I was there I went to the immigration office and found out it was incredibly easy for me to move there permanently. I found it very easy to adapt to Australia, although I was quite surprised by the cultural differences between the Netherlands and Australia. Maybe it's also easier for me because my girlfriend is from Australia, so when I got there the first time I already had a whole social network.

 

[lapollarecords]

do it. you will not regret it. I moved to Germany and then to Austria last fall. best decision of my live. everything is way more interesting in my daily life. and whenever I am back home I am novelty, the cool guy who lives abroad. language is a problem only when you are trying to get a job, and learning them is really interesting.
I moved out inside the EU so I can't really tell how big of a problem the visa is.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

I usually start with wrist control, and go from there. That way they can't scratch you or strike you, and you should not strike them either, not just because you are a man, but also because there is no need to anyway, unless she is armed. After you establish wrist control, you can put one arm behind her back and then move them wherever.

Edit - my bad, I just read the title. Carry on.

Haha I did think that when I was typing the title!

 

[Hoof Hearted]

do it. you will not regret it. I moved to Germany and then to Austria last fall. best decision of my live. everything is way more interesting in my daily life. and whenever I am back home I am novelty, the cool guy who lives abroad. language is a problem only when you are trying to get a job, and learning them is really interesting.
I moved out inside the EU so I can't really tell how big of a problem the visa is.

I assume you still needed to apply for a residency visa even when moving to another country within the EU?

 

[lapollarecords]

I assume you still needed to apply for a residency visa even when moving to another country within the EU?

no paperwork at all was needed. I had to open a new bank account here, because using a foreign one was a pain in the ass sometimes. but that's about it.

 

[Taboo]

I'll be moving to Australia in September. Have been dividing my time between the Netherlands and Australia for the last 4 years. Last time I was there I went to the immigration office and found out it was incredibly easy for me to move there permanently. I found it very easy to adapt to Australia, although I was quite surprised by the cultural differences between the Netherlands and Australia. Maybe it's also easier for me because my girlfriend is from Australia, so when I got there the first time I already had a whole social network.

What are some of the cultural differences you have experienced?

 

[Upchuck22]

I moved to Perth, Australia 4yrs ago. I'm a Kiwi so theres not much of a difference culturally.

Tbh its the best decision i ever made. I was able to secure a contract with a company over here and now I'm an employer with with a couple dudes who i have working for me. Lifestyle is better, the people seem happier and more friendly imo ( i did live in a kinda rough area back home tho)

I used to think id eventually go home but idk now.

 

[Hagelslag2]

What are some of the cultural differences you have experienced?

Well, the Dutch are known to be very direct, which can be perceived as rude by some. It's mostly little things like the fact I often would just answer "Yes" or "No" to a question, instead of "Yes please". That's perceived as rude by some, while that's perfectly normal for any Dutch person. That might not look like an issue, but it can be problematic.

Also, the abundant use of credit cards. I've never had a credit card, but will need to get one. Over here you either pay with cash or use a debit card. Almost nobody uses a credit card.

Another thing is politics. From a Dutch perspective it's like looking at debates from 25 years ago when it comes to topics like gay marriage and medicinal marijuana. Also, the kind of hate campaigns politicians use is pretty foreign to us.

These are just some things off the top of my head.

 

[Taboo]

Well, the Dutch are known to be very direct, which can be perceived as rude by some. It's mostly little things like the fact I often would just answer "Yes" or "No" to a question, instead of "Yes please". That's perceived as rude by some, while that's perfectly normal for any Dutch person. That might not look like an issue, but it can be problematic.

Also, the abundant use of credit cards. I've never had a credit card, but will need to get one. Over here you either pay with cash or use a debit card. Almost nobody uses a credit card.

Another thing is politics. From a Dutch perspective it's like looking at debates from 25 years ago when it comes to topics like gay marriage and medicinal marijuana. Also, the kind of hate campaigns politicians use is pretty foreign to us.

These are just some things off the top of my head.

Very interesting.

Our government is very backwards in regards to drugs and gay marriage, although our people seem not to be.

I've heard from many foreigners that we're overly polite lol.

 

[Buff]

I'm moving to Spain for the summer tomorrow to take over a restaurant kitchen for 4 months... Right on the South coast... I can't fucking wait... Been off work for 2 months with a fucked back and it's still a mess but I couldn't say no.

 

[HelloJapan]

I used to work a lot overseas as a touring musician. I'd go from a three month contract in say Dubai to a six month one in Thailand, and on and on it went, for years. At this stage I've worked/lived in about 40 countries. My visa's were always paid by the hotel that hired us, and the agencies would handle all the paper work, lucky for us. I can't say enough about all the good experiences being overseas, I can tell when someone has traveled a lot or not, if not they tend to be...intolerant. Go, enjoy, explore, test yourself, try weird and new things, fuck new cultures...a lot.

 

[Buff]

I was born in England but I've never lived in one place or town apart from London for more than a year... I've lived in loads of countries - Italy, France, Holland, America, all for work, loads of places around England for long terms, lived in Fiji for a year for the hell of it, and I really can't wait to get to Spain.

I love getting to know new places, languages and food... Plus every time you go somewhere new you can be the person you want to be when you arrive... It's always a fresh start because nobody knows you and you have nothing to stop you achieving what you want to.

Everyone should try it at least once in their life.

 

[JbModest]

Well, the Dutch are known to be very direct, which can be perceived as rude by some. It's mostly little things like the fact I often would just answer "Yes" or "No" to a question, instead of "Yes please". That's perceived as rude by some, while that's perfectly normal for any Dutch person. That might not look like an issue, but it can be problematic.

Also, the abundant use of credit cards. I've never had a credit card, but will need to get one. Over here you either pay with cash or use a debit card. Almost nobody uses a credit card.

Another thing is politics. From a Dutch perspective it's like looking at debates from 25 years ago when it comes to topics like gay marriage and medicinal marijuana. Also, the kind of hate campaigns politicians use is pretty foreign to us.

These are just some things off the top of my head.

The Australians I've met have been pretty racist and anti-semitic. Do you find that to be the case?

 

[chardog]

The Australians I've met have been pretty racist and anti-semitic. Do you find that to be the case?

probably, but so what. It's a very different place to live than america.

not having access to amazon prime is plain weird

very low consumerist country and hard to adapt from the american POV. Hard to find a decent shopping center unless you go to downtown area. No targets/walmarts/toyrus/officedepot/bestbuy around, well at least if there was, it was well hidden. Train station/bus works really good unlike america.

 

[ahme4]

The Netherlands, Canada and now Belgium. Currently trying to move to Germany.
I say do it but if you plan on staying for long term then learn the language for sure.

 

[NAKMUAY18]

First thing, anything less than a year is visiting. Most of these guys are talking about their experiences traveling, not the same thing.

Second thing is it's not an "adventure" after the first couple of years. Your still going to have to go to work everyday, pay taxes, shop for groceries, mow the lawn, paint the bathroom....... If your life sucks and you think that everything's going to change because you live in a different spot, your sadly mistaken. Now if you want to move to Japan because you like the culture, or Gold Coast for the beach life, or NYC for your career, do it. If there's a reason, do it. If your just bored, don't bother.

If you decide to do it, you need to be self sufficient. If you run out of cash and it's a week to payday, there's no one there to bail you. If you don't know how to register a vehicle, you work it out. It's all you.

You need to accept that you that you'll lose contact with most of your friends. It will be cool for a few years, you'll visit them, they'll visit you, Skype etc... But it'll fade. You'll only stay friend with your closest.

If you meet a girl and have kids, your parents and their grandchild will not have a full time relationship.

When you loose a parent, you'll feel guilty that you didn't spend enough time with them.

If you can get past those downers, your all set. I did Europe to North America 7 years ago and it was great for me

 

[IIIIIIII]

do it. you will not regret it. I moved to Germany and then to Austria last fall. best decision of my live. everything is way more interesting in my daily life. and whenever I am back home I am novelty, the cool guy who lives abroad. language is a problem only when you are trying to get a job, and learning them is really interesting.
I moved out inside the EU so I can't really tell how big of a problem the visa is.

man, i can't tell you how jealous i am. germany is my favorite country in europe. well maybe only behind switzerland.