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Have you considered emigrating from the US? If so, where to? (discuss.online)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/AskUSA@discuss.online
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Either in regards to the current political situation, or for other reasons. What drew you to the idea of living in another country? Do you think whatever benefits it offers are really worth it, or is the grass just greener on the other side of the fence?

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[–] 5 points 1 year ago (13 children)

I’m ready to pack my shit and move to Marseille tomorrow if my husband would agree to it. He’s concerned he won’t be able to learn French☹️

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    I feel this strongly. My partner is very resistant to moving to the Netherlands despite the many, many reasons that doing so would be better than staying in the US

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Have y'all taken any trips there? Honestly just living out of an airbnb, taking the chance to go to the grocery store and cook at home a few times, (like you are "living that life" in the smallest sense) and taking day trips with the trains is what eased my family's fears.

    Arriving in a beautiful airport, walking downstairs to the train station, learning that the paper train tickets can be tapped to let you in (and later just the credit card), then being at our bnb in like half an hour without stepping foot in a car was so magical to us. Then we stopped by the grocery store (surprised at there being 2 within a 5 min walk), and we noticed that the prices of everything was a fraction of what we normally pay, but also tastier and healthier. Then compounded over the next few days with day trips to other cities, seeing actual historic places (unlike the US, at least the west), and seeing that everywhere just has... a better quality of life-- Strictly speaking from locality to parks, grocers, cafes, and the very low risk freedom of movement without a car.

    It also helps that their english literacy rate is equal or better than the US... I'm learning dutch so I can assimilate better when I move, and you'd probably need to know it for many jobs, but luckily it isn't too difficult to learn. Hardest part is finding resources imo, but the discord for learning dutch has weekly practice sessions.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I've visited before, yes, and I know exactly what you mean lol. I felt the same way when I was there, the freedom of movement and quality of life about everything is so incredible that you just have to experience it yourself to believe it. I think visiting with my partner would help, but that's a lot of money at a relatively short timescale to prepare in case things get really bad. We could do it, but...

    What's the Discord you're using to learn Dutch? I've actually been "learning" for a few years just using Duolingo and I've been pretty lazy over the last year so I've stalled. Netherlands was actually always my goal before I even started dating my partner, which is partly contributing to our problems I think.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    I'm in the same boat. Our while lives we talked about moving overseas. Once we reached the point where we could do it, my wife didn't want to.

    I hate to say but, if things got bad enough, I might just go without her.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Honestly, we have pocket translator devices nowadays, its not that hard as it used to be.

    I mean, I came to the US around 2010, and there were to smartphones to help. I bet those arriving in 2015 or later would just have the teacher use their phone to translate class instructions, or perhaps with school's permission, use their own phone as a translator tool throughout the school, like as a transition phase before actually mastering the language.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (4 children)

    This is a very valid concern. "I want to move my wife to the Netherlands even if she doesn't speak the language." Would fire red flags everywhere. Not speaking the language is isolating and gives all power to the person who does. Learning is challenging. If not, just learn before moving.

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  • [–] 0 points 1 year ago (3 children)
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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Did you read the conversation? The real move is in France.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    If you are concerned about France, why did your comment only reference "the Netherlands"?

    If you wanted to give an example of a country where about one-third of people speak English, you could have used Italy or maybe Poland ("However, other surveys show that over 50% of Poles can speak English. Another study shows that 89% of Polish students are learning and/or can speak English.").

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