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Ask HN: Who has moved from the U.S. to Europe?

181 points feraligators | 10 comments | 25 Jan 22 15:44 UTC | HN request time: 0.41s | source | bottom

I've long considered leaving this country for a multitude of reasons.

I'd be curious to hear some first hand experiences of those who've made the move to Europe and what you think of the process and considerations one should make.

A few questions to start the conversation:

- Where do you live?

- What's the biggest sacrifice you had to make (i.e. pay, housing, friends, etc.)

- What have you gained?

Show context
boffinAudio ◴[25 Jan 22 15:54 UTC] No.30073204[source]▶
I've done it, and it was one of the best decisions of my life.

WHERE: I'm Australian, moved to LA when I was 18 and lived there for 15 years. Then, I moved from Los Angeles to Germany (Duesseldorf), and then to Vienna, Austria.

WHAT SACRIFICE: No more In 'n Out Burger, no more decent Mexican/TexMex food, no more LA food trucks. These are literally the only things I miss about the USA. Literally every other aspect of life has improved massively by leaving the USA - healthcare, food, social life. For the first 4 years I walked to work, ffs. Now I ride a bicycle in combination with the best public transportation options in the world (Austria, Vienna).

GAINED: I've completely lost the brain-dead nationalist mentality that had infected me in my earlier life, I've gained Immense amounts of respect for humanity, I've learned German, I've experienced professional software and hardware development away from Silicon Valley standard practices, and I get to see the USA from outside the decadent, rose-colored bubble from which it is usually experienced. I honestly wish I'd left sooner - every time I go back I'm reminded just how much of a shithole the USA really is ..

Plus, living and loving in Europe is just great. There is no greater joy than a trip through the Balkans for a week adventure, or maybe a jaunt to Spain or southern France. Just being able to travel an hour in any direction and being immersed in absolutely foreign culture is a joy like no other. Definitely a great way to ground oneself.

EDIT: The weather was pretty good in LA. But, still: Americans.

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1. dukeyukey ◴[25 Jan 22 16:04 UTC] No.30073369[source]▶
How does LA and Vienna compare to Australia?
replies(2): >>30073470 #>>30073577 #
2. boffinAudio ◴[25 Jan 22 16:09 UTC] No.30073470[source]▶
Australia is a different dimension altogether - you have a lot of the trappings of Western (US/European) culture, but none of the advantages of access to a free market. Personally, I can't stand Australian culture, nor American either these days - which isn't to say I'm launching into an adopted German/Austrian stance, just that .. being away from these lands for a decade at least in each case, I started to see the shine wear off long, long ago.

Quality of life is pretty high in Australia, though, I have to admit. Nothing quite like hitting the beach after work - which I did a few times in LA, only to get a horrendous infection. But, still, I am lucky enough to choose my path and I am for sure never going back to Australia to live. Or, LA/USA.

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3. et-al ◴[25 Jan 22 16:16 UTC] No.30073577[source]▶
Speaking in broad strokes, America is culturally closer to Australia than Vienna.
4. pc86 ◴[25 Jan 22 16:29 UTC] No.30073803[source]▶
I'm not sure if this is intentional but in all your comments you just come across as a hateful, angry person.
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5. boffinAudio ◴[25 Jan 22 16:47 UTC] No.30074086{3}[source]▶
I definitely am glad I left the USA, and I for sure hate what Americans are doing to the world. I think its time a lot of you left, frankly.
replies(1): >>30105748 #
6. MagnumOpus ◴[25 Jan 22 16:50 UTC] No.30074131{3}[source]▶
Not to me. He answers the questions honestly, bluntly and without the condescending sandwich feedback technique that many here employ.
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7. hndude ◴[25 Jan 22 16:56 UTC] No.30074236{3}[source]▶
Very negative, if nothing else. Bit difficult to read their comments when the amount of ego oozing through their words is palpable.
8. dkjaudyeqooe ◴[25 Jan 22 17:26 UTC] No.30074713[source]▶
I'm also Australian+American+European and I have to agree with this and your original post.

People replying to you (Americans?) seem to take great offense to your (harsh) criticism of America but it's largely on the mark. The US has many good things going for it but they mostly have to do with having a lot of money/power, trying to get a lot of money/power or being ideologically way off to the right.

I don't know what you dislike about Australian culture but for me it's the parochial nature of the place along with the smugness combined with the cultural cringe. It does indeed have a great quality of life as long as you enjoy beer, sports and the beach. You'll find the most interesting Australians are elsewhere in the world. To give it due credit it is a country with massive immigration (30% of residents were born overseas) where people by and large get on very well with each other.

9. dkjaudyeqooe ◴[25 Jan 22 17:28 UTC] No.30074754{3}[source]▶
I'm guessing here, but you're probably American taking offense to someone being frank and direct in their communications. It's a cultural difference.
10. dang ◴[27 Jan 22 20:11 UTC] No.30105748{4}[source]▶
Whoa - posts like this will get you banned on HN, regardless of how right you are or feel you are.

If you wouldn't mind reviewing https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and taking the intended spirit of the site more to heart, we'd be grateful.