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

181 points feraligators | 5 comments | 25 Jan 22 15:44 UTC | HN request time: 0.892s | source

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. goodguyamericun ◴[25 Jan 22 16:20 UTC] No.30073647[source]▶
To be fair, if I lived in la, I'd hate America too.
replies(1): >>30073877 #
2. boffinAudio ◴[25 Jan 22 16:35 UTC] No.30073877[source]▶
LA was home base but I worked and visited most of the USA's states, and I just find American classism to be .. distasteful. And also, endemic no matter where you go.
replies(1): >>30074371 #
3. diskzero ◴[25 Jan 22 17:04 UTC] No.30074371[source]▶
Have you not encountered classism in Germany? I am a fluent German speaker who lived in Erfurt, Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich and encountered similar amounts of racism and classism that I have seen in the USA, France and England. The attitudes of some people from the former West to those from the East are shocking. While in Erfurt, I saw the most horrific treatment of immigrants and refugees. I want to make sure that people understand that Germany is not some sort of magical place devoid of serious issues. The country is still suffering from the post-war division and unification, is battling a resurgent fascist political movement and the people are deeply divided over recent waves of refugees in addition to long-standing resentment against much earlier waves of immigration.
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4. formerly_proven ◴[25 Jan 22 22:30 UTC] No.30079039{3}[source]▶
> Have you not encountered classism in Germany?

Anyone who hasn't has to be blind or something. Germany has a highly stratified society besides the N/S/E/W split.

5. elliotec ◴[25 Jan 22 23:00 UTC] No.30079349{3}[source]▶
Austria and Vienna in particular is incredibly classist and I'm shocked that was even mentioned as something worse about the US. We have greater inequality but culturally it's another world.