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

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]▶

>>30073066 (OP) #

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.

replies(17): >>30073369 #>>30073389 #>>30073431 #>>30073510 #>>30073522 #>>30073528 #>>30073595 #>>30073647 #>>30073734 #>>30073867 #>>30074068 #>>30074160 #>>30074195 #>>30074985 #>>30075141 #>>30083372 #>>30105824 #

FPGAhacker ◴[25 Jan 22 16:06 UTC] No.30073431[source]▶

>>30073204 #

I don’t know how much of the US you experienced, but LA is hardly representative of the country.

replies(3): >>30073573 #>>30073624 #>>30079331 #

boffinAudio[dead post] ◴[25 Jan 22 16:16 UTC] No.30073573[source]▶

>>30073431 #

1. boffinAudio ◴[25 Jan 22 16:36 UTC] No.30073896[source]▶

>>30073754 (TP) #

In case you didn't notice, I don't care a fig about Australia these days, but your trigger-finger reactionary response calling out China as a reason why America is 'wonderful' is definitely something I expect from Americans. And, frankly, its boring and tiresome. As is the expectation that anyone with a world view not derived from the idiot box would be impressed by America's war budget. You should be ashamed of what your country does with those billions, yo. Its one of the reasons your country is such a shithole not only for those who live there - but those who are on the other end of the complex machinery that starts with a kid dropping bombs on strangers on the other side of the world, from a nondescript office in an Arizona strip mall ..

replies(2): >>30074286 #>>30074412 #

2. justforfunhere ◴[25 Jan 22 16:57 UTC] No.30074268[source]▶

>>30073754 (TP) #

Wow, Not only did you not misfire with that statement, but you actually bolstered OP's arguments ... Well done!!

3. notch656a ◴[25 Jan 22 16:58 UTC] No.30074286[source]▶

>>30073896 #

>Its one of the reasons your country is such a shithole not only for those who live there

This is purely inflammatory rhetoric. Ironically coming from someone who immigrated, was afforded the opportunity to make enough to pay $2M in taxes in 15 years (and even goes on to brag about this payment funding blowing up brown kids), and found the "American Dream" by his own statement.

You're free to hate America. We're free to be happy you left. But really you're gone, just go on enjoying your life. America isn't perfect and has a lot of problems but I'm much happier here than I would be in Europe, it's definitely not a "shithole" to me, my family, or most of the people I know.

4. nexuist ◴[25 Jan 22 17:07 UTC] No.30074412[source]▶

>>30073896 #

I am an immigrant from Albania. American bombs ended the Kosovo genocide. I have reasons to be grateful for this military and I can be upset and disappointed in it at the same time.

I did not say America is wonderful. I don't know why you even quoted that word, when it did not appear in my post. I claimed American taxpayers protect Australia's sovereignty. Obviously your state can do better things with its budget when its defense is bankrolled by someone else. I do not care where you live, your quality of life would plummet if the prospect of being invaded by Russia or China was a real one, a prospect you are protected from through American military supremacy. See Ukraine.

replies(1): >>30086367 #

5. justinclift ◴[26 Jan 22 15:07 UTC] No.30086367{3}[source]▶

>>30074412 #

> See Ukraine.

Didn't seem to help the Ukraine at all last time around. :/

replies(1): >>30091526 #

6. nexuist ◴[26 Jan 22 20:46 UTC] No.30091526{4}[source]▶

>>30086367 #

The only reason Ukraine still has a government right now is because of NATO forces on the border. I think it would be foolish to believe Putin would have stopped at Crimea had it not been for that. I pray that we do not go to war with Russia over this, but I also know that the Ukrainian people are counting on us to defend their freedom. It is tough all around.

↑