I've done a fair amount of traveling and dream of living abroad.
It would no doubt be an adventure.
I've met many people who've lived abroad and told me about their experiences—culture shock is real!
But it isn't for everyone.
Moving to a different place—let alone a totally different country—is a major decision not to be taken lightly.
Redditor unfunnyrealtor asked the online community:
"Americans who have moved abroad, what's life like in your new country?"
"We lived in a small farming village..."
My husband and I moved to Germany for my work. We loved every minute of it. We lived in a small farming village, walked the dogs in the national forest almost daily, bought bread from the bread truck that drove through town, had the best neighbors, loved everything about the area and the culture.
We would have lived our entire lives there if my work contract hadn't ended. At one point we considered getting citizenship and giving up our US citizenship. Maybe one day we'll get back, but it's a difficult move to make, especially with pets (we brought our 3 dogs: 2 German shepherds and a Labrador, and our 2 guinea pigs with us, it was quite a challenge!).
"I paid less attention..."
Lived in Italy for 5 years. Best time of my life. Let me point out I am from the suburbs and moved to a city, so I had the culture shock plus the shock of living in a bigger, busier place.
I paid less attention to things I didn't like, like politics. Didn't watch TV at all. Found it really easy to be enamored with everything (even stuff like going to the grocery store.) Didn't really feel legit complaining about things the locals complained about because it wasn't my place and I was just so happy to be there.
The food is better - cuisine and ingredients in general. There is a lot more history. I found learning about the culture and traditions really fun. Figuring out differences and new ways I could do things made every day interesting. Public transport and travel within Europe is a lot more accessible without a car than the States. I had to go to the emergency room and it cost me nothing. To me, it was the most important thing I've done so far. It felt enlightening.
It wasn't _perfect_ because there is bs everywhere you go, but I don't really want to even act like there's anything negative worth mentioning for my particular experience. Your boy was happy.
"I've lived in Australia..."
I've lived in Australia since 2012. I've always felt lucky to be here but the last year even more so. However, being cut off from travel back to the USA has been a huge mental burden.
"The things I miss the most..."
Living in Merida, Mexico for 6 months now. Love it here! The food is phenomenal, the internet is great (I work remotely), and the people are friendly and patient with our lack of Spanish skills (we're learning).
The things I miss the most are cheese (there is a serious lack of cheese diversity here) and books in English (thank God for Kindle).
"Getting our two boys integrated..."
My wife and I immigrated from USA to the Netherlands about 6 months ago. Work has been great and the people very friendly. Getting our two boys integrated into Dutch schools was a little challenging at first, but it's gotten much easier lately. My wife and I are still learning the language but we've noticed things generally become much more enjoyable with each word we learn.
This was intended to be a permanent move for us. We sold nearly everything we owned in the states before moving out here. 10/10, highly recommend!
"The downside..."
I moved to England 17 years ago. I have a better work-life balance, NHS and private medical through work if I need it. More vacation days.
Things seem cheaper in some regards here. Quick travel to Europe is great.
The downside is being so far from family. I haven't been back to the US in 6 years.
"Been living in Taiwan..."
Been living in Taiwan and I feel super safe. I can take my dog out to the park at 1 a.m. and never have to worry about getting mugged. The only thing I miss from the US is the food.
"I've got a good life..."
Moved to Japan three years ago with my wife. Her family is here and this is where we wanted to start our family. I've loved it a lot.
We have a house in a mid-sized city in west Tokyo. I have a job that is flexible with me taking Japanese classes and my wife can work from home. The transportation is reliable, the healthcare is affordable, the food is great. It's no perfect country by any means, though.
Fact is, no matter how long I live here and how well I speak the language I'll always be kept at a certain distance. But I knew what I signed up for and it doesn't bother me all that much.
I've got a good life that we managed to carve out and it works for our situation. I can't speak for anyone else's experience but I have no plans of moving back to America.
"I always felt anxious..."
I moved to Ireland 3 years ago for work and I love it. Not sure if I'll stay here forever (might move elsewhere in Europe someday) but I can't see myself going back to the US.
Hard to describe but when I lived in NYC and LA I had this feeling like I was struggling to exist and carve out space in a place that I loved, but it would never really love me back. I always felt anxious, like anything could go wrong and nobody would care. Conversely, when I moved to Ireland it felt like the whole place opened up and embraced me.
I get paid less here than I would in the same industry in the US but my money goes a lot further. 20 guaranteed holiday days per year but work is lenient and you can take more if needed. I live in a small city where I can walk everywhere, rent is reasonable and I got very lucky with my house and landlord. Healthcare isn't perfect but I can go to the doctor without worrying about it costing an exorbitant amount. For the first time in my adult life, I actually can work on building up some savings. The people are wonderful.
Food is better overall, less processed / more local. But I do miss the variety. Weather can be pretty dreary but when it's good it's glorious! I also miss long road trips and the southwest US. But overall it's an easy trade!
"Despite the struggles..."
Moved to Norway for work 10 years ago, right after getting married. Best decision we've ever made. Great life here. So peaceful, relaxed, comfortable and secure. Have absolutely zero desire to move back to the USA.
There were things we missed at first, mostly #firstworldproblems stuff like favorite restaurants and Costco, but we've found ways to cope without those things and in most cases realized we don't need them at all.
We've had 3 kids since moving here. They know they're American but, to them, Norway is home. America is the place we go on vacation to visit Grandma and Grandpa.
It's kind of weird sometimes when I realize that we're now the immigrant family making a new life in a foreign country, but it's really put a whole new perspective on the many friends I had growing up whose parents made that same choice coming to America. I have a much more profound respect for them. The struggles of integrating, of learning a new language, of trying to adapt but not lose your national identity entirely, of trying to educate your children about their heritage... the list goes on.
Despite the struggles, I would encourage everyone (especially those who have never lived away from "home") to move to a foreign country to gain a broader perspective of the world.
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Americans Who Have Moved To Another Country Share The Pros And Cons Of Their New Home
Deciding to leave one's home country permanently and begin life anew in another place is a massive life shift.
Sure, modern technology has marginally decreased the impacts of geographic separation. But let's face it, becoming an expatriate in another country changes nearly every facet of daily life.
As smooth the change of geography and national identity goes, it depends on so many factors.
Did someone move because they love that place, or simply for work? Is the person wildly social and good at making new friends, or a bit more reserved and struggles with that sort of thing. How culturally open-minded is the expatriate?
All these factors surely played into Redditors' answers to a recetn question on the site.
biasedNeutrality asked, "Americans who moved away from the US, what are the pros and cons of where you live now?"
To Begin, a General Sense of the Move
"One thing you gotta consider is that you'll never be a local. Your history in that country begins when you arrive. When you meet someone your age, you didn't have the same tv shows, music, toys etc. You will always be an immigrant."
"Also, your life in the US, or your homeland, ends. Pauses really but you're no longer living that life either. You can email your buddies and spy on their Facebook but you slowly drift away, from friends and the culture."
"I love it, but it can be lonely at times. There's nothing that's exactly like home. Even coke and snickers taste different, better, but not what you remember."
"You become an 'international,' and most of your friends are too because they're the ones who understand the ether you're drifting around in."
-- mrstipez
An Exhaustive List
"Switzerland."
"Pros:
- Very beautiful,
- hiking trails everywhere,
- excellent fast and reliable public transportation, goes everywhere, usually extremely punctual
- Everything is very clean
- Good pay, high salaries
- Pretty fast internet
- Central location, travel to other countries is fast (normally, except COVID)
- Good healthcare
- Heated floors
- Low crime rate"
"Cons:
- Expensive
- Variety of food and shopping not as varied as the US (But travel to other countries is fast)
- Driving behavior is not at all as relaxed as in the US
- Making close friends with locals is harder (But there's LOTS of friendly expats)
- Dreary foggy in many areas for most of the winter
- Expensive"
When the Pros Outweigh the Cons
"Living in the Netherlands nearly 11 years. In no particular order..."
"Pros:
- Good public transportation, both in cities, throughout the country, as well as to other European countires.
- Affordable Healthcare
- Affordable cost of living (city dependent, of course)
- Decent wage
- Overall more financial and social stability
- Here in NL I don't need a car
- More financial and social equality
- Nightlife and party life is amazing. Much more underground culture here than in the States"
"Cons:
- Far from family and friends
- In the beginning it was hard to integrate (I took me like 5 years to really learn the language, then everything was OK).
- More hierarchy in professional life"
Changes in Wildlife
"Moved to Australia"
"Pros: Universal healthcare, preferential voting, no community transmission of COVID in my state for more than a month, very generous legally mandated annual leave and long service leave for permanent employees."
"Cons: Its hot, like super duper hot. We keep changing leaders as often as we change our socks. I keep getting geo-blocked when I try to look at cool things on the internet (yes I know VPNs exist). Video games cost $100."
"I once found a big spider in my bra when I went to put it on and I once found a venomous snake in my bathroom at 5am when I had a sleepy pee."
-- rakshala
Weird Fellow Expats
"Moved to Japan in 2018."
"Pros: Affordable healthcare, healthier and more active lifestyle due to walking and running for the train, sushi, people are polite and helpful if you need help, lowish cost of living, always something to do, even if you live in the countryside."
"Living in Kansai region means easy access to cities, historical areas, and awesome nature scenery to hike in. Vending machines on every block is a godsend in the summer heat with cold drinks for a dollar."
"Cons: Creepy other foreigners (had a guy from NZ try to kiss me at a club and tried to make me touch his bare chest), creepy Japanese people exist too, many people running to Japan thinking it's like anime..."
"...COVID support could've been better and not enough testing, earthquakes, typhoons, murder hornets, some aspects are too militaristic, people are almost too passive sometimes."
Simpler Criteria
"Pros: Amazing food, kind people and no covid."
"Cons: Can't complain. Pollution is bad in the bigger cities."
"Though I really do love Vietnam."
Geopolitical Concerns
"Been in Taiwan since 1999. I go back to visit every two years or so."
"Pros:
- Affordable healthcare
- A healthier diet (on average)
- Better public transportation
- Cost of living (outside of Taipei)
- A safer place to raise my kids"
"Cons:
- The constant threat of China
- Ambivalence about Taiwan's national identity
- Summer heat when I have to work
- Good hamburgers and pizza hard to find
- Worrying about my kids' future (see: #1)"
Some Conservative Social Vibes
"Rural Ireland for 5 years"
"Pros: Affordable and non-defensive healthcare, beautiful nature, pretty much no dangerous animals, small enough to make day trips to the big cities."
"Cons: Very little diversity, high cost of living, the government only cares about Dublin and Cork, a lot more sexism than I was accustomed to."
-- Cats_Waffles
A Current Take
"I live in China"
"Pros: Virus is gone = normal life, Cheap af, Earn lots, Super convenient transportation/payment methods, Good food"
"Cons: Well, I probably shouldn't write them. They might be watching..."
"But one for sure is being a foreigner. Everyone thinks foreigners have the virus still and they really make you go the extra mile to prove you don't."
-- HoboMoo
Head on a Swivel
"Moved to Mexico."
"Pros: The people hate trump as much as I do if not more. The cost of living is super low. Public healthcare (a private option is available if you can afford it). Eternal summer. The locals are incredibly friendly. The food is amazing. Acquiring resident status is VERY easy."
"Covid restrictions (masks, health screenings etc) are mandated by the government and no one argues. Mexico is not all poverty and remote desert as is commonly believed in many places in the US."
"Cons: the bugs (never been bitten by so many mosquitoes in my life). The president actively and unapologetically advocates in favor of communism."
"While the people are friendly it is a legitimate concern (more so in certain states over others) that some people have ties to very dangerous people which makes it difficult to trust people."
Just a Quick Jump Over the Pacific
"tokyo vs portland, or..."
"pros:
- easy/affordable public transport, route to/from work is covered by employer
- socialized medicine, clinics everywhere
- cheaper rent & cost of living
- low crime, no gun violence
- majority of people wear a mask"
"cons:
- pay is lower, harder to move up payscale
- sexism and racism
- language
- far from family"
New Home Up North
"Canadian (now):"
"Pros: Free or very Affordable Health care, 12-18 month paid maternity/paternity leave, Affordable college education (vs. USA), Glaciers, Rainforests, Kind and passionate communities"
"Cons: Not many hot climates"
Lotta Walking, Lotta Working
"South Korea. I'm a recent graduate teaching English here."
"Pros: I can find afford more than 1 pair of glasses I can afford to go to the dentist I can afford to get checkups regularly I walk a LOT more. (10k to 15k steps just on work days) Busses and subways are very clean Quick and easy to get to another town/city"
"Cons: My Korean is bad so I get frustrated at times. Also hard to make friends because of my lack of Korean. I miss my dad I miss: fried cheese curds, Culver's and Chick-fil-A..."
"...Korean work culture is stupid (50 hour work weeks are the norm) Korean educational norms are stupid. I'm so upset when I hear my students stay up till 1am doing homework.. they're 11"
Good Fruit, But Robbery
"Lived in Colombia for a long time. I was able to be there because my wife has citizenship so immigration was no big deal."
"Pros: people are nice and friendly, fruit and veg are always in season, the jungle and mountains are beautiful. For the single dudes lemme tell you. Some of those girls were just downright unfair beautiful."
"Cons: them cops are about as crooked as they get, foreigners get robbed a lot, most 'girlfriends' have a real boyfriend or husband back home and only want a gringo for the money, everyone thinks you're rich. Oh, the air pollution was worse than China for about a week so that sucked."
"I loved it there but we hit a point where it was time to come back to America (at least for a w years)."
-- Saarlak
A Taste of Both
"Lived in the US for 6 years but moved to India about 2 years back (Am Indian citizen not American)"
"Pros: Better but tougher education in India. Cheap street food, so many good snacks (just my opinion but American snacks are more about quantity than about taste, except cheez it's)."
"People I can genuinely have a good conversation (in the US, I felt very very excluded and alone).Better healthcare system."
"Cons:Tech prices are outrageous, literally anything from TVs to Cars, any technology is overpriced cause of taxes. Anything imported, even something like a very cheap cheese made in the US will be overpriced (taxes strike once again)."
"Terrible timings for football(soccer), really annoying but I can understand why."
"Overall, there are benefits in living in both the countries."
-- HeroDGamez
Expatriates living abroad have a slew of reasons for doing so. Spoiler: living in the wealthiest country on Earth and becoming bankrupt while trying take of your own health is NOT a feather in the nation's cap.
Plenty of Redditors are living across the pond as we speak, and plenty proud to be there.
One Reddit post prompted expats to reflect on the moment life in the U.S. became to much. Of course, the decision to do so is a thoughtful one, full of a variety of considerations.
But most did report an identifiable moment, a tipping point which prompted only one next possible step: book some flights.
theiguana_32 asked,
"Americans who left the US for political/cultural reasons: what was the final straw? What moment made you go "Okay, I want/need to leave?''
And the List Goes On
"American in Germany here, really, so many things."
"Work environment: 28 days paid vacation and pretty much unlimited sick leave, better work culture."
"Cheaper groceries and services."
"Health care here is the same, but actually covered by my insurance."
"Public transportation is actually usable."
"Long maternal and paternal leave. You get a stipend per child to cover their expenses when you have them."
Giving Too Much to Have Too Little
"Working 4 part time jobs at once. Had no healthcare. Got hit by a car while on my bike 6 weeks before leaving the country to go teach debate at a private foreign academy."
"Lucky all I got was a concussion."
"Leaving was the best decision I ever made. I still work crazy hard, but at least now I have something to show for it."
-- malfight
First World Problems
"Medical debt. Paying $8k for a simple out-patient surgery even with insurance was so infuriating. We left in 2012. We live in Taipei now, where a hospital visit is a couple of dollars and I can have a child without declaring bankruptcy."
-- wakethenight
Starting to Fresh
"College. I realized I could never afford it in the States and didn't want to spend the majority of my adult life paying off a degree I wasn't sure I wanted in the first place."
"Improved my foreign language, ended up switching my major at a European school twice and I'm on my way to graduating soon."
"Will be the first one in my immediate family to graduate with a Bachelor's degree and will have $0 in student debt when I am finished."
Seeing a Myth for What it Is
"I love the idea of America, I just don't like its execution. Way to stressful of a place for me to live and raise my daughter. I'll gladly pay 50% taxes and drastically reduce the chance of accumulating more money than I could ever need in exchange for a far more equitable and moral system."
-- pardi777
The Orange Tip of an Iceberg
"I decided to leave after Trump was elected. Trump is a symptom, not the disease, but it just represented everything that frustrated and saddened me about the country. It was also good timing for me, as I graduated from college about 5 months after Trump was inaugurated. So, I used my grad money to buy a one-way ticket to Taiwan."
-- caseyesac
Not All Expats Cross an Ocean
"The so-called 'election' in 2000 and the fact that Bush killed over a million civilians in Iraq. I moved 7 miles and after a long series of events became a proud Canadian citizen. (I'm an ex-Detroiter.)"
Foot Soldiers Too Important to Leave
"I wish I had the ability to leave. My last straw was having Trump elected president knowing that he had no respect for females, the disabled, and many other groups that I have spent my life working to protect."
"It's hard to be a social worker in a broken system that shows no intent or motivation to change."
A Punch in the Gut
"The 2017 Las Vegas shooting did it for me. All the mass shootings actually, including the one at my university (UCSB), but Las Vegas was the final straw."
"I stopped feeling safe doing everyday activities (going to bars/clubs, attending concerts, shopping at malls). It prevented me from living my life the way I wanted to."
A Difficult to Verbalize Difference
"Maybe I can sum it all up with an experience I had yesterday: I went to a few stores to stock up on some basics. I live in a very diverse city and the stores were packed with people from six continents, every imaginable shade of color."
"Everyone stocking up, everyone with heavy carts. The checkout line in one grocery store stretched across entire store."
"And people were so. goddamn. friendly. Smiles. 'Sorry.' 'After you.' Patience. It was incredible. It was legitimately enough to bring a tear to my eye, and I'm an a**hole."
Rid of the Bootstraps
"The problem was that every job I had, no matter my insistence, I was expected to go above and beyond, work overtime, constantly seeking promotions, etc. Basically, making work my life. The expectations became exhausting."
"I knew from frequent trips and a network of European friends through studying abroad, that the work-life balance in many European countries is better."
We All Remember that Confirmation Hearing...
"When Betsy DeVos became Secretary of Education. I was in my last semester of college to become a teacher and began applying abroad." -- Ethel12
GOTTA HAVE IT
"It wasn't a primary driver by any means, but holy f*ck it didn't realize how much time and energy it was eating up in my daily life: rampant consumerism. Not from me, but from witnessing people doing it and trying to tell them about how spend within their means."
"I was just surprised on the nonsensical nature of it, and how it was everywhere. I moved to London, and I legit didn't see a pickup truck for 4 months. And when I finally saw one, there was sh*t in the back."
"Compared to Atlanta rush hour traffic where pickups are just as common as cars, and almost all of them aren't carrying anything."
-- bitwaba
When Individualism Feels More Like Selfish
"I find my countrymen to be kind of insufferable. Even the good ones. I just think Americans are generally not very conscientious people."
"I left for pretty much all the same reasons everyone else has listed. Near free healthcare, better quality of life, very straight forward interviews, and I've been able to get a master's degree here for free. Even the dating scene is better."
"I have no plans on returning. I do miss doing outdoorsy stuff in the US though."
-- BobisBadA**
Existential Threats
"I left towards the end of the Bush administration, but his reelection is what made me realize I had to go."
"I'm gay, and seeing someone win reelection in large part because he campaigned on a constitutional amendment to ban me from marrying was too insulting to take."
-- mylesleo
Strategic Decision-Making
"I left for Canada after I realized how much the War on Terror was costing the US. This was around 2006-2007."
"It occurred to me that that level of military expenditure is unsustainable, and that sooner or later Americans would pay the price. Bush was borrowing the money to shift the costs into the future."
-- jz187
Because of Guns. Nuff Said.
"It was my mum's decision. I was held at gunpoint by a neighbor, at the age of ten. Because some boys knocked on his door and ran away. He came out of his house packing heat, and took the first children he saw hostage."
"He rang our parents, we lived just round the corner. When the police came my mum assumed he would be arrested. Nope."
"My mum was threatened with arrest for swearing. We moved to England soon after, it's lovely here."
-- cfcnotbummer
It Sets In
"Working in field hospice in rural Louisiana. I was like 'I can't die here.'"
"Honestly I'd rather die in prison than in a Medicaid nursing home in rural Louisiana."