Top two countries in world in your opinion?

TheCandystripes

Take into account living standards, opportunities, quality of life(I differentiate this from living standards. IMO Ireland has very good living standards but with average quality of life), opportunities and culture.

In my opinion, France is the best followed by USA.

USA has some things over France it must be said, but a degree of bias on my part leads me to claim France as best country in world.

imported_guy

TheCandystripes wrote: »

Take into account living standards, opportunities, quality of life(I differentiate this from living standards. IMO Ireland has very good living standards but with average quality of life), opportunities and culture.

In my opinion, France is the best followed by USA.

USA has some things over France it must be said, but a degree of bias on my part leads me to claim France as best country in world.

1 = usa
2 = australia
3 = NZ
4 = norway/sweden/denmark
5 = norway/sweden/denmark

this has been argued countless times but imho these are the top 5/6 countries that i would love to live in and they have a pretty good economy opertunities for my future profession (doctor) well atleast the top 3 do, if a doctor (attending physician) doesnt make over a 150k in america they are doing/did something wrong, doesnt matter what field they are in, alot of them they would be expected to make over 500k, and its pretty common for plastic surgeons/dermatologists etc to be making a few million and basically if you have opertunity followed by money, every thing else comes naturally, doesnt matter what country you live in.

TheCandystripes

what makes new zealand better than a country like france?

imported_guy

TheCandystripes wrote: »

what makes new zealand better than a country like france?

i dont speak french but i do speak english.....? common sense really, i only put up english speaking countries or countries with high english literacy rates, *waits for people to correct his grammar and spelling in every post* lol :P

TheCandystripes

Yeah but that isn't really what the thread is about. Ireland is comparable to a country like New Zealand, both isolated sparsley populated boring countries. Although New Zealand probably boasts some of the best landscape on the planet.

imported_guy

TheCandystripes wrote: »

Yeah but that isn't really what the thread is about. Ireland is comparable to a country like New Zealand, both isolated sparsley populated boring countries. Although New Zealand probably boasts some of the best landscape on the planet.

i just thought i would have a better quality of life in a country which spoke the same language as me :o and yeah true story on the landscape, ireland has pretty cool landscape in places like kerry etc too, as good if not better

TheCandystripes

Ireland has some good scenery but the countryside is ruined from the days when we were one of the most densley populated countries in Europe.

Ok I see what your saying but the question ideally extends beyond where you could realistically see yourself. I don't speak a word of German but I would prefer to live there over Australia or Anglophone or Francophone parts of Canada and think its a better country.

imported_guy

well america will still be number one since it is so diverse, every state has different quality of life etc taking in cost of living/demographics/culture, i.e take new england vs somewhere like florida or california i would be surprised in new england if i came across a spanish speaking person, but in some parts of florida i would be surprised if someone spoke fluent english (im talking about this in a cultural sense and not in NZ vs france sense the point i was making earlier), if you have a mansion in texas you might be barely living above the poverty line in california so you cant really take USA as a whole

i would also put canada quite up high on my list maybe not as high as scandanavian countries, they have pretty amazing demographics and ethnic diversity as well, great infrastructure, especially telecommunications

PaulieD

This is just based on the countries I visited.

1- Mauritius. Unbelievable beaches. Stunning views and wild life. The nicest nationality of people I have ever met. So warm, couldnt do enough for you. Ive a lot of Mauritian friends here in Ireland and its difficult for me to buy them a round of drinks in the pub still to this day. A very generous people. Beautiful cuisine. Heaven. Could easily spend the rest of my days there running a small beach bar.

2- Czech Republic. Unusual choice you might say, but let me explain. Prague is a gorgeous city. Simply magnificent. Ive been lucky to visit it dozens and dozens of times. Stunning architecture, historical buildings, theatres, cafes, and of course the delicous beer. The locals have a similar sense of humour to mine, ie weird. They get proper seasons too. In winter it snows and in the summer its scorching. Perfect. The wages are pretty low but relative to the cost of living.

metrovelvet

Why France?

The interesting thing I find is that many people seem to believe that visiting a place is the same as living there. Usually when you're visiting a place you have more money than you would living there, more freedom, not working, not seeing the daily lives, etc. The thing is that visiting a country rarely shows what it would be like to live in the place. Unless you've lived there for a fairly decent period you're not going to know what its really like. Even reviews and information from secondary sources isn't particularly useful, since they're going to tell you what other people liked or found about the country. Unless you're a statistics hound, and even that doesn't tell you how you yourself would adapt (culture shock)to living there.

I've lived in three European countries; Ireland, England, and Germany. Outside of Europe, I've lived in Australia, China, and Thailand. The experience of living there was far different to my numerous visits both prior and after.

Leading on from that... I would say Australia and China were the best experiences for living. I'm not a doctor. I don't have the skills that will land me a job which a huge income. But I can get a reasonable amount and a reasonable standard of living through my Accounting experience.

Australia was simply excellent. Some minor crime issues, but the standard of living was perfect, both when I worked as a Consultant (Debt Recovery), and when I worked as a Strawberry planter. Plenty of opportunities for employment, good food, plenty of choices in entertainment, and a welcoming population.

Secondly, China. I'm not going to get into a discussion about all the bad things China has done. That's not the topic. But for an English speaker, teaching English can provide a decent income by Chinese standards, and introduce you to a variety of Chinese people. As a foreigner living in China, you're outside the loop with crime and other issues. So you're experiencing a different China than the local population. Because of that, the standard of living, culture, history, choice in entertainment, etc all rate quite high. Definitely a place to go back to live again in the future.

Lastly, for places left where I want to live but haven't yet. Japan tops the list.

The Corinthian

I don't think this a question that objectively be answered. To begin with a country could be a good place to live when the economy is good and terrible when things are tight - the US or even Ireland being examples of this.

More importantly it really depends on where you are in your life. Are you young, looking to build up your life and career? Are you settled and looking for somewhere to raise a family? Are you older and looking at somewhere where you can retire? Or is stability and security more important than opportunity? All of these are factors.

If you're young and looking for opportunity, then countries such as Ireland (not now, but during the Celtic Tiger), the US, Australia, as would some of the former Soviet bloc or Warsaw pack nations and some Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE, would rate (or have rated) highly.

Raising a family and looking for stability, then Australia is still in the running, but I'd largely rule out the rest - even Ireland, which was during the boom years a good place to cut your teeth, had limited options once you got to a certain level in your career. Other options would include France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Scandinavia or, outside Europe, Canada or Singapore. The US is a good place, but only if you can cover yourself financially - it can be far too easy, from what I've read, to fall through the cracks if you are unlucky.

And when older, it comes down to your budget, but countries that are cheap (you don't have to worry about earning a living there, after all) but have relatively good infrastructure would rate well, such as Spain, Italy, Greece - or even Argentina or Thailand. Ireland, traditionally a popular spot for people who want to retire, may fall back again into this category before long.

And then the above ignores the social aspect - some countries are easier to integrate into than others. Language can often be a barrier - but so can the local culture and attitudes.

Joycey

imported_guy wrote: »

this has been argued countless times but imho these are the top 5/6 countries that i would love to live in and they have a pretty good economy opertunities for my future profession (doctor) well atleast the top 3 do, if a doctor (attending physician) doesnt make over a 150k in america they are doing/did something wrong, doesnt matter what field they are in, alot of them they would be expected to make over 500k, and its pretty common for plastic surgeons/dermatologists etc to be making a few million and basically if you have opertunity followed by money, every thing else comes naturally, doesnt matter what country you live in.

Earning millions ina society where 50 million people have no health insurance (no healthcare) for healing people wouldnt come naturally to me im afraid. It actually seems quite sickening IMO

994

The US has the WORLD's highest incarceration rate. Over 1% of adults are in jail there right now. 1 in 9 black men spend some time in prison. Crime rates and poverty rates are far higher than most of the developed world.

well america will still be number one since it is so diverse

Complete nonsense, it has 1 and a bit languages and a single dominant culture. You want diversity, look at Nigeria or Chad.

Paulie D, there are lots of articles about the "real" Mauritius, which is terribly poor, "honeymoon Mauritius" is just the bit foreigners see.


The HDI measures all the OP said, these are the top 25 in 2009

Norway 0.971 (▲ 1)
Australia 0.970 (▲ 2)
Iceland 0.969 (▼ 2)
Canada 0.966 (▼ 1)
Ireland 0.965 (▬)
Netherlands 0.964 (▬)
Sweden 0.963 (▬)
France 0.961 (▲ 3)
Switzerland 0.960 (▬)
Japan 0.960 (▬)
Luxembourg 0.960 (▼ 3)
Finland 0.959 (▲ 1)
United States 0.956 (▼ 1)
Austria 0.955 (▲ 2)
Spain 0.955 (▬)
Denmark 0.955 (▼ 2)
Belgium 0.953 (▬)
Italy 0.951 (▲ 1)
Liechtenstein 0.951 (▼ 1)
New Zealand 0.950 (▬)
United Kingdom 0.947 (▬)
Germany 0.947 (▬)
Singapore 0.944 (▲ 1)
Hong Kong 0.944 (▼ 1)
Greece

Dades

994 wrote: »

Complete nonsense, it has 1 and a bit languages and a single dominant culture. You want diversity, look at Nigeria or Chad

Completely disagree. Alaska, Louisiana, Hawaii, Utah - yes they share commonalities but the climates and the cultures are vastly different.

irish_bob

TheCandystripes wrote: »

Yeah but that isn't really what the thread is about. Ireland is comparable to a country like New Zealand, both isolated sparsley populated boring countries. Although New Zealand probably boasts some of the best landscape on the planet.

wages in ireland are at least double what they are in new zealand but perhaps income ability is not a criteria

irish_bob

imported_guy wrote: »

i just thought i would have a better quality of life in a country which spoke the same language as me :o and yeah true story on the landscape, ireland has pretty cool landscape in places like kerry etc too, as good if not better

i love ireland but its a plane jane compared to new zealand in terms of scenery , irelands scenery is gentle where as the scenery in new zealand is spectacular at almost every turn

imported_guy

irish_bob wrote: »

wages in ireland are at least double what they are in new zealand but perhaps income ability is not a criteria

do you realise how expensive living in ireland is? it doesnt really matter if you earn 2x or 3x as much if your spending it all away anyway

irish_bob

irish_bob wrote: »

wages in ireland are at least double what they are in new zealand but perhaps income ability is not a criteria

The point is that purchasing power is completely different in other countries. I didn't particularly enjoy my time in New Zealand, but its the same principle in Australia. I took quite a hit in salary by being there, but my ability to purchase goods and services increased dramatically.

Ireland being the country it is, is particularly expensive to live in. Between taxes and the manner that shops/businesses charge its easily one of the most expensive places to live in the world. Particularly Dublin, but even the rest of Ireland is expensive. Throw in the variety of products which just aren't available except in specialist shops (which add a premium) and you're also facing lack of choice for all that expense.

Here's a better example... I earned €550 euros a month while living in China, and I had a great lifestyle. Better than I could in Ireland with €1000 a month...

Overheal

TheCandystripes wrote: »

what makes new zealand better than a country like france?

the weather

Overheal

Overheal wrote: »

the weather

Funny... When i was in NZ it rained most the time.. I know there's plenty of good weather to be had, but that's also the case with parts of France. Southern France has lovely weather.. Not so crazy about Northern France though.

irish_bob

imported_guy wrote: »

do you realise how expensive living in ireland is? it doesnt really matter if you earn 2x or 3x as much if your spending it all away anyway

even allowing for that , earnings are still much higher in ireland , dont get me wrong , i loved new zealand but its not a country you get rich in

irish_bob

Overheal wrote: »

the weather

the weather in france is as good in the summer as NZ but the winters in new zealand are less harsh than in france , well apart from in parts of the south island

irish_bob

irish_bob wrote: »

even allowing for that , earnings are still much higher in ireland , dont get me wrong , i loved new zealand but its not a country you get rich in

Are you getting rich in Ireland?

Hazys

994 wrote: »

The US has the WORLD's highest incarceration rate. Over 1% of adults are in jail there right now. 1 in 9 black men spend some time in prison. Crime rates and poverty rates are far higher than most of the developed world.

Complete nonsense, it has 1 and a bit languages and a single dominant culture. You want diversity, look at Nigeria or Chad.

Paulie D, there are lots of articles about the "real" Mauritius, which is terribly poor, "honeymoon Mauritius" is just the bit foreigners see.


The HDI measures all the OP said, these are the top 25 in 2009

Norway 0.971 (▲ 1)
Australia 0.970 (▲ 2)
Iceland 0.969 (▼ 2)
Canada 0.966 (▼ 1)
Ireland 0.965 (▬)
Netherlands 0.964 (▬)
Sweden 0.963 (▬)
France 0.961 (▲ 3)
Switzerland 0.960 (▬)
Japan 0.960 (▬)
Luxembourg 0.960 (▼ 3)
Finland 0.959 (▲ 1)
United States 0.956 (▼ 1)
Austria 0.955 (▲ 2)
Spain 0.955 (▬)
Denmark 0.955 (▼ 2)
Belgium 0.953 (▬)
Italy 0.951 (▲ 1)
Liechtenstein 0.951 (▼ 1)
New Zealand 0.950 (▬)
United Kingdom 0.947 (▬)
Germany 0.947 (▬)
Singapore 0.944 (▲ 1)
Hong Kong 0.944 (▼ 1)
Greece

Crime rates are so high in America, many people in jail...maybe they are actual able to catch and prosecute criminals, what was in the news in Ireland recently? Only 7% of reported rapes are convicted, fat priest gets off raping a child because he's too fat, etc. I know what i would prefer.

America not diverse, c'mon. Anti-American sentiment, much?

imported_guy

Hazys wrote: »

Crime rates are so high in America, many people in jail...maybe they are actual able to catch and prosecute criminals, what was in the news in Ireland recently? Only 7% of reported rapes are convicted, fat priest gets off raping a child because he's too fat, etc. I know what i would prefer.

America not diverse, c'mon. Anti-American sentiment, much?

this x1000

america is soooooo big, if texas was a country it would be the 10th largest in the world. there. i do disagree with the many people in jail statement though, look at OJ simpson, rodney king etc sure rodney deserved to get his a$$ kicked but justice wasnt served, but i still do agree conviction rate for some stuff is highest in the world (crimes like robberies/larcney/theft etc)

sure crime rate is high, but it depends where you live, take texas vs cali, even then if you take places like houston vs L.A, LA will have alot more crime rate because of its african population (no racist obviously, they are facts though), and then sure houston probably has the highest crime rate in texas but it wouldnt even come close to LA, and if you take a place like galveston and compare it to somewhere like one of the smaller bay area cities (take eg. los gatos), or even just outside LA (orange county/malibu) im sure the crime rate would be low (im guessing all this havent looked at the stats)

Its a fair enough point though. Lets face it... major cities attract major crime, and you're going to be exposed to it in America. In fact you're going to be exposed to it in most major cities in the world. It just comes down to the publicity that the US cities receive, and also the manner of their city structures.. i.e the ghetto style setup. (Although give Dublin another 10 years, and it'll probably have something similar.. yes i know there are residential issues, but not on the scale of the major international cities). You wouldn't walk into the "Arab" residential parts of cities like Frankfurt or Amsterdam at night alone..

I have friends living in small cities and towns in the States and they haven't experienced any "real" crime. It really comes down to where you choose to live. Most cities I've lived in have been fairly ok. London has some serious issues, Frankfurt had definite problems, Beijing could be very rough at times, Bangkok was nasty in some areas, Brisbane was dodgy in certain sides of the city.. etc. But each had a personality to them, and any amount of awareness (which you would have by living there, would greatly increase your chances of avoiding trouble.)

In regards to visiting places, the first time I went to Moscow I was seriously freaked out. Being an idiot I read all the reports of serious crime, and such. Was totally paranoid the first three days. Sure.. its a dangerous city. But some common sense, and being moderately careful, ensured a trouble free experience. Been back three times since all without any issues. And its supposed to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world. (Stats are off because so many crimes are not reported or recorded by the cops. Go figure.) Still a wonderful city to spend time in.

Joey the lips

Norway and swedan or Denmark.

Always liked these countries. Just not to fond of the cold up north.

imported_guy

Deleted User wrote: »

Its a fair enough point though. Lets face it... major cities attract major crime, and you're going to be exposed to it in America. In fact you're going to be exposed to it in most major cities in the world. It just comes down to the publicity that the US cities receive, and also the manner of their city structures.. i.e the ghetto style setup. (Although give Dublin another 10 years, and it'll probably have something similar.. yes i know there are residential issues, but not on the scale of the major international cities). You wouldn't walk into the "Arab" residential parts of cities like Frankfurt or Amsterdam at night alone..

I have friends living in small cities and towns in the States and they haven't experienced any "real" crime. It really comes down to where you choose to live. Most cities I've lived in have been fairly ok. London has some serious issues, Frankfurt had definite problems, Beijing could be very rough at times, Bangkok was nasty in some areas, Brisbane was dodgy in certain sides of the city.. etc. But each had a personality to them, and any amount of awareness (which you would have by living there, would greatly increase your chances of avoiding trouble.)

In regards to visiting places, the first time I went to Moscow I was seriously freaked out. Being an idiot I read all the reports of serious crime, and such. Was totally paranoid the first three days. Sure.. its a dangerous city. But some common sense, and being moderately careful, ensured a trouble free experience. Been back three times since all without any issues. And its supposed to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world. (Stats are off because so many crimes are not reported or recorded by the cops. Go figure.) Still a wonderful city to spend time in.

Location: Cork, Ireland

most places in america arent as bad as knocknaheney or mayfield, castle park (ballincollig) etc, jus sayin.

994

America's murder rate is 5.8 per 100,000, compared with Western Europe's 1.5. And when I said the USA isn't diverse, I meant that it's nowhere near the world's most diverse country, look at Russia, India, Papua New Guinea, Brazil.

994

994 wrote: »

America's murder rate is 5.8 per 100,000, compared with Western Europe's 1.5. And when I said the USA isn't diverse, I meant that it's nowhere near the world's most diverse country, look at Russia, India, Papua New Guinea, Brazil.

I have zero desire to live in the US, but that's only because there are so many other places I'd like to live in first. However, its silly to suggest that America isn't diverse. Typical Americans themselves mightn't be (that we see outside of the US), but the level of immigration has ensured that the States has a wide variety of cultures mixing and mashing. Its also worth noting that the typical American doesn't travel abroad, which means we're only seeing a partial selection of their "culture". not too many Ghetto gangsters or Mexican immigrants coming to Europe or such on holidays. Unless you've been to the States yourself, and seen them.

Tristram

Scandinavia (gonna lump 'em together) & Japan.

TheCandystripes

USA and Brazil have same diversity with USA slightly more since Brazilians of all ethnic origins emmigrated to USA as well.

RedPlanet

1. Sweden
2. France

Hazys

994 wrote: »

America's murder rate is 5.8 per 100,000, compared with Western Europe's 1.5. And when I said the USA isn't diverse, I meant that it's nowhere near the world's most diverse country, look at Russia, India, Papua New Guinea, Brazil.

I live next to whats called little Portugal in Boston where its very frequent to hear people speak in Portugese on the street. There is also an india supermarket that sells Barry's tea and Lucozade, a african influenced Jazz club, a polish heritage club and an Irish pub all on the same street, if thats not diverse i dont know what is and this is just a random street in Boston.

There is also Little Italy and Chinatown in Boston which are a lot bigger areas than where i live. If you go out for dinner in Chinatown you can tell that some of the waiters have poor english and Chinese or another asian language is their primary language even tho they live in a primarily english speaking city.

And this is just Boston which wouldnt be considered the to be the most diverse of all the US cities.

RedPlanet

Hazys wrote: »

I live next to whats called little Portugal in Boston where its very frequent to hear people speak in Portugese on the street. There is also an india supermarket that sells Barry's tea and Lucozade, a african influenced Jazz club, a polish heritage club and an Irish pub all on the same street, if thats not diverse i dont know what is and this is just a random street in Boston.

There is also Little Italy and Chinatown in Boston which are a lot bigger areas than where i live. If you go out for dinner in Chinatown you can tell that some of the waiters have poor english and Chinese or another asian language is their primary language even tho they live in a primarily english speaking city.

And this is just Boston which wouldnt be considered the to be the most diverse of all the US cities.

It reminds me of this yank saying that if wanted to eat the best French food in the world, he'd go down to such-and-such "french" restaurant in Manhatten.
:rolleyes:

Those places you mention are just american bastardizations of those cultures.
You have to go to France to enjoy the best French food in the world.

I've also sampled those "irish pubs" in USA.
To my horror, if found a jug (sorry a pitcher) of Guiness at my table.
It was disgusting.
When poured, all the head would remain in the jug, so you were left with a flat looking pint with no head.
It tasted RANK.
I couldn't stomach it. The yanks were wondering what was wrong with me, sure wasn't i enjoying the BEST PINT in CHICAGO?

philologos

United States would be first, I'd personally call Germany / Austria (lumping them together) as being second.

equivariant

I have to laugh at anyone who considers countries like Brazil/India as being more culturally diverse than the US.

For all its faults, the US has undoubtedly the most diversity of culture within any single country in the world. I don't think that anywhere else is even close. OK, it doesn't have its very own indigenous rainforest tribes (and it has largely exterminated its own indigenous culture). But if you consider that a mark of cultural diversity, then we are arguing from different planets.

That said, the diversity available within specific regions of the US varies a lot. I would suggest that San Francisco has more variety on a cultural level than rural Montana (although I can see the attractions of both places)

Also, to the poster who earlier banged on about doctors salaries in the US. Have you got no sense of morality at all. +1 to the fact (pointed out by someone else) that it is pretty obscene to talk about earning millions from healthcare in a country where huge numbers of people have no access to decent healthcare

TheCandystripes

Brazil is as diverse as USA. It is also a nation of immigrants.

Hazys

RedPlanet wrote: »

It reminds me of this yank saying that if wanted to eat the best French food in the world, he'd go down to such-and-such "french" restaurant in Manhatten.
:rolleyes:

Those places you mention are just american bastardizations of those cultures.
You have to go to France to enjoy the best French food in the world.

I've also sampled those "irish pubs" in USA.
To my horror, if found a jug (sorry a pitcher) of Guiness at my table.
It was disgusting.
When poured, all the head would remain in the jug, so you were left with a flat looking pint with no head.
It tasted RANK.
I couldn't stomach it. The yanks were wondering what was wrong with me, sure wasn't i enjoying the BEST PINT in CHICAGO?

Its a small country mentality you have i guess. If your not born in Ireland and have both Irish parents you can't be Irish or be proud of your Irish heritage, your bastard Irish.

Actually the Irish bar in question is owned by Clare people and has all irish born people working behind the bar, and it is the best Irish bar (probably bar in general) I've ever been to, home or away. Its a really small neighbourhood bar and the guys behind the bar are good craic. The Guiness may not be the same as home (imported from Canada i believe) but the full irish, hungover on a sunday morning sure feels like home.

Im guessing you went to an Irish themed bar in a tourist spot in Chicago and i believed it you are very short sighted to believe that the Irish and Irish Americans go there as their local. I certainly don't go to the Purple Shamrock in Fanueil hall as my local.

The service, quality, price of food and drinks in general in the US is a 100 times better than home. Back in Galway i used to go to a pub in an industrial estate at lunch and get an average carvery lunch that has being sitting on a tray for the last hour or so for 12/13Euro or i could get a pretty savage full irish in my bastardize irish local in Boston for $10. If an Irish person can say Irish bars in the US are much better than the Irish bars back home, why can't the 'Yank' say French restaurants are better in NYC than in France?

RedPlanet

Hazys wrote: »

Im guessing you went to an Irish themed bar in a tourist spot in Chicago and i believed it you are very short sighted to believe that the Irish and Irish Americans go there as their local. I certainly don't go to the Purple Shamrock in Fanueil hall as my local.

Themes, yes that's it. That's all the USA has to offer.
Because they certainly can't do the real thing.
I've asked a chinese friend of mine their opinion of "China town" and the "chinese restaurants" you get in the west. They said that it's rubbish, that you wouldn't be served that muck in China.

Hazys wrote: »

The service, quality

Hello, "Rip of Republic" ring any bells?
Btw, did someone pur Ireland as one of the top 2 countries on thier list? (no). :rolleyes:
They don't even DO rashers in usa, they do "streaky bacon", totally different and not part of a Full Irish breakfast.

metrovelvet

Im lost all of a sudden. We are rating nations according to the bacon they fry?

TheCandystripes

btw french food is so superior to anywhere in america. as irish you people prob know no better but when your from the best city in the world paris you can look at world differently.

RedPlanet

metrovelvet wrote: »

Im lost all of a sudden. We are rating nations according to the bacon they fry?

No, but we can do it by say.... Life Expectancy.
You'll not find USA very high on that list.

But both my picks are in the top 10

metrovelvet

TheCandystripes wrote: »

btw french food is so superior to anywhere in america. as irish you people prob know no better but when your from the best city in the world paris you can look at world differently.

I dont like northern french food. I prefer the mediterranean cuisine [but lets face it - everything France has it got from Italy].

And the Italian food in NYC is better than what I found in Italy.

RedPlanet

So answer me this.
If USA are one of your top 2 countries in the world, why are they so crap at Life Expectancy?
Surely that is a reaonable measure of nation.

Here we are in depressing, rip-off ireland with our long queues for a bed at evil state-run hospitals and yet we outlive the yanks.

metrovelvet

RedPlanet wrote: »

So answer me this.
If USA are one of your top 2 countries in the world, why are they so crap at Life Expectancy?
Surely that is a reaonable measure of nation.

If you want life expectancy go and live inland as a Sardinian farmer. They have one of the highest life expectancies in the world.

RedPlanet

metrovelvet wrote: »

If you want life expectancy go and live inland as a Sardinian farmer. They have one of the highest life expectancies in the world.

Yet Italy are still only 19 on the list.
Way ahead of USA sure, but not even in teh top 10 i'm afraid.

Hazys

RedPlanet wrote: »

Themes, yes that's it. That's all the USA has to offer.
Because they certainly can't do the real thing.
I've asked a chinese friend of mine their opinion of "China town" and the "chinese restaurants" you get in the west. They said that it's rubbish, that you wouldn't be served that muck in China.

Did you not read the part where i talked about an irish bar run by irish people in Boston?

Hello, "Rip of Republic" ring any bells?
Btw, did someone pur Ireland as one of the top 2 countries on thier list? (no). :rolleyes:
They don't even DO rashers in usa, they do "streaky bacon", totally different and not part of a Full Irish breakfast.

No rashers? the country must be crap so.

Your argument was that a French restaurant in France is always better than a French restaurant in France. I responded by saying in my opinion Irish bars are better than the ones back home. What your above post has anything to do with the arguement i was making is beyond me.

Hazys

RedPlanet wrote: »

So answer me this.
If USA are one of your top 2 countries in the world, why are they so crap at Life Expectancy?
Surely that is a reaonable measure of nation.

Here we are in depressing, rip-off ireland with our long queues for a bed at evil state-run hospitals and yet we outlive the yanks.

TBF you can't compare the USA which is basically a continent and the same size as the EU to individual countries. It would be fairer to compare states to countries, so sometimes its really not a 1-1 arguement.

USA overall has poor healthcare but here in Massachussetts its standard is very high by international standards.


Life expectancy in Massachussetts: 80
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/blog/2007/03/life_expectancy_1.html
Life expectancy in Ireland: 78
http://www.indexmundi.com/ireland/life_expectancy_at_birth.html

The life expectancy for the whole US is 78.11 the life expectancy for Ireland is 78.24. Your we live longer than them by 47 days is really not much of an argument especially since you'll be paying about 5euro extra each day on lunch for 47 days, so you're saving 235Euro by dying young in the US.

RedPlanet

RedPlanet wrote: »

Themes, yes that's it. That's all the USA has to offer. Because they certainly can't do the real thing.
I've asked a chinese friend of mine their opinion of "China town" and the "chinese restaurants" you get in the west. They said that it's rubbish, that you wouldn't be served that muck in China.

Having lived in China I can tell you, that you won't get the taste of the food anywhere except in China. But then, thats true of most individual cuisines. Although I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would go looking for Irish food when they can have everything else. On a side note, you can get seriously terrible quality of food in china in addition to the great.

I've been to four "Chinese" restaurants since I came back to Ireland (not even mentioning the deliveries I've received), and now refuse to go to any more. taste additives, and other chemicals layer everything. The simple reasoning is that Irish people don't want the real thing.