In what country outside of Ireland would you most like to live, long-term?

Luna Moon Hunter · 20-04-2014 11:20PM

Highflyer13 wrote: »

Yeah I would choose Norway as it seems like a great place and I will strongly consider it as our own situation in Ireland could be quite grim for sometime. The Norwegians pay heavy taxes but this takes into account top class health facilities, school fees and road networks. After high taxes are paid they have a high disposable income. Norway is a fair country where the wealth of their natural resources are filtered back to the people. They are a country that puts their people first somewhere which our politicians in Ireland should look to as an example. They seem to be doing ok as a Non EU country!

Learning Norsk could be a problem but hey I'll probably give it a shot if things don't improve here.

Definitely Norway for me. The scenery is truly breathtaking (similar to Ireland in many places), standard of living fantastic, people are really friendly and they speak great English (Tv is generally in English with Norwegian subtitles), lifestyle is very relaxed, healthy and all the snow...and Northern Lights...

Jamsiek · 21-04-2014 02:19AM

Arthur Beesley wrote: »

Ireland.

I didn't realize ireland was outside Ireland

Jamsiek · 21-04-2014 02:23AM

I'm a permanent resident in Canada and hoping to become a Canadian citizen in the next 2 years. It's a great country.
I also lived in Scotland for 7 years and loved it there. Great times.

osarusan · 21-04-2014 03:01AM

Nailz wrote: »

I have been to Japan twice and absolutely loved it both times, it has since become one of my favourite places because of that, so I went for Japan.

It must be noted though, I am well aware of its drawbacks in terms of living there long term. It's renowned to be immensely difficult to live in for immigrants due to it's vastly different culture, among other things, so I suppose that should also be a consideration, along with having no Japanese.

But it must be said, I really did love my time there, and the people are so lovely and interesting.

I wouldn't say it is immensely difficult to live in really.

Of course no Japanese is a problem, but Japan caters for English speakers to a much greater degree than Ireland caters for Japanese speakers, for example, with English-language versions of forms, English-language help lines and so on.

I'm not sure what you mean by a 'vastly different culture', to be honest. People live their lives here much like anywhere else.

Jamsiek · 21-04-2014 06:28AM

pauliebdub wrote: »

The climate would put me off Canada and Scandinavia, couldnt deal with snow.

Not all of Canada gets snow or cold weather though.
I live in Vancouver and the winters in Ireland can be much worse.
It very rarely snows except on top of the mountains outside the city.

pauliebdub wrote: »

The UK especially England is too London centric, which is just too expensive to have a good quality of life i feel. Limited opportunities elsewhere.

I lived in the UK for 8 years but never in London.
I don't think the UK is anywhere as centralized as Ireland.
London would be expensive but not dissimilar to Dublin during the boom in Ireland.

21-04-2014 07:32AM

Namibia

Friendly people. Spectacular scenery, wildlife & fishing.

MRnotlob606 · 21-04-2014 07:35AM

iceland

Frank Lee Midere · 21-04-2014 07:41AM

carlmango11 wrote: »

I wouldn't move to a lot of non-English speaking countries if I didn't speak the local language fluently. Even in international circles it's very isolating not being able to understand what people around you are saying; in supermarkets, pubs etc. You live in an alternate world. I've experienced it in France and it's not nice, especially at times when you're not surrounded by English-speaking friends.

Australia seems nice but I never got the massive appeal others seem to see in it. Also it's a bit too far from Europe for my liking.

Would probably go with the USA or UK. Although in the UK I wouldn't really like to live anywhere but London. Would need to live somewhere as big or bigger than Dublin and Manchester/Liverpool sound like my idea of a nightmare. Don't like living in small places.

In the USA, I'd want to live in California or New York. California because it's sunny and the heart of the industry I work in (IT) and New York because it's a nice city. Big, lots to do, good transport etc. Winters are awful and there's lots of gob****es who think they're up and coming celebrities but overall it's a good buzz.

You seem content to rent for life. These days New York, London and increasingly San Francisco are for the rich. Though in Silicon Valley IT workers make up a lot of the rich.

boatbuilder · 21-04-2014 07:43AM

Paco Rodriguez wrote: »

USA

Would love to live in a log cabin in Alaska

You'd love Alaska the last frontier,its on the USA version of Netflix

snotboogie · 21-04-2014 09:54AM

osarusan wrote: »

I wouldn't say it is immensely difficult to live in really.

Of course no Japanese is a problem, but Japan caters for English speakers to a much greater degree than Ireland caters for Japanese speakers, for example, with English-language versions of forms, English-language help lines and so on.

I'm not sure what you mean by a 'vastly different culture', to be honest. People live their lives here much like anywhere else.

I agree you can get by fairly easily without the language after a while but there are vast cultural differences between Japan and Europe. If you do pick up a bit of the language you quickly learn that the Japanese are not as polite as you first thought. Also some of their state policies about being a one race country would be absolutely lambasted if they came from a European nation.

Emmie Echoing Topic wrote: »

Absolutely no interest in leaving Ireland ever but if for some unforeseen reason I ever did the US would be my first choice.

Why? Would you not like to try somewhere else, if only for a short time?

Kotek Besar · 21-04-2014 10:15AM

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Malta: Good weather, no property tax. What's there not to like?

The buses are a bit of a joke.

J_E · 21-04-2014 10:19AM

I have a real affinity towards Germany. Hoping to be fluent in German some day and just go for it.

sillyoulfool · 21-04-2014 10:34AM

Montenegro, its home from home.

Red Kev · 21-04-2014 11:51AM

Cienciano wrote: »

UK or Germany. If it was England, it would have to be up north, and not a city. A town like Skipton would be nice. Or else scotland, that would be ok depending on the part.
Germany would be great though, loads to see and do. I love the people, I love the idea that you're so central for driving around europe, I love the football fan culture over there, I love the food and beer, the women don't think you're a weirdo if you ask them to piss on you during sex, the public transport is amazing, it's close to ireland to get home, i've been to about 6 german cities and loved them all.

WTF ???? :eek:

:(

Sh1tbag OToole · 21-04-2014 11:53AM

Kotek Besar wrote: »

The buses are a bit of a joke.

Cheap Chinese rubbish but tis still better than Dublin bus

Legs.Eleven · 21-04-2014 11:57AM

Surprised Germany is so popular; I can't imagine a country I'd like to live in less but each to their own. I like disorder and moaning about disorder tbh.

FouxDaFaFa · 21-04-2014 12:05PM

I love Scotland and it's the most realistic in terms of proximity to Ireland/English-speaking/similar sense of humour, etc.

I have a kind of romantic idea of living in Norway or Iceland because I like their social policies and quality of life but the realities of living in a country where you don't have a firm grasp of the language would probably be too much.

Cienciano · 21-04-2014 12:53PM

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Surprised Germany is so popular; I can't imagine a country I'd like to live in less but each to their own. I like disorder and moaning about disorder tbh.

Irelands perfect for you then :pac:

HazDanz · 21-04-2014 01:23PM

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

I love Scotland and it's the most realistic in terms of proximity to Ireland/English-speaking/similar sense of humour, etc.

I have a kind of romantic idea of living in Norway or Iceland because I like their social policies and quality of life but the realities of living in a country where you don't have a firm grasp of the language would probably be too much.

Norwegians have a fantastic grasp of English. It wouldn't be an issue.

The Cool · 21-04-2014 01:23PM

South of France. Montpellier, take me back!

Legs.Eleven · 21-04-2014 02:05PM

Cienciano wrote: »

Irelands perfect for you then :pac:

It was. Spain is a good substitute though

I am pie · 21-04-2014 02:19PM

Kotek Besar wrote: »

The buses are a bit of a joke.

Didn't think much of Valetta, bad traffic, not much space left to build houses in the decent areas and there was something about the people i did not like. Very morally conservative. Not for me.

I am pie · 21-04-2014 02:24PM

Am here < a few years now, not going anywhere soon. It's jekyll & hyde but it's the perfect place for people (like me!) who like mess, unpredictability and chaos mixed with passionate people who understand how to enjoy themselves without getting staggering drunk every other day. The drive into work is fairly challenging but it's good to get the blood flowing before getting to the office.

Legs.Eleven · 21-04-2014 02:26PM

I am pie wrote: »

Am here < a few years now, not going anywhere soon. It's jekyll & hyde but it's the perfect place for people (like me!) who like mess, unpredictability and chaos mixed with passionate people who understand how to enjoy themselves without getting staggering drunk every other day. The drive into work is fairly challenging but it's good to get the blood flowing before getting to the office.

I'm genuinely envious of you.

21-04-2014 02:28PM

Would love to live long term in Bulgaria. People are fantastic, basics are cheap and it has some wonderful mountains as well as bordering the black sea.

I am pie · 21-04-2014 02:35PM

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

I'm genuinely envious of you.

You wouldn't have been so envious in Januay with a 3 week 40C heatwave and rolling power cuts (no air con at night with night time temps of 25-30) is nothing to be envious of!

Some people come over believing all that nonsense about "Paris of South America" which may have been true in 1940 but it is way wide of the mark now, they are thinking about beaches and spicey food (the southern atlantic is ball freezingly cold and the spicey food is met with horror!), once you know what you're letting yourself in for and come well armed with cash (it aint cheap anymore) it can be very rewarding, especially if you learn the local italian influenced old fashioned sounding spanish (aca voseamos!). There are a lot of frustrated expats here (mostly americans I have to say, I generally avoid them at all costs) who bought into an idea of a fully developed country with rich country standards of living. We're not there yet!

irishguitarlad · 21-04-2014 02:43PM

Spain, I lived in Seville for a while and I loved it, would definitely go back.

Micky Dolenz · 21-04-2014 02:51PM

Any where in South America would be a learning experience alright I'd say.

Legs.Eleven · 21-04-2014 04:10PM

I am pie wrote: »

You wouldn't have been so envious in Januay with a 3 week 40C heatwave and rolling power cuts (no air con at night with night time temps of 25-30) is nothing to be envious of!

Some people come over believing all that nonsense about "Paris of South America" which may have been true in 1940 but it is way wide of the mark now, they are thinking about beaches and spicey food (the southern atlantic is ball freezingly cold and the spicey food is met with horror!), once you know what you're letting yourself in for and come well armed with cash (it aint cheap anymore) it can be very rewarding, especially if you learn the local italian influenced old fashioned sounding spanish (aca voseamos!). There are a lot of frustrated expats here (mostly americans I have to say, I generally avoid them at all costs) who bought into an idea of a fully developed country with rich country standards of living. We're not there yet!

I was there for 3 months volunteering in the "Villas" of BA so got a bit of an insight into life there but I had money. I had some Spanish going and did some classes in Mendoza, so learnt a bit of the sos y vos stuff. I don't think I got a real taste of the frustrations of living there though although trying to find a 10 peso coin (the price of a fare at that time) for the bus was frustrating. I heard the city is more dangerous now as well but I'd no problems when I was there. I loved it overall because I think my expectations were low, so I was pleasantly surprised.

loubian · 21-04-2014 08:52PM

France! I love the language, the architecture, the weather, the food, the people, everything!

In what country outside of Ireland would you most like to live, long-term?

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