Nelson_R32 Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I've always loved Germany as a Country and have visited it often but I'm now considering spending months there rather than weekend. I know (very) basic German which I'm sure will develop further after a few months in the Country and actually having to use it everyday (this is why German Courses frustrate me, as you've forgotten it in 3 weeks...) Who knows I might even buy a place near the 'Ring I'm just at a point in my life right now where I'm either going to 'make that change' or end up stuck in a job which isn't taking me anywhere Has anyone ever had any experience of moving to another Country? If so any advice would be apprieciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppetboy Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I've always loved Germany :eek: Whatever floats your boat I suppose ... I've moved to a few countries, need to keep in mind that living there full time will be much different to spending a couple of weeks on holiday there. People don't seem to speak much English in rural parts of Germany (tut tut ) although you'll soon start picking up the lingo. Finding a decent paid job outside the cities, unless you speak good German, would be difficult I would have thought. Some other downsides are IMHO crap cuisine and fizzy bloody water everywhere! On the plus side great beer, great cars, the ring and a great sense of humour Remember though, for all its faults Blighty really is a special place to live... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saab Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 and why on earth would you want to leave Essex? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Do it. Living in another country was one of the best decisions of my life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulboy Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 never lived abroad, but I would just say a couple of things which I always think about if I have got a big decision to make: 1. When you are on your death bed breathing your last, it is highly unlikely that you will look back over your life and been pleased if you never took some risks, tried new things, or gambled. FFS we only live once! 2. Is the decsion reversible? Try and leave as many doors open, for as long as you possibly can - in case things dont turn out. If it was me, I would do it. If you're thinking has got you this far and you stay here, you will be annoyed and frustrated with yourself and everything else about your life. If you go, it may be the best thing you have ever done. If its not - you can always come back and you will have got it out of your system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saab Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 I lived in America when I was 19 and it was a great experience - maybe not a hugely different culture from the UK but I look back upon it with great fondness - probably because I didn't do very much other than drive around the Florida Keys in a Chevy Nova and go to parties at the beach. If you like the idea then you should definitely do it - if you don't like it you can come home - and from somewhere like Germany it wouldn't be too complicated, and weekend vists home will be straightforward. I must admit I've always like Germany as well and could possibly imagine living there, although it would not be top of my list. Have you decided where to move to? Presumably you will be looking at a large city? You sound concerned by your employment situation - is it really the case that if you don't move abroad that you will end up stuck in a job that isn't taking you anywhere? If so won't this situation be exactly the same elsewhere, or have you got something lined up? I work in the construction industry and jobs abroad come up routinely and many of my friends work in Dubai, Hong Kong and Australia so if I was to move abroad nowadays I would use that mechanism as employers tend to sort out the majority of paperwork and costs for you. Do you work in the type of job where you can move abroad with your current employer? On a more practical basis I think the level of complexity of moving to another country varies wildly from one country to another. I suspect Germany might be at the easier end of the scale. My Dad and step-mother moved to Italy about 10 years ago and, certainly at the time, the level of bureaucracy was incredible in terms of arranging simple things like a phone line, or buying a car (in fact they still have the cars they took there from the UK still on British plates - for partly this reason), and very few of the officials they had to deal with, were able to speak English (and why would they?) which made life difficult even though my Dad spoke what he considered to be reasonable Italian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 Nelson, I lived in Germany for the best part of two years. I moved over there to open a regional office - got given a budget, a big company bank balance and a cheque book - and the rest was up to me. Culturally, it's very different to the UK, but I love Germany for its straightforward politeness and matter-of-fact-ness. One of the weirdest things I found was that people don't tend to mix work with social, so you wouldn't typically go for a beer after work, regardless of the day. The further South you go, the more friendly people are. Expect to rent a house or apartment - most everyone in Germany does. Expect to pay big money for a decent house. Most people speak English, but when it comes to business, they prefer to speak in German - "you're in our country, so you should learn the language" is the general attitude. Whatever you decide - best of luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 I lived in Germany for a bit (Saarland), agree with much of what Mook said too. You must learn the language, quickly, and to a decent level - out of courtesy to the locals if nothing else. They don't have the same sense of humour as us, at all, or maybe thats just me. Benny Hill and Mr Bean are considered cutting edge clever stuff humour by most and thats reflected in their TV output. I prefer the south/south west, I love Bavaria, Baden Wuttemburg, great quality of life, beer, food and cars, all good. Get somewhere near the 'ring and the TSN massive can come and crash on your sofa... Go for it, € is expensive at the mo, and don't burn your bridges, but do it for the experience and you'll love it. I did. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_R32 Posted August 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thanks for the advice guys, duly noted With regard to my work situation; I'm at the point not where I want to progress but my company won't actually let me go any further as it's financially not in there interests and it's been this way for a long time now. One thing I do fear though is the process of looking for a new job, because although I can sell nearly anything the one thing I can't do is sell myself I've always loved Germany as a country due as there reputation as miserable people is always the complete opposite when I go there. As opposed to America where everyone was a miserable as sin; I had planned on moving to America but my visit there a couple of months back put me off. Germany for me isn't a million miles from home so if it doesn't work out I can at least say I tried I think the main thing that makes me want to go there is that I've always been told that if you have two languages under your belt you're guaranteed to get an exciting, well travelled and well paid job. My current job is none of those lol. My plan was to leave for Germany in Febuary/March time therefore I have time to sort out my finances etc. The R32 will NOT be going just yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch Posted August 2, 2008 Report Share Posted August 2, 2008 I spent the best part of 6 months living and working in Hamburg. Loved it. I'd go back without a doubt. Went to Schliersee, Bavaria in March for holidays for the second time and just love the place. Wifey was in tears when we left so no doubt that one day we'll end up living somewhere like that. Mook is spot on with all his observations although I did go out a fair bit with bods at work. However I did know most of the company through my previous job which probably helped a lot. Do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mb Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 I've always been told that if you have two languages under your belt you're guaranteed to get an exciting, well travelled and well paid job. Whilst I wish you luck & would say definitely give it a go if its what you want to do (have you considered asking work for a sabbatical if you can seem to be doing something work related out there?) Re the languages - when I was in Maastricht I was stunned by all the dutch people who had 3 or 4 languages (fluent) who were still making coffee so I would say the languages are only useful if you either a) need them for your role or b) are not surrounded by people who speak several languages all better than you ! Best of luck ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tame Technician Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 Are you still here. Feb / March, you told me September, do you know how many people you have disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 dutch people! They (and the Belgians to some extent) are the exception rather than the rule though. You can be reasonably confident of turning up just about anywhere in Holland and find that nearly everyone will speak English. Try doing that in the middle of nowhere in Germany and it won't be the case. I've not moved to another country but I have spent 3-4 months at a time living in Sweden, France & USA. That time abroad made me realise that I absolutely adore Stockholm, Uppsala & New York but loathe Paris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_himself Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Re the languages - when I was in Maastricht I was stunned by all the dutch people who had 3 or 4 languages (fluent) who were still making coffee so I would say the languages are only useful if you either a) need them for your role or b) are not surrounded by people who speak several languages all better than you ! Best of luck ! Agreed - I was there for 9 months last year. EVERYONE (even the Jakeys/Homeless) spoke English. 20 mins up the road 1 way into Aachen (Germany), it wasn't the case. Even Belgium wasn't as big on English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brabus Posted August 11, 2008 Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 don't mention the war! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Tone_ Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Brabus - just reminds me about that last episode of Top Gear where the three of them arrive in Germany in spitfires.... Hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson_R32 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 German course booked for September onwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Do it - I lived in San Diego for a year when I was 24 - fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 German course booked for September onwards Good luck. Practice is everything though, get yourself on a couple of weekenders with Ryanair, only speak German when you get there, even if folks speak English back to you. You'll learn more in a day that you will in a month of nightschool. Alles besten... Duisberg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hargreaves Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 If another world war starts between us and the jerries, you do realise your house/apartment will be looted and you will be one of the first people to be taken away and probed. And they will hang, draw and quarter your car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lussac Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 I made the move to France 18 months ago, divested myself of everything I had in UK so nothing there now except very elderly parents and 1 daughter, other daughter and husband also moved to France 4 years ago so are now well established. It's been hard work for someone in their 60s but the barn conversion is now almost done with only a couple of rooms to finish off and then the landscaping. I'm now virtually broke as it all cost much more than anticipated (doesn't it always though!!) but would not want to go back so living on a very meagre income instead of the fairly comfortable retirement I could have had in the UK but just could not stay there. It was New Labour that drove me away, just couldn't understand why people kept electing them, bunch of shysters. Now that I've gone GB won't be getting any more of my money. Had to sell my much loved Audi Avant and now drive round in Renault Kangoo diesel, no new cars for me unless my premium bond come up!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudiLad Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 I've just come back from a fortnight in T'Egypt, really feel like moving there since then as we got settled in with the locals and enjoyed the culture. The job I have here is in demand in most of the world so its possible, just need the courage and confidence to take the risk. Definetely agree with leaving as many doors open as possible in case things don't work out but also know in a few years if i don't do something about it, I would be very frustrated! I'm only 22... Good luck anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Moved to the US in 2003, northern New Jersey, so extremes of weather (snow and minus 25C in Winter, sun and 38C in summer). Last year was seconded to our Swedish office in Stockholm which has afforded me the ability to travel Europe, and retunr to the UK on a regular basis. Love Sweden - particulalry the people, the countryside and the relaxed culture. Was interesting coming back to the UK.... its very small and crowded in comparison to North America and Northern Europe, ludicrously expensive and as everyone says - it rains all the time! That said, country pubs and rugby were fantastic, and not found anywhere else in my experience! Still - once you have experienced other places and lifestyles, its very difficult to see yourself coming back full time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xkjaguar Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 moved to nz last year (transferred from RN to RNZN) brilliant speak english terrific place mind u the driving is appaling never coming back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 Love Sweden - particulalry the people, the countryside and the relaxed culture.That said, country pubs and rugby were fantastic, and not found anywhere else in my experience! My experience exactly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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