4 ms·
I'm actually in that situation. I'm originally from Europe but I have permanent resident status in the US and have studied/worked there for most of my adult lif
by dennybritz 11y ago
I'm actually in that situation. I'm originally from Europe but I have permanent resident status in the US and have studied/worked there for most of my adult life. I don't understand why people on HN are crazy about moving to the US (or the bay area). It looks glamorous from the outside but it's not as great as people make it out to be. If it wasn't necessary to stay in the US to keep my resident status I'd be gone in a heartbeat. I just applied for a re-entry permit that allows me to stay away for at least 2 years, possibly longer.
I believe that location is becoming increasingly irrelevant for software developers. Distributed teams are gaining popularity and there are lots of remote positions. So the question for me isn't really what's the "best" country for developers, but rather what's the country that fits my personality and cultural values the most? That answer will be different for everyone.
So far I've lived in (not travelled) Europe, Brazil, Thailand and Japan. Personally I'd move back to Japan if I could (currently can't since I was just there for 6 months). Japan sucks for software developers if you work for a Japanese company, but if you work remotely it's a great place to live. It's cheap (compared to the bay area), food is amazing, lots of stuff to do, and I like the culture. Thailand is another good place to live. You have a luxurious lifestyle on little money. An apartment that'd be $6000/month in the bay area is $1000/month in Thailand. Also lots of good food, nightlife, and beaches. South Korea is next on my list but I'm expecting the lifestyle to be quite similar to Japan.
In the list of countries I want live in the US probably wouldn't make the top 10. I love California, but there are so many other amazing places around the world.
- maclo 11y agoI like the sound of living in Japan and Thailand. What type of visa did you use to stay in those countries? Travel visa?
- dennybritz 11y agoYes. Depending on where you're from you can stay in Japan either 3 or 6 months at a time. Some people leave for a few days and then come back but that could be risky as your next visa may be denied. Thailand has various visa options and is less strict with their policies. Many people keep renewing their tourist visas for years.
- artartart 11y agoI'm currently in Bangkok and wanted to add that if you keep on the low and spend your money here there are no problems. It sucks as soon as you try to speak up, buy property, make money from this place, or do anything where the rule of law is important. You will miss the rule of law, i.e. republic, of well-established nations.
- dennybritz 11y agoI'm currently in BKK as well. Hit me up if you want to grab a drink, email is in my profile.
- jimsojim 11y agoHey denny, I can tell you South Korea is great. I am studying here at a Uni. In particular, I would recommend seoul (ofc), its a great place to be in. Although, traditionally the Koreans are known for their hardware, the market for software developers is increasing here at a very promising rate. Night life is awesome. Food is great, too. Although culturally I had some problems, but as you mentioned you've been to Japan and enjoyed their culture, you won't have any problem in adjusting here. And as you might expect Koreans (chicks) are very fond of foreigners haha (if it matters to you at all?). Hit me up if you ever plan to visit here.