27 ms·

I very much feel the same way. Unfortunately it is not easy to move to another country long term and work there. Also obviously every other country also has its

I very much feel the same way. Unfortunately it is not easy to move to another country long term and work there. Also obviously every other country also has its own issues, many that one likely wouldnt discover until after making a move.

Kapura 6y ago
Fortunately, I am blessed with friends who have already made the jump, in many different directions, so I have firsthand testimonies of the pros and cons of moving to a variety of different countries. Japan sounds nice.
- bennysonething 6y ago
  Just don't get arrested if you move to japan: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51129580 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51129580 There was a piece on BBC radio 4 about this. Stuck in a cell and not allowed to lean on walls had to sit up right the whole time horrendous. Usa has its problems, it also has a constitution and the first amendment. Sadly here in the UK we do not.
  - AsyncAwait 6y ago
    At least there's universal healthcare in the middle of a global pandemic, unfortunately there's a push to remodel it after the U.S. private insurance model, but also a string opposition to that idea.
    - kuzimoto 6y ago
      "Universal Healthcare" is generally pretty terrible. I'm not saying the US system is perfect, it has plenty of flaws but at least you can't be banned from getting services you want [0]. Plus government is already subsidizing the cost of the vaccine, and creating a program for elderly and low income people to get the vaccine for fairly cheap [1]. [0] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/17/nhs-provokes-fury-indefinite-surgery-ban-smokers-obese/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/17/nhs-provokes-fur... [1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiejennings/2020/11/17/how-much-will-a-covid-19-vaccine-cost/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiejennings/2020/11/17/how-mu...
      - DanBC 6y ago
        Can you explain to me what you think is happening in your Telegraph link? In particular, why you think this is "the NHS", and not some specific services in one part of the country, and also why these patients can't make use of private healthcare instead.
        _zg4q 6y ago
        > Can you explain to me what you think is happening in your Telegraph link? Smokers and obese people are being prevented from receiving surgeries that are not deemed "essential" unless they stop smoking for 8 weeks or loose weight, respectively. > In particular, why you think this is "the NHS" and not some specific services in one part of the country Maybe this question isn't to be taken literally, but multiple articles' titles with some variation of "NHS bans some obese and smokers from surgery 'indefinitely'" > and also why these patients can't make use of private healthcare instead. As of 2015, only 10.5% of population was using private insurance [0]. We could assume roughly 89.5% of population is covered by the NHS since it's given by default. If you cannot afford private insurance, you will only have NHS. In my opinion, I believe having a public option will slowly eliminate private insurance or at least reduce the types of services available. Additionally I think it's dangerous for the government to set that sort of precedent. [0] https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/countries/england https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy...
        DanBC 6y ago
        When you say "The NHS" people think it's a national thing. The discussion in your article isn't a measure being talked about by the NHS, it's a thing being talked about one clinical commissioning group. There are about 135 CCGs in England. Vale of York CCG covers a population of about 360,000 people. (Out of a total of 60 million in the UK). > If you cannot afford private insurance, you will only have NHS. Yes, that's the point. If you can't afford private healthcare in the US you have much more limited options.
        kuzimoto 6y ago
    - bennysonething 6y ago
      Where did you hear about a push to remodel to USA style health care? Not a chance, the NHS is a religion here. Which is also a problem, it can't be critised.
      - AsyncAwait 6y ago
        https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/04/uk-government-using-crisis-to-transfer-nhs-duties-to-private-sector https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/04/uk-governme...
- ashkankiani 6y ago
  Unless you're fluent in reading and speaking Japanese, don't move here. It's a nightmare. Pick a country where you know the language. And consider renouncing your citizenship to avoid taxes if you have the prospect of attaining new citizenship.
  - gumby 6y ago
    > And consider renouncing your citizenship to avoid taxes if you have the prospect of attaining new citizenship. There are few countries where the taxes are lower than the US Federal ones. Thus though you will have to file a tax return, in most cases you won't owe any additional taxes. What makes the US more expensive is all the non-tax fees that are included in those foreign countries' taxes (e.g. medical costs). So you still save. Perspective: not a US citizen through currently living in California.
    - ashkankiani 6y ago
      A US citizen not living in the US still has to consider US taxes for income not generated in the US. US expats have a worse system to deal with if they don't intent to be US permanent citizens anymore than with most countries. So your perspective is the exact opposite of what my comment was discussing, actually. But I will say that the part about the actual cost of living being more deceptive than the taxes you pay is definitely true.
  - ashtonkem 6y ago
    Given that there seems to be an Anglo-American suicide pact in place, can I recommend not England?
- mannykoum 6y ago
  If you speak Japanese. I have heard that it is fairly hard for foreigners who don't speak the language. I am still considering moving there but more so due to neo-orientalist tendencies and less because I think it's a good idea...
FooHentai 6y ago
You will also hit the travellers paradox - the more places you visit the less any on place will satisfy you to settle down as you have more alternatives against which to compare the good and bad of a place. Any location is a compromise, it's about weighing what's most important to you. After a decade in new Zealand I see it's problems very clearly as compared to the uk and while I've witnessed my birth country melt down spectacularly over the last few years, I can also see that my home country has a bleak future without a significant change of course. If anyone reading this does move to a new country please take on just one piece of wisdom from me when you do so: Do NOT establish a friend group in your new country that consists primarily of other expats. You'll get stuck in an echo chamber where comparisons between places are always de jour. This should be recognized as toxic. To properly settle into a new place conversation is best done inside your own head with yourself or (sparingly) with your partner. Being careful about this can make all the difference between successfully integration and, well, other less desirable outcomes.

Kapura 6y ago

Fortunately, I am blessed with friends who have already made the jump, in many different directions, so I have firsthand testimonies of the pros and cons of moving to a variety of different countries. Japan sounds nice.

bennysonething 6y ago
Just don't get arrested if you move to japan: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51129580 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51129580 There was a piece on BBC radio 4 about this. Stuck in a cell and not allowed to lean on walls had to sit up right the whole time horrendous. Usa has its problems, it also has a constitution and the first amendment. Sadly here in the UK we do not.
- AsyncAwait 6y ago
  At least there's universal healthcare in the middle of a global pandemic, unfortunately there's a push to remodel it after the U.S. private insurance model, but also a string opposition to that idea.
  - kuzimoto 6y ago
    "Universal Healthcare" is generally pretty terrible. I'm not saying the US system is perfect, it has plenty of flaws but at least you can't be banned from getting services you want [0]. Plus government is already subsidizing the cost of the vaccine, and creating a program for elderly and low income people to get the vaccine for fairly cheap [1]. [0] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/17/nhs-provokes-fury-indefinite-surgery-ban-smokers-obese/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/17/nhs-provokes-fur... [1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiejennings/2020/11/17/how-much-will-a-covid-19-vaccine-cost/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiejennings/2020/11/17/how-mu...
    - DanBC 6y ago
      Can you explain to me what you think is happening in your Telegraph link? In particular, why you think this is "the NHS", and not some specific services in one part of the country, and also why these patients can't make use of private healthcare instead.
      - _zg4q 6y ago
        > Can you explain to me what you think is happening in your Telegraph link? Smokers and obese people are being prevented from receiving surgeries that are not deemed "essential" unless they stop smoking for 8 weeks or loose weight, respectively. > In particular, why you think this is "the NHS" and not some specific services in one part of the country Maybe this question isn't to be taken literally, but multiple articles' titles with some variation of "NHS bans some obese and smokers from surgery 'indefinitely'" > and also why these patients can't make use of private healthcare instead. As of 2015, only 10.5% of population was using private insurance [0]. We could assume roughly 89.5% of population is covered by the NHS since it's given by default. If you cannot afford private insurance, you will only have NHS. In my opinion, I believe having a public option will slowly eliminate private insurance or at least reduce the types of services available. Additionally I think it's dangerous for the government to set that sort of precedent. [0] https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/countries/england https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy...
        DanBC 6y ago
        When you say "The NHS" people think it's a national thing. The discussion in your article isn't a measure being talked about by the NHS, it's a thing being talked about one clinical commissioning group. There are about 135 CCGs in England. Vale of York CCG covers a population of about 360,000 people. (Out of a total of 60 million in the UK). > If you cannot afford private insurance, you will only have NHS. Yes, that's the point. If you can't afford private healthcare in the US you have much more limited options.
        kuzimoto 6y ago
  - bennysonething 6y ago
    Where did you hear about a push to remodel to USA style health care? Not a chance, the NHS is a religion here. Which is also a problem, it can't be critised.
    - AsyncAwait 6y ago
      https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/04/uk-government-using-crisis-to-transfer-nhs-duties-to-private-sector https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/04/uk-governme...
ashkankiani 6y ago
Unless you're fluent in reading and speaking Japanese, don't move here. It's a nightmare. Pick a country where you know the language. And consider renouncing your citizenship to avoid taxes if you have the prospect of attaining new citizenship.
- gumby 6y ago
  > And consider renouncing your citizenship to avoid taxes if you have the prospect of attaining new citizenship. There are few countries where the taxes are lower than the US Federal ones. Thus though you will have to file a tax return, in most cases you won't owe any additional taxes. What makes the US more expensive is all the non-tax fees that are included in those foreign countries' taxes (e.g. medical costs). So you still save. Perspective: not a US citizen through currently living in California.
  - ashkankiani 6y ago
    A US citizen not living in the US still has to consider US taxes for income not generated in the US. US expats have a worse system to deal with if they don't intent to be US permanent citizens anymore than with most countries. So your perspective is the exact opposite of what my comment was discussing, actually. But I will say that the part about the actual cost of living being more deceptive than the taxes you pay is definitely true.
- ashtonkem 6y ago
  Given that there seems to be an Anglo-American suicide pact in place, can I recommend not England?
mannykoum 6y ago
If you speak Japanese. I have heard that it is fairly hard for foreigners who don't speak the language. I am still considering moving there but more so due to neo-orientalist tendencies and less because I think it's a good idea...

FooHentai 6y ago

You will also hit the travellers paradox - the more places you visit the less any on place will satisfy you to settle down as you have more alternatives against which to compare the good and bad of a place. Any location is a compromise, it's about weighing what's most important to you. After a decade in new Zealand I see it's problems very clearly as compared to the uk and while I've witnessed my birth country melt down spectacularly over the last few years, I can also see that my home country has a bleak future without a significant change of course. If anyone reading this does move to a new country please take on just one piece of wisdom from me when you do so: Do NOT establish a friend group in your new country that consists primarily of other expats. You'll get stuck in an echo chamber where comparisons between places are always de jour. This should be recognized as toxic. To properly settle into a new place conversation is best done inside your own head with yourself or (sparingly) with your partner. Being careful about this can make all the difference between successfully integration and, well, other less desirable outcomes.