3 ms·

I have lived in the Netherlands and in Germany and experienced the same issues. The natives will tell you that it is due to the language. The language is surely

I have lived in the Netherlands and in Germany and experienced the same issues. The natives will tell you that it is due to the language. The language is surely a huge part of the problem but the cultures are also themselves insular. And in any case having to achieve fluency in the local language just to have some semblance of a normal life is too much to ask, imo; not a good deal for expats. The EU really oversold the who freedom of movement thing. It's never really going to be like the US.

mclightning 5y ago
%100 agreed. It has been really challenging figuring this out myself over years when reality contradicts mainstream opinion. Scandinavia, Amsterdam, Berlin etc.; are doing a huge PR campaign to attract foreign talent with "we speak English here, it's fine"... It is all BS. They're slowly becoming more transparent about it, not out of honesty, but because of the rising push from right-wing/populist politics.
- viceroyalbean 5y ago
  Would you say that the advertising is the primary issue? I would be curious about whether there are many places in the world where you don't face these types of issues while not speaking the local language.
  - mclightning 5y ago
    It muddies the decision-making for said expats who are taking the decision to relocate.