Hey guys, I currently am on the verge of finishing my masters in chemistry in Germany. I am originally from India and don’t want to go back. Although Germany is a seemingly great country to live, unfortunately, for me, it never suited me. I have never been so mentally depressed and unmotivated ever in my life (despite previously having a hard life). I think it’s the loneliness and how you’re just never accepted. I cannot think of living here long term. I have nothing against Germany so I would like to not have comments ‘defending’ my stance of living in Germany. I have made up my mind and I just cannot live such a life. I want to ask which country would be great for me. I have a background in chemistry so would be great to have a country that has opportunities for that. That’s the most important. Preferably an English speaking country. Safe for women. Good work life balance. Acceptance of expats(of course I’m not delusional but at least to an extent).
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PhD in the US.
Preferably an English speaking country. Safe for women.
Singapore.
Good work life balance.
Oh wait
Belgium and Netherlands can be good an easy for you. Fellow Indian, living in Belgium:Germany 60:40.
The UK may have some options, it’s a fairly diverse country. Crime can be an issue, but probably not so much in areas where the work would be available.
I would avoid the middle east, even though it’s safe and super diverse. The quality of work would be at your detriment, getting a job outside that region would be difficult after some time.
Back to india, I mean, what’s wrong with it? Why you don’t like it ?
The UK perhaps? Quite a few opportunities in chemistry, a huge Indian diaspora which might help social-life wise and in terms of rarely feeling like you just don’t belong, English speaking, I’ve never felt particularly unsafe as a woman even out alone at night unless I was in generally dodgy areas and that was more a general feeling of not being safe than “this isn’t safe as a woman”, most cities have a significant amount of diversity and immigrant communities that are generally accepted by most people, and while cost of living is higher than it used to be, I’m on basically a dead on average salary and I’m comfortable and usually have money spare to save/spend on whatever I feel like.
Try Ireland if you want to communicate in English or Sweden or Denmark. This is provided you want to stay in the EU. The thing is everyone has a Master’s in chemistry, so you’ll have to figure out what you can do with it or go further into a PhD.
What’s the point of going to Ireland if you don’t plan to integrate? Except English, everything else is pretty much the same
I’m not the OP. Dafuq are you talking to me about this for? They asked a question, I gave a response to them. You seem to think my suggestion to them is them deciding to go to Ireland? Are you ok?
I meant for the OP.
I don’t really have a problem with wanting to integrate. But, on the other hand, if Ireland is as insular as Germany then it wouldn’t be an ideal situation for me.
Ireland is not even close to being as insular as Germany, people are much friendlier and more welcoming.
Interested in what you don’t like about India? Lack of financial opportunities or something else?
Yes just the low wages esp in my field. Other than that, I don’t really have a problem with living in India esp where I’m from.
Guyana: Majority with heritage from India, huge growth boom (but you probably need to work in the oil industry)
Canada: Vast South Asian communities around Toronto. Downside: Expensive housing.
US: Stick to blue states as an immigrant. Downside: Slow-burn collapse.
UK: London has large South Asian communities. Downside: Medium-paced collapse.
Singapore: Large Indian community. Downside: Lack of certain freedoms.
Thriving Indian communities in Dallas and Houston if you want to give Texas a shot. Slightly lower cost of living and okay pay will also help ease the transition.
Counterpoint: Texas is batshit crazy.
If you come to the US, do NOT go to the red states (my opinion). I would look at the coast, especially CA, Boston if you can stand the cold, NY, Northern VA . I do not know the southern states well but I know there’s a lot of biotech in the Carolinas. I think there’s also big Indian populations in a few mid-west areas like Chicago and Minneapolis?
However, I would seriously consider London as well. Good luck!
Dubai. If you find a well paying job.
Have you thought about Durres?
Easy visa, in Europe (EU in 5 years). English is widely spoken,
Check this web site for country info and how to find accommodation:
Albania will not be in the EU in 5 years.
Come to The Netherlands. There is a good desi community here and the people are a lot more open than Germans. The expat community here is also more thriving. I’m in NL, if you need any info drop me a message
If you dislike Germany don’t move to anywhere in Scandinavia, it’s even worse and I don’t know why anyone reading your post would suggest it frankly. I’m in Norway atm and it’s miserable for establishing a meaningful social life or feeling integrated.
Otherwise, Malta and Ireland are English speaking and good if you want to work in biotech or something, housing in Ireland is insanely expensive though and a lot of young people leaving because of that. otherwise NZ is a good work life balance culture but faaar away.
Canada and the US are crazy expensive now and jobs getting more limited, and work culture is different from EU or NZ so probably not what you’re looking for.
Malta is a no right now especially for someone from India. she will be discriminated against
Are you sure?? Oftentimes the discrimination is against uneducated working class immigrants and not people with graduate degrees in STEM.
That’s sad to hear, I’d been given the impression it was quite open because of its history and also their creation of remote worker visas etc to try and attract more foreign workers
Its because most asians in Malta are working the lower tier jobs. A lot of Indian, Pakistani and Nepalese uber drivers, food delivery drivers and cleaners. Very hard working but have the usual migrant stigma. They stick to themselves and don’t really spend much. Their men also don’t have a good feminist reputation. And Malta is already dangerous driving territory but these food delivery drivers are next level.
It’s actually surprising when you speak to one and you find out they are a doctor or software developer. They are a smaller percentage. But they are very nice and polite people.
What about The Netherlands? Everyone speaks English and for pointers on socials just go to a local games store which often organize board game nights. It ain’t bad!
Also in Norway after living in Germany and I totally agree here. While work-life balance may be better here in some fields, social integration and avoiding loneliness can be even harder here.
I’m always glad to hear other people’s experiences match my own because living here has made me feel not just unwelcome or undesirable but like a social misfit in quite a profound way, and that’s never been the case in any of the other ten countries I’ve lived, worked or studied in.
Had some health issues this year and it’s been really eye opening dealing with the state run services as a foreigner too, who wants to pay so much tax and still be made to feel like a second class citizen?
Getting to the stage I just want to pack my car up and drive until it’s sunny and warm again 🌅
NZ has the worst housing crisis.
I agreeeeee great post:)
What I found is that the expats in Scandinavia, especially Sweden are very open to making friends with other expats. It’s the only place in Europe where other foreigners have approached me or reached out to me for friendship because I guess people feel so lonely or socially isolated. Never happens to me in other European countries where people actively wanted to try to be my friend.
Canada is very affordable… Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver do not make up Canada. I hate how this is the norm.
And before you say “tHatS wHerE aLL thE JoBs ArE!”. That is BS.
Ehhhhh this is a bad take. What do you think OP is going to do with a masters degree in chemistry in Grand Prairie, Alberta?
Any city with any sort of reputable job market is utterly f*cked in terms of COL. The only exception to this is Calgary.
Places outside of the major cities are generally colder and get more snow as well…
Oh please. Seriously? Geography is the driver of weather. Yes, cities are “warmer” then outlying areas but this is such a stupid take.
Maybe I’m just asking for downvotes since you’re getting downvoted but it’s the same in the US. There are still plenty of places with affordable cost of living. It’s worse than it was a few years ago but it’s still not that bad in say, Detroit, where I grew up and it’s a great place to live and has plenty of jobs in chemistry.
If you dislike Germany don’t move to anywhere in Scandinavia, it’s even worse and I don’t know why anyone reading your post would suggest it frankly. I’m in Norway atm and it’s miserable for establishing a meaningful social life or feeling integrated.
I would say Scandinavia is far better than Germany on multiple parameters. You get a way way better work life balance in Scandinavia compared to Germany, Scandinavians are very acceptive of other cultures compared to Germans. Both Norway and Denmark are super safe for women. Can it be rough to make friends in Scandinavia yes. But if you put an effort into it you will eventually succeed.
Not sure why you say US and Canada is expensive and limited with jobs. It’s probably the most affordable, other than SolCal, GTA, and New York. And the most liquid job market, probably on earth.
The problem is that a masters degree is not worth much anymore. Sorry OP. But at least you got it from Germany tuition free, I guess.
Try looking for PhDs in the Netherlands. The NL PhD salary is higher than German PhDs and the people are much more open to speaking in English (speaking from experience since I’m a non-EU PhD in NL who did short-term exchanges in DE). They’re much more friendly here especially in university cities.
If his problem is social alienation NL is not gonna help with that
There is literally an Indian Student Association in my university, there are also student associations for Latin Americans, Indonesians, etc. And then for science-related faculties, the ratio of internationals to Dutch students is about 2:1, which is why English is encouraged.
It will. Plus there is quite a thriving sub continental community in NL
*her
Tf
USA, USA, USA! The belly of the beast!
Just go to the US or Canada. Both have a lot of Indian communities and if you want to integrate nothing like those two countries.
One of OP’s requirements is a good work-life balance though. Going from Germany where there’s a strong “work to live, don’t live to work” attitude to the US might be a bit of a shock to the system.