I’m a young person (20F), maybe I’m looking too far ahead into the future and maybe I’m not. My boyfriend (18M) and I have decided that he will move to the US within the coming years so we can live together while getting our bearings career wise/ financially. I’m in school for health science but not sure where that’ll bring me career wise (obviously healthcare). He wants to join a union if possible for a trade job. We aren’t too well off financially right now but we plan to work on that above all else. Plus we have time, we’re not rushing.

We understand that it sounds backwards to come to the US then plan to leave some years down the road. It probably is but we’re not sure what our options are. We just know that we are not going to live in the US by the time we have children. That’s the kicker for us. We cannot stay in the US with its healthcare system, schooling, and just overall experience here. I get that I have quite a few opportunities here that are only available in this country, but I will give them up for a place that we’re happy in.

Like I mentioned, our focus for where to go include

  • healthcare
  • schooling
  • cost of living
  • safety
  • overall happiness

I’m okay with what us americans think crazy high taxes are if that means a good quality of life.

If I’m being too picky TELL ME. I need an honest opinion from someone other than my hardcore patriotic parents telling me the US of A is the best country to exist.

Also, yes, I know that we both are “too young” to think about starting a family together but that’s where are priorities are in terms of the next 20 years of our lives. Please and thank you 🙏

  • tstravels@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Canadian here, I spent 2.5 years living in and travelling around Europe. As others have pointed out it won’t be easy but over time if you can move to one of these places I’d choose Europe and here’s why:

    • Purchasing power (the Euro is currently 1.5x the CDN dollar and it will probably stay this way give or take a few cents for quite a long time)
    • Weather (the weather here is atrocious from mid-November until mid-April sometimes into May. Unless you’re planning on living in Scandinavia or Russia you will not experience a winter that’s even close to as bad as here in Canada in the majority of European countries)
    • Quality of life (4-6 weeks of holiday in most countries over there compared to 2-3 weeks here, plus the ability to take off to a new country or city for a long weekend any time you like for quite cheap. Also healthcare in most of these countries is on-par with Canada, some might even say it’s better over there)
    • Bi/Multilingual (you and your children will be forced to learn a new language or even multiple languages- unless you live in the UK or Ireland. This not only increases your skillset but opens up a world of other opportunities)
    • Healthier lifestyle (in general Europeans are healthier than North Americans. There are problems everywhere but overall their food is not nearly as contaminated there as it is here, plus they don’t have as large a car culture which means more opportunity to walk and cycle everywhere. I ate twice as much carbs there as I do here, yet the weight fell off of me, I couldn’t believe it)
    • Convenience (an abundance of shops, bars, restaurants entertainment etc. quite often within 5 minutes walk of your front door. As you already live in the U.S. you know that Canada is similar in that we have to drive almost everywhere to do anything)

    OP, you have plenty of time being that you and your bf are so young but it’s good you’re starting to research this now. What I’ve said is only my experience, I’m sure others might think different but if I had to choose for you, I’d choose Europe. Best of luck!