But friend, don’t you miss the Swan River Rodeo? The muddy waters of the Forks? The Brandon Agricultural Tradeshow? The satisfying scratches following mosquito bites? The international airport that connects you to at least two major US cities? Manitoba has a lot to offer. Why would anyone leave? :-)
You can get rich in America a lot faster than in Europe, generally speaking, provided you plan ahead (for example, healthcare and insurance).
Americans can always find ways to make money (sometimes a lot) by doing just about anything, from reading Tarot cards to working overtime. There’s much less of that in Europe. Less dire poverty in Europe, but if you’re a hardworking professional, the state takes half or more of your earnings if you include all taxes and fees. You’re expected to trust that the government has your best interests at heart.
Europe has pedestrian culture (walkable cities), better safety, and arguably more amenities like museums and art galleries, but the expectation is that you work until retirement and then get a modest pension.
You have to hope that your pension will be enough. My colleague from Netherlands keeps telling me about how their parents have an insufficient pension despite working good jobs their whole lives. The state expects them to sell the house and downsize to something smaller. If they had lived in the US, and invested in even simple index funds, they’d be lightyears ahead of where they are financially at 65+.
In the long-term, I’d rather be independently wealthy (passive income enough to pay my expenses so working is optional) than living in a welfare state. I understand the benefits of European social democracy, but once you starting earning a professional salary, it becomes disappointing to see how much of your money is misspent. When you’re working class or a student, the system is great.
This is very true. Germans turn off the A/C during a heatwave. Sunday the supermarkets are closed, even if workers would be willing to work. Seven-Eleven has never managed to get a foot in the door there, even though a lot of urban centers would enjoy such convenience.
Yeah, this.
My last trip to my home city drove home the lesson that it isn’t “home” anymore and never will be again. I lost all nostalgia and desire to be there. My whole family is either medically diagnosed as mentally ill, or just completely apathetic to me coming or going.
I have no real reason to visit again.
That reminds me of my sister who was on a vacation road trip. She could have stopped by where I was staying very easily, and she said she would, but then on FB I see she decides to turn around and drive home because she was too tired to “make the whole trip.” She never said anything to me. I was planning on seeing everyone and had dinner reservations in mind.
I’m in a different situation: complete apathy from my family.
Nobody ever has offered to come visit me abroad in any of the countries I’ve lived in over the last twenty years.
Whenever I visit my home city, I just get apathetic remarks like, “Ah, well, I’m sure we can find time to meet for dinner.” I pay for a hotel because I’m not really welcome to stay with any of my family members. Many years ago I overstayed a visit a few weeks because I was having issues getting my visa paperwork processed, so they consider me a leech.
This was when I was a student and didn’t have any money, so cut me some slack, I think.
Anyway, I don’t think I’ll go back again for several years unless there’s a compelling reason to do so. I am more inclined to see old friends than my family.
I’m Canadian, but I’ve lived in the EU and US.
There’s something about the US that is just exciting. You don’t get the same sort of social atmosphere even in Vancouver or Berlin.
Americans are relatively open and active, whereas in much of Europe socializing can either be very formal or difficult for outsiders. When I was in Germany, all my friends were international researchers. In Italy (now) I just don’t have any friends. Whereas in the US, friends of friends will e-mail me out of the blue and ask to go for lunch.
The smoking in EU really kills the atmosphere too. Here in Italy we have all these narrow medieval streets and inevitably someone ahead of you is smoking and you can’t avoid inhaling the smoke.
Dang, man, NYC is sweet. I’d move there tonight if I could.
I lived in NL and DE (I’m Canadian). I preferred NL. It was just easier to get along with people. Nobody cares if your spoken Dutch is pathetic, whereas in Germany I get sour looks for mispronouncing bread names at the bakery.