Exploring New Places: Where to Go and How to Live Mobile

[cyanical]

I'm fresh out of school, and I don't know where to go. All I know is I don't want to stay where I am now (California). I don't know what I'm looking for--maybe I just want to learn more about myself.

I've been playing the idea of visiting different cities/countries long enough to get a feel of them. Does anyone have any suggestions and/or advice on pursuing this? Does anyone here live a mobile life, by today's standards?

Money/employment is an important factor, but pretend it isn't. Pretend that the culture and spirit of a place and its people are all that matters. Where would you live?

Thanks and thanks!

 

[zoobyshoe]

There's the language issue to consider first and foremost. If you're not already fluent in some foreign language, trying to live in Italy or Spain, for example, would be an excursion in frustration until such time as you got up to speed.

 

[Monique]

There's the language issue to consider first and foremost. If you're not already fluent in some foreign language, trying to live in Italy or Spain, for example, would be an excursion in frustration until such time as you got up to speed.

Depends on the location in the country, he'll need to make sure that the institute is international and the working language is English. Indeed, it can be tough to be in Italy, Spain, France, Germany and not speak the local language (don't expect the general population to speak English), but it is a great opportunity for immersive learning. I know plenty of foreigners who work in the Netherlands and after years can't speak Dutch, because everyone is fluent in English.

 

[JorisL]

Depends on the location in the country, he'll need to make sure that the institute is international and the working language is English. Indeed, it can be tough to be in Italy, Spain, France, Germany and not speak the local language (don't expect the general population to speak English), but it is a great opportunity for immersive learning. I know plenty of foreigners who work in the Netherlands and after years can't speak Dutch, because everyone is fluent in English.

I know of 3 professors that succeeded in learning/becoming fluent in Dutch/flemish.
2 of them are German so they got a head start, I'd say. The other is Italian.
Then there is a Russian lecturer that seems to know some words like "happy birthday" and the like.

So I must agree with you.

 

[Monique]

Yes, the Germans have a head start at Dutch. I know two Germans who speak Dutch so fluently and without accent that I always forget they are German :) Two others don't speak Dutch at all after many years at the Department. I had a downstair neighbor who was working in Amsterdam for 10 years, who was only speaking English. He always complained that whenever he tried to speak Dutch, everyone would respond back in English.