Where To Emmigrate???
Discussion
First and foremost my girlfriend with probably split with me after reading this post (she does lurk on PH), so please regard this as hypothetical you understand...
The UK annoys me, I'm as British as cricket, afternoon tea and warm ale and it would be sad for me to leave, but the muppets who run the place do my nut etc etc; so....
Where to? Is the grass any greener on the other side???
Current options are:
Canada, the paternal side of my family lives out there, has done since the 50's. Everyone says its utopia, is it? Well im off there on Wednesday to with my family to do the relatives thing etc etc over Christmas, its the first time i've been other than being about 4months old.
New Zealand, looks stunning, again everyone who's been says its utopia. Dont know much more about it other than what Billy Connolly says!
The outsider...China(/Japan/Far East), soon to be the world centre of engineering if it isnt already, (i'm a degree qualified Automotive Engineer(read as 'mechanical engineer with a course bias towards cars'), down side is i dont speak Chinese, upside is i love the food.
Where else, Ireland is also tempting, been there on holiday a couple of times and love the place, easy o retun it it all goes wrong. I've discounted America cos its leaders (IMO) and the background population are
s, even though the two or three Americans i actually know are decent people
I dont want to plunder wealth, but be able to earn a decent living for myself and my future family, without being vilified (sp?) for being a car nut etc etc
Regards
Iain
The UK annoys me, I'm as British as cricket, afternoon tea and warm ale and it would be sad for me to leave, but the muppets who run the place do my nut etc etc; so....
Where to? Is the grass any greener on the other side???
Current options are:
Canada, the paternal side of my family lives out there, has done since the 50's. Everyone says its utopia, is it? Well im off there on Wednesday to with my family to do the relatives thing etc etc over Christmas, its the first time i've been other than being about 4months old.
New Zealand, looks stunning, again everyone who's been says its utopia. Dont know much more about it other than what Billy Connolly says!
The outsider...China(/Japan/Far East), soon to be the world centre of engineering if it isnt already, (i'm a degree qualified Automotive Engineer(read as 'mechanical engineer with a course bias towards cars'), down side is i dont speak Chinese, upside is i love the food.
Where else, Ireland is also tempting, been there on holiday a couple of times and love the place, easy o retun it it all goes wrong. I've discounted America cos its leaders (IMO) and the background population are
s, even though the two or three Americans i actually know are decent people I dont want to plunder wealth, but be able to earn a decent living for myself and my future family, without being vilified (sp?) for being a car nut etc etc
Regards
Iain
chassis 33 said:
First and foremost my girlfriend with probably split with me after reading this post (she does lurk on PH), so please regard this as hypothetical you understand...
The UK annoys me, I'm as British as cricket, afternoon tea and warm ale and it would be sad for me to leave, but the muppets who run the place do my nut etc etc; so....
Where to? Is the grass any greener on the other side???
Current options are:
Canada, the paternal side of my family lives out there, has done since the 50's. Everyone says its utopia, is it? Well im off there on Wednesday to with my family to do the relatives thing etc etc over Christmas, its the first time i've been other than being about 4months old.
New Zealand, looks stunning, again everyone who's been says its utopia. Dont know much more about it other than what Billy Connolly says!
The outsider...China(/Japan/Far East), soon to be the world centre of engineering if it isnt already, (i'm a degree qualified Automotive Engineer(read as 'mechanical engineer with a course bias towards cars'), down side is i dont speak Chinese, upside is i love the food.
Where else, Ireland is also tempting, been there on holiday a couple of times and love the place, easy o retun it it all goes wrong. I've discounted America cos its leaders (IMO) and the background population are
I dont want to plunder wealth, but be able to earn a decent living for myself and my future family, without being vilified (sp?) for being a car nut etc etc
Regards
Iain
Interesting pondering Iain. I too have gave this some serious thought over the past year/18 months.
Forget America, especially if you want to work. Like Australia they have seriously clamped down on immigrant (for want of a better word, but that what you'd be) residency (spelling?)
I had a couple of friends who've gone to Canada and are enjoying it thoroughly. Low cost of living combined with pretty liberal attitudes makes it certainly a serious consideration. I have another colleague who has just left these shores for a New Zealand reccy, he's staying out there for a month with the family with a view to moving out permanently. Must say, I've been, and can't really see myself there. Beautiful place, I just am not attracted to the culture. Each to his own.
I've been to Japan several time and have to say I would relish the idea of being able to live there. I just don't think it would work though - serious culture clash, incredible cost of home ownership etc.
Personally, we can't get the idea (despite all the cliches) out of our heads of living in Italy. Somewhere north, Umbria perhaps. We're even learning the language, future planning you see! There's just something very seductive about the italian lifestyle - belief in the the family, friends, good food and good living. We already live to those principles - transporting that to a better climate just makes a lot of sense to us
Good luck with the trip.
Never really had the desire to live in Europe, possibly cos its full of "them", i dont do languages naturally, which is a big stumbling block, and deep down im a country bumpkin so couldnt hack big cities for more than just a visit, hence Canada and NZ appeal cos of the big open spaces.
It would be a big step, and dont want to take it lightly, which is why i've spent the past dunno how long mulling it over.
Regards
Iain
It would be a big step, and dont want to take it lightly, which is why i've spent the past dunno how long mulling it over.
Regards
Iain
I'd say go to an emerging economy where you skills and experience can be best used and paid whilst the cost of living is still incredibily low. You'll live very well off.
Somewhere like Vietnam (seriously) would be ideal, they look to Korea and Taiwan for their inspirations to capatilism.
Somewhere like Vietnam (seriously) would be ideal, they look to Korea and Taiwan for their inspirations to capatilism.
Theres always South America, try Belize they speak english there! don't know about the automotive industry there though, and you'd probably have to like the tropical style weather (too many bugs for me).
I could definately see myself in Italy, I definately prefer the mediterranean climate, lifestyle and attitude which I find similar to here in Australia (parts of it anyway). May also be able to live in parts of France or Spain but haven't really spent enough time in either place (actually I've never been to Spain at all) to really know for sure.
Andorra, Luxembourg, Leichtenstein, Monaco and all those other little tax havens spread around the world would be nice if your super rich but not so great for the ordinary person I suspect.
Oh and India is also another mega economy to rival China if you want some weird options.
I could definately see myself in Italy, I definately prefer the mediterranean climate, lifestyle and attitude which I find similar to here in Australia (parts of it anyway). May also be able to live in parts of France or Spain but haven't really spent enough time in either place (actually I've never been to Spain at all) to really know for sure.
Andorra, Luxembourg, Leichtenstein, Monaco and all those other little tax havens spread around the world would be nice if your super rich but not so great for the ordinary person I suspect.
Oh and India is also another mega economy to rival China if you want some weird options.
Road_Terrorist said:
Theres always South America, try Belize they speak english there! don't know about the automotive industry there though, and you'd probably have to like the tropical style weather (too many bugs for me).
I'm not too fussed about working in the Automotive relms as such, so long as i can still tinker at weekends, unless someone with a race team wants to offer me a job (hint hint
). At the moment i design "high spec" mobile generator sets. I'm not even sure i'd like to work for a large race team (F1, WRC etc) the pressure to suceed is enormous, friends tell me the working environent suffers as a result, and you live to work and thats it.
Thanks for all the comments, keep them coming
Regards
Iain
You can forget Ireland if you want to drive quickly: apart from the Garda, the inabilities of the locals and the quality of non-major roads will rule that out anyway (from experience).
I hear that NZ is only nice if you go nowhere near a city or large town, but maybe ny sources were biased (there has been some criticism of NZ on here too).
Ian
I hear that NZ is only nice if you go nowhere near a city or large town, but maybe ny sources were biased (there has been some criticism of NZ on here too).
Ian
wedg1e said:
You can forget Ireland if you want to drive quickly: apart from the Garda, the inabilities of the locals and the quality of non-major roads will rule that out anyway (from experience).
I hear that NZ is only nice if you go nowhere near a city or large town, but maybe ny sources were biased (there has been some criticism of NZ on here too).
Ian
My experience of Ireland is its fine for driving so long as you're away from Dublin. I did 1600miles over there in July 04 and was very impressed with the place, although the road surface can leave something to be desired.
My overwhelming memory of the roads is being overtaken on a single track road when i was doing about 60mph, by a local Mondeo driver at 45deg, totally on the verge...NUTTER! Oh that and the N69 just north of the Cliffs of Mohair, about 8 hairpin bends in quick sucession, almost felt like i was in the Alps!!!
Regards
Iain
FourWheelDrift said:
I'd say go to an emerging economy where you skills and experience can be best used and paid whilst the cost of living is still incredibily low. You'll live very well off.
Somewhere like Vietnam (seriously) would be ideal, they look to Korea and Taiwan for their inspirations to capatilism.
I work in Vietnam........
......Its greeeeeaaaatttttttt
Yes, I'd say the far east has a lot going for it, nice move, but your profile notes say you live in a slightly more attractive place yet to where you work...
Ireland would be an option on its merits but anywhere in the Federal European Union of Socialist Totalitarian States has to be a no-no. Some are more selfish than others now but the spread of pinko-green neocommunism looks set to continue and engulf the lot.
>> Edited by turbobloke on Sunday 12th December 09:31
Ireland would be an option on its merits but anywhere in the Federal European Union of Socialist Totalitarian States has to be a no-no. Some are more selfish than others now but the spread of pinko-green neocommunism looks set to continue and engulf the lot.
>> Edited by turbobloke on Sunday 12th December 09:31
Hey Iain,
We've just made a move to Ireland (from London) for many of the reasons you cite, and although we've only been here a few weeks I have to say that the diffrence in the quality of life is astounding.
We are in a very rural area, it's about 20 mins drive to the nearest Towns (Tipperary and Mitchels Town), Limericck and Cork are both about an hour away on deserted dual carriage ways.
Everything is much more relaxed, the people are incredibly warm and welcoming and we are already making good connections in the comunity.
The cost of living is a bit higher, some things really sting - £900 to tax my Land Cruiser for example. Still there is no Council Tax and fuel prices are amuch better.
As with anywhere there are always problems, like waiting 2 weeks for a bin to be delivered, having to chase semi-wild ponies out of the garden one evening, and um um I'm sure there was something else... oh yeah - it's hard to get good quality vegetables, but the meat from the local buther is out of this world.
Memories of the UK are just like a bad dream now, all beit somewhat reoccuring due to reading PH too often.
A few things worth noting, we were fortunate in that my did lives in the area and he was of tremendous help finding somewhere for us to rent whilst we get on our feet and find a house to buy.
He's got a lot of contacts in the area and I already know a few people from having lived and worked in the area for a few years back in the nineties.
Getting work has obviously got to be a priority, over here they are crying out for people in the building trade, one guy down the road has got his build stalled until March as the last crew we delayed and he can't get anyone to lay blocks.
There's not much in the way of nightlife in the area, unless you count lockins at the local till 6am.
All in all, probably the best decision I've made in my life. Still coming to terms that we're not on a holiday and have to go back soon, but I guess I'll get over that.
best
Ex
btw. One thing I noticed straight away coming over here was the feeling of your eyes focussing on the horizon instead of the nearest tower block!
Some Pics here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/222404072uHtlKK
>> Edited by TheExcession on Sunday 12th December 10:30
We've just made a move to Ireland (from London) for many of the reasons you cite, and although we've only been here a few weeks I have to say that the diffrence in the quality of life is astounding.
We are in a very rural area, it's about 20 mins drive to the nearest Towns (Tipperary and Mitchels Town), Limericck and Cork are both about an hour away on deserted dual carriage ways.
Everything is much more relaxed, the people are incredibly warm and welcoming and we are already making good connections in the comunity.
The cost of living is a bit higher, some things really sting - £900 to tax my Land Cruiser for example. Still there is no Council Tax and fuel prices are amuch better.
As with anywhere there are always problems, like waiting 2 weeks for a bin to be delivered, having to chase semi-wild ponies out of the garden one evening, and um um I'm sure there was something else... oh yeah - it's hard to get good quality vegetables, but the meat from the local buther is out of this world.
Memories of the UK are just like a bad dream now, all beit somewhat reoccuring due to reading PH too often.
A few things worth noting, we were fortunate in that my did lives in the area and he was of tremendous help finding somewhere for us to rent whilst we get on our feet and find a house to buy.
He's got a lot of contacts in the area and I already know a few people from having lived and worked in the area for a few years back in the nineties.
Getting work has obviously got to be a priority, over here they are crying out for people in the building trade, one guy down the road has got his build stalled until March as the last crew we delayed and he can't get anyone to lay blocks.
There's not much in the way of nightlife in the area, unless you count lockins at the local till 6am.
All in all, probably the best decision I've made in my life. Still coming to terms that we're not on a holiday and have to go back soon, but I guess I'll get over that.
best
Ex
btw. One thing I noticed straight away coming over here was the feeling of your eyes focussing on the horizon instead of the nearest tower block!
Some Pics here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/222404072uHtlKK
>> Edited by TheExcession on Sunday 12th December 10:30
TheExcession said:
Hey Iain,
We've just made a move to Ireland (from London) for many of the reasons you cite, and although we've only been here a few weeks I have to say that the diffrence in the quality of life is astounding.
We are in a very rural area, it's about 20 mins drive to the nearest Towns (Tipperary and Mitchels Town), Limericck and Cork are both about an hour away on deserted dual carriage ways.
Everything is much more relaxed, the people are incredibly warm and welcoming and we are already making good connections in the comunity.
The cost of living is a bit higher, some things really sting - £900 to tax my Land Cruiser for example. Still there is no Council Tax and fuel prices are amuch better.
As with anywhere there are always problems, like waiting 2 weeks for a bin to be delivered, having to chase semi-wild ponies out of the garden one evening, and um um I'm sure there was something else... oh yeah - it's hard to get good quality vegetables, but the meat from the local buther is out of this world.
Memories of the UK are just like a bad dream now, all beit somewhat reoccuring due to reading PH too often.
A few things worth noting, we were fortunate in that my did lives in the area and he was of tremendous help finding somewhere for us to rent whilst we get on our feet and find a house to buy.
He's got a lot of contacts in the area and I already know a few people from having lived and worked in the area for a few years back in the nineties.
Getting work has obviously got to be a priority, over here they are crying out for people in the building trade, one guy down the road has got his build stalled until March as the last crew we delayed and he can't get anyone to lay blocks.
There's not much in the way of nightlife in the area, unless you count lockins at the local till 6am.
All in all, probably the best decision I've made in my life. Still coming to terms that we're not on a holiday and have to go back soon, but I guess I'll get over that.
best
Ex
btw. One thing I noticed straight away coming over here was the feeling of your eyes focussing on the horizon instead of the nearest tower block!
Some Pics here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/222404072uHtlKK
>> Edited by TheExcession on Sunday 12th December 10:30
Ex,
My girlfriends parents place is just outside Clonmel, you can't be too far from there?
Neil
Hi Iain! I'm an ex-pat living in NZ (ok, I left UK when I was 2 and have lived in NZ ever since).... this question has popped up rather frequently on the New Zealand forum in the gassing station.... I'd well advise you to pop in and have a sift through the threads.
NZ is no utopia.... it is marvellous in many respects and I'd wager that it is going to offer you the sort of quality of life you desire. It is not however all rosy as we have many of the same political poblems you have there, we've got a rather nasty race problem where the Maori people seem to be given every goddamn advantage to get ahead in society and yet their representatives still complain that the Europeans are oppressing them (these people don't know what oppression is) and we've got a pedantic and idiotic legal system much like the one you have there in the UK.... I'm considering shipping out to Australia if Labour wins the election in a year.... they're far more sane (especially in Queensland) and seems like just the ticket.... got a motoring industry there too... the Mech Engineering industry in NZ is backwater at best and although good jobs like mine are around, they pay shite and need looking for.
E-mail me or look around/post on the New Zealand forums if you'd like to know more... we take in a reasonable demographic here in NZPH.
NZ is no utopia.... it is marvellous in many respects and I'd wager that it is going to offer you the sort of quality of life you desire. It is not however all rosy as we have many of the same political poblems you have there, we've got a rather nasty race problem where the Maori people seem to be given every goddamn advantage to get ahead in society and yet their representatives still complain that the Europeans are oppressing them (these people don't know what oppression is) and we've got a pedantic and idiotic legal system much like the one you have there in the UK.... I'm considering shipping out to Australia if Labour wins the election in a year.... they're far more sane (especially in Queensland) and seems like just the ticket.... got a motoring industry there too... the Mech Engineering industry in NZ is backwater at best and although good jobs like mine are around, they pay shite and need looking for.
E-mail me or look around/post on the New Zealand forums if you'd like to know more... we take in a reasonable demographic here in NZPH.
I guess, as been said, it depends on where your skills would be best suited. British Colombia is supposed to be great... Personally, I'm seriously looking into Dubai. I think the I am at the point in my life where I want to start building my own business, but, you need an environment where you feel you can afford to take risks - where you will keep the majority of what you earn, and not hand it over to his Tonyness
Go for Italy - great country, perfect people, lovely (easy!) language, fantastic food and wonderful weather. No alliterative bastards either.
er...
its a nice place to live, its cheap and the roads and driving are very ph.com minded. So are the police. I think they are more worried about standing around looking cool with their guns than catching criminals.
er...
its a nice place to live, its cheap and the roads and driving are very ph.com minded. So are the police. I think they are more worried about standing around looking cool with their guns than catching criminals.
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