this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2024
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NGL, not asking for a friend. Given the current trends in US politics, it seems prudent to at least look into it.

Most of the online content on the topic seems to be by immigration attorneys hustling ultra rich people. I'm not ultra rich. I have a job in tech, could work remotely, also have enough assets to not desperately need money if the cost of living were low enough.

I am a native English speaker, fluent enough in Spanish to survive in a Spanish speaking country. I am old, male, cis, hetero, basically asexual at this point. I am outgoing, comfortable among strangers.

What's good and bad about where you live? Would it be OK for a outsider, newcomer?

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[–] alehc@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Mexican here. Generally, most of the population won't be very welcoming. Talking specifically about mexico city. You see, the amount of money you make in tech in the US will allow you to stay at the very best places in the city, which pushes native people out of those districts and makes them angry in the process. However, those districts are already popular for tourists/rich immigrants and that's probably for a reason. I guess business there benefit from this wealth availability so they will treat you well. I'm not rich so idk. Also, it's probably not hard to emigrate here bureaucracy wise.

Speaking Spanish, you will likely do very well in mexico. Good food, good nightlife, good safety and infrastructure (assuming you stay in the good zones), etc.

Personally, having traveled to other countries (talking about US and places in Europe specifically), I love the diversity of nationalities you can find. I think different backgrounds and experiences is very important to drive innovation. I'd love to see more of that in my home country so I'm for more people emigrating to mexico. Feel free to ask questions if you are curious.

[–] multicolorKnight@lemmy.world 1 points 27 minutes ago

Gentrification is a problem in the US too, probably most everywhere. Mexico City would be another great culture to be in, but I'm not really interested in living in some isolated communiy though. Is it possible for a foreigner to live a reasonable middle class existence there?

[–] skygirl@lemmy.world 10 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I'm an American living and working in Europe for years now. It's pretty great, although language barriers can leave you feeling a little isolated sometimes. That said, the thought of going back to the US turns my stomach. European working culture is much more... Human. More understanding about things like sick days, better vacation packages and, better worker protections.

I wish the US could be better, but it no longer looks like that will happen in my lifetime so I'll do my best to find happiness here instead.

[–] TonyOstrich@lemmy.world 1 points 58 minutes ago

Any tips for someone who would want to emigrate, but doesn't have any connections? I am an engineer and I have looked at immigration requirements for places like Canada and New Zeeland in the past and it seems like the only real shot I might have is if I work for an international company that has facilities in one of those countries.

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 10 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Why would I want people from a less privileged country coming here and stealing our jobs, putting a burden on our healthcare system and making housing even more expensive?

Congratulations America, you're now the english language Mexico... with worse Tacos.

[–] tacosplease@lemmy.world 1 points 22 minutes ago

This is what so many don't understand. Other countries don't want us. Why would they?

[–] wertyuiop@feddit.rocks 7 points 7 hours ago

Europe here. Plenty of expats here from the whole world. You will be welcomed, but getting a visa is a pain. Our politics are shit as well though.

[–] indomara@lemmy.world 4 points 7 hours ago

I am originally from the US but moved to AU and am now a citizen. I got lucky and got out just before Trump's first presidency.

Life here is good. Like, better than most Americans can really understand. Healthcare is free, education is good and includes topics like critical thinking and understanding how to spot "fake news".

There is only a small aisle of frozen food in the grocery store, not nearly as much pre-packaged food. There are affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, and outside most grocery stores is an independent baker, butcher, fishmonger, and fruit and veg stand.

Minimum wage is $24.10 an hour, and you cannot be fired for no reason if you are a full time employee.

If you compare things (and adjust for AUD to USD) like rent, gas, milk, bread, eggs... Things cost about the same here as in the US.

We pay around the same amount in taxes, and get so much more.

Things aren't completely rosy, distressingly, Australia seems to want to emulate the US in certain ways which worries me.

There is also currently a bit of an economic downturn and while it's nothing like what I left behind, it does mean things cost more and luxuries have to be budgeted for.

I think anyone who isn't a dick would be welcome here. There are racist cunts here like everywhere, but generally Aussies are the kindest and most welcoming people.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 9 points 10 hours ago

Brazil is a Bad Idea®.

  • There's a reasonable chance that a Trump-like clown wins in 2026. Probably a Bolsonaro ally, or even a relative (there have been talks about his wife running for presidency).
  • Repeat with me the Latin American mantra: Nothing Fucking Works®.
  • Ask Haitians and Venezuelans how they're treated.
[–] Allero@lemmy.today 8 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

Given that my country is Russia and you are probably trying to escape an authoritarian regime, you may consider another destination.

But still, I think Americans are generally welcome. People can make lighthearted jokes about it and be surprised, but you'll be a welcome guest after all. Bonus points if you say American government, and particularly Department of State, is shit :D

Language barrier might be an issue - most Russians above ~35 have very poor English skills, and younger folks mostly have it on A2-B2 level.

Oh, and the country is sanctioned to hell, so sending money in and out is an additional hurdle. But if you retain your American credit card, you'll be alright and at least able to make payments outside the country.

[–] kaffiene@lemmy.world 3 points 9 hours ago

New Zealander here. I work in IT. Americans seem to get on fine here in the IT sector. NZ is less right wing than the US but you wouldn't earn as much and housing is expensive

[–] skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de 46 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (3 children)

Welcome to EU! Prepare for a cultural shift:

Considering that everyone on lemmy is 30+ communist tech worker, it's probably a welcome change

Speaking more specifically about Poland, depending on how you measure, we might have the most rapidly secularizing society in the world Some Americans (catholic fundamentalists) seem to think that you can just barge in, snatch a tradwife and plot of land and live like it's 50s, but these people are straight up delusional. Introducing ban on abortion, for example, erased full quarter of support for the party that did it (40% ish to 30% ish overnight) and caused largest protests since dissolution of Soviet Union. There are conservative women, but these tend to be 60+

In tech job market specifically, the bubble has ended (like everywhere else i guess), but if you're a senior or able to keep your current job you'll be fine (not sure how you'd get residence permit then). You'd need to lean Polish as a practical matter, because while lots of people do speak decent English, many don't (esp. 50+ and in small towns) and many official matters can be done in Polish only. Like everywhere else, there's division between more conservative rural areas and more liberal large cities; no one wants to live in the former, even locals, and so most of foreigners live in Warsaw (or Kraków, or Wrocław). It sounds like you'd blend in right away in one of these places. While property prices and rent went up since start of the plague, it's not as crushingly bad as in, say, Berlin or Rotterdam. Random benefits include ability to pirate absolutely everything without VPN with no consequences and ability to use complaint as a conversation starter

[–] magikmw@lemm.ee 5 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I never thought about it before, but I agree - you can start a conversion by complaining.

Living in Poland all my life, I also would like to mention it feels really safe here (as a white male, so...).

Unless you're into football, or low quality clubbing you'll be hard to find violent crime. Domestic violence and related murders do happen, but you'll be hard pressed to get yourself mugged or assaulted these days.

You can pay by card or via app (blik) nearly anywhere, small village shop, street produce vendor, food truck, anywhere. If they don't want your card they are probably doing some tax fraud, or are bad at finding low card payment fees.

TL;DR: I've travelled a bit, and I really don't think I'd rather live anywhere else.

[–] SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I guess it's good to hear that things are changing for the better, I emigrated from Poland when I was a child to Norway and my perception of Poland is a far less favourable one lol

Though my entire polish family are also very religious and conservative so

[–] skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 7 hours ago

look up all the weird shit polish immigrants are up to in Chicago. You'd think they're living in 20s or at least 70s

[–] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

That’s really funny - my very Catholic mom is going to Poland next year with some church group and the priest, lol…I apologize for her in advance!

I’ve always wanted to visit Poland and still hope I can, one day. But no weird Catholic shit!

[–] skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I'm guessing she's going to Częstochowa?

[–] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 4 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

Is that the church in the salt mine? That’s the only place she’s mentioned so far, but I don’t recall the name or if she even said it, really. She may have just read about it and not known how it was pronounced.

[–] magikmw@lemm.ee 3 points 8 hours ago

That's Wieliczka. There's more to it than the church, it's pretty cool, but you're liable to be salty on you ur way back up.

[–] skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

That's Wieliczka salt mine, sounds more like a regular tourism and less like pilgrimage. At least it's not Licheń, plastic-clad tourist trap monstrosity where you have unique opportunity to get scammed by our only televangelist (whose main medium is radio, and is catholic)

Częstochowa is on a hill, that's a big centuries old monastery. Frequent pilgrimage target

[–] Azal@pawb.social 9 points 13 hours ago

I want to say on that cultural shift, having lived my entire life in the dark blue sections of the US... that would be such a freaking welcome change.

Also fucking shocked that Kansas ISN'T dark blue.

[–] superkret@feddit.org 12 points 12 hours ago

Heidelberg, Germany. This town is already more American than some towns in America.

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 95 points 18 hours ago (8 children)

First of all, stop using word "expat" when you're talking of immigrants but from "better countries"

[–] icogniito@lemmy.zip 28 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Hard agree, expat as a term only exists because white people wanted to separate themselves from those they deem ”lesser immigrants”

I moved to Japan from Sweden, I only call my self an immigrant because that’s what I am

[–] TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.world 1 points 39 minutes ago* (last edited 38 minutes ago)

PewDiePie is that you?

[–] CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 40 points 18 hours ago (6 children)

Ive usually seen "Expat" defined as someone working in another country, but explicitly with the intent to be there temporarily and leave once their time at that job ends, rather than moving there with an intent to stay and join that society. Which, granted, doesnt seem to be what OP is actually talking about in this case.

[–] TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.world 1 points 40 minutes ago* (last edited 40 minutes ago)

That's what it means but some people use it wrong and some people complain about it being used wrong, wrongly

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 10 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

What OP is talking about has been a thing since the 90s and even 80s and earlier with ex-military.

Move to a cheap country where your pension/disability/passive income/whatever makes you wealthy.

Originally places liked it because it was an influx in cash. But then it became too popular and they were gentrifying places to the point locals couldn't afford to live and these leeches never worked.

It became big again with the internet when people became able to work and American job while overseas remotely. But by now most American companies just won't pay American wages. If they wanted someone overseas they'd pay them the low wage they always do.

With those younger people they added the "temporary" because they say they'll move back someday.

What you're talking about (if the job is in that country) would be a migrant worker.

But they also don't like that label, they think they're better than it.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago

I'd argue we should call all migrant workers expats. Unless they're literally working in a migratory fashion, spring here, summer there, fall somewhere else, etc.

[–] Ajen@sh.itjust.works 10 points 16 hours ago

It's short for "expatriate." I'm not saying it isn't used in the way you described, but that's not the original meaning.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expatriate

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[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 13 points 13 hours ago

Weird way to talk about immigrants

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 67 points 19 hours ago (8 children)

Depends how they behave. If they behave like "Expats", who don't care about integrating into our society, don't care about learning the local language even after years, they are not welcome.

If they integrate seamless (and this does not imply giving up their identity, just to make sure), and become a good member of this society, be welcome.

[–] HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world 31 points 19 hours ago

Summed it up pretty well.

We love our country, and welcome you to join it. But join us - don't bring your country's problems here.

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[–] Mr_Blott@feddit.uk 3 points 10 hours ago

You hit the nail on the head when you said "expats or exiles"

They're immigrants, and it's only Brits and Yanks that refuse to admit it

I'm an immigrant. Learn the fucking language yous cunts. Respect the country's mindset. Pay your fucking taxes.

[–] schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 8 hours ago

Austrian here, I work in software development, I have encountered people before who didn't speak much German and whom I had to speak English with. I think you'd be fine around here, we're a pretty generic Western culture I think.

[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 30 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (4 children)

If you're a nurse or some other skilled professional in some specific fields... We have kind of a labor shortage with some jobs here in Germany. I live in the city, should be okay for outsiders. I guess.

I'd recommend to visit a place before considering to move. See how the people act. And you'd need to learn the language to be able to take part in regular every day life. (Edit: And for most jobs.)

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