The ahto relocation programme

[mur'phon]

I'm feeling like moving to a new country, to see the world and meet new people (nothing to do with my parrents kicking me out in not too long). Since I'm probably not the only one here thinking of moving, I figured we could use a thread where people write the pros and cons of living in their country, and more detailed about in their city. Keep in mind that some of us are studying and others are working when you write your description. I'll be writing a description about northern-Norway as soon as I have finished my homework.

[Jeff]

USA

 

Pros:

Greatest country in the world

[Sabretooth]

Sweden is the greatest place in the world to live in, from what I can think.

 

Studies show that there's a large concentration of paganists and atheists, the air is some of the cleanest in the world, copyright laws are not existent, and the Pirate Party exists there. Also, since it lies in the heart of metal-headed Scandinavia, that's an added bonus.

[Gargoyle King]

USA

 

Pros:

[Worst] country in the world

Edited to reflect the truth; only joking DM!

 

The UK:

Pros:

 

- Great people, apart from the pricks but then they're everywhere aren't they!

- Some amazing scenery, such as the Scottish Highlands and Lake District.

- NHS (i suppose).

- More multi-cultured than it used to be.

- We beat Nazi oppression! (with the help of the USA & the Russians I suppose though ).

 

Cons:

- Monarchy (outdated, pointless).

- Government that cares for other nations other than it's own

- MONARCHY!!

- I'd say the Prime Minister is a con, but i kinda like Gordon Brown so i won't.

- Heavy chav and Yob culture in Urban areas, thus pointless increased crime by Youths in alot of major cities (of which the Government ASBO programme pretty much fails to eradicate, regardless of the success stories on the news on Police actions against such Yobism).

- Poor record when it comes to watching football matches (what you Americans call "Soccer"), especially abroad when i am ashamed to see fellow Brits acting so stupid just because "England" or "Tottenham FC" lose another match against Venezuela or the likes. I hate it the most when, being a Manchester United fan, see Man U fans acting like plonkers. I like football but it is only just a game after all, not the end of all life on Earth.

 

Basically the UK is great if you move to places such as Cornwall, parts of Wales, Scotland (the Highlands anyway). Parts of Liverpool and Manchester are alright if you stay away from Toxteth and Moss-side. Pretty much anywhere more rural than Urban is the better choice for a British life.

[Ztalker]

NETHERLANDS

 

Pro's:

-Liberal

-Most can speak quit some words English or German

-Beautifull landscape and sight-seeing

-Home of beers and genever (I mean...if I'd had the choice between a Bud or any given Dutch beer...not in the alcoholic way )

-Every province has it's destinctive landmarks. And we got a man-created province, created by Windmills and to much time on our hands

-We got...ehm...stroopwafels? Hagelslag?

-Going out/drinking from the age of 16. It's one big party

 

Cons:

-Native tongue sounds crap

-All accents sound like crap (especially the one called Fries...)

-Generation gap taking place

-Drugs (hate our stance towards it...hate what it does with people)

-Criminality

-Frequen racism (Neo-nazi-ism is...rising in some places)

 

Anyways, like in the UK, avoid the major cities and go for the country-side where the windmills and nature is still beautifull. I'm privileged to see it everyday, and it even amazes me sometimes.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

Sweden is the greatest place in the world to live in, from what I can think.

 

Studies show that there's a large concentration of paganists and atheists, the air is some of the cleanest in the world, copyright laws are not existent, and the Pirate Party exists there. Also, since it lies in the heart of metal-headed Scandinavia, that's an added bonus.

Recent U.N. study shows Iceland is the best place to live. Stephanie from Lazytown is there. Coincidence? I think not.

[Gargoyle King]

Oh you gotta love Lazy Town!

[Titanius Anglesmith]

USA!

 

Pros:

 

- Practically the richest country in the world

- Insanely diverse climates, from New York City, to the beaches of Florida, to the endless colors of the Appalachians, to the plains of Nebraska, to the deserts of Arizona, to the peaks of the Rockies, to- alright, I'll stop being melodramatic, now.

- Best sports in the world!

- Mostly friendly people around where I live.

 

Cons:

 

- There's a lot of pricks in the general population of the whole country.

[Salzella]

Australia. 'nuff said.

[adamqd]

I'm from the UK, but don't come here, it Sucks!!

[GeneralPloKoon]

U.S.A.

 

Pros:

free country???

everyone one has a home even with no money...sorta

mix of lots of weather but yet the same in some way, and it never stays the same!!!

tons of poele are willing to help other poel otu without a problem(that sounds good)

is having the best military a good thing?....

 

Cons:

the mix of people can make you feel like all Americans are the same

government seems a little corrupt know

[Bee Hoon]

Malaysia!

Pros:

- AWESOME food

- Nice people:)

- Relatively low cost of living

- Malaysia has one of the best rural health care systems, but I doubt any of you would end up in a kampung=p That having been said, everyone has access to healthcare here, subsidized heavily by the government. It's more expensive for non-Malaysian citizens, but still pretty affordable, especially with the salaries that expats get=p

- Multi-cultural, etc etc. To me, this just means better food:p

- You can find food at any time of the day, courtesy of your friendly neighbourhood mamak

- This only applies for pervy old men

 

Cons:

-

who tell us the most craptastic things. Meh.

- Traffic jams. How I despise them:firemad: And this is while we pay fortunes in tolls. Meh.

- The brain drain which has been going on for decades

- The weather is usually either scorching hot or raining. Bring your sunblock lotion. Seriously.

- The ISA

[Emperor Devon]

Washington state, USA! Specifically the northwestern part around Seattle.

 

Pros

-Very high per capita income and highest minimum wage in the country

-Excellent weather. Rain rain rain rain rain and cloudy days for all of winter, fall and spring. Excellent summers too! While the rest of the country is toasting anywhere up to 110 F we're at a cool 70.

-Lots of liberals, few conservatives, and even less vocal ones. (25% of the population is nonreligious IIRC, and that's especially true in the western part of Washington.)

-Similarly liberal state government

-Maybe not in Seattle, but the nearby islands are great small-town places to raise a family. Where I grew up people almost never locked the doors to their houses or cars, and the club was unheard of. Huzzah for small towns!

-Depending where you choose to live, intelligent and friendly people

 

Cons

-High cost of living

-Eastern Washington is just over the mountains. >_>

 

- Government that cares for other nations other than it's own

 

Just sucks when they dare to think of people less fortunate than you, doesn't it?

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

Just sucks when they dare to think of people less fortunate than you, doesn't it?

I move to disqualify Devon for the most evil Ahtonaut award.

[Darth InSidious]

I move to disqualify Devon for the most evil Ahtonaut award.

Motion seconded.

[Astrotoy7]

USA

 

Pros:

Greatest country in the world

 

oh you poor, poor boy... a lovely delusion you live with there !!

 

Pros:

>This Guy and That Guy

>assorted cool US ahto/LFN peeps, like Rhett, Sithy, Jae, CapNColostomy

>Birthplace of death metal and old school hip hop

 

Cons > the important stuff :

>health system *ugh* >> living under the poverty line ?? Good luck getting decent medical treatment via the public health system !!

 

>education system *ugh* >> if you aint got money and you cant play sports >>forget about going to a decent university !

 

>democratic process is severely flawed *cough*Bush*cough*

 

>your treatment of minorities and refugees *sucks* ['throw em back over the fence']

 

Number one 1st world nation for deaths by handgun

 

*the whole world really does hate you !! Ive always encouraged US friends coming to Oz and elsewhere to say they are Canadian, they have *all* reported a major difference in the way they are treated around the world by doing so.

 

My most recent experience with a real life american :

 

I was in Mexico last year, visiting the chichen itza ruins... we had a Mayan tour guide. A lady from Wisconsin said, to him "Like O my God, I thought you Mayan guys were extinct!!"

 

 

My dream is to live in Spain one day, specifically Barcelona. It is not only the home of my favourite sports team and galleries, but also my favourite porn star !! \o/ My partner is keen on the move too, but isnt too keen on the latter aspect

 

In the interim, Oz is a decent place to live. Despite the US style xenophobia that permeates the Anglo community as a whole, the public health and education system still gives the underpriveleged a fighting chance. Im an Australian born refugee(my family was naturalised in 82), but was able to go to a decent university because of our govt higher education assistance scheme. I only finished paying them back last year, but Its better than not having the opportunity to go at all simply because of financial limitations

 

EDIT:

MEGA-lolz @ sabre - dude, youd fit right in Sweden[/sarcasm]

 

Not known for their open minded treatment of minorities...or of those who appear to be so

 

mtfbwya

[Sabretooth]

EDIT:

MEGA-lolz @ sabre - dude, youd fit right in Sweden[/sarcasm]

 

Not known for their open minded treatment of minorities...or of those who appear to be so

 

mtfbwya

Hey, I didn't say I was moving there.

 

If I'll ever switch nations, it will only be The Indepedent Fascist Republic of the Imperial Land of His Godlike, Imperial Majesty, Lord Sabretooth.

 

Or, the IFRILHGIMLS, for short.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

BRAZIL

 

Pros:

-Women.

-Great weather. Summer all the year.

-Diversified landscapes and climates. Comes from the North-Amazon rainforest, to the cold and snowy extreme south. The marshes on the middle-west region and the deserts or the northeast.

-Women!

-Sports. Every brazillian breathes games (whether sports or virtual stuff).

-People. I've went to some places out of Brazil, but I'm yet to see more gentle people.

-WOMEN!!

 

 

Cons:

-Scorching sun. You can become burnt bread if you're not used/ready for the summer here.

-Politics. It's name is most associated with corruption than advances.

-Education. Does poor indeed.

-Transports. We have a crysis about it here...

-Unbalance. There's a huge abyss between the poors and the rich.

[Gargoyle King]

Just sucks when they dare to think of people less fortunate than you, doesn't it?

Heh, that's not what i meant. I meant that our government seems to be focusing on problems elsewhere (i.e. the war for oil) rather than focus on the numerous problems here in the UK such as the rising knife and gun culture; nothing wrong with being patriotic is there? In terms of other aspects of government foreign policies such as the constant help to Africa, well i'm all for it and even donate.

[tk102]

Astro's post is like a nice southerly wind blowing through my American hair.

 

@Astro: I don't find any fault with your critiques and I think if you lived here, we'd probably vote for the same things more often than not. But as far as "the whole world really does hate you !!" statement, it's quite ignorant to dislike an individual because you dislike their country. But I guess from the evidence you presented the world has ample supply of ignorance to go around.

[PoiuyWired]

Washington state, USA! Specifically the northwestern part around Seattle.

 

*sigh* How I miss home. ^^;;

 

Plus, there are actually really nice and sunny days in the summer, its fantastically beautiful... even to a rain lover like me.

 

OK. Ok, my turn.

 

USA - Washington.

See Devon's post, pretty much that... though I live almost downtown.

 

Canada - Vancouver.

Pretty much the same across the Border. Higher Tax, more liberal plant consumption, and a wee bit colder. Oh less functional cops.

 

Hong Kong. (actually not the same as China)

What to say, its a giant city structure, and not much else. Good for shopping, food and low tax rate, not so good for anything else.

[Pavlos]

But as far as "the whole world really does hate you !!" statement, it's quite ignorant to dislike an individual because you dislike their country.

 

Anyway, I dislike the opinion a lot of people (especially in the UK - it's bred into us ) that the USA is the cultural back-water of the universe and Europe remains the one and true centre of artistic development. Have these people not read Ernest Hemingway, Raymond Carver, or Mark Twain? Or Arthur Miller, or Edgar Allen Poe, or Melville?

[Serpentine Cougar]

I really like the public transportation systems of where I live - it's something the U.S. needs to learn....

[Rev7]

I also live in Washington state, and actually just moved here from California.

 

PROS: As ED said, one of the highest minimum wages in the country,

Pretty nice weather (live in Eastern Washington) hot in the summer though.

Pretty good schools (IMO)

Where I live things are much slower than where I came from,

Overall nice people,

I pretty much agree with what ED said.

 

CONS:High cost of living,

There are always jerks no matter where you go,

Western Washington is just over the mountains. >_> (yep, I'm looking at you ED)

 

 

"At any rate, thats all I can think of...." -Carth Onasi [or something like that]

[Bee Hoon]

Ah, I forgot. Malaysia has a pretty crappy public transport system as well. Love the people, wonder where the taxes go:/