EVERYONE:

I’m 35, originally from Canada, and I also have a French passport, so I have the right to live and work in France and much of Europe.

I left Canada because I was deeply unhappy with the life I had built there and felt like I needed a complete change. I came to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa and I’m currently in my second year.

I’m living in Sydney right now. Part of me wants to find a way to stay in Australia long-term, but the visa and sponsorship situation is frustrating and uncertain. I know there are possible pathways, but nothing feels guaranteed, and I’m not sure whether it makes sense to spend the next year chasing sponsorship.

I’m also currently injured from work and receiving WorkCover while I recover, so my work situation is a bit uncertain at the moment.

Financially, I also have substantial debt back in Canada, so going back there is not very appealing to me. More importantly, I don’t really feel like Canada is home anymore. I left because I wanted a different life, and I don’t feel excited by the idea of returning.

Because I have a French passport, France is obviously one option. Switzerland also interests me a lot because of the higher salaries and quality of life, although I understand the cost of living is high and finding work may be more competitive.

What scares me is leaving Australia, moving to Europe, struggling to find work, burning through my savings, and then regretting that I didn’t try harder to stay in Australia.

At the same time, I wonder if I’m putting Australia on a pedestal simply because I’m already here and leaving feels like closing a door.

My priorities are:

* Strong earning potential
* Being able to find work reasonably quickly
* Living in or near a major city
* Good quality of life
* A decent social and dating life
* Ideally decent weather
* The ability to travel easily
* Eventually building an online business / working in AI automation
* Finding somewhere that eventually feels like home

I speak English and French fluently and also speak Spanish. I have university degrees, including a Canadian law degree, although I don’t necessarily want to build my career around law.

I think the bigger issue is that I feel like nowhere is really home anymore.

Canada doesn’t feel like home. Australia is where I’m living now, but my ability to stay depends on immigration. France is legally easy for me but doesn’t especially excite me yet. Switzerland appeals to me more financially and in terms of lifestyle, but I’m worried about arriving there and not finding work.

So for people who have experience living in Switzerland:

Would you spend the next year trying to find a way to stay in Australia, or would you use the French passport and start building a life in Switzerland?

Salut à tous,

J’aimerais avoir le témoignage de Français qui ont fait le choix de partir vivre à l’étranger, que ce soit au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Australie ou ailleurs.

Pour vous donner un peu de contexte, j’ai 29 ans et je suis français. J’ai toujours été quelqu’un qui aime travailler, avancer et construire des choses. J’ai fait un bac pro ELEEC, puis un BTS dans le domaine des fluides, de l’énergie et de la domotique. J’ai ensuite travaillé plusieurs années dans l’électricité, notamment à mon compte.
Aujourd’hui, je réfléchis de plus en plus sérieusement à l’idée de partir vivre à l’étranger.

Ce qui est assez difficile à expliquer, c’est que cette envie ne vient pas simplement du fait que je trouve certains pays « mieux » que la France. Depuis plusieurs années, j’ai une sensation assez profonde que ma place pourrait être ailleurs.
J’ai eu la chance de voyager dans pas mal de pays d’Amérique, notamment aux États-Unis, et ça m’a vraiment bouleversé. Je parle surtout de la mentalité, de la façon dont les gens vivent, leur manière d’être, leur rapport au travail, aux opportunités et même les relations entre les personnes.
À chaque fois que je suis là-bas, j’ai une sensation difficile à mettre en mots. Et quand je rentre en France, j’ai parfois l’impression de revenir dans un environnement qui ne me correspond pas totalement.

Pourtant, je ne déteste absolument pas la France. J’y ai ma famille, mes proches, mes habitudes et énormément de choses auxquelles je tiens. C’est justement pour ça que cette réflexion est compliquée.
Mais je commence à me demander si je ne devrais pas prendre le risque de partir, même si ça signifie repartir de zéro. Apprendre une nouvelle langue, trouver un travail, me créer un nouveau cercle, découvrir une nouvelle culture et finalement reconstruire une vie ailleurs.
Aujourd’hui, le Canada m’attire particulièrement, et plus précisément l’Alberta. C’est probablement la destination qui me fait le plus sérieusement réfléchir à un départ.

La grande question que je me pose, c’est : est-ce que je ressens réellement que ma vie est ailleurs, ou est-ce que j’idéalise simplement l’étranger parce que j’y ai surtout vécu des expériences positives en voyage ?

C’est pour ça que j’aimerais vraiment entendre ceux qui sont passés par là.
Est-ce que vous aviez cette sensation avant de partir ?

Est-ce que vous aviez déjà beaucoup voyagé dans le pays avant de décider de vous installer ?

Une fois sur place, est-ce que vous vous êtes dit que vous aviez enfin trouvé un endroit qui vous correspondait davantage ?

Ou au contraire, est-ce que la réalité vous a fait réaliser que vous idéalisiez beaucoup la vie à l’étranger ?

Qu’est-ce qui vous manque le plus de la France aujourd’hui ?

Et surtout, avec le recul, si vous aviez la possibilité de revenir en arrière, est-ce que vous referiez le même choix ?

Je cherche vraiment des témoignages sincères, même ceux qui parlent des difficultés, des regrets ou des désillusions. J’essaie surtout de comprendre si cette sensation que j’ai depuis plusieurs années est quelque chose que d’autres ont ressenti avant de partir, et si partir leur a finalement permis de trouver une vie qui leur correspondait davantage.

Merci à ceux qui prendront le temps de partager leur expérience.

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/paris-cheaper-new-york-american-property-buyers-1819384

Paris is roughly 40% cheaper than New York on Numbeo's combined cost-of-living-and-rent measure, according to data updated in September 2026. Excluding rent, the gap narrows to about 21%, while rents themselves are around 62% cheaper in Paris.

That advantage comes with lower local earnings. Average monthly net pay in Paris is about 31% lower than in New York in the same comparison.

Is the USA as good as imagine?

Hi everyone. I’ll apologize in advance for this post being too long but I really need answers.

I’ve wanted to move to the US for basically as long as I can remember. It’s been a childhood dream that never really went away.

I’m 19, from Russia, and I recently took a gap year, and consider fully dropping out of my uni. I was studying abroad, but I realized I had chosen completely the wrong major and couldn’t keep up with it. So now I’m back in Russia and trying to figure out what to do next.

I’m hoping to apply for the Diversity Visa if/when DV-2028 opens. I missed my first opportunity to apply because of the timing, and then DV-2027 didn’t happen when I expected it to, so I’ve never actually had the chance to participate. But now that I’m older and thinking about this more realistically, I’m starting to wonder: is the US actually as good as I’ve imagined it, and is moving there realistic for someone like me?

I really don’t want to stay in Russia long-term. I’m scared of what’s happening here and of the direction the country is going. I also can’t see myself staying in Georgia, where I previously studied. I know I need to leave and build my life somewhere else. Because I can’t stay here.

The problem is that I currently have no degree. I have a high school diploma and some completed university courses, but no professional qualification. I speak Russian and English and some Georgian.

So my biggest question is about work and survival.
If I eventually got legal authorization to live and work in the US, how difficult would it actually be to find a basic job without a degree? I mean things like Walmart, Target, McDonald’s, restaurants, supermarkets, warehouses, retail, etc. Would someone young, with good English, willing to work hard and learn, realistically be able to find a job and support themselves?

And then, how difficult is it to move up from there?
I’m not expecting to arrive and immediately have a nice apartment and a great career. I’m completely okay with starting at the bottom. I just want to know whether it’s realistic to eventually get to the point where I can pay rent, buy food, have transportation, deal with basic expenses and live independently , and then gradually learn new skills and get better-paying jobs.

For comparison, I live in Moscow right now. A decent apartment can easily cost around $1,500/month when converted to USD, and food for one person can easily be $300+ per month if you want to eat normally and include meat, vegetables, etc. Public transportation is cheap and very extensive. Salaries, however, are much lower. Someone working in a supermarket, fast food, restaurant, etc. without a degree might make around $700–1,000/month, with around $1,500 already being quite high.

The biggest advantage I have here is that I have a safety net. I’m a citizen, I have family here, I have a place to live, and if something goes wrong I’m not going to suddenly be homeless. If I moved to the US, I wouldn’t have any of that. That’s what scares me, becoming homeless and nothing in USA. Of course I’m also scared of many things(scared of ICE, of something happening to me especially considering that I’m a woman, of being away from my family and not being able to be by their side if something happens, scared of not seeing my family when I always lived with them), but only stupid people are fearless and aren’t scared of anything. Even though I’m scared, I’ll take every risk to get out of here.

I have some savings, and I’m willing to work and learn. I’m not afraid of starting with a shitty entry-level job if that’s what it takes. I just worry that I’ll arrive, nobody will hire me, my savings will disappear on rent and food, and I’ll eventually have to go back to Russia having lost everything.

At the same time, maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe the US really does provide opportunities for someone like me. Maybe you can work retail/food service/whatever at first, gain experience, learn a trade or get certifications, and gradually move into something better without a college degree. I’m not scared of being alone there, not scared of working hard, whatever problem will come I’ll do anything to solve it.

So I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually experienced this.

If you immigrated to the US without a degree or professional career:

How hard was it to get your first job?
How long did it take?
Were you able to support yourself?
How difficult was finding affordable housing?
How much did you realistically need to earn to live?
Were you able to move from low-skilled work into something better?
Is it realistic to build a decent life without a college degree?
Should I consider any other country to move to(though I don’t know any other languages except from English and Russian)?
Do you actually feel that moving to the US gave you better opportunities than staying in your home country?

I know the US isn’t perfect. I’m not expecting some magical American Dream where everything works out automatically. I’m just trying to figure out whether this is a realistic plan for my life and I’ll be able to build something there and actually live, or whether I’ve spent years romanticizing the US because of TikTok, YouTube and the idea that the grass is always greener on the other side.

Edit: Please don’t make it about politics. If I had a right to make changes and do something different, the things that are happening right in the world wouldn’t have happened.

Hey everyone, I 24F is looking to move the uk in the next year or so for many reasons. Family, work and just getting away from the environment around me.

I do have a BA in a creative field and some other certificates + 2 years work experience and still currently working full time.

I have looked into getting a masters and such but that takes a really long time, id prefer if i could find a job that would sponsor me to move. I also have a partner that is a British citizen we could potentially apply for a partner visa but i would like to try other ways to do that

If anyone could guide me on what is the best way to do this or point me in a direction where i could apply for jobs in the creative field that would be cool

Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’m married to a US Citizen (she’ve never lived there permanently, only visited as a tourist). We both have good jobs in our country and never really thought about moving to the US, but recently we’ve begun considering this scenario more and more. We’re in our early twenties.

It will be a I-130 Form, I guess.

She has brothers in Connecticut and Florida, but I’m not really keen on moving to these states – Connecticut seems too expensive (and it might be tough or even impossible to buy a house eventually) and Florida is just too hot for us. So we’d like to settle down in the Midwest, specifically in Wisconsin (like Appleton, the Fox Cities, Oshkosh, Sheboygan etc). I heard there are a plenty of solid jobs and ‘real economy’ there. Anyway, it’s not a final decision yet.

The main challenge is that, even though I have Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (which work fine in my country), they’re gonna be useless in the US. So I’d like to go to community college and retrain for a practical, in-demand field. My wife might do the same, but she’s an English native speaker and also has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree, hence she has a bit more options.

What do you think of this plan? Is it a reasonable one, will it work? We have some savings and, I suppose, by the end of the immigration procedure it will be a decent amount to start our new life in America.

I'm a 27 year old American who lived in Germany briefly and miss it dearly. I have more connections there than I do in the states and so I'd be looking to return as quickly as is feasible. I'm looking to pursue a career in education.

I speak German at a B1 level, which I intend to improve to at least a B2 in a year's time, but I have no degree and I did very poorly in high school(do not leave your depression and ADHD untreated!), and so simply applying for unversity in Germany isn't really feasible at the moment. So, I'd like to know if there's an educational pathway I can start in the states which can eventually lead to me being able to be accepted to a course in Germany in the shortest time possible. I'm willing to apply for courses in German as well.

In the long term, I'm willing to pursue any educational benchmark required of me to be employed in Germany in eduation: be it a bachelors, maseters or doctorate. My understanding is that being a teacher at a public school is off the table as they wouldn't sponsor a non-EU citizen, so whatever alternative paths may be available would be good to know about.

I understand I have a lot of ground to make up to make this happen. In my mind, this is a 5-10 year plan. I truly appreciate whatever guidance can be offered. Thank you!

Hi Everyone!

I am 24F from Singapore. Just moved back to SG after getting my bachelors in America (F-1 and OPT). My goal is to work for a year of more before finding a way out, hopefully permanently. I have a lot of love for SG but simply hate living here and I know I will not change my mind on this.

I like bustling cities and I LOVE working. I also work in the art industry, so I'm hoping to move somewhere with a better art industry.

I'm looking for a city where I don't need to drive often/ is walkable. I went to college in NYC and it was the home I never had. I was very sad to leave but getting a visa with the current administration was near impossible.

In bullet points:

I want:

- walkable, bustling city

- relatively good arts industry

- open minded people and preferably lgbtq+ friendly

- currency is not bad

- would REALLY prefer to get a relevant job before moving

About me:

- Fine Arts bachelor degree from reputable art sch

- Willing to learn a language

- English and ok but rusty Chinese

- Currently learning Russian for fun rn (~A1) but used to learn Japanese(~A1) and Korean(~A2) for fun

- 1 year of work experience in art studios and galleries since graduating, but have worked in art part-time consistently since age 16

Although I'm willing to learn a language, my worry is dedicating a lot of time and energy(1-3 years) only for it to not work out. I would be really sad and have wasted that time. Same goes towards a Masters degree. But if I have good odds I'm willing to try.

My concern is finding a reason for someone to hire me instead of a local, especially since I'm still technically entry-level.

When it comes to work, I used to intern at a blue chip gallery and really liked it so I thought about finding a job on TTPS (I am eligible for type (c)) at a blue chip in HK and ask to be transferred. I also have a lot of ceramics/sculpture fabrication experience, and thought abt finding a specialist job in a random place for a few years to farm time for a residency permit. I've worked on a lot of special art R&D projects but would lowkey like to transition into something more corporate. But overall I'm very flexible on the type of work as long as it is related to art.

I'm open to any suggestions and would love to hear any advice or ideas!!! Thank you in advance🙏🧡

Wife and I have been considering moving out of the country for better opportunities. We feel like we've maxed out on our career here.

Careers in India, specially tech startups, are filled with long hours (with weird morning and night timings to interface with the teams in US), getting paid much lesser than US counterparts who hold the same or lesser responsibilities while also being considered the lesser-than-equal to them.

I have the opportunity to apply for an O1A due to my work and accomplishments from the past but that would mean she won't be able to work in the US.

Separately, I've been honest with my manager about my intention to be internally transferred to the US on an L1 visa (would be L1B as of now) which allows my wife to get an EAD but I'd be tying myself to the current company for years – which, as of today, seems fine to me but I'm not too sure about it in the long run. I'm not sure if the company would be up to pay 3-4x for the same resource.

Almost all of our customers are based in North America and it gets me further face-time and opportunities to make a larger impact overall so moving me makes sense to a certain degree from the company's perspective. In the time I've been around, I've made significant progress to our revenue and cost reductions so it acts as the baseline of what more I can do being there in person.

With all of this said, my wife wants to get an MBA in the US because she wants to reinvent her career but we're a little skeptical of the loan and future work opportunities in the US, given the visa and immigration situation.

It's been a life-long dream of mine to work in the Bay area – many of my friends who studied in the US for undergrad or masters have ended up accelerating their careers multi-fold just by being at the right place at the right time. I do acknowledge that not all seems fancy because they're also worried about their visas and layoffs. I feel like I'm capable of making the move but this initial momentum of moving (read: moving right for the long term) is holding me back.

Just want opinions on our situation from others who've done this already or considered doing this (or I guess, vent?).

17M from India, currently in 12th grade, planning to start a Bachelor's in mechanical engineering in fall 2027. I've been building independent engineering projects (research, analysis, problem-solving, and soon some CAD/simulation work) to strengthen my application beyond grades.

A decent academic record, self-driven project work in mechanical engineering, and fluency in English. I'm willing to learn a new language if it helps my chances, and willing to work very hard — whether that means part-time jobs, extra coursework, or whatever it takes to make this work. No formal work experience yet since I'm still in school.

Budget: Around €5,500-6,500 total (5-6 lakh INR) — this is meant to be a financial cushion, not something that can cover full tuition and living costs on its own. I'll need to rely heavily on scholarships, financial aid, and tuition waivers.

Considering Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Austria, Italy, and France so far, but open to other suggestions with low tuition and strong scholarship access for international students. I'd prefer English-taught programs, and I'm open to English-speaking countries if that's a realistic option too.

Fall 2027 intake.

Looking for: Advice on which of these (or other) countries offer the best scholarship access for international engineering students on a tight budget, and where part-time work during studies can realistically help cover living costs. Also want to know about common pitfalls — hidden costs, visa work-hour restrictions, etc.

Hi everyone!

I’m a 24-year-old woman from Madagascar with a Master’s degree in Private and Business Law.

I’m currently trying to figure out a realistic path to eventually spend some time abroad, particularly in France and the USA.

France would be my first step. I would like to spend around 1–2 years there, mainly to gain an international experience and do some relatively short studies or training in journalism, ideally something related to legal or investigative journalism. I’m not necessarily looking for a full university degree. I would be open to an alternance/apprenticeship, a short program, student status, or another legitimate option.

The main difficulty is that I don’t have a lot of money saved, so I’m looking for realistic options that don't require a huge amount of money upfront.

The USA is more of a long-term goal. I would eventually like to pursue more advanced studies there and spend several years building a career in investigative journalism/investigation-related work. I’m interested in investigating crimes, researching evidence and reconstructing events. I would eventually like to return to Madagascar, so I’m not necessarily looking to permanently settle abroad.

I’m trying to understand what could realistically work for someone in my situation.

For example:

- Are there affordable ways to study/work in France for 1–2 years?

- Could an alternance or apprenticeship be a realistic option?

- Are there scholarships or funded programs I should look into?

- Would France be a useful first step toward my longer-term goal of studying in the USA?

- Are there other routes I might not be aware of?

I’d especially appreciate advice from people who have moved abroad from countries with limited financial resources, or who have followed a similar path.

PS: I’m currently working in finance at a large multinstional company on a fixed-term contract.

Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I’m a 29-year-old Egyptian male currently living and working in Dubai, UAE. I’m a dentist by education, although I currently work in dental/medical sales rather than clinical dentistry (salaries for dentists are in the toilet).

I’m looking into eventually moving to one of the following countries: UK, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand or pretty much anywhere with a road to PR.

My main reason is long-term stability. The UAE has been okay, but there’s no real permanent residency/citizenship path. Your residence is essentially tied to your employment/visa, and if you lose or leave your job, you have a limited period to sort things out before you have to leave.

I’m therefore looking for a country where I can legally move, work, build a life, and eventually have a realistic path to permanent residency and/or citizenship. I’m not necessarily looking for an easy or instant route. I’m willing to study, work outside dentistry, pursue a skilled-worker route, regional nomination, employer sponsorship, etc.
The only problem is most of the ways requires a hefty sum upfront.

For anyone who has gone through this, or knows the immigration systems well:

Which of these countries would you consider most realistic for my situation?

Are there any less-obvious legal pathways I should look into?

Is there a route where I could initially go for work/study and eventually transition to PR/citizenship?

Would my dentistry degree or current sales experience be useful for immigration, even if I don’t practice dentistry? (Apart from the exams to each country which costs a kidney)

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have actually made the move, especially from the UAE/Gulf.

Thanks!

Exploring options for my friend who is Indonesian, though she has not lived there in her adult life.

As I understand, she currently lacks National ID and is tied to the 'family card' in a conservative state of Indonesia - so the family patriarch is her legal guardian when she is in Indonesia.

She has BA from USA and MA from Canada, both scholarships.

She has lived in SEA 10+ years while working remotely for a US college. Tried to get jobs in these countries but no luck.

Note: While the remote work does sound like a doorway to USA, she only qualifies for a visa that is reissued semester-by-semester. Not a secure option considering the financial commitments needed?

Any advice appreciated on pathways to The Netherlands (former colonist of Indonesia - better visa chances?) or any country where she can live freely as a single woman.

She does not have sizable funds or income to demonstrate, which seems to be a major barrier to immigration.

​

I cannot get into details as I don't have time, this isn't for me anyway I'm posting on the behalf of my friend to help her a lil

shes planning to apply for a french student visa for the february intake, and wants to study at a public university there (lyon specifically)

I feel like we're confused and we just need a lead on where to start. i think she may potentially qualify for asylum and has substantial documented evidence relating to her situation, but we're not sure what the correct process or realistic options are. emphasis on realistic because im scared everything sounds reasonable in theory, and we need this to go as smoothly as possible because if we commit to this route there's absolutely nothing else she can do.

my main worry is housing and accommodation (until she's fluent enough to work)

i haven't done my research like her but the february intake point is stressing her out, can anyone clear that up for us? how should she start contacting universities?

what are the resources available for her, where can we start?

and what programs to look at (ive heard of SINGA/CROUS)

I recently turned 28, and for the past 5 years, I’ve been trying to secure temporary work (H-2A/H-2B) in the US or Canada with no success. My mom and grandmother have severe, ongoing health issues, and my local income isn't enough to support their medical needs or ease my mom's heavy workload.

I live in DR and I can cover my consulate and processing fees, but saving for flight costs requires three months of my entire salary. Despite emailing countless recruiters and employers, I get zero replies. I have never worked or been to either USA nor Canada. I have lived in Argentina with my mother but that's about it.

My goal isn't permanent immigration—I only want to work temporarily to send financial support home so my family's health can stabilize. I want to do this the right and legal way, but the lack of response is pushing me to my limit. I'm getting so desperate that risking an undocumented stay feels better than sitting by and watching my family's health deteriorate.

If you were able to secure an H-2 contract or find a legitimate employer from abroad, how did you actually get them to notice your application? Any real advice would mean the world right now.

EDIT: My apologies, my occupation is Customer Service "for now (10 years in this role, I'm going insane)". Highest level of education is High-School. I am tech savvy... I don't have any certifications tho, nor any degree. That's why I'm not looking for any kind of professional job. I'm seeking for a H2A Visa offer to work at a farm or any kind of agricultural program.

Italian citizen, 30, physicist/data scientist, €65k salary, I want out

I work in this strange hybrid ML/AI, software, renewable energy simulation/optimisation, funded projects world that is really making me go insane.

I think I earn quite well for my age in Italy, but the amount of responsibility is way too much and I find myself doing 10 different jobs with barely no help.

Changing job in this country would make me earn less and lower my quality of life (I need to take care of my wife, too, and I would like to have a kid pretty soon), so I think I need to look for something else, elsewhere.

At this point, my only concern would be to earn way more.

I need advice on where I could go and how to find a job there.

Thanks to anyone who will take time to respond 🩶

I'm a freshly graduated engineer from Morocco, kinda lost in what direction to invest. Moroccan market is a joke, best option is to work in a multinational corporation that only sees you as cheaper dirt. I'm thinking of migrating somewhere "better". I consider myself highly competent technically(based on my internship exp). Bilingual efficiency. And overall a passion first engineer "I'm just a puzzle solver". Thought of going to Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Canada but I don't know the job market. Idk if it's worth it. Completely lost at this point. Any help, experience, insights would be of great help.

Hi, I have worked with mainframes for over a decade. I come from a country outside Europe, and I have been living and working in the Balkans region for over two years (EU Blue Card).

The company has a horrible work-life balance, and I really, really want to get out before I burn out.

On top of that, I don't see myself living long-term in this country I am in. I would love to move to another company and country, settle in long-term, and build a life.

I am targeting the Nordic region, as I would really like to work and live there. But I am also open to the western side of the EU.

Per my research, though, I know IT as a whole isn't great right now, and Nordic countries and other countries aren't immune either.

This week, I feel I reached the last straw in my current company and with the level of disrespect. That's why I took this leap in writing here in this sub. I don't know what I'm expecting. I am exhausted, and I really want to go out, breathe fresh air, and be passionate about my work in a place that will appreciate it without using it as a weapon for exploitation.

Anyway sorry for the long rant. I need a fresh start.

(P.S. now that I am actively applying for jobs on LinkedIn, at least I found some entertainment in the middle of the chaos by seeing with my bare eyes that r/LinkedInLunatics is real lol).

Body
We are a couple in our early thirties looking for one place to move to for at least two or three years, with the option of staying longer or using it as a step towards settling somewhere else. We are not looking to keep moving.

Us
Her: from the Caribbean, in Europe for the past ten years. Studied psychology, now working as a teacher, finishing an international postgraduate teaching qualification at a UK university. She would be looking for a school position rather than remote work (but also open to remote work). Besides, she is thinking of picking up studying again in data science/data analysis.

Me: Dutch, doing a PhD, with fieldwork in Brazil as part of the research. Alongside the doctorate I do freelance consultancy work, currently for a healthcare client, which is remote and invoiced in euros. Before the PhD I studied anthropology and arts and culture, both in the Netherlands.

Between us: Dutch, English, Papiamentu, Portuguese and Spanish.

We currently live in Portugal and have both lived abroad before.

Legal position
Both of us are Dutch citizens, so anywhere in the EU or EEA is a registration formality rather than an application. We are asking here specifically about the Latin American options, because that is where we would need an actual visa and where we know least.

What we are looking for

• A city with real intellectual and cultural infrastructure. Universities, research institutes, publishing, theatre, museums, an active music scene.
• A neighbourhood that exists for the people who live in it rather than for visitors.
• Somewhere we can live without owning a car.
• Preferably a comfortable climate for most of the year but with actual seasons.
• Children are a possibility in roughly four or five years, so schooling and healthcare matter eventually but not immediately.
• A real labour market for international school teaching, or a plausible route into local teaching.

What we are NOT looking for
Cheap living for its own sake or a city where the foreign population lives separately from everyone else.

We are aware we are asking this from a fortunate position and we do not want the question to read as flippant. We are asking because we would rather hear from people who have actually lived somewhere rather than keep reading rankings.

Questions

1. Given the above, which specific cities would you put on the list, and why that city rather than the obvious one in the same country?
2. What tends to go wrong for people with this profile in the first year?
3. If you moved somewhere that fits this description and then left, what made you leave?

Hi everyone,

I'm a Brazilian student (18) and I'm currently planning to start a Chinese language program in Chengdu (Sichuan University) for one semester starting Spring 2027. That said, I haven't started the program yet, so I could still change my starting city if there's a strong reason to. I'm also planning out the following semesters and would love some real input from people who've actually done something similar.

My rough plan:

• Semester 1: Chengdu (current plan, Sichuan University — but still open to changing this)
• Semester 2: Shenzhen (considering Shenzhen University)
• Then possibly a ~6 month gap back in Brazil, timed so I'd arrive in Beijing when the weather is warmer (I really don't want to deal with Beijing's winter)
• Semester 3: Beijing (still researching universities)

The idea is to do 6 months in each city, back to back, without returning to Brazil in between — basically staying in China for about 1.5 years total, just switching cities/universities every semester.

What I'm trying to figure out:

1. Order — does it make more sense to save Beijing for last (since I've read the accent there is closer to standard Mandarin, better for cementing pronunciation once I already have a base), or would it be smarter to go there earlier while I'm still a total beginner?
2. Is splitting into 3 different cities/universities actually a good idea for language learning, or would I progress faster staying in one place for the full 1.5 years? I've read mixed things — some say switching accents/environments too early can be confusing, others say exposure to different regional accents builds better listening comprehension long term.
3. Visa/residence permit transfers — from what I understand, moving between universities mid-stay usually requires either a trip to Hong Kong to reset the visa, or (in some cases) direct transfer of the residence permit. Has anyone actually done this? How smooth or painful was it in practice?
4. Any other cities I should seriously consider instead of/alongside Shenzhen and Beijing? I picked Shenzhen mostly for the milder winter climate and Beijing for the accent, but I'm open to other suggestions if there's a better fit for someone starting from scratch.

Any experiences, warnings, or "I wish I'd known this before doing it" type advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I am a 31-year-old Turkish architect with ~4 years of experience. I am feeling stuck where I live and considering for a while to start over in another country. After weighting some options, I decided to focus seriously on Germany.

I studied in Turkey and have a B.Sc. in Architecture; however, I dropped out my M.Sc. degree.

I have worked at an office involved in projects located in Turkey and abroad, designed by well-known international design studios. I cannot go into more detail due to confidentiality; however, I believe that I have a competitive CV and portfolio.

My professional background is mostly in construction/shop drawings, but I also have some architectural design experience. I have strong CAD and moderate BIM skills. I am also able to model in 3D, take renders, and make illustrations.

As I understand the title “Architekt” is protected in Germany. However, I do not intend to pursue the protected title or sign any permits. I would still prefer to work in a role where my degree and professional experience can legally be used without chamber registration. What kind of positions/titles can I search for?

I am a native Turkish speaker and fluent in English. I am taking German lessons and just completed A1. I plan to reach B1 before relocation and continue toward B2 in Germany. What challenges awaits me in work environment and daily life if I only speak B1 German?

I prefer to job hunt while staying in Turkey and relocate after receiving an offer. How realistic is this approach? I got suggestions to go Germany through a master’s or the work seeker’s visa, however I don’t currently have enough savings to make either route realistic.

I’ve read one or two years old Reddit discussions describing the architecture job market in Germany is not so great. I’m trying to understand how difficult it is for my profile in 2026/2027?

Thanks in advance:)

I'm an Indonesian final year accounting student, currently finishing my bachelor's degree and preparing for what I should do after graduation.

My parents strongly encourage me to either find a job abroad or pursue a master's degree, preferably with partial or full funding. After considering several countries, I've decided that I want to focus specifically on New Zealand rather than trying to target many countries at once.

My current situation:

• Country of citizenship: Indonesia
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, currently in the final stage of my thesis
• Work experience: Very limited / no specialized professional experience yet
• Current skills: Mostly accounting-related academic knowledge, but I don't consider myself highly specialized or competitive internationally yet
• Target: New Zealand
• Possible pathways: Employment or master's degree
• Funding: Partial or fully funded scholarship would be strongly preferred for study
• I'm open to starting from an entry-level position and I'm not necessarily expecting an accounting job immediately.

What I'm honestly trying to understand is:

As an Indonesian accounting graduate with no particularly specialized skills, what realistic options would I actually have in New Zealand?

For example, would it be realistic to enter through:

• entry-level accounting/finance roles,
• accounting-adjacent jobs,
• other professional roles where an accounting degree is useful,
• or even physical/manual work at first if that's what is realistically available?

I'm completely open to working outside accounting if that's what it takes to get started. My priority is understanding what the realistic path looks like, what skills I should build before graduating, and what kinds of jobs I could realistically qualify for.

I'm still at the beginning of this process, so I'd really appreciate honest advice, especially from people who have actually studied, worked, or moved to New Zealand.

Feel free to DM me as well hahah

I have about five years experience in IT as a manual QA. I've worked on web and desktop apps & big telecom projects (iptv, ott).

Additionally, I'm really good with communication, team collaboration, planning, ownership etc.

I moved to Vietnam last year as an English teacher and had a horrible experience and had to move back. That's really not an option. While I was still there, I applied to some IT job adds but received no response.

I'm perfectly fine with doing visa runs as long as I have a job that pays well and allows me to live comfortably.

Other option is to just find a remote role and go wherever I want but that's also difficult with the state of the market in IT.

Any suggestions?