Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Looking to move to Europe (Original Post) a la izquierda Sep 2017 OP
Wish I could help (and do the same,) elleng Sep 2017 #1
I wish I could tell you about websites for jobs. Doreen Sep 2017 #2
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2018 #11
I wish you good luck. defacto7 Sep 2017 #3
I was seriously thinking about volunteering to colonize... Binkie The Clown Sep 2017 #4
Best to start at the beginning Warpy Sep 2017 #5
Ugh I'm sorry you're ill. a la izquierda Sep 2017 #8
what languages do you speak besides english? nt msongs Sep 2017 #6
Fluent in Spanish, reasonable speaking knowledge... a la izquierda Sep 2017 #7
you're hired! nt msongs Sep 2017 #9
If only it were that easy. Nt a la izquierda Sep 2017 #10
Im going to kick this, if I may. a la izquierda Jan 2018 #12
If you are already fluent in Spanish Thyla Jan 2018 #13
Why??? Juneboarder Sep 2018 #14
Well.... Thyla Sep 2018 #15
Interesting Perspective Juneboarder Sep 2018 #16
it's interesting, just after posting here... Thyla Oct 2018 #17
Exciting!! Juneboarder Oct 2018 #18
I haven't been down to Provence in 40 years DFW Nov 2018 #19

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
2. I wish I could tell you about websites for jobs.
Mon Sep 25, 2017, 01:07 AM
Sep 2017

Congrats on moving to Europe. I am moving to Frankfurt next year and likewise can not get out soon enough.

Response to Doreen (Reply #2)

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
3. I wish you good luck.
Mon Sep 25, 2017, 01:24 AM
Sep 2017

Some of the best years of my life were living and working in The Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain and Ireland between '88 and '03. I still have some state retirement waiting for me in Germany; it never expires. Alas, twas too long ago, I have family here now and I don’t have connections there anymore. I'd be outa here in a moment if I could. I do envy your venture.

Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)
4. I was seriously thinking about volunteering to colonize...
Mon Sep 25, 2017, 01:40 AM
Sep 2017

...Antarctica.

(You thought I was going to say "Mars", right?)

Face it, if we can't successfully colonize Antarctica we sure as hell can't colonize Mars. Antarctica is way warmer than Mars and already has plenty of oxygen and water.

Warpy

(111,122 posts)
5. Best to start at the beginning
Mon Sep 25, 2017, 02:27 AM
Sep 2017

with countries of choice and immigration/work permit and job needs information.

Good luck. If I weren't so ill, I'd be going too.

A friend worked her way around the planet teaching physics in one developing country after another. She adored it, said the kids were hungry and motivated.

a la izquierda

(11,791 posts)
8. Ugh I'm sorry you're ill.
Mon Sep 25, 2017, 02:54 AM
Sep 2017

I'm a history professor now, so I have excellent research and writing skills. I'm looking at american schools here, but would rather a research gig.
At this point I should turn my new project (violent crime against women in Mexico) into a novel.

a la izquierda

(11,791 posts)
7. Fluent in Spanish, reasonable speaking knowledge...
Mon Sep 25, 2017, 02:51 AM
Sep 2017

Of French (I can read it and understand it), working on my German.
I have a PhD in history, so I have a certain type of research skill and can write.

Thyla

(791 posts)
13. If you are already fluent in Spanish
Wed Jan 24, 2018, 05:13 PM
Jan 2018

Then that may be the first place to look, that said I live in Spain and not sure I could in good faith recommend it. Also I would have no idea where to look for jobs in academia outside of schools and universities. UK may be a good option and easier to search for opportunities.

Juneboarder

(1,732 posts)
14. Why???
Tue Sep 11, 2018, 04:20 PM
Sep 2018

Why would you not recommend moving to Spain? I fell in love with Spain and it made me ditch my dreams of moving to be with family in Italy. If I could, I would move to southern Spain, around Sevilla/Cadiz.

Thyla

(791 posts)
15. Well....
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 12:42 PM
Sep 2018

I think everything needs to be on a case by case basis, the OP has the language and what would seem to be specific skills so that bodes well. And surely a lot depends on where you decide to live, big cities offer more and I can only speak for my little corner of Spain.
But it is not easy for a non EU citizen to move here and near on impossible visa wise if you need employment unless you can get an EU passport. Also Spain suffered greatly from the economic crash and unemployment levels are sky high, over 20 percent and much higher for youth levels so family wise it does not offer great prospects for children leaving school.
That said should you be retired it has a lot to offer but we are a long way off that.

We are lucky as my wife was offered a good job before we made the move and we are quite comfortable financially but life is still a struggle against lack of common sense, civil rights and logic. It's hard to quantify really, not awful by any stretch but if you can't scratch your head and laugh at what is thrown at you then it gets very frustrating.

Juneboarder

(1,732 posts)
16. Interesting Perspective
Tue Sep 18, 2018, 05:46 PM
Sep 2018

Thank you for elaborating! I have means of obtaining dual citizenship in Italy because my family came from there and I still have relatives there that I visit regularly. I've always said I wanted to move to Italy when my son turns 18, but after spending two weeks in Spain, I absolutely fell in love with the country. My husband's family comes from the Huelva area, down south on the way to Portugal. We both fell in love with southern Spain. If I were to move, I would probably keep my current job in the states, as I have the ability to work remotely. This would help tremendously so that I don't have to worry about finding a job in a new country.

Thyla

(791 posts)
17. it's interesting, just after posting here...
Sun Oct 7, 2018, 12:26 PM
Oct 2018

My wife received a job offer to go and work in France so the last couple of weeks we have had to consider this.
Personally I would have jumped at any opportunity to move from Spain as long as it was financially viable and not taking a big hit but this really became one of the hardest decisions we have ever made. In the end I think the fact that we have our first house here and have been building on that plus we were in the beginning of a business plan to see if that was viable these made it harder than I was foreseeing, albeit understandably.

About the only thing Spain could actually offer us that was in the positive is it is cheaper and the wage here was slightly more. Aside from that it was personal reasons only.

In the end we eventually chose France, my wife is French so that helps and the project the offer is for is one that is too good to turn down again. She was actually offered a job there when we came here so I don't think they would ask a third time.
So it looks like at the start of next year we will be settling in in the Provence region, it's going to be tougher and more emotional than I expected when we leave but that is on us and not Spain. We'll keep the house in the meantime, maybe a place for holidays but I can think of other places to visit.

Anyway, adios Spain! It's been weird.

Juneboarder

(1,732 posts)
18. Exciting!!
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 11:39 AM
Oct 2018

Best of luck in your new adventures in France!! Change and new experiences are always a good thing in life!

DFW

(54,268 posts)
19. I haven't been down to Provence in 40 years
Sun Nov 11, 2018, 09:21 AM
Nov 2018

I assume it's just as charming and just as expensive as it used to be.

I'm in Paris once a week, but just for work, and it's so close, I rarely even spend the night.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Americans Abroad»Looking to move to Europe...