If you could live in a different country ...

[Dan]

I'm used to Canada, having grown up in Buffalo, but I like the idea of Australia. More planning jobs, cheaper housing (at least outside of Sydney), good public transit, and very liveable cities. Yes, there's still ugly suburban sprawl, billboards, and whatnot, but the people are friendly, they supposedly like us Americans (horrors!), and the culture is distinctive enough from that of Canada to make me feel like I'm really someplace different.

New Zealand is a possibility, but I think I'd go stir-crazy after a while. I'd consider the UK, too ... probably some 1920s or 1930s era London suburb, in a larger semi-attached house.

I want to visit South Africa -- incredible natural beauty, incredible weather, and an incomparable standard of living for that nation's middle class -- but crime has put a damper on things. I can leave the door of my house in my (typical) ungated community about three kilometers from the edge of Orlando, Florida's "'hood" unlocked; the worst crime I've encountered here is littering. People living miles from downtown J'burg cower behind gates and walls. Not good. I'd live there if I had to, knowing that there's worse, but from everything that I've seen and read, it seems South Africa is like the US .... as depicted in Robocop.

I wouldn't mind some Mexican community far from the border where there's a large expatriate community, such as San Miguel de Allende. I know enough Spanish to pick up the rest of the language through immersion, and I find Mexicans to be some of the friendlest, hardest-working people out there. Wonderful people that definitely deserve better. Completely disregarding language barriers, probably Germany. It's just a country that does things right. Beautiful women, too. Switzerland might also be a possibility.

 

[PlannerGirl]

Id go back to where i grew up Rep. de Panama'

ahhhh the diving, the beaches, the GREAT food and the most wonderful people. Sleep in a hammock every day a lunch, grow your own banannas, mangos, cashews, pineapple etc.

Life is so much slower and simpler back there a sarong and bikini top and your set!

ahhhhh memories

 

[Chet]

Prolly the UK. I'd love to spend time with Journeymouse - he's cool.

 

[prudence]

The UK

But specifically London. London is like living in a dozen different countries...there are countless ethnic pockets. Every visit I make is overwhelming...the history, the people, the events, the food. Yes, I said the food. I love British pub fare. And no language barrier.

Though Deutschland is very close behind. Being 100% kraut, I have calling to Die Vatterland. I grew up immersed in the culture. Great history, food, and freuleins...and I can finally use those 3 years of college German classes...

I think I'd leave the planning side of life and become a bartender...or a professor. If I learned anything during undergrad and grad school it's that professors don't need any concept of reality. THey don't need to truly accomplish anything...a great career choice for a foreign land.

 

[troy]

Mexico... Cuernavaca, Morelos to be specific. I studied Spanish there for five weeks and loved it. Nice town, friendly people, plenty of foriegn students (mostly U.S. and German at the language school I attended), and not too far from Mexico City where the Mexican half of my family lives.

The funny thing is, in Mexico, our family is part of the social elite...foriegn money goes a long way. Here in the states, we muddle about in the low end of middle-class...too many of us are public servants to actually become wealthy...

 

[Tranplanner]

Excellent question, but tough...

As much as I like touring through the U.S., I'm not sure I'd want to live there - like Dan with Canada, I'm used to the States. Why would I want to move there when I can stay here and get the same crappy TV shows?

I've always loved going back 'ome to the U.K. A pub on every corner, proper fish and chips, and twice daily mail delivery. I wouldn't do London though. I'd be somewhere up north - gimme those gritty industrial cities!

France. After watching the movie Ameliee (see fav movies thread), I have this urge to flee to Paris. I figure my fiancee can get a job in a small cafe, and I'll just sit there and watch the world go by... Only problem is, I'm not a huge France-fan. Maybe I can commute from Dover.

For some reason, I've always wanted to go to Argentina. No, I'm not a Nazi war criminal. I've heard Buenos Aires is a beautiful city. But what with the economic crisis and all....

Japan - I almost went right after university to teach English, seeing as there were no planning jobs going. Not so sure I want to live there, but I'd love to go visit for an extended period of time...

 

[Downtown]

Wow - good thread!

With having to be gainfully employed -
I'd have to go with Costa Rica - we went about 10 years ago (oh christ, that just made me feel OLD), and it really is the perfect temperature in the capital, San Jose, 70's all year round. a morning's drive would take you to either the atlantic or pacific, tons of hiking, canoeing and kayaking. services are amazingly cheap, although you will have to pay double for goods like washing machines and cars. but all in all, well worth it.

Staying a planner -
I'd have to also go with Australia or New Zealand. Minimal language barrier, still extremely exotic - would absolutely love to visit.

 

[Downtown]

Excellent question, but tough...

For some reason, I've always wanted to go to Argentina. No, I'm not a Nazi war criminal. I've heard Buenos Aires is a beautiful city. But what with the economic crisis and all....

I was a Rotary foreign exchange student in highschool. One of my girlfriends who went to Buenos Aires picked up head lice on the beach there. Since then, I've not been so keen on argentina.

 

[nerudite]

Great expatriate community...

When I was in Prague, I was really impressed by the expatriate community (from many countries, the US included). I have had friends that went to architecture school there that have said that acclimating to the area and the people is easier than you would expect. Prague is just brimming with activity, and it's a beautiful, walkable city.

Other than that, I've thought of moving to Granada, Spain. Or just about any of the small towns in that area. Mostly because I love the weather and the history.

But I guess I settled for Canada for awhile... Don Cherry is foreign enough at times.

 

[Journeymouse]

Prolly the UK. I'd love to spend time with Journeymouse - he's cool.

Do I laugh, scream or look flattered? Let's do this slowly. I. Am. A. Girl. I could drop me kecks to prove it, but it looses the effect somewhat on-line.

I wouldn't mind trying either Scotland or Wales, seeing as they now have (slightly) different governments. Not for long, just to try out. I'm mildly home sick for the North of England. It feels like a seperate country just 150 miles South. The people aren't especially different, but they don't have the rough but friendly quality they tend to have up North, specifically Yorkshire (which is to England as Texas is to the USA - they're already lobbying for their own government!)

Going abroad:
I enjoyed spending all my summers in France, but my French is incredibly poor as most of the people I met were Dutch. So I'd like to try France or the Nederlands. I'd quite like to try the Bahamas as I was born there. Wouldn't mind trying New Zealand or Canada (both languages!) as I have (allegedly) relatives in both. Brazil for Gracey (sp?) jui jitsu, capeoira (sp?), rainforests and dancing, but I'd have to learn the lingo.

 

[Chet]

Do I laugh, scream or look flattered? Let's do this slowly. I. Am. A. Girl. I could drop me kecks to prove it, but it looses the effect somewhat on-line.

I know - I tease. Luv ya!

 

[Journeymouse]

I know - I tease. Luv ya!

Forgiven

 

[boiker]

foreign countries..

lets see.. if done so little traveling in my life that even... ohio would seem like an exotic country.

I can probably count the states i've visted on one hand, states i've driven through on two.

anyway..if i was to go anywhere... anywhere in the UK would be it. As long as it was a decent sized metro area.

Maybe.. Amsterdam? but I don't think I'd be able to get anything done.

 

[Jeff]

Do I have to work?? That makes the question much more difficult. I've always loved Mexico. Rosarita Beach, Mexico would have to be my first choice.

Costa Rica, great mountain biking, surfing, I could go there.

Spain, close to the enchanted isle of Ibiza I could definitly go there.

I am part owner of a house in Italy so there is an idea.

I think if I ghad to work and actually make a living I'd go with Italy. I'd be completely lost in the language though. Oh well.

 

[nerudite]

I am part owner of a house in Italy so there is an idea.

I'll go to Italy! Where's your house... wanna rent it to me? I've only been to Florence, Rome, Venice, and a bit of the Adriatic Coast (including a freak snowstorm that had me stranded in Ancona)... but hey, I'd go back in a heartbeat!

 

[adaptor]

I'd head for Italy -- specifically Tuscany or north. I've probabally got most of Europe except Italy in my bloodline so it's not a looking homeward thing. I spent some time there among friendly and laid back people in a great climate. I felt right at home and the food was all fantastic. I'd be curious about Provence and even parts of Spain, but I know I could get along with English and pidgin Italian in Florence or Sienna.

 

[kms]

After reading Frances Mayes' books, I'd choose Italy, but as a life of leisure. UK is the second choice.

 

[Jeff]

It is in Calabra....owned by the family. I've never been there though.

 

[el Guapo]

The BRD

I once went native in Germany for a few years. I liked it. I loved the urban cores - the fussgangerzones , the food, the driving, the people and the countryside. The TV sucked. I guess I would live in Berlin or Munich. But I must be allowed trips to the central US every now and then to shoot things and drive off road.

I think I would also like to try Ireland.

 

[Tom R]

country

New Zealand

 

[Cardinal]

I've spent a lot of time in Canada and I guess I could see myself there - no language problems, with my US dollars could buy half of Ontario, and I like butter tarts. On the other hand, maybe it is time for something a little more exotic. New Zealand/Australia sounds good. I might enjoy Tuscany. Southern France is nice - maybe Languedoc or the Dordogne - but then again it is full of French people. When it comes to the UK, my choice would be Scotland. I have the legs to look good in a kilt.

 

[JNL]

I'd have to also go with Australia or New Zealand. Minimal language barrier, still extremely exotic - would absolutely love to visit.

Good to see my country getting a few votes! It would probably be a big lifestyle change for many of you, but in a good way - tourists are always saying how friendly and laid-back we Kiwis are.

Kelly - what do you mean by exotic?? It's not a word that I would have chosen to describe NZ. Maybe exotic in comparison to where you live?

 

[prudence]

Kelly - what do you mean by exotic?? It's not a word that I would have chosen to describe NZ. Maybe exotic in comparison to where you live?

NZ has Xena and Kevin Sorbo...that's kinda exotic. Is Xena a lesbian? She has confusing plotlines and re-runs are always on Oxygen TV...

 

[JNL]

Right.... yeah I suppose based on Xena you could get the impression it's exotic here. Of course it seems pretty normal to us, we dress like that every day and regularly battle with mischievous gods and demons etc - all in a day's work really.

 

[prudence]

Same 'ol, same 'ol

Thudor's tent is too close to the water...market set-up in residential area...

It's the same here...

 

[BKM]

Copenhagen or New Zealand (with a tiny hijack)

I would like to try Copenhagen, Denmark. I love nordic classicism in architecture, Scandinavian modernist furniture, waterfront towns, the Stroget pedestrian zone, and the whole emphasis of the country on sustainable communities, energy efficiency, public transit, and cycling. Sounds like a great place, even though Danish is supposed to be a bear.

I would say New Zealand-except it seems a little isolated. But, since I never even leave California anymore, what am I worried about?

OT:

Hey, JNL, I just read an account claiming New Zealand went through Thatcherism on steroids.

"The result in New Zealand has been the emergence of a social stratum that never existed when the country was burdened with a universal wlefare state - an economically marginalized, socially excluded underclass of welfare dependents. For anyone familiar with American right-wing theories, the unprecedented gorwth in that country of an underclass is richly ironic. . .beyond the growth of the underclass, New Zealand has experienced an astonishing growth in economic inequalities of all kinds. . ."

The auithor, one John Gray WAS a major source of the ideology behind Thatcherism (neoliberal free market purism). He has changed his mind, mainly because he feels that pure free-market globalism estroys the cultural roots of a society needed to mitigate the chatoic impacts of free markets. (He quoted statistics about how the crime, welfare dependency, economic failures, and social decay increased dramatically to almost American levels under the Iron Lady) This is a conservative view in some ways.

Oh well, back on topic: Wellington, NZ would be cool!

Melbourne might be nice.

And, I would love to at least try the Lake Country in Chile

 

[Journeymouse]

NZ has ... Kevin Sorbo

Not since the 'latest' roddenbury (sp?) rip-off started. Starship Andromeda severely sucks a*s, to quote a friend of mine.

 

[Downtown]

Kelly - what do you mean by exotic?? It's not a word that I would have chosen to describe NZ. Maybe exotic in comparison to where you live?

Australia and New Zealand have that whole "Down Under" mystique going on. For english speaking countries, scads of people have been to england, but how many americans say "oh, I used to work in New Zealand". guaranteed ooohs and aaaaahs. NZ really is exotic compared to upstate new york. And Lord of the Rings made it look cool as all get out. However, now that I think about it though, I would wager that most high school seniors here have no idea where NZ even is.