Who Has Lived Out of the Country?

[xubrew]

Has anyone lived out of the country for an extended period of time??

I never traveled out of the country until after college. (If you're in school and you're reading this, don't wait that long if you have the opportunity to do it. I had friends who were international students and waited WAAYYY to long to start traveling to visit them). Now I try and go to Europe about once a year in the summers, and have been thinking more and more about what it would be like to move over there. I'm still 75/25 on the side of not doing it. But, just a few years ago I was probably 90/10. So, I have been thinking about it more and more and was wondering if anyone on here has lived (or is currently living) outside of the United States.

What I REALLY want to do just isn't realistic. I'd like to take a year or two off and just live over there on a temporary basis. Of course I would like to do that! Who the hell WOULDN'T want to do that? And, while I could easily afford to go a year without working, the problem would be what to do for work AFTER that year was over. So, if I were to do it, it would probably be on more than just a temporary basis, and that's kind of what the hang up is.

I hit the lottery when it comes to my current job and career, and I know it. As great as being abroad would be, it'd be hard to walk away from getting to do something that I have a lot of love and passion for. But, while the big voice of common sense tells me it's ridiculous, there's still that small voice that says it'd be great to live abroad.

Anyway, has anyone done it and/or at least considered it??

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Are you going to work outside the country? That matters. If you plan on living cheaply, do you research about where you want to live and whether there is at least decent policing and/or government services.

I would like to purchase foreign property at some point to live in a portion of each year during retirement. I considered Italy but policing there is spotty.

Make sure you look at VISA length limitations as well. Try to stay in a place where you know at least a cursory level of the language or are willing to learn it fast.

[xubrew]

Are you going to work outside the country? That matters. If you plan on living cheaply, do you research about where you want to live and whether there is at least decent policing and/or government services.

I would like to purchase foreign property at some point to live in a portion of each year during retirement. I considered Italy but policing there is spotty.

Make sure you look at VISA length limitations as well. Try to stay in a place where you know at least a cursory level of the language or are willing to learn it fast.

Yes. If I moved there permanently I would pretty much have to. I would actually start looking at possible jobs and have that lined up before I decided to permanently move.

[muskiefan82]

It probably doesn't count, but I lived all over the world when I was in the military. Definitely garner an appreciation for what benefits and flaws exist in the U.S. I will tell you (not knowing what your background or experience is) that there are often Department of Defense civilian jobs available overseas. It provides the experience of living there (often on the economy) while also providing the comfort of U.S. protection/citizenship/interactions.

[xudash]

Has anyone lived out of the country for an extended period of time??

I never traveled out of the country until after college. (If you're in school and you're reading this, don't wait that long if you have the opportunity to do it. I had friends who were international students and waited WAAYYY to long to start traveling to visit them). Now I try and go to Europe about once a year in the summers, and have been thinking more and more about what it would be like to move over there. I'm still 75/25 on the side of not doing it. But, just a few years ago I was probably 90/10. So, I have been thinking about it more and more and was wondering if anyone on here has lived (or is currently living) outside of the United States.

What I REALLY want to do just isn't realistic. I'd like to take a year or two off and just live over there on a temporary basis. Of course I would like to do that! Who the hell WOULDN'T want to do that? And, while I could easily afford to go a year without working, the problem would be what to do for work AFTER that year was over. So, if I were to do it, it would probably be on more than just a temporary basis, and that's kind of what the hang up is.

I hit the lottery when it comes to my current job and career, and I know it. As great as being abroad would be, it'd be hard to walk away from getting to do something that I have a lot of love and passion for. But, while the big voice of common sense tells me it's ridiculous, there's still that small voice that says it'd be great to live abroad.

Anyway, has anyone done it and/or at least considered it??

Not exactly what you’re wanting to do, but I lived In Austria for a summer, attending the University of Vienna’s summer program in Strobl (outside of Salzburg) through Xavier. Traveled around Europe from there.

Maybe you could attend/help lead a couple back to back summer sessions somewhere.

Love your idea.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Yes. If I moved there permanently I would pretty much have to. I would actually start looking at possible jobs and have that lined up before I decided to permanently move.

I would start looking at where you want to live and how easy it is to get over on the job you want to do. Much of Europe isn't hard to get into if you have a job lined up and know the language. I speak better than average German and was surprised how easy it was to garner employment interest. That said, I was born over there to US citizen parents.

The VISA limitation issue was under the assumption you would just be living on savings. Work VISAs can be easily renewed. If Europe, I would review work contracts as well as employment law is a bit different.

[X-man]

I taught in Xavier's London program for a summer. It was on the Queen Mary University campus in East London, where we were basically surrounded by mosques, burkas, and halal shops. It was a truly eye-opening experience for our students, as well as for me, to be plopped down amidst such a "foreign" environment, only to discover that we are all alike in the most important ways.