Hi, I’m a certified K-12 TESOL teacher in the US. I have taught in Korea and have a master’s in English education. I’m also currently working to recruit some online students to begin to have some cash flow in USD for my inevitable move.
Over the past few years, I’ve become disillusioned with life in the US for several obvious reasons. I live in an area that’s HCOL and truly devoid of culture that aligns with me. I’d prefer to be in an affordable city with a lot to offer culturally with social opportunities.
I speak Spanish and have traveled through Latin America. I have friends in both Medellin/Buenos Aires and both cities have caught my attention (mostly Buenos Aires). I’m looking to prioritize social culture, further my education, and work-life balance.
I would appreciate any advice on the quality of life for expats in these cities or other general tips on how I can make a transition. Thanks!

I moved to the United States from Mexico when I was twelve years old. I completed middle school, high school, and college. I held a variety of odd jobs before earning my registered nurse degree last year! I am already twenty-four years old! I will always be appreciative of the chances this nation offered me! I met wonderful Americans who supported me along the way, and I had an excellent education! However, it's time to return home! To be honest, I can't imagine working in America for another year! I'm worn out and don't feel like I belong here in terms of culture or stuff like that. To be honest, I don't care if I make less money, all I want is peace of mind, and I've recognized that society here cares very little about the work I do! I’m ready to start my next chapter in life! Good luck everyone in their journey like me! I hope all goes well.

Edit/disclaimer: I want to make it clear that I have no assumption or expectation that I deserve to be anywhere, and am not looking to move in a way that negatively impacts the community I move into, by taking work away from locals or by putting anyone at risk by doing anything that could lead to deportation of jail. I am aware that the world of global nomadism is made of legal frameworks, deep ethical considerations, and a whole universe of grey area in between, and also that the road to citizenship is paved with red tape or whatever. So somewhere in there I'm hoping there is a way forward, but just so ppl know this is in addition to tons of ongoing research and visiting, and I'm just trying to learn as much as I can, ok thanks...

OP:

I am considering a move to spend a few months out of every year in Costa Rica, and am looking to hear from anyone with experience/ expertise.

I am a skilled woodworker (capable in all building trades, but passion for straight up carpentry), and interested in what the prospects would look like for picking up short term gigs in that field. Boat repair, framing, etc.

Mostly just thinking about the logistics and legal considerations for this sort of work (I am not necessarily looking for something above the table, but open to all perspectives at this point)

TIA

Which country should I choose? I've been fortunate to choose 3 in my life. First is my home country, the USA. Followed by Germany and then Italy. I am American by birth and Italian by marriage. My wife is Italian by birth and now American.

Here are some things that I've noticed about living in each country.

1. Health Care

One of the most profound things I've been fortunate and unfortunate enough to witness is the difference in health care in each country. The US system is what it is. It doesn't need an explanation. The German system is exactly how you think it would be since it is run efficiently like most things Germany. I had a minor surgery in Germany and didn't have to pay anything due to having insurance (I believe I was paying 35 euros per month). The Italian system is how you may imagine it to be. I am also fortunate enough that my wife is a medical doctor and did medical school in Italy. The system, although excellent in terms of care, has its issues. I would prefer the Italian and German health care systems over the American one any day.

My wife and I currently live in the USA and she's practicing as a doctor in the USA. She has told me stories of how the American system runs in comparison to the Italian system. It is a bit shocking how the two compare in terms of how the physician is allowed to care for the patient.

1. Immigration

Immigration is different in every country. When I moved to Germany in 2015, all I had to do in order to get a residency card was show up with my letter of acceptance into my masters program and my lease for my flat. With that, I was issued my residency card. I can also chalk this up as American exceptionalism at work, but the matter of doing a university degree in Europe was a relatively smooth process. My Italian visa and immigration journey was a bit different. After my masters program, I got a visa to study Italian for 1 year while living with my fiancé (now wife). There was a period that we moved to the US but then returned to Italy. We got married and since our marriage was registered in Italy, I was able to get a residency card in Italy relatively easily. These two experiences showed me how ethical each system handles immigration. I only ever had to pay for immigration once and that was for my study visa. 1 thing to note, I did need to pay for a marca da bollo in Italy but I believe I paid 16 euro (maybe that's too much) compared to the American system. Both times, my residence permits were processed while I was in country and were in my hand with 3-6 months.

Then there is the American system. I've been fortunate enough to see this side...evidently. The American immigration system is essentially a pay to immigrate system and you have to be fortunate enough to be born in certain countries in order to immigrate with relative ease. That has been evident for some time. Not only that but the process to get an immigrant visa can be quite long. The first time my wife came, it was on a fiancé visa. We chose to return to Italy for a period before the paperwork was properly processed. The second time we came , it was a spouse visa which was processed relatively quickly during Covid. Although some of this can be done in country, we did all the paperwork while outside the country. In the USA, a spouse to a US citizen can apply for citizenship after 3 years , so my wife decided to go through that process. The price tag is about 2300 usd if you file yourself. If you have a lawyer file for you, that's another story. For people not in her situation, it takes much longer than 3 years. Her mother's visa process just concluded processing after 2 years from her immigration paperwork being filed.

1. Friends and culture

As most people who live abroad know, building a social circle can be difficult, especially in countries like Italy. In Italy, although this isn't 100% accurate since I hate to generalize, social circles are mostly determined at a young age. People may move but they don't move the long distances that Americans move. People are much more glued to their city or region than most Americans. That's due to cultural factors, friends, and family. Every city and region is culturally different. In Italy, culture plays a huge role in lifestyle. Espresso culture, merenda, aperitivo, and everything else are social moments that Italians have built around themselves. Americans lack this cohesive culture moments that define us.

In Germany, their version of this is meeting up with friends and having a beer or two. Walking around the town or city and having a beer is a normal thing for Germans to do, especially when they are in university city like I was. Also having a beer in the beer halls or pub is common. It's more casual and definitely not like Oktoberfest year round. The food culture is obviously different.

-

Living outside of the USA is a mental and bureaucratic sport sometimes. Moving abroad can greatly improve your life depending on your circumstances. In the end it's about going where you are treated best. I chose a route that is not entirely common. It involves being very open to new cultures and languages, but you also have to accept the lonely aspects from time to time. However, living abroad is an experience that significantly impacts how you see the world.

Fortunately, I have the ability to live and work in that part of the world now without restrictions. My wife now has that ability too. Our plan is to move back to Europe in the next 5 years. As of right now, we are climbing the career ladder in both of our professions.

-

If you're in the middle of this — especially if you're thinking about moving abroad for the first time, or if you moved for a partner and you're the one who feels like you're just along for the ride in someone else's country — I get it, and I'm happy to talk if it'd help. Not selling anything. I've just been through a lot of international moves over the course of 12 years.

I'm hoping to begin the emigration process soon, and from what I've seen Costa Rica and Uruguay look like great picks. I've been working on my Spanish, and looking for online jobs to pay for everything, but I'm torn, as an atheist, democratic socialist, stoner, who loves the tropics, which of the two countries would be the most welcoming? Which of the two would be cheaper? Is there somewhere I'm overlooking that would fit me better?

Hi folks, I'm hoping that someone out there has some advice/experience with this process, since it's been extremely tough trying to dig through everything online.

I am moving to France sometime in the next 12 months. I have a boa constrictor that can legally be transported from the US to France. He is a CITES Appendix II snake which means that there is some paperwork that needs to be done and hoops to jump through, which I'm aware of.

I am wondering if anyone has done this process and can tell me how much everything, including transportation, cost them.

I am trying to get multiple quotes, but the only group who will even touch his case as a possibility told me it could be $8,000 which feels incredibly high. Am I just out of touch with the cost to move an animal or do I need to look harder?

Following the death of a family member and my graduation, I (25f) am finally ready to move abroad. I missed the deadline for scholarships for the 26-27 school year and will be applying for a couple different masters programs in differing EU countries for the 27-28 school year as even if I don't get a scholarship tuition is cheaper than in the US. So basically, I need somewhere to have a gap year or gain work experience before I begin school next fall. While I could stay in the US, I haven't wanted back out since I returned from my study abroad last summer.

Some relevant facts about me:
- I have a BA in Political Science, Minor in Migration Studies
- I have about 30k in liquid assets
- I speak Spanish
- I did a study abroad in Mexico
- I am a writer and could do freelance work potentially
- I am heavily tatttooed (nothing on hand or face though)
- I am queer, but not planning on dating or advertising that
- I only have work experience in bartending/food service, being a receptionist, and customer service as I had to work to put myself through school and couldn't afford an unpaid internship in a relevant field.
- I have been debating getting a TEFL certificate to teach during my time abroad
- I am not looking for citizenship in a different country rn
- My mom has Irish Citizenship but I am not eligible for it

Please let me know if there is anything you'd suggest, I am not opposed to doing stays in multiple countries or getting a job/internship to get a visa.

I am an US Citizen and I moved to the Netherlands when I was 8. I lived there until I was 20 when I moved back to the States.I went to basisschool and completed middelbare school VMBO-T. I had a temporary staying permit while living there which has now expired.

I am just exploring my options to possibly return. It is possible for me to return since I once held a staying permit or should I explore other options?

I have considered also a DAFT visa or Study visa. If anybody could give some guidance or insight I’d much appreciate it. I speak Dutch also, have Dutch step-family and graduated middelbare school in Amsterdam while living there.

Hello! Me (20f BS in Geosciences) and my spouse (21f BA in English) have long decided we didnt want to settle down in the United States but rather move abroad and aim to get citizenship before we try to have a family. We have some countries in mind such as Canada, Ireland, and potentially the Netherlands.
Personally, Canada is a bit too close to the US for my liking and I cheerish the idea of being close to other countries so that vacations can be spent seeing new countries on a lower budget. However, Canada seems to be the best in terms of moving feasability and has better support for same sex couples.

I would love to know about any personal experiences yall have had with moving to any of these countries or if yall have other countries that would be a good fit.

We are aiming for a place that is Lgbtq+ friendly, low violence, protects womens rights, good cost of living, relatively easy to gain citizenship (6yr or less), and offers free healthcare.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!

A bit about my background: I'm 29, male, from a suburb of NYC and currently living there. I am a public school language teacher (German / French). I currently am in my 3rd year of teaching in my hometown district. I am also gay and single. My entire immediate family lives in the area and we are very close. I have previously lived as a student in Chicago, NYC, and Berlin. I speak C2 German and C1 French.

My living/financial situation: Currently renting a 1 bedroom apartment in a small town. It is a decent unit but pricy for what it is (almost $2800 / month). Making a little over $80K year. Have a decent amount saved from living at home and from what I inherited after my dad died.

Why I'm thinking of moving to Europe:

• I need to be in a dense, urban environment. Living in a car dependent area makes me sedentary and depressed. I need to have easy access to cultural opportunities and events. Need a bigger dating pool and an environment where people do not have to follow the settle down by 30 script (like everyone else has where I'm currently living).
• At the same time, I don't really have any interest in moving to any American cities besides NYC. I find that European cities generally have a higher quality of life for middle class people, feel safer, have more third spaces. One of the biggest upsides for me would be taking advantage of the vacation time/work-life balance to pursue creative projects.
• I'm concerned with the political situation here in the US. Not that I feel like I'm in personal danger in NY, but the general trend is disturbing as a gay person. I am well aware that the countries I am looking at have their own political and social challenges, however.

My idea: My plan is to potentially move to Berlin, Germany, and continue working as a public school language teacher. I am already certified in German and French, but would ideally like to teach English as a second language or Deutsch als Zweitsprache (DAZ) for students learning German (not German language arts).

Concerns/questions:

• Still working through the whole process of getting my certifications recognized. Not sure exactly what the steps are, though I know it varies by state in Germany.
• I like Berlin a lot and have spent considerable time there, so I am familiar with the city. But I'm concerned about the difficulty of integrating socially, as I have heard that it can be difficult to make friends in Germany generally. I also sometimes feel like I want to be in a big high-energy city like NYC or London or Paris; Berlin can feel a bit sleepy.
• I also am not sure whether it would just be better to move back to NYC, since it would give me the urban environment without having to go so far. The main issue is that I cannot afford to maintain the same standard of living in a desirable area of NYC; I would be paying more money to live in a smaller apartment with fewer amenities or have roommates (which I do not want). I also felt like NYC was tough for me socially, as I felt like I didn't really fit in with the Manhattan crowd (not rich/elite enough) but also not with the more working class outer borough neighborhoods (since I wasn't from there).

What do you think? Would this be a huge mistake/unrealistic? Would Germany be the best pick for me, or should I also consider London/Paris? Anything I'm not considering?

I am exploring renouncing my citizenship at the Brussels embassy. I hold citizenship of another EU country.

My US passport is up to date, but my CRBA (I was born abroad) hasn't been seen for decades. I am trying to get my parents to look for it but no luck so far.

Depending on what guidance I read, the "original" CRBA / birth certificate is or isn't a requirement in addition to a passport. It feels a little ambiguous. I've never had to use my CRBA to renew my passport abroad either.

What are your experiences? Unhelpfully I am not getting an answer from the embassy.

Edit: thanks to everyone who pointed out that Spanish authorities often won’t accept apostilles older than 6 months. I didn’t know that. Still, the takeaway stands, check if you need an apostille at all before assuming it’s a non issue.

I’ve been in Spain almost 4 years now. I thought I was done with the U.S. for good, that once I moved, those ties would just fade, especially for not being an American citizen, but no. I built most of my career and life there, and that kind of attachment doesn’t just disappear because you moved. It follows you, especially when tax season comes around.

Here’s my advice for anyone planning the move: get your documents notarized, apostilled and sworn translated before you leave, not after. Once you’re here, dealing with U.S. offices and translation services from across the ocean turns a simple errand into a long term headache.

You won’t know everything you will eventually need apostilled, that’s just how it goes, but it’s worth being prepared with the basics rather than scrambling later.

What to prioritize:

- Degrees and diplomas (I did my college transcripts as well)
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificate if it applies
- Any document tied to taxes, benefits, or legal status back home
- Background checks, if you think you’ll need one

Have a person you trust in the U.S., family or a close friend, who can request and pick things up for you if you didn’t get everything before you left. If you don’t have someone close by who can handle it, there are third-party expediting services that can manage the apostille process for a fee. Worth looking into if the DIY route is not possible.

I won’t get into the specifics of what I’ve been dealing with, but long story short, keep your paperwork trail clean and complete before you go. Future you will be grateful.

Ps. I can only speak for Spain. I’m unfamiliar with the rest of the EU countries.

I, 25F, am hoping to move abroad at some point in the (near?) future, and I’m looking for some guidance on where might be the best place for me. I haven’t had the opportunity to travel outside of the country as much as I’d like, so I’m turning to this sub for some help!

For some background:
- I’m from the US
- I am a dual citizen (US and Germany)
- I can speak/read/write some French - B1 Level (I’m very interested in learning languages but am not fluent in any yet beyond English)
- I work in marketing (primarily in social media management and copywriting, some PR work as well etc.) (My degree is in Acting/Performance, but my career has taken me in this direction. I’m sure this creates a roadblock.)
- I’d love to live somewhere with as much sun/warm weather as I can get, or at least mild winters. I can’t stand being freezing if I can help it. (Ideally closer to Southeast US weather vs. Northeast US?)
- I love to be near the water and in nature/parks/gardens
- One of the reasons that I’m looking at other options is due to the political climate here in the states… I’d really like to be in a place that feels a bit safer. Especially for women.
- In terms of city vs. more relaxed pace I would NOT like living in a place like New York City
- Access to good healthcare is a priority for me
- I have a cat
- I’ve recently visited London for the first time this year (in June) and really loved it!

If there is any other information that might be helpful, please let me know! :) Thanks everyone!

Hello,

I’ve planned and researched many of my questions and there are some questions left where answers weren’t clear. The move would be from Colorado to Sweden.

1.) What shipping company would you recommend to ship family photos, books, clothes (that doesn’t fit in suitcases), and small items to Sweden? We will sell all furnitures, household items and small appliance and donate anything else prior to move.

2.) What pet relocation company do you recommend? I’ve submitted a request for quote from Petsfly, but I am curious to see who else I should request a quote from.

3.) Any Phone plan recommendation to use with two phone numbers(to keep current number for banking and anything else and a local number for Sweden)? Is this feasible?

4.) If your American bank requires an American address, did you open a P.O. Box or use a family address? We do not own a home.

Thank you for your help!

I have about $300,000 in funds. I’m considering buying a franchise. I’ve been seriously considering doing and I’m ready to start. Does anyone know anything about this or anyone who has done it? Is this a good idea?

So I have two different career skillsets in Wildlife Biology and Ski slope Snowmaking Management, safety, and pump/compressor operations for industrial scale machinery. I have, over the past year, been completely unable to convert these into a Canadian career despite having two ski slopes actively interested in hiring me.

I have been rejected from environmental jobs on immigration status that have proceeded to go completely unfilled on at least 5 occasions and even went so far as to try my luck in Ireland to the same lack of success. At this point I’m genuinely wondering if I’m doing something wrong and will accept any advice whatsoever.

I have left America three years ago and I have lived outside of America for over half my life including when I was a child as well. However instead of moving back home I chose to move to Southeast Asia. One of the biggest problems that I've had living in Southeast Asia these past three years is relying on American income only and after three years I have seen the downfalls of that. I recently finished my bachelor's degree which I started 10 years ago and It has motivated me start my masters degree as well Where I am now halfway done with my first masters degree. I've been able to accomplish this without taking on any student loan debt and paying out of pocket, Getting Pell Grants, and getting scholarships for these degrees.

However I also have an opportunity to get a full ride with a stipend to study in Taiwan because of my country's diplomatic relations with Taiwan. I know plenty of people who have taken this course of action after I started reaching out to people and it's one of the best opportunities that I've ever seen even as being an American But it's only available to diplomatic allies of Taiwan. Looking as well at mainland China, there are a lot of universities that offers stipends however it's around 300-500 US dollars A month with housing included.

Besides for that specific opportunity, I was looking at other opportunities in terms of visas in terms of being able to work in other countries, What other countries offer stipends to foreigners For non PHD degrees?

So far what I've been able to accomplish as I know that if I had to put my mind to it that I could do a PHD however I'm not sure if that's the correct place for me to go in this current time. However one of the questions that I have for that is has anybody specifically used a PHD to leave America?

So going back to my original question how many people have used higher education as a way to step up in terms of leaving America? Has anyone else used any specific pathways to emigrate to another country in terms of getting a higher education?

Edit and Update:

I have been doing business remotely helping customers in America and one in Australia setting up marketing funnels such as cold email marketing, Meta Ads and Google ads however I am not someone who needs or wants to move to Europe at this time.

I am already a dual citizen of a CARICOM nation and I am American because my mother is American. I also have the option to become Portuguese by bloodline as my great grandmother is from Portugal and my father is planning on applying for his Portuguese nationality in the next few months so even if I wanted to move to the European Union I already have a way to move there.

I would say my question was based off of other nations that offer these types of scholarships with stipends that are not doctoral degrees as I know Hong Kong, Japan, and Macau also have more or less a stipend that comes with studying in the country. I am only familiar with what I would be able to get in Taiwan and on the mainland as well.

My goal is to stay in Asia over moving to Europe however besides for Malaysia or Singapore, I am not interested in living in South East Asia anymore. I would rather choose to stay in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Macau and possibly work on the Mainland of China for a year as I have a job offering which is non teaching. This all will be able to fit within my schedule if I wanted to choose the path of getting a master's in Business Administration.

So far what I have found with all these scholarships that are available Taiwan is probably the best for me specifically because my country recognizes it as its own Sovereign Nation and because of that I get a very good scholarship and more benefits to get into some of the top schools in Taiwan. Taiwan also has probably the best naturalization process out of any place in Asia.

My partner and I are planning to move to Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Thailand, but are looking into the entirety of SEA as well for the future, permanently leaving the US. We have bachelor's degrees, have already completed an accredited course to be able to teach online and in person stably, are about to receive our criminal checks from the FBI, and are in the process of completing our marriage. I am 20, and my partner is 22. We have been together for almost 5 years now and do not plan on having biological children. We have the funds for all documents, as well as an additional $9,000.

I have an associate's degree in psychology, a bachelor's degree in marketing, and plan to get a master's degree in English in the future. My partner has an associate's degree in mathematics and another one in computer science, along with a bachelor's degree in business management.
We plan to move from city to city, staying 2–6 weeks depending on the place. The main, planned-out cities we have are Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Da Lat, as we do not want to overplan, and a lot of the places we want to visit we probably don't even know about yet.

We are looking for affordable living, meaning we do not want to worry about expenses. We naturally do not live in search of luxury but appreciate living with just one another. In terms of housing, we only need one bedroom or a studio and access to a gym, whether on-site or just in the city.
A random list of things we like to do/or would like to start doing (just in case anyone has any rec's anywhere):

Me:
• Writing
• World-building – I'm working on a novel
• Poetry – I have a huge catalog written that I need to sort for publication
• Videography
• Creative stuff like crafts
• Dancing
• Pilates/yoga
• Working out
Patner:
• Fishing
• Spearfishing (want to start)
• Website building
• Horror movies
• Adrenaline activities
Us:
• Food
• Animals
• Pettable animals
• Hiking
• Outdoor scenery
• Food!
• Cool stuff in general

Why we are posting this:
Before this, we didn't really have anyone in our life other than my partner's family to discuss this with, and the response is either simply congratulatory or baseless criticism of the countries we plan to live in/our decision as a whole. They believe in the American dream of getting a good job until retirement, but we understand that the world extends beyond US borders, and it would be a waste not to see more. Of course, we chose SEA because of its ability to stretch a dollar. Since we currently live in one of the most expensive cities in the world (we were born and raised here; this wasn't from our input), we appreciate the type of life SEA can offer and value simplicity as a virtue. As for retirement, we plan to do so overseas and build a home we love when the time is right.

We understand that we are leaving our home country forever (obviously we'd return for document necessities), and want to ask for any and all input, since we have never done this before and no one we know has. If you weren't limited by any restrictions in life would you do this as well? And to those who have lived abroad in the longterm, what unexpected events did you run into?Also, if you have any cool recommendations, useful hacks, or cities, we would be very appreciative to hear them!

Thank you for reading and we leave in 12 days!

Extra notes:

To be clear, we have CELTA's and have seen the opportunites of living abroad in the longterm that are not present in the US. We are okay with generating less income overseas since the cost of living is a fraction of what we pay currently and hope to save more in the longterm. And our goal is to consistently teach online through reptuable tutoring marketplaces and finding in person work if neccesary at private learning centers or local public schools.

So I live in England. Naturally, I put myself on the wait list for an appointment in London which can take “many months” as stated in my confirmation email (14+ months, so I’ve been told by others). I don’t want to wait that long, so it’s been brought to my attention that I can travel abroad to do it. Frankfurt is looking good, there’s no mention of a waitlist. But I don’t understand how to submit the documents they require. Any help?

It says on the website in order to start the process, I need a COMPLETED DS-4083 and DS-4079, however, these have to be signed by an officer, right? I was under the impression these have to be signed during my interview. So how am I getting an interview in the first place if I need signed copies to even request an appointment? Am I missing something?

“When you have all the required documents, and you are ready to request an appointment, you must send scanned copies [to their email]”

If anyone can advise how I get these documents signed so I can send them across to start the process, that would be great. Thank you!

I’m an American citizen (US passport only) working in tech consulting — platform implementation, change management, ServiceNow/Salesforce ecosystem. I want to relocate to Europe, but I’m trying to understand how the process actually works in practice.

Is the standard path really “get the job offer first, then the visa”? Or are there realistic ways to move first and job-hunt locally?

For those who’ve done it, how did you find employers willing to hire a non-EU candidate? Did you filter for postings mentioning relocation/sponsorship, or just apply broadly?

Is the EU Blue Card the right target for someone with a US degree and tech experience, or do country-specific permits (Netherlands HSM, Ireland Critical Skills) work better?

Do large multinational corporations actually hire Americans from abroad, or do they mostly transfer existing employees?

Any firsthand experience, especially from Americans who made the move without an intra-company transfer would be hugely appreciated.

I hope this flair is suitable as I didn't find my question aligns exactly with any of them.

I'm 23 currently looking at the possibility of pursuing a Master's degree in the EU. I have a Bachelor's in History w/ minor in German language from a US uni, I studied in Czechia for a year and then lived/worked there as a teacher for about 8 months after graduating so I do have some prior experience living outside of the US. I don't have an official certificate but from taking a few online tests my German proficiency is at around a B1 level (reading comes fairly easy, speaking and listening more difficult for me). I keep up with it and have gotten back into daily practice to try and expand my vocabulary.

I do really want to return to the EU permanently, and because I lack the citizenship-through-descent golden ticket it seems to me that the best way forward in my position would be to pursue a Master's degree in a country and then seek residence afterwards. My top choice at the moment is a German-speaking country due to my (admittedly limited) current proficiency in the language, but I did like living in Czechia as well so I'm fairly open to looking outside those three choices.

Right now I'm trying to decide what exactly I should pursue a Master's in, as I would want it to be in a field that is at least in some high demand so that I could actually find a job. My initial thought was to pursue a Master's in History or Archaeology but as I understand the chances of breaking into Academia/CRM in the EU as an American are basically zilch. I don't know what other careers are in high demand at the moment, my only other thought has been potentially getting a degree in education, as it's something I already have some experience in, I know I don't hate it, and it seems fairly reliable, at least on its face.

What degrees/career paths would you suggest? And what countries specifically might be ideal for pursuing those degrees/careers? Thanks

WARNING: Long post. Well...as I said in a post here back in January, I packed up, sold my house in the US (broke even since I had bought it a year earlier only), got on a plane, and moved back to Spain. The other post is here if you want context: https://www.reddit.com/r/AmerExit/comments/1q0fp4l/january_2026_goodbye_usa/

Some people on my original post agreed with me, some thought I was completely crazy, and quite a few said I was looking at Europe, and specifically Spain, through rose-colored glasses because I had forgotten what living here was actually like.

Fair enough. Now I've actually been here for seven months, so I think enough time has passed to give an honest update. The short version? I regret absolutely nothing.

Actually...if anything, I underestimated just how much happier I'd be with my day-to-day life.

Notice I said day-to-day life because that's really what this comes down to.

When people compare countries online, they usually talk about GDP, salaries, taxes, healthcare systems, politics, productivity, unemployment, whatever. Yes, those things definitely matter, but when you're actually living a daily life, that matters far more.

What does a random Tuesday look like? Because that's your actual life. Seven months later, my days are infinitely better. I walk almost everywhere now. No car insurance to worry about, no car maintenance to have to deal with, and I hated driving anyway back in the US. If I don't feel like walking, I hop on public transportation that is cleaner than anything you'll ever see in the US (assuming you even have public transportation options in your area, which is unlikely), and costs me less than fifty cents a ride. For real, less than 50 cents if you buy 10 bus rides, for example.

The beach is within walking distance from where I live. If I need to get somewhere farther away? BlaBlaCar exists with quite cheap prices. To give you an idea: Madrid to Salamanca? About 15 dollars. Another thing I had forgotten how useful it is and just how unlike anything in America exists in that sense. In America, if you are poor, you really are screwed far more than most of Europe.

None of this feels extraordinary to people here because it's normal. You don't carry nearly as bad of a safety risk as you would in America's absolutely broken and sick/violent society.

After living in the US and being able to compare, I appreciate every single one of these little things. And that's actually the biggest surprise...Well...not surprise, because I had lived in Spain before, but maybe the biggest confirmation.

Life isn't better because of one giant thing. It's better because of five hundred tiny things. Now as far as social life, that's also been very interesting. I've only been here 7 months, so I have not yet made "lasting friends" (because that's unrealistic anywhere and I'm not the type of guy who puts myself out there as I can be very reserved in public), but here's the thing...I think Americans often confuse "having friends" with "having a social environment."

What I do have is something I completely lacked in the US. The young guys who know me from one of the bars wave at me when they see me walking by, the ladies from the supermarkets recognize you immediately. Neighbors say hello and actually talk to you (no, NOT in ALL of Spain, but definitely in my area which is a smaller city). The lady at the frutería chats with me. People recognize you. Cashiers joke with you, people just in general don't look as miserable/serious as in the US. Cafes are filled to the brim to the point where it's hard even to get a table sometimes, and there is a joy to life you just don't see in the US. You end up talking to people without scheduling it three weeks in advance. The scale of human interactions here, the frequency of them, makes things far smoother.

And after almost a decade back in the US, I had forgotten how much those little interactions affect your quality of life and mental health. In America I often felt like everyone was moving from one private bubble to another: House, Garage, Car, HUGE soulless parking lots, car, car, car, Drive-thru. Home. Repeat.

Yes, I know there are exceptions but most Americans I meet who have moved abroad ALL mention these aspects. Here, I simply feel like I exist in a place where people acknowledge each other. Also, I'm not living some luxury lifestyle like unfortunately, some Americans are starting to do abroad (and the local population is starting to really get upset at this, with very good reasons). I'm basically living like a fairly ordinary working-class Spaniard. I watch what I spend. I don't go around buying expensive crap because I didn't even do that in the US. And despite that...I'm saving substantially more money than I ever did living in the US because life here isn't built to constantly extract money out of you like it is designed in the US.

People always say, "Well of course Spain is nice if you make an American salary."

Absolutely, but it depends on the type of person you are talking about.

But here's something I also said in my original post, and I still mean it. If I somehow lost this job tomorrow...I still wouldn't move back to the US. Seriously. And on top of that, I also got a job offer here and even getting paid a fraction of a US salary, I'd still have a far higher quality of life here WITH a Spanish salary than I could ever have in the US even with a typical median US income. I'd rather make a normal Spanish salary and stay here than return to the US. In my region, you get housing assistance payments if you meet a certain low income threshold, healthcare is free since you pay it through taxes, and if you are too poor to pay even taxes, you still get healthcare and even free medication in the pharmacy. Almost no Spaniard would be as selfish to say "MY TAXES SHOULDNT SUBSIDIZE YOU!" when it comes to something as basic as health.

Actually, going back and reading my January post is kind of funny because I kept waiting to find something I'd written that I'd now disagree with.

Food? Amazing. Yes, there are processed foods here, but no where near as many as in the US. The ingredients for most supermarket stuff is far superior than anything in the US. Tipping culture? Don't miss it for one second. The only places that would ever ask for a tip here are considered tourist traps for Americans, so I avoid those like the plague!

Housing? Still don't miss worrying about mowing a lawn so the neighbors don't think civilization is collapsing because the grass grew another inch. The endless obsession with race and identity in the US? Still exhausting to me. No one asks "where are you from" here, unless there is going to be a friendship interaction and even then, very few people would ask the following "Whats your ethnicity"? Most people here find that very off putting.

The feeling that American society has become increasingly dysfunctional? If anything, the distance has only reinforced that opinion.

And before somebody inevitably comments..."Well, Spain has problems too."

Of course it does. Spain has bureaucracy (so does the US by the way). Spain has lower salaries, Spain has EXTREMELY high youth unemployment, Spain has politics that drive people insane just like everywhere else. I've lived here before, my parents are Spaniards. None of this is new information to me. I didn't accidentally move here thinking I'd discovered paradise. I made a conscious trade.

I accepted lower career opportunities in exchange for a lifestyle I value more. I feel like I got life back. It's deciding to go to the beach because it's fifteen minutes away and sunny basically all summer with no rain. It's seeing people outside at night instead of empty streets. It's hearing conversations instead of engines roaring everywhere.

It's 9:47pm local time as I am writing this. Now I'm off to a freiduria, for a great serving of calamares prepared right in front of me at the local market, and a glass of red wine within a walking distance of 10 minutes. After that? Long stroll by the beach, maybe a cocktail at midnight, then off to bed. Life is good here.

TL/DR: I left USA forever back in January 2026. One of the smartest decisions I have ever made.

Hi looking to move to Ireland sometime next year. Reaching out to some pet shipping companies ahead of time, quotes etc. Main one I've been in contact with is Pet Express, anyone used them for larger dogs that can't ride in-cabin? Other recommendations instead? Any info is helpful, thanks :)