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The Lounge => Media and Inspiration => Topic started by: Sosthenes on December 12, 2006, 05:35:00 PM

Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Sosthenes on December 12, 2006, 05:35:00 PM
The German gamers (http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3248) thread got me thinking. I half-jokingly asked what country I should immigrate to, and after asking it I thought that's not really a bad idea after all. Another birthday passed me and some change would probably be good.

As we're having a quite international crowd, I thought I might ask around a bit. I'm not quite thirty, work in IT (programming, mostly), no degree, no pets, no spouse, speak German and a bit English. No past or present membership in any criminal association and/or Hasselhoff fan club.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Mr. Analytical on December 12, 2006, 06:23:01 PM
Don't come to Britain, they've just re-commissioned Torchwood.  It's scary, I feel like I've woken up in an episode of the Twilight Zone.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: laffingboy on December 12, 2006, 06:26:39 PM
Avoid the US, too. They just locked up Nicole Richie; the pogroms have begun.

If you want some real RPGsite cred, move to Uruguay.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: droog on December 12, 2006, 06:31:47 PM
We're having the worst drought in a thousand years, so I'd avoid Australia too. Besides, the crocodiles in the Top End don't seem to like Germans (or they like them too much).
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: RPGPundit on December 12, 2006, 09:23:23 PM
Uruguay is awesome IF you can do work abroad while living here. If you can manage that, which with IT work you might be able to pull off, even if its a job that only pays, say $1000US a month, you'll live like a king... well, upper upper middle class.

A 1LT bottle of beer costs a little over $1US here (and its german-based Pilsner beer, so it might even be to your liking). You can eat at a top-quality restaurant for under $10US.  Rent for a comfortable 2-bedroom apartment in a good neighbourhood is under $200US a month.

You can go out on any weeknight and there's something going on (in Montevideo).  The city is beautiful, very little crime, all of the amenities us 1st-worlders are used to (we even get DW here on cable, so you'll get the German News). The women here are gorgeous. The Ice Cream is fantastic, the meat is abundant and all organic and wood-burning BBQ. The living is really easy here, and it never gets colder than about 5ÂșC.

There's also a huge gaming community, and we have a great time.

RPGPundit

Edited to add: Like Jong Mentioned, there's tons of IT work to be had here; it'll pay less than IT work will in Europe, obviously, but its still considered a very good job here, and would likely make you enough to live well, even if you didn't get a telecommuting job like I was thinking.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Blackleaf on December 12, 2006, 09:53:39 PM
It's the cold and dark season in Canada.  We have free health care, but no doctors.  There are lots of trees here, with bears in between some of them.  We have more coffee shops than people.  Our soccer is called hockey.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Yamo on December 12, 2006, 10:09:31 PM
As for the United States:

Except for China, I don't know of any any country that boasts the same epic scope and infinite variety in natural settings. If you love the outdoors (and I do), you cannot do better.

For foodies, several centuries of immigration from all over the globe have endowed us with the most varied cuisine on the planet.

As a gun owner and enthusiast, I appreciate the way that my rights in that arena are protected to a great degree.

Finally, there are all the good, friendly people I've met over the years. I guess most countries have those, though. :)
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: beejazz on December 12, 2006, 10:45:13 PM
Well, I don't know where you're coming from.
So if you're in the US, I can't really sell you on that.
I wouldn't advise your emigration to Iran. Not unless you have the tech to go during or pre-Pahlavi.

We were this close to all teh awesome of the Middle East in a modernized, secular setting. Why'd that bastard have to fuck it up? Anyways, thanks to American involvement in the White Revolution, I get to exist. So I'm not complaining. About either.

If only the subsequent revolution, hostage crisis, etc. hadn't happened.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Pseudoephedrine on December 12, 2006, 10:58:36 PM
The good thing about Canada is that no matter how fucking stupid the world is, you can drive for an hour in just about any direction and get away from it all.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: James McMurray on December 12, 2006, 11:02:57 PM
I'd send another shout out for america, but I've never lived in any other countries for comparison. I guess you could say that from my experiences it's the best country possible to live in.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: hgjs on December 13, 2006, 01:28:07 AM
It is by no means easy to become a United States citizen, but it is easier than the naturalization process of almost any other country on Earth.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Akrasia on December 13, 2006, 01:42:03 AM
Quote from: Stuart
It's the cold and dark season in Canada.  We have free health care, but no doctors.  There are lots of trees here, with bears in between some of them.  We have more coffee shops than people.  Our soccer is called hockey.


Ahhhh, I miss Canada!  
:emot-flowers:

Especially the doughnuts :donut: and poutine.  Can't get that quality cuisine in Ireland!  No Timmys anywhere.  And hockey, wow, I miss that.  I find myself going to this pub in Dublin called the Czech Inn because they often show NHL games (since a lot of Czechs play in the NHL).

Anyhow, as for my current abode, Ireland, it is pretty amazing.  Best economy in Europe.  Low taxes.  Lots of drinking.  :toast: People are friendly and speak English in an endearing manner.  Plenty of cute colleens.  :blush: And if you live in Dublin, you interact with people from all over the world (heavily Eastern European in certain parts).

Oh yeah, if you're lucky, I mean really lucky, you can find pots of gold!  :gnome:

The main downside: it's a damn expensive place to live.  Ireland is the most expensive place to live in the EU after Finland.  And the winters are damp and dark.

Still, it's a happening place these days.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: rcsample on December 14, 2006, 05:03:59 PM
Come to the USA, specifically Wisconsin.  We have:

Beer,
Deep Fried Cheese Curds,
Bowling
and

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Fonzie.jpg/180px-Fonzie.jpg)
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: James J Skach on December 14, 2006, 06:53:48 PM
Chicago, IL, USA.

Big City, but not too big. We get many of the world-wide big city goodness (nightlife, culture, sports teams, etc.) without too much of the big-city badness.  And it gets better every day-next up: Olympics! Known for its architecture and being the hub of trade second only to New York (mostly futures and the like).

Germans abound.  My wife's parents are German immigrants.  I was amazed at how many groups and clubs and you-name-it there were that were German-specific.  Actually, just about every nationality under the sun has their own neighborhood.

White Christmas and 95 degree summer days with a Lake so big the coast rivals any oceanside - without the salt water. All four seasons actually occur (sometimes in the same 24 our period!).
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Gunslinger on December 14, 2006, 09:46:31 PM
The U.S. is big.  It's very regional and not one place identifies the U.S. as much as the regions define the U.S.  Living in the South is a different experience than living in the North and both are completely different to living in Hawaii or Alaska.  All of the regions are still a great big amalgam of people and cultures.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Kyle Aaron on December 14, 2006, 09:59:17 PM
Melbourne, Australia. It has the bestest GM, and the worstest player, in the whole world - me.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Dominus Nox on December 14, 2006, 11:47:05 PM
I'll say a good thing for someone else's country: In germany they have a system I wish we had in America: Over there, most fines are based on the offender's wealth, and not fixed like they are in America. So, the richer you are, the more of a fine you get for, say, speeding, littering, etc.

In America fines are the same, and a 50$ fine hurts a guy on minimum wage a hell of a lot more than it hurts someone making 6 figures a year.

I like the german idea of basing fines on incone/worth instead of just being the same for everyone, I wish America would cop that idea.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: Dominus Nox on December 14, 2006, 11:48:17 PM
Quote from: JimBobOz
Melbourne, Australia. It has the bestest GM, and the worstest player, in the whole world - me.


Hey, I've always liked Australia and would love to visit it, as long as it wasn't the season for funnelwebs.

One thing I'd do down under is to see the Southern Cross, I wish I could get a pic of that but can't find on on the net....
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: JongWK on December 15, 2006, 08:20:21 AM
Some picture links about Montevideo:

Aerial photo (http://evolucion.fcien.edu.uy/Montevideo.jpg) of Montevideo.

18 de Julio Avenue (http://www.clickhoteles.com/images/destinos/uruguay/montevideo.jpg), an important street linking in Downtown ("Centro").

Pocitos Beach (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/1080S_Playamvd.jpeg), 10 minutes away from Montevideo's Downtown. There are even better beaches in the city, mind you.

Salvo Palace (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/43Mdeo2041.jpeg), an iconic building designed by legendary businessman and alchemist Francisco Piria in the 1920s.

Downtown, as seen from the Puerta de la Ciudad Vieja (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/59330.jpeg). This gate was the limit of 18th century Montevideo.

Peatonal SarandĂ­ (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/7Montevideo0011.jpeg), a popular pedestrian zone and night life hotspot in the Ciudad Vieja (Old City).

Palacio Legislativo (http://www.cba.uri.edu/Faculty/jarrett/Uruguay/Montevideo02.jpg), where Parliament meets. Inside, you can find the Hall of Lost Steps (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/921S_PasosPerdidos.jpeg).

Solis Theatre. (http://www.elpais.com.uy/Especiales/teatro_solis/images/solis.jpg)

Mercado del Puerto (http://www.schwarzaufweiss.de/uruguay/monte2.htm) (Harbour Market), home to some of the best steak and barbecue in the world. It's an iron structure built in Liverpool. (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/S_Montevideo0029.jpeg)

An aerial view of Montevideo and its Golf Club. (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/S_Montevid.jpeg)

Japanese Garden (http://stonek.com/_FOTOGRAFOS/virosen/virosen_JardinJapPuen.jpg) in Montevideo.

A view of the Rambla (http://community.iexplore.com/photos/journal_photos/aIMG_2199.JPG), Montevideo's coastline.

Oceanographic Museum. (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/S_Montevideo0101.jpeg) No, you're not the only who doesn't understand that tower... :p

Yacht Port (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/fotosdep/albums/10/S_Montevideo0110.jpeg) in Buceo, middle-to-upper class neighbourhood. There are several fishermen clubs in the vicinity.
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: flyingmice on December 15, 2006, 08:44:22 AM
Quote from: JimBobOz
Melbourne, Australia. It has the bestest GM, and the worstest player, in the whole world - me.


We'll have to armwrestle about both of those some day, Kyle! :D

-clash
Title: Sell me on your country
Post by: RPGPundit on December 15, 2006, 10:39:40 AM
Well done, Jong.

RPGPundit