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AIBU?

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Aibu to seek an ex-pat community as I want to move somewhere English speaking?

91 replies

Lose6pounds · 03/08/2024 07:08

I live in Ireland and the weather gets me down. I want to move to somewhere with better weather but I would prefer if it was mostly English speaking. I would consider Cornwall or south England in general.
I think the weather in London is fantastic but I find it huge and exhausting and really expensive.
I would prefer somewhere mellower but also with a community that was a mix of nationalities. I was also considering France or Italy. I don’t like Spain. Does anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:
Laparisienne123 · 03/08/2024 10:19

OneForTheToad · 03/08/2024 07:55

Depends if the OP has to work or not I suppose. Try finding work in the Dordogne or Italy.

True . It would depend on skills I suppose.

Skethylita · 03/08/2024 09:26

As someone who has emmigrated (from mainland Europe to the UK) let me tell you that moving countries for the chance of better weather is bloody stuipd and will make you miserable, no matter what.

You have to move for the love of the country itself. You will be leaving behind your family and entire support network, so, without knowing the language, life will be even more difficult. New laws, a new food culture, leaving behind a number of creature comforts (love black tea? Good look finding a halfway decent one abroad anywhere but GB. I still miss a particular dessert that is just never sold abroad and hoard it whenever I get back), lots of different ways of doing things.

I used to think that my culture was very similar to the British one, until I moved here and found, even 20 years later, that I can still be surprised at how differently things are done sometimes.

Also know how many rights you might be leaving behind. Until I became a citizen (after 5 years, lots of money spent and two rounds of academic tests), poof went my right to vote. In some countries you will not have access to free at the point of use healthcare without solid insurance, which sometimes only comes after you have started receiving benefits (which again will start after 6 months if you're lucky, after a few years if not) or after you have managed to get a job, the latter of which will be nigh on impossible without knowing the language. Oh, and a welfare network? All of Europe are tightening theirs so that no one receives it upon entering the country, so if something bad befalls you, good luck. Will you need to get a new driving licence? Will your qualifications be recognised? (mine are not)

Moving countries is not easy on your own, let alone with a potential family. So don't do it for the hope of better weather.

WhatThenEh · 03/08/2024 08:56

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This post has been withdrawn at the request of the user.

Ginmonkeyagain · 03/08/2024 08:52

How about the Kent or Sussex coast? It's not the Med but the SE corner of England is generally the warmest and driest part of the British Isles. It is warm enough in those counties to support a number of vinyards and wineries.

NoNoNona · 03/08/2024 08:51

Depending on what you do for a living, Frankfurt might suit. Very international, excellent road, rail & air access, English theatre, films shown in English original, quite green with the belt round the city centre, river Main to walk or cycle along and it has many good restaurants as well as open and covered markets.
The weather used to continental, so cold winters and hot summers, but that has changed over the years to milder winters and more bearable summers, although it can be very humid.
Public transport is good and efficient.
Renting very much depends on the area, a friend has a 1-bed flat in the east of the city for about €700 a month.

NoraLuka · 03/08/2024 08:49

Please learn the language of the country you move to. I’m in France and have lost count of the number of English speakers I’ve met who don’t speak French and then have problems with admin/the doctor/general life stuff. This is especially bad as they get older and have more complicated medical issues to deal with. Lots of people in France speak English but lots genuinely don’t, or find it difficult. If both sides make an effort there’s usually a way to get the message across!

unsync · 03/08/2024 08:48

Presumably you are an EU citizen? If so, you are fortunate in that you can live and work anywhere in the EU. Have a look at the weather stats for the southern countries, find one that you like and then look for the community. There always seems to be little pockets of English speakers in the unlikeliest of places. However, integration is important so I would recommend learning the local language as it will widen your experience, especially if you need a job too.

Tukmgru · 03/08/2024 08:34

Are you really saying you don’t plan to learn the language of the country you’ll move to? I’m struggling to comprehend why, if I’m honest.

Werweisswohin · 03/08/2024 08:34

Tommeetippee · 03/08/2024 08:27

Of course she won't.

Not sure what OP will do.

It is ironic how some Brits move abroad and then do the thing that they complain about immigrants to the UK not doing though.....

🫣🫣🫣

anythinginapinch · 03/08/2024 08:32

Australia

Tommeetippee · 03/08/2024 08:27

Werweisswohin · 03/08/2024 07:58

You'll start learning the language of the country too though, right?

Of course she won't.

Werweisswohin · 03/08/2024 08:22

mapotofu · 03/08/2024 08:20

Yeah of course, but it will take a while until you can build a deep connection in a foreign language. I'm not actually from the UK and didn't speak English before I moved here at the age of 26, and took me a few lonely years before I started feeling at home :)

Surely if someone knows they're planning to move abroad then they'd at least start learning the language - especially if they already come from a country which has access to free resources to learn a huge range of languages, such as the UK or Ireland?

Chocolateorange22 · 03/08/2024 08:22

It does rain on the south coast of the UK too. As per all coast's of the UK it can feel brutal in the wind during winter.

Why would you also not learn a language in Europe? My IL's moved to North Wales on retirement. Started immediately learning Welsh, they are now having the time of their lives mixing with English and native Welsh speakers. They often go to Welsh speaking social groups and are fully integrated within their community despite not being an 'islander' (native Anglesey person)

MoreCraicPlease · 03/08/2024 08:21

The weather in London is definitely MUCH better than Dublin. It’s much warmer and more dry. But the winter nights still start at 4pm in December.
What about Froome or Bristol? Both have a heavy arts scene and lots of people from all over.Cornwall, Brighton, north Norfolk etc. are all good too for that West Cork vibe.

mapotofu · 03/08/2024 08:20

Werweisswohin · 03/08/2024 07:58

You'll start learning the language of the country too though, right?

Yeah of course, but it will take a while until you can build a deep connection in a foreign language. I'm not actually from the UK and didn't speak English before I moved here at the age of 26, and took me a few lonely years before I started feeling at home :)

TemuSpecialBuy · 03/08/2024 08:06

mugboat · 03/08/2024 07:47

are you making a joke here? or do you really think it's cool to move to a county so you can take advantage of cheap domestic labour?

It’s a joke… but also a lot of Londoners love it there
It wouldn’t be for me

Werweisswohin · 03/08/2024 07:58

mapotofu · 03/08/2024 07:31

Why did you think you're being unreasonable at all? If I'm looking to move to mainland Europe, the main thing I'll make sure is that the place is fairly international and English-speaking. It'll be extremely isolating otherwise.

You'll start learning the language of the country too though, right?

OneForTheToad · 03/08/2024 07:55

Depends if the OP has to work or not I suppose. Try finding work in the Dordogne or Italy.

Poppypops76 · 03/08/2024 07:52

Portugal is beautiful and the weather on the Algarve is generally good all year round. Lots of expats too and English spoken everywhere.

PetrichorSoul · 03/08/2024 07:48

I’m in Switzerland and you can get by with English only. Especially in Geneva where I live. Everyone speaks English because the expat community is huge.

You will pick up the language when you live in a place where it’s widely spoken. Forget about Italy, you have to learn Italian as many don’t speak English.

mugboat · 03/08/2024 07:47

TemuSpecialBuy · 03/08/2024 07:42

Singapore?
its classic expat territory.

It’s hot, your overpaidhas and everyone has cheap maid servants and a low level drink problem from all the socialising.

are you making a joke here? or do you really think it's cool to move to a county so you can take advantage of cheap domestic labour?

merrymelodies · 03/08/2024 07:46

Seattle! 😂

Nursemumma92 · 03/08/2024 07:45

Tommeetippee · 03/08/2024 07:33

Italy is one of the wettest countries in Europe.

She is considering Italy and according to the statistics, Italy has had less rainfall than France where OP is also considering, but thanks.

https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/precipitation/Europe/

https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/precipitation?continent=europe

mugboat · 03/08/2024 07:45

I grew up in NWest England and moved to London partially for the weather. I agree with you OP, rhe weather is mostly fantastic when you compare it with other areas.

If the climate in your part of Ireland is similar to where I came from, London is definitely an upgrade.

Those saying otherwise have no idea what its like to live in an area where it is windy and rainy all of the time😆.

I love it here in London too, I guess it all depends on where can get work.

Cornwall is beautiful but it's not easy to get work. London is expensive but often the jobs pay more than the rest of the country. Most of us who work in London commute in from the suburbs. Post pandemic, many of us work hybrid and only need to travel in 2/3 days a week.

ToBeOrNotToBee · 03/08/2024 07:43

There's Scilly, Malta and some parts of Spain.

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