Living in Europe?

[FCAV]

Colour me curious.

Have (m)any of you lived for an extended period of time over in Europe? How long were you there? How did you survive? Did you work, live off savings, ect? Where did you go and what did you see?

[Eric Vail]

I lived in Rome and went to school there for a semester back in 2004. It was awesome. I saw all kinds of things in Rome, and actually took an archeology course there. I went to Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, Orvieto, Perugia, Assisi, (all in Italy);Taize and Paris in France; Berlin in Germany; Swiebodzin, Poznan, Gdansk, Sopot, Slupsk, Warsaw, Radom, Krakow, Czestochowa in Poland.

It was pricey, but definately worth it. I was on a sabbatical, so I received some pay from my employer which helped me pay for it.

[Redliner]

Lived in France for two and a half years, mostly in the southwest region around Bordeaux. I traveled quite a bit and saw more castles and cathedrals than I care to count. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I have seriously considered moving back there. Definitely very expensive though.

[Kswiss]

Lived in Czech Republic for almost a year. Not in Prague but a city on the east bordering Poland. I worked there for a year but blew it all travelling and seeing new places and sites. Met the most interesting people there the trip was definitely a life changer. I agree with Redliner, greatest experience in my whole life, and also kind of cool to learn the language (for an Asian guy). I visited mostly East Europe, small villages and big cities....everyday was a beautiful day!

[Berger_4_]

You should talk to 4x4. He ran a hostel (?) in Rome for a while.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Aaron Vickers

Colour me curious.

Have (m)any of you lived for an extended period of time over in Europe? How long were you there? How did you survive? Did you work, live off savings, ect? Where did you go and what did you see?

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

You should talk to 4x4. He ran a hostel (?) in Rome for a while.

Do it. Just do it. You wont regret it. Adventures unfold themselves. If you've got enough money to get there and to survive for a few weeks, just go. If you do, you'll either have the time of your life, or else learn some life lessons (probably both). If you don't, you'll regret wanting to, but not going.

The hostel happened for me out of luck and by association. You can't plan my story. It just doesn't happen. But I met so many people there that were living their "dream" just as I was, with much less or much more.

God, i just don't know how to explain it. You're either a traveler or you're not. If you are, you've always wanted to live somewhere far from where you grew up. Maybe in a place your family was from, or maybe the complete opposite. Either way, much different from what you're used to.

I guarantee you this: if you do move overseas, you wont regret it. Even for a spell (I was in Italy for ~15 months?). To be fully immersed in a different culture teaches you things that you never knew you didn't know.

Try it. Enjoy it. Fly by the seat of your pants. Do it while you can. I know this: had I not done it when I had the chance, I'd regret it as long as I live. Somehow I just know that.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

You should talk to 4x4. He ran a hostel (?) in Rome for a while.

And the body count still hasnt stopped....

[NBC]

I agree, its a great experience. But wherever you go take an umbrella!

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by NBC

I agree, its a great experience. But wherever you go take an umbrella!

Pansy.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by NBC

I agree, its a great experience. But wherever you go take an umbrella!

And a towel.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Pansy.

Pansy? Why I never!

[Ozy_Flame]

Well don't just limited yourself to Europe, go where your heart takes you...Mine did to New Zealand for a while, and I'll never forget it. Best experience of my life.

[COGENT]

I lived in the Netherlands for 4 months. I had enough money to live there but not enough to travel around so I would take odd jobs (most of which I got while drunk in the bar) to make enough to go away somewhere and come back.

An incredible experience I will never forget.

[Antithesis]

I think taking your towel would be far more important than an umbrella.

Have to admit I am looking more strongly towards some of the teacher exchange programs offered through the CBE. Australia would be really cool and I want my kids to have many experiences living overseas or even just 'other places'. At the same time, I am very much a person who loves "home" so that would be a good compromise, going somewhere for an extended time though it's still temporary with a definite end date.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

I think taking your towel would be far more important than an umbrella.

Have to admit I am looking more strongly towards some of the teacher exchange programs offered through the CBE. Australia would be really cool and I want my kids to have many experiences living overseas or even just 'other places'. At the same time, I am very much a person who loves "home" so that would be a good compromise, going somewhere for an extended time though it's still temporary with a definite end date.

Pff...One you go Outback, you never come back.

[GreenLantern]

One thing I always wondered about is when you go over seas, what do you do for health care and dental coverage? You can buy travel insurance right, but does that still count after 6 months to a few years?

How long can you live in Europe without having to get a citizenship of some kind in certain countries?

[NBC]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

I think taking your towel would be far more important than an umbrella.

I was under the impression that the OP was thinking about living somewhere as opposed to traveling around. Sure you need a towel, but anyone who has spent any amount of non-summer time in Europe knows just how much it can rain. I think it rained every day for about 60 days last winter. Never owned an umbrella in Calgary, I have 3 here in the UK.

[burn_baby_burn]

I have only traveled to Europe, but after visiting, I would live there in a second if I could. I had the chance to live in Australia 10 years ago and it was a very amazing experience. Traveling and living in different countries really broadens your mind.

[MickMcGeough]

I lived in London for a year. Saved up enough money for the flight and a damage deposit and that was about it. I got very lucky and got a good paying "professional" job on a working holidaymaker visa, but I'd planned on waiting tables or serving drinks or whatever.

The best thing about living in London is that it's a major travel hub. My girlfriend and I flew to Torino for the Olympics for about $75 round trip (ryanair or easyjet, can't remember). We'd take a Friday off and spend the weekend in Amsterdam, Prague, Paris, Barcelona, whatever. It was crazy how cheap travel was out of London. If you want to see lots of Europe, set up shop close enough to major city to take advantage of that.

Another thing; there's more free stuff to do in London than anywhere I've been in the world. I was flat broke for the first two months I lived out there but I was never bored.

I'll second what everyone else said. Just GO. You won't regret it.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Well don't just limited yourself to Europe, go where your heart takes you...Mine did to New Zealand for a while, and I'll never forget it. Best experience of my life.

I agree, Europe is played!

You want to experience a new culture? Go somewhere that lives a dramatically different lifestyle. In Europe their cars are smaller and they watch the wrong football, big deal? Asia, Africa, South America, or at the very least Eastern Europe will offer you way more of a "cultural awakening"...

And hostels...oh man hostels... so you spend a week in a hostel to experience the culture eh? All I ever experience in hostels is drinking with a Brit, an Aussie, Some French and another token Canadian. How is that experiencing the local culture? I could go to the hostel in downtown Calgary for a week and get the exact same experience!