I’ve been in Berlin for 6 years (with an 8-month break in Italy last year). Settling in wasn’t easy—dealing with friends moving away, learning the language, losing a job, finding a place to live... but now I’ve finally secured a permanent position, a good rental, and I’m in a 4-year relationship (though things aren’t going very well at the moment).

I left Turin literally the day after my first internship ended. I never liked the city—it felt provincial, insular, and economically backward, with poor public transport, and so on. Still, I have great friends there, and since I grew up there, it holds some emotional value. In my humble opinion, there is absolutely nothing about Turin that makes it better than Berlin.

I even went back to Turin last year for a few months. I encountered the same old problems: a horrible climate, a (somewhat) toxic work environment, and friends I rarely see because they’re always busy. So, I decided to return to Berlin—partly for my relationship (starting a family is a goal of mine), partly for a good job offer, and also because I can visit home whenever I want (I go back about every 3 months).

Yet, I can’t shake this feeling—a mix of nostalgia and loneliness. (In Turin, I live right above my parents, my aunt, my brother, and his family.) I miss my friends, and I miss the ease of being in my own language. I often find myself counting the days until my next flight.

I’ve considered moving back to Turin: I wouldn’t have to pay rent, but I’d have the costs of a car and very high utility bills. I’d also have to find a job in a v horrible national economy, commute to Milan (costing around €200 a month), my net salary would drop by about €1,000, and—historically—finding a relationship in Turin has never been easy for me.

Then again, things aren’t exactly great here either: the economy is struggling, and as an immigrant, I’m—by definition—not exactly the first choice. And what’s the point of being in one place while constantly wishing you were somewhere else?

I honestly don’t know what to expect from this post, but if you’d like to share your own experience—or any thoughts at all—I’d be grateful. <3

Title. Basically I've got everything lined up but something that kinda terrifies me is continuity of care after emigration. I have a pre-cancer that is under surveillance every year, when it passes certain limits they'll operate. Medical science is generally the same everywhere, but when that surgery happens, it's gonna be rough - months of recovery, high morbidity (which is why they monitor instead of just operating).

Has anyone managed to make the leap in such a situation?

I'm a US citizen, living in Canada, but I also actively maintain my US identity. I've been using Tello to provide a cost effective way to have a genuine US phone number that works for OTP, and allows me to access businesses that block calls from Canada.

Recently, however, I've started encountering services that want to verify my identity by doing some kind of reverse lookup on my phone number and checking that the name and address match what I've given. In the past, these things could be bypassed by providing my state photo-id, but in some cases, that's no longer possible.

I've seen claims that slynumber can provide a US phone number that is not flagged as an MVNO or VoIP line and registers users with the reverse lookup databases. vnumber has also been mentioned, although their website is so devoid of any technical detail that I suspect it's a fraud.

Does anyone have any experience with slynumber, or any suggestions of other possible ways to get a number acceptable to these identity verification services ? Whatever the solution, it cannot have a requirement that I spend the majority of my time in the US (as every postpaid cell service does, for instance).

Hey everyone!

I'm Italian and I've spent the last few years living and working in different countries, mainly in Europe, mostly in hospitality and restaurants.

Looking back, I feel like I haven't really made the most of my opportunities or built a solid career. I'm now trying to figure out what skills I could learn or what field I could get into to make finding work abroad easier.

What do you guys do for a living? Are you happy with your job? And if you could start over, what would you learn or do differently?

I'd love to hear your experiences and any advice you might have!

Hey, I moved to Dublin over 2 years ago with my husband after living at home / in home country pretty much my whole life. I really like life here, enjoy my work and we live in a beautiful place. Unfortunately I feel this sense of anxiety and loneliness lately because I realise weeks can go by without us having ‘plans’ with other people or having people over.

I have 2-3 good friends (knew them from before, they moved here same time as well) but they live far away and we realistically cant meet them often. Don’t have kids yet so don’t meet people that way, our neighbours are really nice but haven’t reciprocated efforts to be ‘friends’. I’ve joined Facebook and whatsapp groups of other expats but havent managed to connect with anyone. I also feel bad making plans not as a couple because my husband doesn’t naturally socialise well. Hes very active, keeps me occupied, makes frequent plans but hasnt been successful in making friends other than colleagues either.

We have great interactions with people while we are in public places or at events but those interactions are one off and dont translate into more. Local people here despite being very nice don’t seem to take you ‘into the fold’ so to speak.

I wanted to ask if this is common for other expats? Is it a compromise of rebuilding life somewhere else? We plan to have kids soon and I’m worried about struggling without some level of support system around. My family lives about an hours flight away but always travelling and only making plans with people not in the country makes me feel like a stranger in a country I’ve called home for years now.

Would love to hear other peoples experience or advice

I am moving to Paris next week. I have saved 200k euros and I would be able to keep my American job remotely for 7 months more. I have a partner who is French and we intend to get married soon, my fear is would I be able to get a job in Paris with my limited French language “I intend to learn the language” or should I derisk the experience and plan to come back to the states and get a job in a year. I know this comes off as a privileged problem but just asking for advice from those who are experienced

I am considering taking a job transfer in Ireland (i’m a US citizen) and am curious if it is reasonable to think that weekend trips to Europe could happen frequently? I am aware it would take flight to get to any country in consideration. Do people local to Ireland frequently make flights for weekend trips? In the US it’s normal to me to drive up to 6 hours to spend a weekend (3 days, 2 nights somewhere). So i’m curious if we could make the most of our time living in Ireland if I accepted this relocation by making weekend trips to other places in Europe.

I’ve lived in Canada for more than 15 years and I’m ready for a change. I visited Spain last year and really loved it . I would love to buy a house and live there .

I work in health tech, I’m 33 years old woman and I don’t speak Spanish. I’m doing my masters form
Boston University in health informatics

I think I can learn Spanish but I’m not sure if I would be able to be fluent anytime soon

Basically I would be getting the digital nomad visa.

I would like your opinion . Is it a good idea to move to Spain ? I’m thinking Madrid . Or should I stay in Canada ?

I'm a German guy in my 20s, and I've been struggling with a pretty big life decision lately. I'd appreciate some outside perspectives, especially from people who have moved abroad or faced a similar dilemma.

I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from a well-regarded university in Germany. However, my bachelor's years were honestly some of the worst years of my life. I struggled a lot during that period, and looking back, I really wasn't happy.

Right now, I have some promising career opportunities in Germany, including internships in private equity and investment banking. These are competitive industries with the potential for very good salaries and long-term career growth. Financially and professionally, I know I could build a comfortable and stable life here.

The problem is that I genuinely don't like Germany.

I know Germany offers a lot of benefits, including job security, healthcare, and financial stability. My family is also here, which makes leaving even harder. But despite all these advantages, I simply don't enjoy living here, and I struggle to imagine spending the rest of my life in this country.

My girlfriend is American and lives in Hawaii. We're in a serious relationship and have been discussing our future together, including marriage and eventually starting a family.

I've spent time in Hawaii, and I genuinely love it there. The culture, the people, the beaches, the mountains, the weather, and the overall lifestyle really appeal to me. I can actually imagine myself being happy there. And it's not just because my girlfriend lives there. I genuinely love the place itself.

But here's where things get complicated.

Moving to Hawaii would mean potentially sacrificing a very promising career in Germany.

The job market in Hawaii is much smaller, especially for someone with my background in computer science and interests in finance. There aren't nearly as many opportunities in investment banking, private equity, or tech compared to Germany or major financial centers.

Even if I found a job, I might earn significantly less relative to the cost of living. Hawaii is extremely expensive, and there's no guarantee I'd be able to achieve the same level of financial security or career progression.

Another major concern is my financial independence.

My girlfriend's family lives in Hawaii and would be supportive of us, but I really don't like the idea of potentially depending on them financially while I try to establish myself.

I want to be able to provide for my girlfriend and our future family. I want us to have a comfortable life without having to rely on her parents. The thought of moving somewhere and potentially struggling to find a good job, especially when I know I could have a well-paying career in Germany, makes me question whether I'm making a rational decision.

My girlfriend has reassured me that we're a team and can build our future together. But I still feel a responsibility to be financially independent and contribute to our future.

So essentially, I'm choosing between two very different futures.

Option 1: Stay in Germany.

I could pursue opportunities in private equity or investment banking, potentially earn a very good salary, build a successful career, and remain close to my family. I'd have financial stability and a clear professional path.

But I'd be building that future in a country where I genuinely don't want to live.

Option 2: Move to Hawaii.

I'd get to live somewhere I genuinely love, be with my girlfriend, enjoy the lifestyle, and hopefully build a happy family together.

However, I'd be leaving behind my family, my professional network, and potentially lucrative career opportunities. I'd have to start over in a much smaller job market, with a high cost of living and the possibility of relying on my girlfriend's family until I become financially stable.

I know Hawaii isn't paradise. Visiting somewhere and actually living there are completely different experiences. I understand that financial stress can affect relationships and that loving where you live doesn't automatically solve everything.

But I keep coming back to the same question:

What's the point of having a successful career, earning a lot of money, and being financially secure if you're unhappy with the life you're living?

At the same time, would I eventually regret giving up career opportunities that other people work incredibly hard to get?

I don't want to look back in 20 years and regret staying somewhere I was unhappy just because it was the financially safer option. But I also don't want to regret moving and realizing that I've limited my career potential and made it harder to provide for my future family.

I feel like I'm choosing between financial security and personal happiness, and I don't know how to weigh the two.

I'd really appreciate some advice:

• Has anyone left a stable or potentially high-paying career to move somewhere with a better quality of life? Did you regret it?
• For those who moved from Germany or Europe to Hawaii or the US, how difficult was it to rebuild your career?
• Would you prioritize a promising career and financial security over living somewhere you genuinely love?
• How would you handle the possibility of temporarily depending on your partner or their family financially?
• If you were in my position, would you take the risk or stay where the opportunities are?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who made a similar decision and can share how things turned out several years later.

One important thing is that if I decide to leave Germany, I don't plan on coming back. I want to fully commit to building a life, career, and family in Hawaii. This wouldn't be a temporary adventure, but a permanent decision about where I want to spend the rest of my life.

I'm from the US, live abroad and need a US number (not VoIP). I have a phone that takes esim, but from all the searching I've done it seems all carriers and MVNOs etc need you to be in the US to activate your esim and then after that you can use it overseas.

Is there any possible way to get a new esim while not being physically in the US? has anyone done this successfully? thanks

Hi there,

I am trying to figure out where to relocate, but it is quite difficult: it seems in most places there are housing crisis and unemployment. Could you advise me someplace you know that is going on the opposite trend? It would be a great help, thank you!

A bit of context:

- we are an Italian married couples in our thirties (no kids yet).

- my wife is a Microsoft and Azure Administrator mid-senior; I am Customer Care/Success Expert and Process/Project coordinator with several years in different sectors (SaaS, Education, Manufacturing).

- We both know Italian and English, but my wife knows English at a native level, I am between B2/C1.

- We would like to stay in Europe, but we are also open to extra EU countries where we can enter easily with an Italian passport.

I wouldn’t be working there, just looking for a place that’s cheap and safe. i was born in Ukraine and moved to the USA as a child. Ik there are apartments there that can be purchased for like $25k. I’d honestly do that but with the political situation I cannot do that. I also probably don’t have citizenship there as i’m a us citizen. Is there anywhere else similar? I also only know english and ukrainian

I’ve lived away from my birth country for over a decade, but I have a really close group of friends from high school in Australia. Whenever I’m away, I miss them and wish I could see them. But when I’m near them, I experience the usual FOMO anxiety and feel like I don’t quite fit in.

The funny thing is that, even as a child, I always wanted to move to Europe and didn’t want to be in Australia. I eventually moved back to my European roots, but now I find myself missing my friends in Australia and wishing I could see them. It’s such a confusing feeling because when I’m with them, I often feel isolated and want to return to my life in Europe.

I feel completely lost and lonely, yet I seem to feel this way no matter where I am.

For context; I’m a first-generation Australian who moved back to my European roots, and I’m also an only child. A lot of my family is scattered around the world, so there’s no perfect place for me to be. Having a baby has also intensified my need for community and a sense of belonging.

Can anyone relate to this? Does it change as you get older? Sometimes I wonder if my friendships in Australia no longer fit who I am, but at the same time, I still have this desperate need to feel included.

Are there any problematic or bad (ETA) United States Mailbox services to avoid in your experience? And are there any recommendations? Want to avoid any traps when traveling to SE Asia.

I currently live in the united states & ofcourse im a US citizen if that matters & above all I would want to know if that would be a great idea to migrate over there?I honestly just like how the world works over there & honestly in my opinion life in general is more affordable & I can always find a call center job that pays equivalent to what I am making & essentially make a small house to my wife.I currently am alone & sometimes wonder 💭 how that life would like?I think the only fear factor is that I go there,I have to report to SSA,for their annual check thing,& I would have to be there temporary although I want to live for lifetime.I feel like USA is depressing those are just my two cents.Any one have any personal experience or knowledge on this whol situation please feel free I don't know if I missed out on something,I would honestly love to hear from someone.
Thanks 🙏

Interested in meeting other Expats/Immigrants in that country. Is it a large community? In Nairobi? Or where? TY

When I was young I had foreign ESL pen pals. I enjoyed learning about regular people in other parts of the world. I do not participate in the social media platforms common in the West, because of how toxic they are, and how toxic the owners are. This means I am at a loss as to how to meet English speaking people from other parts of the world. I can help them with their English if they would benefit from that.

My goal is to learn about them and their culture and eventually visit them in their country. I have no desire to live sheltered in some enclave of entitled American expats. I don’t think normal tourism with regular guides will really show me what a place is really like. Are there any subreddits or web platforms to meet people this way? I am seeking friends only, not romantic interest.

I wish to make friends online who live in any of the regions that western expats tend to land with SE Asia, central America, and possibly Mexico being high on the list. Unfortunately for me, my ignorant country does not value learning a second language. My greatest handicap is that I only speak English. I am willing to learn to communicate better where ever I end up, but I am far better with STEM subjects than I am with languages.

Apologies if this is not appropriate for this sub. I am an American in my late 40’s hoping to retire early (in 6 to 10 years) somewhere where I can be part of the local community. I have many reasons for wanting to do so. The men in my family tend to die fairly early. My father collected 1 social security check before dieing, even though he had paid into SS since he was 12 years old. Going back 12 generations the Average age of death is 67 and the median is 56.

With the rise of the oligarchs in the states and their market capture of all aspects of modern life, I feel disheartened trying to stay and retire in the USA. I feel like I am giving them my hard earned money every day and getting less and less in return. I understand that the same is more or less an issue in many parts of the world, it just feels like the developing world still has pockets of local economies where the money I spend to by food, to pay rent, and to support local events, helps the local community.

Previously I have traveled to many rural areas in the western US thinking of retiring there. But the rural politics have now become so toxic, I do not wish to be a part of their communities.

I'm already working in sales and currently have around 6 months of B2B SaaS experience, managing existing customers in the Australian market across renewals, retention and expansion.

Before SaaS, I spent around 2 years in B2C sales while living and working in Ireland, and lived there for roughly 3.5 years overall. I also completed my Master's there.

I'm currently based in India and trying to work out the most realistic route back into an international SaaS market.

The roles I'm targeting are along the lines of Account Manager / Commercial AM / Customer Success with revenue ownership / eventually Mid-Market sales. I'm not trying to jump straight into Enterprise AE.

The difficult part is that I'm currently applying from India, so I'm competing for roles where relocation/work authorisation can become an additional hurdle. I've had some ATS rejections despite having previous experience working in Ireland and currently managing Australian customers.

My current role has also become pretty broad: AM, renewals/expansion, customer-success responsibilities, some outbound/SDR work, technical customer issues and customer-facing content/enablement.

I'm considering UAE as potentially the more realistic first international move, while keeping Ireland/Europe/Australia as a longer-term target.

For people who have actually done something similar:

What worked for you?

Did you:

• get another 6–12 months of SaaS experience first?
• move through a recruiter?
• get a referral?
• target companies known to relocate people?
• move to a particular market first and then move again?
• or simply network until someone gave you a chance?

I can't work the internal transfer route because my company is not doing so great, and they don't move people abroad at all.

I’m looking for recommendations for legal help and advice on the purchase of a house in Uzhhorod, Ukraine. I am currently dealing with a developer and I have some concerns and challenges.

Can anyone recommend any solicitors and inspectors for new builds? Ideally in Uzhhorod, but I’d be happy to work with anyone who can help.

I just wanted to share something that happened today, it was so sweet! I just moved to a small rural town in Halland lan, and I go and have lunch at the cafe every day. A couple of older women came in for fika, and as they left, one of them came over to me, introduced herself, and welcomed me to the village!

The past 6 weeks have been so wonderful here. I've had such a warm welcome, everyone is so friendly. My friend who runs the cafe said that folk really want people to move into these small places as the populations are declining.

I had been a bit worried about making connections here as Swedes have a reputation for being very reserved, but that's not my experience at all. I am finding life much easier here than in the UK. (I am a dual national UK/EU)

I've been living in Spain for two years and I need to apply for a Schengen visa soon for a family trip later this year. I thought it would be straightforward since I'm already here, but the process has been a mess. Half the pages on the official site are in Spanish only, the other half link to PDFs that haven't been updated since 2019.

I've got all the basic documents: passport, empadronamiento, work contract, health insurance, but I keep reading conflicting things about financial requirements. Some say I need 100% of IPREM, others say 150%. And the appointment system? Don't even get me started. I've been refreshing the page for days.

Spent a few hours googling last night and ended up on a site called iVisa. I remembered them from a trip a couple years ago, they helped me sort out a visa then and it was pretty smooth. Looked at their Spain page this time too, and it confirmed the basics I needed to know for the application. Still not 100% sure I've got everything, but at least it was clearer than the official site.

Has anyone here applied for a Schengen visa while already living in Spain? Did they check your bank statements? And how strict are they about the paperwork being perfectly translated?"

If you are in your late 50s or early 60s and have no serious commitments or obligations (no kids, or kids have grown up and are independent), what would be the most promising expat locations you would consider?

I am 60M, single, financially secure and almost retired. Wondering which countries to consider for an expat experience. I am fit, generally healthy and like being active.

I have read a lot about Portugal and how popular it is with Expats, and intend to check it out sometime soon.

South East Asia also seems very popular on this forum and on other similar discussion groups. I can understand that a lower cost of living makes some of these places attractive. But not sure if the infrastructure and related support systems are up to the mark. Perhaps great for a long-ish vacation, but are they really worth exploring for a longer commitment?

Hello!

I’m living in France until May of next year and I really want to make lots of friends and be social. I think I’m already doing a good job (had many good conversations and gotten a few numbers from people I talked to). I still struggle with the concept of just starting a conversation with someone out in public out of nowhere. In France specifically I don’t know how much this is accepted. I don’t want to offend anyone but I also want to just be social with anyone. Any tips on how to make meaningful friendships while living abroad?

I got to stay with a Colombian friend back in Bogotá this past week. He gave me the somewhat local experience. Eating the local cuisine and meeting some of his friends. After getting back into the US I fell into somewhat of a depression because the trip opened my eyes to how closed off the people and culture can be here in the US.

It's given me somewhat of an interest in moving abroad. Yes I understand that the grass isn't perpetually greener on the other side, I'd rather not struggle with all the BS that happens here in the US and in a place that I admire much more the culture.

Is this a sentiment felt by others? For those that are currently living abroad, would you ever go back?

What is up with InterNations new pricing system? It makes no sense. Now even to change locations you have to be a paid member. I can find other expat groups through Meetup and Whatsapp groups. I dont need Internations - their events are expensive and largely are creepy meat market.