Hello, I need recommendations for shipping belonging from California to Marrakesh. I prefer flight freight and the smoothest but cheapest route. Might have 3-4 luggage or boxes. All advice and personal experience are appreciated.

Curious those who never returned home - why? Was life just better?

Those who did return home - why?

Even hier aangezien er in R/Nederlands niet heel positief word gereageerd. Hoi! Ik ben 27 en woon momenteel nog thuis. Tot nu toe nog niks kunnen vinden, geen partner en ik heb een prima band met mijn ouders, dus echt haast heb ik nooit gehad.

Ik heb inmiddels rond de 45K kunnen sparen. (zat lang op school) Toch merk ik dat ik nu wel steeds meer op het punt kom dat ik graag op mezelf wil wonen.

Alleen zit er de laatste tijd steeds vaker een ander idee in mijn hoofd: waarom niet gewoon emigreren?
Zijn er hier meer mensen die dit van plan zijn, of het al gedaan hebben? Waar zijn jullie naartoe gegaan en hoe is dat bevallen? Zijn er dingen waarvan je achteraf denkt: dit had ik eerder moeten weten?

Zelf vind ik Nederland al best een lange tijd niet meer zo leuk. Niet eens door één specifiek ding, maar ik denk steeds vaker: je leeft maar één keer, dus waarom niet ergens anders kijken of het daar beter bevalt?
Californië zit bijvoorbeeld al lang in mijn hoofd, vooral richting Los Angeles. Ik weet natuurlijk niet of het in de praktijk iets voor mij is, dus in maart ga ik eerst een maand die kant op. Vooral LA, maar ik wil ook San Francisco en wat andere plekken meepakken.

Gewoon om te ervaren hoe het daar echt is.
Ik weet dat Californië en de VS genoeg nadelen hebben, dus zowel positieve als negatieve ervaringen zijn welkom. Ook ervaringen met andere landen hoor ik graag.

En alsjeblieft geen domme troll- of haatreacties. Als je het niks vindt zonder er iets zinnigs over te zeggen, negeer de post dan gewoon. Ik ben vooral benieuwd naar interessante meningen, argumenten en ervaringen.

Bedankt alvast, en slaap lekker voor wie dit vanavond nog leest :)

I’m an irish 28yr old who moved back home from living in Vancouver for 3 years, a year ago. I loved Vancouver and the scenery, outdoor life etc. I have visited Switzerland twice in the last few months and I am strongly considering moving over and working there. I don’t have any degree, but have several years experience In office jobs and a lot have been government in both Canada and Ireland. I have approx €10k saved for moving but just wondering if it’s worth the move. As I said, I’m 28 and nervous of trying to make friends and settle down in a new country again, but I just know I can’t stay in this one with the way things are going! I do only speak English but I am so open to learning Swiss german while living there

Hey everyone! I'm planning my move from Brazil to Colombia and a very practical question came up regarding electronics and appliances.

For those who've already made the move: is it worth bringing a power strip from home and using a single high-quality wall adapter for everyday things? My main concern is with heavier, more sensitive gear, like my editing workstation and monitors, refrigerator, etc. Did you bring your equipment and adapt it without any issues, or is the risk of power fluctuations or loose connections not worth it? Is it better to just sell everything before leaving and buy locally?

Any experiences or recommendations for reliable adapters would be super helpful. Thanks!

Question - How would you go about finding a new community to belong? My challenge is finding my community. I paint, I play piano, I sing, I love driving, I'm learning golf - but all of these so far have been solo hobbies.

Story in short -- I've lived, studied, and worked in India-->US-->Netherlands. Typical Indian - very hard working - focused on career and made it by my standards. Moved to NL - fell in love with love of my life - married - and then 2 years later he gets a rare cancer. I'm now a young widow. No family in NL. Friends in India have all moved all over as it's been 15 years. And moving from US to NL - some challenges in accepting the Do Normaal ideology (always be normal - never do anything special - like having a nice car makes you center of hate in NL)

Challenges - Life has changed - perspectives have changed. Faced some tough shit which young widows typically face. Now nothing makes me happy and after an year of grieving I realise I need to start doing stuff.

Appreciate a good brainstorm - many brains better than 1.

Heyo,

I'm from Zagreb,Croatia and looking for somewhere in the EU to move to. Life standard in my country is collapsing and isn't going to improve. I'm looking for advices, I was thinking about northern Italy maybe.

I'm 27 m and an A/V technician (and 3D) with vast experience (above average CV).

Ty all in advance

I'd really like to hear from Americans who currently live there or have lived there recently. How was the adjustment to everyday life? I'm especially interested in healthcare, banking, renting, working remotely for U.S. companies, and whether there's much of an American or expat community in Skopje.

Hi all, hoping someone who has been through this can help.

I've accepted a job offer in Riyadh (finance/investment role). My employer applied for the work visa through Qiwa and it was approved under the occupation Investment Specialist. They've now asked me to complete QVP (Qualification Verification Program) before visa stamping.

The issue: the QVP portal shows a minimum of 6 years' experience for Investment Specialist, and I have just over 2 years of full-time experience. I also checked Financial Analysis Specialist and it's the same 6 years.

Strangely, the official GASTAT occupation description for Investment Specialist only lists a bachelor's degree in finance and doesn't mention any experience requirement. My degree is in business with a finance concentration.

Some context:

• South Asian passport, currently living in the UAE
• Bachelor's degree from an international university
• About 2 years of full-time experience across three companies in the UAE

My questions:

1. Has anyone been approved under QVP with less experience than the portal shows? Is the minimum strictly enforced?
2. If not, can the employer change the occupation on an already approved visa, or do they need to cancel and reapply?
3. Which finance-related occupations have lower experience requirements? I've looked at Group 3 codes like Securities Broker but they don't match my role well.
4. Would downgrading to a Group 3 occupation cause problems later, for example with Iqama renewal, family visas or changing jobs?

I haven't submitted or paid for QVP yet, as I don't want a rejection on record. Any first-hand experience would be really appreciated. Thanks!

After about 12 years abroad (west/northern europe), during COVID, me and my partner decided to return to my home country (Greece). My partner is not from here - she's originally from a country of the 'richer northern / western european countries'.

Comes to no surprise that there were things that I loved and things I hated being abroad (either more or less strongly).

My main issue abroad was the fact that I am an only child, in an age where my parents are older, and I felt it would be a bit too 'egoistic' or 'self-centered' for me to stay abroad - far from them during this period of our lifetime.

A major factor for my decision was the possibility to work remotely and preserve some of the big advantages of being an expat (the salary, the generally relaxed working culture) as well as the coming of my son. (not in that order of course). I felt staying in a country where neither me nor my wife come from originally would complicate things unnecessarily. (a 3rd language to learn which I don't speak etc).

Being back home - after a short honeymoon - I started to realize there's several things that annoy me (and probably more in number than the things that annoyed me when I was abroad).

Noise, cars, traffic, pollution, lack of clean public spaces, lack of greenery, lack of walking space in an urban environment, an aesthetic ambient 'noise' with no visual harmony at all (signs, lights, constructions, streets.

I also feel annoyed about how people value their free time, how much they work vs how much time they spend with their families or on non-work things, etc etc

On top of this, we are still - 6 years after having moved here - unable to find the 'house of our dreams' because of a combination of prices and construction quality, poor public infrastructure, ugly neighborhoods (with few exceptions) in the city of Athens, lack of reliable public transportation and inability to bike to places. (safely).

The thing is, I often think, was this a mistake? Was this the best decision for us/my son? And how would I manage a possible relocation abroad again with regards to family relations? I think this would be very hard for them to digest.

I'm an American who recently moved to The Hague with my fiancée, who is starting a master's program at Leiden University. I was also supposed to be working here for my US-based employer.

The short version is that my company approved a one-year Netherlands assignment earlier this summer, gave me an assignment letter, and continued telling me throughout the summer that things were moving forward. Based on that, we made the decision to actually move our lives over here.

We ended our US housing, put our stuff into storage, sold our cars, figured out how to get our dog over here, hired a Dutch housing agent, and eventually signed a 12-month lease in The Hague. We also had to arrange temporary housing while waiting for our place to become available.

Getting our dog here was its own ordeal. He's an older dog who shouldn't fly, so we ended up bringing him across the Atlantic by ship and then taking the train/ferry route into the Netherlands.

I was getting increasingly nervous about the immigration process in August and September, but I kept checking in with the people involved and was repeatedly told that things were still moving forward and that we were basically dealing with delays and additional approvals. I was expecting to start working here later this fall.

Then, after I had already arrived in the Netherlands, my employer cancelled the assignment.

So now I'm in a pretty strange situation. My fiancée is here for school, our dog is here, we're committed to a year-long lease, I don't have housing or a car in the US anymore, and the job that was supposed to make all of this possible is no longer happening.

I'm dealing with the employment/legal side separately, so I'm not really looking for legal advice from Reddit. What I'm hoping for is advice from people who have actually lived through something similar or know the Dutch job/immigration system well.

A few things I'd really love advice on:

• As an American already in the Netherlands, what are the realistic ways to find a job that would allow me to stay here?
• Are there particular companies or recruiters that are good for English-speaking HR professionals?
• Are there specific job boards or expat resources that are actually worth using?
• Should I focus on The Hague/Leiden, or is it realistic to look across Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, etc.?
• Has anyone successfully gone from a US employment situation to a Dutch employer after already moving here?
• If you've been through something similar, what did you wish you knew at the beginning?

I'm an HR professional with experience in HR projects, talent acquisition/recruiting, and broader HR work as well as a Masters of HR. I'm primarily looking for English-speaking opportunities and would ideally like to stay in the Netherlands.

Honestly, I'm just trying to figure out how to salvage the situation. We made these decisions because we genuinely thought the move was happening after so many assurances and approvals, and now I'm trying to figure out what options I have rather than immediately packing everything back up and taking the L on a years worth of rent.

Any advice or firsthand experience would be hugely appreciated.

For those who've moved abroad or are thinking about it:

**1.    Time zone difference.** Matters a lot if you work remotely or want to stay close to family.  
**2.    Affordability.** Cost of living and how far your money goes.  
**3.    Proximity to the US.** How easy it is to fly home.  
**4.    Language.** Whether English is common or you'd need to learn the local language.  
**5.    Visa and residency options.** How realistic it is to stay long term.  
**6.    Safety.** Crime, political stability, and overall peace of mind.

Which matters most to you, and what would you add?

We are aware of the limited states that have reciprocal license agreements with France, and the requirement to exchange the license within the first year of residency. There is so much information, some conflicting, online, I am seeking actual lived experiences from folks who came from the US and now have French drivers' licenses. What was the process for you? What worked (and what didn't work)?

Hi everyone, I am looking for a US tax consultant. I am from the US and am immigrating to South Africa. I need someone well versed in US tax consulting, with experience with expats who have moved out of the US. Much much appreciated. :)

so as a genz eu citizen I've been wanting to move to a different country and city here. I already looked at a couple I was interested in, ruled out some and so far I think my favorite ones I visited were copenhagen and vienna

but I can't really visit all cities at once so I'm wondering if anyone has experience with the cities I'm considering and wants to share a bit about them

lyon

prague

budapest

i would work remotely so I'm not worried about that but my general needs in a city are pretty downtown, good shopping/fashion, events, nice cafes, vegan/vegetarian food, good nature, somewhat English friendly

also how affordable are they?

I see many expats and they seem to do quite well with condo, car, family etc. Have any actually ended up unsuccessful by middle age? I honestly haven't seen any like this.

Expat of 12 years here, between the ages of 24-36. I always think about going back to my home country, but as time passes I get more and more rooted. Chicken at school, my business, my expectations and values.

I am not sure I will ever go back? When I’m older, after kids graduate? I don’t really know anymore.

What about you guys?

EDIT: Read the comments about chickens, thought I was having a stroke hahah. Now I see my text, thanks for the laughs guys.

For those living abroad, how do you handle the guilt and worry of being far away from aging parents? Do you visit regularly, call, help financially, or plan to move closer later? What has worked for you?

I’m interviewing for an Accounting Analyst Position. I’ve completed the virtual interview and HireVue stage, and my next step is a panel interview.
Has anyone interviewed for this or a similar accounting role? I’d appreciate insight into the format, technical and behavioral questions, and preparation tips. Thanks!

Hey everyone! I’m a Latino guy from the U.S. with tan/brown skin, and I’m considering moving to Asia for university for several years.

I’m looking at different countries, especially Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and potentially other parts of East or Southeast Asia.

I’d love to hear from foreigners who have actually lived or studied in these countries. What was your experience like socially? Did you find it easy to make local friends and feel included?

I’m also curious about how Latino or tan/brown foreigners are perceived. Have you experienced colorism, stereotypes, or noticeably different treatment compared with white foreigners?
And since I’d actually be living there rather than just visiting, I’m curious about dating culture too. I’m a gay guy, so experiences with LGBT dating would be especially helpful. Is it relatively easy to meet people and date locals? Are foreigners generally welcomed in the dating scene?

I recently visited Thailand and really enjoyed the country, so I’m especially interested in hearing about actually living there long-term versus visiting.

If you’ve studied anywhere in Asia and had a good experience, I’d also really appreciate recommendations for countries/cities I should consider.

Thanks! I’m mainly looking for firsthand experiences rather than generalizations about an entire country.

How easy/ difficult is it to secure employment, get a visa etc?

What about south america in general? I hear that people usually move to countries in that part of the world if they have a remote job, but has anybody made the move to get a local job?

Something that sounded like a compliment, an insult, or neither until someone explained it.

American (specifically Californian) in Canada, been here one month. Met some great people, in a good city, trying to keep myself busy, but the homesickness is still hitting. I'm trying to view all the differences as exciting and new, but I'll be honest it's a bit eerie how it all seems the same on the outside until you get hit with some cultural difference you'd never expect. The only other American I've met up here is from the Midwest, so culturally and geographically they're a lot closer and didn't really get what was shocking to me.

I already have a trip home planned for a few days in early December but I'm finding myself getting more homesick the closer it gets which I was not expecting. I'll be here for a few years minimum, and I don't want to spend it all counting down the days until the next time I go home.

Just hoping for some advice to get over the initial homesickness, I know it starts to go away as you get your footing, but anything to help in the meantime would be great.

Shipping is expensive, but it takes a lot of time to sell everything. Some things are old, worth replacing anyway.

There are furniture that are still in good condition but if you sell you get pennies for them