• Travelling/Migrating Discussion thread
    43 replies, posted
I'm fucking jealous of girls because they can au pair and not be creepy (yeah I know there are male au pairs) but then again I'm scared of little kids
For the past 4 months (as of this coming sunday) I've been living in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It's been a fantastic time so far, and it's fairly accessible for people who may not speak German (like myself!) [img_thumb]http://de.wallpaperswiki.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Frankfurt-Am-Main.jpg[/img_thumb] In terms of tourism, it is a unique city in Germany, in large part because of the skyline. After the city was bombed to hell and back in WWII, rather than following traditional architectural styles for rebuilding like other cities, it went for a more modern approach. This has created an interesting blend between modern and traditional style that is genuinely interesting. I never get bored of just exploring the different areas of the city. One potential drawback is that, unlike Berlin, Frankfurt has only one major shopping area, Zeil. It features many name brand stores, as well as a mall, myZeil, which has a very cool style, with the glass exterior creating a funnel from the frount, through the center of the building, and out of the top. [img]http://www.wetterauer-zeitung.de/cms_media/module_bi/235/117779_1_gross_MyZeil150.jpg[/img] [img_thumb]http://www.creative-germany.travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/myzeil_Frankfurt-Main-MyZeil-4234.jpg[/img_thumb] One thing in particular that is worth seeing is Main Tower, a skyscraper that offers a rooftop view of the city, in addition to a restaurant. The restaurant is a bit pricey, and it costs I think a few Euro to make the trip to the top, but I've heard it is a fantastic view, and I'm hoping to run there soon. One of the most recognizable buildings in Frankfurt is the Commerzbank tower. Its unique design really makes it stand out among the other buildings, and at night it makes for quite a sight, with the Commerzbank yellow illuminating the tower all night. I love living here, and traveling around Europe when I can. If you ever have a chance to work/study abroad, do it. Also I can answer questions too I guess, I dunno
Is it true that foreigners cant really get a job in Germany right now (because of the unemployment rates)? I heard stories that say that companies are required to interview at least 30 Germans before they interview a foreigner. I also heard they call foreigners looking for jobs "90-day wonders" because of the 3 months you can stay as an EU citizen without a job. I have wanted to live in Germany for a while now. I have German friends and I speak a "survivable" level of German and I have been in Frankfurt (Oder), Hamburg, Bremen, Rostock and Berlin (so punk in the east part). I graduated as an Engineer/tech manager a year ago and Germany is like the US of Europe. I feel Denmark is very "conformist" outside of Copenhagen.
[QUOTE=Steff;40694003]Is it true that foreigners cant really get a job in Germany right now (because of the unemployment rates)? I heard stories that say that companies are required to interview at least 30 Germans before they interview a foreigner. I also heard they call foreigners looking for jobs "90-day wonders" because of the 3 months you can stay as an EU citizen without a job. I have wanted to live in Germany for a while now. I have German friends and I speak a "survivable" level of German and I have been in Frankfurt (Oder), Hamburg, Bremen, Rostock and Berlin (so punk in the east part). I graduated as an Engineer/tech manager a year ago and Germany is like the US of Europe. I feel Denmark is very "conformist" outside of Copenhagen.[/QUOTE] I actually really can't comment on that portion of it, since I don't know much about that situation. The staff member who helped get me my internship here is an American as well who went to the same university as me in the states, and he was able to get a job here relatively easily, so I think it may depend on the industry you are looking at. For instance, I work in the US Tax department of my firm, so naturally, being an American with fluent English skills and an understanding of the US tax system gave me an advantage when I applied. Also, Berlin is fantastic. I spent a weekend there with a coworker originally from Berlin, and it was just an amazing time. The sightseeing was incredible, but knowing people from Berlin and getting to see the cool places for locals to go, and the good places to eat, really just sold it. I'm going to Hannover this Friday for a concert (I have gone crazy over the band Seeed since arriving), but I'm afraid the only other city you have mentioned that I have seen is Frankfurt (oder), and there really isn't much to that city, that I could tell anyway. I could be wrong about that. Hamburg I've heard is beautiful and I believe it is supposed to have a very famous red light district. Being from the states and seeing a district like the one in Amsterdam, where there are women dancing in windows, it's a unique experience.
I'll be moving to London in July, can people tell me some stuff I should keep in mind?
[QUOTE=Bentham;40702035] Hamburg I've heard is beautiful and I believe it is supposed to have a very famous red light district. Being from the states and seeing a district like the one in Amsterdam, where there are women dancing in windows, it's a unique experience.[/QUOTE] Reeperbahn (St. Pauli district in general) in Hamburg is nothing but discos, bars and strip clubs, and as far as I have seen, a drag queen cabaret show. There is a single side street in that district that has been "shielded off" and only men can enter that street. I didnt go in there, but apparently that is where the prostitutes are. I read somewhere that women cant enter because some of the prostitutes might mistake them for wanting to steal their customers and attack them. Hamburg is a major harbor city, so St. Pauli became a party district because of all the sailors that would get leave there and blow off all their cash on women and booze in a day or two. If you ever go into one of the strip clubs, dont ever buy drinks for the girls, not even orange juice or water, even if they ask you. I heard stories about people getting bills as high as 1000$ for a single glass of orange juice. Id just stay away from those places in general. They will try to frame you somehow and threaten you if you dont pay.
I'm thinking about emigrating to the UK once I finish my maters degree and get a little more IT Networking experience. I'm curious as to what all would be required for me to do that. I'm assuming if I get hired on with an English company I can get a work visa; but eventually I may want to turn that into citizenship.
[QUOTE=latin_geek;40587699]I've been thinking of migrating to the US, but with the terrorist and the illegal immigrant scares that sounds pretty goddamn hard/expensive... I have heard that I can go to college there, which would grant me a visa, and after four or five years staying in the country I'd be eligible to apply for citizenship. Can anyone shed some light on that? It does sound interesting, but I have no clue what college I'd go to, and I don't think I can pay for a US college, like, at all, I've heard they're really goddamn expensive. Universities are free here, so the other plan is just study here and move to the US when I have the money to do so, I'm guessing take a few tests to validate my studies, and get a job there.[/QUOTE] I'm currently planning on moving to the US in a year or so. I currently study in a Florida State University international campus here in Panama which makes things easier (They handle the transfer paperwork easily and I get in-state tuition fees when I go to the main campus). The tuition fees here are not that expensive for an american unviersity (around $3,000 a semester of 4 courses, 3 credit hours each), bu it will get waay more expensive when it's time to go to the main campus in Tallahassee. more than $20k a year of two semesters/4 classes each. I am still not sure if I can afford it, and since I'm already an immigrant, I can't apply for any sort of scholarships or loans from the panamanian government.
I was born in New Zealand and currently live in Melbourne, Australia. Ask me shit about either country
[QUOTE=Asmaedus;40750099]I was born in New Zealand and currently live in Melbourne, Australia. Ask me shit about either country[/QUOTE] How easy is it to move between counties. I know we have some sort of agreement, so how does it work. If i say, wanted to move and work for 6 or so months, what would i have to do. Or would i just have to set up shop?
If you've got a plane ticket to get to either country you're free to live and work as long as you want. It's as easy as getting on the plane. I'm not sure about Australians moving to New Zealand, but New Zealanders going to Australia get a "Special Category Visa" automatically when they arrive in Australia, which is functionally identical to being a permanent resident, just you miss out on some benefits like joining the military and some centrelink things. IIRC Australians get a better deal when they come to NZ
[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;40702161]I'll be moving to London in July, can people tell me some stuff I should keep in mind?[/QUOTE] I probably won't be able to help you that much I'm afraid. It really does depend on where you'll be staying in London, but you'll want to get an Oyster card as soon as possible, as you'll be very reliant on public transport and the prices are quite high, especially for buses. Cycling would also be a good way to get around cheaply, but central London is quite a dangerous place to cycle if you're inexperienced. I'm going to The Netherlands in the summer to visit friends in Middelburg. Would anyone know the cheapest way to get there from London?
[QUOTE=Leyr;40887753]I probably won't be able to help you that much I'm afraid. It really does depend on where you'll be staying in London, but you'll want to get an Oyster card as soon as possible, as you'll be very reliant on public transport and the prices are quite high, especially for buses. Cycling would also be a good way to get around cheaply, but central London is quite a dangerous place to cycle if you're inexperienced. I'm going to The Netherlands in the summer to visit friends in Middelburg. Would anyone know the cheapest way to get there from London?[/QUOTE] Probably flying. I managed to get a return from Edinburgh to Amsterdam for about 100 quid. Ferry might be cheaper (think it's from Newcastle) but the plane's just so much more convenient.
There's a debate about travelling along and with a friend. Travelling alone can be fun as well as dangerous. Travelling with friends can be fun and safer, but more expensive. What are your thoughts?
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.