[Schweinshaxe]

Since most of you seem to want to be somewhere else, PO-wise or otherwise, I thought I might as well start the mother of all emigration threads.

Since all threads started by me end up with people throwing Expletive deleted. at each other, I put this thread in Open Discussion so that I don’t get banned or something for being an evil doer.

I was thinking that we could exchange information about different countries in this thread. A kind of Q and A thread where people ask questions about their dream countries and that people living there answer.

What’s it like to live there? What are the people like, the climate, the gun laws, the beer, the government, the legislation, the business opportunities, the history and things like that in that particular country?

It would be very interesting to see where people live and where they want to go. What are their hopes and what do they want to leave behind? Why do they want to leave the place they’re living in now and what do they expect to find in their new country? It’s of course possible to ask questions about moving from, let’s say Wyoming to California or from Saarland to Rheinland-Pfalz and vice versa as well.

Everyone knows that the grass is always greener somewhere else. Is this true or false? Should I stay or should I go?

I’ll start:

Location: Swede living in Germany.
Want to go to: New Zealand or Canada.

Reason: I’m sick of the EU. I’m sick of the political correctness and that the governments are treating people like they were little children. I’m sick of the fact that in many European cities, the most popular name for newborn boys is Mohammed. I’m sick of unemployment and social problems created by the political systems. I’m sick of oppression.

Expect to find: Freedom.

Questions: I’ve been checking the NZ “points system” of immigration closely and I’m actually allowed to apply for residency in New Zealand. I must admit that I don’t know much about NZ apart from what I’ve been able to learn from the Internet and other sources of information.

I have the impression that NZ is the land of endless mountainbike trails and the land of freedom. The land where constant stress at the working place doesn’t exist. (I’m talking about 12 hour days for years and vacation in November, when it fits the corporate calendar…)

Is it like that in NZ? (Please God tell me it’s true!) I don’t expect to become rich and famous by moving to NZ. All I ask is to be able to enjoy life and to become a human being again. I’ll do any work I have to as long as it puts food on my table and pays the rent.

What about Canada? Is it hard to get in? Is it easier for Europeans to get a residence permit in Canada? I think I’d be able to get a job in Canada before actually moving there so that’s not a problem. (AS/400/iSeries/I5 programmer.) In Canada you go canoeing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon. You have endless areas of uncharted territories to camp in. In Canada I expect to make some money. What’s the labour market like? Unemployment rates? (The true ones).

Am I dreaming?

[Specop_007]

In my experience, which is a bit limited I will admit, the grass is only greener on the other side of the fence if you dont water your own lawn.

In other words, you may be able to find what you want a bit closer. Switzerland perhaps, I believe they have very strict immigration guidelines which may mean Allah Ackbar isnt the morning greeting and the coffee shop.

[Schweinshaxe]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'I')n my experience, which is a bit limited I will admit, the grass is only greener on the other side of the fence if you dont water your own lawn.

In other words, you may be able to find what you want a bit closer. Switzerland perhaps, I believe they have very strict immigration guidelines which may mean Allah Ackbar isnt the morning greeting and the coffee shop.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Schweinshaxe', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'I')n my experience, which is a bit limited I will admit, the grass is only greener on the other side of the fence if you dont water your own lawn.

In other words, you may be able to find what you want a bit closer. Switzerland perhaps, I believe they have very strict immigration guidelines which may mean Allah Ackbar isnt the morning greeting and the coffee shop.

[rogerhb]

I was born in UK and moved out here ten years ago. Economically the wages are below Australia and UK, but the lifestyle is good.

There are alot less roads than you would be used to in Europe, and very little railway. If you choose to live in a rural town you may be living the PO experience sooner than you think! I've moved to a country town on a main railway rather than stay in the city.

The immigration rules are very strict (and with good reason!). I don't have a gun but people do go hunting in public forests.

We've just sold our airforce combat wing, at least that helps pay for the LAV-IIIs we've just bought. PO has been mentioned in the election debate. We are not part of the coalition of the willing, unlike Australia.

If you come from a fast moving, affluent part of Europe you would think you were "powering-down" just moving here.

[Schweinshaxe]

So NZ it the place to be. I know that! I just wanted to hear some opinions first. Still a little interested in Canada though even if it's close to the USA.

If anyone from NZ would like to move to Germany or Sweden, we could always exchange apartment keys and passports and it's a done deal.

Learning basic Swedish or German should not be a problem. You just have to look angry and grunt.

[Specop_007]

Whoa...You were serious about using that line.

Anyways, whats the gun ownership laws like in NZ?

And you know, America isnt that bad, jesus people. Isnt like we're Satans Pawns over here, cut us some slack.

[Chocky]

Anyways, whats the gun ownership laws like in NZ?

Pretty good compared to most countries:

'Sporting' rifles and 'sporting' shotguns: Recquire a basic license, aren't registered, can be bought from shops, a guy in the pub, over the internet.

Pistols: Are registered, require a special license, require a police 'permit to acquire', require membership of a shooting club and 12 attendances a year at that club

Military rifles and shotguns: Require a special license, are registered, require a 'permit to acquire' from the police, require membership of special club. Prices are high because new military rifles and shotguns may not usually be imported or added to the register of military rifles and shotguns. The exception is that if you want a new or replacement military rifle you can surrender one or more of your registered ones in order to get a permit for a new rifle.

Machine guns, automatic cannons etc: Require a special collector's license, fully operational machine guns and cannons can be owned with ammunition but not fired.

Silencers/Supressors: are extremely common and not regulated at all. Are widely available for .22s and centrefire rifles.

[Specop_007]

Ok, I'll have to switch it up. Australia gets bumped off the #1 spot and NZ gets moved up.

Spec wants to move to NZ.

[Specop_007]

Or not

[Barbara]

Been in Greece this summer, so I think I can review it here.
- Few people, 10 millions, half of them are in Athens. The rest of the territory looks empty to my eyes coming from crowded Italy!
- The territory is mostly mountains. The road over the mountains are terrible: I can't imagine crowd af Atheniens rushing on those roads to find a place to stay during an emergency.
- People is wonderful. Friendly and with a free attitude of "live and let live" that I liked a lot.
- Best point: climate is EXCEPTIONAL!!! You can just throw some seeds, go to sleep, and then wake up just to eat fruits and vegetables grown everywhere.
- They have no resources, so there are not greedy eyes on them.
- They are developed, modern, but not crazy. You can still find people able with low tech.

Bad points:
- They're close to Albania and Turkey. But I can't imagine crowds from middle east rushing to Greece... to do what?
- They're close to Romania, which has a lot of veeery old nuke plants...

Anyway Greece, to me, is the best place to live in the EU post peak.

[spearGR]

Barbara,Marco and Milo are welcome.
The rest,find another place.
We are setting up camps this very minute.

[Chocky]

You might think with guns so readily available in New Zealand they would have a terrible gun violence problem. Well, on average there are around 10 gun-related murders a year out of a population of around 4 million, and the police don't routinely wear guns. They do keep guns in their cars however (Glock 17 and .223 Remington Model 7 bolt action, soon to be replaced with Bushmaster semi-auto M4 carbines).

[kelee877]

Canada here and I am exactly where I want to be....I moved 5 years ago to be where I am today..and started preps as soon as I reached here..surronded by miles and miles of wooded lands and fresh clean lakes..nature at its best..low pollution, in a town of ten thousand...
Eveyr place has its pro,s and con,s and depending on what chit hits the fan..is anyone guess(as the new poll asks)..
Winters are brutal at times up here...cold burrrrr, but hey here it is Sept 12th and we are expecting temps of 30 degrees celcuis go figure..usually at this time my kids are wearing their jackets to school..and the fog the last 2 days...

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Raphael', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chocky', 'Y')ou might think with guns so readily available in New Zealand they would have a terrible gun violence problem. Well, on average there are around 10 gun-related murders a year out of a population of around 4 million, and the police don't routinely wear guns. They do keep guns in their cars however (Glock 17 and .223 Remington Model 7 bolt action, soon to be replaced with Bushmaster semi-auto M4 carbines).

[Licho]

Czech republic here, I do not intend to move anywhere right now.

Well, perhaps I will move temporarily, but i want to stay in "train" distrance from my origins (that basically means I could move to most other EU countries)..

Land is green and fertile, weather is stable and mild, water is plentifull, beer is the best. Goverment is corrupt and incompetent.
People are somewhat unfriendly and xenophobic, but once you get under skin, they are probably more friendly and "social" than in other more individualistic countries.

[Chocky]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')r they could just be trying to update their weaponry to stay current with the times.