Hypothetical Question

Hypothetical Question 
 
If you were required to move to another country for a minimum period of five years, what country would you choose? 
 
Note:  Being happy where you are is not relevant to this question.

Any English speaking country. I lived in New Zealand for six months and wouldn't mind going back.

I would like to go to the UK.  I could meet Shelagh and see all the places I have read about in my youth.  While I was there, I could visit Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland.
Love,
Betty

I was going to say Texas but I have already been there.   
Love,
Betty

I would go to Austria.

The most fascinating place I have ever visited was Hong Kong.  That was in 1969, when HK was still leased to the UK.  I don't know how much of that culture still exists, though, and there was an enormous difference between the haves (mostly English) and have-nots(mostly Chinese).  Still, there was this essence of balance - East meeting and living with West, and finding the best of both.

I have, also, always been fascinated with Australia.  It has seemed to be, in many ways, similar to the American West of the 19th century - a more open, free, and closer to nature environment than is available in most of the US, including much of Texas.  It seems, from the outside, at least, to manage to combine the indigenous culture with the rawer culture of GB's penal population as well as its military and colonial cultures.

I also spent some time in Japan, and was intrigued by the gentility of the people there - so different from the WWII propaganda regarding the population.

Whatever, I would definitely head to the Far East.

I think I'll give South Korea a miss:



South Korean building leans 20 degrees. A seven-storey building has started to tilt alarmingly while still under construction in South Korea.

alj wrote:

The most fascinating place I have ever visited was Hong Kong.  That was in 1969, when HK was still leased to the UK.  I don't know how much of that culture still exists, though, and there was an enormous difference between the haves (mostly English) and have-nots(mostly Chinese).  Still, there was this essence of balance - East meeting and living with West, and finding the best of both.

I have, also, always been fascinated with Australia.  It has seemed to be, in many ways, similar to the American West of the 19th century - a more open, free, and closer to nature environment than is available in most of the US, including much of Texas.  It seems, from the outside, at least, to manage to combine the indigenous culture with the rawer culture of GB's penal population as well as its military and colonial cultures.

I also spent some time in Japan, and was intrigued by the gentility of the people there - so different from the WWII propaganda regarding the population.

Whatever, I would definitely head to the Far East.

  Mmmm, let me think. Who could you possibly bump into in Australia? Tough question that.

Betty Fasig wrote:

I would like to go to the UK.  I could meet Shelagh and see all the places I have read about in my youth.  While I was there, I could visit Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland.
Love,
Betty

I would take on a royal tour, Betty. My mum visited Buckingham Palace last summer. She was knocked out.

Shelagh wrote:

alj wrote:

The most fascinating place I have ever visited was Hong Kong.  That was in 1969, when HK was still leased to the UK.  I don't know how much of that culture still exists, though, and there was an enormous difference between the haves (mostly English) and have-nots(mostly Chinese).  Still, there was this essence of balance - East meeting and living with West, and finding the best of both.

I have, also, always been fascinated with Australia.  It has seemed to be, in many ways, similar to the American West of the 19th century - a more open, free, and closer to nature environment than is available in most of the US, including much of Texas.  It seems, from the outside, at least, to manage to combine the indigenous culture with the rawer culture of GB's penal population as well as its military and colonial cultures.

I also spent some time in Japan, and was intrigued by the gentility of the people there - so different from the WWII propaganda regarding the population.

Whatever, I would definitely head to the Far East.

  Mmmm, let me think. Who could you possibly bump into in Australia? Tough question that.

Fascination with the country was already there, and one of the reasons I like the man - who is really from New Zealand, BTW. 

Shelagh wrote:

Betty Fasig wrote:

I would like to go to the UK.  I could meet Shelagh and see all the places I have read about in my youth.  While I was there, I could visit Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland.
Love,
Betty

I would take on a royal tour, Betty. My mum visited Buckingham Palace last summer. She was knocked out.

Was in London and adjacent areas in 75  Only saw the changing of the guard at BP, but was completely knocked out by Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace.

My mother went on a coach trip with her sister, and a neighbour and her daughter. They visited Windsor Castle, stayed in a hotel overnight and visited Buckingham Palace the next day. She was impressed with the castle but completely blown away by the palace. The banqueting hall was laid out exactly as it was for the Queen's wedding in 1947, and she saw the wedding dress. She said that the attention to detail was amazing  ... and overwhelming.



Take a tour of the virtual rooms:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/VirtualRooms/Overview.aspx

If I were REQUIRED to live somewhere else it would probably mean I was going to prison, so I doubt I would have a lot to say about where.

Okay if I were to choose to live somewhere else but the U. S. it would probably be New Zealand.  Did a training mission there once.  Loved the country and the people.

I have not really been anywhere other than a few of the US states and a little of Canada and a little of Mexico.
I know it is not another country, but I would love to see all the National Parks in the US. 

If I really had to live somewhere else, I would take Puerto Rico.

I almost moved to Panama.  I would be happy to live there five years.  An alternative would be certain parts of Mexico.  I need warm weather unless I have a companion whose company is so important that I could tolerate cold.

Interesting responses.  It appears that most opt for an English speaking country.  I thought that with five years there may be some who would consider it an opportunity to learn another language, and with five years, one could become fairly proficient.

I spent two vacations in Panama and found the people energetic and busy with living life.  The country is beautiful with climate choices (though hot and humid).  Same for the beaches.  It is also convenient to get elsewhere by plane and potentially possible with great difficulty to get somewhere by land...

Mexico depends on where in Mexico.  It is still a little frightening for foreigners with its cartels and drug trade that feeds the U.S. hunger for drugs.

I have lived in: The United states, Canada, and Japan. Have been to almost all the South Pacific islands, Mexico, and Europe.  My needs are: English, all types of food, understand  the customs, and laws. Here in the U.S. I can have friends from around the world. Many think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. I find it best to just visit other countries for a week, or two. Coming back to the grass in my country always feels good. If I had to move, it would be Germany. I have, American, and Italian passports, so I could live in the EU...

I lived very comfortably in Germany on two occasions and would rapidly become fluent in the language again.  I just prefer a warmer climate.  I especially appreciated public transportation , trains in particular.

My preference for living in Austria is twofold.  My Firestone family roots began in the province of Voralberg, Austria.  Secondly, I love the alpine region for its beauty and the simple folk living there.   I found the people to be hospitable and honest – a rare quality these days.  Someone once told me that they would like to live in Austria because it is 20 years behind everyone else and that if there was a nuclear disaster; one could live 20 years longer.  Amusing, however the people living in the country are simple people and many continue with the old ways.  They are hard working people living off the land and lending a helping hand to their neighbors.  Contracts between these people are rare.  A handshake is still used by many to bind an agreement.  They speak their own brand of German and it can be difficult to understand.  That doesn’t deter communication; in fact I think trying to understand/communicate in a foreign language has the benefit of bringing the parties closer together.  When there is understanding, it is a time to celebrate.   I find it exciting to experience new things and meet new people.  There are some things we all have in common:  To be loved and to have food, shelter and clothing.  Food, shelter and clothing can be bought.  Love is not in that category.

I have an acquaintance who lives in Austria but has a condo here in the winter.  We walk the beach together.  We have great fun and laugh at my attempts to speak German.

I lived four years in Germany, five years in S. Korea, three years on a sailboat in the Caribbean with several months in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Georgetown, Bahamas.

In the U.S. I lived in Washington, California, Idaho, Michigan, Washington, D.C. and Florida.

I traveled to Mexico, Venezuela and Panama for South America.  I traveled to all Western European countries except Spain and Portugal and nothern Europe Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

I traveled to England, Ireland and Scotland.

I traveled to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Dubai (1970's), Oman, and Turkey.

I traveled to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, China, and the Phillapines

I traveled to every island between Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Venezuela - Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Most traveling was for extensive periods of time with a week at least in a country but often several weeks.

When I was traveling, I spoke a bit of French, Italian, and Spanish.  Living in Germany I spoke German and living in Korea, I spoke Korean.

I worked for the U.S. military under contract in S. Korea so had base privileges but lived "on the economy" for all practical purposes and was also employed by the Korean office of a Big Ten (at that time) CPA firm as an editor.  One year in Germany was with the military.  The rest were as an ex-patriot (U.S. citizen working abroad).

I enjoyed wherever I put my head down to sleep.  The world is an exotic and wonderful place with open eyes and heart.  As I have aged, however, I seek more comforts and a few less surprises.

Switzerland or New Zealand. Switzerland is beautiful and New Zealand has no snakes.

alice wrote:

Switzerland or New Zealand. Switzerland is beautiful and New Zealand has no snakes.

Thought that was Ireland.  Even so, Abe should be happy there, either place, actually, only he would be stuck with having to speak English.

Good people come from New Zealand - and Ireland.

Missed you, Alice.  How's the family?

alj wrote:

alice wrote:

Switzerland or New Zealand. Switzerland is beautiful and New Zealand has no snakes.

Thought that was Ireland.  Even so, Abe should be happy there, either place, actually, only he would be stuck with having to speak English.

Good people come from New Zealand - and Ireland.

Missed you, Alice.  How's the family?

Thank you, Ann.  They are a busy bunch.  The house is sold.  When school is out, we can head home with them.  
I fell on the basement stairs and offended my touchy back.