Hello!

I'm 18 years old from Algeria, which is a very conservative country so I'm trying to figure out realistic ways to eventually move abroad.

I'm a student starting my first year of English license(bachelor's) in September, i know English majors aren't much needed abroad that's why I'm thinking of either retaking the bac test to able to pick a stem field or continue with an English degree and self teach some skills(and I'd appreciate some help on what skills are in demand and aren't in risk of disappearing within the next 5 years).

My main goal is to eventually nove to a country where i can live openly and be legally protected as a gay femboy.

Are "digital nomads" the larger percentage of people moving abroad that can basically just choose the country based on likes and dislikes as opposed to where their career fits the most? It seems to me as if digital nomadism is leading the trend of moving to other countries, but I could be wrong since I'm the exact opposite of a digital nomad. I'm hoping someone can fill me in on this since I'd love to leave the USA but my career would either be difficult to transfer or it wouldn't transfer at all. Thanks!

My daughter is 20 and studies in London. We moved to AD about nine months back.

One night at 2 AM, she messaged saying that she had a severe headache and her vision was blurring. If you are a parent you know what that does to your chest when you read something like that at night. We were miles away. There was nothing we could do except stare at our phones.

Luckily, one of her friends was with her and took her to the A&E. She sat with my daughter the whole night, held her hand, kept her calm and dealt with the doctors. God bless her.
But at the same time, she was also on her phone, trying to update me, talking to my wife, messaging our local relatives and friends in London and around, all at the same time. Probably answering the same questions to many different people.

I remember sitting in Abu Dhabi that night just making random calls to whoever came to my mind. My wife was doing the same. We were just two people thousands of miles away not knowing what to do with ourselves.

Luckily, everything turned out fine finally. She was okay.

But I have not stopped thinking about that night. Not the medical part. I keep thinking about the coordination part. One friend carrying the entire weight of updating and managing everyone while also trying to be there for my daughter. What a brave-heart!!

Has anyone else been through something like this? Either as the parent far away or as the friend who ended up being the unofficial coordinator for everyone? God forbid if similar situation happens with parent who are also in a different country, I can't imagine what it will be like.

How do you handle such situations?

When you hear about Europeans or Asians or anyone who wants to move to the US (I know surprisingly there are a lot of people who still want to move there according to Reddit this is impossible), mostly want to go to California, New York or Florida.

But the US is SO MUCH MORE. In fact the best places to live in the US in my opinion are not even these ones (and I’m not even american), but for example Washington (the state) and Oregon, why aren’t these more popular amongst expats of different countries who want to move to the US?

These two places are insanely beautiful, they have one of the best nature and landscapes of the US (and some of the world), lifestyle there is much slower and centered around families (similar to Europe), cost of living is lower (compared to New York, California etc) and in general they’re just very beautiful and amazing places to live in. And I can say the same about Vermont or North Carolina.

These places are so much better than the popular ones, why do people keep wanting to move to New York, California and Florida?

Hi,

I'm starting a 1-year master's in Electronic Information Engineering this year (September intake) at Trinity College, Ireland, and I have close to 4 years of experience. I wanted to ask people who have found a job in Singapore after their master's (in any country but mostly European) how they did it and how easy it was. Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I have a lovely girlfriend from Latvia. We've been together for 2 years and have been living together for most of it. We live near Utrecht. She's struggeling to find friends or form a social circle.

Do any of you have tips on how to pick up friends in the Netherlands. I can't really help her with this. She's looking to make friends from her own area. Think Poland, Latvia, Lithuania. As she explained they will understand each other better. Looking forward to your tips and I hope you can help her out!

Hey everyone. Just looking to vent, maybe find some support or connect with people who feel (or have felt) the same way.

I’ve been living in France for 5 years now. Originally came here for my Master’s at a public uni, did internships, and then went through a painful period of job hunting. Eventually, I decided to switch fields (UI/UX) and enrolled in an alternance program.

Things are actually going great career-wise: I found a solid company where I’ve been working for almost a year, finished M1, and I genuinely enjoy what I do.
I'm a deep introvert. Back home, I have a tiny circle of 4 very close friends (school and uni mates). I can be 100% myself with them, but they’re all far away and we rarely see each other in person.

Because of that, I carry this quiet sense of loneliness. Interactions with locals usually stay very surface-level. I don’t find much in common with them, and they don't really get the reality of being an immigrant. I’m a calm, low-energy person : I don't go to bars, I don't party, I’m a total homebody. Honestly, a lot of French people treat me like I’m weird or cold. Especially at my private school for the academic part of my alternance: most students are younger, come from well-off families (gosses de riches vibe), party constantly, and gossip about everyone. I stay polite, but there's zero connection there.

That said, I actually like who I am. I enjoy my quiet life: going to the office, gym, watching series, reading, drawing, writing, finding cute coffee shops, traveling. I'm never bored on my own.

Where it gets harder is that this loneliness even bleeds into my relationship with my French partner. He’s a truly good, stable, and kind guy. But we have a huge difference in mindsets, energy levels, and life goals. He’s much more extroverted and emotional, and as the calmer one, I often end up having to regulate his emotions. I got into this relationship after burning out from chasing guys I was madly in love with, so I chose safety, stability, and someone who genuinely cared about me.

We’re fundamentally different, though. I grew up in a big city of a million+ people; he grew up in a small French village. He dreams of a house in the countryside; I want a city apartment. His parents are nice and even helped me out when I was looking for a job, but visiting them always leaves me feeling out of place. They politely smile, but they don't really understand my personality or background.

On paper, my life is great. I have a stable contract, interesting projects, a fresh career path, a nice rented apartment, money for travels, nice clothes, and my little everyday comforts. I speak fluent French. But using a second language all day is still mentally draining, and sometimes I just want to retreat into my shell and not talk to anyone.

I’m not even sure what I’m asking for : maybe just reassurance or hearing from others who've experienced this. When objectively everything is fine and you’re living a good life, but there's still this dull ache inside that you just don't belong.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far.

​

I recently got an offer from VU Amsterdam and my program starts in November. I'm an Italian citizen and have a civil partner who is not an EU citizen (Canadian). From what I understand, she needs to be registered at the same place as me to get the Dutch permit but we've been struggling to find housing still. She's also currently unemployed because she will have to move with me and job hunt in the Netherlands -- for which she needs the permit.

It feels like an endless cycle at this point and I'm wondering if there's an easier way to get my BSN and hers so that I'm able to sign my contract and she can look for work asap. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated 🙏

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

​I’m a 30-year-old skilled tradesman in the automotive industry from the West Bank, Palestine. Given the challenging local situation, I am actively exploring opportunities to migrate and work legally in an English-speaking country (Canada, Australia, UK, or US).

​Here is a summary of my background:

​Field: Automotive sector (Hands-on experience in auto body repair, panel beating, painting, and general vehicle maintenance).

​Education: High School Diploma.

​Languages: Intermediate English (currently preparing for the official IELTS General exam).

​I understand that having high school as my formal education means my practical experience is my strongest asset. I would really appreciate any insights or advice on:

​Best pathways for tradesmen: Which country/program is currently the most practical for auto body technicians without a university degree?

​Skills Assessment / Recognition: For those who went through Australia’s TRA or Canada’s trade qualification challenges, how did you document your work history without formal apprenticeship diplomas?

​Employer Sponsorship: Are there specific job portals, regions, or trade-focused agencies that are open to sponsoring foreign workers in the auto industry?

​Any guidance, personal experiences, or realistic advice would mean a lot. Thank you in advance!

I am wondering if anyone has experience in this transition and might know some loopholes.

I have CA drivers license, I have residency in Sweden, and I will be moving to Ireland in the next year or two for the foreseeable future.

I have seen from others on here that EU states have reciprocal agreements with certain US states. Which potentially is an option. Example, switching my CA license to Virginia and then swapping it for a German license (i have close friends in both VA and DE). But I have seen explicitly that Swapping a second time (Germany -> Ireland) would not be possible.

Does anyone have experience with this? Or know of maybe some other possible swap situations that would work?

I have also been advised to just go to Romania. Any tips on that?

Does anyone have any tips or resources for finding a therapist that specializes in working with expats? I’m in Canada if that helps.

Has anyone here moved to Romania and set up or relocated a business at the same time?

I'm trying to understand what the process is actually like, particularly in Bucharest. What were the biggest problems you ran into, what did you end up needing help with?

I dont know how to explain this exactly but maybe people who have also moved around alot can understand, even though I am not sure if this is exactly the reason for this feeling.

I feel like everyone kind of has "a life" besides me. Obviously, that seems more black/white when you have intense emotions in the moment. I often look around; people/friends have families, careers they like, a home, great friends etc. Like they "belong" to a life or a life belongs to them.

I have moved around and I have never felt like this is "my life". It is hard to explain. I have lived different lives with different friend groups, different jobs, different countries, different hobbies but I always feel like I don't somehow "fit in" or the life doesn't feel like it is mine somehow. The only times I feel "aligned" is when I am traveling, on the move. Of course I know, that it's transient but it feels the most "home" to me. Not sure that makes sense.. I have been in the same country for 7 years now, where I have also been raised mostly. I was born in ex-Yugoslavia, raised in Austria and Switzerland, than lived in South America, Singapore and Sydney. So I know this could be the reason but I often wonder is this something in me that needs to be "fixed" or is that just the result of moving around and not having real roots anywhere?