Have any of you travel lovers tried to solve your "addiction" by moving to Europe for an extended stay?
 

I have been to Europe each summer for the last five years for a 2-3 week vacation each summer. Every time I come back, like others on this board, I am just starved to go back again and planning the next trip for most of the next year is interesting, but not totally satisfying. I am considering moving to Slovakia for a school year to teach in a church school (which our church supports). Has anyone moved to Europe and did it "cure" or only aggravate your travel "addiction". Would love to hear from those of you who have done this. Thanks.

I moved to Italy in April 1999, and it only served to make me a hard core addict. I have so many choices of places to travel to, I am often paralyzed with indecision about where to go next, and I have gone broke ordering travel guides from Amazon.com and buying travel magazines at the newsstands. (Italy publishes some outstanding ones, including Bell'italia and Dove.) <BR> <BR>Although I can easily travel bordering countries, I could also spend a lifetime and never see all of Italy. Like all addicts, however, I will conspire to drag you down to my level by advising you to go, go, go. <BR>

I'm right there with you, Santa Chiara. We moved to Germany 2 years ago and since we get 6 weeks vacation and lots of holidays, we travel all the time. I, too, spend loads of money on travel books and my list of places to go just keeps growing. I'm a hard core addict! But I love it!! I live in fear of the day that I have to give this all up and move back to the states!

By the way, Kristin, GO FOR IT!!

well, let's just say I am trying to get a job overseas... it seems to be a long hard rwo to hoe so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know! <BR> <BR>what is making it hard in my case is that I can't afford to merely go over there and sweep floors or wait tables - I have law school debt which means I have to make enough to cover the debts I have gotten myself into. for the time being it is easier to just travel over there as much as possible. <BR> <BR>I would say, if you want to do it, do it! do it while you are young and before you have obligations. Had I done this when I was 24 things would be a lot different right now. (I probably wouldn't have gone to law school, for one thing - but then again you never know...) <BR> <BR>Beth

I moved to Paris this year to live in what I always considered to be the most beautiful city in the world. <BR> <BR>Part of this was novelty (I'm from Canada) but also, I must admit, there is something to the place. <BR> <BR>Unfortunately I've never been able to duplicate my first trip (a strange awe-inspiring feeling). Now, day-to-day worries like work, rent, overwhelm the feeling of living in what I would have thought was a paradise. <BR> <BR>Still, it's nice to be here for those small moments like standing in the Palais Royale Court or crossing the Pont des Arts. But it's just not the same as travelling.

Still trying to figure out a way to do it! Would gladly wait tables, teach English, or whatever in France or Italy, but without EU papers, it's not that easy. I welcome advice from those who've managed it; Santa Chiara, Jim? (E-mail me directly, if you prefer.)

Moved to London in the 1970s for a year, while my husband was preparing for his PHD. Traveled all over Europe for months and loved it! Kept my addiction going for all these years, but I am so grateful for the perspective it gave me ever since.

Beth -- I didn't do it when I was young! I am 58 and we have sent all three daughters through college, so it is our turn now to do this, I think! Thanks to all for your thoughts. Any others who want to weight in? <BR>

Moved to Brussels 2 years ago with 2 children and have never regretted it. We saw 3 big advantages. <BR> <BR>1. You can make travel mistakes and not feel like you got cheated. <BR> <BR>2. You can slow down and take Europe at a European pace rather than a hectic pace. <BR> <BR>3. There are experiences you get living here that can never be matched by travelling. Getting to know your favorite baker, butcher etc. <BR> <BR>To answer your question, it fortunately aggrivated my addiction. <BR> <BR>To echo Paige's 'go for it', let me add some specifics. Don't live in a US ghetto when you go. Learn the language, even just a little. You will be amazed at how much better you are treated. And, in general, dive in. Even if you don't recognize the food, eat it anyway and ask questions later. <BR> <BR>Good luck, Kristin <BR> <BR>

I love to travel. <BR>I would almost go as far as to say I _have_ to travel. <BR> <BR>So it wouldnt matter where I moved to... I would still want to do it... <BR> <BR>I live in London, and travel in Europe, in America, in Asia and Africa... <BR> <BR>Now I am not saying I could live anywhere, I would miss my home and funny little things about London. <BR> <BR>But if I _did_ live elsewhere that would still only be one place, and there are so many places... <BR> <BR>So many places so little time... <BR> <BR>Places Places Gotta catch em all... <BR> <BR>Kav

A few years ago, I took an extended vacation of 7 months, after saving up and taking time off work without pay. Though I did travel a great deal, I also settled down too, for 3 months in Pau, in SW France, and in La Rochelle for 1 month. In both cases I was studying, and got to know many others, mostly Europeans, and some locals. While 1 to 3 months is not extended in comparison to a year or two, it still gives you the chance to feel settled and get to know people, the area, the language and the culture much more than when you are constantly on the move. As for solving an addiction, I don't think it can ever be solved, and besides, I don't want it to be! In fact, I have found a house to rent in Provence next summer, and am looking forward to spending time there with friends.

Those of you who were lucky enough to work and live in Europe, would you mind sharing HOW you did so? I'm always curious about what people do that allow them to live elsewhere. It's definitely a fantasy of my husband and mine to live in Europe sometime. <BR>

Did postgraduate work for a couple of years in the UK and managed to finagle a work permit to teach for a few more. Of course it didn't cure any addiction, just left me with a taste for stronger drugs. (Metaphor, that.) Studying or teaching are great, because of the time off (many European universities have even stranger academic calendars than in N. America), the diversity of the students and teachers, and either cheap student fares or else reciprocal access to university faculty clubs, which always have the cheapest lunches and beer. Like a happy inebriate in Glasgow once said to a pal and me, "Here's to you, Scholars! You're the last privileged class!" <BR> <BR>

Kristin, <BR>I had to think about this for a while before answering as it is a subject a little too close for comfort. For quite a while I have been longing to move to Rome to see if it did solve the "addiction" or just because when I am there, I feel so "at home". <BR> <BR>The problem is, the last time we were there, two years ago, my girlfriend and other friends say that when I came home I said I had gotten it out of my system and wouldn't want to live there. Now I can't stop thinking about it. We are going for two weeks in October and I am really anxious to see how it affects me this time. <BR> <BR>The other problem is, my girlfriend has made it pretty clear she doesn't want to live there and it would probably come down to a choice of her or Rome. <BR> <BR>When I was much younger, I dropped out of college and went to Europe for an extended trip. I lived and worked on a kibbutz for a month, lived and worked in and around Athens for about five months and stayed with friends in Germany for about a month. I hitched around and slept in parks and wherever I could find a flat place to put my sleeping bag. You might say I was one of the original homeless people. ;-) <BR> <BR>BUT, the whole time I was there I kept feeling like an outsider, like I was playing at being there. I never felt like "one of them" and in the end, partly because I had to come back and pay off my student loans, I went home. I ended up finishing school, getting a job, a wife, a baby and that was the end of the dream. <BR> <BR>Since then I have travelled quite a lot, but have always wondered about the life of an expatriate. Santa Chiara, where in Italy do you live and what have you found to do for income, if you don't mind "us" asking? <BR> <BR>Anyway, this got way longer than I intended. There is something very therapeutic about talking with all of you "fellow wanderers" or kindred spirits, if you will. If you won't, send me a bill for the session!!! <BR>ciao, <BR>luigi <BR>

Yes, Yes, Yes! <BR> <BR>I moved to Europe about 7 years ago and achieved all my goals that had frustrated me since I left home at 17. I learned two languages fluently. So much so that most people didn't feel comfortable speaking English with me for fear that it wasn't as good as my Italian or German. Visited every country in Europe extensively except for Norway.The dilemma now is how and when to retire in Europe. So, yes it did satisfy a very large part of that urge to live in another culture and assimilate.

I wish I could just pack and go! However, it is part of our retirement plans. I already picked up the areas in Scotland and Spain where we are planning to have extended stays!

As a young man, I lived overseas (and on the seas) against my will as part of the Navy. I've seen every continent (except Antarctica). From inland China to the Pampas of Argentina, from Greenland to the southern coast of New Zealand, from Kirkenes to Land's End to the streets of Chicago. Let me tell you what I finally discovered: there's no place like home. See it all, enjoy it all, and you will feel ties to home slowly slipping away. Until finally one day you hear a piece of music or the smell of something familiar from home, and your homeland will beckon no matter what your nationality. It's in your blood and bones. That's the great thing about travel -- you discover that you have more than one home but only one homeland. Pity the poor drudges who will never understand you. They are like violins with only one string.

I am wondering if many of you folk have actually 'taught English' as an occupation whilst fulfilling the 'dream' of living in Italy, or wherever? My husband and I are going for the first time this October for 28 days, but as he is of direct Italian decent, we can also get Italian passports, which means of course, that we can work there. Italy has always been for me, in my blood. The first reason I noticed my (now) husband, is that he was Italian!! Now 15 years and 4 children later, we are seriously 'checking out the land' for a quite possible move this next year or so. Our childrens ages are almost 13, 11, 9 and 2 1/2. Any suggestions for work (he is actually a boilermaker/welder by trade) or any helpful thoughts regarding the children I'd be blessed for the help. Thanks a lot...

Oh Kristin, <BR> <BR>You definitely have touch something near to my heart. My husband has been deligently scanning the Netherlands expatriate page for the last 6 months, trying to figure a way to move there. We both are totally addicted. A thought of Europe enters my mind almost everyday, and I could give you the whole list of reasons why we want to live there. I would have to say GO - GO -GO for this teaching job. Not necessarily to satisfy your European craving, but for the whole experience in itself. I am sure if you don't you will always regret it. <BR> <BR>I am also open to any advice on finding a job in Europe - preferably Netherlands or Belgium. My husband is experienced in sales, and has a great affinity for languages. He has been teaching himself Dutch over the last year, and is now planning to take a language course in Dutch. I am a nurse, and unfortunately don't know any other languages, except a little Spanish. <BR>PLEASE ADVISE - Especially Jerry is Brussels.

I would prefer not to get too specific but I will say that I work for an American university that has a program in Italy. There are dozens of such programs, not only in Italy but also in France and other European countries. It helps, of course, to have experience in university administration. <BR> <BR>The best way that I know to work in Europe is through an American-based corporation. As business becomes increasingly globalized more of these kinds of opportunities should be available. <BR> <BR>And for Debbie Lee, I know a couple who did exactly what you are contemplating. He, too, is of direct Italian descent, and he and his wife and children are now in Italy. It helps, however, that he taught English back in the states. <BR> <BR>Good luck to all who have this dream. It may not be as unattainable as you may think.

This will be boring to some of you, but here is some nuts and bolts information about my move to Italy in 1997, where I lived for 2 years. <BR> <BR>Figuring that the only way I would earn a living would be to teach English, I enrolled in a 5 week course in Milan to earn my CELTA (Cetificate for English Language Teaching to Adults). I had never taught before. I began the course in June of 1997 and it was the most intense learning experience of my life. 8 hours a day, plus homework every night, plus a paper every weekend. Upon completion, I moved to Bologna and got an apartment with a friend. (1,400,000 lire/month total or about $350 each). <BR> <BR>The CELTA certificate helped me land about 6 hours a week at each of 3 language schools, earning about 25,000-30,000 lire/hour. I supplemented this with private lessons (no CELTA required), which I got by putting signs up around my area. I ended up with 17 students, which meant I was being paid about 30 hour a week (plus another 10 hours of unpaid lesson preparation). This gave me about 3.3 million lire a month (about $1600). Since I did not need a car, this enabled be to pay for rent, food and utilities, and still do some travel within Italy. Big trips (Egypt, Morocco, Prague) had to come out of savings. <BR> <BR>On the plus side: I was living in Italy and having a great time. <BR> <BR>On the down side: I was running myself ragged running from place to place to work. I worked from 10am to 10 pm, but 4-5 hours of that was unpaid travel or down time due to scheduling reasons. Eventually I replaced the schools with more private students which I could do from home, even though I found teaching groups more stimulating. <BR> <BR>After 4 months, I managed to land an administrative job working for an American University. This was a dream come true: 8:30-4:30, 8 weeks of paid vacation and holidays, 10 minute walk to work, great co-workers! From that point onward, it was the experience I was looking for. All that vacation gave me the opportunity to do so much more traveling than I had expected to do. Besides seeing 17 of the 20 Italian regions, I was able to go to Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Morroco, Greece, Chzec Republic, Austria, Germany, France, Spain, and England. <BR> <BR>Obviously, economics is a major consideration if you are thinking of trying this. I would highly recommend it to single people or couples (as long as BOTH of you really want to do it); however, I did meet families there who were doing this, but it was a big struggle. Unless you can get transferred there with a good salary and benefits, I don’t know that I would recommend it to a couple with children, or anyone with a lot of debt. <BR> <BR>Anyway, do it now, while you can. I wish that circumstances had not dictated my return so soon to the U.S., but I know I’ll be back some day. <BR>

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This will apply only to a small percentage of those that would like to live overseas, but there are a surprising number of post-doctoral and visiting scholar positions in Europe and Asia. After finishing a two-year postdoc in the US, my wife and I became interested in living overseas for a year or two. I found programs and interested sponsors in Germany, the Netherlands, and England. We eventually chose Japan where I spent a year as a visiting scholar at the University of Tokyo.

If you want to work in France you have to: <BR> <BR>1. Know where to look <BR>2. Use the Internet as a resource <BR>3. Be lucky <BR>4. Persevere <BR> <BR>I am in the computer field, not a rocket scientist by any means. <BR> <BR>I looked for North American companies with offices in France. Then I looked for job postings for these companies (their French affiliates) and sent a resume (in French) to their French offices. After sending the resumes I arranged a trip to France, and followed up my resumes, about 3 weeks later, with a letter indicating I would be in France at such and such a time for an interview. <BR> <BR>After interviewing expect to wait a long time. But follow up regularly until you get the coup de grace (yes or no). (Note the lucky/tricky part is arranging employment while waiting). <BR> <BR>Hopefully your company will send you a letter d'attestation which rationalizes why they need you with a stamp from the appropriate ministry. You present this letter to your local consulate along with an employment contract to obtain a work visa. <BR> <BR>If hired, have a nest egg, because there will be start-up costs that your company won't cover. Remember, you have to go out of your way not to inconvenience them for hiring you. Expect headaches searching for an apartment and make sure you bring all your papers because you will need just about everything when applying for a carte de sejour. <BR> <BR>Be kind to your employer and landlord because you NEED them. (actually, be kind to everyone you meet, know matter what problems you may be experiencing). Also understand that delays and inconveniences in the paper process are a fact of life. You are there as a guest. Hope that delays and trips to offices aren't enough to effect your ability to do your job well. <BR> <BR>Make sure all affairs (or as many as possible) at home are taken care of. Don't burn bridges at home. Have a contact (family member preferable) who can take care of issues (should they arise) at home. <BR> <BR>Well that's it. Like I said earlier, travelling is better. But working in a foreign country is a learning experience (the language and the culture). It is good for people with a writer's mindset who stand back and observe. If you are more one of the types who likes to be in the in-crowd expect to be disappointed. <BR> <BR>I am an average guy in his thirties, overweight, receding hair-line, introverted, not well-off financially, and of average intelligence. Standard Parisien? Definitely not. But if you try to treat all people with respect you can survive here. A prima-donna attitude is the last thing you should bring along. <BR> <BR>So that's it. I hope I didn't discourage anyone. It appears reading this newsgroup that people who work overseas seem to have found paradise. I haven't. But I do know, in the long run, it's good for me to be here and I thank the Lord daily for giving me the oppurtunity.

Russ & Jim: Very interesting 'how-to' posts! I was especially interested (and had been wondering as I was reading thru the posts) to read about someone with CELTA experience, as I'd just been leafing thru a Transitions Abroad mag with dozens of ads for teaching programs - and they make landing a job sound so easy. <BR>Good luck to everyone who follows their dream!

I'm also very intrigued with the idea of living abroad and subscribe to Transitions Abroad. Website: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/

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If any of you want to work in Europe and are of Italian decent you can get a European passport. There is certain criteria you have to meet but it is worth checking out as it allows you to work just about anywhere in Europe. I had a three month holiday in 1996 in Italy and I haven't lost the bug yet. I am hoping the year I am heading off to spend abroad in two weeks will. love your messages they are a great help.

You can also get an Irish passport if you (or your spouse) has a grandparent or parent born in Ireland (or in Northern Ireland before 1922). The Irish passport will allow you to work anywhere in Europe. It takes about a year to get. <BR> <BR>One word of warning, though...Most (not all, of course) of the people I talk to about moving overseas (I've done it myself) have this picture of living in some sort of paradise, where they will have none of the stresses and problems that they do in America, and that they'll get to sit in a cafe everyday along some bustling avenue, sipping strong coffee and eating pastries--WAKE UP! Life is pretty much the same no matter where you go--people who are relaxed and happy in America are going to be relaxes and happy in Italy. People who get stressed out and upset in the U.S. are going to get stressed out and upset in Greece. It's just a change of scenery--any other changes are up to the individual to make.

I had always wanted to live in Europe, so here I am, in Munich. I get 6 weeks VC and travel all over Europe and LOVE it! But, I had to quit my job with a really good company that I had worked at for over 10 years. If/when I move back to the states, I may have to start over with 2 weeks vc (aarrgghh!!). Depending on where you are in life, moving overseas can be a really big deal. We had to sell our house and cars, get rid of a lot of stuff and put other stuff in storage. Monthly payments for storage add up, especially when you pay in dollars and earn weak marks! Like other posters have said, living abroad sounds so exciting but you still have to work, pay bills, deal with (non-English speaking!) landlords, etc. All that said, I'm glad we did it and wouldn't change a thing. By the way, we're computer programmer/analysts. The German company we now work for came to our U.S. city looking for people with our skills, so that's how we got over here.

Again.

Yest, I have wanted to stay longer--have stayed at the most, 5 weeks in a place, long enough to get the flavor and yearn for more, but, upon reflection, I think it is not so much the "place" as it is the different life style, that you are taken out of your orbit and environment for a while, and it seems, upon returning, better than your life style. That is the romantic in all of us..we tend to forget the crummy stuff and remember the rare and beautiful moments. That is the kindness that our memory offers us, and makes life special.

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Thanks to Jim, Rachel and Paige for their "reality check" messages. While it is something I have longed to do, I have also been afraid of the 'grass is always greener' syndrome. And from everything I have read, especially in Italy, the red tape and bureaucracy are almost a show-stopper. <BR> <BR>So, at least for now, I will have to content myself with a week or three vacation there every year or two. On the other hand, it remains a dream and sometimes, as someone said in a different post... "dreams do come true"! <BR>ciao, <BR>luigi

<BR>Kristin <BR> <BR>No because then I'd have no place to go

Thanks to all of you for your very thoughtful responses to my query. I appreciate that people with differing opinions all contributed their ideas. I think that we are very likely going to take the plunge and go for a year (school year, actually). I have wanted to do this for several years and I am 58, so I think that while we both still have our health (and NO grandchildren yet) we should do it! <BR>

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I have spent two years in Spain, one as an exchange student, and another teaching English. The second year I came with little experience, a few books, and about a month's worth of money. I couldn't find a job in language schools, because they were mostly hiring British teachers with no visa necessary rather than Americans with lots of paperwork. So I put up signs all over Sevilla advertising for students, and at first I got no calls, but I just kept papering the city with signs, and found enough students that I had to turn people away. I had to teach in my students' homes, but luckily most of them lived in one area, and the others lived near me. I was there on a tourist visa, but had no problems. I ended up breaking even for my eight months in Spain and I even had savings enough (mostly from before) to spend a month in Nice learning French. I think anyone without US financial obligations can do something similar. It didn't cure my travel addiction, but luckily I ended up in NYC, which is a great multicultural city in its own right. Here there are few of the things that annoy me about the rest of the US.