“What’s different in the last two years is the ease with which Americans can find writers, historians, and good Samaritans sharing their tips and hard truths online for planning to move. An entirely new genre has emerged that’s part survival manual, part dispatch from beyond a deteriorating state. Those resources aside, the process is anything but easy and frictionless. Still, there is a sense of possibility”
The only thing really stopping me is money. I can’t afford it, and it’s difficult to open up bank accounts in Europe as a US citizen.
Depending on your phase in life and education, you could take a look at German education. Master studies are often tuition free and they come with a student residence permit, meaning you are allowed to work and stay in Germany during the study. Afterwards you can apply for an EU blue card and you can stay indefinitely after several years of work.
I’ll add to that: or a job. It’s almost impossible to get hired (as an outsider) even if you’re in a field many countries consider “critical”. Not that I blame them, I’d just give up a lot to live somewhere less homophobic.
If you DO have a critical skill you can come to the Netherlands. Google the “30% ruling.”
I’ll look into that, much appreciated! I think I was originally looking at predominantly English- and Spanish-speaking countries because those are my language proficiencies, and I was worried about the time it would take to learn Dutch (or another language) as I feel that’s an important step to understand and integrate with the broader culture. That said, I guess there’s never a bad time to start learning something new!
The Netherlands has by far the largest % of local people who speak fluent or near fluent English. In fact I hear more English in Amsterdam nowadays than Dutch (the locals are not amused).
It’s always good to learn the language of a place you immigrate to of course!
It’s quite affordable in Asia, you can research this possibility if you haven’t considered it.
even a european citizen living abroad.