In a worldview it is entirely not uncommon. I think you find this quite often in enclave/enclosed communities where the native language is not that of the general populace. Also in more closed religious communities. I’ve seen this first hand in Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and even Protestant communities.
You’ve not been to parts of New York, have you? This is quite common.
Fair enough - there have been a couple of times I probably could have “made bank”, but I’m not a visionary that way, and I’ve done well enough to be happy.
I lost the want to be rich. I’m well off enough and secure enough to not pine over missed opportunities. I’ve also learned to look for less in life, because it became readily apparent that, for me, More was not Better.
I think the thing to also consider is that when you enter a new country, you really start all over. When I left the US, I had maybe $10K to my name and I had to rebuild my credit rating, get work papers so I could (after 6 years) leave the job I was let into the country for and go to another one without being tossed out of the country in the process. Getting out from under whatever oppression I felt living in the US was the most massive success I’ve had.
Here, I wasn’t bound by conventions, and when people said “we don’t do that”, I still had the freedom of mind to try anyway. There’s a great benefit to reinventing yourself occasionally, and forgetting your own (or imposed) limitations. Once I learned I could navigate my new country, I explored Europe, then Asia and generally on my own - and I felt more confident than I ever previously had.
As well, there’s affordable care, a social support system where you can be on unemployment for nearly a year without losing your home or going hungry, and a work ethic that says “work well, not hard - and take time for yourself”. It was an eye opener.
You’re right - the first step is trying, but keep stepping after that. Learning to keep adapting and that it will never end - it’s a superpower if you use to better yourself and your goals.
TL;DR: I seriously hit the RESET making my move, but the growth experience ended up being far more worthwhile than cashing out. I still work, but I’m more relaxed, have formidable savings and health care and will retire well off enough to never want.
Heh. I was trying to be encouraging but clearly you’re not here for information. Not sure why you decided to stick your nose in and tell the world why you’re so fatalistic, but from the number of immigrants who go to Europe or North America or Asia yearly, and become successful in their moves, it can be done.
Let’s face it. You just don’t want to bother.
Edit: moved from NJ to Colorado to here, after nearly a decade, finally invested in an apartment and will sell it at 2.25x what I paid for it, and will in retire soon to Bali.
But you just keep telling yourself that this can’t be done… 👍
Oh is that all? So easy. Just find a skill. They grown on trees.
Well, if you’re looking on trees, that explains a bit.
But seriously - I hated my job in ‘94, picked up a book in HTML, and within 6 months was able to get a job at a web startup. By ‘98 I was able find a job in The Netherlands and move here literally a month later.
I know of financial analysts, accountants, designers, plumbers, builders, nurses - all from outside the EU, moving here. About 80% have gone back, but that 3-5 year window gave them plenty of experience and an external view of what they REALLY wanted for their future.
You can do it, but you have to know what you want, where you want to go and especially, what the market needs.
You can do it - I did.
Yeah - sounds like a pain. 25+ years later, it’s been worth it to get the hell out of New Jersey.
That’s a contextual issue. It’s not often applied to a value but rather a feeling - that’s why I suggested “exorbitant”.
Exuberant is also considered a positive attribute, so contextually it was confusing.
edit: Not to be rude - I’m an American and the Dutch constantly correct me here - but instead of “obsessive” (to be obsessed with), you might consider “excessive” - much closer to “a lot of” but more “too much of”. ✌️
I think you mean “exorbitant” ;)
So, Bali then. Then you’d know this one - maybe you’re a stupid influencer, and if you take a photograph in a bikini up against the wrong tree – a religious symbol which is unmarked, but yet supposed to be duly noted as being off-limits - you can kiss your visa status goodbye, fined and deported. There are unwritten local and religious rules, managed through local groups which coordinate with the local government. That’s what this is as well.
Please note, I’m not criticizing this. When you are in another country as a guest, you should not just think you can transpose your culture over the native culture and not suffer repercussions.