Which country is the best? U.S., New Zealand, Australia or Switzerland? (to live in, train)
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Major Australian cities are no boring than major cities in other western countries. It is just much more boring and expensive than the major Asian cities. Major asian cities are lively. Although it is far away from other countries, does not attract high number of visitors as East and Southeast Asia, it has plenty of migrants and students from other countries.
NZ is too isolated, and is easily forgotten by other countries.
I don't consider Switzerland being very cold, Sweden, Canada and Korea are even colder. But Swiss cities are not as lively and multicultural than cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland, NYC, LA, Chicago and SF. There are very few non-Europeans in Switzerland. And I like places with coast and seafood more.
I understand that they aren't as lively but Zurich, Geneva and Basel all have at least 30% foreign born populations. Most of these immigrants come from the Balkans, from Turkey, from Subsaharian Africa, from Northern Africa. And even if they were only Europeans Switzerland would still be multicultural because for example a German is as different from a Romanian as an Australian is from a Thai (i don't understand why people look at skin colour for a country to be multicultural when most of America's blacks are as most of America's whites) and the country speaking four languages plus English (whose use is widespread) makes it as multicultural as Australia, New Zealand or the United States are.
Yeah, Geneva and Zurich surprisingly don't have lively downtowns. They're just low key types with some stores/bakeries and chocolate stores with light rail transit and pedestrian walkways.
I was at the trouser shop the other day,and overheard some Uruguayans discussing what country was the best. It sounded like New Zealand was top of their list.
I haven't been to any of the countries yet, but I can see that all of them are rich and first-world countries. They are all advanced in healthcare, opportunities, education system, safety, etc. But I think I will choose NZ among the four since it's not that pretty crowded yet compared to other countries.
If I'm wrong then you're probably wrong too. Both of us don't have proof that most of the votes for the US came from Americans...or not. But this is a an American-based website. So I don't know.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MountainHi
You know why Australia has low population density, right? Most of it's a desert. It's uninhabitable. So how is that a plus? As for scenery, see the previous comment.
It's a plus because virtually nobody lives in the desert! So how does it affect us? Over 90% of us live in the habitable, temperate urban areas and we seem to be doing fine. For starters, we are one of the most developed countries in the world. As such, you can see that our "uninhabitable" areas aren't even affecting us. Perhaps do a research on our economy first.
FYI, we are more urbanized than Russia, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Austria and most of Eastern Europe.
Yes, Switzerland very good, infrastructure is top notch.
And you're right, very close to many other great countries,
Australia, USA, New Zealand not so much.
in the US if you live up north you can go into Canada, but its expensive, takes planning and there is not a lot of ways to get there other than drive or fly.
If you're near mexico, you can go to mexico which used to be an experience of its own!! Mexican border was an awesome place to be free of all those laws and prohibitions to drinking, partying, sex etc. that America has. But nowadays mexican border towns are too dangerous. (back in the 80's 90's though it was great). If you want to go deeper into mexico which is an awesome place, it requires money and time which a lot of americans don't have.
In Switzerland you take a train and in 3 hours you're in Paris if you're craving for big city!! 4 hours drive you're in the Mediterranean if you're craving for the beach!! You're right on the Alps if you're craving for lakes and mountains for outdoor activities.
Add to that the fact Switzerland has amazing modern architecture, beautiful little towns that look like postcards, you drive an hour and you're still in Switzerland but they speak German or Italian or French or Romansch (A form of a latin language).... and the regions look different.
Ticino (the italian part feels like northern Italy)
Romandie (The French part, feels like France)
The rest of the country is largely German and it's got the German vibe!
Switzerland is an amazing little country!!!
Clean air, water, mountains, virtually little pollution even in the big cities.... lakes so clean you can drink from them!!!
Most of those things in the US are too far, and Australia is not that fun.
Australia is ok if you are the person that has children and want to live a lifestyle that it's the same everyday. (go to work, children sent to school, then go home have dinner, on the weekend go to the beach with the dog and then back home to work the next day).
Then in Australia you have the very Anglo "Speak English and nothing else, sex is bad, lets keep it politicaly correct and moral" mentality also similar in the US, though in the US spanish is a refreshing option to the otherwise sameness everywhere! While switzerland's got the orderly, punctual Germanic way, plus the flamboyant colorful Latin attitude of Italy and France.
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You know why Australia has low population density, right? Most of it's a desert. It's uninhabitable. So how is that a plus? As for scenery, see the previous comment.
