Why we're moving back to the US (from Paris) (high school, university)

[Wide World Family]

Originally Posted by cunparis

Great post WillysB and I agree with you, but..



1 - baguettes
2 - meeting people from all over the world
3 - hearing foreign languages (by foreign I mean not french or american) spoken every time I leave the house
4 - notre dame
5 - eiffel tower
6 - restaurants with food from countries all over the world (how many people have eaten at an Afghanistan restaurant?)
7 - interesting political discussions - I didn't know anything about politics when I came. I came to France a republican and I will leave a democrat
8 - being around people who are able to debate and challenge religion (most of the "young" French are not religious)
9 - the best tap water in the world
10 - being in a country that is not too puritan. seeing a woman's breast is actually not that bad.

cun - there are cosmopolitan options in the states, just need to research the areas.

For example, Chicago can cover all items you've listed except 4, 5 and 10. Of course, there's always Notre Dame (the university) jk... You just have to be willing to get involved in the progressive communities like Evanston, Hyde Park, and Oak Park (I spent half of my childhood in one of these communities and had first generation neighbors from Germany, France, Belgium, Holland (as it was known back then), Israel, Argentina, Haiti and Nigeria (just to name a few). These communities are extremely politically aware (you'd have to be a hermit, not to get involved!). Chicago's diversity is a wonderful potluck of cultures.

San Francisco is an even more diverse and progressive city (obviously!). If you're looking for true left living, look no further than the "left coast" that's what conservatives in 'Missoura (my current home state) call the west coast! LOL!!

Both Chicago and San Francisco have excellent international cuisines options - if for some reason you're particular to only Afghani food, in Chicago, there is the Afghan restaurant on the north side (Afghan Restaurant is the actual name, I'm sorry to say, I didn't say we Americans are always original, but anyhoo...) and San Francisco has the Helmand restaurant.

I'm sure that your open-mindedness will serve you well in returning to the US - it's a big place you know, not every place fits into the American cliches!

btw - I'm an ESL teacher to people all over the world via the internet, and I'd say the vast majority of my European learners would like to live in the US - the primary concern they have is our extremely short vacation periods (2 weeks here, while they're used to 4-5 weeks there annually). Other than that America seems like one great big adventure to them - the grass is always greener on the other side, doncha know!

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by cunparis

I have no stats or figures to back it up but there are a ton of homeless in France. One thing that makes it more obvious is that most people rely on public transportation and so we're walking to/from the trains and you really can't avoid them.

Most are drunk and/or crazy. I see them all the time begging for money at stoplights while they have a can of beer hidden nearby. In the winter they sleep in the subway and/or on the trains.

It's quite depressing. A reminder of how fortunate most of us are.

What you describe sounds exactly like here in Portland. I thought we had the worlds population of homeless here in this city. I had no idea there were so many homeless in Paris or Europe for that matter.

[Alt Dach]

Geez-you don't have to live in London or Paris-if you want a big city try Berlin-cheap and clean.Hundreds of manageable cities like Antwerp,Delft,Metz,Nancy,Mainz,Einhoven,Glasgow,Sw ansee,Linz,St. Gallen,Bayonne,
Lublin, Malmo,Verona,Trentino,Bratislava,Ljubjana,Perth,He lsinlki,Seville,Porto,Turku,
Upsala,Kiel,Strassburg,Stuggart,Genoa,Montruex,Ber gen,Lubeck,Brugge,Luxembourg
etc

[cunparis]

Originally Posted by Wide World Family

btw - I'm an ESL teacher to people all over the world via the internet, and I'd say the vast majority of my European learners would like to live in the US - the primary concern they have is our extremely short vacation periods (2 weeks here, while they're used to 4-5 weeks there annually). Other than that America seems like one great big adventure to them - the grass is always greener on the other side, doncha know!

That is interesting that you teach ESL over the internet. Pretty cool.

Your cities are all cities that were in our consideration. In the end it comes down to wanting to avoid the big cities while we're young with children. And then it came down to affordable housing. I'm self-employed and getting a loan will be difficult.

You're right on about the vacation being a major concern. There is one other one here in France which is particular to France: healthcare. I've been saying for years now that if the US had the vacation and healthcare of France then I'd be back to the US already. Healthcare for the self-employed is a big problem if the person or someone in the family is not perfectly healthy. I just found out recently (I think my wife was hiding it from me) that we can keep our French insurance if we move to the US. Only downside is that it costs $1200/month!

[madeira]

I don't want to divert attention from the Paris discussion but we are having a similar thoughts about a move. The only difference is that I am the local and my spouse is the US citizen (she's been in the UK since 1992).

My main concern with the move is the desire to be near a multicultural city. I know NY very well (again through work) and my wife lived in Boston before she moved to England. We've both travelled extensively.

A key question for me is given that we make the move to the US, where else could we get a cosmopolitan experience?


PS - Paris I love as a place to visit on business but the poop problem is real! London has its own issues....

[Sgoldie]

I see someone else mentioned Burlington, Vermont. While smaller than the other cities you are considering it is very close to French speaking Canada and may be something you would want to consider. You should be able to receive tv stations from there and are close enough to spend day trips. Just a thought.

[k350]

I am feeling the opposite, I want to move back to London from America.

[minibrings]

Originally Posted by cunparis

That's what I'm always jumping the fence to check out the other side.

I moved from NY to Australia and now to Canada and I've come to realise that the best place for me is back... home. The grass was not greener elsewhere but you do have to go have a look see for yourself.. Id love to live in Raleigh, NC to be closer to my sister but NY is better for work..

[minibrings]

Originally Posted by cunparis

that is interesting that you teach esl over the internet. Pretty cool.

Your cities are all cities that were in our consideration. In the end it comes down to wanting to avoid the big cities while we're young with children. And then it came down to affordable housing. I'm self-employed and getting a loan will be difficult.

You're right on about the vacation being a major concern. There is one other one here in france which is particular to france: Healthcare. I've been saying for years now that if the us had the vacation and healthcare of france then i'd be back to the us already. healthcare for the self-employed is a big problem if the person or someone in the family is not perfectly healthy. I just found out recently (i think my wife was hiding it from me) that we can keep our french insurance if we move to the us. Only downside is that it costs $1200/month!

smaller, cheaper city with IT jobs. Okay. Raleigh, Charlotte, Salt Lake come to mind. These cities seem to be weathering the current economic slump fairly well. Check out DICE.COM, join the ACM they have a job bank. Other cities? hmmm... the suburbs of DC come to mind (maryland side or past vienna). My sister moved to Raleigh and I love it down there and its a fairly liberal bastion surrounded by conservatives. If I had my druthers though I would look at the DC suburbs. you can't get more cosmopolitan than DC (or NY). Salt Lake is surprisingly diverse as the LDS church attracted migrants from all over the worlds. Its an odd place, it has a gay friendly mayor in a state dominated by Mormons... lol..

[chicagocubs]

Well, after reading all of the posts regarding this life-changing event...here is the view from someone that actually LIVES in Charlotte, NC; one of the places that you wanted to move to....

Where you surely will be able to get your house with a yard and also have access to large expanses of land to play ball or whatever, you will give up decent public transportation and will have to buy a car. Everything is very spread out and it will not be anything to drive 15 miles to your favourite grocery store.

School will not be the "burden" on your kids as it is there, but, you will have to deal with what the English call "an inferior education" (as told to my son when he went to an English University in Staffordshire, England) Plus, we have gangs here in the public schools and your children will not learn or be able to continue their French language studies. (not on the level that they surely are at)

The "city" of Charlotte is quite beautiful. You will not see dog poo everywhere but we do have panhandlers. Stress is a huge way of life here, too...but, our stress is due to the many layoffs that are occurring and people being out of work with no jobs available and, as another poster stated, no health care (unless you have the money to buy the insurance).

Another consideration is a job. The job market is really poor right now. Unless you have a job before you come, you might have a tough time getting one.

...and, there is the "redneck" factor. Charlotte is comprised of people from around this country (USA), primarily from the northeast and midwest. However, the "native" Charlotteans are not necessarily accepting of those from other countries (or other states for that matter). Usually, it is fairly low-key, but, there WILL be a culture shock.

Can't think of anything else at the moment...DM me if there are any other questions...