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What is your ideal place/setting to live in? In what area would you feel most happy and comfortable in terms of location, culture, and atmosphere to live in?
For me: My ideal place would be to live on the coast in Peru or Chile, where I have studied and enjoyed a lot, my dream place to live is a home near the Pacific ocean, where there are fresh food markets nearby, where I can buy my food every-day. For example, I can wake up in the morning and go and buy fresh fruit. Where I can speak Spanish (a language I really love to speak and write in), go and listen to flamenco and songs with Andalusian style (e.g. Gypsy Kings, Niña Pastori, etc), and with that detoxify myself of the stress and pressures of US society of which I have gotten very tired of. I enjoy the culture and people there - everything just seems more "real" - the emotions - the people - the feelings - everything. It's a refreshing contrast to the almost artificial feel of US society that you sometimes have. In all, such a place is definitely the ideal for me.
In terms of "fitting in", well I speak fluent Spanish, and natives often confuse my accent for the dialect of Cajamarca in Peru or think I have an Arabic accent, but in all I speak well enough. In terms of looks, while I don't look latino per se, I do look Mediterranean (especially Eastern Med) and could easily fit in Southern Italy, Greece, Turkey, etc. and natives have said that I can fit as a South American with that ancestry. I never got the impression that I stuck out as a sore thumb nor experienced any of the "gringo discrimination", even though I'm technically white.
South Korea or Japan. Would like to live in China, but somewhere that the toilet isn't a latrine and the city air is clean and not so polluted that I die at the ripe old age of 55 from asthma and lung cancer
South Korea or Japan. Would like to live in China, but somewhere that the toilet isn't a latrine and the city air is clean and not so polluted that I die at the ripe old age of 55 from asthma and lung cancer
People may be surprised how clean and vibrant Seoul has become in recent years. Great infrastructure and public transport, a sparkly new world class international airport. Not to mention a very safe feeling city, though I've not looked at crime stats.
South Korea or Japan. Would like to live in China, but somewhere that the toilet isn't a latrine and the city air is clean and not so polluted that I die at the ripe old age of 55 from asthma and lung cancer
A city near the sea but not especially a coast town, it can be for example 50 o 100 km far. A city or at least a big town, where you can go shopping to to restaurants or terraceo (terraces), well comunicated, modern but with a nice oldtown, and good weather. Where is it? Lol.
Maybe something like Alicante, a city in Florida, California, Cote d'azur, etc...
A city that is large, but not a 'mega city'. A city the size of Madrid, combined with the economy of Munich, the vibe and buzz of Berlin, and the rich history of Paris would be ideal.
1. MUST speak English.
2. Has to be a rich country.
3. Continental climate.
4. No more than a six hour time difference for my country of origin.
5. No longer than 7 hour flight.
6. MUST NOT be hundreds of miles inland.
Madrid or Barcelona would be my choices. Like the Spanish lifestyle and the come-as-you-are mentality, if only the economy and possibilities were a bit better, and that things would be done today and not tomorrow. And traditionally Finns get along very well with Spaniards, so I couldn't expect a huge culture shock either.
The Netherlands is another lovechild of mine, and would feel perfectly at home there. Even the language is so easy, and the lifestyle so similar. But prefer Spain for the climate as long as I can return home to Finland for some decent winter snow.
Denmark would be my third choice. A beautiful great country which is very similar to us, but still a bit less anal Nordic.
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