Help me decide where to live after Buenos Aires (Preliminary Thread) - Page 2

WhoIam · #11 04-20-2007, 04:38 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Bangkok, Thailand

Well, what to say here. This is really only on my radar because of Bill's thread in OOT. I'm not sure that this is my cup of tea either as I'd probably make zero effort to learn Thai which is usually a bad thing when you go live somewhere new. Also, the rampant whores or real women who are really just whores turns me off. This would definitely be the poorest country I would ever live in and the biggest thing it has going for it is being cheap, being Asian, and not being a part of the Schengen Agreement (herein referred to as the Devil).

[/ QUOTE ]
Prostitution in Bangkok is really only confined to a few areas (at least publicly). The Thai upper-class speaks English very well and produces some amazing beauties. Even where I live in Patong Beach, Phuket, where literally 95% of the attractive girls are hookers, there are still lots of nonsexual things to do. Take a cheap holiday here and decide if you like it or not.

Chillee · #12 04-21-2007, 07:58 AM

My view on Paris :
Rentals are very expensive, even if you live in a crappy neighbourhood.

Public transit (bus & metro) are good if you are in Paris or close, and not costly (compared to other european cities like london).

Finding a language school will not be a problem.

Cost of living : Alone, you should earn 2000 €/month to have a comfortable situation.

Area to avoid : I'd say 18th,19th and 20th districts are the worst, but there are always exception.

Visa for americans : http://www.amb-usa.fr/consul/acs/guide/default.htm

Safety concerns : if you dont go alone in crack houses it will be ok i guess

Reasons for the city :
- good food
- easy and cheap public transit
- night life is ok
- internet fast & cheap
- poker rooms with fishes
- everything you'd expect in a big city (shops, cinemas..)

Against :
- cost of life (especially rentals)
- if you dont speak french it will be difficult 'cause we are very bad at other languages than french.
-???

shinigami · #13 04-21-2007, 01:55 PM

easy: Bangkok. cheap+good weather+no visa problem

re:visa, some european countries might be ok with just a statement of financial independence, basically a proof you have enough money to live here; but you'd have to check with each embassy basically. Otherwise if you're serious about learning spanish/french/wathever you could get a student visa? but that would mean "really" studying though.

Australia has aggreements with like all the developed countries (I think), no problem getting a 1 year "working holiday" visa IF you're less than 30

you realise you just picked 2 of the most expensive cities in the world in your list?! http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/05/real...ties/index.htm
New York is 100, Paris is 130. basically you can *2 or even *3 what you currently spend in Argentina if you live in Paris.

LOL at getting so. (as in:a private individual) to rent you a place in Paris (and prolly the same for most big european cities), even if you get a visa. laws protecting the tenant are just too strong, not worth it to rent to a foreigner. You best bet for short term lease is furnished place owned by companies specialised in that kind of thing, but they tend to go at a big premium, you'll probably pay like 1500€ for 300sqft for sth decent in Paris. eg: http://www.lodgis.com/

in EU, outside of scandinavia and Finland (and maybe Netherlands in big cities), it'll kinda suck if you don't know the local language. don't expect most ppl in Germany, France, Belgium,... to understand English, they wont.

oh, Berlin>Paris, btw. Paris is nice for a week, but no way I'd want to live there.
anyway, traveling within Europe is sper cheap with low cost airlines, just check a few cities for a few days each...beat: most airlines are 15kg luggages max within EU and u get assraped if you have more.

TheMetetron · #14 04-21-2007, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the post even though it was a lot of stuff I already knew.

Obviously, I never expected an actual lease, just a furnished short-term rental. I'm also aware of how expensive Paris is. I could afford to live in the city itself, which is probably what I'll do. Of course, the suburbs are always a possiblity.

I'm also aware of how much the language will suck. I've experienced it here where almost no one speaks English. France and Spain I'd speak or learn to speak the language. In Italy I probably wouldn't but it is possible; however, traveling around Italy is worth getting into some awkward language situations over.

Yes, the luggage restrictions are retarded in the EU. I remember last time I moved back from Europe with a ton of stuff I paid more in luggage fees than for my ticket on one of the flights. When I move back to Europe, I will definitely be packing as lightly as possible with 2 suitcases max (I brought 3 1/2 to Argentina).

xxThe_Lebowskixx · #15 04-21-2007, 03:03 PM

you have the wrong idea about thailand and prostitution. its only like that in very touristy areas, but if you are not going to learn thai then you will probably end up in those areas often. given the other cities on your list, and your previous comments, you probably will not like bangkok because it is very dirty and third worldish.

xxThe_Lebowskixx · #16 04-21-2007, 03:06 PM

that visa legal problem sounds retarded. how did they ever come up with that nonsense?

TheMetetron · #17 04-21-2007, 03:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
that visa legal problem sounds retarded. how did they ever come up with that nonsense?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Schengen Agreement?

xxThe_Lebowskixx · #18 04-21-2007, 03:10 PM

I think it must very hard to get by in another country if you cannot speak the language, do not have close local friends, or you dont work there or study there making it easy to make friends.

I guess you can walk around all day going up to people asking them to be your friend, although I think this would get old after awhile and you will become a loner, get bored, and leave.

xxThe_Lebowskixx · #19 04-21-2007, 03:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
that visa legal problem sounds retarded. how did they ever come up with that nonsense?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Schengen Agreement?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, I never heard of anything like that.

TheMetetron · #20 04-21-2007, 03:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
that visa legal problem sounds retarded. how did they ever come up with that nonsense?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Schengen Agreement?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, I never heard of anything like that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah it is pretty much the most ridiculous thing ever for visitors though I see how it can be nice for EU residents and border security.