Running away...

[catscradle]

Well, if anyone is interested, here's the NAFTA info if you want to find employment in Canada: http://www.canadausemployment.com/nafta_job_search_program.htm

Next I'm checking into Belize. Warm. Beautiful. Nice birds...

I might be able to get Slovakian or Czech citizenship with my parents' background. There's quite a big community of American expatriots in Prague (something like 40,000 last check), maybe that's an option...

Comments

[wiebke.livejournal.com]

Caleb's grandmother is from Italy. He recently found out he can get dual citizenship becasuse of that. And then he could get work as an "EU citizen," which he's wanted to in the past. Maybe Germany or England. He's not looking to MOVE, per se, but he'd like options and a chance to get out of Georgia for a while doing city planning.

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

Sooo...basically if you can get citizenship to one EU country you can then become an EU citizen and move anywhere? That could work... *more research*

Yup

[damoyre.livejournal.com]

That's basically how it works. :)

[vasiliki.livejournal.com]

Anywhere in one of the 25 EU countries. No travel visas, no working visas, nothing. And if you choose one of the 12 countries that use the EURO, no need to change money hopping from country to country either! :D

[thebratqueen.livejournal.com]

Damn. I don't qualify for any of the jobs they have on that list.

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm holding out that we can use our ten years of experience in internet porn for "Technical Publications Writer" jobs.

Fuck, right now, I'm thinking of braving the Maoist insurrectionist and moving to Nepal. All options are considered open at this point. =P

[gimme-that.livejournal.com]

Well, I heard about the election results this afternoon, as I was leaving work.

On behalf of all Canadians, let me just say "yeeeeeeeesh." You poor bastards. :-(

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

Let me just say that we've just past the peak of Bush the Golden Years and we're now on the downward slope to certain oblivion. =P

[damoyre.livejournal.com]

Well, if you're serious about Belize, Brendan's uncle is very nice. (Though I bet he would have voted for Bush. ;;^_^)

And you should *really* look into getting the Slovakian or Czech citizenship - if you can! As I said, my friend Emi recently got his Italian papers - through a grandfather who still resides in Italy. (Even though Emi and most of his family has been born and raised in Argentina!) Laws about European citizenship are going to change and get a lot tougher, though. Now would be the time to act.

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

Damn it! This can take a while to organize and save money for. I wonder how tough the laws are going to get. Were they anticipating an American migration of displaced intellects? Maybe we can claim political asylum.

[vasiliki.livejournal.com]

I agree with DaMoyre. If you can take a second citizenship, get it. I would never recommend living in Chech Republic or Slovakia without speaking the language and securing a job before you move there (very high unemployment - and very conservative countries), but the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, and even Italy and Greece would be nice countries to live and work. (the last two are nice and warm, but also conservative...) I can provide info about Greece.

Hm, I was also about to suggest Japan, but from what I know about you, you'd hate this society. (although that would be the perfect way to start loving the US again!)

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

Well, I mentioned Slovakia and Czech Republic because that's were my family's from. I've had a few friends granted citizenship in other countries based on their ancestry. Otherwise I've heard it's difficult to get citizenship in Europe.

If you have any info on that, I'd love to hear it.

I don't think I'd be too happy with Japan, either. I'd love to visit, but I'm not so sure about making a home there ;)

Thanks for the info!

working abroad, citizenship, etc

[vasiliki.livejournal.com]

Unlike the popular belief, it's quite easy to get citizenship in Europe: you just have to have a clear criminal record, live in the country for 5+ years, and speak the language. (and convince the committee that you love that country and want to become a citizen :)) It might look difficult to non-EU English-speakers, because: a) most of them don't speak other languages, and b) they need to find a serious job first, in order to get a working visa and be able to stay in the country for 5 years, and THAT is indeed difficult because the unemployment rates are HIGH in Europe and there's a law that says you can employ non-EU citizens only if there's no EU citizen who can fill the place - except if you don't mind working as a teacher of English, which is easy, since you have native-speaker status.

(on the other hand, if you don't mind working as a teacher of English, then you can as well come to Japan for 1-3 yrs, where the salaries are higher and the job ridiculously easy, and spend your free time waiting Bush's downfall so that you can move back to the States!)

In any case, my advice is: move to whatever country you choose for as long as you think necessary with the mindset "this is temporary and I'm going back when we get rid of Bush", NOT with the mindset of "I'll make a home here". It'll save you a LOT of angst and heartache. You should take permanent decisions only after having lived there for a year at least. <- says the woman who's lived in 4 countries so far; I only went to one country with the "permanent" mentality (Japan) and it cost me terribly. Only when I realized I should get rid of it, I became happy again! :)

I'm not sure about Czech laws, but I know about Slovakia: if one of your parents/grandparents was Slovakian, you can get an Expatriate Status card, and then apply for citizenship. If one of your parents actually still had the Slovakian citizenship during the time of your birth, then the procedure is incredibly fast and easy ('cause you're "Slovakian" too!). In either case, you'll need you and your parents (or grandparents)' birth certificate, marriage certificate, and naturalization certificate.

[morrigan71.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking a Villa in Italy. I haven't signed the papers on this house yet....

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

Maybe a slew of us can combine our resources and get a good deal... have a little American expatriot commune. We can bead or weave baskets or something...

[gimme-that.livejournal.com]

Hey, listen - there are several deserted Newfoundland communities where you can go. Islands, even, with no one living on them anymore. (Too hard to get to, no resources, so the inhabitants packed up and moved to the larger centres.) They're all for sale!

Why don't a bunch of you pool your monies and buy one? You could do an artists'/intellectuals colony-cum-tourist chalet-cum B&B thing. (I'm serious!)

The economy here is booming because of the oil. I should mention, however, that there are also a lot of Texans - again, because of the oil. But no George Dubya. :-)

[themyst.livejournal.com]

South Africa is nice and warm.

Not sure if you could find a job here but at least we are nice and warm.

[themyst.livejournal.com]

Oh yea, if you were ever a dictator in your country, come to SA, Our government will pay for all your expenses and give you a job at some higher learning institute