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I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greener"?

I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greener"?

Old Aug 4th 2011, 2:38 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

PHEW and i thought the uk had its problems

its interesting to hear so many people are coming to the uk to get a uni education, and I got the impression we were not good for anything - other than top up the Euro piggy bank

is it small wonder that so many countries are considering the Schengen Agreement has given more problems than it solved ?? This along with the "integration" and "diversity" (code for accepting that Racism as a word is is dead but as a problem still exists ?)
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Old Aug 15th 2011, 9:43 am
  #92  
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Wow what a thread!!
Sorry for sounding simple, but why do these people live in countries they hate?? Go back to where you came from, I would say!

I'm a German living in the UK married to a US American; we have to move to the US at the end of September for my hubby's job, and I am heart-broken as I absolutely LOVE the UK!! I've lived in several countries in my life, but the UK for me is by far the nicest; I basically love everything about it. But I guess that isn't the point of this thread

In defense of my home country, I think Germany is a lovely place, too - I'd definitely prefer to move back there rather than the US, but I don't have that choice.
Of course, it has it's flaws, just like any other place, and it's true that certain nationalities are better liked than others (I agree that in general, anyone Enlish speaking is much liked - Aussie, NZ, Brit, Ami, Canadian..) and Easter Europeans and Turks much less so. But without wanting to sound racist, I think there is probably a reason for this - it's certainly not just plain racism!! Part of it is just the sheer numbers, I think....
So, for the OP, I don't think Germany would be such a good idea (but I'm not 100% that the OP was really serious?? Did anyone else smell a troll??)
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Old Aug 15th 2011, 12:03 pm
  #93  
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Much of it comes down to the money , IMHO !
' Cause , if we had enough of it and guaranteed in the long term , we could all be in Monaco , Dubai , Mauritius , Cape Town , Florida , wherever your fancy takes you ; and when we don't , we have to put up with the remaining 3rd rate choices .
Sad , but True !
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Old Aug 15th 2011, 1:21 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Originally Posted by Ray51
Much of it comes down to the money , IMHO !
' Cause , if we had enough of it and guaranteed in the long term , we could all be in Monaco , Dubai , Mauritius , Cape Town , Florida , wherever your fancy takes you ; and when we don't , we have to put up with the remaining 3rd rate choices .
Sad , but True !
I couldn't disagree with you more - Monaco is totally ugly and overpriced, Dubai is in the Arab world where all the money in the world couldn't persuade me to live, Cape Town is lovely but only for a holiday (my best friend lives there and I've visited many times, trust me, I know the place!!), Florida is full of people wearing track suits day in, day out and is super muggy in the summer, plus it doesn't have any nice cities - so, thanks but no thanks!! Mauritius I can't comment on..I'm sure it's nice . But calling the UK and Germany "third rate" is totally deluded - no offence, but I don't think people realize the quality of life we have in these countries, compared with almost any other country in the world!! So it's not exotic, granted, but we have financial security, good health care, no major weather issues...

I, for one, think life is great in both Germany and the UK (and I hope I will come to appreciate living in the States )

PS: I think that is exactly what explains the high numbers of East & South East Europeans, Turks etc who are trying to move here, and even though I don't think it's a good thing, I really can't blame them for trying to have a better life!! That's also what I found really annoying about the OP's post (assuming he/she was serious)...everything is better and people are so much nicer in her country of origin (which, interestingly enough, she didn't disclose...)?? You've gotta be kiddin'!!!
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Old Aug 15th 2011, 1:34 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

[QUOTE=katjoeuk;9560598] but we have financial security, good health care, no major weather issues...

I, for one, think life is great in both Germany and the UK (and I hope I will come to appreciate living in the States )

QUOTE]

Germany has good health care , as do a few other European countries ; U.K. is not one of them ;
financial security : come to Berlin , Bruxelles , Paris , inner London , observe the persons in their 40's , fit and able and educated and unemployed long-term , pennyless , sleeping on cardboard boxes and getting mugged at night .
Are you from Disneyland ? I suggest : try some travelling ?
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Old Aug 15th 2011, 1:50 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Originally Posted by Ray51
Much of it comes down to the money , IMHO !
' Cause , if we had enough of it and guaranteed in the long term , we could all be in Monaco , Dubai , Mauritius , Cape Town , Florida , wherever your fancy takes you ; and when we don't , we have to put up with the remaining 3rd rate choices .
Sad , but True !
Monaco - bumping into that Philip Green and those obnoxious Candy brothers, hiding from Shirley Bassey in case she starts singing again
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Old Aug 15th 2011, 4:19 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

[QUOTE=Ray51;9560627]
Originally Posted by katjoeuk
but we have financial security, good health care, no major weather issues...

I, for one, think life is great in both Germany and the UK (and I hope I will come to appreciate living in the States )

QUOTE]

Germany has good health care , as do a few other European countries ; U.K. is not one of them ;
financial security : come to Berlin , Bruxelles , Paris , inner London , observe the persons in their 40's , fit and able and educated and unemployed long-term , pennyless , sleeping on cardboard boxes and getting mugged at night .
Are you from Disneyland ? I suggest : try some travelling ?
Ray51 - it's all relative - the NHS may not be the greatest model, but believe me, many people would be more than happy to have it!! It certainly beats not having any health care at all, wouldn't you say??
Thanks for the advice about travelling - I've only been to Germany, Ireland, France and Italy this calendar year
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Old Aug 15th 2011, 8:30 pm
  #98  
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

No point in arguing !
One's experiences are worth more than mere words ;
and so , I was complaining to my GP ( in Surrey ) about my back , she wrote a letter to a specialist , a few long months later a response arrived and Hoorays , I was given a date and a time , for 8 ( eight ) months later , at a distant clinic I've never been to .
No problem , even though the parking cost me more than a lunch ; I took my scans and X-rays from Belgium to the good chap in his banker-like pin-striped suit and he was well-amused and pleased with the quality of everything , let's say : chuffed ! , like I don't know what else he might have expected .
In the end , after all the entertainment , he still could not help me one iota !
Maybe not his problem , nor an issue - except : who has the time & money to waste like that ?
Maybe NHS is quite O.K. , for people with no ( or low ) standards , I would not know ; however , I remember distinctly going to a GP in Cobham about a minor digestive problem ; after hours and hours of waiting , this ( very highly paid ) chap asks me : " how long I had asthma " ( whereas I never had any , in all my long life ) ; I'm so pleased he did not resolve to amputate any of my limbs , that's how switched on some of them are ...not to mention the incredibly dangerous drugs you can get prescribed ( unless you read about them on the 'net , before taking delivery ) , ah , but there's a deal in there , with the suppliers ! NHS , you gotta be kidding !
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Old Aug 17th 2011, 4:28 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Hello to all


I am new to the forum.

I am really interested to the opinions of the Brits regarding the latest events in the UK. I am mostly referring to the London riots - who would have thought that such riots could take place in a city mostly famous for its security with its numerous CCTVs- and the Murdoch phone hacking scandal.

I have been reading one of Timothy Garton Ash's books,The Facts are Subversive, and it is really astonishing his belief that UK has rapidly becoming a nation where the protection of human rights and civil liberties are not as essential as they were the past.

Along with the expansion of the gap between the upper and the middle class, the ultra-materialistic path of the British society what is even more troubling is - in Roger Cohen's words- its decline to an obsession of reality shows and a me-me-me obsession.
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Old Aug 17th 2011, 4:46 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Originally Posted by Europe
Hello to all


I am new to the forum.

I am really interested to the opinions of the Brits regarding the latest events in the UK. I am mostly referring to the London riots - who would have thought that such riots could take place in a city mostly famous for its security with its numerous CCTVs- and the Murdoch phone hacking scandal.

I have been reading one of Timothy Garton Ash's books,The Facts are Subversive, and it is really astonishing his belief that UK has rapidly becoming a nation where the protection of human rights and civil liberties are not as essential as they were the past.

Along with the expansion of the gap between the upper and the middle class, the ultra-materialistic path of the British society what is even more troubling is - in Roger Cohen's words- its decline to an obsession of reality shows and a me-me-me obsession.
I think you will find plenty of threads on the BE forum covering the riots in London.
To learn about London, its people etc by reading such a partisan book is absolutely no use.
I am sure you would say the same to me about Berlin.

no one knows where the gaps are between "classes" because the definitions from a century or so ago are so outdated as to be unworkable. Perhaps they should be retitled as the Have Nots, the Haves, and the Have Alots.

most other countries have their me,me,me attitudes, the couch potatoe watching soaps etc. some more than others, so singling out the UK isnt a reasonable reaction

rgds
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Old Aug 17th 2011, 7:33 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

I agree - I don't think the UK is any worse in that respect than any of the other Western (Rich) Countries!
I do think, however, that the class systems of the UK and Germany are a bit different - it's quite obvious in the UK that there is still the public school (& aristocratic) elite, and I have a suspicion that wealth is divided even more unequally here than in Germany (I actually just heard something on Radio 4 about this tonight while cooking :-), whereas that doesn't seem quite so pronounced in Germany.


Al in all, having lived in both countries, our ways of living are actually rather similar (not always laudable, mind!!)

Also keep in mind that London is London and not necessarily represents the rest of the UK!! In Germany, we don't have a city like that - Berlin is but a "dorf" in comparison
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Old Aug 18th 2011, 9:17 am
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Originally Posted by katjoeuk
I agree - I don't think the UK is any worse in that respect than any of the other Western (Rich) Countries!
I do think, however, that the class systems of the UK and Germany are a bit different - it's quite obvious in the UK that there is still the public school (& aristocratic) elite, and I have a suspicion that wealth is divided even more unequally here than in Germany (I actually just heard something on Radio 4 about this tonight while cooking :-), whereas that doesn't seem quite so pronounced in Germany.


Al in all, having lived in both countries, our ways of living are actually rather similar (not always laudable, mind!!)

Also keep in mind that London is London and not necessarily represents the rest of the UK!! In Germany, we don't have a city like that - Berlin is but a "dorf" in comparison
I think it is the shaking of the foundations that riots in London has caused.
London is a boiling pot of many varied nationalities\religions, so it is surprising this sort of thing hasnt happened before. But it hasnt.

As you say, London is unique, not only in the UK but also in the world. many aspire to emulate but fail.

Small wonder that so many peoples want to visit.
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Old Aug 18th 2011, 9:45 am
  #103  
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Originally Posted by Domino
I think it is the shaking of the foundations that riots in London has caused.
London is a boiling pot of many varied nationalities\religions, so it is surprising this sort of thing hasnt happened before. But it hasnt.

As you say, London is unique, not only in the UK but also in the world. many aspire to emulate but fail.

Small wonder that so many peoples want to visit.
Well actually it did in but on a different scale in 1981 the so called Brixton Riots.
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Old Aug 18th 2011, 10:13 am
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Originally Posted by the troubadour
Well actually it did in but on a different scale in 1981 the so called Brixton Riots.
oh yes, there is always the odd abberation - and not just 30 years ago mind

1981 caused by massive stop and search "initiative"
1985 caused by shooting of woman in a house search
1995 caused by death in custody of a career criminal

Notting Hill also had a reputation for riots and so on, but for a number of years now the annual Carnival appears to have defused things,
But I don't live anywhere near there and have only ever driven thru, never stopped.

but then the world seems to have been shocked at London\England having the riots that other cities across europe have experienced, although for different reasons. They have reached headline news for many countries solely because it isnt expected to happen.

we must have a reputation out there
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Old Aug 25th 2011, 6:33 pm
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Default Re: I am tired of England..Thinking of Germany, but isnt the case of "grass is greene

Well it is true that London is not like Berlin. I was only trying to suggest the different lifestyles between Brits and Germans and thus , in a way, the London riots.
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