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if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Old Jan 15th 2010, 8:39 pm
  #46  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by nohinsara
Nope I meant anthropocentric too (as in in addition to my points).

1 Regarding humans as the central element of the universe.
2 Interpreting reality exclusively in terms of human values and experience.

But parochial and narrow minded also fit. Add them to the list.
Then I return to my state of puzzlement.

I know little of Australian Aborigine culture, a little more, but not much, about North American First Nation cultures, but I believe them both to be less anthropocentric than any European culture or the mainstream cultures in North America.

In Europe and in North America there are small minorities who have somewhat different world-views, but most of them are either nut-job New Agers or nut-job animal rights activists. I don't value either group very highly.
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Old Jan 15th 2010, 8:52 pm
  #47  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Having visited all these Countries this is my list....of course going on Holiday is miles away from working and living full time in A Country.

1. Germany has the highest standard of living I have ever seen.
2. France....pity it is full of French.3.
3.Belguim....love it.
4. Canada...love snow.
5. Australia is the Only Country I have lived in outside of the UK....it is bottom of my dream bucket....but it is the only one I can realisticly make a living in....so going back this year.

Last edited by Neil52; Jan 15th 2010 at 8:54 pm.
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Old Jan 24th 2010, 9:16 am
  #48  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Well, I am a German and I used to live in the USA and now I am back in Germany and my list is:
1. Australia (actually, I prefer NZ where I applied for permanent residence)
2. Canada (too cold though)
.....
3. Germany (too socialist, regulated and rigid for my taste - if you are over 40 years and do not have an education in a wanted area be prepared to be discriminated against).
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Old Jan 24th 2010, 10:15 am
  #49  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by Assanah
Well, I am a German and I used to live in the USA and now I am back in Germany and my list is:
1. Australia (actually, I prefer NZ where I applied for permanent residence)
2. Canada (too cold though)
.....
3. Germany (too socialist, regulated and rigid for my taste - if you are over 40 years and do not have an education in a wanted area be prepared to be discriminated against).
Do you really feel that Australia is so different?(very regulated) Aged German folk gave the appearances of doing very well in Germany when i lived there. Medical services generally far superior to here as well as after care.
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Old Jan 24th 2010, 10:48 am
  #50  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by adamlt1972
Well if your only downsides to Australia are the heat and spiders then why not consider New Zealand (I think the immigration regs are easier here too).
Mind you, compared to Germany the beer here is awful.
Are spiders really that much of an issue? I go for minutes and not see one. Possums make a bigger impact and they rarely get a mention.

And some folk suffer from cockatoos and brush turkeys. Then there are those bloody cassowaries but they seem to be endangered now.
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Old Jan 24th 2010, 10:58 am
  #51  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy
Well its said in Spain quite a lot. People all say "I'm moving to the country where there are less Brits", and because they move there, there are more Brits
Australia is broadening its horizons lately and there are more.... shall we say "people from closer countries"? And while there are lots of New Zealanders, I don't mean them...or Tasmanians.
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Old Jan 24th 2010, 11:09 am
  #52  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by Assanah
Well, I am a German and I used to live in the USA and now I am back in Germany and my list is:
.....
3. Germany (too socialist, regulated and rigid for my taste - if you are over 40 years and do not have an education in a wanted area be prepared to be discriminated against).
I think you will find the over 40 thing universal. People hiring people don't want people who have more experience than them.

There is debate about raising the retirement age but they will first have to find employers who will hire people who are retirement age - 20. Age discrimination rules are usually flouted.
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Old Jan 24th 2010, 11:29 am
  #53  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by the troubadour
Do you really feel that Australia is so different?(very regulated) Aged German folk gave the appearances of doing very well in Germany when i lived there. Medical services generally far superior to here as well as after care.
Well, I always thought that Australia is similar in this respect to the US but maybe I am wrong.
Older people right now are well off because they are allowed to deplete German pension funds (when retired) and are protected by strict labor laws while still working. All this will change for younger workers who have a fair chance of being poor after retirement.

And health care I think is good enough in most western countries (though access in the US is terrible). I am not aware that Australians die earlier than Germans. BTW, the average Germans goes 16 times a year to the doctor and a Swede 4 time. 16 times -how sick is that? Result: our government is now debating a new special health care tax in addition to what we pay for health insurance.

You will of course always have some regulations in any country. It is a question of how many. A lot of people like to feel safe and want politicians to take care of them but I don't. For me Germany is below countries like the US and New Zealand (maybe not Australia if it is like Germany ).
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Old Jan 26th 2010, 11:30 am
  #54  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by under35
I believe the 3 best places to go in the world are germany, canada and australia.

canada - freedom, resources, western, stability, but a bit cold maybe!
australia - climate, friendly, sporty but a bit dry and hot with spiders
germany - cultural, hidden depths, established, educated, 4 seasons, but a bit "german" and stuffy maybe, socialist.

I wondered if people with families had experience in either of these places and if had a choice, were they would go?

In terms of economic future i think the 80M germans have it tougher than anyone else.

Whats wrong with a socialist country, I'm German and live in the UK since 4 years and think quit often that the UK could do with a bit socialism..its all about money here. No cheap sportvereine for kids, no cheap musikschule for kids...everything is private and with the aim to make as much money as possible..only the parents who can afford it can send their kids.. swimming pools are crap as well and I have not seen any playgrounds here, I'm sure there are some..but dont seem to be to many..


Still I like the uk..like the history and countryside, but for kids its not a very good country.
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Old Jan 26th 2010, 1:52 pm
  #55  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

I seem to remember : I told you so ( a bit of it , anyway ! ) ????

DownUnda is just too much of a Big Brother/1984 arrangement , IMHO ;
look what just happenned last week at the Melbourne tennis Open :
a 19 yrs' young , local , v.good and talented , player dared to complain publicly about having to play until after 02.00+++ at night ; and : what for ?
- also stating , quite acceptably , that he is normally in bed by 22.00-23.00 , like any other pro-sportsman ;
well , did he get slaughtered for such remarks , by the organisers/Tennis Australia !
Smacks of Stalinist Russia , to me ; if you dare speak up : off w. yr head ?
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Old Feb 6th 2010, 9:45 am
  #56  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by Assanah
Well, I am a German and I used to live in the USA and now I am back in Germany and my list is:
1. Australia (actually, I prefer NZ where I applied for permanent residence)

.....
.
Australia is a better place to live then N/Z thats why massive numbers of New Zealanders move to OZ and few Aussies want to live in N/Z, All this garbage about dangerous wildlife in OZ, the USA has venomous snakes, spiders, allegators, sharks,mountain lions, grizzly bears that kill as many people as the wildlife in OZ does.
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Old Feb 8th 2010, 7:39 am
  #57  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by mohogony
Australia is a better place to live then N/Z thats why massive numbers of New Zealanders move to OZ and few Aussies want to live in N/Z.
That's probably because there are more job opportunities in Australia than NZ. Would that make it a better place to live? From my own experience i'm originally from the UK but now live in Italy. There are a lot more opportunities in the Uk than Italy but Italy is definitely a better place to live.

My choice of the 3 would be

1. Germany - Culture and strong traditions. Quality of life, short reach to many European cities, beautiful countryside.
2. Canada - friendly people and open spaces
3. Australia - Weather
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Old Feb 8th 2010, 10:04 am
  #58  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by eurotramp
Whats wrong with a socialist country, I'm German and live in the UK since 4 years and think quit often that the UK could do with a bit socialism..its all about money here. No cheap sportvereine for kids, no cheap musikschule for kids...everything is private and with the aim to make as much money as possible..only the parents who can afford it can send their kids.. swimming pools are crap as well and I have not seen any playgrounds here, I'm sure there are some..but dont seem to be to many..


Still I like the uk..like the history and countryside, but for kids its not a very good country.
The UK was not always so money focused as now. Wonder if changes are coming to Germany though. Already some socialist policies of the past seem to be on the wane.
Some folk there are it seems very in favour of lower taxes and more individual responsibilty.
Hopefully a good balance can be maintained.
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Old Jul 6th 2010, 12:17 pm
  #59  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by eurotramp
Whats wrong with a socialist country, I'm German and live in the UK since 4 years and think quit often that the UK could do with a bit socialism..its all about money here. No cheap sportvereine for kids, no cheap musikschule for kids...everything is private and with the aim to make as much money as possible..only the parents who can afford it can send their kids.. swimming pools are crap as well and I have not seen any playgrounds here, I'm sure there are some..but dont seem to be to many..


Still I like the uk..like the history and countryside, but for kids its not a very good country.
I agree with you which is why I am very interested in moving to Germany. I have travelled extensively throughout Germany and I am absolutely amazed at how low the costs are for childrens activities compared to the UK. I took my daughter to a farm in Germany recently and they only charged €4 for her and thats it. Compare that to Kent and they sometimes charge aduts up to£15 each. It really is so expensive for children here in the UK.

I have not been to Austrailia but would not rule it out. The only thing that puts me off is that I like to travel. I know oz is massive but if I wanted to go to another country for the weekend its not gonna happen which is one major advantage to living in Europe. There is a vast amount of countries within hours away.
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Old Jul 13th 2010, 1:43 am
  #60  
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Default Re: if you had a choice, germany, canada or australia

Originally Posted by under35
well, for a lot of folks they probably do qualify for all three. i guess i do.

i speak german so that wasn't a factor. in any case, learning a new langauge is part of the challenge.

i wondered if many germans were leaving for places like canada or oz?
hi, i'm german originally from near munic but lived 6 years in hamburg, cannot recommend that city. it is either rough and dirty or expensive. then moved to england and now live in ontario canada. it really depends what you want and expect. in regards of raising kids and loads of space and affordable house prices i think canada is best, at least where we live. the south of germany, around munic and heidelberg is great but expensive. would not move anywhere else unless you want to party all night then prob hamburg or berlin are good.
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