Ethelred_the_Unready

Say you missed many aspects of the UK, but didn't want to move back to the UK specifically, but could find many of the things you missed in other EU nations (e.g. football, countryside, real beer, free healthcare, less individualistic policies), which European country would you choose (I have lived in the US since 2003)? I would prefer to stick to Germanic countries as I find Germanic languages easier to learn and the culture isn't all that different from the UK. On my list so far:

Germany
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
The Netherlands
Iceland

Which of the above would you pick and why? I would love feedback from anyone who has lived in any of these countries. I have only been to Germany & the Netherlands, but could see either quite easily becoming "home".

What's also important to me is to live somewhere where the British aren't disliked or ridiculed. I want a climate similar to the UK's, but colder and darker is fine. I am a tad socialist too and believe in income equality and all that jazz. I like football and would get into any local team to make friends.

I'm an EU citizen, prepared to learn a new language and soon to be divorced from my American wife. No kids, no friends here, so there's really no point in me staying, but I do not want to return to the UK (given it much thought).

Editha

You might find German easier to learn, but you've still got the problem that Germany, Austria and Switzerland have fierce local dialects. Not so bad if you move to Berlin or Vienna, but if you hanker after the rural life, be aware that it will be like learning a whole new language.

I've never lived in any of the German speaking countries, but I do spend a fair bit of time in Vienna and have friends there. I wouldn't want to live there. One reason is the continental climate. Winters are not as bad as Alberta, where I am now, but they are still bl**dy cold. Secondly, unlike Germany, Austria was never forced to examine its history. There are still too many unreconstructed types for my liking, and you can find yourself having some startlingly odd conversations with people who think anti-semitism is normal.

Germany is fine, if you can cope with having neighbours who complain if you don't clean your car, because it's bringing the neighbourhood down. The fact is, they are a bit Germanic in Germany.

However, we have considered moving to Berlin, or the Rhine valley (despite its challenging dialect).

As for Sweden Norway Denmark and Iceland they are all too cold. Also, Norway and Iceland are not members of the EU.

French may be more difficult to learn, but having done so you'll probably have less difficulty understanding and being understood in rural areas, than any of the German speaking countries.

Ethelred_the_Unready

I don't mind the cold or the continental climate. I live in New England now and am used to much more extreme temperatures than the UK.

Whay appeals to me about Germany & the Netherlands is the low unamolyment rate. In terms of languages, Swedish seems to be the one (just by half-arsed attempts) that I can understand with the most clarity.

I like France, but no desire to live there, mainly because
I find the language difficult to speak.

J.JsOH

I tele-commuted for a German employer and had quite a few visits there.
While I liked the country for visits I wouldn't want to live there. I felt I was never on the same wave length of mind-set at work. At work they often seemed disapproving of me / my actions for reasons that were never made clear and they couldn't make the effort to explain. I always felt it was their way or the highway. After three years I still did not reach a feeling of ease.

A few experiences of life in Germany stand out, minor in nature, but still they influence how I feel;
At a light controlled pedestrian crossing you absolutely must wait for the light to show you have right to cross. Even if there is zero traffic you should not cross if the light is not for you. Cops will take a dim view.
At a street music event in Cologne someone asked in a friendly way if I was Canadian (mix of Brit and US accent overlaying my limited German) and when I fessed to being Brit I was sneered at.

Garbatellamike

You're a bit socialist, like football, don't want to be mocked for being English, and found it easy to learn Swedish!

On that basis, 3 countiries from the list spring to mind immediately: Sweden, Sweden and Sweden!

You probably won't have to get into a local team as the footy fans tend to follow EPL quite closely.

Ethelred_the_Unready

I would out of respect. I enjoy football in general. I could easily get into an another league, but you are correct about the EPL being popular.

As a Brit, have you lived in Sweden? I haven't even been there.

Germany seems a bit out of the question.

I would love feedback from any Brits who have lived in any of the Nordic countries.

Ethelred_the_Unready

I don't really want to experience too much negativity due to being British. I have nothing at all against the Germans. I would rather stick to EU nations that are generally Brit-friendly and don't despise us or mock us. No hostility here in the US, but I have had to deal with a lot of ignorance and silly questions. I'm the type of person that just wants to be left alone for the most part and I don't want to stand out as much as possible. I want generally quiet, reservedc, no nonsense type people with similar wit, but without the over the top Euroscepticism or huge chav / binge drinking culture that is too common in the UK for my tastes.

Garbatellamike

I have not actually lived there but have visited often - in fact 21 July is my next trip to Goteborg

I would tend to agree Scandanavia is a better bet than Germany - biggest downside in Sweden for me is the price of beer but it the (high) price you pay to be abit socialist (not just the beer either).

I personally prefer Norway to Sweden as the Norwegians don't take themselves quite so seriously as the Swedes and they tend to be a bit more helpful to strangers - even my Swedish mate here in Italy describes Swedes as mildly unhelpful.

Also don't rule out the Baltic states either - I was in Estonia last year for first time and liked that country particularly away from the main Cities, albeit you will wish to know that the Estonian Language is finohungaric not germanic.

Ethelred_the_Unready

Well Finland would be another option, but it's a completely different language too. I think I want to stick to languages that I would be more comfortable with, especially as I will most likely be learning here in the US first.

Norway: never been there either, but their unemployment rate is low and the scenery there looks nuts - like the Scottish Highlands on steroids (higher mountains, bigger fjords, more forest). I can't say that I've ever met any Norwegians, but I do know of a distant British friend who moved there years ago and is very happy.

How does the immigration thing work though as Norway is not an EU member state?

J.JsOH

I felt Germans had a stricter personal moral code than UK and when I saw drunken groups in the larger German cities their mood was happy rather than the belligerence I see in UK. In that aspect I score Germany higher than UK.

I felt also that Germany had less general street litter than UK and that prices for equivalent products were somewhat less.

While some Germans volunteered they did not like to see overt displays of their own national flags there were uninvited comments made to me and info signs I saw at historic places criticizing the acts of the British (not the Allies, specifically the British) during WWII.

Garbatellamike

Spot on about the scenery - the Norwegians tend to call it the wilderness and it is vast and beautiful. Personally I loved Trondheim area but of course the days were pretty short in December, there is still good wilderness in the South around likes of Halden and Friedrikstad.

Finnish is also a finohungaric language not Germanic so you are right that Norway/Sweden better for you on that score methinks.

In my humble opinion, your best bet is to go have a look on holiday: Oslo and Trondheim in Norway and Goteborg and Stockholm in Sweden would be my tips as places to start looking!

Ethelred_the_Unready

I have to look into the logistics of working in those countries too. Norway's unemployment rate is low, but Sweden is a member of the EU, so I assume few restrictions? Sweden might have the edge in terms of ethnic diversity too, which is another major plus point (for me at least). Both nations appear to not be anti British in any way. I would feel somewhat on guard of that in Germany, even though I would never be stupid enough go instigate a conversation regarding WW2, especially as many of their cities were literally bombed senseless (Dresden springs to mind).

Norway's unempument rate is just 3% - that's incredible.

formula

You cannot live in Norway or study on Norway, without a visa under their immigration laws. 30 days visit is your limit as a Brit, without a visa.

They do not allow freedom of movement for EU citizens and they will not pay for your healthcare of give you any welfare. Labour allowed them to have EU freedom of movement in the UK.

Ethelred_the_Unready

Looks like Sweden is my best bet. I need to visit. Malmo appeals for some reason.

How about the Netherlands?

Garbatellamike

I would say less Socialist, flatter with no stunning wilderness areas but much cheaper (and better) beer; oh and they speak better English, gramatically speaking, than we do. However, a question probably best answered by a BEr who lives there!