Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn And

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Mxsmanic wrote:
    >
    > > EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) writes:
    > >
    > >
    > >>You have to ASK?????? (I've been sorely tempted, too, in
    > >>view of our current government - but at my age there are too
    > >>many potential problems.)
    > >
    > >
    > > If you have the financial means to retire, Europe can be an attractive
    > > place to do it.
    >
    > I don't even have the "financial means" to retire here in
    > the U.S.! Europe would add the need for health insurance -

No, it wouldn't necessarily add that. See below.

    > Medicare and my "Medigap" insurance won't cover me
    > anywhere but here (and I could hardly expect to benefit from
    > another country's "National Health" plan when I've never
    > worked or paid taxes there, and am not a citizen).

Once you become a legal resident in the EEA, you will typically be
eligible to use the health service in the country where you reside. (Is
there any EEA country where this doesn't apply, out of interest?)

The UK NHS is a good case in point. When you move here, you register
with a local health centre, and are usually appointed a specific doctor.
You're asked simply for your address. Even foreign students can benefit
from this. When I moved back to the UK after over a decade in the US,
all I had to do was say where I lived. Same thing with my partner when
he moved here from the US. IOW, there was no 'test' as to the right to
live in the country. By and large, the NHS doesn't care. There is
inevitably a little (and I think it's a _very_ little) health 'tourism'
in the UK, but the way the NHS operates, it provides services to you
when you live here. I wouldn't worry about never having "worked or paid
taxes here." That's the way the world works- people move, but the health
care systems in Europe tend to be viewed (correctly IMO) as a right, not
a privilege.

Anyway, rather than see yourself as burden to the health system or the
state, you should view yourself as a gift to the country you choose to
retire to. You will be supporting the local economy through paying rent,
buying food etc., and presumably attending the occasional opera
performance! :)

--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
photos at http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer

Mxsmanic

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) writes:

    > ... and I could hardly expect to benefit from
    > another country's "National Health" plan when I've never
    > worked or paid taxes there, and am not a citizen ...

Why not?

    > Also, I''m nowhere near fluent in any language but English, and
    > it's much harder to become so when one is elderly.

Age is not an impediment to the acquisition of additional languages.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Juliana L Holm

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote:

    > And if you don't want to be recognized as being American,
    > you'd have to keep your mouth shut for the entire trip!
    > It's the accent, not the wardrobe - although I have been
    > asked if I were English, a few times. (Apparently the
    > difference between an English and an American accent are not
    > quite so obvious to French and German-speakers as they are
    > to Yanks and Brits.)

I want to be recognized as an American. For one thing, I want the extra
leeway that you get as an American when you speak a language pretty good, but
not perfect. Same as I give non-native English speakers. Everyone makes
mistakes, and I know I will, but I'd be terrified to speak if I thought
everyone would hate me for my mistakes!

Plus I think I am very different from what people expect from an American. I
see myself as a citizen of the world as much as a U.S. Citizen. I strive to
keep up with non-american world news (and yes, from non-american news sources
where I can.) I really want people I meet to know that there is a different
side to the United States, and not judge us monolithically.

But I still won't wear trainers on the street. Though that is largely because
I don't want to dirty up any gym I work out in.


--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn And

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> wrote:

    > The Reids wrote:
    >
    > > Following up to Mxsmanic
    > >
    > >
    > >>The fastest way to obtain the right to live in Europe is to marry a
    > >>European national.
    > >
    > >
    > > are you offering, Mixi? This could be a way forward for you.
    >
    >
    > But Mixi is an American ex-pat - even with a residence
    > permit, I don't think that qualifies, does it?

In the UK, it wouldn't make a difference(*). I would have thought that
was the case in France too. Isn't it?

(*) It would only make a difference for applying for citizenship- i.e.
you usually have to wait for 5 years of legal residence, but it becomes
3 if you're married, or from this December, in a same-sex Civil
Partnership.

--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
photos at http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer

michaelnewport

amy radcliff wrote:
    > I am seriously considering moving to Europe (from the States). The
    > problem is of course the details--its overwhelming all the questions
    > that emerge. Could anyone recommend a place to get started? A
    > website devoted to Americans emigating, a book, etc? Any help
    > appreciated.
    > If it matters, employment is not a huge problem...I'm more interested
    > in questions of residency status, tax issues (do I pay taxes there or
    > in the States, for instance), qualifying for health care, and so on...
    > again, any help gratefully recieved.

Bulgaria is cheap.

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn And

Juliana L Holm <[email protected]> wrote:

    > "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > And if you don't want to be recognized as being American,
    > > you'd have to keep your mouth shut for the entire trip!
    > > It's the accent, not the wardrobe - although I have been
    > > asked if I were English, a few times. (Apparently the
    > > difference between an English and an American accent are not
    > > quite so obvious to French and German-speakers as they are
    > > to Yanks and Brits.)
    >
    > I want to be recognized as an American. For one thing, I want the extra
    > leeway that you get as an American when you speak a language pretty good, but
    > not perfect. Same as I give non-native English speakers. Everyone makes
    > mistakes, and I know I will, but I'd be terrified to speak if I thought
    > everyone would hate me for my mistakes!

But if someone is going to hate you for making language mistakes, they
won't hate you any less because you're an American. IOW, it will be
probably be obvious you're not a native speaker. If you can speak the
language "pretty good" why would you worry about someone hating you for
a few mistakes? I really wouldn't waste your time worrying about making
an impression on that kind of person anyway- there are few on the
ground.

    > Plus I think I am very different from what people expect from an American.

What do people in Europe expect from an American?

    > I
    > see myself as a citizen of the world as much as a U.S. Citizen. I strive to
    > keep up with non-american world news (and yes, from non-american news sources
    > where I can.) I really want people I meet to know that there is a different
    > side to the United States, and not judge us monolithically.

Europeans don't generally judge Americans monolithically though.

--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
photos at http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer

Magda

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:09:01 +0200, in rec.travel.europe, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :

... EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) writes:
...
... > ... and I could hardly expect to benefit from
... > another country's "National Health" plan when I've never
... > worked or paid taxes there, and am not a citizen ...
...
... Why not?
...
... > Also, I''m nowhere near fluent in any language but English, and
... > it's much harder to become so when one is elderly.
...
... Age is not an impediment to the acquisition of additional languages.

When I was learning Greek there were two retired gentlemen in my class. One of them was
close to 80 years old, the other was about 70. They were the best students, both of them,
also because they had lots of time to study, while the rest of us had full-time jobs... :)

Terry Richards

"amy radcliff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I am seriously considering moving to Europe (from the States). The
    > problem is of course the details--its overwhelming all the questions
    > that emerge. Could anyone recommend a place to get started? A
    > website devoted to Americans emigating, a book, etc? Any help
    > appreciated.

We moved to rural France about 18 months ago. You can read about it here:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/terryr999/MoveIndex.htm. Since then, we have met a
few Americans (I am English but lived in the USA for 24 years, my wife is
American). All further comments apply to France but most of Europe will be
similar.

    > If it matters, employment is not a huge problem...I'm more interested
    > in questions of residency status,

No problem if you can show a reasonable income.

    > tax issues (do I pay taxes there or
    > in the States, for instance),

Both I'm afraid. But you get to deduct the taxes you pay in France on your
US return and there's a big tax-free allowance. In practice, you probably
won't pay any taxes in the USA and French income taxes are extremely low.
The big bite in France is the social charges which are paid by your employer
if you are employed but are hefty if you are self-employed.

    > qualifying for health care, and so on...

If you are working, you qualify. If not, you have to pay. It's based on a
your last two years' income (on a sliding window). We pay 80 Euros (about
$100) a quarter which covers us for 70% of most things (excluding dentist &
optician). You can buy top-up insurance quite reasonably depending on how
much extra coverage you want.

    > again, any help gratefully recieved.

Please feel free to e-mail.

T.

Magda

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 19:27:03 +0100, in rec.travel.europe,
[email protected] (chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and
prestwich tesco 24h offy) arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :

...
... What do people in Europe expect from an American?

To keep a low profile, speak softly, eat everything without making a face and NOT start
every sentence with "In America...".

... > I
... > see myself as a citizen of the world as much as a U.S. Citizen. I strive to
... > keep up with non-american world news (and yes, from non-american news sources
... > where I can.) I really want people I meet to know that there is a different
... > side to the United States, and not judge us monolithically.
...
... Europeans don't generally judge Americans monolithically though.

They do - but never to the face of an individual.

Magda

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 22:00:23 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, DDT Filled Mormons
<deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> arranged some electrons, so they looked like
this :

... On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:09:01 +0200, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
... wrote:
...
... >Age is not an impediment to the acquisition of additional languages.
...
... Yes it is. Younger people learn much more readily than older people.

No, it is not.

If you really buy this urban legend, I pity you - in a few years you'll think you are "too
old" for many things.

(Don't stock up the Viagra - if you need it, you are too old for sex... :pp)

The Rev Gaston

On 2005-09-19 20:53:31 +0200, Magda <[email protected]> said:

    > On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 19:27:03 +0100, in rec.travel.europe,
    > [email protected] (chancellor of the duchy of besses
    > o' th' barn and
    > prestwich tesco 24h offy) arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :
    >
    > ... ... Europeans don't generally judge Americans monolithically though.
    >
    > They do - but never to the face of an individual.

In our local bar on Saturday, a drunk was gesticulating at us and
making remarks about George Bush. He was quite amiable, but quite
deluded, snce our table consisted of two Italians, a Greek, and a Brit.

G;

--
Encrypted e-mail address. Click to mail me:
http://cerbermail.com/?nKYh3qN4YG

B Vaughan

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 19:07:54 +0100, [email protected]
(chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco 24h
offy) wrote:

    >Once you become a legal resident in the EEA, you will typically be
    >eligible to use the health service in the country where you reside. (Is
    >there any EEA country where this doesn't apply, out of interest?)
    >The UK NHS is a good case in point. When you move here, you register
    >with a local health centre, and are usually appointed a specific doctor.
    >You're asked simply for your address. Even foreign students can benefit
    >from this. When I moved back to the UK after over a decade in the US,
    >all I had to do was say where I lived. Same thing with my partner when
    >he moved here from the US. IOW, there was no 'test' as to the right to
    >live in the country.

In Italy, you have to be on the books in your town to register for the
national health service. This means you have to be a legal resident,
or else you can't get on the books. There are other services for
tourists and illegal immigrants, such as special clinics, but they are
not ubiquitious.

--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

Magda

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 21:57:26 +0200, in rec.travel.europe, The Rev Gaston <[email protected]>
arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :

... On 2005-09-19 20:53:31 +0200, Magda <[email protected]> said:
...
... > On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 19:27:03 +0100, in rec.travel.europe,
... > [email protected] (chancellor of the duchy of besses
... > o' th' barn and
... > prestwich tesco 24h offy) arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :
... >
... > ... ... Europeans don't generally judge Americans monolithically though.
... >
... > They do - but never to the face of an individual.
...
... In our local bar on Saturday, a drunk was gesticulating at us and
... making remarks about George Bush. He was quite amiable, but quite
... deluded, snce our table consisted of two Italians, a Greek, and a Brit.

Stop speaking English in public! ;)

Juliana L Holm

Magda <[email protected]> wrote:
    > ... On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:09:01 +0200, Mxsmanic <[email protected]>
    > ... wrote:
    > ...
    > ... >Age is not an impediment to the acquisition of additional languages.
    > ...
    > ... Yes it is. Younger people learn much more readily than older people.

    > No, it is not.

    > If you really buy this urban legend, I pity you - in a few years you'll think you are "too
    > old" for many things.

I'm 49 and headed to Germany for two months of language training. A couple
months ago there was a report in the Washington Post about older folks learning
language.

It is true that we learn language differently than children do, but not at all
true that we don't learn as well.

indeed, learning throughtout life seems to be the most reliable way to decrease
your chance of getting Alzheimers!

--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

The Rev Gaston

On 2005-09-19 21:59:51 +0200, Magda <[email protected]> said:

    > On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 21:57:26 +0200, in rec.travel.europe, The Rev
    > Gaston <[email protected]>
    > arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :
    >
    > ... ... In our local bar on Saturday, a drunk was gesticulating at us
    > and ... making remarks about George Bush. He was quite amiable, but
    > quite ... deluded, snce our table consisted of two Italians, a Greek,
    > and a Brit.
    >
    > Stop speaking English in public! ;)

You think I got a word in edgeways, with that lot?

--
Encrypted e-mail address. Click to mail me:
http://cerbermail.com/?nKYh3qN4YG