this post was submitted on 27 Mar 2025
148 points (98.1% liked)
Europe
5078 readers
1788 users here now
News and information from Europe ๐ช๐บ
(Current banner: La Mancha, Spain. Feel free to post submissions for banner images.)
Rules (2024-08-30)
- This is an English-language community. Comments should be in English. Posts can link to non-English news sources when providing a full-text translation in the post description. Automated translations are fine, as long as they don't overly distort the content.
- No links to misinformation or commercial advertising. When you post outdated/historic articles, add the year of publication to the post title. Infographics must include a source and a year of creation; if possible, also provide a link to the source.
- Be kind to each other, and argue in good faith. Don't post direct insults nor disrespectful and condescending comments. Don't troll nor incite hatred. Don't look for novel argumentation strategies at Wikipedia's List of fallacies.
- No bigotry, sexism, racism, antisemitism, dehumanization of minorities, or glorification of National Socialism.
- Be the signal, not the noise: Strive to post insightful comments. Add "/s" when you're being sarcastic (and don't use it to break rule no. 3).
- If you link to paywalled information, please provide also a link to a freely available archived version. Alternatively, try to find a different source.
- Light-hearted content, memes, and posts about your European everyday belong in !yurop@lemm.ee. (They're cool, you should subscribe there too!)
- Don't evade bans. If we notice ban evasion, that will result in a permanent ban for all the accounts we can associate with you.
- No posts linking to speculative reporting about ongoing events with unclear backgrounds. Please wait at least 12 hours. (E.g., do not post breathless reporting on an ongoing terror attack.)
(This list may get expanded when necessary.)
We will use some leeway to decide whether to remove a comment.
If need be, there are also bans: 3 days for lighter offenses, 14 days for bigger offenses, and permanent bans for people who don't show any willingness to participate productively. If we think the ban reason is obvious, we may not specifically write to you.
If you want to protest a removal or ban, feel free to write privately to the mods: @federalreverse@feddit.org, @poVoq@slrpnk.net, or @anzo@programming.dev.
founded 9 months ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
In my view not speaking English is the biggest disadvantage of many European countries:
People from other countries will have a substantially easier way of integrating into society in the UK, Canada etc. because there they won't have to choose between having to learn a new language or have difficulties finding jobs and navigating everyday life (like joining a sports club etc. ). Here in Germany the trend goes definitely towards more English speaking companies, projects and hobby groups but obviously English speaking countries will always have a substantial lead in that. Honestly if I thought about emigrating, my first thoughts would also be about some English speaking countries. So you will get by in Germany with English but it's highly desirable to learn German in the long run (which isn't only negative as learning other languages is good for ones brain, widens the horizon and is kinda cool).
That being said (take it with a grain of salt as I might be biased) the European Union and Germany still are good options because of
On a more meta level non-English speaking countries might also have a disadvantage due to not even being considered in the first place because they are less prominent in the English speaking media.
Edit: Btw. the wages and working conditions in Germany in public research aren't very high but I assume that applies worldwide to research, which isn't funded by a company. Edit2: The first points probably relate less to researchers than to other professionals as for scientific researchers it's more common to work in another country and to move on after some years (at least that's my perception as a non-expert).
The germany subreddit was brutal and said unless you live in Berlin or work for an english speaking company you will have a bad time. Perhaps it has changed more in the last years and it might be easier to get in settled without german. Its famously a tough language to learn. It is also not a 'digital' country which may put people off.
Have they changen from 8 years to 5 for all? And do they still require non-EU people to give up their other citizenship if they want German citizenships?
Berlin has an IT english speaking expat bubble. However when you look at the share of Americans in Germany on a county or city level, Berlin has a lot, but it certainly is not alone. Military bases are also a thing, but pretty much only in the south.
Yes it was changed relativly recently.
The 8 to 5 years is a good change.
Giving up your other citizenship (if you're not an EU/EEA country) is a really tough decision to take.
Why is it a tough decision? European passports are very "strong". They let you travel most of the world with little to no restrictions.
Is that a legitimate question?
You are being asked to give up your nationality which until that point has been your identity and how you interact with the world.
One of the first questions you get asked is "where are you from", and if you can't pass for looking and sounding like a German native then the next question is "where are you really from?".
It sounds quite arrogant and insincere of you to say and hope that this is not a common thought.
Is that a serious response?
You're assuming everybody thinks the same way as you do and can't imagine diverse thought. It sounds like you're quite arrogant, stuck in your ways, and easily offended by a harmless question and taking it as a personal attack.
Maybe you should take a second to consider that not the entire world has given in to US propaganda on identity politics and that people can be any nationality regardless of what they look. It shows your true colours.
Lmao
Travel, but not settle or work. For Americans going back to the US for better salaries is quite realistic. For poorer countries retiring in your country of origin is very attractive.
Good points. I do wish we lived in a world without passports, but alas, we're still dumb, territorial animals. It might take another thousand years to let go of that.