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One day soon Cuspo,just do it,we,ll have a party waitin for ya.

Isn't it interesting? I think you have hit on something rather curious here.
There does seem to be a disproportianate number of people using this site(or more precisely the forums) who are no longer in the country of their birth.
No doubt there is a complex psycho-socio-economic reason for this but it escapes me.

So, guys.... what is your opinion ? Where one person can feel confidence and closeness to the lifestile which he/she leads in most of the situations.... in his/her own country or somewhere in the world ?
I am asking you this because i am still searching answer to this question.... and i really really need it... ASAP

I feel that if a lifestyle doesn`t "feel good" then you going to be uncomfortable and maybe find it hard to adapt?

Living in another country, its good to join in all their regular festivals, attend local events, and get to know their ways and culture, eat their type of foods, adopt their mannerisms, and "think local".

Although South Africa is vastly different to Switzerland - I was thrilled to find that the things they do here are the types of things I have always enjoyed doing - in my own weird ways ........ the stacked firewood, the window-boxes of flowers, the household vegetable gardens, the cool underground natural cellars for storing fresh foods and wines ..... the cute styles of garden decor, that changes with the seasons .....

Also, I think, its important to not completely lose ones own culture...... Like we used to feel intimidated to entertain Swiss friends and worry about trying to imitate their food styles. But now we just entertain South African style and find they enjoy it immensely!

Upsy Daysy

The Netherlands is an easy place to think about as home, although I think I will always see Canada as my home. Dutch is pretty tricky to learn, especially in the city I am in as everyone speaks English quite well. This gives me little incentive to learn Dutch (unfortunately). Working in an international English speaking environment doesn't help either....Have you learned the language yet Cristina?...I feel most like Ïm not at home" when I am on the bus or train and have no idea what people around me are saying. It's also difficult sometimes when you speak and feel like you have to explain what you mean because people don't understand the expression. I'm always afraid I will offend someone with what is intended as a joke. Being home is never having to worry about someone 'getting it'.

But, all said and done....I do like it very much here.

I have the problem that I can speak German, sort of, but when Germans speak back to me most times it sounds like gibberish!... they speak too fast! ... Then they find I`m english speaking, and voila!... they want to speak english!... which does not help me to understand them in this language I`m trying so very hard to learn.

Anybody read "This Boy's Life"..??....

It's not possible to verify the figures but I think you have asked a very pertinant question. For one and this is extremely important, we all speak English and can thus come from any part of the world even if we have almost opposing cultures and perceptions. To an extent we are 'de-raciné'. There is a measure of isolation which comes with being self-exiles from homeland. Many of us have benefited economically by being expatriates. I dont know how to respond to the 'psychological' part of your comment in any rigourous and and sociological way, but I know that a great degree of alienation with local circumstances comes with age. Somewhat like relapsed Catholics at their death-bed..wailing for extreme unction. And finally, there is a an underlying sense of guilt in thus 'abandoning' home.

Your question should be the subject of an unified sociological, psychological, economic investigation. As far as I know the only works on this subject have been written by Prof. Thomas Sowell of Stanford Univ. about migrations and cultures.

There is something you have not mentioned and that is the dubious value of anonymity. People migrating become anonymous. The habit continues even after they have in one way or another integrated with the society of their adoption.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

L

I hear ya!...

I notice that when my Canadian friends come over and they speak, they speak sooooo quickly and they wonder why the Dutch are always saying "Pardon?". I guess I automatically slow down my speech when speaking to a non-native English speaker....

i try to 'live' my mother culture (irish) but I respect the culture of my host (france) .....although they can be a bit at times...

in a nut shell...you can take the person out of the country....but you cant take the country out of the person....

what i miss is a fry up on a saturday mornin'...and good guinness

you are the greatest...if all british people here in Spain...next to others...or in other parts of this world would think and act like you...less problem everywhere.
I live here for more than 30 years, got my spanish nationality and forgot about Germany the moment I arrived here

...One thing that I really like about paris is there is..wifi..everywhere. Which is very handy sometimes..plus you can get some very good wine very cheaply..last fing..their metro system is better than London underground...last time i was in london i had to wait 20mins for a fceking train on the northern line....while here in 'gay paris' (<---disclaimer i'm not), you generally only have to wait a few mins..5 at the most.

The whole mass transit system in Europe is incredible!! In Holland, you can set your watch by the trains and buses. In Toronto (Canada), our system sucks. The whole system shuts down at an unbearably early hour and considering that the majority of us live in the Suburbs (40 or 50km from town), that means taking a taxi home if you ever go out for the evening and intend to have a few drinks.

Before I came here, I had not gone on public transportation in about 5 years. Everyone drives their big ole gas guzzling smog polluting vehicles because we don't have much choice.

I love European public transit.

It even works well in Spain, so well in fact that the busdriver will refuse to stop and pick you up if he is a few minutes late. With the traffic here in the summers, they always are and always does.

Although I hate travelling every day on the metro, I have to say that here in Moscow it's even quicker, less than a minute between trains regardless of the time of day or night, and the stations are very grand.

Are they decorated there too as in some other cities? Stockholm is one of the world’s biggest underground exhibits I understand.

sorry to burst the bubble but i live in Milan - the economic capital of Italy - and the public transport system sucks. The drivers go on strike every Friday. The tram system belongs to the stone age and the metro - what excuse exists for a metro, at least - is closed every other day cos another suicide case has jumped on the line. I'm not an unsympathetic guy, but come on - I'm trying to make a living here.

Traitor

You need to say it so it sounds good, kind of white lies. Like I did. I never catch a bus in this country, since they never stop.

Than better get it moving to Valencia where I live for so long...Friday and Saturday nights Nightbuses take you back home from the citycenter untill 2:45 at night...only sucks that the pubs close by 3 am and the discos .....wellll, I always can take the early morning bus