I just want to know how Europe differs from N.America? How is the general lifestyle and work culture in Europe as compared to Canada or even USA....which is a better place to live overall and which place accepts immigrants more openly? Are jobs easier to find there or over here. I believe there is more job security there and carry more benefits. These are some of the questions which would be interesting to answer.
I am planning to visit UK sometime soon and wanted to have some prehand info. Plz note that when I am talking about europe I mean western europe and more developed countries like UK, Germany, France etc.
To jump start this thread. Here are details on unemployment levels in Western Europe.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/05/28/europes_underemployed_youths/
Though I never had an oppurtunity to work in Europe , I had lot of pals joined my team in US from UK, Netherland and few Scandinavian nations...
My knowledge on Canada is limited but reasonable with US....
Few very general differences.
Compared to US, Europe is expensive, more holidays, laid back life style, fewer options for food (Multi national food I mean) except UK, Bit boring too....
I also feel you can't take US and Canada in the same plate to compare US. It should be a three way matrix.
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The cowards never started,
The weak died on the way,
Only the strong arrived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yK1i9cLAMM
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 19-06-06 09:30:14
My experience with Europe is mostly a 1 year monthly trip to Germany and Netherlands.
There's a lot of history in those countries similar to Asian countries. Hence, there are beautiful structures and places to visit. The architecture is unique and simply spectacular and I haven't seen any of that kind in US and Canada.
Streets are very pedestrian friendly unlike here where you abrubtly run out of sidewalks. There are walkways all over the country even in the boondocks and in the middle of cornfields and they all get diligently cleared of snow during winter.
Public transportation is, again, spectacular. German trains are awesome. Netherland trains are good but not so good as German's.
People enjoy their sundays relaxing or walking or going to parks instead of shopping and running around. The only stores that I found were open were ice cream stalls and few restaurants. Everything else was closed.
People are very polite and helpful but not too friendly. I couldn't get a "hi" out of most people when they made eye contact. The Dutch are frendlier than Germans, but again, most Dutch people speak english.
Although, there are quite a few Indians in IT in germany, I believe for greater opportunity, the employers expect you to be fluent in German.
Housing is almost prohibitively expensive and gas of course goes at about euro 1.25 (an equivalent of appr $6 USD per gallon). I found clothing to be expensive as well. Sales tax or value added tax is at 16% (but hey, ON is at 15%).
Personally, I would visit Europe, but not live or work there.
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Dimple2001
Location: Canada-Glorious and Free
Posted on: 19-06-06 10:53:25
I find a lot of people compare Europe to North America. In the end they think N america is all about big things etc.
They forget to focus on a couple of KEY things.
One is that every European country has it's own culture. You are either german or your are not. They think North Americans are UNCIVILIZED because of that. Primarily because we have a blend of many cultures here. And so we come off as having no culture.
Second, people forget that most European countries made their riches by colonizing countries in Africa, Asia and S. America. They skimmed the resources and collected taxes from the people living in those countries. While North America has a history of slavery, it is not as long and as wide spread as colonization was.
So the next time you talk about those sewing machines with wheels, think about what they have done to the people of the world.
BV
Location: Private location
Posted on: 19-06-06 12:15:10
Quote:
Originally posted by JRF
Though I never had an oppurtunity to work in Europe , I had lot of pals joined my team in US from UK, Netherland and few Scandinavian nations...
My knowledge on Canada is limited but reasonable with US....
Few very general differences.
Compared to US, Europe is expensive, more holidays, laid back life style, fewer options for food (Multi national food I mean) except UK, Bit boring too....
I also feel you can't take US and Canada in the same plate to compare US. It should be a three way matrix.
The last thing Europe is, is boring...and the last thing Europe has is a laid back lifestyle. (coming from someone who has actually lived in Europe for over 20 years and can actually base their statements on fact rather than just opinion)
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Bijou Bazaar
http://bijoubazaar22.googlepages.com
Location: Mississauga/ Toronto, Can
Posted on: 19-06-06 13:37:53
One good indicator would be to get an idea of the immigration trend. Is it from North America to Europe of is it the other way around. I am sure those numbers cannot lie.
FWIW, I have a few friends here in Montreal (and Toronto) who have moved here from various European nations (Belgium, Austria, Germany, UK and France). Generally speaking, I think they like it here - but then again that is a very broad statement.
Trinity
