the Laughing Boomer

Hi:

If you are thinking about moving to another country, do yourself a favor and research your destination thoroughly. Understand the system of government, the employment situation, the economic drivers and the weaknesses or problems the country is facing.  Besides understanding the political situation, talk to your Embassy and learn how they treat foreigners in times of crisis. Knowing the pros and cons will help you make a better decision.

Besides doing some serious research into the state of your prospective host country on a written level, have  a series of informal discussions with regular folk about what they perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of the country.  Do not just talk to other ex-pats, talk to the local people or, if their is a huge immigrant population, talk to them.  How do ordinary people feel about you moving to their country.  The issues of youth especially need to be considered. What are the unemployment rates, retirement rates, labour policies?

France is a good example.  They have high unemployment buoyed by socialist labour laws that make it hard to fire anyone - guaranteeing jobs for life.  The race riots in Paris underscore the problem. When thousands of young people cannot get jobs, presumably because of their ethnic origin, hostilities fester and burn and may eventually erupt.

I have been in other countries where the locals clearly resent tourists.  I choose not to go to countries where I feel the people of the country are manipulated by the government.  Cuba comes to mind.  Regular citizens are not allowed in the tourist zone, and while tourists enjoy heaping all inclusives buffets laden with tropical fruit, ordinary citizens have rations.  Why would I spend my money to support a communist regime?  I do not.

 M.