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What Are the Five Greatest Things About Where You Live?

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I have a little project doing and I am curious to find out a few things from people: If you moved to a country of your choice (not in North America), where would you go, why, and what are at least five things you would miss most about your country and town/city that you live in now? Or if you want, what are at least five things you’d miss about the country you’re from.

I’ll go first:

  1. Family – Is seeing family 1-2 times per a year enough? That’s as much as I see my family. I need to take advantage of telecommunications technologies more (video chat, etc), but does that replace physical presence?
  2. Friends – I have friends scattered all over the world already, so I know what it means to miss friends you’re close with and deal with the fact you may never see them in person again. Thank god for e-mail and Facebook!
  3. Shopping – This is a bit superficial, I admit. However, when you live in a country where you can’t find your usual comfort foods from back home, for example, it adds to the stress of living abroad. For example, there’s no Hershey’s chocolate in Hungary (I know, how backwards of them!) and there’s no Túró Rudi in the U.S. (Americans don’t like cottage cheese chocolate bars?! SOO DELICIOUS!). Also, with store names like Tesco and Profi, you wonder if those can match up with the Wal-Marts and Krogers you’re use to in America.
  4. Language – We all have only one mother tongue (ok, some of us have a father tongue too), but if you move to a country where they don’t speak your native language, communication (one of the most fundamental requirements of society) becomes hampered. In America, everyone expects demands you speak English. In other countries they are thrilled beyond belief if you attempt to speak their language. Think about that for a moment.
  5. The little things – In the end, isn’t it all about the little things? Things such as hand gestures, street signs, restaurant etiquette, using services such as postal mail or absentee voting, and television you don’t really think about until you move abroad. Simply put, all the little things and the object they add up to.

To be honest, I really only miss #1 and #2. I see #3, #4 and #5 as differences, not necessarily bad. Just because it’s different doesn’t make it bad (contrary to the thoughts of many people of a certain nationality). I personally love differences and do all I can to meet different people, do different things, eat different foods and experience the different in life. That’s why I’ve lived/live where I have. Growing up and living in the same place is fine for some people, but I’m built a little differently.

Blacksburg has been great to me. It’s been different enough for me to keep me happy. I found a community of Hungarians (including my roommate) to hang out with. I have good friends from Germany, Italy, Iran, Turkey and a number of other countries. Only in America (in select parts) can all those nationalities be friends (and date in some instances). Think about that. How truly wonderful is that? It’s like world peace in our little piece of Virginia called Blacksburg.

If we all lived, learned and enjoyed the differences of others what would we have to hate? I know, it’s corny. But if you ever wanted to know my motivation behind anything I do, it’s to live differently and experience as much as I can.

 

My Project

So my little project is this: What is holding people back from experiencing what they really want to do in life?

I hear people say, I want a motorcycle, I want to learn to fly, I want to go sky diving, I want to go to Europe, I want to learn a foreign language, I want to… So what’s holding you back? Money isn’t the issue. You have most of your life to save up for it. You don’t have to do it right now. Make a list of things you want to do and go for it; have a plan. Besides, what’s a life without dreams?

So if you could help me out in my little project, leave a comment below with your chosen country and at least five things that’s holding you back from uprooting and moving abroad to that country. If you want to share other thoughts having to do with what I’ve mentioned above I’d love to hear them and you’d be helping me out a great deal.

Thanks! Köszi! Danke!

 

    3 Comments on “What Are the Five Greatest Things About Where You Live?”

    1. 1. FAMILY. The single most important thing that you’ll miss. It is not only about missing family, it’s also about the guilt that you might end up feeling if your family gets into a situation where they would need help, but you are unable to be there. And the fear that such a situation may arise.

      2. FRIENDS. I totally agree on this point, too. Although with people scattered all around the world, some of the people who are my closest friends are already living far far away. Now that I think of it, probably many more than live here.

      3. PLACES. I live in Hungary, and Budapest is so full of life and character, that in the past I have experienced that I really really miss the city. Especially in the summer. I also very much miss familiar places from my childhood. Places that I have been to so often that they give me a sense of feeling home and safe. Places that become part of your soul, bring back sweet memories.

      4. LANGUAGE. Depending on where I go. I don’t miss speaking and hearing Hungarian, but in my experience – while you can have great and meaningful conversations in other languages as long as you know the language well – there is a level of depth that can only be reached in your native language. Although I have to add that the reason may not be language barriers, but rather that you share a framework of thinking with people from your home country that allows you to express thoughts very delicately.

      I cannot think of a #5 at the moment.

      I think many people simply don’t REALLY want to go and live abroad. They just need to have their dreams. But that is what they are for many: dreams. Dreams that are not meant to be realized. Because if they would come true, they might just not turn out to be that wonderful. The person might not end up being happy after all. Which of course means that fear is why many chose to rather talk about going abroad than actually doing it.

    2. Igazán nagyon köszönöm a comment-ot! Nagyon segíteni kész, Kis Chüny! A néved ravasz is.

      Szia!
      Miska

    3. I want to move to Sweden yet I’ve never been there. For me, there’s really only one reason I wouldn’t actually move to Europe – family. It’s hard enough being in the middle of the country with parents and sister on the east coast and in-laws on the west coast. I can’t imagine having them that much further away. I’d never see any of them.

      Shopping for me is fantastic wherever I am. I can make substitutions for the things I currently buy: food, clothes, electronics, furniture. Change is good.

      Most of my friends are all over the place so my friendships are primarily remote. Moving wouldn’t really affect that.

      Language isn’t so scary. Learn the language and all is good. I’m happy to do that.

      Of course it’s the getting a stable job overseas issue that does seem a bit tricky, particularly when it’s not just me that would need to work… and cost of housing is much higher in Sweden, and more competitive than where I live now.

      But in the end, it’s an interesting proposition. Perhaps if my job offered telecommuting and Sweden said I could move there without question.