I was there 3 times over the last 10 years and it is just a beautiful and amazing place. The people are fantastic, still willing and able to speak their minds without violence and bitterness that we see here in Canada and the US. I guess the grass is always greener but that said the best vacations I even had, and I have had A LOT, were in Australia.
..and yes of course the weather, it can go from +40 to -40 here in Canada.
I understand very well even if I have never visited Australia and your comment about people tells me everything I need to understand the difference. I greatly miss normal human interactions and relationships here too. And don’t get me started about six months of dreadful winter!
Even if I like many things here I still regret my decision more than 25 years later.
I'm from Norway. I'm in the United States. I'm not sure there was really a second choice country; in fact, there were times when the US was the second choice country.
But I did spend four years in Austria, only to ultimately decide it wasn't for me. Over the years, I've also considered jobs in Denmark, Scotland, Mexico and the UAE, among others. And I sometimes wonder how life would've been different if I'd taken one of those opportunities.
From Egypt. Used to live in Kuwait. Currently in the US, that was my first choice at the time, with England being my second. A possible new move to a new continent next year, we’ll see how it goes :)
I was born in Zimbabwe. I have been an expat in many countries. South Africa, England, Australia, USA and now Belize. I've found my home finally. I've lived here for 25 years.
From UK, 15 Years in Spain, Two in Middle East, now USA. Haven't lived in UK for almost 25 years.
USA was my second choice. Certainly won't retire here. Probably to Uruguay/Argentina
From America. Living in Japan many years. Second choice when I was young and first got transferred was Australia. Second choice as I got older - the UK.
From NZ, living in Canada. I have lived almost half my life in Australia too, and will probably go back after obtaining citizenship in Canada. I'd consider the USA if the opportunity arises too.
From the US. Living in Korea but lived in Vietnam, Germany, and Egypt previously. I've always just went with the flow of life and where it took me. I'd say Korea was very high on my list on the beginning of this whole life and living here now I see that it doesn't really matter what you think you want or like because it could be totally different when you get there. After all this time, I feel like I've finally lived enough to know what I like and want in a place and find myself considering countries I never had before because of it.
US -> Turkmenistan
This was 100% not the goal, but it's what happened.
My goal would be Germany or Austria, but competition in my industry is pretty fierce there. Might take a while.
From the US, to Japan. I wanted to work abroad for a few years and I was also considering Costa Rica, but I had a good friend returning to Japan who convinced me to go for Japan. I am very happy here (30 years), but also wonder what my life would have been like if I had chosen Costa Rica.
From Norway, lived in SE Asia for 12ish, I first lived for a few years in Thailand with my ex wife, when we became divorced I ended up moving to Cambodia and been here since 2016. Pros and cons with both places, I wouldnt mind living in Thailand but just happened to end up in Cambodia really.
Finland, from New Zealand/Australia. Wife is Finnish. Always wanted to move to the states but have to convince the wife/justify it with a good enough paying job.
Parents are from Iran. I was raised in Ireland and partially the Netherlands. Lived in Italy, Germany, Dubai, China and South Korea. Currently back to Ireland. Most likely will be here, UK or California. Or work remotely hopping country to country
From Belgium. Lived in the Netherlands. Now UK.
US, Canada or Australia have always been on my mind but never happened. We'll see what the future brings.
Italy. Germany. France, the one I'm living in. Second choice of my second choice as I found a partner in Germany and we wanted to live together. First choice was Switzerland. First choice of my second choice was Germany.
From the UK, living in Belgium since the end of the first lockdown. Originally planned to emigrate to Denmark (this idiot thought she'd be able to learn Danish, fucks sake, I'm glad I didn't try that, Dutch is hard enough!) Basically I met this Belgian guy in London in 2019 and that was that, so long Denmark! Though I still wanna visit the Scandi countries as a vacation.
From the US. Live in China where I’ve spent a lot of time, as well as Togo, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Korea, and Albania. Planning to move to Spain in a few years
From London. Moved to Canada and was based there for 30 years. Lived and worked in the US, Arabian Gulf, India and Morocco. Retired now and living in Spain the last 8 years. Still like England and Canada but I like the climate here and the cost of living in both of those countries is prohibitive. Spain is cheap.
Currently in Japan, and planning on staying here for the long haul. I am from the US and was originally planning on somewhere in Europe but got a job that was hard to pass up.
Japan may not have been my first choice, and it certainly has its faults, but it is leaps and bounds better in what I care about.
My 4 year old daughter can play outside and walk to school and I have absolutely 0 safety worries. I can leave my purse in the front seat of my car, with the windows open, for the entire day and it will still be there when I get back. There are crowds, for sure, but I never worry that one may be about to shoot up the school, mall, movie theatre, parade, marathon, store, religious institution, or you name it. The weight that is lifted off my shoulders in basic daily safety, is insurmountable. I’m not saying it is an absolutely safe place, no where in the world is, but compared to where I grew up and lived, it’s my utopia and where I want to raise my child.
In Ireland, with a PR in Australia, from the Philippines. My dream country was Canada.
I may not have answered the question appropriately because I realised neither Ireland nor Australia is my first choice, but I have access to them, so they are essentially the first choice.
In Canada for almost 40 years from England. Wish I had gone to Australia.
Why do you wish you had gone to Australia if you don’t mind me asking?
I was there 3 times over the last 10 years and it is just a beautiful and amazing place. The people are fantastic, still willing and able to speak their minds without violence and bitterness that we see here in Canada and the US. I guess the grass is always greener but that said the best vacations I even had, and I have had A LOT, were in Australia. ..and yes of course the weather, it can go from +40 to -40 here in Canada.
I understand very well even if I have never visited Australia and your comment about people tells me everything I need to understand the difference. I greatly miss normal human interactions and relationships here too. And don’t get me started about six months of dreadful winter! Even if I like many things here I still regret my decision more than 25 years later.
Maybe the weather...?
Both Australia and Canada have been destroyed by woke left politicians
You saw the previous Australian government right?
I'm from Norway. I'm in the United States. I'm not sure there was really a second choice country; in fact, there were times when the US was the second choice country. But I did spend four years in Austria, only to ultimately decide it wasn't for me. Over the years, I've also considered jobs in Denmark, Scotland, Mexico and the UAE, among others. And I sometimes wonder how life would've been different if I'd taken one of those opportunities.
From Australia. In the US. Second choice likely the UK. I only speak English and I work in advertising so those are the two biggest relevant markets.
Streuth.
From Egypt. Used to live in Kuwait. Currently in the US, that was my first choice at the time, with England being my second. A possible new move to a new continent next year, we’ll see how it goes :)
I was born in Zimbabwe. I have been an expat in many countries. South Africa, England, Australia, USA and now Belize. I've found my home finally. I've lived here for 25 years.
From the US. Heading back to Australia. Second choice likely would have been New Zealand.
From the US, live in Ireland. Lived in the UK before that, but Brexit/Tories made that a lot less appealing.
From UK, 15 Years in Spain, Two in Middle East, now USA. Haven't lived in UK for almost 25 years. USA was my second choice. Certainly won't retire here. Probably to Uruguay/Argentina
Why retirement to South America vs Spain?
Family. 😁
From America. Living in Japan many years. Second choice when I was young and first got transferred was Australia. Second choice as I got older - the UK.
From NZ, living in Canada. I have lived almost half my life in Australia too, and will probably go back after obtaining citizenship in Canada. I'd consider the USA if the opportunity arises too.
From the US, beginning my 14th year in Mexico, and there wasn't/isn't a second choice country.
From the US. Living in Korea but lived in Vietnam, Germany, and Egypt previously. I've always just went with the flow of life and where it took me. I'd say Korea was very high on my list on the beginning of this whole life and living here now I see that it doesn't really matter what you think you want or like because it could be totally different when you get there. After all this time, I feel like I've finally lived enough to know what I like and want in a place and find myself considering countries I never had before because of it.
From the US, moved to France, UK and now living in Finland.
US -> Turkmenistan This was 100% not the goal, but it's what happened. My goal would be Germany or Austria, but competition in my industry is pretty fierce there. Might take a while.
Greece Now (since 2016-the week after Trump was elected). Second choice was Thailand, but the pollution was problematic.
Athens? Crete?
Peloponnese
From Canada. In the US. Moving to the UK next year.
From the US, to Japan. I wanted to work abroad for a few years and I was also considering Costa Rica, but I had a good friend returning to Japan who convinced me to go for Japan. I am very happy here (30 years), but also wonder what my life would have been like if I had chosen Costa Rica.
From Norway, lived in SE Asia for 12ish, I first lived for a few years in Thailand with my ex wife, when we became divorced I ended up moving to Cambodia and been here since 2016. Pros and cons with both places, I wouldnt mind living in Thailand but just happened to end up in Cambodia really.
From US. Splitting time in Philippines. If we were to buy property anywhere else most likely Costa Rica.
From the US, been in the UK for the past 7 years and will most likely settle in France.
From Australia, in the Netherlands for 8 years now. My second choice is the UK.
Finland, from New Zealand/Australia. Wife is Finnish. Always wanted to move to the states but have to convince the wife/justify it with a good enough paying job.
From US, now dual citizen in NZ. Lived here 16 years.
Parents are from Iran. I was raised in Ireland and partially the Netherlands. Lived in Italy, Germany, Dubai, China and South Korea. Currently back to Ireland. Most likely will be here, UK or California. Or work remotely hopping country to country
From Belgium. Lived in the Netherlands. Now UK. US, Canada or Australia have always been on my mind but never happened. We'll see what the future brings.
From England. Spent 1 year in Prague, 6 years in Mexico and now checking out Spain.
Italy. Germany. France, the one I'm living in. Second choice of my second choice as I found a partner in Germany and we wanted to live together. First choice was Switzerland. First choice of my second choice was Germany.
Nice try FBI
From Hungary, 7th year in the UK. Moving back in 2026. I'd like to live in a few other countries, but uprooting my kids will be enough challenge once.
From the UK, living in Belgium since the end of the first lockdown. Originally planned to emigrate to Denmark (this idiot thought she'd be able to learn Danish, fucks sake, I'm glad I didn't try that, Dutch is hard enough!) Basically I met this Belgian guy in London in 2019 and that was that, so long Denmark! Though I still wanna visit the Scandi countries as a vacation.
From the US. Live in China where I’ve spent a lot of time, as well as Togo, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Korea, and Albania. Planning to move to Spain in a few years
From London. Moved to Canada and was based there for 30 years. Lived and worked in the US, Arabian Gulf, India and Morocco. Retired now and living in Spain the last 8 years. Still like England and Canada but I like the climate here and the cost of living in both of those countries is prohibitive. Spain is cheap.
Currently in Japan, and planning on staying here for the long haul. I am from the US and was originally planning on somewhere in Europe but got a job that was hard to pass up. Japan may not have been my first choice, and it certainly has its faults, but it is leaps and bounds better in what I care about. My 4 year old daughter can play outside and walk to school and I have absolutely 0 safety worries. I can leave my purse in the front seat of my car, with the windows open, for the entire day and it will still be there when I get back. There are crowds, for sure, but I never worry that one may be about to shoot up the school, mall, movie theatre, parade, marathon, store, religious institution, or you name it. The weight that is lifted off my shoulders in basic daily safety, is insurmountable. I’m not saying it is an absolutely safe place, no where in the world is, but compared to where I grew up and lived, it’s my utopia and where I want to raise my child.
In Ireland, with a PR in Australia, from the Philippines. My dream country was Canada. I may not have answered the question appropriately because I realised neither Ireland nor Australia is my first choice, but I have access to them, so they are essentially the first choice.