Winston Interviews Eurobrat, Expat in Europe and Italy
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Simply put, your post here captures the yearning of many an expat heart and touches on the topic ingsjackson wrote:My experience is that finding out where you don't belong and what you don't like is just as good as finding what you are looking for. I mean, I despise Thailand with the heat of a thousand suns, but Thailand has given me a tremendous gift -- a much, much greater appreciation of where I live, which is almost the precise opposite of Thailand in every way. I had been getting there anyway traveling around Europe, but Thailand has sealed the deal, and I will always look back fondly on Thailand for that (I think). So the circle is closed in that sense.
Obviously, the famous T.S. Eliot line comes to mind -- we shall not cease from exploring, and at the end of our explorations we will arrive at home, and know it for the first time (something like that). But let me make clear what I am and am not saying.
This is not a repudiation of any of the cultural critique of the U.S. that takes place here, and not an endorsement of any particular place in the United States in 2014. It is an embrace of the life I was given by my parents and by American culture decades ago, too long ago for any but a handful on here to have any idea what I'm talking about.
I'm going to try to find the place where it is easiest to live the values of that inheritance. I know this is terribly unclear, and doesn't constitute an actionable perspective. If anything, I guess it would be this: figure out who you are, what you value, and chart your own course to get there. People on forums like this may be in the same big boat heading away from cultural configurations that aren't working, but they aren't necessarily bound for the same destinations you are. You've got to figure out the destination for yourself.
bold that unfortunately is almost unknown here. However, I do know exactly of what you speak.
It is one of the most epiphanous comments I have ever read on this forum.
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Yeah, I could sort of hear the truth bells ringing (for me, anyway) when I thought it and wrote it. Usually one hits all around the main point, but never quite gets on it. There's no question that the main driving narrative of my life has always been paradise lost -- finding the way back home. Maybe it is for most here.OutWest wrote:Simply put, your post here captures the yearning of many an expat heart and touches on the topic ingsjackson wrote:My experience is that finding out where you don't belong and what you don't like is just as good as finding what you are looking for. I mean, I despise Thailand with the heat of a thousand suns, but Thailand has given me a tremendous gift -- a much, much greater appreciation of where I live, which is almost the precise opposite of Thailand in every way. I had been getting there anyway traveling around Europe, but Thailand has sealed the deal, and I will always look back fondly on Thailand for that (I think). So the circle is closed in that sense.
Obviously, the famous T.S. Eliot line comes to mind -- we shall not cease from exploring, and at the end of our explorations we will arrive at home, and know it for the first time (something like that). But let me make clear what I am and am not saying.
This is not a repudiation of any of the cultural critique of the U.S. that takes place here, and not an endorsement of any particular place in the United States in 2014. It is an embrace of the life I was given by my parents and by American culture decades ago, too long ago for any but a handful on here to have any idea what I'm talking about.
I'm going to try to find the place where it is easiest to live the values of that inheritance. I know this is terribly unclear, and doesn't constitute an actionable perspective. If anything, I guess it would be this: figure out who you are, what you value, and chart your own course to get there. People on forums like this may be in the same big boat heading away from cultural configurations that aren't working, but they aren't necessarily bound for the same destinations you are. You've got to figure out the destination for yourself.
bold that unfortunately is almost unknown here. However, I do know exactly of what you speak.
It is one of the most epiphanous comments I have ever read on this forum.
Certainly the concept is present in all but the most depraved hearts, as it's one of the abiding themes of literature. But there are just a few of us on this forum who have a tangible memory of a United States that was sort of a paradise lost. The country I grew up in, for all its faults and all the already introduced cultural pathogens that have resulted in the pathologies we dissect here, was a beautiful place. A place where more people surely would be happier abroad going to than coming from.
I briefly remember it growing up in the 80's in southern California, parents both had good jobs and money was much easier back then. I might have grown up too middle class white southern Californian where my former years have stuck with me as a solid definition of middle class and living standards. On the flip side it has encouraged me to keep working hard, developing myself and looking for that "paradise lost" we had in the US at a certain time that has now gone the wayside.gsjackson wrote:Yeah, I could sort of hear the truth bells ringing (for me, anyway) when I thought it and wrote it. Usually one hits all around the main point, but never quite gets on it. There's no question that the main driving narrative of my life has always been paradise lost -- finding the way back home. Maybe it is for most here.OutWest wrote:Simply put, your post here captures the yearning of many an expat heart and touches on the topic ingsjackson wrote:My experience is that finding out where you don't belong and what you don't like is just as good as finding what you are looking for. I mean, I despise Thailand with the heat of a thousand suns, but Thailand has given me a tremendous gift -- a much, much greater appreciation of where I live, which is almost the precise opposite of Thailand in every way. I had been getting there anyway traveling around Europe, but Thailand has sealed the deal, and I will always look back fondly on Thailand for that (I think). So the circle is closed in that sense.
Obviously, the famous T.S. Eliot line comes to mind -- we shall not cease from exploring, and at the end of our explorations we will arrive at home, and know it for the first time (something like that). But let me make clear what I am and am not saying.
This is not a repudiation of any of the cultural critique of the U.S. that takes place here, and not an endorsement of any particular place in the United States in 2014. It is an embrace of the life I was given by my parents and by American culture decades ago, too long ago for any but a handful on here to have any idea what I'm talking about.
I'm going to try to find the place where it is easiest to live the values of that inheritance. I know this is terribly unclear, and doesn't constitute an actionable perspective. If anything, I guess it would be this: figure out who you are, what you value, and chart your own course to get there. People on forums like this may be in the same big boat heading away from cultural configurations that aren't working, but they aren't necessarily bound for the same destinations you are. You've got to figure out the destination for yourself.
bold that unfortunately is almost unknown here. However, I do know exactly of what you speak.
It is one of the most epiphanous comments I have ever read on this forum.
Certainly the concept is present in all but the most depraved hearts, as it's one of the abiding themes of literature. But there are just a few of us on this forum who have a tangible memory of a United States that was sort of a paradise lost. The country I grew up in, for all its faults and all the already introduced cultural pathogens that have resulted in the pathologies we dissect here, was a beautiful place. A place where more people surely would be happier abroad going to than coming from.
The "paradise lost" wasn't only economical but also socio, a time when families were happily married and divorce rates were low and everyone in the country seemed happier.
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Nothing new here.
Coming from someone who's been living abroad since 2010 and has met many foreign people. I'd say that I'm not surprised by the interview.
I've been to travel resorts where I saw that people would stick to their group or other compatriots, especially women of course, The same applies to university campus where exchange students would only stick to their compatriots. I'd hardly ever see an exchange student hanging out with locals.
My personal experience with french people both men and women was OK, but German women were the worse people I ever met, they were cold as ice, hostile, apathetic just terrible overall in contrast German men were nice, we could talk about anything without me worrying about stepping on eggshells. My point is: foreign women my not be exactly as this site portrays them, I think they changed thanks to Americanization.
I've been to travel resorts where I saw that people would stick to their group or other compatriots, especially women of course, The same applies to university campus where exchange students would only stick to their compatriots. I'd hardly ever see an exchange student hanging out with locals.
My personal experience with french people both men and women was OK, but German women were the worse people I ever met, they were cold as ice, hostile, apathetic just terrible overall in contrast German men were nice, we could talk about anything without me worrying about stepping on eggshells. My point is: foreign women my not be exactly as this site portrays them, I think they changed thanks to Americanization.
I'm finally listening to this interview. Pathbreaking stuff! Excellent job Eurobrat. You should write a lot more about Europe on the forum. You come across as having great big picture knowledge of Europe and first hand detailed information of Italy and now Berlin. Please write more regularly on Europe and your travels on HA.
We need a lot more of this type of stuff on HA. IMO best podcast from Winston I've heard so far.
We need a lot more of this type of stuff on HA. IMO best podcast from Winston I've heard so far.
Really because it was 2am in the morning when I did it. If winston didn't have such a weird schedule I would have been more peppy. I'm writing up my Berlin report which I'm nominating it "The best city in western Europe".Rock wrote:I'm finally listening to this interview. Pathbreaking stuff! Excellent job Eurobrat. You should write a lot more about Europe on the forum. You come across as having great big picture knowledge of Europe and first hand detailed information of Italy and now Berlin. Please write more regularly on Europe and your travels on HA.
We need a lot more of this type of stuff on HA. IMO best podcast from Winston I've heard so far.
Although last night I went out to a famous bier garten here and was disappointed not many people were out. It closes in one week for the Winter. Looks like I missed the good times because all the pictures of the summer the place looked pack.
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A beer garden in Germany closes in the middle of Ocktoberfest??eurobrat wrote: Although last night I went out to a famous bier garten here and was disappointed not many people were out. It closes in one week for the Winter. Looks like I missed the good times because all the pictures of the summer the place looked pack.
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"The best city in your mind's Western Europe"... Sure...eurobrat wrote:Although last night I went out to a famous bier garten here and was disappointed not many people were out. It closes in one week for the Winter. Looks like I missed the good times because all the pictures of the summer the place looked pack.
Yep the outside area closes, and it's not even cold yet. Summer is still lingering, looks like I might have a good autumn. Fridays seem more hopping than Saturdays, I'm not a fan of going out on Friday nights though.gsjackson wrote:A beer garden in Germany closes in the middle of Ocktoberfest??eurobrat wrote: Although last night I went out to a famous bier garten here and was disappointed not many people were out. It closes in one week for the Winter. Looks like I missed the good times because all the pictures of the summer the place looked pack.
Here's what I thought it would be like:
Here's what it actually was like:
Yes it is better. Which city even compares for the value you get here, nightlife, cheap prices and German quality goods and housing? If you can't answer that question then go droll somewhere else.publicduende wrote:"The best city in your mind's Western Europe"... Sure...eurobrat wrote:Although last night I went out to a famous bier garten here and was disappointed not many people were out. It closes in one week for the Winter. Looks like I missed the good times because all the pictures of the summer the place looked pack.
Better than sitting in some musty old english pub next to some 135kg slapper, drinking crappy british beer at £5.00 a pint and chomping on soggy caloric fat laden soggy fish and chips w/vinegar with mushy pea's like you enjoy doing.
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It's a cold city with little or no quality jobs and post-WW2 realsocialist architecture (of course there are more modern buildings, but you'll never live there). The only thing you have going is that you're in the same boat as a million other low-paid, part-time working, Bohemienne types which might (or might not) connect to you at some point. Dozens of European cities of that size can give you that experience, so you're not discovering anything new there.eurobrat wrote:Yes it is better. Which city even compares for the value you get here, nightlife, cheap prices and German quality goods and housing? If you can't answer that question then go droll somewhere else.publicduende wrote:"The best city in your mind's Western Europe"... Sure...eurobrat wrote:Although last night I went out to a famous bier garten here and was disappointed not many people were out. It closes in one week for the Winter. Looks like I missed the good times because all the pictures of the summer the place looked pack.
Better than sitting in some musty old english pub next to some 135kg slapper, drinking crappy british beer at £5.00 a pint and chomping on soggy caloric fat laden soggy fish and chips w/vinegar with mushy pea's like you enjoy doing.
You have strange stereotypes of night life in London. You used to say it was great, but now you somehow associate it with me, it's automagically become crappy LOL Talk to me about your levels of objectivity...
Oh and I guess your lifestyle of being a corporate warrior IT banking nerd going into the office everyday eating crappy and expensive lunches, putting on weight, having your manager heckle you on a daily basis is just so superior to my bohemian life in Berlin? Puleaazee I have been there and done that, I prefer my freedom.publicduende wrote:It's a cold city with little or no quality jobs and post-WW2 realsocialist architecture (of course there are more modern buildings, but you'll never live there). The only thing you have going is that you're in the same boat as a million other low-paid, part-time working, Bohemienne types which might (or might not) connect to you at some point. Dozens of European cities of that size can give you that experience, so you're not discovering anything new there.eurobrat wrote:Yes it is better. Which city even compares for the value you get here, nightlife, cheap prices and German quality goods and housing? If you can't answer that question then go droll somewhere else.publicduende wrote:"The best city in your mind's Western Europe"... Sure...eurobrat wrote:Although last night I went out to a famous bier garten here and was disappointed not many people were out. It closes in one week for the Winter. Looks like I missed the good times because all the pictures of the summer the place looked pack.
Better than sitting in some musty old english pub next to some 135kg slapper, drinking crappy british beer at £5.00 a pint and chomping on soggy caloric fat laden soggy fish and chips w/vinegar with mushy pea's like you enjoy doing.
You have strange stereotypes of night life in London. You used to say it was great, but now you somehow associate it with me, it's automagically become crappy LOL Talk to me about your levels of objectivity...
Sadly my job isn't low paid at €2.000 it's a normal job. Actually in Italy, this is a good job. Plus I get the benefits or relocating to wherever country in Europe I want to and I get to walk around naked in the day while you get to enjoy being shackled at your desk and spending 2+ hours commuting each day.
London nightlife is ok, but you can easily tire yourself out there in one year. Pound for pound the value just isn't there, there's tons more cities all over Europe that offer a tremendous value over London like cheaper drinks and entrance fees and prettier girls.
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