FREEDOM!!!

Yes, definitely give everyone treats. Not everyone has the opportunity to dress up for various reasons.

Worth noting that the French law only deals with food waste from supermarkets as far as I know. Not households or agriculture. It’s a great start, though.

Unemployment. Like many others, I keep an emergency fund with high yield that can keep food on the table for the fam while looking for a new job. Replenish as soon as I get a new job.

Also a very interesting run style.

Do everything you can to learn the language quickly. Take any language class offer you get. It will make life much easier in a new country, especially if you’re looking to make friends. Immerse yourself in the culture immediately.

Remember that Europeans, especially Scandinavians, are not as openly friendly as Americans. They can seem cold and distant at first. It’s not because they are not friendly, it’s just a cultural feature. Once you get to know them, most open up and they are awesome.

On financials, keep all your bank accounts and credit cards open in the US and use a US address for them (and get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees). Don’t advertise to the US banks that you moved overseas. Just use a family member’s or friend’s address. Also note that European banks don’t have rewards credit cards, so I only use US rewards cards with no foreign transaction fees when living overseas. They’ll send you replacement cards overseas if you ask them to, even when your account address is in the US.

If you don’t already have retirement IRA accounts set up (not just 401k), do it before you leave the US. Also, open a brokerage account (e.g. Schwab or Fidelity) with a US address before you leave and don’t change the address to your overseas address, ever. Leave as is. It can be very hard for Americans to invest because foreign banks are required to report different things to US authorities about customers who are American citizens. They don’t want the bother, so they may not allow you to open an account there. And once you move it will be much harder to open the account in the US. Use a service like Wise to move funds cheaply to your US accounts for investments and paying off credit cards.

Get a cheap eSIM phone subscription with a US phone number for two-step verification abroad. You can use Wifi-calling to connect.

Finally, remember that you are eligible to vote in the US as a US citizen living overseas. You’ll still be registered as a voter in the state and county you moved overseas from. You’ll use your most recent address, and you don’t have to have any attachment to that address any longer. It’s only for voting purposes. If you’re not already registered to vote when you move overseas, you’ll also use your most recent address to register to vote. More information here: https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter.

Good luck!

There are a lot of very poor people in the US compared to other developed countries. There are also a lot more extremely rich people. The inequality is palpable, and it shows in the stats. The US government also doesn’t step in with coverage when it comes to healthcare, unemployment and other emergencies to the same degree as governments in other western countries.

Reading your description of the place you live in just reminds me how incredible different people live their lives. Such different lifestyles. I can’t even comprehend living in such a remote place. It’s no wonder that people are divided in almost every way.

Overall favorite: Shawshank Redemption
Watched the most times: Notting Hill and Coming to America

Friends, Beverly Hills 90210, Seinfeld (and Big Bang Theory as young adult)

In the US: Universal healthcare. Having kids and having to think about healthcare even when we’re not sick or injured is such a mental drain.

They are retaining staff by paying more than most other companies, but they also have a reputation for running their workers into the ground by overworking them. Many burn out pretty quickly.

May still cause cancer.

eighty years later, in Germany is still trying to live down their shame

Yet, it seems many Germans are prepared to go down that same road with the AfD.

Because his voters don’t believe any of the points you make about him. Trump is able to dismiss any criticism of him as “fake news.” You can make any legitimate point about him and they will never believe it.

Not taking risk is one of the main reasons most people never get to truly experience life before it’s over. However, there are situations where taking risk can actually destroy your life, especially when it involves physical danger. Proceed with caution.

European countries are also capitalist countries, but they have much better consumer protections and laws. It can be done.

Trump, that you?

Oh, man. This brings me back to my Amiga 500 days. So slow to load, but I loved that thing. Wish I hadn’t sold it.

Thanks for the recommendation. I’m definitely going to take a look.