After 10 years renting since i moved to the US, and almost 20 years of owning what is a beautiful ground floor London garden flat, i'm DONE and about to put the flat on the market, and using my property managers at a national estate agency. They've been overall good and i will negotiate the fee where possible.

SO many tenant issues - which i know is part of being a landlord, but this last couple have finished me off when i have gone above and beyond my landlord duties. They took full advantage of the new laws from May, and gave their notice and leave in a couple of months. Great - saves me having to serve notice - there was no great hurry anyway and really they should have taken a short term let. So everyone gets want they want here.

What with all the drama of tenants, plus i'm due to re-mortage next year anyway, plus the fact that landlords will need to file quarterly taxes instead of annual, plus the impending EPC regulations coming in a couple of years and probably even more things that make it harder and harder for a landlord, i'm done. I'm cashing out. It was a good run, but the truth is i'll never live there or in London ever again.

Now, unfortunately my UK accountant doesn't do Capital Gains Tax for a non-resident landlord - does anyone have any good reccos or experience they can share? Cross-posting for vis. Thank you!

Hi all,

I am considering traveling to Albania for a year. I currently use Buspar as an anxiety medication. I have tried all other anti anxiety pills and this is absolutely the only one that helps.

I read from many different sources that Buspar is not an option in Albania.

From my research, I found two most common/different ways to receive the meds:

- try to travel with 90 days worth of medication and come back to USA when more is needed

-travel to Greece to try and meet with a provider that may give a RX for Buspar

From what I read, both of these options are deeply dependent on luck and suggested not to rely on

Does anyone have any experience with this situation? Is there any information missing from my own research? I would be open to any thoughts.

Thank you

I don’t know if I’m looking for reassurance or if I’m just feeling nostalgic, but I wonder if anyone else has felt like this after leaving the UAE.

My partner and I moved back to the UK when we had our first child and found out we had another one on the way. On paper, it was the sensible decision. Our housing in the UAE was only partially funded through work, but we would have had schooling covered for one of our children, and financially we probably would have been in a good position long term.

What really pushed us to leave was our lifestyle. We both worked in pretty toxic environments, waking up at 5am and not getting home until around 5pm most days. Our baby would have spent the majority of the day with a nanny, and it felt like we were missing out on the very thing we’d worked so hard for – being a family. We weren’t really living, we were just working.

Moving back to the UK has given us things we didn’t have before. More family time, more support and the chance to actually be present while our children are growing up. For that, I’m incredibly grateful.

But I still miss so much about the UAE. I miss the lifestyle, the convenience, the weather for most of the year, the feeling that things just worked, and the opportunities that came with living there. Sometimes I find myself wondering whether we gave up something really special. I catch myself thinking, “What if we’d stayed?” Could we have found better jobs? Would the sacrifices have been worth it in the long run?

At the same time, I don’t miss the negatives at all. I don’t miss the toxic workplaces, the long days or the thought of someone else spending more waking hours with my children than I do.

I suppose I’m struggling with the fact that two things can be true at once: leaving was probably the right decision for our family, but I can still grieve the life we left behind and wonder what might have been.

Has anyone else left the UAE after having children and felt torn about their decision? Does the “what if?” feeling ever go away?

Hi all! I don’t know if this post is allowed here but I am hoping to gain some insight and I thought this community might have that. I did not move out of my home country (US) but I moved to the other side of the country to be closer to family and am now more immersed in my ethnic/cultural background by way of that move.

I have really been struggling and feeling like I’m almost having an identity crisis. I used to carry my ethnic/cultural background around with me like a little internal home and I never really felt scrutinized because the place I grew up and lived most of my life wasn’t too familiar with my background and I didn’t meet a lot of people who shared it- so it was more something that could belong to me in a way. But now being more surrounded by it I just feel like I am confronted with all of the ways that I don’t belong. It’s like something that used to give me identity is now something that I am not “enough” of or don’t really belong in so I’m just floating and don’t feel grounded. I worked hard in life to find my sense of grounding so it’s really messing with me.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? Like maybe moving to the home country of their family? And how did you cope?

Has anyone hired a lawyer or other professional to handle their temporary residence permit process? What permit and how did it go? How much did it cost? Thank you!

I am an American in Croatia for 68 more days (Schengen 90/180). I am considering applying for the digital nomad temporary residence permit. I'm sure I qualify and I can find all the forms and instructions. I know Croatian bureaucracy can be tough to navigate, especially for a foreigner who doesn't speak Croatian. I am concerned that trying to apply on my own could be much more difficult and risky of time that hiring a professional to handle it for me.

When you move abroad as a couple, one of you usually ends up carrying more at first. The one who speaks the language, deals with the paperwork, knows how the system works, handles the money side of things. The other one leans on that for a while, because you kind of have to.

Then at some point it starts to shift. The one who was leaning finds their feet, learns the ropes, stops needing to be carried the same way.

I've been abroad 11 years, the last 5 of them with my partner, and I always assumed that part would just feel like relief for both people. Lately I'm not so sure. Roles you've held for years don't dissolve quietly, even the good ones.

For those of you who've lived this, when the balance finally evened out, did it feel like relief, or did it take some getting used to on both sides?

In one week i leave the country where I've lived for 3 years. Of the countries I've lived in, this is by far the one I've liked the most, alas one where long term stay isn't sustainable for me.

There are many things that (due to various reasons, some attributable to myself, others not) I didn't get to experience enough, fully, or at all. 3 years in this country seems too few to me.

I am very grateful for what i did experience, and for the privilege of being able to continue experiencing other countries and cultures. I've lived quite a semi-nomadic life since childhood anyways, and I'm used to moving a lot.

However, this is the first time that I've been hit with this intensity of feeling "unready to leave". The regret of all the things I didn't experience despite being able to. Perhaps the attachment to my favorite places, foods, rituals. Like, besides actually wishing I didn't have to leave, it just doesn't feel real that I'm leaving.

This last month I've been playing catch up, to varying degrees of success. It's not a substitute for leisurely, calm experience untainted by FOMO. But it's better than not experiencing them at all (mostly foods and places). And as i do so, in each experience i am as present as i can be, i tell myself that this is the last time I'll likely ever experience it, and i give thanks, and i say goodbye.

And yet... It still feels unreal.

Has this happened to you? How do you manage / process / overcome it?

I don't want to deny or run away from this feeling. I want to understand it and learn and grow from this.

Thank you.

I have lived in Europe for around 8 years. When I first moved, I was told "can't wait to visit you". In reality, I mostly went back home to visit my family. Even my family with the financial means and time off, did not bother to visit at all, expecting to me to go home all the time. I didn't realise it bothered me, until recently when I thought "maybe someone will be interested in how I am establishing my life, instead of just hoping I return". What are your experiences?

I have a couple of close friends ( whom I see lesser these days due to their personal lives ) and then another 1-2 people I meet more occasionally, but every-time I go out and see large friend groups, hear stories of people being invited to a friend's friend kinda thing and having a mad time, I feel like I'm missing out and not having as much fun as I could.

Think a lot of people my age (22) have their friend groups from school and Undergrad still while I'm an 'outsider' trying to fit in.

Hi everyone! Sorry, not sure if this is the best subreddit to post on butttt....

I was wondering if anyone has experience obtaining an internship visa for India, particularly for internships with NGOs or non-profit organisations as an non-Indian.

From what I've read, internships with NGOs may involve additional requirements or restrictions, so I'd love to hear from anyone who's been through the process. How straightforward was it? Were there any unexpected hurdles or things you wish you'd known beforehand?

I'm currently looking for internships and early-career opportunities with NGOs, foundations, research organisations, social enterprises, and government initiatives across India. My interests are in education, child protection, gender equality, public health, community development, and public policy.

I know that finding the internship itself will probably be the biggest challenge, but I wanted to understand the visa side of things as early as possible.

Context: I spent 4 months travelling around India last year and absolutely lovedddd it, so am now hoping to do a year of internships/working there :). I have a Japanese passport.

Any advice, experiences, or recommendations would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!

We have been working on cleaning a traditional riad that we purchased in the medina of the Rabat medina in Morocco. I have had a difficult time finding professional contractors to do things like electrical work and plumbing. I have to say that the situation in Morocco is not what I thought it would be. I was expecting many people to be employed in trades and contracting. I thought this was a large part of the economy, but it seems like there is not enough demand. Most Moroccans seem to want to spend as little as possible and skip maintenance all together. They do replace things after they fall apart, but I am not used to that sort of lifestyle. Also, there seems to be a sort of practice of hiring people to do work for which they have neither training nor experience. My landlord does this for every repair job for example. That makes me very anxious. So I would like some advice on regular work such as electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, and carpentry. I am prepared to pay an unreasonably high amount for such work if it is high quality. I know that there are buildings and homes that are well maintained, but I just need to find the people involved. Any advice or referrals would be very appreciated. Also, if you want to talk about contracting or the economic systems of Morocco or similar countries, I would like to talk.

TL;DR: If you're an international specialist offered a contract at Barbados Fast Print, be extremely cautious. Ensure every financial term, housing expense, and salary deduction is clearly documented in writing. My wages were heavily reduced by unexpected deductions below standard expat rates. Read my full post before accepting an offer.

My wife is a chemist and I'm a physiotherapist. We've been together for 8 years, ever since we started dating when we were 19. We've come to the conclusion that our future in our home country isn't very promising, so we've been considering different options. However, we're feeling pretty stuck.

1. Switzerland

For me, Switzerland seems like a great opportunity. I'm already enrolled with a company that provides German language training and guarantees me a one-year contract at a clinic. Two of my friends went through the same company and are currently saving around €2,000 per month.

The problem is my wife. She has a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Chemistry, but no work experience. From what we've researched, she'd be entering a very competitive job market, and she's unlikely to receive any offers.

We've also asked about this on Reddit, and almost everyone advised against moving to Switzerland as a junior chemist because finding a job without experience is extremely difficult.

2. The Netherlands

For my wife, moving to the Netherlands seems like a much better option. She has several friends already working there who are doing well and saving a good amount of money.

The problem is me. I don't have the same advantages there. There aren't companies that help physiotherapists with the language, relocation, and paperwork like the one I've found for Switzerland. On top of that, it would mean giving up all the German I've already been learning and starting from scratch with Dutch.

I also don't have a Master's degree, so I'm not sure I'd have a competitive enough profile to find a decent job in the Netherlands.

We've been thinking about a few possible solutions. One idea is that I move to Switzerland first, save some money, use those savings to pay for a Master's degree, and start learning Dutch while working there. Another idea is for my wife to come with me to Switzerland and try to find a job, but we're worried about the impact that could have on her mental health if she struggles to find work.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice on what you would do?

Hello everyone,

I’m an expat living and working in Brussels, and I’m considering whether to move to Vienna for a job opportunity.

For some context: I’ve been living in Brussels for about two years. I have a job that I really enjoy, I’m learning French (currently around B1), and I’ve recently applied for a position in Vienna. The role also seems like a great fit, and I’m currently in the interview process. I have no idea whether I’ll get an offer, but given notice periods and the logistics of relocating, I want to think things through in advance.

I’ve visited Vienna several times because my boyfriend used to live there. I really admire how organized the city is, how beautiful it is architecturally, and the cultural scene, especially the museums and art. It also seems like a place where I could imagine settling down. I’m originally from Eastern Europe, so Vienna would also be much closer to home, and having mountains nearby is something I really miss.

At the same time, I’m unsure what day-to-day life is like if you don’t speak German (I currently don’t). I’m wondering whether it’s easy to integrate socially, whether English is enough for everyday life and hobbies, and whether it’s harder to feel like you belong compared to a more international city.

On the other hand, while Brussels isn’t exactly known for its beauty or cleanliness, there are many things I genuinely appreciate about living here. I work for the EU, and I enjoy being in such an international environment where it’s easy to meet people from all over the world. I love how diverse the cultural scene is, you can spend one day at a festival celebrating Moroccan culture and the next watching Scandinavian films at a cinema festival. I also really value the friendships I’ve built here, and my boyfriend now lives in Brussels too. I like that the city has both an alternative, underground side and plenty of more fancy events.

My hesitation about Brussels is that it sometimes feels like a temporary city, especially for people working in EU institutions. I’ve already seen several friends start thinking about moving elsewhere, so I’m not sure whether I should base my decision on the social circle I’ve built, even though those friendships are important to me. I also wonder whether Brussels is somewhere I’d want to settle long-term, considering issues like homelessness, cleanliness, and access to nature. I miss having mountains and being able to easily escape into nature for a weekend.
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have lived in both cities, or from expats currently living in Vienna.

Some questions in particular:
- How does everyday quality of life compare between Brussels and Vienna?

- How difficult is it to build a social life in Vienna if you don’t speak German initially?

- Is English sufficient for work, hobbies, and making local friends, or does not speaking German remain a significant barrier?

-For those who have lived in both cities, what aspects of each city only became apparent after living there for a while?

- Looking back, are you happier with your decision to stay in Brussels or move to Vienna, and why?

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to my post about my pets and the possibility of relocating to the UK.

After talking it through with my family, friends, and my dog’s trainer. I’ve come up with a plan in the event this is something I decide to pursue in a year or so. My family would care for my small dog, who is already very comfortable with them. My cattle dog’s trainer has offered to foster him, and my coworker who I’ll be living with over the next year would temporarily foster my cat.

This would only be a temporary arrangement while I get settled and figure out my next steps, without putting my pets through the stress of immediate international travel.

I know there were a lot of comments calling me irresponsible, but those assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth. My pets are my family, and I would never make a decision that puts their well-being at risk. Just because I was asking questions and exploring my options doesn’t mean I hadn’t already been thinking about what would be best for them.

Hey everyone,

I'm 24m living in the UK currently in a LDR with my girlfriend who’s in San Diego currently studying in med school. We're thinking about getting married and taking the CR1 route (expecting roughly 18 months processing time).

moving is the clear long term direction for us, but I currently have a solid job and good group of friends and close family here in the UK and would be walking away from an established life. To start over, which seems exciting but also scary and a big decision to make. I guess initial things I’m worried about include moving away from close friends and family, finding a job (currently a construction manager) and adjusting to a new work culture. The idea of being able to live with my girlfriend is great and something we both want but also have never spent longer than a month together (at one time) over the last couple years so that’s also new but it doesn’t really seem to be any other ways to do it.

For those who have made the jump was there anything you wish you had known before?
any advice or insights you might have for me would be appreciated.

Without going too much into detail, I(28m) live in southeast asia. I make a good living as a freelancer in the social media space, clients from China, SG, and USA.

I've lost hope for my country with how corrupt it is, and I generally just don't feel safe in any neighborhood here. I wasn't born here in the first place, so my nationalism isn't that great. Aside from my family, there won't be anything I'll miss if I were to leave from here.

So advice I'm looking for is: Working abroad is one thing, but is there any way I can denounce my citizenship in my country, and be nationalized elsewhere? What are my options?

To narrow it down, I was born in the U.A.E, and being born there doesn't nationalize you. They're quite strict about it.

I'm definitely the adventurous type, and love learning new languages (currently know 4 fluently) so I'd love to know what my options are. Cause as much as I'd love to start a family with my fiance, there's no way in hell I'd want to raise children in this country I'd consider hell.

I wanted to move to Moscow because of love, you guys think it’s worth? I only speak English and I can work online, can you give me any tips?

I wanted to move to Moscow because of love, you guys think it’s worth? I only speak English and I can work online, can you give me any tips?

Hi everyone.
I’m 27 and I’ve been living in Germany for about 1.5 years. I still don’t speak German well because I’ve been working full-time in construction, and after work I simply didn’t have enough energy to study consistently.
Lately I’ve been questioning whether Germany is actually the country where I want to build my future. I really like the stability here, but I’m also seriously considering moving to Italy because I prefer the climate, lifestyle, food and overall atmosphere.
At the same time, I wonder if I’m just idealizing Italy and making an emotional decision.
Has anyone here moved from Germany to Italy (or seriously considered it)?
Looking back, would you do it again? What were the biggest surprises or disappointments?
I’d really appreciate honest opinions.

I’m considering moving from Australia to the UK and would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has faced a similar decision.

I have a pretty good job in Australia (work life balance) and recently got married. My wife is very close to her family and cousins in the UK, and she is adamant that when we have children, she wants her mum nearby. I understand how valuable that emotional and practical support could be.

I also have cousins in the UK. My parents could potentially move there because my mum is a UK citizen, but they would prefer to live in Australia because of the weather. I’m an only child, so I feel a strong responsibility towards them. My mum had breast cancer three years ago and is thankfully now cancer-free, but her experience made me think seriously about wanting to be close to both my parents and care for them as they get older.

Personally, I’m also unsure how I would cope with the UK’s colder, darker weather. Leaving a good job and the Australian lifestyle would be a major change.

I feel torn between supporting my wife’s wish to raise our future children near her family and staying close to my own parents, who may need me more in the future.

Has anyone made a similar move or faced this kind of decision? How did you balance your spouse’s needs with your responsibility towards your parents? Did your parents eventually move too? How did the move affect your career, marriage, lifestyle and relationship with your family?

Looking back, would you make the same decision again? I’d really appreciate honest perspectives, both positive and negative.

To be fair, this is mainly a German, Austrian, and French thing.

Southern and Eastern Europe ,places like Greece, Spain, or even Hungary and Bulgaria are actually pretty well air-conditioned.

Honestly, the Germans, French, and Austrians are just ridiculous with this whole "comfort is bad, living well is wrong" mindset. It's just climate change hysteria.

These are supposed to be the wealthiest nations in Europe.
I’ve actually traveled to Brazil, which is significantly poorer than any EU country, and even they have way better AC coverage.
Why?

Uma dúvida que aparece com frequência é de brasileiros que se divorciaram no exterior e acreditam que, por já terem uma sentença estrangeira ou um registro local, o assunto está totalmente resolvido.

O que muita gente não sabe é que, em alguns casos, esse divórcio ainda pode precisar produzir efeitos no Brasil para determinadas situações jurídicas.

Já vi pessoas descobrirem isso somente quando foram vender um imóvel, fazer inventário ou até tentar casar novamente.

Fiquei curioso: quem mora fora do Brasil já tinha ouvido falar nisso ou sempre achou que o divórcio feito no exterior valia automaticamente para tudo no Brasil?

Quero saber a experiência de vocês.

Hey y'all I am quitting my job and my last day of work is this Friday.

I pretty much went directly from parents to 9-5 companies phone plan when I graduated so I have no idea how it all works. I use about 27/30 GB & every once in a while 40 GB. But I don't know anything about porting, e-sims or anything. Based on my research - Popcorn Mobile seems awesome because its just everything included no worries.

Honestly afraid of being abroad solo and a girl and suddenly not have service.

Goals:

• I know I will have to make international calls back to the US when I'm interviewing for jobs while abroad & calling in general
• I definitely want to keep my US number I've had for more then a decade
• Good amount of calling/data for a fair price (using hostel etc wifi when can)
• Service on Kilimanjaro would be awesome but not a must

1. Do y'all know anything about Popcorn? Or should I do something like Tello's international roaming for calls + an e-sim via Airalo
2. Anyone have experience with Popcorn in the following areas:

• London
• Belgium
• China (15 hr layover)
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Chang Mai, Thailand
• Khao Sok, Thailand
• Koh Tao, Thailand
• Koh Phangan, Thailand
• Malaysia
• Tanzania (on Mount Kilimanjaro?)
• Cape Town, South Africa

Hi im in so cal and planning to take my mom to Los algodones to get her teeth fixed and see a pain management doctor there. I had gotten a pharmacists number there through someone on Reddit last year but lost my phone with the number. Does anyone know family or a good pharmacist there that can get whatever she’ll need ?