That quiz is so amazingly US-biased. It feels like it was designed by someone who has never lived anywhere else! They can't even envisage that for some people Christmas has no significance at all and that religions don't matter for most Europeans and East Asians.
Anyway I got Japan, which isn't surprising since I have lived there because I had a strong attraction to this country. However it didn't turn out to be very liveable for me. Too muggy summers, too narrow-minded society... And now a strong intolerance to gluten that prevents me from eating out almost anywhere because there is gluten is soy sauce and the lack of gluten-free alternative like in many European countries.
I have spent at least a few months of my life in nine countries and visited over 50. All in all, I'd say I am happy with Belgium, and could easily live in places like southern England, Denmark, Switzerland, New Zealand, etc.
For the majority of people moving to another country is a purely theoretical question. From experience I can tell that what looks nice in theory may turn out quite differently in real life, because there are always factors that people fail to consider or just couldn't know until they live in the country, such as cultural compatibility.
France is great in theory, but there are quite a few things about French society, lifestyle and mindset that would put me off, although some regions are more compatible than others. I mean, come on! How could I live in a place where DNA tests are prohibited? However politically and economically things appear to be set to change for the better with Macron as president.
Then there is always the issue of the language. I have done my best to learn the language of every country where I have lived while I was there. But unless you are only planning to move as an expat for a few months or years, the affinity with the local language, your ability to learn it, and the idea of living everyday speaking that language for many years should be considered seriously. That's why I am not going to consider moving to Hungary, for instance. Some countries are more accommodating to English speakers than others, like Scandinavian countries where most people can speak reasonable English (although don't expect native levels).
It's very hard for me to imagine living in the US, except maybe more liberal and less religious enclaves like California, NYC and New England. But even so, I am not sure I'd like the climate, the fact that it is still a gun-based society where religion is omnipresent and where a lot of people have a very antagonistic attitude (lawsuits for anything). Then there is relatively little social protection, and US doesn't care much about protecting its citizens against harmful food additives and other chemicals compared to other developed countries. The EU has banned over 1000 chemicals deemed to be health hazards that are still legal in the US. It's not surprising that life expectancy is rising slower in the US than in OECD countries, and the gap between the US and other developed countries has been widening since the 1990's, especially for women (perhaps because of unregulated, toxic cosmetics). I frankly don't think that quality of life is better in the US than in Western Europe, except maybe for the 1% (not that the 1% in Europe is so much worse off than in America).
Anyway I got Japan, which isn't surprising since I have lived there because I had a strong attraction to this country. However it didn't turn out to be very liveable for me. Too muggy summers, too narrow-minded society... And now a strong intolerance to gluten that prevents me from eating out almost anywhere because there is gluten is soy sauce and the lack of gluten-free alternative like in many European countries.
I have spent at least a few months of my life in nine countries and visited over 50. All in all, I'd say I am happy with Belgium, and could easily live in places like southern England, Denmark, Switzerland, New Zealand, etc.
For the majority of people moving to another country is a purely theoretical question. From experience I can tell that what looks nice in theory may turn out quite differently in real life, because there are always factors that people fail to consider or just couldn't know until they live in the country, such as cultural compatibility.
France is great in theory, but there are quite a few things about French society, lifestyle and mindset that would put me off, although some regions are more compatible than others. I mean, come on! How could I live in a place where DNA tests are prohibited? However politically and economically things appear to be set to change for the better with Macron as president.
Then there is always the issue of the language. I have done my best to learn the language of every country where I have lived while I was there. But unless you are only planning to move as an expat for a few months or years, the affinity with the local language, your ability to learn it, and the idea of living everyday speaking that language for many years should be considered seriously. That's why I am not going to consider moving to Hungary, for instance. Some countries are more accommodating to English speakers than others, like Scandinavian countries where most people can speak reasonable English (although don't expect native levels).
It's very hard for me to imagine living in the US, except maybe more liberal and less religious enclaves like California, NYC and New England. But even so, I am not sure I'd like the climate, the fact that it is still a gun-based society where religion is omnipresent and where a lot of people have a very antagonistic attitude (lawsuits for anything). Then there is relatively little social protection, and US doesn't care much about protecting its citizens against harmful food additives and other chemicals compared to other developed countries. The EU has banned over 1000 chemicals deemed to be health hazards that are still legal in the US. It's not surprising that life expectancy is rising slower in the US than in OECD countries, and the gap between the US and other developed countries has been widening since the 1990's, especially for women (perhaps because of unregulated, toxic cosmetics). I frankly don't think that quality of life is better in the US than in Western Europe, except maybe for the 1% (not that the 1% in Europe is so much worse off than in America).
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