Alright now that I shared my awesome new job, I can finally share with you how moving abroad is going.

[chergert@my.devsuite.app]

@Gina Lots of youtube and being okay with 1 year somewhere while we refine our choice.

We landed in Antibes and are waiting to see if we like it post-tourist season. But mostly it's a good spot with good transportation to find something that is a better culture fit.

Old men here stare at my wife constantly and try to cat call in Chinese (wtf?) so we are comfortable using it as a trampoline to somewhere new.

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@bundyo I've heard of people moving to Bulgaria for the very low taxes, but idk it seems a bit far for me.

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@wraptile I'd love to be able to live in Thailand ️ Best country and people on the planet.

But for now, I'm limited to Europe

[graves501@fosstodon.org]

@Gina Oh, so you've already started getting rid of furniture etc? Ah, that's why you were so annoyed with online marketplace stuff

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@chergert aah keep us posted!

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@graves501 yeah selling my stuff on Marketplace has been "fun".

[graves501@fosstodon.org]

@Gina Passion of the Gina, coming to the cinemas soon. Directed by Mel Gibson.

[yngmar@social.tchncs.de]

@Gina @bundyo Don't underestimate the burden of learning a new language. Especially while you're focused on doing something else, like a new job.

Some are much easier to pick up than others, especially if they have shared roots with one you already know.

Also language learning resources vary greatly. Plenty for learning popular ones like Italian, French or Spanish. But good luck if you chose a more niche one. Bulgarian has the added bonus of learning new letters as well

[gina@fosstodon.org]

Okay so, I'm still not 100% sure whether I'm making the right choice. I always thought I'd end up in a nice farm house in France, but because of tax reasons France is not an option. And because of weather reasons the whole of Northern Europe isn't an option

So it basically comes down to Spain or Italy.

Edit: I'm staying in Europe to minimise timezone differences. #moveabroad

[maique@social.lol]

@Gina Portugal, maybe?

[petko@social.petko.me]

@Gina Spain? You seem to be way more heat-tolerant than I am

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@maique not a fan of Portugal, sorry 🥲

[maique@social.lol]

@Gina Ok.

[gvlx@masto.pt]

@maique @Gina Of course not!
That place is horrifying!

[koehntopp@infosec.exchange]

@Gina
Moving southwards should be easy, most of the population is moving north to escape the heat 🫣

[jetro@mastodon.nl]

@Gina not Portugal? Azores or Madeira?

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@gvlx @maique my ex is half Portugese so we spent a lot of time in Lagos, Luz and Lisbon. Beautiful country and beautiful places, but despite trying to learn for 3 years Portugese just didn't stick in my brain. 🥲

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@Jetro I'd rather not stay on an island. For some reason I get a bit claustrophobic after a few weeks Portugal is nice, but doesnt feel like my place.

[albertcardona@mathstodon.xyz]

@Gina

For Spain beware of past (and present) corruption that led to building construction on top of seasonal streams, that often run dry for years until they don’t, slamming everything on their path with a 5-meter tsunami wave. We call them “riera” (plural “rieres”), also “barranc” (or “barranco” in Spanish).

If you are looking for a place with good food, proximity to both mountains and sea, and many sunny days, the city of Girona (and nearby towns) is hard to beat. Likewise but with less sun, and directly on the coast, Donosti.

[deach@hachyderm.io]

@Gina is it the rain or also darkness that you’re trying to avoid? Cause Stockholm is quite sunny and with quite little rain tbh