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

[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

[centuryavocado@know.me.uk]

@Gina @maique I've just happend upon living part time in Portugal since Christmas. Loving it what is it that you don't like?

Photos from last night \o/

#Portugal #Tavira

[maique@social.lol]

@Gina I can tell, just by the way you write “Portugese” Hopefully you have less issues with “Spainish”, or “Italianese”.

Joking, of course, maybe the other two languages won’t give you a hard time.

@gvlx

[centuryavocado@know.me.uk]

@Gina @gvlx @maique I am attempting to learn right now. It's a difficult language. Doesn't help that my course just got cancelled and fully refunded ;(

[itorres@social.xin.cat]

@Gina if you can afford to leave most of your things in a warehouse I would go mobile for a year and stay 2 or 3 months on each country and if possible on different cities. In Spain changing province can feel like changing country social and climate-wise.

If it’s for timezone I would also explore options from Egypt to Morocco. The Atlantic coast is amazing.

Also Spain and Italy have heatwave issues, I would look for northern mountain areas. Ivrea is delightful.

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@albertcardona I'm going to Girona this Friday!!

Edit: I'm viewing houses around Girona, in Platja D'Aro and outside of Barcelona. Barcelona itself is way too big and busy for me (plus I don't want to contribute to the insane housing crisis there), so hopefully Girona is nice.

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@deach if Stockholm didn't have endless dark winters I'd move there in a heartbeat. In fact I almost moved there during my 2nd year of Uni in Amsterdam. Beautiful city.

[jetro@mastodon.nl]

@Gina fair