Expats: Where are your favorite places you've lived?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in 11 cities in 8 countries and DC is by far the nicest of them. I was just thinking that while strolling around Dupont and Adams Morgan with my kids earlier today. Vancouver and London were also nice but too rainy. Paris was insane. Toronto is fantastically international but too cold, etc. DC wins hands down.

There are stunning places I visited a lot and loved like Dakar and Rio but the traffic is too crazy.

I've lived all over the place and I have to agree. DC really is world class in so many ways. I never appreciated it until I really had lived in so many other places and that's when I realized I needed to come back...

How so? Seriously, it has certain charms, but is incredibly provincial by world standards. That’s not only my opinion, but what I hear constantly from international visitors to the city. They are often surprised to find that the capital of the United States is so quaint, to put it politely.

I'm the 11 cities PP. Sure, the restaurants here are nothing special, the music and theater scenes are slow and boring compared to London and New York but in terms of qualify and pace of life, green space, concentration of interesting people, and local, community based culture, it's hard to beat. Anyway, the thread is about personal preference. DC happens to be my favorite. It may not be yours.

To the PP who argued with my rain comment, it may be true that DC gets more rainfall, but London and Vancouver have more days when you need an umbrella. Brussels is the same. I actually call that annoying misty rain "Brusseling" because that's where I first regularly experienced it. (Belgium has incredible food, surprisingly enough.)

Why would it be surprising that Belgium has incredible food? Of course it does!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in 11 cities in 8 countries and DC is by far the nicest of them. I was just thinking that while strolling around Dupont and Adams Morgan with my kids earlier today. Vancouver and London were also nice but too rainy. Paris was insane. Toronto is fantastically international but too cold, etc. DC wins hands down.

There are stunning places I visited a lot and loved like Dakar and Rio but the traffic is too crazy.

I've lived all over the place and I have to agree. DC really is world class in so many ways. I never appreciated it until I really had lived in so many other places and that's when I realized I needed to come back...

How so? Seriously, it has certain charms, but is incredibly provincial by world standards. That’s not only my opinion, but what I hear constantly from international visitors to the city. They are often surprised to find that the capital of the United States is so quaint, to put it politely.

I'm the 11 cities PP. Sure, the restaurants here are nothing special, the music and theater scenes are slow and boring compared to London and New York but in terms of qualify and pace of life, green space, concentration of interesting people, and local, community based culture, it's hard to beat. Anyway, the thread is about personal preference. DC happens to be my favorite. It may not be yours.

To the PP who argued with my rain comment, it may be true that DC gets more rainfall, but London and Vancouver have more days when you need an umbrella. Brussels is the same. I actually call that annoying misty rain "Brusseling" because that's where I first regularly experienced it. (Belgium has incredible food, surprisingly enough.)

This is not snark, but a sincere question: Can you elaborate a bit about the above bolded? I am genuinely interested to hear your perspective. Why do you find the people interesting and what are some examples of the local community, based culture? TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if you only meant to hear from non-US people or not.

I’m a current US citizen living as an immigrant/expat in Lisbon. I’ve also lived in Paris and rural areas of Thailand and Japan at various points in my life (my US experience was centered on NYC & DC).

I loved each experience for different reasons, but I realize I’m happiest in large cities.

My current favorite is Lisbon & I have no plans to move anytime soon. With a family, COL is reasonable and it’s fun being in EU - you don’t have to go far to experience other distinct cultures. I find the city super safe and I like the proximity to beaches. Having more sunshine (esp in the winter) lifts our spirits, and hardly any mosquitoes when compared to our Chevy Chase house. I’m less stressed and more relaxed here. Applying to naturalize this year.

What do you do in Lisbon? My DH and I have dreams of moving there in the next 3-4 years! Your experience sounds lovely.

DH is in finance, but he only puts in a few hours a day on primarily our own accounts, plus a handful of US-based private clients. I no longer work. We have a lot of free time & have created a happy social life. DS has 3 years left of HS, so he’s pretty independent at this point.

So is your son going to go to college in Portugal and basically settle their, or what are you thinking for him?

[Anonymous]

I agree with DC PP. I’m from London and have also lived in Paris, Jerusalem, New York and now DC. Each of those cities is special in its own way, but as a place to live, DC is my favourite. London, especially, is an amazing place to visit but is not great to live in because of, amongst other things, the grey drizzly weather, the cost, and the enormous size which means you are always travelling to get somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in 11 cities in 8 countries and DC is by far the nicest of them. I was just thinking that while strolling around Dupont and Adams Morgan with my kids earlier today. Vancouver and London were also nice but too rainy. Paris was insane. Toronto is fantastically international but too cold, etc. DC wins hands down.

There are stunning places I visited a lot and loved like Dakar and Rio but the traffic is too crazy.

I've lived all over the place and I have to agree. DC really is world class in so many ways. I never appreciated it until I really had lived in so many other places and that's when I realized I needed to come back...

Haha, the trouble with DC is that it is not aesthetically coherent. However every time I come back, I rediscover that our city is not too shabby.

[Anonymous]

Luxembourg and Copenhagen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luxembourg and Copenhagen.

Old rube here. Great choices!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if you only meant to hear from non-US people or not.

I’m a current US citizen living as an immigrant/expat in Lisbon. I’ve also lived in Paris and rural areas of Thailand and Japan at various points in my life (my US experience was centered on NYC & DC).

I loved each experience for different reasons, but I realize I’m happiest in large cities.

My current favorite is Lisbon & I have no plans to move anytime soon. With a family, COL is reasonable and it’s fun being in EU - you don’t have to go far to experience other distinct cultures. I find the city super safe and I like the proximity to beaches. Having more sunshine (esp in the winter) lifts our spirits, and hardly any mosquitoes when compared to our Chevy Chase house. I’m less stressed and more relaxed here. Applying to naturalize this year.

What do you do in Lisbon? My DH and I have dreams of moving there in the next 3-4 years! Your experience sounds lovely.

DH is in finance, but he only puts in a few hours a day on primarily our own accounts, plus a handful of US-based private clients. I no longer work. We have a lot of free time & have created a happy social life. DS has 3 years left of HS, so he’s pretty independent at this point.

So is your son going to go to college in Portugal and basically settle their, or what are you thinking for him?

We’ve let him know there is enough college savings for him to go anywhere in the world, including the US, and that he can use whatever is left toward a down payment on an apartment or to start a business. He’s looking into PT, NL & UK (esp Scotland).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved living in South Africa. (Good) wine cheaper than (good) water. Saw rhinos every week. Amazing culture. Interesting people. Great shopping. Easy to live very well. Perfect for a specific hobby that I love very much.

*1

[Anonymous]

London, zurich, and Shanghai are my faves

[Anonymous]

Utterly insufferable.

My favorite place has been Koh Samui.

[Anonymous]

For those who have lived in multiple cities in Europe, where would you recommend for a small family who wanted to do a lot of traveling. We were originally thing Paris would be fun and centrally located, but people don’t seem particularly high on it around here. Vienna maybe? We’d like to take our kids as many places as we can during our two year stint.

[Anonymous]

^originally thinking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who have lived in multiple cities in Europe, where would you recommend for a small family who wanted to do a lot of traveling. We were originally thing Paris would be fun and centrally located, but people don’t seem particularly high on it around here. Vienna maybe? We’d like to take our kids as many places as we can during our two year stint.

I would avoid bigger cities. That's just me. After a while, they are all the same and if you think you'll be drawn into a "foreign"culture living in a major city, think again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who have lived in multiple cities in Europe, where would you recommend for a small family who wanted to do a lot of traveling. We were originally thing Paris would be fun and centrally located, but people don’t seem particularly high on it around here. Vienna maybe? We’d like to take our kids as many places as we can during our two year stint.

I would avoid bigger cities. That's just me. After a while, they are all the same and if you think you'll be drawn into a "foreign"culture living in a major city, think again.

I would recommend Lyon. Much more pleasant than Paris, nicer weather, well located to travel Too many places in Europe, also a diverse and dynamic city.