Where in europe should I live and work?

I've sort of been planning on moving to somewhere in europe in hopefully the coming years. I've looked at London primarily because of the language issue. However I have a friend who insists I check out Berlin. I had never really thought about it but I know nothing about Berlin. He and I were colleagues in grad school and we're both in the art scene.

I'm wondering, for those in europe, any suggestions -- professional and otherwise? I want to seriously live and stay somewhere outside the U.S. for a period of time.

 

^Go to france...
that would be a real challenge.

 

As i mentioned in the Art Threat. We do have a scene over here as well.
ANd I d defnitly recommand Berlin. You should listen to your friend :smt023
You would fint in perfrectly...

http://www.dailymotion.com/de/creative/1
hm, didnt quite find a propper page but ill look more into it after my assignment is done...

 

A real challenge? How so? Besides the language that is.


@GermanLady
And, I'm definitely going to visit Berlin. I trust my friend's advice. Hopefully in the coming year or so.

 

I don´t know, which kind of art, but for sure Berlin is a metropole..I was living once in Cologne, for me the biggest art scene in Germany..

But also London is pretty nice.

The language shouldn´t be a problem in Germany, they are speaking automatically english with you.

I would always advice Switzerland, it´s international and much more possiblities and money is over here than in the rest of Europe (except Monte Carlo, for sure).

The most interesting art scene is for me Paris and Milano..but french and italian people don´t like to talk english very much..

 

Hm, i dont know anything about the art scene in cologne.
Kassel, Stuttgart, Frankfurt/Offenbach.... Well, every city with a bigger art or film college has a pretty nice scene.
But Berlin, is a metropole, that is true, furthermore there are the Potsdam Babelsberg Film Studios
Everyone tries to get a foot in there.... rayer:
Its a brewing pot of young people just like NY or London.
And u are right Christine, Paris is defnitly a very nice city for this also, but yeah, english is not really a thing there, still...
But i think you would get along. SOmehow....

 

The creative scene in London is immense with alot of exciting things happening right now. The hub is recognised as East London (Shoreditch/Brick Lane) but there is plenty happening all over the city. Also from London you've v.easy access to Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff, Brighton, Birmingham and even Paris. All cities with top artistic pedigree.

 

Yep, agree with dazzyd. London is pretty chill but England in general is going to be your best bet because us English folk are ace.
PLUS, not only do you have train acess to France, the flights from London to other parts of Europe are very very cheap.

 

Come to London... a huge, diverse city.. definately worth looking into

 

Beats me why you would want to come to Europe why not go to an exotic place away from all the madness?

 

Well, I'm not sure what you mean by "exotic". However I just want to move to Europe as a starting point. Maybe eventually travel out further. Also, I sort of enjoy madness.

 

If I were moving to Europe, I'd go to Greece or Italy...... I've only actually been to the UK and France which were both lovely, but I've always wanted to go to Greece especially. *happy sigh*
Good luck in your search rpeg, that is so exciting!

 

Exotic as in beautifully different and not the Western World. If you want madness then take your pick as all of Europe is mad in its own way but I would opt for the UK as those in charge are certainly mad:smt095, one need only look at the politics; illegal wars; thieving bankers etc etc. That's a thought maybe you could hook up with a banker.

 

Not to mention the thieving MP's and having a non elected PM- lol

 

Do you anyone in London or Berlin Rpeg? If not it would be a little tougher to live in work in the EU.

 

London is vibrant and buzzing or Brighton big on the art scene or Brussels in Belgium is a cool place v. ethnically diverse and though french/flemish are the main languages, in brussels english speaking is common place.

 

If it work you are looking for, and you wish to be at the centre of Europe, then I suggest Brussels, Belgium.
If you wish to remain in an English speaking country, then the U.K., Ireland, Malta.
If you are looking for nice weather, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece ...........
Europe is a continent.
The E.U. has approx 550m people.

 

As I said in another thread, Europe is NOT a Utopia but are coping with most of the crisis better than the United States.

I'm in tuned to what's going on in Germany through its English media DW and follow the BBC quite a bit, along with RT which is Russia Today, stated owned English news programing from Russia (studios in NYC and Washington DC)

Europe has its own set of problems but far down on the list is how they treat African-Americans. In other words its not a problem, in fact it can be seen as a net positive.

France I wouldn't recommend for several reason, the least of which that French is almost required even in Paris though its the most visited city in Europe by NON FRENCH speakers, go figure.

Southern France has mild weather though, if your from a mild climate in the US, then I would put this on your list.

Spain has really HIGH unemployment so I would believe you might run into a far amount of resentment among the male population. If they don't concern you (and it shouldn't) then the female population including the expat population might find you quite interesting.

I should mention that beyond the You Tube videos, Spain was the seen for the so-called Black Face incident with Lewis Hamilton in 2008. But don't concern yourself with Spain, mostly that's no threat to anybody not anymore since the 1700's like I said with high debt and crushing unemployment.

High On My List of desirable countries is -

• Germany, especially Berlin. If you did happen to find the love of your life, there are English speaking schools and even entire neighborhoods where English is widely spoken. Vibrant Performing Arts and Visual Arts as well.
• Copenhagen, Denmark, if you have to ask then you don't need to go.
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Amsterdam, Netherlands, though for Arts I would recommend Den Hague

Best thing to do is go there yourself, get a cheap Hostel for a few weeks and soak it in...

 

DJ4M,you are correct on those cities providing you know someone there and then it gets easier.

 

For Berlin there's a English magazine called Exberliner that follows the art scene, along with coverage of the local nightclub scene. You can also find places to rent from other English speakers including Native Germans that mainly hang out with the English speaking crowd.