Should Americans upset with Trump move to Europe?

I am interrupting my travel stories to address a key issue of the week on which I have some insight. Due to Trump’s tragic victory ( in my eyes), many US Americans are looking at how to move to Europe. I have mixed opinions about it. On the one hand, I would like to see like-minded people move here, but I also know this fad happens every four years, no matter who wins. Some types of US Americans, I don’t want here. But I also believe everyone should be able to go wherever they want.

I started my life in Europe in 2011 and have lived on this continent since, except for a few 3-month stints on other continents here and there. I would never trade it for a life back in the United States, at least a permanent life there. I might go back temporarily in the right situation. I miss a few things about the US that don’t involve politics. There were a few more things I was super naive about before moving to Europe. My previous experiences included family trips to some places and visiting the Netherlands, where my paternal side originates. I had some rose-colored glasses about that country.

Sorry for oversharing my CV, but it helps a bit with my brutally honest assessment. I am the last person who should say, ” No Americans.” I don’t feel that way, but I feel like presenting a few points about the good, bad, and ugly of being an American emigre in Europe. First, though, let me make this disclaimer: NOT ALL OF EUROPE IS EQUAL. Comparing Europe as a bloc to the US doesn’t work. So, this list isn’t going to be definitive. I am just putting some commonalities out there. I’ve lived in some countries but have spent a lot of time in others and visited almost all of them. These are very general guidelines.

The Good

• Walkable cities and public transport: I love that most European countries can be habitable without needing a car if you choose a sizable city. I’m not too fond of America’s driving culture. It also does a lot of damage to the mentality, as people are warier and distrusting of others if they drive to work and come and don’t associate with others out and about.
• Healthcare: I’m also going to cover some of this neutrally. But yes, you don’t go into medical debt here like in the States. It doesn’t involve that mess.
• American Prudish /Puritan culture isn’t so prevalent. Yes, some countries are socially conservative, such as Poland, which has abortion laws like Florida or worse. But this pertain mindset isn’t as set here as it is in the United States. Americans flip out over nudity, nontraditional relationships, and other things that can be commonly accepted in many countries. It’s free to be away from that.
• Better quality food is more affordable. This is quite general but often the case. Groceries in the US can vary, and the good places are expensive. Going for a night out in Europe is still less expensive than in most places in the States except for places like the Nordics, but still, I have to say, I’ve spent less on a night out in Sweden or the Netherlands than in some regular American city. Adding the tax and tip percentage after gets tiresome.
• It’s probably better for kids. However, I can’t say as much on this as I don’t have them. However, there is maternity leave and affordable daycare compared to the US. Although it doesn’t sound as easy as pie as some make it seem, again, I can’t comment. But no school shootings.
• American work culture is the worst. No, most of Europe isn’t like in the movies, but the hustle culture isn’t close to what it is in the United States. Every time I hear of someone’s job in the States going, I think I couldn’t go back if I wanted. Limited holidays and the corporate grind terrify me. The fact that so many people try to incorporate this talk into everything, even social occasions, gets exhausting.

The bad

• Right-wing parties are rising in Europe; it isn’t just the US. They get more attention because of their comedic value. However, some countries have 30-50 percent far right in their governments, even countries that used to be known as some of the most liberal in the world, like the Netherlands.
• Racism is still here. I’ve heard more racial slurs living in Central Europe than I ever did in the deep south of the US. Institutionally, racism isn’t as bad, except for Romani, then it gets pretty bad. But Cops don’t murder people close to the same rate as the US. The cops are bad, but they have training and too much in check to where they can’t shoot someone for some arbitrary reason. But casual racism is a significant thing. Don’t even get me started on how people talk about the Romani.
• Honestly, most Americans aren’t wanted. Many will judge you, and getting a job offer if you don’t have a specific skill will be challenging. It’s not impossible. But you aren’t going to be welcome with a red carpet. Moving to an EU country as a US citizen is more accessible than being a Thai or Ugandan citizen, for example, but you still have to get permission to live or work, depending on the purpose. If you don’t have an EU spouse or can acquire citizenship through a family member, it’s a lot of red tape. Luckily, many countries offer digital nomad visas. You can even try to do 3 months in a Schengen country and 3 months out of one. Albania and Georiga offer a year visa-free for US citizens.
• Newly arrived Americans with rose-colored glasses can be annoying as hell. I might have been one of them, and I’m sure I was annoying. But many move and think all the horrible problems of the US have gone away. Whenever anyone has any complaint about the new country, this person has to go on and talk about how much they like it better than the US. It’s pick-me behavior, and you shouldn’t take yourself seriously. Laughing at cultural differences and taking things with an objective, open mind is fine. Some things are way better, and some things suck.
• Arrogance and Self-Righteousness: Get ready to hear about you being the cause of everything wrong in the world. Well, this also varies by country, but I learned this reality when I was 15/16, visiting the Netherlands in the Bush years; I had men in their 40s smile at me and tell me with glee how awful the US is. I was actively protesting the war. These days, most anti-Americanism is a bunch of jokes, but they can be old. I don’t support most US foreign policy, but after spending time seeing all the social issues here. Yeah, some have less room to talk. Countries like France and the Netherlands have a long imperialistic history. Austria recently picked a fascist party. Don’t get me started on some others.

The Neutral

Or, if you want to call it ugly, you can! Some of it can be good; it just depends on your taste. It works for some but doesn’t appeal to everyone.

• Making local friends isn’t always easy. Like most of the world, many regular-ass Europeans are like regular-ass Americans; they are mainly interested in their five friends from high school or college. If you are learning a language, they won’t be that interested in talking to you unless you become fluent in their language, and even then, it is also likely they don’t care.
• Salaries aren’t even close to the US. Unless you end up somewhere like Northern Europe or Luxembourg, your salary isn’t close to what you would make in the US. I don’t mind going with less, But many Americans need more space and more things. Consumerism is an issue here, but not as much as in the US. I make 1/3rd- 1/5th of what many Americans I know make, and I travel all the time. Working online makes it much more feasible, but I don’t own much. I have a small apartment that isn’t much bigger than living rooms in some American-sized houses.
• Cultural Differences I won’t review cultural differences as they vary from country to country. But chances are wherever you move, you will find some cultural differences irritating. It isn’t a value judgment. It is just different. On the other hand, you might find some new cultural differences you like and think the US is backward for not doing it. As I said in the ugly section, it shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Patience, a sense of humor, and some effort to understand a bit of the culture and language can go a long way.
• Healthcare: I had healthcare in the good, but here is some neutral points. Yes, healthcare is more affordable. But don’t expect doctors always to be empathetic. Bedside mannerisms can be horrendous. Getting a specialist takes forever. It took me 4 years to get treated for ADHD in Slovenia. I had to get it taken care of in Czechia, where I had a doctor who does that. Navigating how healthcare systems work can be painful if you don’t know the system and the language.

The verdict?

Frankly, it depends on you. Do you want a large salary and a big house? Maybe rethink it unless you have some super good job. Do you want some international experience? Go for it. Maybe give it a year or two and determine later. Nothing is set in stone.

I believe an international experience is precious; everyone should have one at least once if they find the means to do it. However, you don’t have to pick Europe for this. I’m strongly thinking about relocating to Vietnam at some point or spending a year in LATAM in the not-so-distant future. There is so much more to the world than Europe, and there are many more welcoming places.

Also, people in the US need advocacy from some of the blowback to Trump’s policies. Many people need to resist and organize this chaotic system that is about to take place. But I won’t tell someone to stay there as I left. It’s just a factor to think about. Alright, so there we have it; it’s my honest assessment. There is a clear answer. The goal is to present some points to consider. If you are interested, check out some of my writing on the issue and maybe contact my side project that helps people relocate to Europe.