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Programming Jobs Abroad For a US Citizen?
An anonymous reader writes "I am a American citizen with a masters in Computer Science from a 3rd tier college and 4 years of work experience under my belt. I would like to work somewhere abroad in Europe for a couple years before I get too settled in life but have no clue where to start. I only speak English but would love to learn a second language. What sort of opportunities are there for American citizens to work abroad? What countries offer the best opportunity to balance a challenging work environment with enough vacation to explore the rest of Europe in my free time? Any hassles I should know about?"
Typical European who has no idea how the US government works. George Bush is only one part. Learn the facts then come back to a US based website to debate.
- 50% more annual rainfall than London
- Women are expected not to have a career
- A dark skinned person in a business suit gets funny stares
- Yesterday was the first sunny day this summer
Anyone who reads that book you shamelessly promoted here will assume the authors are joking. It can't possibly really be like that, or can it?
A common mistake is to refer to Europe as one place - it's not.
Yes, I agree. I'm Swiss, and my experience is with Switzerland and its neighboring countries. I have friends in Germany, France, Austria, Italy, the UK and Spain, and I think my points hold true for those countries.
This does not mean that you won't find anyone who hates the US in those countries, of course. It's my impression that generally, people in those countries like Americans. There is no general dislike (similar to how all Americans seem to dislike the French).
There are increasing number of jobs offered for programmers in the Muslim world. If you are practicing Muslim professional, you can find work in Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Pakistan.
With a lot of additional pressure and hassle for Muslims here and most of all unsuitable educational environment for children, many of my Muslim colleagues moved either to their original country or to one of rich Arabic countries.
Advantages are: cheap Islamic madrasas for your children, access to Islamic education for adults, access to 'Ulama (Islamic theologians) to gain knowledge in many life situations, access to learning Arabic language and generally Islamic environment (Islamic dress, hearing Adhaan - call for prayer - on the streets).
Drawbacks: lack of higher education in many countries for grown up children. Many of the friends who left are planning to return back when their kids will reach college age.
I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
It is unfair to say that all or even most Americans dislike the French
True, but it is at some level a farily universal feeling. You can actually watch mainstream TV shows or talk shows where people will make derogatory remarks about the French, and nobody will bat an eyelid. It's universally accepted, even expected behavior.
Clearly, some Americans use these "surrender monkey" remarks as an ironic device to make fun of their fellow Americans, but that actually shows how universally this works. Speaking badly of the French so ingrained in contemporary American culture that you can make jokes about it that everyone gets.
who the fuck is Chuck Norris? i also grew up in the 90s and as far as i can remember, everybody wanted to take as many drugs as the Deal twins and play drums like Dale Crover :-).
This is a joke, right?
American politics these days does really piss off many people in Europe
That does not contradict what I said. In fact, I pointed out the same.
He/she could have added that thinking of your own anecdotal experience of a nation as typical of the whole place is also a mistake. Remember, you self-select your sample by choosing who you prefer to spend time with :P
This is untrue in this case. You don't choose who you hang with until you're able to choose where you live and work. You go to the school you go to, and that pretty much determines your friends.
The whole American culture thing was not a local fad. It was everywhere. Magazines, TV shows, the clothes people wore on the street.
You win the discussion :-)