Moving from the US to the EU soon... Any advice?
Moving from the US to the EU soon... Any advice?
Hi all!
We're very excited to move to Denmark soon as lifelong Americans. I have a good job lined up, and we're set on a place to live for a while.
Any advice from people who have done it, looked it up, had friends who have done it, etc? Just in general :)
Getting new friends in Denmark can be difficuelt at first. Many are reserved and needs to thaw up first. Do not expect colleagues to invite you home, if you are ysed to that. However, when people open up it is because they like and respect you. Danes are in general not superficial as Americans often can be. So remember, we are not unfriendly, just different from Americans :) Advise from a 100% Dane.
Do you speak the local language, if not start getting courses now, even if many person are fluent in english, not everyone will want to speak English. (You know the joke about Parisian who don't know English if you start talking with them in English, but would switch to a perfect English if you have a slight foreign accent when speaking french)
Expect that even basic stuff won't work the same way as you're used too. It's already an issue when moving between two European countries, even basic stuff like what you can legally find on a lease or how to get health coverage will drastically change.
In southern Europe people are pretty touchy/tactile and an America would feel sexually harrassed, Nordic Europe is the other way around with pretty distant people where an American would pass for way too touchy/friendly
Learn to ride a bike, and expect to walk way more than in the US, also remember that even though winter are milder, Europe is way far up north than the US
It's worth it. I'm almost two years in Germany. Wouldn't move back for a million dollars (although at 3 I could be bought). Work on the local language, volunteer or other community involvement activities, treat it like the new home it is. We're fortunate to be able to move to a new country, try to be a part of improving it and earning your spot there. I'm even more fortunate to be white, male, straight etc - assuming you're at least some of those things, do your best to counter the anti-immigration fear mongering that comes out of the political right. It effects you now, but more importantly it's ramping up and it'll effect people less fortunate far worse.
Hope you love it and welcome to Europe.
In the middle now.
Wife is already Swedish so I'm doing it on easy mode, plus job is remote.
Politeness, wow, that's tough to get used to. Trying to fix my silicon valley manners and I'm still coming off as the biggest asshole.
Government is more involved in your life, but it's not too bad, just something you get used to, ups and downs, they mostly try to help.
Amazon is shit, thats a thing for me, but you manage.
They have a food culture.
No, you may have misunderstood me, I did not say they have food in their culture, I mean a significant part of their societal culture revolves around food.
Did not understand this, used to Door dashing and eating to get by, they don't do that, food matters to them, spending half a day cooking is just a thing you do, it's not work to them anymore than watching YouTube is.
Otherwise you'll get by, just try to tone down your socialization reflexes, they're more reserved and our outgoing nature can scare them shitless if they're not ready for it.
- learn the language AND CUSTOMS
- don't hang out in foreigner/english bubbles
- don't assume anything works the way it does in the US (from gasoline and driving to medical to government). There are lots of little things that seem like they obviously must be done X way but aren't in other countries
- be careful with any investments. It's very easy to end up with PFICs which are punitively taxed (making retirement vehicles here in Japan outside of the national pension prohibitive for me, for instance).
- celebrate
- bring any snacks that you can legally bring but they can't legally sell (some things with food dyes, etc. if you really like them are banned in some countries to produce/sell but not eat).
- Language is by far the most important door opener, so put in one hour of learning every day for at least a year.
- Mingle to get out of your comfort zone: Go to after-work parties and flea markets, take public transit. Use hobbyist/ meet-up apps. Read/ watch the local news.
- Don't expect to be invited, especially not to people's homes. People might also be uncomfortable being invited to your home. Meeting in a public place is almost always the better option, unless you've gotten to know someone really well.
- Irony/ sarcasm don't translate very well between cultures.
- Europe has some lousy weather, so get watertight coats and waterproof your shoes and backpacks.
- Take it slow.
- Also: Enjoy it! Europe is a fantastic little place at the crossroads between Asia and Africa and I would never want to leave.
Unless work is helping you out, expect to have difficulties opening up bank account in EU due to FATCA. Lots of banks don't want to deal with that, so they'll outright reject Americans.
As others have said, try to learn the language, at least a little. Although I'd say 90% of the population will know English.
Take ferry over to Germany if you want cheaper beer/wine/alc. The Swedes go to Denmark, and Danish go to Germany :).
Q: will you be returning to the US?
Hej Frank!
Welcome in advance!
Where are you gonna live? You don't need to specify city, but perhaps approximate destination? Jylland, Fyn, Sjælland? And which part?
Which line of work?
Indeed, try to learn Danish even though it is a ridiculous language. I believe there are even free courses, although I am not absolutely sure. Here's a few words to get you started:
Hej/godmorgen/goddav' = hello/good morning/howdy (last word especially in Jutland)
Farvel = goodbye
Tak = thank you
Velbekomme = you are welcome
Undskyld = sorry
Undskyld mig = excuse me
Ingen problem = no worries
Jeg hedder Frank = my name is Frank
Godt at møde dig = nice to meet you
Vi ses/hav det godt = see you/take care
Hav en god dag = have a good dayAnd remember! Free health care! Free schools and education! Although you will pay higher taxes, lol.
Hope you will enjoy! And feel free to ask questions. I live very near Aarhus in Eastern Jutland.
EDIT: formatting some how went wrong, just realised now. Sorry! Fixed.
You could finally visit the only real Legoland in Billund of course!
Since you are moving to Denmark: flee! Take a car and drive north to seek refuge in Sweden. Once you make it there you are safe, but you never know, the Danes could invade any minute. Keep driving north until you start seeing reindeer walking around like they own the place. Move into a cabin in the woods and never look back. The Danes can't reach you there.
Time to learn a new language, unless you're moving to Ireland or Malta I guess. Tons of people come to Germany and are shocked when not everyone speaks English.
Anyway, I think you'll get better answers if you specify a country. The EU is quite diverse, so I don't think there's a ton of advice that'll be true everywhere in the EU.
Do everything you can to learn the language quickly. Take any language class offer you get. It will make life much easier in a new country, especially if you're looking to make friends. Immerse yourself in the culture immediately.
Remember that Europeans, especially Scandinavians, are not as openly friendly as Americans. They can seem cold and distant at first. It's not because they are not friendly, it's just a cultural feature. Once you get to know them, most open up and they are awesome.
On financials, keep all your bank accounts and credit cards open in the US and use a US address for them (and get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees). Don't advertise to the US banks that you moved overseas. Just use a family member's or friend's address. Also note that European banks don't have rewards credit cards, so I only use US rewards cards with no foreign transaction fees when living overseas. They'll send you replacement cards overseas if you ask them to, even when your account address is in the US.
If you don't already have retirement IRA accounts set up (not just 401k), do it before you leave the US. Also, open a brokerage account (e.g. Schwab or Fidelity) with a US address before you leave and don't change the address to your overseas address, ever. Leave as is. It can be very hard for Americans to invest because foreign banks are required to report different things to US authorities about customers who are American citizens. They don't want the bother, so they may not allow you to open an account there. And once you move it will be much harder to open the account in the US. Use a service like Wise to move funds cheaply to your US accounts for investments and paying off credit cards.
Get a cheap eSIM phone subscription with a US phone number for two-step verification abroad. You can use Wifi-calling to connect.
Finally, remember that you are eligible to vote in the US as a US citizen living overseas. You'll still be registered as a voter in the state and county you moved overseas from. You'll use your most recent address, and you don't have to have any attachment to that address any longer. It's only for voting purposes. If you're not already registered to vote when you move overseas, you'll also use your most recent address to register to vote. More information here: https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter.
Good luck!
Create a second gmail account when you get there. Many apps that you will need there don't exist in the US app/playstore, so you will need the second account to download them.
Take me with you?
All round great advice. For a bit more silly one: record yourself opening the window for the first time in Denmark.
(iykyk)
Just dont pull a gun when some gets unauthorized on your property.
Buy fancy feast and put in on some toast. Now you know what danish food is like.
Don't walk in the bike path.
4th. of July is celebrated in Rebild, which could be a nice excuse to drive through the country and meet other Americans in Denmark.
Plus one for taking language lessons. Even if you don't plan on getting fluent, it will help you settle in a lot more
It'll be tempting, but don't try to drive there.