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#Post#: 10598--------------------------------------------------
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence? Any
Idea, citizens of Even Greener pastu
By: Sudeep Date: December 27, 2018, 12:26 pm
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What do you think of this? People think if they go out of their
country, everything would be fine as they could make their
dreams come true. Well, they certainly achieve what they want
and if that's what all they want, then the literal meaning of
that idiom is satisfied but I want to know your view and want
you to prove the idiomatic meaning of it. What are the
challenges?
Special invitation to SHL to put his view as I know he loves
Germany ;D but I would like to listen the challenges you think
you would face while living in Germany.
How can one stop getting confused between "going abroad for a
peaceful/beautiful life" and "staying in his/her own country and
make their life they want it to be"?
#Post#: 10600--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: Alharacas Date: December 27, 2018, 6:10 pm
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I once ran away to another country. Then I found out - surprise!
- that you can't run away from yourself. Once I'd come to terms
with that, I really liked living abroad, though. It's not that
it's any better anywhere else, mind you, it's just that it
doesn't seem to matter so much. All the corruption, all the
really hair-raising stories* I heard over time - they were just
stories to me. Whereas, if and when awful things happen in the
country I was born in, I get really upset about them in a very
personal way.
*As in: "... really nice place by the seaside, yes. Only, you
know, seeing the heavies come in every Monday with huge bin bags
full of money? And we were all so afraid, we didn't even talk
about it among ourselves. It just made me sick, so I asked for a
transfer to another branch of the bank." Did not believe a word
of it, told it to a lawyer friend of mine. She shrugged, said
"Yes, well, I used to work for a bank, didn't I tell you? Only
in my case it was politicians coming in with the bin bags, not
drug smugglers. That's why I handed in my notice."
#Post#: 10602--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: Allie Date: December 28, 2018, 9:01 am
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I moved the Emerald Isle, so it’s pretty green.
(Spoiler alert: this will be a gigantic answer as it’s serious
and personal)
Now seriously, I know what people mean when they ask about “my
country”, but in my head, “my country” is Ireland. It’s the
place where my life is, it’s home.
I never really felt at home where I was raised and even though I
have always tried to be as intimate about it as I could, when I
left for good, no one was surprised. Everybody knew it’d happen
eventually.
I had been in other places before, but when I decided to leave
definitely, my life was as good as it could be, probably the
best it had been at that time, but it was not about that.
It was about intrinsic differences that just couldn’t be
ignored.
Leaving your country is no picnic. You may experience cultural
shocks (only two come to mind in my case), but there are also
the small things that are different and no one mentions… such as
the way to dispose of rubbish, the way to address shop
assistants, the humour, the cultural references…
There are also the practical problems: money (it’s not cheap),
finding a place to live (when you don’t have a network of
contacts), finding a job (when you have the “wrong” passport),
language (maybe you don’t speak the language well or you speak
the textbook version of the language and reality hits you hard)
Having said that, I have never regretted this decision.
People ask me about the weather (utter bs), the food (don’t miss
it at all), the friends and family (now those are good points),
the language (meh) and etc, etc, etc.
Sure, there may be some downsides, but there are many positives
things too.
Sometimes I look at the mountains and can’t help but think this
is indeed a beautiful place. Then there’s the way people are
kind and polite with me. I also love how you can afford wine and
cheese every day if you want without being rich.
One of those days I caught myself walking in the streets at 4
a.m. and when I was looking at the few cars going by, the lights
and all, I just felt an incredible sense of freedom and then I
realised I wouldn’t be able to do it in “my country”.
Beaches my arse. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Will I stay in Ireland forever?
I am not sure, but I have no plans of going back to
you-know-where.
#Post#: 10603--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: Kseniia Date: December 28, 2018, 9:12 am
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Well, I agree that the grass isn't always greener on the other
side of the fence - but sometimes it is. Especially if you come
from the Sahara, metaphorically speaking. Plus, of course, the
world isn't a very nice place in general and there's no heaven
on earth but if you think there's something (or someone) in
another country that can make your life more meaningful and
enjoyable, why not go there? Why should the reasons for staying
be weaker than the reasons for leaving?
#Post#: 10606--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: Truman Overby Date: December 28, 2018, 10:10 am
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Elf, you have just TRIGGERED Steve the fake German! Shame on
you! ;D
Between this and mine
HTML https://evengreener.createaforum.com/general-discussion/well-how-about-that!/msg10605/?topicseen#msg10605<br
/>we have just ruined 2019 for Steve. :'(
#Post#: 10608--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: SHL Date: December 28, 2018, 11:05 am
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[quote author=Truman Overby link=topic=716.msg10606#msg10606
date=1546013440]
Elf, you have just TRIGGERED Steve the fake German! Shame on
you! ;D
Between this and mine
HTML https://evengreener.createaforum.com/general-discussion/well-how-about-that!/msg10605/?topicseen#msg10605<br
/>we have just ruined 2019 for Steve. :'(
[/quote]
Elf makes a great point and inspires hope for unhappy Americans,
of which there are millions. From the time they are born,
Americans are force-fed a lie. Namely, that „America is the best
country in the world.“ Total BS. NO IT IS NOT! What an arrogant,
jingoistic statement? Totally absurd.
Quite the opposite is true. It`s one of the worst countries to
live in, ranking way at the bottom. Europe is 1000% better, and
Germany is my choice of the best of the best. But Elk`s points
are well-taken.
#Post#: 10610--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: Sudeep Date: December 28, 2018, 12:24 pm
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Thank you guys for some interesting information and opinions.
Steve, so far you are the only American I have come across who
praise his country from the bottom of the heart ;D I don't know
but I think the US has given a lots of hard time to you
otherwise no one dislikes his country to this extent :-\
#Post#: 10620--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: SHL Date: December 28, 2018, 8:45 pm
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[quote author=Sudeep link=topic=716.msg10610#msg10610
date=1546021485]
Thank you guys for some interesting information and opinions.
Steve, so far you are the only American I have come across who
praise his country from the bottom of the heart ;D I don't know
but I think the US has given a lots of hard time to you
otherwise no one dislikes his country to this extent :-\
[/quote]
Sudeep,
I`m just being realistic. I`m not ranking the US down there with
say, Somalia or someplace. No. But it´s sure not up near the
top, like so many Americans want to tell you. No way.
If there are 170-180 countries in the world, the US might rank
around the middle maybe? Around say, number 80 or 90 down the
list. Now, if Calfornia could become its own country, that would
be a major improvement for my State and we`d rank much much
higher. We might start looking more like a Canada or something.
#Post#: 10624--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: NealC Date: December 28, 2018, 10:07 pm
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Back in reality land, California is ranked 23rd compared to the
other 50 states, 43rd in fiscal stability, 46th in economic
opportunity, and dead last (50th) in Quality of Life.
HTML https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california
#Post#: 10626--------------------------------------------------
Re: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
Any Idea, citizens of Even Greener p
By: SHL Date: December 28, 2018, 11:36 pm
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[quote author=NealC link=topic=716.msg10624#msg10624
date=1546056449]
Back in reality land, California is ranked 23rd compared to the
other 50 states, 43rd in fiscal stability, 46th in economic
opportunity, and dead last (50th) in Quality of Life.
HTML https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california
[/quote]
Neal,
That is an absolute outrage, that article. Ranking under Quality
of Life, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota at
the top, and even putting Mississippi as number 6 and Arkansas
as number 7? Is this some kind of sick joke? (I`ll leave New
Hampshire out for the moment).
Just for our non-American friends here, okay, North Dakota and
Minnesota are what we call „Siberia with family restaurants.“
You know, Siberia with Denny´s everywhere or Wafflehouses? Those
places are horrid. Can you imagine even being there this time of
the year? My God. Like driving around the Arctic Circle. The
Arctic Circle with roads. That´s a good visual picture. And
Wisconsin? What in the world is in Wisconsin? That`s hardly
better. Also probably a snowcap. Why would anyone even go to
these places? Then someone had the nerve to put Mississippi on
as number 6? Please. That is an insult. That place is like,
Popeye Fried Chicken stands everywhere, people living in shacks,
obesity like you wouldnt believe (half the population must have
type 2 diabetes), horrible healthcare. That is the most backward
State in the Country and always has been. And, Arkansas coming
it at number 7?? Where are they getting these standards from?
Picking the worst places in the country and saying their quality
of life is great? This whole article just gives me too much,
it´s so biased and bizarre. And, how did California come in as
last on the list? That makes no sense.
Neal, this article looks like you wrote it.
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