BreakingOut.NET

I’m originally from England. 

Right now I’m travelling in Europe. 

Before that I lived for many years in Germany.

Leaving your native land and spending time living and working somewhere else is something I find well worthwhile and I highly recommend it.

Though actually I don’t find moving to another country that big a deal. It’s more other people who do.

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It’s fairly easy for Europeans to migrate within Europe because the EU gives citizens of member states full residence and employment rights –  ”free right of movement” as the official term has it.

It’s harder for people from countries outside the EU to move to Europe. But it’s still do-able. If you’re from one of the advanced developed countries, such as US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the EU member states generally have a more favourable attitude towards granting work and residence permits.

It’s not as easy as for EU citizens, but it’s still possible to find a job and get a work permit, provided you have a skill that’s in demand and you can prove some initial means of support – such as money in the bank or income from home.

I currently spend part of my time in Belgium although I don’t actually reside here.

I didn’t have connections here beforehand. Just a youth hostel reservation for a few nights and a couple of job interviews fixed up. I got myself a furnished apartment where I lived whilst I found a job (actually a freelance contract). I then rented my own unfurnished apartment and set myself up here.

It wasn’t that difficult. It just took a little determination, some starting capital and a positive attitude. Of all these aspects, I’d say the most important asset is a positive attitude.

I’ve travelled around a fair bit in the past. For example, I moved to Germany when I finished college. At that time, just after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Eastern Europe, I moved to Berlin. I got everything fixed up quickly and it was a fascinating time to live in Berlin. I also got to travel and explore throughout Eastern Europe, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Austria.

Berlin was and still is a great place to live in and experience. I lived there for several years and also got to live and work in other parts of Germany as well.

Moving from Germany to Belgium (or vice-versa) is hardly exotic. The two countries are situated next to other in Northern Europe, neighbour member states in the European Union.  What’s surprised me is how many people consider it “exotic” to make such a move. I’ve actually heard them use this word.

Now if I was moving from say Germany to Zimbabwe, Egypt or Thailand, then I could understand it being described as “exotic”. But Germany to Belgium?

I find it surprising how many people regard moving to another country as some big deal.  Though it does mean you can bask in the limelight and enjoy a bit of celebrity status if you want. But I don’t think it’s any big deal.

OK, it’s more complex than moving within your native state. There are different legal rules, maybe a different language, different customs and so on.

When I moved to Germany I got talking to a Belgian journalist working for the Belgian broadcasting service who was based in Germany.

She was surprised I was moving from the UK to Germany. She said people in Belgium would never move to Germany. “They would visit, travel there on vacation, but it would never enter their heads to move there”.

Strange. But this attitude reflects a more general kind of  ”cabbage patch” mentality you find in Europe.

Europeans tend to stick around in their own little regions and not move elsewhere. It tends to be the outsiders that move around and go everywhere without inhibition. The natives just stay put in their own back yard. Even though they have full freedom of movement within a vast continent, few of them take advantage of this.

But I can see an element of this within my own country, the UK.

When I think about it, I myself probably wouldn’t consider moving to Wales, or Scotland or Northern Ireland. I’ve been to Scotland and Wales, but I’ve got no real interest in moving there to live (too cold for one thing).

People in southern England rarely move north, or vice versa. There’s a notorious insularity in England between people from the north and the south. Even people in south London tend not to move to north London. They rarely even travel there on the tube if they can avoid it. So I guess this sort of insularity is maybe rooted in human nature.

Moving to other countries is an entrepreneurial project in itself. It requires you to plan, gather resources – and take action. And see it through to completion.  It’s a bit like starting a business. In fact you might also be able to combine it with actually starting a business. Especially if it’s an online business, then this can be relatively easy to do.

I’m not exactly what you’d call a world nomad given my modest migration history, but I’m happy. I find migrating to another country gives you a valuable new outlook and insight on life.

I also enjoy the challenge.  One thing I’ve always liked is challenges.  And moving to another country is a great way for you to experience a new challenge.

Image courtesy of Karl-Martin Skontorp

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