Imagine this...

[Donoghus]

I will say, taking the leap and moving away and leaving your comfort zone teaches you a TON. 

You learn so much about yourself as a person when you're far away from home & family and if you're doing it solo. 

It's scary but exciting at the same time.

[KungPoweChicken]

I will say, taking the leap and moving away and leaving your comfort zone teaches you a TON. 

You learn so much about yourself as a person when you're far away from home & family and if you're doing it solo. 

It's scary but exciting at the same time.

Thanks for the encouragement! I've honestly never been anywhere before. I've Been permanently New England bound. But I feel soon that I will have the means and career to finally explore, meet new people, and hopefully meet new types of people. I'm definitely yearning to get out...a little Jack Kerouac fever!

[kozlodoev]

Luxembourg. Because Luxembourg.

All I know about  Luxembourg is that they are one of the wealthiest countries, right? Is there something more I should know...

It's small, it's cute, it speaks 4 languages, offers easy access into the 3 to 5 surrounding European countries. It's young, and a relatively vibrant place for its size (lots of people in their mid-20s coming in to work at the EU institutions). And it has a ton of medieval castles.

In truth, you will get a million different responses, because you specify very little about what you're looking for. I spent a year in Luxembourg and felt very comfortable. Visited Paris (multiple times), Bruxelles, Germany, could have gone to the Netherlands and Switzerland if I weren't too lazy.

The center of Europe is not a bad place to be if you dig the urban lifestyle and like to travel. But if you want sun, and palms and giant waves, perhaps not so much

[KungPoweChicken]

Luxembourg. Because Luxembourg.

All I know about  Luxembourg is that they are one of the wealthiest countries, right? Is there something more I should know...

It's small, it's cute, it speaks 4 languages, offers easy access into the 3 to 5 surrounding European countries. It's young, and a relatively vibrant place for its size (lots of people in their mid-20s coming in to work at the EU institutions). And it has a ton of medieval castles.


In truth, you will get a million different responses, because you specify very little about what you're looking for. I spent a year in Luxembourg and felt very comfortable. Visited Paris (multiple times), Bruxelles, Germany, could have gone to the Netherlands and Switzerland if I weren't too lazy.

The center of Europe is not a bad place to be if you dig the urban lifestyle and like to travel. But if you want sun, and palms and giant waves, perhaps not so much

Thanks! I was a little vague because I want to see what other people like because at this point I'm very open to ideas and other reflections. What you describe sounds great. Very appealing, especially since I've never been to Europe.

[D.o.s.]

Midwestern people are friendlier.

This is actually one of the worst things about the Midwest, IMO. Not friendliness in a vacuum but in the 'my god I'm just trying to buy gas/groceries/whatever I don't want to be chatted up for 20 minutes' sort of way

[Donoghus]

Midwestern people are friendlier.

This is actually one of the worst things about the Midwest, IMO. Not friendliness in a vacuum but in the 'my god I'm just trying to buy gas/groceries/whatever I don't want to be chatted up for 20 minutes' sort of way

I remember when I first moved out here and was on the elevator in my building & people were getting on and keep saying "Good morning" and thinking what the heck is wrong with these people?  Used to total silence & not talking to each other.

Also made me realize that I was (and prob still am) one of those walking northeast scumbag stereotypes that people have of us.  Oh well...

[KungPoweChicken]

Midwestern people are friendlier.

This is actually one of the worst things about the Midwest, IMO. Not friendliness in a vacuum but in the 'my god I'm just trying to buy gas/groceries/whatever I don't want to be chatted up for 20 minutes' sort of way

Interesting. I have an on and off switch. The switch is off for gas, groceries, mail, etc. it only comes on for work and nightlife....and the Celtics of course.

[celts55]

I'm not sure I can tolerate any more winters, however. Even if they aren't as brutal as New England, a sweater is about as much as I'd like to pack, ideally.

Barcelona and the south of Spain? Still some winter there, though.

Barcelona gets my vote. Great weather, beautiful women, fun night life.
A truly beautiful city. 

[KungPoweChicken]

Actually funny story about this: I said hi to someone walking by at school the other day. She kept walking and didn't acknowledge me. Then she turned around, walked back up to me and apologized and said "are you from around here because people don't normally say hi." She was from Mississippi.

[KungPoweChicken]

I'm not sure I can tolerate any more winters, however. Even if they aren't as brutal as New England, a sweater is about as much as I'd like to pack, ideally.

Barcelona and the south of Spain? Still some winter there, though.

Barcelona gets my vote. Great weather, beautiful women, fun night life.
A truly beautiful city.

Barcelona is gaining momentum. The language barrier could be an issue, though, in terms of work.

[Roy H.]

Ireland, followed by Belize.

[celts55]

I'm not sure I can tolerate any more winters, however. Even if they aren't as brutal as New England, a sweater is about as much as I'd like to pack, ideally.

Barcelona and the south of Spain? Still some winter there, though.

an added beauty is that there is a large portion of the city that speak English, and you'll pick up Spanish fairly quickly I'm sure.

Barcelona gets my vote. Great weather, beautiful women, fun night life.
A truly beautiful city.

Barcelona is gaining momentum. The language barrier could be an issue, though, in terms of work.

[KungPoweChicken]

Ireland, followed by Belize.

Cool! Belize is definitely an unexpected suggestion. Have you been there yourself by any chance?

[sofutomygaha]

29, just finished school, $100k + geographically flexible career with 2-3 initial horizon... computing... dossier complete.

You just finished your doctorate at MIT, pulled out of research, and are going to work for McKinsey.

[KungPoweChicken]

To be honest, one of the destinations I had in mind was Vegas. I like the idea of the weather and nightlife. But I've never been there before in my life, so this is all based on conjecture. I wouldn't want to live there permanently but it sure seems like fun for two or three years.