buying a one-way ticket to Europe

[secret friend]

What's the worst that could happen? I run out of money and end up living on the streets until I am deported back to the US?

Best case scenario: I find a job, earn some money, and then, depending on my level of success, return to the US or start a new life in Europe.

Is this a crazy idea or should I save enough money to make it a roundtrip?

 

[kirovman]

You'll have to find an illegal job, or get a worker's visa.

 

[gh0st]

just go there and mooch off that state welfare.

 

[Mr Stabby]

bloody illegal immigrants...

 

[jondy]

just go there and mooch off that state welfare.

'Work harder! Millions of people on welfare need YOUR money!' or something

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

'Work harder! Millions of people on welfare need YOUR money!' or something

Haha I love that poster.

edit: Secret Friend planning like this is why you are a college graduate working a $9 an hour job LOL

 

[kirovman]

He could be on $12 an hour if he worked in my local supermarket. Not sure if they take people without National Insurance numbers though.

 

[secret friend]

Haha I love that poster.

edit: Secret Friend planning like this is why you are a college graduate working a $9 an hour job LOL

That job was temporary; I don't work there anymore. I was offered a $10/hour job and had to turn it down.

11% more money, but still, a bad choice.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

That job was temporary; I don't work there anymore. I was offered a $10/hour job and had to turn it down.

11% more money, but still, a bad choice.

What do you do now?

 

[secret friend]

I am searching for a job, on my own, without the help of the temp agency which exploits its workers. That $10/hour temp job I mentioned, that was for a data entry job that pays between $11/hour and $14/hour elsewhere. Data entry is not a sexy job, I bet even a/an [enter pejorative here] like myself could find a better paying job on his own.

 

[JNightshade]

...
it doesn't matter if it's "sexy", it's a JOB. And it pays BETTER. And now you're JOBLESS. Good job :|

 

[secret friend]

waiting tables pays better, and even if it pays better, still sucks, just like that data entry job.

 

[DreamThrall]

Is this a crazy idea or should I save enough money to make it a roundtrip?

i think its actually cheaper to buy round trip, even if you don't use it.

 

[MiccyNarc]

Hmm, someone's still living with his parents.

 

[Dan]

If you were Canadian you could get a 2 year commonwealth Visa.

 

[secret friend]

Hmm, someone's still living with his parents.

Yes, and I also don't have a car.

Definitely not something to be proud of, but it beats living on your own on a $9/hour salary.

 

[mirage4]

Which country are you planning to go to

 

[Solaris]

Hurrah the King is coming!

 

[Sulkdodds]

No, don't come to Europe. The media image we project to the world makes it seem like a nice place, but actually, mad dictators rule with an iron fist, crucifying anybody who dissents and burning random people in 'witch-hunt' pogroms. Help us!

 

[Ludah]

*Gags Sulkdodds*

lol guys he's just crazy. Never mind him. Come on over! We've got candy!

 

[mirage4]

*Gags Sulkdodds*

lol guys he's just crazy. Never mind him. Come on over! We've got candy!

And videogames!!!

 

[Beerdude26]

So Ludah, where do I dump the body? The Thames is full btw

 

[one]

In which country in Europe do you plan to live then? Do you speak any other languages than English. But actually that doesn't really matter because what many native English speakers think - "I don't have to learn a foreign language, because everyone speaks English." - is actually true, I think. :E
Ok, not everybody, but most people here do.

Do you want to see the football world cup in Germany? :cheese:

 

[Element Alpha]

If you really want to do it, then go for it.

But you may have to understand that "Europe" doesn't exist. It's a collection of countries that have agreed to work together in some respects and just gave it that name. Cross any border and you're litteraly entering a completely different dimension.

 

[Insano]

What Element Alpha says. And often those "border" are even in the same country.

Like in Belgium. It's a great country (even if I say it myself ) but there is a hugh gap between the (Dutch speaking) north and the (French speaking) south.

 

[one]

If you really want to do it, then go for it.

But you may have to understand that "Europe" doesn't exist. It's a collection of countries that have agreed to work together in some respects and just gave it that name. Cross any border and you're litteraly entering a completely different dimension.

Yes, you're very right, I'm afraid. I think it's a pitty - not that we have many different cultures in Europe, that's good, but that the countries are still quite seperated from each other, though borders can be crossed freely by every European.
Most European still don't see themselves as Europeans, but as citizens of their nations.
The European Union ends as a union when it comes to money ... every country wants to profit most of the European Union.

 

[Korgoth]

Yes, and I also don't have a car.

Definitely not something to be proud of, but it beats living on your own on a $9/hour salary.

wtf dude, I make 10 an hour, I live on my own, I own my own car, I have a computer, a big screen sony hd tv, and am doing fine as far as im concerned... how is living at home with your parents, with no car better? The lady friends like that a little better or what?

 

[Garfield_]

What's the worst that could happen? I run out of money and end up living on the streets until I am deported back to the US?

Best case scenario: I find a job, earn some money, and then, depending on my level of success, return to the US or start a new life in Europe.

Is this a crazy idea or should I save enough money to make it a roundtrip?

Haha, I thought I was the only one willing to leave everything and start a new life across the atlantic, but you seem to be another one, except you want to come to europe and I want to go to USA.

 

[CptStern]

buying a one-way ticket to Europe. What's the worst that could happen?

worst case scenario: your purchase of a one way ticket to europe sends up red flags at Homeland security ..As a precaution they tip off the authorities at your intended destination ..unforetunately a poor translation of Homeland security correspondence leads police to believe you are in fact a wanted terrorist with over 100 baby/kitten deaths to your name. The minute you arrive you are greeted by armed guards who then escort you to a waiting jet. Your next stop: Syria, for an extended stay at the luxurious Hotel of Horrors Damascus (now featuring hot coals)


best case scenario: you arrive in the UK penniless. Waiting for you, holding up a placard that reads "KngHenry" is a group of Hl2.net moderators who are waiting to give you a piece of their mind for circumventing bans all these months


best case scenario 2: You arrive peniless at your european destination of choice. Upon disembarking you immediately run into a representative of the charitable group: "Free money for Americans" who assure you that they would take care of you while visiting their beautiful country. You're invited out to lunch with the representative and a swarthy man who keeps asking you to look the other way as he puts something that looks like powder in your soft drink. You awake to the sounds of a rooster and turn just in time to meet your new master, an ethiopian slave merchant specializing in white male slaves to be used as concubines for nomadic tribesmen who, after having spent too many years herding Yaks, fail to notice that the woman slowly gyrating in front of them to the strains of a harpsichord have 5 o clock shadows under their veils and a discernible adam's apple




have fun in europe

 

[DreadLord]

Like in Belgium. It's a great country (even if I say it myself ) but there is a hugh gap between the (Dutch speaking) north and the (French speaking) south.

I love when people spell words incorrectly, then bold them. It gets a hugh chuckle out of me.

 

[secret friend]

wtf dude, I make 10 an hour, I live on my own

I bet I could make $10/hour too, maybe even a few dollars more, if I worked at the supermarket, but, believe it or not, that would actually HARM my career. Picture a hiring manager reading my resume: "Umm, graduated last year, with honors, and then worked for 6 months stocking shelves at the supermarket. What's wrong with this kid?"

It's not that manual labor is 'too low' for me, it's that, as I said, it would be harmful for my career. Sure, I could just not list it on my resume, but employers don't look kindly upon large periods of unemployment. "What have you been doing since you graduated from school a year ago?" Umm... Umm... playing video games and engaging in intellectual written discussions with strangers on the internet!

Does that mean that "office clerk, $9/hour" is something that will look hot on my resume? No, but at least it is a step in the right direction.

I own my own car, I have a computer, a big screen sony hd tv, and am doing fine as far as im concerned... how is living at home with your parents, with no car better?

Just out of curiousity, Innervision, how much do you pay in rent every month? Do you owe money in student loans? I owe tens of thousands in loans, and I am currently paying them. I plan to pay them off in a few years, not by the time I retire.

I actually don't care about having a car. When I think about owning a car some of the words that come to my mind are: gasoline, insurance, repairs, tune ups, liabilities, depreciation, traffic jams, headaches.

Coincidentally, a kid saw me walk to work this morning and asked me if I had a car. I told him that I didn't have a car and he laughed. Not that I care, but his reaction says a lot about our values.

The lady friends like that a little better or what?

As far as the lady friends are concerned, I have none. Unless they are going to help me improve my life, 'lady friends' are a waste of time and energy. I am actually being overly optimistic in saying this, since it's not like I am an alpha male with ladies swarming all over me.

 

[Yuri]

I hope they don't have internet access wherever you go.

 

[kirovman]

Hmm, here you don't have to pay any student loans back until you earn over £15k a year. And then you pay back 9% on any amount over £15k.

And the interest rate is only set to match inflation.

I think when you goto interviews, you shouldn't have so many negative vibes like those that seem to come across in this thread. Interviewers like optimistic people (manically optimistic people).

I thought it was really easy to get a job in the US for graduates, compared to somewhere like France? Since they can fire people who doesn't do a good job pretty easily, they can afford to hire anyone who sounds vaguely good? Whereas in France, graduate unemployment is like 90%.

 

[secret friend]

Hmm, here you don't have to pay any student loans back until you earn over £15k a year. And then you pay back 9% on any amount over £15k.

I need to talk to my school's financial advisor; they might extend my grace period a few more months.

I think when you goto interviews, you shouldn't have so many negative vibes like those that seem to come across in this thread. Interviewers like optimistic people (manically optimistic people).

Let's be fair, if I wasn't optimistic, I would have taken the $12/hour job at the supermarket a long time ago.

I spent almost 6 weeks mailing out about 50 custom made resumes, and got only 3 interviews, 2 of which were with staffing agencies and only one with a real company. I was never called for a second interview. When I came across this office clerk job, I did not hesitate to take it (that's how desperate I was), hoping that it would lead to better things. The assignment will soon be over and back to square one.

I thought it was really easy to get a job in the US for graduates.

Is it easy for US graduates, who have plenty of work experience and participated in extracurricular activities as undergraduates, to find a job? I would certainly think so.

 

[Cole]

wtf dude, I make 10 an hour, I live on my own, I own my own car, I have a computer, a big screen sony hd tv, and am doing fine as far as im concerned... how is living at home with your parents, with no car better? The lady friends like that a little better or what?

Maybe where he lives the cost of living is higher?
Example if big cities some kids can get jobs at $12 an hour and then they can get a nice car and do more things.....but once there on there own $12 an hour is like nothing when you throw in all the bills.

While in a smaller city you could do the same job for.. $7-8 an hour and not afford as much as the richer kids even in your smaller city. But if you were making $12 an hour in the smaller city you could easily survive.

 

[kirovman]

So you only got 3 interviews?

I got my job on my 6th or 7th interview.

I spent 6 months mailing CVs. The interviews started to pile up at the end - at the beginning I got few, at the end, I started getting interview requests from CVs I sent months before.

I probably made hundreds of job applications.

Stamina is necessary.

 

[secret friend]

So you only got 3 interviews?

I got my job on my 6th or 7th interview.

I spent 6 months mailing CVs. The interviews started to pile up at the end - at the beginning I got few, at the end, I started getting interview requests from CVs I sent months before.

I probably made hundreds of job applications.

Stamina is necessary.

I'd like to believe you that it normally takes more than a month of job searching, 50 resumes, and 3 interviews to get a job. Perhaps you are right, perhaps I settled for that office clerk job too soon.

I'd like to believe that you are right.

 

[jondy]

I hope they don't have internet access wherever you go.

<3

 

[Korgoth]

I'd like to believe you that it normally takes more than a month of job searching, 50 resumes, and 3 interviews to get a job. Perhaps you are right, perhaps I settled for that office clerk job too soon.

I'd like to believe that you are right.

You know you could go to college for 20 years, and be the smartest guy in the country, but with a shit attitude you are still not likely to get a job. Just throwing that out there for you to ponder.

 

[secret friend]

You know you could go to college for 20 years, and be the smartest guy in the country, but with a shit attitude you are still not likely to get a job. Just throwing that out there for you to ponder.

I figured that out a few months ago, when I entered "the real world." Apparently, being a mediocre frat boy with a pleasant personality is much more rewarding that what you just mentioned.