Hello Sambo!
Nice to meet you too and thanks for the question!
You ask a very difficult question and this choice will very much depends upon the type of person you are.
There is no question that it is easier (initially) to settle into a country where you speak the language. And the first move will be very tough - on more levels than you can comprehend before you do it.
However, regardless of where you are, you get used to your new environment after a few years and it is then that you start thinking about the problems/issues that you will find tolerable or not.
If it is possible, I would recommend that you review the long term problems that you may face. For me, I realized after three years of living in Canada, that it just is too far away from South Africa. Because of the differences in time zones, the cost involved in plane tickets and the time it takes to actually get to South Africa, I was losing contact with my family in SA - not because of a lack of trying on my part, but more so on their part. No family could visit me, since it was too expensive/too long and I had the same problem.
Also, in North America people have very little leave (10 - 15 days per year), and after you've done a visit to SA, there is no time for yourself to explore the new environment.
These are things that may not be relevant to you.
I know these things now, and I did not really understand how much they affected me before I moved to Canada. So, I am not even sure that, if I had to do it over again, that I would have initially, moved to Germany, had I had the chance.
But I now realize that adapting to any new environment takes at least 3 years, even if you speak the language. And if you don't speak the language, it may take you that long to become fluent. So, if you are excited about learning a new language, and you don't dread it like most people do, then you should seriously consider it, but understand that it will be quite uncomfortable for a few years.
I would say that my move to Germany has been a lot less painful than my original move to Canada. And the most important reason for that is that it was the first time I moved countries.
I know - I'm writing an essay here, but what I'm trying to get across is that
Moving countries is hard, no matter where you go.
Moving to an English speaking country is certainly easier than moving to a place where you don't speak the language. The place which is the most like SA, is probably Australia, and if that is what you want, do not even consider any other country!
Think about your long term goals and see if they can be reached in Australia.
I think that if you want to live in a familiar environment, then Aus is probably a better choice, but if Aus does not satisfy your requirements, and Europe can, then consider it ONLY if you are keen on learning a new language.
For me it was the right choice, and I am very happy in Germany. I have enough English around me to get by, but I am very keen on using the experience to learn a new language, and I'm making many friends because people are keen to help and educate me.
Oh, another thing about Germany, is that people here are much more aware of South Africa and its politics than they are in Canada. And also the sports people play in Europe are much more similar to South African sports. I feel somehow more connected to SA.
I don't know about Australia, but North America sometimes feels like a world on their own - shut off from the rest of the world. But I don't feel that way in Europe. I feel connected to my family, even my country.
Phew... sorry about the long story!
Sambo, on Mar 19 2008, 08:06 AM, said:
Hi Marli,
Nice to meet you!!
I have to ask you a question - we are trying to make up our minds between Australia and Germany (hummm ja - don't ask?!?)
We have realised that we are quite Eurocentric... which is helping.
How have you found living and integrating in to the German way of life? I mean, would you consider it any more difficult than immigrating anywhere else (obviously language aside)??
Look forward to your reply.
Sambo
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