[Socar MYLES]

Mm, Nevada...I always wanted to visit there. I wanted to go to Vegas, but everyone I knew who went there kept getting arrested for...

...oh, never mind...anyway, I never got around to it. It's such a pity the USA doesn't have more lenient immigration policies. I don't want to use their welfare system or blow up their buildings, and I also have good credit. It sucks that they won't let me come over...all I want to do is enjoy their weather and do some freelance art. How do all those old people get in? You know, the ones who are retiring in Florida? Hm, I guess they just have lots of money. Blarr. I need lots of money too!
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[-HoodZ-]

man Socar you must be going mad over there...your just itching to get out...
what about Mexico nice dry heat over there ...then you can sneak in to the States

[Socar MYLES]

Hahaha, yeah, I should!

Nah, just kidding. Getting INTO America isn't the hard part. I could just pretend I was vacationing there. But I really want to do things legally...I was there before not legally, and I kept worrying about the INS and getting deported every time I saw a policeman. I was only there for a couple of years, but I was working the whole time (should I even be admitting this on the Internet?), and I was afraid I would get caught.
_________________
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[Frost]

You should move to Montreal/Canada if you're single.
(I can't beleive you're moving AGAIN..)

[egerie]

lol look outside Frost.. IT'S SNOWING !!!

Socar : as for Italy, don'T forget it's a peninsula... Altho there are micro climates all over the country. You're bound to find something nice there.

Personally the crime rate is what rates my appreciation of a town. And Montreal is a heck of a lot safer than a vast majority of European cities. We have to deal with humid heatwaves and searing cold tho. Oh well.

[Matthew]

Hey Socar, I see that you�re not going to bed to early either, I think that I�m always up to around 3.a.m....hehe
or should I use this icon....
hehe

[Ragnarok]

In Spain you can find any climate you want, but finding a big city near those places is harder...

The big cities would be: Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Sevilla.
Any of them can be interesting. Barcelona might be too humid for you, don't know, and San Sebastian. I don't know about Sevilla, Bilbao or Madrid.

Here where I live it isn't the biggest city ever (in fact, it's small with around 200.000 inhabitants) but we have plenty of features, like two universities, two hospitals, an airport... I don't find the weather much humid but for certain days.

Oh, and spanish, portuguese and italian sound similar, but I can't understand neither portuguese nor italian. (even if they talk slowly )
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Seigetsu

[Gort]

Nevada?? OK - putting all of the immigration bumps aside:
Why Nevada? New Mexico is beautiful (Sante Fe - strong visual arts community), and so is southwestern Colorado (Durango - beautiful, quiet and sensitive to the arts and just down the road is Mesa Verde) and southern Utah (some of the most amazing natural features on the planet - really); Arizona is very nice too (I prefer the piney northern parts - Flagstaff and a bit down into Sedona). In my opinion there are better places to live in the American southwest besides Nevada (well maybe west Nevada at Lake Tahoe is nice, but it's very expensive)
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"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Socar MYLES]

Well, I doubt I'd LIVE in Nevada--I was just getting sidetracked and saying I'd like to visit.

Utah, on the other hand...NEVER AGAIN! I fled Salt Lake City with a big ol' flea in my ear, and I'm not going back! If I could go back to America, it would be Austin, Texas all the way. I absolutely love it there.
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[Gort]

Big ol' flea? I can only wonder...

Actually southern Utah is nothing like northern Utah; I don't think there's enough money in the world to make me want to live in Salt Lake; I was there for two days and wasn't impressed. Don't get me wrong - it's pretty up ther but I can't stand the whole Mormon thing. Southern Utah is really another world; I'd at least consider someplace in close proximity. Arches National Park, Zion, Bryce - those places are really amazing!

Austin is very nice and another city that upholds a regard to the arts. A college friend of mine lived there for years and loved it. Another consideration, believe it or not, is Ashville, North Carolina; Ashville is like Austin in that it has a strong artistic community, and in my opinion North Carolina is way more beautiful than Texas! Of course I am biased, because I live in the southeast and have visited the Smokey Mountains on many occassions (Texas only once, and it wasn't Austin). If you ever find yourself back in the States try to visit Ashville - I think you might like what you see.
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[-HoodZ-]

hehe a flea ruined your experience in Utah...i find that funny it was just saying goodbye...never been to Texas, though wish i had a family member or a friend there so i can visit.........

speaking of mormons two came by today and rang the bell...i was expecting two guys in a black suit and tie but turned out to be two females with those long black dress....neither were cute so i just let the doorbell ring......

[Ragnarok]

Pamplona today, raining:


_________________
"Ever forward, my darling wind." -Master Yuppa
Seigetsu

[Blind]

Istanbul? I have a friend who went and said it's beautiful.
_________________
-blind

[Impaler]

Santa Fe (New Mexico's capital) is the artistic pelvis of the entire Southwest. You might consider it.
_________________
QED, sort of.

[Giant Hamster]

I liked living in Earp, CA...the colorado river went right past my house. swim across the river and you're in Arizona. take a boat on the river, or jetski down to havasu lake. nice weather, beatiful water. take your boat into one of the many coves hidden between the mountains. nice water, not too deep, lots of little fishies swiming around you. purrrdy.

the only place i've ever seen lightning actually touch the ground and skip across the rain.

[balistic]

Okay here's the plan. Come over here to Provo. We'll drive down to Vegas and then do a cheap drive-thru wedding with an Elvis impersonator so you can get your green card. THEN, I stage my own disappearance and re-emerge as an underground ventriluquist named Pepe Carbunkle Watanabe Jr., leaving you a legal US citizen, and me with my hand in a puppet. I hear ventroloquists get all the chicks, so I'm sure I'll be fine.

IT'S A FOOL-PROOF PLAN.

Seriously though, best of luck wherever you end up. I fucking hate this Utah pollution . . . allergies are going crazy all year.
_________________
brian.prince|light.comp.paint

[tayete]

You should definetely try Spain, Portugal or Italia, Socar.
At the south of Spain there are some BIG cities (Sevilla, for example), where you can be sure you won't have a single rain day in a lot of time. It is a bit too hot in summer, but in Autumm, Spring and Winter it is around 20-24�C. Plus, it has all the comodities of a big city but it is not really a huge city as NY. People are very friendly too, and coming from Sweden you'll find you can live with many many less €, and drink and eat a lot more. You are only an hour away from the sea.
If you like painting outside you'll discover why so many English and French artists and poets went there (scaping from the cold as you did): the light is simply great, always sunny. If you watch some of Delaunay's paints before going to Sevilla and what they painted when they were there you'll understand what I mean.
If you love history you'll be pleased too. Since Spain was a big power in the XVI the south is full of historic places: from the remains of the roman, celtic, muslim invasions to the place in the Earth where there are more castles than any other: Castilla, just some hours by bus away.
The idiom shouldn't be a problem. If you've learnt italian you'll get it easily Spanish and Portuguese. At least I can maintain a conversation with them without knowing nor Italian nor Portuguese.
Problem: if I remember well you are a vegetarian. Not too many vegetarian restaurants, but you can manage it in the "normal" ones (no offense).
Portugal is very similar to Spain, but there are no big cities at the south. Italy could be another option, but it is much more expensive...
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[Socar MYLES]

Hahaha...me? A vegetarian? THE HORROR! Must...have...meeeaaaaat!

You paint a very compelling picture of Spain...sounds very tempting indeed! I'll definitely look into it further.
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[faustgfx]

well if it's of any use, i'm ready to marry you. or anyone, for that matter. :/
_________________
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"do i look like kevin costner to you?
"..no you don't"
"i don't dance with wolves either."

[Ian Jones]

Hey Socar... ask away if you want to know something about Australia. We have pretty much every type of climate here. Mostly hot, but its such a large country that it extends from the tropic of capricorn down to the chilly reaches of the southern oceans. We have humid conditions here in Brisbane where I live. But further south it is drier. Adelaide or Perth are pretty dry from what I know. We have big cities and despite popular belief's we are not 'backward' at all. Generally we are 'neutral' in international politics, despite recent attempts for our prime minister to make the 6:00 news.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

[eyewoo]

Perth is supposed to be a wonderful, spiritual place to live. At least that's what my sister tells me. She lived there for several years.
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[immi]

Socar, I don't think anybody moves to Johannesburg willingly. I could not think of a worse city to move to. I have never actually lived there, although have passed through it several times as I lived in various regions of Southern Africa until I was 14, and even then (when it was relatively calm in SA) you had to be very careful in Joburg. Listening to expats stories now, and seeing the news, and it looks like it has gotten a whole lot worse. Before in SA, you knww someone who knew someone who knew someone who had been held at gunpoint or knifepoint, or had their car hijacked. Now, chances are in SA, you've had it happen to you, or at the very least your friends and family. And Joburg, is the center for this.

Even if it weren't for the crime, it's a horrible place. Sure its warm, but its a polluted ugly sprawling city. If you're thinking of South Africa, I'd suggest Cape Town. It's a lot prettier (similar in scenery to Vancouver actually) and the crime is nowhere near as bad. Its fairly warm there, scenic, and is a major city.

I'd definately consider Australia though. I spent the last year down there and absolutely loved it. Climate is great, and really not very humid, unless you're in the north. Sydney is absolutely beautiful, although a bit expensive. I lived in Perth for about 4 months and really liked it there too. Very cosmo, nice sized (bit smaller than van), and really quite cheap. Definately worth checking out.

Oh yeah, just to answer your questions about Johannesburg:

Johannesburg...what's it like? An absolute hole.

How's the weather in different seasons? Warm most of the year, although a bit chilly in winter. Not chilly chilly, but 0-10 degrees you know?

Is it easy to find accommodations, or does one need to provide lots of references? No idea.

Also, is there a lot of crime, or not much? Wuuahahaha. Not much? Yeah, right. This place is the scum palace of the world.

Do most flats there have washers and dryers and dishwashing machines, or does one need to buy these things independently? No idea.

Also, do the grocery shops deliver? Doubt it, although maybe with the crime being so bad they do.

Last edit: Oh, yeah, if you move somewhere warm, can you take me?

[Socar MYLES]

Okay, just a quick ? for AMERICANS--more than anything, I'd love to live in Texas again. But I do not seem to qualify to immigrate to the United States. Does anyone know if there's some easier way to get a green card? I mean, can't you just BUY one? Surely if you don't have a criminal record and you're a person of good character (and with a good credit rating), you can just give the INS a certain amount of money, and they'll let you come over?

Is that possible, or is there absolutely no way in hell for someone like me to live in America without taking a standard job there?
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[eyewoo]

What is your current citizenship?
_________________
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[Socar MYLES]

I've currently got dual citizenship--British and Canadian. Does it make a difference?
_________________
Dignity isn't important. It's everything.

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[eyalyab]

welp.. apart from the occasional terrorist bombing or gunmen shootings and the other terror acts carried out by some mad palestinian, israel is a fun place.. wait, on second thought.. its not such a fun-place. dont ever think about it!!
on the other hand, if you say you dont go out much, then its safe actually. you see, i managed to stay alive for quite some time.. plus all this stress is a natural adrenal. its great for drawing: its scary to go out, so you stay home and draw!
just kidding. its not as bad as it looks on cnn (for those who still watch).

if you DO think about moving here (*cough* don't *cough*) here are a few facts about this little place:

*its the only country that connects 3 continents
*its got the lowest place in the world (the dead sea) btw, its fun to be there, you float on the water like crazy. you practically can sit (!) on the water
*its a small country but its got a diversity of climates: desert in the south, mountainous in the midst and along the coastline and snow at the north. its weird.. and you can drive from north to south in 7-8 hours.
*jerusalem is a beautiful city, but i dont reccoment visiting there nowadays, although i have some friends there.
*more stuff that i feel if i keep writing then it will be too long for anyone to read

about your requests:
its hot here almost all year round. some rain the the winter. no snow (besides on one mountain in the north).
major cities are tel aviv, haifa, jerusalem, netanya (awesome beach), and eilat (its hot as in nevada in this desert toun, but surprisingly its got a beach ;] (red sea). where could you find that in nevada?

if you like it hot and all, i suggest Eilat. there are no terrorist acts there either because its farther south from the center of israel and the terrorists just dont go there ;]
+no taxes in this city. everything is cheap!

when i think of it, i should move there too!

ps, sorry about the crappy writing on the map and all the promoting im trying to do :/

btw, here are a few pics of elat. desert mountains and climate but also a beach to chill out



i also found this tourist site: http://emc.elte.hu/~solymosi/izraelm.html its got another pic ~

bye

[Drew]

AFAIK there's no way to purchase a green card. But look at the problem another way: What skills do you need to prove to the INS that you are valuable and educated? You should talk to other immigrants in your field (which I guess is what you're trying to do here) and find out what they did that got them in. Getting hired by a US company would also help a lot. A good company would help you get in instead of letting you take your chances with the INS.

As for where to live in the US, Austin is a beautiful city. I just visited it a couple of weeks ago and the weather was nice and warm, people were walking their dogs in the park. For some reason most of the dogs insisted on swimming in the river. It was great, I loved it, great choice. Most of the states in the southwest seem to meet your needs.

Someone mentioned North Carolina as a possibility. NC has a lot of great qualities, but anywhere on the east coast is going to have humidity. I lived in South Carolina for most of my life and the humidity is awful.

Good luck!

[-HoodZ-]

[Charon]

What about Auckland, New Zealand?

The weather is fairly dry, and it doesn't snow. Summer is hot, but not that humid. There will be some rainy days in winter, and the crime rate is very low! The scenery is beautiful, the people are friendly - imagine a metropolitan city dotted with tranquil quiet areas....hard to explain, but Auckland is a good mix.

Please, please don't go to Jo-burg....I have lived in South Africa before, and it's not worth living your life in fear. Come to NZ!!!
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:: Synthesise ::

[Socar MYLES]

New Zealand sounds really great, in fact--I've been looking into it.

Unfortunately, my parents found out I'm thinking of moving, and they want to see me in London, Cambridge, or Firenze. I mean, yeah, I don't HAVE to do what they want, or anything--but there are the logistics of moving to consider. My mother wouldn't help me find a flat in NZ or Africa or...well, anywhere not on the above list, for instance. And I can't get around very easily myself, so I could end up in some dump.

Drew, as I said earlier in the thread, applying for a job in the USA is completely out. Because of my health, I can either work from home or not work, and that's the limit of my options. Doing any job that involves going to an office or studio on a daily basis would not be possible. And apart from art, I don't really have any marketable skills.
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