comment: >
  
  I slightly disagree as another foreigner in Sweden, and I still write this knowing that everytime I do many people bring up their cases where they never needed it. 
  Yes, you don't need the language to get by, because the average level of English is pretty good. Conversational English.
  However, as soon as you stay a bit longer and run into more specific problems with your household (I had to have a lock exchanged, the people did not speak English well and it was impossible to setup an appointment), or healthcare (I have met many doctors and nurses who struggled to explain what they found in English, yes even doctors) or once you are having kids (putting them in preschool there are international ones but far more Swedish ones, the teachers there may also not be super happy explaining everything in English, depends on individual cases).
  And these experiences I made living in Göteborg, so not anywhere rural where I would expect it is worse.
  If you plan to stay only for 2-3 year and are single living in a rental apartment, sure, no Swedish needed. Anything beyond, you need at least basic knowledge.
context: For people thinking, "Fuck this, I'll just move abroad," it's not as easy as it sounds.  Most countries where you'd actually want to live make it pretty hard to get legal residency there, let alone citizenship.  
  That said, I've actually gone through the process of getting citizenship in an EU country, which gives me the right to live and work both in that country and anywhere else in the EU.  In particular, if you have an ancestor from Hungary, Italy, Ireland or Poland, then you might have the right to reclaim your ancestor's citizenship from that country.  Most of those countries have a cutoff date that your ancestor had to immigrate after; Hungary has no such limit and you can trace your ancestry back as far as is needed to prove you have a Hungarian ancestor.
  Other possibilities: digital nomad visa.  Several european countries now offer these, including Hungary, Estonia, Spain, Czechia, Greece and Finland.  This visa will entitle you to live and remotely work only in that country; it does not confer EU citizenship or give you the right to live/work in other EU countries.
  For shorter term move outs, NZ and Australia both allow US citizens who are under a certain age (I believe up to age 35 in NZ and up to age 30 in AUS) to live and work in the country for 6 months to 2 years, depending on the work program you get and the renewals you undertake.  Some people use this as a stepping stone to get into the country and then either get into an education program or a longer-term working situation that could actually lead to permanent residency. >
  
  This is great info, but it’s also important to add that there are so many things to carefully research for each country as well. I’ve been downvoted before for mentioning this, but Ireland is in the midst of an extreme housing crisis. Housing for the Irish is already insanely difficult to get. So, to help people planning such a huge and expensive move: make local connections, investigate or hire a solicitor to help you with laws/regulations that differ abroad, and know that it is not as easy as getting a job contract and moving - that it could be months to years before you get a proper accommodation sorted. While anecdotal, my neighbours moved over last year (wife is a doctor, husband is an engineer), and conversations we’ve had with them revealed that, while they were offered a great opportunity via the wife’s job, husband hasn’t had a lot of success finding work and finding a house took them over 10 months! They have two children on top of it all, and I can’t imagine how difficult it was living out of hotels and relying on friendships with others to have places to live, even if it was temporary. To add, they only got the lease on the house next door to us because the prior tenants (both nurses) were their friends and gave them the lease to take over. The previous neighbours went back home when their contracts were up. You can Google and read more about it, but it is a serious issue that anyone should prepare and plan for. That said: Ireland is a wonderful country and there’s a lot of positive things, too! >
  
  I can’t believe you’ve been downvoted for this. The housing crisis in Ireland is insane and should be highlighted because it’s only a matter of time before other nations are in the same position >
  
  We have a less than 1% vacancy rate in my province, some parts of us are already there. >
  
  And the fucking nimbys/developers insist on only adding single family dwellings in car dependent suburban hell that no one can afford, or expensive condos that do nothing to relieve the housing stress.
  Older apartment buildings being gentrified into more useless condos that don't even sell in 2 years.
  Housing market popping and foreclosures? Don't worry there is a corpo ready to buy them all up at a premium to turn into airbnb/investments/expensive fucking rentals.
  Affordable housing hasn't been a priority in my lifetime. I couldn't even move to provincial housing (theprojects) if I wanted, cause there is a waiting list years long >
  
  Airbnb is going to collapse. Everyone I know who used it all the time 5 years ago refuses to now. >
  
  It's not worth it anymore. It used to be a cheap place to stay, but now they are such a hassle with the massive list of chores that you're left with after your stay. And not even cheaper than a hotel. >
  
  Boutique hotels will be the replacement.  We started using them and love the vibe.
  Perfect example is Hotel Haya in Ybor City (Tampa, FL) >
  
  You should check out the honeypot in ybor if you like clubs, its a ton of fun! I used to go with some of my gay friends because i was a bouncer before in ohio at a nightclub and it made them feel safe. Its a lovely joint, nice patrons, wonderful staff, i couldnt reccomend it more! >
  
  As an American that has lived overseas on and off for over 10 years, starting in the 1980s, here’s a bit of reality, the rest of the world probably doesn’t want you.  
  I don’t mean that to sound as harsh as some might take it (that always happens when you give dream crushing info) but the cold hard truth is that most of the places Americans want to go (developed countries with free healthcare and a high standard of living), aren’t really all that interested in taking in immigrants.  
  I’m also a part of several expat groups and I almost laugh when I see the daily post, “I’ve decided to leave America.”
  Here’s the typical post:
  
  I’m tired of the US and want to move to another country 
  I have no degree and no in-demand job skills 
  I’m currently working in an entry-level job 
  I have done zero research and am unaware of what a work permit is 
  I only speak English so I’m only interested in countries that speak English.  
  
  The more unrealistic ones also include:
  
  I’m a single parent and have two kids and need top notch education 
  I have about 15 chronic medical issues so free healthcare is very important.  
  And it would nice if they had a generous unemployment program in case I’m unable to work due to my medical conditions 
  
  Again, I want to be clear, I’m not making fun of wanting to move overseas.  It’s the disconnect from reality in terms of why another country would want to take them in.  
  Countries are primarily only interested in people if:
  
  You have money - you won’t need employment, you have enough wealth saved up to take care of yourself.  This is for the affluent or retirees.  
  You have a job skill that is difficult to find in that country or in highly specialized fields.  
  You already have a job lined up and an employer willing to sponsor you
  
  Outside of that, chances are that other countries have little interest in whether or not you want to live there.  
  The vast majority of expats that I’ve met over the years either fall into one of the above categories or, they started their own or bought a business, or they networked their way into a job.  
  Really, if you’re highly desirable for another country, you’re probably highly desirable in the US and have a good job making good money.  
  So the people most likely to be unsatisfied in the US are the people least likely to be able to find a country willing to allow them to move there. >
  
  Absolutely…and for those who want to move abroad because the U.S. is racist or something similar…you will be hard pressed to find the utopia you are searching for. After living and traveling extensively in both Europe and Latin America many countries in both places are equally as bad as the U.S. . The populations are more homogeneous so discrimination is widely accepted and generally not discussed publicly. >
  
  Most of the rest of the world does not have much pretense about not being racist. >
  
  After my trip to South Africa I realized how much hyperbole is in the statement “America is the most racist country in the world”. We have problems yes but holy shit are we definitely not the worst. >
  
  The US is one of the least racist ones. Anyone who says otherwise has probably never been to another country. >
  
  
  The US is one of the least racist ones. Anyone who says otherwise has probably never been to another country.
  
  This right here. >
  
  Moved to Germany 5 years ago as a "normal" working person (no degree or super specific career skills). I live comfortably working a hospitality job, ride my bike or take public transit instead of owning a car, my kid has had full time child care since he was one year old for about 125 euros per month, I get 6 weeks paid vacation each year and have unlimited sick days as long as I get a doctor's note. My health insurance is basically free and I've never seen a bill for any medical care. I took a paid year of after my son was born and I get 250 euros per month deposited into my bank account just got having a kid... Would never go back to the US, it has nothing to do with politics necessarily - it's just that the lifestyle is so much more pleasant. >
  
  How were you accepted into Germany as a “normal” working person? Did you marry? >
  
  I'm really lucky - my mom is German but she moved to the US as a kid and didn't swap out her German citizenship for an American one until just after I was born... >
  
  See that's the problem, you can't just move to another country across the globe with no skills unless you've been saving money up for years or know someone that'll take you in.
  I'm happy for you man, jealous even, so don't hear that as a shot at you. I just hate that it's incredibly improbable to just move to another country cause you feel like it, like man I want options like that. >
  
  OP’s post is so misleading. Of course a German citizen born in the US can move to Germany without any desirable skills: it’s their birthright. But to anyone without citizenship it’s incredibly difficult. >
  
  Without wealth or an advanced degree, nobody wants Americans. If you have wealth or an advanced degree, you probably don't want to leave. >
  
  I’m disabled, there’s no country in the world that would let me immigrate. >
  
  If I had a country, I would let you come. >
  
  thank you. >
  
  Not you tho >
  
  I hear this more and more, and not just from Gen Zers. The US is a country of declining longevity and increasing wealth inequality. The only industrialized country without national health care and that makes war on it's public schools. It makes sense they don't see a future here. >
  
  US Millennial here, when Trump was elected I signed up with New Zealand immigration to try and gtfo. Never got anywhere, despite my masters degree. >
  
  No response whatsoever? What is the masters in? I was looking into NZ citizenship at one point and understand that some degrees hold more weight than others. >
  
  Easiest way into NZ/Australia is do a 1yr work holiday then bust your ass for a company and get sponsored. It's possible and I've known heaps of Canadians and yanks who have gone that road. >
  
  A while back, the Australian Navy was taking US sailors if you had the right skill set, but you had to also expat/become a full Australian citizen. >
  
  Australia is getting nuclear subs. So I guess that could be an option if running one is vastly different than being on a diesel. >
  
  Wasn't a submariner, can't speak for that community.
  I'd imagine it is vastly different, though.  I did watch that Smarter Every Day deep dive where Destin (comment below is right) went to visit a US Navy nuclear sub in the arctic.  There was a lot he wasn't allowed to film at all, and I remember him saying he had to turn his camera & all electronics he brought, over to the Navy for a while before he could get it back & post stuff. >
  
  *Destin. That was a really cool series. The coast guard series has been good too >
  
  Oh and you’re right on his name
  Sailors bag on Coasties but those guys are actually insane at maritime interdiction (like countering cartel/drug runners etc) >
  
  The Navy may rag on the coasties, but as a civilian sailor I like knowing there’s a coastguard station not too far away. Obviously we complain about their rules but at the end of the day, I love hearing their half of their radio conversations. >
  
  I already relocated. It's a mixed bag but I'd do it again. >
  
  The mega millionaires and billionaires have stripped resources from people as much as possible to.... horde/hoard. 
  And politicians who benefit from this BS just shrug. 
  No mystery why people are trying to escape, esp anyone who has to actually work for a living.
  edit* If you want to play semantics I can see how both work. >
  
  Exactly. The billionaires are stripping the country down to bare metal and leaving it for religious fundamentalists and they're almost done. >
  
  I think people honestly underestimate how dangerous religious fundamentalists are in America. It's not just that they want to force their religion on others, it's that they actually believe they're going to somehow inaugurate the second coming of Christ. They don't just want to convert everyone to Christianity, they want the world to end. >
  
  The reality is that religion is on the decline in the U.S., including religious fundamentalism. Which can be tied to their deep involvement in politics, since some of the faithful are turned off by the idea that there religion is mostly about politics, particularly younger folks. >
  
  Yeah, but it makes the remaining fundamentalists fight like cornered animals >
  
  They’re only kept around because they’re useful idiots for the bourgeoisie >
  
  both of these statements are correct. the fighting like cornered animals part is particularly useful to the kind of people who like emotionally manipulating others to do their bidding.
  people get stupid when you scare them, and if you watch about a minute of any media they consume you'll see that it's mostly scaremongering. >
  
  I'm 33 with kids and I own a small business here in the US.
  I don't see a stable future, but I also have no way to relocate overseas. If I didn't have kids, we'd probably look for a way.
  But we're stuck here for a while. >
  
  Well, that's the thing.  You can't just leave.  People think America's permissive immigration policy is the norm worldwide but it's not.  There's really nowhere that will take you unless your situation is pretty unique. >
  
  Yup yup. Have a friend that was dating a Norwegian long distance for like six years, visiting each other a few months at a time before getting married. They've been married for three years now, both in America and Norway but she can't legally move there; keeps having to spend money to file the paperwork, wait months just to be told to go home and try again. >
  
  Yeah, it's the same in Canada.
  Americans that think they can just up and leave to another country are in for a world of hurt. >
  
  The thing is, you don’t make enough to leave it. >
  
  The title is pretty misleading though. The parts talking about trends (as in the change in behavior of many students) is that they’re taking which state they go to college really seriously suddenly and avoiding the south even when they get great scholarship offers
  The part about leaving the country is just something one or two of the people being interviewed mentioned considering >
  
  Unfortunately people wanting to leave the USA are going to learn first hand how hard it is to relocate .... those Venezualan migrants/refugees don't do it for the lols >
  
  Pretty sure every millennial has toyed with the idea of wanting to leave the US and never come back. For the last decade it's been a pretty common consensus.
  I'm constantly asked why I'm here when my wife has swedish citizenship. >
  
  Why are you here? >
  
  Her family here, my family here, applying for PhD programs at great universities here, wife and I have chronic illnesses and have trusted doctors here, I don't speak swedish, I don't identify with swedish culture, my current job that gives me insurance with $500 deductible and basically everything else covered is here, and probably more reasons if I thought about it >
  
  So I've completed the Duolingo Swedish course, you could too in about a year at 15min/day.
  One of my coworkers taught engineering at Lund for a year and a half. He asked me why the hell i learned Swedish when he got by with a 10 word swedish vocabulary and fluent English. You literally do not HAVE to learn Swedish to function there. It's nice but not necessary.