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Comment on Ask HN: Help me solve a dilemma, study in the US or take a job in the EU?parent

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being welcomed, being able to fit in, open minded locals

This part differs as much across Europe as it does in the US, I'm sure. Hard to say one is "more racist" or "more bigot" than the other, without knowing exactly what locations you're comparing.

Even really conservative North Americans are super nice and welcoming if you stick to the rules

That's the easy part! The interesting and valuable part is how they treat you when you don't fit into their "rules" and "how people should act".

I would argue if you move to a new country without the intention of fitting in there, you’re moving in bad faith.

Now, in NA, you can still “fit in” even while doing something new & weird, as long as your intention is to build some enterprise, contribute to society, and not do any crime. This is not the same as the social strictures of other places.

Now, in NA, you can still “fit in” even while doing something new & weird

And what that I understand you're also implying that you cannot do this in Europe?

I cannot say it's possible all over Europe, as I haven't been everywhere, but to the places I have been, I'm confident you'd be able to fit in while at the same time doing something new and weird.

My point is I wouldn't even fit no matter how conventional I might be. I'm not from there, so I don't fit into the local identity.

In Canada and the States, they care more about what you do and how you behave than where you're from.

EDIT: I want to stress that I don’t think Europeans are racist or xenophobes. They just have old idenities that are tied in with ethnicity, whereas in NA most people have an immigrant grandparent.

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