I seriously almost did this. I visited the Netherlands, and fell absolutely head over heels for their way of life. It’s so damn peaceful and free! You don’t have to worry about getting shot when you’re running errands. You don’t have to worry about going bankrupt through medical expenses. You don’t have to worry about going to jail over weed or mushrooms. You don’t have to buy a car, because bicycling infrastructure and public transportation is AMAZING.
While I was there I met a lovely chap who is originally from England. He told me that he spent a holiday in Amsterdam, and broke his leg. So he stayed at the hospital, and afterwards, just didn’t leave. He’s been working/living there ever since.
When it came time for me to leave, I had accidentally missed my train, and it was going to be some extra money to switch around my flight/train to get back home, and a part of me was seriously considering just being like “fuck it” and staying. The only thing stopping me from moving there now is the knowledge that I’d have to continue paying taxes to the U.S. if I wanted to keep my citizenship while living and paying taxes in the Netherlands. 😑
If anyone can tell me a way around this… please do, because I want to move to the Netherlands.
I am Dutch but moved to England (for love) 16 years ago and I have never regretted it. Do it while you can, else you will just live with the regret. It is such a life experience moving countries, there is no way to describe it. The magical feeling that you have in the beginning does disappear a little over the years, but it never leaves completely. The memories you create are just so amazing that you will never lose the magical feeling entirely.
Just. Do. It.
A guy at work did something like that. Went on vacation for a week, just never returned. Didn’t return phone calls or emails. Eventually he popped up on social media about 6 months later and some coworkers spotted him and got the story. If I remember correctly (which I may not), I think his girlfriend convinced him to stay, so he did, and he just ghosted his job.
moved to somewhere with healthcare instead of health control
Living the dream or not living anymore, we’ll never know
This post is actually scary. Probably should get in touch with the embassy or something and get a courtesy check done on him?
If he, or the mafia doesn’t want him to be found, there’s not much you can do.
But in all seriousness: yeah, when someone is missing they should be reported as such at the local police, who can contact the embassy’s office in the country they were going on holiday. Many parts of Italy are very safe, rich, modern. But there are also parts where you will get hurt, especially as a tourist. Loads of poverty, gangs, mafia, corruption (particularly the south).
I’m sure you are correct about who to contact first but I would get worried the police would say it’s out of their jurisdiction.
I’ve had some coworkers that would have made my life better if they’d f’ed off to Italy and never come back.