Why do we always think that "ELSEWHERE" is better than our own country? (page 21 of 23)

Totally!

To build on that, I’m in Madrid right now—this is my third stay in a city I really love (it’s hard to explain, it’s just a gut feeling; it’s not the most beautiful city in Spain or Europe, but I feel great here). If I could, I’d structure my life like this: several months in Madrid during the cooler months (from November to May) and then in Saint Petersburg, with trips in between...

Since I can’t stand either extreme heat (above 30°C/86°F, I feel awful) or cold, it’s tough to find a place I like *and* with a climate I can handle. I have some very specific "criteria" that mean my ideal city doesn’t exist, but splitting my time this way—with the money or job to go with it—I’d love that...

It’s not that it’s *better* than France; it’s that *I* feel better there. Not everything is rational—I’ve never felt attached to France... I’ve never felt like I belonged. That doesn’t mean I don’t like France (I’m clarifying because, in real life, I’ve been accused of that before, and it annoys me because it’s not related at all).

No, it’s not that there’s no connection—it’s that the connection is whatever we bring to it ourselves. It’s a very personal alchemy, feeling good somewhere.

There you go!

Hi there, It must be tough living in Paris; having lived there, I find that 27-28°C is more unbearable than 32-33°C in Provence (or anywhere with a Mediterranean climate). Besides, when it was hot, the ones who complained the most about the heat at my workplace were me—a Provençal—and the *pieds-noirs*.

I don’t live in Paris itself but in the suburbs, in a cool house—we’re several degrees cooler than in Paris. But yeah, I really struggle with the peak of summer. It’s either way too hot (over 35°C) or just gloomy...

That said, having lived in Provence until I was 23, I never enjoyed summer there either. During my childhood, at my parents’ place in the Provençal countryside, I spent every summer cooped up inside the house to stay cool, only going out in the evenings.

Same in Nice—it was even hotter in the apartment, so I couldn’t stand it... Too humid, too.

Bravo and thank you, Philippe. You’ve analyzed the situation so well—it’s what makes us idealize the countries we travel through, even for months at a time. First, language can cut us off from their reality... and if we truly get close to the local people, the social inequalities are glaring, poverty is endemic, and beyond the warm smiles, there’s often sadness when you take the time to notice. But that humanity is wonderful, and I understand why the Western world finds comfort in it. I miss the wide-open spaces and those brothers and sisters from around the planet who were my motivation for traveling even more. It’s been 13 years since I’ve taken a single flight (I hadn’t overdone it before, traveling by land for months or even years at a time), and I’ve chosen bike trips—improvised, solo, with camping—that take me less far but still let me live beautiful adventures. Best, Michèle

and beyond the warm smiles, there’s often sadness when you take the time to look.

There’s no proof that the Thai or Indian person you pass on the street is actually sad—that’s a Western perspective. Western society is very materialistic and individualistic, unlike other societies that are built on family foundations. Plus, in Asia and Latin America, religion often gives life meaning.

Well, over the past few years, I’ve visited quite a bit of France (Brittany, Normandy, Hauts-de-France, Alsace, the Loire châteaux, and I regularly go back to see my beloved Nice). I actually really like the France of small towns. Big cities, not so much.

But since I’ve got a bit more budget now than before, I treat myself—especially with great restaurants!

Anyway, I love visiting France AND traveling abroad. The vibe is different, and you don’t see the same things!

Spain is always a great winter destination.

I ended up sticking to France because of Covid. But at the rate things are going, soon many countries will be better than our home country.

What do you mean by that?

Actually, in France, we tend to do road trips. Before, it was complicated because cars were often at the end of their life...

Elsewhere, you have to rent a car, which is a bit of a hassle—we’ve never done it personally (I don’t drive, so in France, I travel with a chauffeur).

Hi there, it’s been 8 years since I left France for a better life economically, and I don’t miss France much. When I go back from time to time, my friends tell me I’m lucky given everything that’s happening in the country.

We're at the point where things are just getting worse non-stop. French people are pretty damn kind, though.

That said, in terms of safety, South America wouldn't have been my first choice either...

Hello, it's been 8 years since I left France for a better life economically, and I don't miss France much

It's because you have the privilege of receiving a pension from the French system... If you were working under a local contract, I’d give you less than a month in Peru before you’d be heading back to the nest at Roissy CDG airport. You know better than I do that the average Peruvian has two jobs just to survive? And when I say "job," most of the time it’s unskilled labor. So, would you like to see yourself working 10 hours a day, breaking your back in a copper mine?

We’re at the stage where it’s getting worse non-stop. The French are pretty damn nice.

the French spend all their time moaning, yeah... then can you tell me how the situation is deteriorating? I’d really like to know

then can you tell me how the situation is getting worse? I'd really like to know

At this point, there's nothing left to do for you 😐

At this point, there’s nothing left to do for you 😐

It’s not very classy of you to make me look like an idiot. I haven’t dared to so far, but whatever—let’s move on...

Oh, but it's simply because you no longer live in France, right?

hi, even though I still live in France. But when it comes to the grass being greener elsewhere, it’s not just about the zeros in your bank account—it’s also about how you feel about things. Personally, I have a phobia of waste, so living in a country like India, where apparently there’s trash everywhere and unfortunately slums, would be really tough for me. Then there’s the fact that European lands are, by their very nature, lands of the middle—lands of contrasting colors, at least in a poetic sense.

So true! And kudos for your patience... 😉

good evening Chnoupi, thanks for appreciating my messages 🙂 Best regards