Millions worldwide would like to switch countries

"The least likely to want to emigrate were Asians -- only one in 10 Asian adults said they would move to another country."

Millions worldwide would like to switch countries: study - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Some 700 million people worldwide, or more than all the adults of North and South America combined, think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence and want to permanently move to another country, a poll showed Tuesday.
Residents of sub-Saharan African countries were the most likely to want to move abroad permanently, the polls conducted in 135 countries between 2007 and this year by Gallup showed.
On average, 38 percent of the adult population in sub-Saharan Africa, or around 165 million people, said they would up stakes and head for another country if they had the chance.
The most popular destination was the United States, where nearly a quarter of the 700 million -- around 165 million people -- said they would like to settle.
In joint second were Britain, Canada and France, each being named as the preferred destination of around 45 million people.
Thirty-five million said they would go to Spain, 30 million to Saudi Arabia, and 25 million each to Australia or Germany.
The least likely to want to emigrate were Asians -- only one in 10 Asian adults said they would move to another country.
Nearly 260,000 people aged 15 years and older were surveyed, either by phone or face-to-face, for the poll, which has a margin of error of around five percent.

Regardless of its faults I remain grateful to Thailand for allowing me to live here. Switching countries was the best thing I ever did. I could not imagine having to return to politically correct sexually repressed religiously schizophrenic America. Thank you Thailand.

*pop*

That was the sound of Smeg's brain imploding as he read this thread but was unable to reply with his usual 'Thaiophile' rant owing to his current restriction to MKP. :)

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Originally Posted by chitown

30 million to Saudi Arabia

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Bet none of them were Paedophiles's??? :rofl: Oh to be decapitated and crucified!!!

Agree with B0br I like it here...however the driving and manners could improve then it would be perfect indeed...Oh and generally not treated like a second class citizen...some respect would be nice once in a while.

Other than that cool beans.

Its a human trait to always want what one cannot have or expect the grass is always greener on the other side.

In some cases a move is better than a holiday but at the end of the day most people should stay put and not uproot their lives.

Wonder if they counted the Philippines as part of Asia? Unlike Thais, most Filipinos would get out of here if they had a chance.

Or perhaps the one out of ten Asians who wanted to emigrate were all Filipinos?

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Or perhaps the one out of ten Asians who wanted to emigrate were all Filipinos?

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Filipino expat labour seems to be a huge contributor to their GDP. I've worked with a lot of Filipinos and they really are great workers and people generally. Seems that all their best people must be outside the country for it to be badly-run and fucked up like it is.?

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Or perhaps the one out of ten Asians who wanted to emigrate were all Filipinos?

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The Philippines is the worlds largest exporter.

Sadly, anyone with the education or contacts to get out does. The good ones leave, and leave behind basically a welfare state where families depend on one or two members earning abroad to support the entire clan, who basically sit around waiting for the check to come in. I have had to find a new doctor for my kids five times in the past six years, as they keep trading in their MD's to go work abroad as nurses or nurse's aides. The quality of education continues to drop, as quality teachers head abroad. The corrupt politicians stay, simply because they are from tremendously wealthy families, live like royalty, and believe (correctly) that they can steal more money by staying here. It is truly sad since, given half a chance, the hard-working Filipinos could really make something of this country, which has so much to offer. But, as in normally the case, the corrupt few will ensure that they keep the cash flowing into their pockets, and that the common Filipino suffers.

If I could switch countries, I would like to swap Sweden for Thailand (minus Pattaya, if that is an option). That way I could stay close to my friends and family in Norway, but still have a tropical paradise right next door.:)

I swapped, best thing I ever did. I may swap again soon....and I hope to keep swapping until they bury me.

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Wonder if they counted the Philippines as part of Asia? Unlike Thais, most Filipinos would get out of here if they had a chance.

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You probably hit the nail on the head.

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Sadly, anyone with the education or contacts to get out does. The good ones leave, and leave behind basically a welfare state where families depend on one or two members earning abroad to support the entire clan, who basically sit around waiting for the check to come in.

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That is right too. But not because they are lazy but because it is not possible to make a decent living here. Those who work well abroad could not succeed in the Philippines, giving the state that country is in.

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

The quality of education continues to drop, as quality teachers head abroad.

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That may become a problem soon, if the Philippines are no longer a source of qualified staff. If the money flow from abroad diminishes there will be serious social unrest.

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Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

That way I could stay close to my friends and family in Norway, but still have a tropical paradise right next door.:)

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Have you been to Thailand ?:smileylaughing:

Diminishing English language skills are already a huge problem. Once one of the biggest selling points for Filipinos seeking work abroad, English language skills have decreased at an alarming rate. I have been here 14 years, and the number of Filipinos who can really communicate in English has dropped annually. My two older boys are both graduates of De La Salle University, an English-language private school. While they both speak good English (by virtue of having lived with me for most of their lives), the number of their classmates who can actually hold a conversation in English is depressing. Unless they work in parts of the service industry like hotels, travel agencies, airlines or the like, or in call centers, there is little opportunity for them to use the English which they learned in school. Montessori, where my twins go to school, used to be English only; just this year, they have shifted many of their classes to Tagalog, as parents were complaining that their kids couldn't keep up. And the downward spiral continues. I am now searching for a new school for the twins, with little success thus far.

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Originally Posted by superman

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Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

That way I could stay close to my friends and family in Norway, but still have a tropical paradise right next door.:)

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Have you been to Thailand ?:smileylaughing:

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Lived and worked here for 10 years mate - and the place has been very good to me. It would be even better without the corrupt politicians/policemen, drunken tourists and syphilitic whores, but it is still a pretty good place to be.

Been here 7 years and still love it. Had my ups and downs here but things are pretty good at the moment, nothing to winge about. You'd have to drag me kicking and screaming back to the UK; ugly women, political correctness up the ass, shite weather, miserable long faces everywhere....... God Bless Thailand!

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Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Its a human trait to always want what one cannot have or expect the grass is always greener on the other side.

In some cases a move is better than a holiday but at the end of the day most people should stay put and not uproot their lives.

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Exploration and inquisitive travel has always been an instinctive character trait, centuries upon centuries.

Whatever, the most people around this world still remain and want to remain where they come from or actually are...

Movers like most of us expats here are not the common but more the exception, many want eventually, few move, many are happy to stay where they are and would be lost if placed in another culture, environment,...

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Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

I may swap again soon....and I hope to keep swapping until they bury me.

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Now that's a nice idea...totally agree with you there.

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Originally Posted by kovanovski71

You'd have to drag me kicking and screaming back to the UK; ugly women, political correctness up the ass, shite weather, miserable long faces everywhere.......

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Oh how fecking true...even speaking to some of my mates back in blighty.......that can be enough to keep my feet firmly in Asia..

Likewise....

I know I could earn a lot more money in the UK, live a comfortable life, but my god I'd be fed up. For me the quality of my life is more important. Here I'm happier.

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Wonder if they counted the Philippines as part of Asia? Unlike Thais, most Filipinos would get out of here if they had a chance.

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i was thinking the same thing mate. if you wanst gonna mention it, i was. most likely they forgot about dear philippines or North Korea, although i would like to admit they wouldn't choose America for the country of living

^^ Agreed I earnt far more in the UK, but was tits'd off most of the time, bored and sick of the apathy.

Here I am much happier and less stressed...most of the time.

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Originally Posted by chitown

Some 700 million people worldwide, or more than all the adults of North and South America combined, think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence and want to permanently move to another country

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Originally Posted by chitown

around 165 million people, said they would up stakes and head for another country if they had the chance.

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Originally Posted by chitown

nearly a quarter of the 700 million -- around 165 million people -- said they would like to settle.

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Originally Posted by chitown

Thirty-five million said they would go to Spain, 30 million to Saudi Arabia, and 25 million each to Australia or Germany.

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Originally Posted by chitown

Nearly 260,000 people aged 15 years and older were surveyed,

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:mid:

A good statistician, much like a good accountant, can make the numbers dance and tell any story they want... :)

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...

Too many people blame their surroundings for their miserable state of mind - not realize that it comes from within.

Count your blessings, and unless you are in a truly shitty situtation - stop bitching and be grateful for your fortune.

I love this country! Sure it has bullshit here and there, like anywhere else, but frankly it is the favorite of the 42 countries I've seen.