# Your favorite Country (of which you are a non-native or resident)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 11, 2002, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446 "2002-06-11T14:01:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/21 "2002-06-11T17:31:13Z")
Another vote for **Finland** ( **Helsinki** , at least)! Gorgeous women, a meeting ground of peoples, architectural styles, and design, yet a little out of the way, looks like they took Ottawa and put it in Algonquin Park and hired smarter people to run it… I’d nominate Australia as well, but I have not yet been there. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/22 "2002-06-11T17:37:38Z")
That’s a hard question! I really loved Germany…weather is a bit sucky, but the people were great, the energy in Berlin is contageous and it was a great place to live. But Switzerland has everything from snow capped alps to palm trees in Ticino…the populace can be a bit stodgey, but they are actually a lot more generous than people give them credit for. How can you dislike Italy? I mean, granted, for someone hyper like myself, the Italians are the s l o w e s t people on earth, from walking on the street to service in a business…but the food, the fashion, the art…bellla bella bella. Greece…Denmark…Sweden…Iceland…Netherlands…England… Ireland… this is cruel… (Dmark walks away, defeated in his attempt to make a choice.) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/23 "2002-06-11T17:38:01Z")
**Vietnam**. Just the most interesting place I’ve ever been. **Nepal** before Maoist rebels started fucking things up. **Thailand**. All the wonder of the tropics, with less of the third-world hassles. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/24 "2002-06-11T17:49:00Z")
USA. Specifically Oregon. Amazingly beautiful State, filled with really nice people (who drive very badly). ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/25 "2002-06-11T17:49:54Z")
Following **Tansu** ’s approach, I’d have to say Ecuador, just because of all those hot ladies I’ve seen from there. Following the OP’s approach, I’d have to second Greece. It’s a wonderful place, and I’d love to go back there again, for longer than a week this time. So much history there to revel in. Such a shame they switched to the euro, though. I’d enjoyed using the world’s oldest currency (IIRC) when I was there. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/26 "2002-06-11T18:16:58Z")
French Polynesia - specifically Tahiti. I’m convinced that the Garden of Eden was not a myth and is, in fact, still open for visitation. It just takes a reeeeaaaaalllllllllllyyyyyyyy long flight from Los Angeles to get there. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/27 "2002-06-11T18:19:11Z")
Spain. Good food, terrific coffee, cheap wine, lots of twisty little medieval streets, awesome festivals, and people who think it is _normal_ to go out for a squid sandwich at 4 a.m. And you can get fresh bread delivered instead of having to go out for it. It’s a shame the educational system leaves so much to be desired (especially since the only way I can _possibly_ get a working visa is teaching at a university) but I can’t really think of any other downsides. ---
**Author:** ![Lekman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lekman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lekman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/28 "2002-06-11T18:31:34Z")
Greece and Thailand are the ones for me. Oh, and Afghanistan before the Russians fucked it up. ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/29 "2002-06-11T18:47:37Z")
I like Germany a lot. I’ve never been there, but I’m planning to try and apply for exchange studentship sometime in college. I’ve never met a German I didn’t like, and could use the practice with a very dignified-sounding and otherwise nifty language. And who could hate a country that produced both Nina Hagen, the Einstürzende Neubauten _and_ Kraftwerk, all in the same general era? Secondly comes both Canada and Denmark. Both are pretty countries with charm in buckets. Danish is a beautiful language, sort of like listening to an Irishman speak in a vaguely Germanic accent, and Canada has an atmosphere that appeals to me - it’s like the US, but with a lot less people and a lot more nature. Very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Anahita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@Anahita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anahita)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/30 "2002-06-11T19:12:56Z")
Malaysia. Of all of the Asian countries I’ve visited, it had the best food, kindest people, most beautiful architecture and natural resources. I also noticed that people were very culturally and religiously tolerant of one another. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/31 "2002-06-11T19:28:38Z")
Czech Republic. Good people, good food, good beer (If I go there in college I’d be of drinking age) and Prague is one happening place. My family didn’t spend to long there, so I might want to return during college for a semester. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/32 "2002-06-11T19:58:20Z")
I’d vote for Japan, just for the shopping and theme parks and other vacationy-type fun things to do there. Australia would be a close second, though. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/33 "2002-06-11T19:58:24Z")
I have noticed a couple of references to college…one little hijack if I may…I found out too late that Universities in many other countries DO NOT HAVE TUITION…meaning, if I hadn’t been so stupid, I could have gone to a German University, taken the money I spent on tuition in Illinois, and lived very well in Europe, travelled around and still saved money. Now back to our regularly scheduled thread. I think I have finally decided (see my post above). Germany wins, simply because they still put a value on education, world politics and social reforms. The people generally are open to new ideas, the standard of living is very high, their sexual inhibitions are almost non-existant and when it comes to partying…it’s hard to keep up with a group of Germans, no matter what age they are. Plus, with my genetic tendency for sloth and being a slob, living in Germany turned me into a neat-nik and gave me an inert ability to get off my ass and at least try to accomplish goals. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/34 "2002-06-11T21:01:46Z")
Another Canadian who’ll vote for Finland. I was there on research last year for a few weeks and loved it even though I didn’t even make it to Helsinkii, spent most of my time in Oulu (like their equivalent of Waterloo, Ont.). It’s got great scenery, well organized, and the people there have a personality that I really like. New Zealand is pretty damn nice too, and it basically has every type of scenery imaginable. If we ignored politics I would also add Zimbabwe. Man, anybody been to the Motopos? ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/35 "2002-06-11T21:12:16Z")
Scotland here. I just love the accent. I know that the weather isn’t all that great, but who cares? ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/36 "2002-06-11T23:35:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*Australia!!! > > The only thing that would give me pause is that the whole place is a deathtrap. I think every single animal there has the potential to kill you. Brown snakes, taipans, fierce snakes, funnelweb spiders, white tail spiders, box jellylfish, blue-ringed octopi, even freaking platypi! > > In fact, Australia scares me now. I changing my answer. I like Spain. Only been to Barcelona, but I absolutely loved it! Nice beaches, hot women… \*\* You sook! I’ve never even been CLOSE to being bitten (or whatever) by ANY of these creatures! To tell you the truth, I haven’t even SEEN any box jellyfish, octupi, taipans or white tail spiders, and you’d be positively lucky to see a platypus in the wild, they’re very shy. I demand you change your answer back immediately! Spain indeed! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/37 "2002-06-11T23:49:58Z")
Blue Curls Member Registered: Mar 2002 Location: Brisvegas, Australia! Posts: 40 BRISVEGAS? Seriously? Sounds like a Jewish event at the Elvis Museum down the street! ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/38 "2002-06-12T00:45:30Z")
Canada, so far. We were in Victoria last year and it was so civilized… the gardens were awesome, the cars **all** stop for you in crosswalks, etc… I would move to Victoria tomorrow if my wife could stand living without sunshine for, well, most of the year… I loved both Australia and New Zealand. I had to laugh at **Neurotik** ’s post - in Tasmania we were literally _wading_ through the local fauna, and none of them were particularly threatening. The South Island of NZ was beautiful, but the North Island left me cold. I haven’t visited England yet - that’s coming next year. This could all change then. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/39 "2002-06-12T01:08:29Z")
1. canada 2. denmark 3.england brisvegas?!?!?!!?!? ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446/40 "2002-06-12T01:13:22Z")
You know, it might be a toss up between the Netherlands and Belgium, BUT a) Belgian beer (gloriousness) and b) Dutch food (ech-- thank god they had an empire for a while. . .). Mmmm, vlaamse frites. . . Funny damn people, though, and they are all convinced that their countries are known for being humorless-- I don’t know where they got that idea from. So lets say Benelux-- does that count? I like the idea of New Zealand very much. Need to check that out some time. I’m not into arid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-country-of-which-you-are-a-non-native-or-resident/113446.md?page=3)