Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amdahl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!sun!amdahl!mat From: mat@amdahl.UUCP (Mike Taylor) Newsgroups: net.jobs Subject: Re: International Headhunters Part 2 of 2 Message-ID: <2408@amdahl.UUCP> Date: Thu, 19-Dec-85 11:47:17 EST Article-I.D.: amdahl.2408 Posted: Thu Dec 19 11:47:17 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 21-Dec-85 04:42:46 EST References: <2561@umcp-cs.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA Lines: 71 Just a few commments on European assignments: > Some food for thought follows: > You should be aware of the following items when considering an overseas > position. > 1. If you are married and have children, where will the children attend > school. If you are working for a European company, the cost of sending > the children to an international school would be borne by you. If you > are working for a U.S. Government Contractor, the children would attend > a Department of Defense Dependants School. The cost of placing a child > in an international school varies greatly, so I will not attempt to quote > figures. On the other hand, depending on the country and the age of the children, you might simply send them to a local school. Many Europeans move and many school systems are prepared to stretch several points to cope with language and culture issues. (Presuming you are in an urban area). > 2. The housing in Europe in general is not like what we Americans are > use to. The houses are smaller, you probably not find a house to rent > at a price you can afford. Therefore, you will have to adapt to apartment > life. If you are only there for a short while, this is true. However, many countries have subsidy programs that help the housing problem if you are going to be there long enough to consider buying a house. > 9. You will not find unleaded gas in Europe, therefore you cannot take > an American car that reguires unleaded gas into Europe. Since Germany is leading a move to catalytic converters, this is no longer as true as a couple of years ago. However, I can't imagine why you would want to take an American car to Europe, when desirable European cars are half the price they are in the U.S. Buy one there and bring it back - but make sure you get a model that can later be imported into the U.S. I know that many will sell you a car that runs on leaded gas and then add the converter prior to U.S. shipment. > 10. Drunk Driving in Germany is a felony. (prison sentence) As it should be. There are many creative penalties in Europe for drunk driving, universally humiliating and painful. > 11. Spouses have the hardest time adjusting to Europe. The spouse will > need a work permit. If they do not know the native language, they most > likely will not receive one. Probably the worst problem is finding friends, especially if spouse doesn't work. > 12. Television tranmission is different, the set here will not work > there. You would have to modify the television set. It still may not > work due to the difference in line voltage and frequency. You are better off to rent or buy a local set, it is unreasonable to modify a U.S. set - it means so many changes that the result would be a new set, practically. On the other hand, the European systems have much better pictures (resolution, color). > 15. Personal computer equipment may not work or be allowed in the > country. Power supply differences exist. I don't know who in West won't allow PCs. > 16. Modems are different. Also, telephone service in metered in Europe > therefore it is not the distance that you talk but for how long you > talk. The same holds for computers. What is a local call now in the USA > may cost a good deal more in Europe. In some countries (Germany, for example) the PTT has a monopoly on modems and only rents them at very high prices. This makes telecomputing very expensive when high phone costs are also factored in. > 17. In some European countrys it is illegal to criticize the Government. Only in the Eastern Bloc countries. > 18. Will in a European country you are subject to their laws, and you > may not have a freedom of speech. Only in the Eastern Bloc countries. It all depends on what you expect to get out of it. -- Mike Taylor ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,sun}!amdahl!mat [ This may not reflect my opinion, let alone anyone else's. ]