Every country has their peculiarities to navigate the system. Once you know the paths, one could claim that it's almost efficient.
As a native, you learn these paths intrinsically through sheer cultural osmosis. As a foreigner, trying to understand what you need to do to pass through can be bewildering:
e.g.1. Germany: de-registering from a trash company who refuses to collect the bins because you haven't registered your new address yet, though they're unrelated. Needlessly complex.
e.g.2. Lithuania: not being able to decide to pay a debt later because the government just decided to take the money directly from your bank. Ruthlessly efficient.
As someone who spent the last decade abroad, I've realised that every country is like this, and that ultimately I feel heard and represented mostly in the one I was born in.
The UK is a mess, yes, but it is a mess I know how to wade through. The paths to my goals are as full with floating turds as any other country, but I at least know how and when to hold my breath and swim.
(this last metaphor got away from me a little, I apologise)
As a native, you learn these paths intrinsically through sheer cultural osmosis. As a foreigner, trying to understand what you need to do to pass through can be bewildering:
e.g.1. Germany: de-registering from a trash company who refuses to collect the bins because you haven't registered your new address yet, though they're unrelated. Needlessly complex.
e.g.2. Lithuania: not being able to decide to pay a debt later because the government just decided to take the money directly from your bank. Ruthlessly efficient.
As someone who spent the last decade abroad, I've realised that every country is like this, and that ultimately I feel heard and represented mostly in the one I was born in.
The UK is a mess, yes, but it is a mess I know how to wade through. The paths to my goals are as full with floating turds as any other country, but I at least know how and when to hold my breath and swim.
(this last metaphor got away from me a little, I apologise)