[acabal]

More than a few of these arguments are basically, "The money's better there." Which might be true. But emigrating to a place is a big decision and money shouldn't be the factor you use to make it. Depending on where you go, building a new network of friends, learning the language, and acclimating to the culture can be difficult and weigh against your happiness far more than money can offset. And if you lose a year unhappily working in a foreign land just because the money's good, well, that's a year you can't get back.

Instead of career-oriented work abroad, I always suggest that younger people with few responsibilities save up money for a year or two and then take a year or two off to travel instead. You have to commit to a longish period--two weeks in Hawaii or Berlin doesn't count. But the experiences you have, and most importantly the people you meet (including other travelers) will change your perspective permanently, and you'll then be better armed to make a decision on where to build your career.

[billpaetzke]

I agree with you on the difficulty of building your life in a foreign land and the happiness or lack thereof associated with that. I have been thinking a lot about this concept of global living/citizenship. It can open a lot of doors but also leave a lot of loose ends. It sounds sexy but then life becomes complicated as you have two (or more) lives.