Where in the world should Andy go?

[Andruillius_2]

Okay,

so I'm gonna do an exchange semester coming fall. But I have no idea whereto. There are a lot of options, ranging from Stockholm to Shanghai to Sao Paulo. I'm doing a master in finance, but the courses I take don't have to be directly finance related.

Anyone have recommendations for schools, cities or countries that you'd recommend?

[Andrew_uk]

I'd pick somewhere based on living costs, how much learning their langauge will benefit you in employment opportunities, how much you like their culture/cuisine and think you could adapt to it. Course wise I'd suggest doing something unrelated if you can that way you will have an edge in employment because you will have something nobody else has.

Engineering, chemistry, film/media, Journalism, Go to say France and study German (thus learning 2 languages for the price of one)... it will make you more different and interesting at a future job interview than just being Andy who studied finance and nothing else

[Allerion]

Come to Valparaiso, IN.

Come be cold with me.

[Andrew_uk]

Also it depends what girls you like I guess... for sexy ladies in bikinis I'd say Brazil, for kinky girls into bondage try Japan, for cute but still VERY sexy blonde ladies I'd say Sweden, for strange ladies into strange fetishes somewhere like Germany, for easier ladies with open attitudes Holland, for ladies with bits attached Thailand or for some rather abused sheep Wales

[Allerion]

Not every girl is like the "amateurs" you watch in porn

[Andrew_uk]

Harsh, I realise that... was just trying to be ammusing lol

[Andruillius_2]

Thanks for the replies guys. Girls probably won't be a criteria, seeing as I've got a smoking hot Norwegian girl already I wouldn't mind a place where there aren't a lot of blondes though, attention is nice

I'm not doing Indiana. In the US, the American University in DC is my most promising option at the moment. I don't have a licence (cause I'm lazy), so that sort of rules out California.

Living costs aren't really an issue, seeing as I live in one of the most expensive countries in the world already. Neither is tuition. I am looking at France and Germany. And although my courses don't have to be directly about finance, they have to be related to business/economics in some way.

[Paraicj]

LSE? Has a moderate reputation.

[Musashi]

Depends on how seriously you want to immerse yourself in that culture; also, if you need to depend on the transport infrastructure (and America, you usually can't get anywhere without access to your own car).

Finance, I'd have said have a go at Shanghai, since you may be in the position where you want to see where it actually will flow some day; other than that, the lazy route would be somewhere in Europe, perhaps if you're more adventurous, go into the emerging Eastern part.

[Andrew_uk]

I'd agree with you about Shanghai possibly but disagree about most emerging Eastern Markets... Their governments already pay students to come over here and study in the UK. Take it from me, 40% of my Maths course was from Eastern Asia and I studied it with Actuarial Studies which was more like 90% Asian. It's a hard life for them though, they expect results and they cut their funding if their grades drop and I've heard that because of that the Chinese have the highest suicide rate in british universities.

If you go the Far East I'd be more tempted to suggest Japan

[Allerion]

Stay out of DC. trust me.

[Andruillius_2]

Paraicj: LSE is very decent, so decent I don't have the grades for it. And I don't want to go to the UK.

Shanghai is actually one of the places I have on my top list, and the reports I've seen from a candidate school there are promising.

Allerion: I'll trust you if you give me any good reasons.

[Allerion]

its poverty-stricken. unless you plan on going to the Smithsonians every weekend, youre going to stay inside, because youre going to spend one day "experiencing the culture" and you WILL say "Wow... I didn't get mugged"

[Facade19]

Andy, come to sweet Irvine, CA. While you said you have no license, the public transportation system in Irvine is actually good. The city is nice, has a prominent university (two if you consider Chapman University) and bro, I am right here in Irvine. Have nice apartments. Think about it. Seriously!

[CainTheHunter]

Shanghai FTW! I once had a possibility to spend three months in Beijing totally for free and I am not regretting that experience. China is very different from everything You see, but it's very cool country and living costs are quite low. Europe is boring, trust me - I live there and there is no European country I'd like to live or work for a prolonged period of time. If You do some martial arts, these places are good to get in touch with some local practitioners and do some training.
That's for pros. As regards cons, You should consider the health issues. Shangai, as well as Beijing are one of the most polluted cities, and Your lungs will feel it after some time. There are also some rules about security, which should be followed, but I won't go into details now - as long as You think with Your head, watch Your step and don't something entirely stupid, Chinese cities are quite safe for foreigners.
Another con - warhammer is pretty limited there, so You either have to bring Your stuff with You or do some online buying .

[Lord Anathir]

I suggest Vancouver Canada

[Lethalis]

Due to some technical issues with Andy's account, what with officially being banned and all, here are his replies.

"Facade19: Thanks for the offer, but my school doesn't offer exchange possibilities with Irvine. If you're around for a vacation on the other hand, I'll keep that in mind!

Cain: Warhammer won't be a problem, as I haven't really played that in years. Good tip on the pollution.

Anathir: Still considering Canada, but I sort of feel like Canada is the second floor neighbour to a really good party, so at the moment I'm ranking the US higher."

Also he would like to let Eldacar in particular know that he strongly disagrees with him still being banned. On a personal note I'd like to add that he at least brings back some life in Off Topic, so that might be worth looking into. Just sayin'.

[Ghost]

Anathir: Still considering Canada, but I sort of feel like Canada is the second floor neighbour to a really good party, so at the moment I'm ranking the US higher."

At least this second floor neighbour has healthcare

[Loki17]

If you go to DC you'll have to suffer at least one visit from me.

[Allerion]

Also he would like to let Eldacar in particular know that he strongly disagrees with him still being banned. On a personal note I'd like to add that he at least brings back some life in Off Topic, so that might be worth looking into. Just sayin'.

He's also cute as a bug, too.

[Malossar]

Hey hey hey


why all the hate for DC? I grew up there! I've only been stabbed once, shot at a handful of times...


Just stay out of South East and you're fine!

We have lots of things in MD that are awesome, Annapolis is only 20-30 minutes away with world class sailing. Baltimore's inner harbor and concerts on Pier 6 are sweet.

We have a decent sized Chinatown and Georgetown is really nice. Very expensive shopping but a fun place to visit.

Lots of history in DC

and yes, don't be on the Metro after dark unless you're escorted haha

[Facade19]

Lethalis, let Andy know when he plans to come to Irvine. I will most likely be around!

[Spartan]

In the US, the American University in DC is my most promising option at the moment.

NO!!! Stay away from that soulless hellhole. I transferred out of that school for a reason, and I don't ever plan to go back. Bunch of dirty, smelly, spineless, over-opinionated hippies with too much money on their hands. Trust me, you will not have a good time.

Also, the D.C. area is pretty barren in terms of actual culture.

Also he would like to let Eldacar in particular know that he strongly disagrees with him still being banned. On a personal note I'd like to add that he at least brings back some life in Off Topic, so that might be worth looking into. Just sayin'.

I second this statement. Eldy, I'm not sure it's a good idea to shoo away old-time members with the site in its current state.

[Giladis]

I second this statement. Eldy, I'm not sure it's a good idea to shoo away old-time members with the site in its current state.

Guys, I think that motion might have been considered if Andy had first approached the Lores if they are willing to lift the ban. Posting from a diferent account while banned is against the rules.

Cheers

[Ricold]

Also he would like to let Eldacar in particular know that he strongly disagrees with him still being banned.

7 smaller time bans followed by now three permanent bans (across various accounts) if I recall correctly.

Given the number of times he was asked to clean up and be polite, and he refused, he earned that ban.

But I am curious... how long did he expect his permanent ban to last? A year? Two? or is this rather like various countries penal system that claim to lock someone up for life and then they're let back out after said country discovers how much locking someone up until they die of old age costs? I'm afraid Andy was a pain in my life for far too long, and if nothing else, I will be campaigning for "permanent" to mean exactly that. I certainly intended it when I issued the ban.

I'd suggest he goes and finds a site where his style is more appreciated.

[Paraicj]

Bunch of dirty, smelly, spineless, over-opinionated hippies with too much money on their hands.

To be fair, Andy operates in a different political sphere to you, yes?

[Aryel]

Isn't time to forgive and forget? I mean, OT is quite empty and it's not the same without him.

[Lethalis]

Facade, are you saying I should let Andy know about his plans? What am I, his personal manager now? =P But sure, if he's got the plans I'll let y'all know. I know first hand how nicely this site can function as a medium to bring people closer together. Same goes for DC.

Giladis, according to the usergroup speaking of 'lores' is silly, there's only one active one and that's Eldy. I haven't seen Eldy on msn or in the chat for ages, so he'd have to have used an account on this site apparently. And of course you set the precedent by allowing Meif to post after he circumvented several bans. Also, you're not the government, you actually can make exceptions to certain people (re: Meif) who've proven able to get around a ban and not abuse it but actually try to make the site a little more fun than before.

And now that Ricold has crawled out of the woodwork; I've seen religious fundamentalists who didn't hold on to the idea of creationism the way you hold on the idea that because you didn't like Andruillius at one time, you will never be able to like him. To say that he's been ruining your life is to put a weight on forum activities that, quite frankly, isn't healthy and your comparison to penal systems absurd and desperate. The least you could've done while maintaining looking childish is support Giladis' reasoning instead of making it look like he doesn't know what he's talking about, that it's about rules instead of your personal grudge. I've known him for a while now and I can say with a straight face that his personality, in fact, is not a monolithic entity stuck in his early teens as you make it out to be.

Also, being that adamant about his banning while allowing me to pass on his messages is kind of fruitless, I would say.

[Aryel]

But I am curious... how long did he expect his permanent ban to last? A year? Two? or is this rather like various countries penal system that claim to lock someone up for life and then they're let back out after said country discovers how much locking someone up until they die of old age costs? I'm afraid Andy was a pain in my life for far too long, and if nothing else, I will be campaigning for "permanent" to mean exactly that. I certainly intended it when I issued the ban.

I'd suggest he goes and finds a site where his style is more appreciated.

Are you really that angry because of a website? Don't occurred to you that maybe Andy matured this past years and he's not the same person he was and deserves another chance? I know I am and many others too. And besides, I would like to think giving people a 2nd (and maybe a 3rd) chance was characteristic of this community, but perhaps I'm wrong, and forgiveness is not part of the Loremaster's vocabulary.

And his style is appreciated, at least by me.

Oh, and this is not a jail, it's a website about miniatures.

[Paraicj]

Aryel, don't you dare bring miniatures into it, it's off-topic!