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Lithuania: Native English speaking students in Lithuania ?:
It's obvious that rikmo has some sort of problem with his personality if that's really what he believes.
I'm an american who has lived in Lithuania for well over ten years. I can speak plenty of Lithuanian (passed 2nd level), but whenever I go out, I'm usually speaking in english, and I have plenty of friends here, and I make more every week.
My neighbors like me, and people who know me accept me as a Lithuanian person.
Yep, wherever you go, there you are...
Lithuania: Living in LT for 2 months:
Old Town can be a crap shoot. A luxury apt might share a courtyard alongside some less desirable real estate... you'll never know until you get there. Compare the prices from the highest to the lowest, "you get what you pay for" is particularly apt in this case. As in most euro cities, the places nearest to the train station are the most "dangerous". You'll see all of Old Town in two weeks, never mind two months... there are other nice neighborhoods in Vilnius, and public transportation is quite reliable.
Can't say much about renting a car... since I came to LT, I've found actually no reason to drive. They don't have the microbuses in the city anymore. One point is where will you park it? Does the apartment have a reserved space or "secured" courtyard? Not that this will guarantee a free place to park, but can improve your chances. In more than ten years of living here, and friends that drive relatively new, better cars, no one has ever had one stolen.
Really, you CAN get anywhere in Lithuania using public transportation, even to villages if you can get the right buses at the bus station, or trains to village, then buses to even the most backwater hog farm.
Before you come, go on some local "friends" sites... don't just look for Lithuanians, but Polish, Russian, and whoever else. Tell them when and why you're coming. There are THOUSANDS of stories to hear, and just as many "secret" places to go, once someone lets you know it's there.
Oh yeah... make sure you have an open ticket, because if you come here in april and may, you'll be kicking yourself that you left before the end of June. If you don't drink alcohol (beer), learn to use it as a food/snack source before you come. In most places it's cheaper than soda, and a lot healthier for living things, let alone that it's a lot more friendly than a diet coke.
And don't pee near the President's Palace, you'll end up on the news.
Lithuania: What are the pitfalls to moving from US to LT?:
Your wife could probably get her Lithuanian citizenship back easily, as long as she didn't become a US citizen until after 1991.
Nowadays Lithuanians can acquire a new citizenship, then just "switch back" when they feel like it.
Lithuania: Halloween Events for Expats in Lithuania:
Rikmo, Uzgavenes is the same day as Mardi Gras (the Catholic holiday), not like Halloween.
A few local schools did do Halloween costume "parades" for the holiday... so I guess there is some kind of infiltration or contamination that is occurring.
Lithuania: black american man in Lithuania:
In 2011, both Greenland and South Korea had higher suicide rates.
Personally, I like Lithuania because the people are genuine, speak their own minds, walk their talk, and generally don't stick their noses into each others' business until you wave it in their faces.
And yes, if you underestimate them, try to take advantage of them, or otherwise convey some atmosphere of an imagined cosmopolitanism towards them, they are indeed "captious".
As someone who has lived in the US, and other countries, I can only find benefits living in Lithuania.
I particularly enjoy the tradition of not suffering fools lightly, unless they are politicians.
Lithuania: Advice About Relocating:
Of course everything is better if you know some of the language.
A land line? In Lithuania? Up to six months waiting time to have one installed... one reason why so many people have 2 or 3 mobile numbers.
About the -25 degrees... the number of days it gets that cold I can count on my fingers. Just look at the weather history online. It's not often that it even goes below -20, in Vilnius, anyways
Lithuania: I want friends in Lithuania who speak English and with knowledge of Cars:
Hi, I don't know much about cars, but I do shop for them every few years here with my wife. I've gone to BRC in Vilnius MANY times. When questioned extensively, they did admit that most of their cars from the US are totalled, but didn't want to tell everything. I used carfax a few times, and it detailed HOW the car was totalled, ie, crash, theft, flood/storm damage.
Really, any "good" used car will come with a warranty.
Lithuania: Visa and Immigration:
It's not difficult at all... if you fall into the categories that allow you to get a long-term visa, like having family here, or being a student. Obviously, you don't have a job, or else you would already have a visa.
A sharp reality - you WILL have to leave the country. There's no way the migration dept. will be able to do the paperwork, such as bank account check (you have to have a bank account with a significant amount of money), local address (with the dwelling's owner's written permission and in-person appearance at migration), and the criminal check.
Usually, people who do this end up leaving the country, sometimes for a few days, sometimes a few weeks, then return to migracija to get their visa.
Yes, I've been there and done this. Several times.
Lithuania: Moving to Lithuania, please advice!!:
True, without knowing Lithuanian language, it will be near impossible to get a job, unless you know Russian.
DON'T bring a gift to migracija! You will be in a big room in front of many people, everyone will be able to see what you are doing, and even hear you if they listen. If you are going to end up giving a "gift" to anyone that works there, it will be through someone else, and you will NEVER see the recipient, although you might get service.. kind of a "friend of a friend" network.
Also, migracija is actually part of the police, and you will already be at the police station!
Lithuania: Retiring in Vilnius:
There are plenty of realtors/brokers. The usual popular ones, like remax, oberhaus, etc. all have offices here, and most ads (skelbiu.lt, slelbimai.lt, etc) are all posted by realtors. Everywhere realtors have sign up on every apartment building asking for people to sell.
I don't buy the "corruption" statement above at all in terms of buying a residence... people ask a price, and you make an offer - it's called the marketplace.
Here in Vilnius you'll get by better with english than with german.
To ask for a "safe" district means one with the most recently built, expensive places, or places well off to the woods. Everywhere else is an outright mixup of people, rich, poor, etc. These people have been living in their places for years, or inherit them from family. I wouldn't expect to pay less than $100,000 for a nice two room apartment. More from a real estate investment realtor/broker.
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