go to Europe?

[KTP]

My DW has been offered a 2 month stint in Europe as part of some international outreach exchange program thing at her work. She would still be with the same company, just working for 2 months in Europe instead of in the USA. They will pay for the flight (for both of us), housing in a furnished apartment, rental car, and a 5 day a week stipend (plus her normal salary).

Would you go? One or two weeks is one thing, two months is quite a long time. She was just unsure how this would affect our budget. I predict we would spend a lot more on each weekend, but probably somewhat less during the week. Could cancel cable for 2 months...

[Like2Plan]

Originally Posted by KTP

My DW has been offered a 2 month stint in Europe as part of some international outreach exchange program thing at her work. She would still be with the same company, just working for 2 months in Europe instead of in the USA. They will pay for the flight (for both of us), housing in a furnished apartment, rental car, and a 5 day a week stipend (plus her normal salary).

Would you go?

Yes. (My bag would already be packed. )

[creditcardfree]

I would go!

[shanecurran]

Absolutely you should go. Two months is no time at all. It will fly by and you will probably find yourself feeling as though you are not ready to leave. I am jealous, I love traveling and experiencing different cultures.

[JoshuaHeckathorn]

I would take it in a heartbeat! You won't regret it.

[Redraidernurse]

Your job will let you go also?

[DebbieL]

I was also curious to about your job. As long as I could get the time off from my own job, I would go in a heartbeat. If DH had that offer and I couldn't join him, I'd still tell him to go and get to experience it.

[snafu]

What a fab opportunity! Where in Europe? Shorter distances between countries than between states! Keep in mind currency conversion USD $1.40 = 1 Euro and stuff is a little more expensive... gas around $9. gal. Locals appreciate your knowing a few phrases in their language and detest visitors who keep saying..."in the states we never..." or " we always yadda yadda." Not only will you go to new countries, provinces, counties, cities, villages, venues but you have an opportunity to meet folks from all over the world and that can be golden since a major part of the world operates on who you know...who knows you

Keep posting so the rest of us can live vicariously via your adventures

[KTP]

Originally Posted by Redraidernurse

Your job will let you go also?

Meh, I don't have a job. Wife makes too much money that it hasn't made sense to work, with taxes and all of the extra expenses that go with a 2nd job.

I do a nice job of keeping house, making dinner and doing the finances...a nice role reversal case huh?

I am curious about things like pay and such. Will she be taxed based on our home state or the country where she is working? Will she be paid in Euros (mostly kidding I hope)? Is two months long enough to maybe get a local credit card so we don't have to pay the 3% international fee every time we use it? (I think our Visa does this, not sure of our Amex)

I think we will probably go for it.

[facebookdigg123]

yes, do it!! it's pretty much a free trip to europe.

get a capital one credit card if you can. no international fees. i spent 2 months studying abroad in europe with my capital one card without paying for international fees.

[Redraidernurse]

Originally Posted by KTP

Meh, I don't have a job. Wife makes too much money that it hasn't made sense to work, with taxes and all of the extra expenses that go with a 2nd job.

I do a nice job of keeping house, making dinner and doing the finances...a nice role reversal case huh?

I am curious about things like pay and such. Will she be taxed based on our home state or the country where she is working? Will she be paid in Euros (mostly kidding I hope)? Is two months long enough to maybe get a local credit card so we don't have to pay the 3% international fee every time we use it? (I think our Visa does this, not sure of our Amex)

I think we will probably go for it.

And no kids? Wow, you certainly got the sweet end of that deal!

[LuckyRobin]

I'd jump at it in a heartbeat. If we could afford it we'd be spending summers in a different country every year. Some day. If you go, I doubt you would ever regret it.

[krantcents]

No question, I would go! If is once in a lifetime opportunity because they are paying you and subsidizing the expenses.

[KTP]

Originally Posted by Redraidernurse

And no kids? Wow, you certainly got the sweet end of that deal!

One amazing wife, no kids (we wouldn't know how often to change their litter box or whatever anyway so probably a good thing.

Anyway, it looks like the general feeling is, go!

[disneysteve]

Add me to the GO votes. I agree that 2 months is not nearly as long as it may sound. Heck, tons of kids go away to summer camp for that long every year.

Of course, you need to work out things like who will care for your home while you're gone, take care of your cars, get your mail, etc., but I wouldn't let those little details stop you from taking advantage of this opportunity.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

of course. i would even with kid.

[frugalgirl]

Originally Posted by KTP

Meh, I don't have a job. Wife makes too much money that it hasn't made sense to work, with taxes and all of the extra expenses that go with a 2nd job.

I do a nice job of keeping house, making dinner and doing the finances...a nice role reversal case huh?

I am curious about things like pay and such. Will she be taxed based on our home state or the country where she is working? Will she be paid in Euros (mostly kidding I hope)? Is two months long enough to maybe get a local credit card so we don't have to pay the 3% international fee every time we use it? (I think our Visa does this, not sure of our Amex)

I think we will probably go for it.

What a sweet deal! My DH is currently doing a 7 month sabbatical in Europe at a university here. All we got in addition to his regular US salary was a rent subsidy. So, we are paying rent here and our mortgage at home. Even with the higher cost of everything, we are not spending more money overall on our necessities.

Your DW's company will certainly help you financially and otherwise. I can't imagine this would not be a financial win, or at least wash, for you.

We are in Sweden. Here, if you stay for 12 months, you can get a person number (essentially a SSN) which will enable you to get a bank account. If we wanted to receive Swedish benefits, we'd have to live here that long and pay Swedish taxes. I'm sure this time frame varies from country-to-country. The country you go to may issue temporary ID numbers that would allow you to get a bank account. You will have to check. Because we cannot get a person number, we cannot get a local credit card either. We do know someone staying 6 months who is getting paid in Swedish Kronor who was able to get an account with the help of the university. If you can get paid in the local currency, you would want your DW's company to help her get a local bank account so you can deposit the money here and are not getting hit with exchange fees in both directions. If you can get a local bank account, you should be able to get a local credit card and that is a true win for you. The Europeans all use pin and chip cards which no US banks issue yet (except the UN bank). Some places won't take our American credit card (PenFed Visa - no foreign transaction fees) but most do. It is way easier to have the pin and chip card.

Since you are US citizens on a temporary Visa then you should not have to pay local taxes to the country you are in. Regular IRS rules apply to your US residency. You have to be out of the country for close to a year to be exempt from US taxes.

My biggest concern would be health insurance and care. Your DW's company should help with all of that.

You'd be crazy not to go!!

[couchrobt]

Yes of course I would love to see Europe. I think every one in their minds would like to travel and see not only europe but the world. That does not exempt me!

[snafu]

KTP: I suggest you quickly start researching what you want to see and do in Europe during the 2 month posting and then prioritize as you will only get to half, particularly if you pick date limiting festivals. What things do you like to do? music, museums, art, architecture, design, cultural differences, wine/beer, scenery/environment...the list can be endless

[shanecurran]

Originally Posted by frugalgirl

My biggest concern would be health insurance and care. Your DW's company should help with all of that.

I studied abroad in Spain for a semester. Health care was not an issue. In many European countries, you can get prescriptions straight from the pharmacy without seeing a doctor. I don't remember if the program set up the health care or if it is provided for everyone.