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Want to come home to the US: should I?

 
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I'm a programmer living in Barcelona, Spain. I'm from Texas, originally. I've been here for four years. I've married a Spanish woman, and now we're thinking about going home, probably to Miami where it will be easier for her to adapt (she speaks no English).
I'm seeing that the economy is in the toilet-- is that true? Will I be able to find work in the Miami area now? I'm a pretty experienced Business Intelligence/database programmer (I came over to Spain when I had been working for Oracle for three years).
I'm also not pleased with the current political situation. Is Bush making things *that* unpleasant? I've always told my wife, "Don't worry, the president isn't that important on a day to day basis in the States", but now I'm really wondering.
You may be wondering why I want to leave Barcelona: money. I get paid here what I got paid in my first programming job. There is zero respect for experienced programmers here. And though the cost of living is lower here, it is not one third of the cost of living in the States, and I'm getting paid about one third what I was paid before I came here. Thus, I'm getting paid less in real dollars.
Any insights?
 
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I can top your situation.
I am currently at a "day labor" job. That means I don't know if I work tomorrow. (This is a large company - with thousands of employees across the United States, that hires hundreds of people on a "day laborer" basis.)
Twenty years ago I made more money per hour, and the working conditions were much better.
My current "co-workers" are so freaked out by the bad economy and not working for many many months, that they are scared to go to the bathroom - and they ask permission from the manager before they get up from their desks and go to use the restroom.
What makes me want to weep is the so-called "team leader".
Here is what I know for a fact about our "team leader" ==>
1. She works very hard and never takes a break.
2. She supervises 10-15 people every day.
3. She manages large amounts of money, and supervises writing checks for large amounts of money.
4. She is a good public speaker and a good communicator. Most people at the workplace like her.
5. She is an expert at small office software. She loads the Access database, combines Excell spreadsheets, uses little known obscure features of Word and Powerpoint that I did not know even existed.
6. She also works on high-profile special projects for the highest management of the company.
7. She is also a "day laborer" and is not an actual employee of the company.
8. She makes $10 per hour.
I wish I was exagerating. But I am not. It is really a "Grapes of Wrath" situation.
Kevin
 
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Hi Tim,
What's about Brazil? Are they speaking Spanish too? I think their IT market more brighter than US.
I think in US the mentality toward programmers changed too. The business users push programmers toward the corner if not into the computer room.
But if you already have contacts in US and knowing your industry well, you probably will find work in the niche market of your industry. Anyway, be prepare for salary cut. The monetary reward is not that high anymore.
You have more lucks if you are an engineers because the Navy needs a lot of them as technical sailors.
Regards,
MCao
 
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Is Bush making things *that* unpleasant?
What are you waiting for??? Jeez, just place the barrel of your pistol against your puckered up lips and pop a cap home. You're finished man. There's nothing left to come home to here. It's a complete mess. (You'd be like Taylor in the Planet of the Apes. ) And you can't stay where you are, you are hated by all Europeans. Pack it in, bro. It's not your fault...
 
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Your background in business intelligence can probably help you land a job.
 
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Originally posted by Matt Cao:
What's about Brazil? Are they speaking Spanish too? I think their IT market more brighter than US.


In Brazil they speak Portuguese, not Spanish.
 
Timothy Chen Allen
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Originally posted by Marilyn de Queiroz:

In Brazil they speak Portuguese, not Spanish.


I heard a story about the inauguration of a U.S. Embassy in Brazil. The embassy staff wanted to make a good impression, so they printed up the banners, cakes, and invitations in both English and what they thought was the native language: Spanish.
No wonder everyone thinks we're boneheads.
(I admit the possibility that this is urban legend, but it sure is a great story)
 
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Here is your bright future! Look and learn!
http://conceptlab.com/simulator/
 
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is your team leader pretty?
its time to move to india, I have been unemployed since I graduated and its not good at all its making me more and more depressed everyday and my parents hate me and want to kill me because I can't earn any money
 
Timothy Chen Allen
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Originally posted by Billy Tsai:
is your team leader pretty?
its time to move to india, I have been unemployed since I graduated and its not good at all its making me more and more depressed everyday and my parents hate me and want to kill me because I can't earn any money


Wow Billy, take it easy. I was unemployed for three months at one point, right after my first son was born. Talk about feeling useless-- I was failing the "good provider" qualification. But don't worry, eventually you'll find work and then you'll wonder why you were so worried about not having it.
BTW, you're parents don't hate you. It is genetically impossible to hate your children (unless your parents are psychotic axe murderers). They might be unhappy that you don't find work, but I'd bet that's more about them wanting you to be happy than anything. Don't pressurize yourself about not having work by adding thinking that your parents hate you to the mix-- I'm sure they love you and want what's best for you, even if you don't fully understand how they choose to tell you right this instant.
 
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Forget returning home to the US. Consider working in India - seriously You will get a great job, save a lot of money, have a good life, with great weather, and excellent education for your children, and be respected in the community, and among your peers.
A related news article for your reference: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_302673,001600060001.htm
There's a Career Fair this coming Thursday in Iselin, NJ. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Network Associates, Cognizant are hiring - for jobs in India While their primary attendees would be Indian Americans wanting to return home, American Americans looking for a better career are welcome too
PS. Bangalore is where you ought to be
[ July 20, 2003: Message edited by: Nanhesru Ningyake ]
 
Timothy Chen Allen
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Originally posted by Nanhesru Ningyake:
Forget returning home to the US. Consider working in India - seriously You will get a great job, save a lot of money, have a good life, with great weather, and excellent education for your children, and be respected in the community, and among your peers.
A related news article for your reference: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_302673,001600060001.htm
There's a Career Fair this coming Thursday in Iselin, NJ. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Network Associates, Cognizant are hiring - for jobs in India While their primary attendees would be Indian Americans wanting to return home, American Americans looking for a better career are welcome too
PS. Bangalore is where you ought to be
[ July 20, 2003: Message edited by: Nanhesru Ningyake ]


Well, really, I would have taken that offer five years ago. But my wife is Spanish and speaks no English. She would be doubly displaced, and I am having a hard enough time getting her to leave Spain. Really, I think it sound exciting, but I don't see any way that I can make her see it that way.
 
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It shouldn't make much difference to an American as you continue to pay taxes while you work overseas. This makes it doubly difficult for overseas companies to attract American talent. I think they shoudn't tax expat Americans. This may ease the unemployment in the US a little. We dont pay taxes plus we get to cast our votes at the consulate, come election time
 
Nanhesru Ningyake
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but I don't see any way that I can make her see it that way
Aw, that's too bad - I hope in the near future, you can convince her to move, or find a better opportunity for yourself in Spain. Good luck
More news on the growing off-shoring trend (from today's NYT): I.B.M. Explores Shift of White-Collar Jobs Overseas.
 
Timothy Chen Allen
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Originally posted by Kevin Arnold:
It shouldn't make much difference to an American as you continue to pay taxes while you work overseas.


Most people won't have to pay US taxes if they work overseas. You still have to file US taxes every year, but (for the past four years at least) you had to make more than $75000 USD to have to actually pay taxes in the US. If you made $76000 USD, you paid taxes on the $1000 USD you made over $75000.
Of course you have to pay taxes in the country you're working in, but this avoids you being taxed twice.
Since I'm making a sickly 36000 Euros in Spain (if you don't want to do the math, trust me, it's less than $75K), I don't have to pay US taxes.
 
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