I would lile to move from California to Germany or France (mostly france)
Is there any way I could get some kind of opportunity?
I would be living alone and would consider doing almost any job
But would love to continue my education in literature
Is any of this dream possible?
Thank you
Unless you are independently wealthy, you can't. There are visa restrictions, and I'm afraid that 'aspiring poet' is not included in the list of professions which are granted visas.
However, if you go to college, you can look into doing an exchange at a European university. You may be required to have French, as that is the language used in France.
When you're a published and internationally respected poet you may be able to get a visa to live in France.
You cannot just pick up and move to another country. If you are not European, you will have to arrange a visa in order to move there legally. European regulations require employers to advertise jobs and demonstrate that there are no viable European candidates for a job before they can offer a position to a non European. In the best of times non-Europeans have to have specialized skills, education and/or experience that cannot be easily duplicated by European job seekers. You're more likely to get a job that takes advantage of your education and skills than an entry level job; however, it's very difficult. Expecting a job when you don't already speak the local language or expecting employers to go to the time and expense to get you a work permit when that wouldn't be necessary for European candidates is unrealistic.
Right now, the overall unemployment rate in Italy is around 12.7% and it's around 42.7% for young people. In Greece, the unemployment rate is 26.5% overall and 56.9% for young people. In Spain, the unemployment rate is 25.3% overall and 53.9% for young people. In Portugal, the unemployment rate is 15.2% and 35.4%. In France, the unemployment rate is 10.4% overall and 23.4% for young people..
My direct experience is with Italy where I lived for the past 13+ years (working for a Swedish company); other countries here in Europe will have similar rules. It's not all that different anywhere else. The site for visas in Italy is: http://www.esteri.it/visti/index_eng.asp . The site has links to the application, the additional information you need to supply in order to get the visa and where to apply. It also includes education visas which are somewhat easier to get than work visas. You can find similar information for other countries on their consulate websites.Visa information on the website of the French Consulate in New York is here: http://www.consulfrance-newyork.org/-Vis... . You can find other consulate websites with a fairly simple search. Note that you'll need to apply to the consulate that has jurisdiction over the state where you live, but you can find the necessary information on any of the consulate websites.
A work permit is separate - you cannot apply for that yourself in many countries. The company has to apply and they have to be able to demonstrate that there is not a viable EU candidate for the job. As a result, jobs for foreigners including Canadian or US citizens are pretty much restricted to people with special education, knowledge, or experience ... and you would have to be able to speak the local language. However, the level of English is high in Scandinavia and most adults speak it very well. You would be able to manage well while learning the language. Right now, as noted above, the best bet would probably be something in the healthcare field which is a fit for you. When I moved here, it was through a transfer of the job I was already doing in the US to the Italian office. Even so, it took 8 months to put all the paperwork in place to apply for a visa. If you already have a job offer, the company will provide you the information you need for your visa application and take care of things like work permits.
It's useful to check the expat sites for information about living and working in the places you might be interested in:
http://www.expatsinitaly.com/
http://www.escapeartist.com/
http://www.expatica.com/
You can find other sites by searching for "expat" and the name of your target country. These sites will tell you how to register your address, provide information about healthcare, banks, and so forth to ease you into daily life.
You need to be aware that if you are a US expat, you would need to file tax returns in the US as well as in your host country and that can get to be expensive. You may also want to compare the cost of living in potential host companies to where you are now. http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
You can go as a student, pay full tuition and hopefully you are flient in the language and must return after studies. What rhymes with Glockenspeil?
You should locate a job first, then take your savings and possessions and move.
