Situation reversed !

Absolutely- but you can also 'get stuck in' and gently, slowly, persuade that we can all learn from each other. I am currently on the local education committee, and I am, slowly but surely, influencing the way foreign languages are taught- and that there is a large need to move away from just learning vocab and grammar out of context (as used to be the case in the 50s and 60s in the UK), and put more emphasis on communication.

And also discussing at the moment better ways to deal with bullying- and establishing a system of peer support and co.counselling, as was done so successfully in the schools where I taught in the UK. Requires a lot of patience and tact (ahaha I hear you laugh- but honestly, I am learning!)-
and it is all being taken on board.

Yes I am a bit like that, jane.
I have good discussions with my French friends about how things are done differently in each country. I find there is a lot of hand-wringing here about how France needs to change to survive, but nobody actually wants to give up their holidays or short working hours. I probably annoy them sometimes, but then I never hesitated to say what I thought needed changing in the UK too. I don't subscribe to the view that if you have chosen to live abroad then you should never criticise anything. I pay taxes here and in the UK and I think I am entitled to have a view on how the countries are run.
I have seen so many people go from rose-tinted glasses (or rosé tinted glasses) to absolute misery and hatred of all things French. Much better to research, understand, debate and then accept the good and the bad imo.

Forgot to say durhamjen, this thread is of course for all to contribute- just thought that some who have lived or are living abroad for a significant period of time, would particularly relate to it.

Yes, jane- that's what I exactly what I meant, thanks.

Of course durhamjen, I said it tongue and cheek about making a perfect system out of the best bits of many - what is 'best' for me may well be 'worst' for someone else.

But let's give an example- education post 16. In the UK students only do 4 AS Levels and then only 3 for A'Levels (generally)- so post 16 education is very limited and narrow. Students can study only sciences, or only arts, or only languages, or only 'social' subjects, etc- and not have an all-rounded education and general knowledge. In Europe, students have to continue all subjects for the Baccalaureat/uni entrance. So have a wide knowledge, but if they are, for instance, not good at sciences and maths, they just cannot go on to study at UNI unless they pass in those subjects. Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses- and I could write pages about both + and - of both. A system somehwere half-way would be much better imho- something like the Scottish Highers for instance.

Going back to last week-end's vote on health insurance, it would be helpful to know if the person/s behind an advertising campaign or tv interview, etc- is objective, or related to financial interests, or just personal belief/opinion.

We lived in Hongkong for 11 years.
When we came home on leave I would find myself hotly defending the HK government from accusations of being Colonial monsters.
Then when we went back to HK, I would be defending the UK government (Jim Callaghan's) from accusations of being rabid Socialists.

On the point you made granjura re the Swiss health insurance referendum, I suppose it's better in the UK that MPs have to disclose possible conflicts of interest, but as many MPs have such potential conflicts, does the fact that they have to register them really make a huge difference? It doesn't preclude them from sitting on committees and being part of the opinion-forming and decision-making process relating to matters in which they have a personal interest.

Granjura, you would have to go and find your own island to do want you want to do. I had not realised you were talking just to those who had moved to a different country. You were talking about taking the best bits from several systems to make a perfect one. In that case you would be imposing what you think are the best bits on the rest of us.

My brother was in the army. His vote was done by my mother who always voted Tory for him. When he left the army, he and his wife went to live in the Canaries, because he did not like the way this country had changed under Thatcher and Major, etc. This was before Blair was elected.

I can't see what is wrong in expressing an opinion. Of course, people who constantly harp on about how much better everything is in another country are bound to be met with the response "Why don't you go back there then". But for a person to express a personal view that some things are better in one country, whilst also saying that some things are better in another seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Having had experience of both countries, I think it is only natural that a person would "compare and contrast". I think, even those that do not consider themselves to be "flag wavers" (and I include myself in that) can get a bit prickly about criticism of the country with which they most identify, but I feel it is a fairly irrational reaction.

I think it's human nature to remember the best bits of where you were Granjura and forget the irritating ones.

I can only congratulate you on moving somewhere - albeit "back home" - after 40 years; that makes you very brave in my book. I think that bravery allows you to have rose coloured glasses occasionally and, as it was friends who were pulling you up on this, you are obviously building memories in your "new" home all the time.

The 2 friends who 'put me back in my place' (England ;) )- I've known since I was a toddler- and have never moved away from our mountains. So yes, having known each other for so long (60+ years) and having spent all our childhood and schooling together, the banter is straight and to the point at times

Well of course- the discussion I was hoping for, is about people who move abroad and who then quite naturally compare how things are done- at at times feel they do not belong to 'back home' anymore, and yet never quite feel they belong to 'new home' somehow.

What triggered the discussion was a vote this week-end in Switzerland about reforming the Swiss health insurance system. I was shocked to see how biaised the campaign was- and how the campaign against reform was run by those who are Directors, owners and share owners of the current system- so huge vested and financial interests- but none declared. In the UK, we are lucky that MPs and Councillors have to declare if they are on the Board of companies, get payment, bonuses and large presents thos the same, etc. In Switzerland they do not have to declare such- and I feel it is really wrong. As we have to vote regularly on major changes in the country- we need to be able to make intelligent and informed decisions- but how can we do so without knowing the bias of the information given???

And as a language teacher, I despair about the way languages are taught here- with methods ditched in the UK in the 60s and 70s- and all based on writing and no communication. Just 2 examples where I feel England is way better. And as wou well know ;) sometimes I see it t'other way round;)

Considering the problems we have agreeing within the EU, I think your idea is a nonstarter, granjura. Who decides what the best elements are in any system?

I've never actually had it said to me but I have certainly heard it said of expats(dislike the word but it is the simplest) by other expats.
I suspect your friends know you better and for longer than most Portuguese know us and so they feel able to express themselves freely.

Your idea is wonderful but the hardest thing would be to get everyone to agree on which are! the best elements.