For many Europeans, the lure of the United States’ spirit of entrepreneurship, diverse cultural fabric, and perceived opportunities for self-reinvention remains a powerful draw, inspiring a significant number of them to make a permanent home on American soil. Amidst stories of Americans relocating to Europe for its charming lifestyle and healthcare benefits, there is a counter-narrative of Europeans finding their American dream and choosing to stay indefinitely.
Florian Herrmann, 44, a German native and small business owner in Wyoming, encapsulates this sentiment when he shares, “I was always a career hunter, super career-focused. Everything changed for me when I came to America. People told me the sky is the limit, if you see it you can do it.” This can-do spirit that Herrmann terms the “cowboy mentality” contrasts with the German approach to entrepreneurship, which he perceives as more risk-averse and stigmatizing towards failure.
Similarly, Gabriele Sappok, who founded Imagine PR in New York City, speaks to the infectious optimism she experiences in the United States, which she finds lacking in her native Germany. “I love my home country, but the general vibe in Germany is the glass is half empty versus here, where there’s this innate optimism that I cherish and love,” she says, addressing the cultural chasm she perceives between the two continents.
The narratives of these European expats often touch on themes of personal growth, opportunity, and a sense of community. Laurence Noguier, co-owner of the restaurant Bistronomic in Chicago, praises the American entrepreneurial ethos and the absence of ageism: “The US makes me feel relevant as a 50+ years old woman. Age is not a judgment. I feel empowered in the US, that I can be heard more than if I was in France.”
In terms of cultural integration, Clodagh Lawless, owner of The Dearborn tavern in Chicago, highlights the diversity she has encountered in the US, something she feels she missed out on in her hometown of Galway. “The US is a melting pot of people from many different cultures. That brings so much worldly education that cannot be found in any school or university.” Lawless says, voicing her appreciation for the multicultural exposure the US provides.
However, this influx of European talent and enthusiasm to the United States does not negate the complex migration history of Europeans. According to migrationpolicy.org, the European share of U.S. immigrants has steadily declined from 75 percent in 1960 to about 10 percent in 2022.
Relevant articles:
– Meet Europeans who moved to the US and say there’s no going back, CNN, Mar 18, 2024
– European Immigrants in the United States, migrationpolicy.org
– How To Move To Europe From The US, upakweship.com
– State three reasons why Europeans fled to America in the 19th century., doubtnut.com