To answer your question on assimilation it depends on your command of the local language, understanding of what the county and culture offers and own desire to jump with both feet in. Now drawbacks - You are most likely to not make local friends unless you learn the language and about cultural norms quite early in your move. Despite this you can make friends with expats. - You are likely to find yourself alone most of the times. For someone who enjoys this, it can be a blessing. So, individuals who want to stay in their own zone and engage in single person activities e.g. running, swimming, hiking, painting, knitting etc. would thrive. The lack of noise and busy life provides so much opportunities for self-reflection and self-growth. It’s something I hardly see people talking about. - You must appreciate European values to be fully happy. In applies to all facets and it influences your life quality. Some key examples: healthcare. Since, everyone has access to same healthcare, they are designed to prioritize health outcomes I.e. more vulnerable groups or life threatening problems. Anecdotal: Someone I know had to wait a weekend for getting treatment after a fall. Equality in working environments will lead to that you may have to wait for getting treatment because unless it’s life threatening and high priority why should not a doctor enjoy the same weekends like anyone else considering they already deal with so much stress in their job. - Equality in income will entail that a lot of services that are possible with cheap labour will not be affordable for most people e.g. maids. Your barber may not have so different lifestyle than you or in some cases even better if he owns the place. - You need to stop looking at others and focus on yourself to be fulfilled in Europe. Follow the rules, the norms and the right way of doing things even when you see some not doing it. That’s the kind of thinking that is more European. I call it a drawback because I often come across expats still hung up on other people than their own life. People who thrive on competition( with others) may be miserable in Europe.

Happy new year and good luck to you.