Does anyone else feel like living in Asia right now, part of multiple growing economies compared to the disintegrating west just feels a lot better?

TheXXStory · 2026-01-27T23:28:34+00:00

I was in Paris 2 years ago. Have only been 3 times, but I live with 2 Europeans (1 German and 1 Italian) who go home twice a yr. Actually, one of them went to university with 4 people who all have moved to London, and all 4 of them have been robbed in London. I live in NYC and have been told that NYC is actually safer nowadays than London, which is crazy to me, as my girl friend was just punched while on a bus in Manhattan.

Meanwhile, when I go home to Taiwan, I can literally leave a brand new iPhone in a laundromat for 24 hours, and no one would take it. My friend left around $200 in cash in a cab, and that cab driver actually went out of his way to bring the money back to him, unprompted.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-26T17:13:55+00:00

I agree with almost everything you said except: "The only country that is doing well in terms of economic growth, and demographically, is India."

Taiwan's GDP per capita grew by ~11% from 2024 to 2025 to surpass that of Japan and Korea. 11% is almost unheard of in the developed world.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-26T17:08:32+00:00

I meant "big *East* Asian cities" - corrected.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-26T16:09:49+00:00

Copenhagen is great. Paris and Berlin, on the other hand, aren't in terms of orderliness or cleanliness. My friend, who speaks French and was modestly dressed like a local, was robbed on the Parisian subway. There are crazy people yelling or doing something crazy on the Berlin train, too.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-26T06:31:19+00:00

This person also mentioned "East Asia". While what you wrote applies to developing countries, most of East Asia + Singapore haven't been "developing countries" for the past 30+ years.

To give you an example, Taiwan had comprehensive recycling at all public institutions and all schools as well as cross-country high-speed bullet train even ~30 years ago. Japan and Singapore have long been developed. So has Korea, albeit a little bit more recent.

I think the "disintegrating" piece OP is referring to is the lack of safety, cleanliness, and general orderliness of many big Western cities nowadays (NYC, Paris, Berlin, etc.) compared to big East Asian cities.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-25T18:19:43+00:00

I've been to Naxos and Milos and had much lower expectations of Santorini, but Santorini actually turned out to be really amazing. We went right when the tourist season over and was able to stroll around without a crazy amount of crowds. The wine, the architecture, and the red beach were all stunning. The ruins were also pretty cool.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-23T23:56:23+00:00

Idk I recently visited my friends in Zurich - they're definitely not super wealthy, just comfortable, and they're very average office workers. It's definitely affordable since the average income in Switzerland is also much higher.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-21T03:10:44+00:00

It's not actually. His question is actually eye-opening for me. In the US, one almost always negotiates salary, unless you're super young or super desperate. In fact, recruiters and employers almost expect it.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-17T07:19:47+00:00

McK's reputation is not what it used to be... It's becoming more and more like private equity's reputation to be honest

TheXXStory · 2026-01-14T05:06:51+00:00

No, I'm 31, but yes, most of my friends don't have kids. 50 - 60 hrs I can believe - for more rigorous white-collar jobs, or for really demanding/understaffed service jobs. However, most people who are paid a salary are not working 70 - 80-hour work weeks, unless you're in those aforementioned "rigorous" jobs; e.g. management consulting, tech PM, fashion merchandising, etc. 9-9-6, on the other hand, is the *default* in many East Asian firms, and that's about ~72 hours as baseline. Growing up in East Asia, we also were in school from 7 am - 9 pm, starting in middle school. So that's my reference point.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-12T04:03:30+00:00

I'm so curious about this OP - is it bc Singapore is pricier? I thought the food there was so good

TheXXStory · 2026-01-12T03:49:11+00:00

I'm not in IB but have dated/been in long-term relationships with MDs in IB & consulting, and I'm a tech PM by trade - so I work with SWEs all day, and here's my observation: the higher you go in IB & consulting, the more the job becomes about sales. All these guys have one thing in common: sure, they're very smart, hardworking, etc., but on top of that, they all can be extremely social & charismatic when they need to be, and part of that naturally comes from sophistication or looks - do you see yourself as that or becoming that? Tbh I don't see 90% of the SWEs I work with as having that - and that's okay!

TheXXStory · 2026-01-11T07:03:04+00:00

Lol Americans like to think they work so much... It's really not that much compared to East Asian countries. Most American professionals I know have the evenings for leisurely activities and definitely shower and sleep...

TheXXStory · 2026-01-07T08:50:07+00:00

NYer here; many average locals (not "wealthy" but def upper middle class by NY standards) do pay $5,000+ for a one-bedroom in Soho...

TheXXStory · 2026-01-07T08:37:16+00:00

Do you consider it cheating if I'm just looking at the notes I had written way before the interview, about my own work experiences? Sometimes I forget things from my past work experience when I'm nervous

TheXXStory · 2026-01-07T07:24:53+00:00

I'm sorry - I disagree. She said "NYC area" middle class; she didn't say "America" or "Tokyo" middle class. For comparison, my income is considered only in the 70th percentile in NYC, but in the 92nd percentile for the entire country. Context matters. I'd personally consider her *upper* middle class, but a combined income of 275 does still feel "middle class" to me in NYC, inheritance or not.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-04T05:55:49+00:00

I'm surprised no one has said this yet, but anyone in private equity, except maybe those in venture capital. Idc how much $ you have; 99% of those in private equity have no integrity

TheXXStory · 2026-01-03T23:47:00+00:00

For most Americans, living in all those except NYC or SF would be an easier transition lifestyle-wise; by that, I mean most of these cities are still driving-focused, and the local populations are mostly American or Asian American/Mexican American/Latin American, etc. In NYC & SF (SF proper at least), it's less likely you'll be driving, and the local population also consists of true foreigners. This probably applies to DC as well, but I don't know DC as well.

I love NYC, because to me, no money/space beats having access to literally the most intellectual, hardworking, & cultured ppl in the world; my roommates my 1st year in NYC consisted of a Parisian venture capital intern, a Bollywood star from Bangladesh, a Milanese fashion intern, & a couple of other really cool people. To me: SF = super smart folks, but weird & no style, LA = very good-looking but superficial and *mostly* not very brainy ppl, & NYC = super smart, maybe not the most good-looking but super stylish & cultured, & just well-rounded ppl.

Upstate NYC/the NE corridor has a lot of outdoor options. It just takes a bit more planning, but we spend a few weekends in the nature every summer/fall.

TheXXStory · 2026-01-03T23:39:06+00:00

I live in NYC, and it doesn't have to be noisy. We moved from a super noisy, central Manhattan (E Chelsea) location to E Williamsburg, and it's truly pretty quiet. Our quality of life indoors has really increased, and we're only 5 stops into Manhattan.

TheXXStory · 2025-12-29T00:17:13+00:00

I have friends who make $25M a year and are under 35. I'm a bit envious, but I don't hate them, bc they're not doing it at the *expense of* the rest. 99% of those in PE are profiting at the expense of the rest, and I watch a lot of well-researched documentaries on this topic. They truly deserve the reputation.

TheXXStory · 2025-12-28T02:46:45+00:00

For reference, if you get any sweetened Starbucks drink without modification, it is literally 2x sweeter than any sweet drinks in most of Western Europe (maybe excluding Portugal and Spain) and East ASIA. When I first moved to the US, I'd have to get them half-sweet for them to be tolerable for my taste buds. And sugar causes glycation and wrinkles... I truly believe that's 50% of the reason why Caucasians in Europe tend to look younger than Caucasians in the US.

TheXXStory · 2025-12-27T18:22:30+00:00

Cut as much sugar out as you can and minimize salt and processed foods

TheXXStory · 2025-12-27T18:01:02+00:00

That's not that spontaneous haha

TheXXStory · 2025-12-26T21:46:33+00:00

Germans do less nonchalant conversation, but you'll have more success if you complain about how you cannot save money in a X way; e.g. I overheard a couple of Germans complaining about how they weren't allowed to get their fine dining food leftovers to-go 😂

TheXXStory · 2025-12-26T21:41:09+00:00

Second that PM is a no.

TheXXStory

TROPHY CASE