Advice on disappearing to Europe?

[CeeJaee]

As cliche and impractical as all of the following may sound, please don't tell me that I shouldn't.

I'm a freshmen in High School. I live in a rural, farming-dominated place in Georgia. I love my life here, but it could potentially be so much more. I have the desire to get out of the US. I cry to think about how oppressive it is here. Nothing is good enough for this place. I'd rather be dead than reside in such a mad place in the world, and I find myself questioning why a God I've devoted my life to would have placed me in a place I've, in retrospect, always disliked.

This is why I've got to get out of this place. I'd rather live in a tent, or an abandoned house than live in the nice, nearly brand-new house I live in. I can't write here. It cripples my abilities. I'd rather go while I'm 15 and be a runaway for roughly a year than wait until I'm 16 and drop out and then run off. I've never planned to graduate High School. I've never seen the desire in going to college when I've got the knowledge to do what I love without spending all of that money. Perhaps when I turn 18, I'll become a formal ex-patriot. But focusing on NOW, what advice can you give me? I have enough money for two plane tickets to Paris, but part of that $3,000 will go on living expenses for the first few months until I can sell some of my works either online or in-person.

I've considered all of the repercussions for my actions, including the scrutiny I'll face from my family when and if I return to the US. I know I cannot disclose how I plan to board the plane to Paris or London or Prague or Milan or if I even plan to board a plane at all, because that would be a mistake. I know I cannot take my beautiful iPhone 5, or my iPad, or anything that can be used to track me lest I want to be caught. I cannot use my old Twitters or Facebook's or YouTube's, etc. Instead, I plan to sell much of this, and buy new ones when I get to wherever I decide to go. Well probably just one new laptop. Either way, I still want your advice, and by advice, I do mean advice. NOT scrutiny for what most closed-minded people call being a stupid child. I am not a stupid child. In fact, I am quite intelligent and gaining knowledge each day.

Thanks.
And before my age becomes an issue with this, in 3 years I'll be an adult. That is only 1/5 of the way I've came. And age is concept humans have developed for no good reason, as is time.
I've already got a passport.

[Tyler]

well, first things first, you'd have to get a passport, otherwise you can not board. And to receive a passport, you would need both birth parents and your birth certificate to get one. So, it appears simply buying a ticket without your parents knowing is out of the question, unless you could be flown in by a private airplane or something..

But have you considered being an exchange student? you can be one for up to a year. I will be an exchange student for my junior year next year. Im kind of with you here, i don't really like America haha

[zafir]

Just a slight problem, even though you have a passport you still need your parents permission to travel internationally. Should you make it to a European destination, the Immigration officials will certainly pick you up and deport you on the next plane - after contacting your parents!

Unfortunately, it's illegal for Americans to just move to any European country to live and work. It's necessary to get a job first then the employer will arrange a Work Visa. To get a job in any country usually requires you to be fluent in the language of that country, and this can take years. Even when you are an adult, you will only be allowed to stay for up to 90 days in the area you mention.

Even if you pick a European country, go as a tourist, and then overstay your visa, you will spend the rest of the time there constantly looking over your shoulder because you will be an illegal alien. Anything that brings you to the attention of the authorities will result in your deportation. This means you will not be able to get a job, rent an apartment, have a bank account, get an Internet or phone connection, seek medical or dental help, go to the police if you're robbed, get married, or do any of the things normal peope take for granted. You will be living on the streets because you won't have any money. Is this the sort of idyllic European life you had in mind.

So, I'm not telling you that you shouldn't do this, I'm telling you that you can't.

[Orla C]

Don't be ridiculous. If you do not have a return ticket to the US, you will not be allowed board the plane; and you can only stay in any one country from three months at a time and you will NOT BE PERMITTED TO WORK; and before you go for the three months you will have to show that you have the funds to keep yourself. And anyway, you don't think we have street cameras here? And you won't be spotted? And if you go to another country where English is not the main language, you will stand out immediately ... assuming you even manage to get yourself on the aircraft.

Not going to happen, pet.

[thewaythingsare]

in all your smugness and supposed intelligence you've forgotten that even you, special and important as you consider yourself, need a visa. You won't even get on the plane because (surprise) the officials are more intelligent than you and will spot that you will have no money and way to work in France. As you would therefore be deported straight away, the airline will save itself the money and not let you check in.

So you need to grow up, get work, save lots of money, apply for work visas and then go. Or you could find something else on the MASSIVE CONTINENT where you live. However I suspect that your whines and moans will be travelling with you for a while.

cute.

[Christina]

Why do you need to move to Europe to have an exciting life? The exciting life you're searching for is within you, you just have to find it. If you're boring in Georgia, you'll be boring in Paris too.

But just a quick question, why not move to New York City for starters? Or L.A., or any other big city in the US? It's gonna be lot easier for you and you'll gain the experience for living on your own in Europe in case you still want it.

And another thing. Okay, lets say you successfully move to Europe. All the important things like laws and parents to stop you aside. Okay, you find a job in Paris. But tell me what kind of job you think is waiting for you in Paris? I'll tell you, almost NONE. What can an uneducated American do in Paris who doesn't speak French? Yep, clean floors or wash the dishes. You're not even qualified to be a waiter or a store clerk because you don't speak French, plus like an alien not even one employer will expose to the public like that because this means deportation for you and penalties for the employer who hired an alien. This also brings other problems to the table like not paying you enough and blackmailing you because they'll know you can't complain nowhere.

Your other option is to sell bags, hats or jewelry on the streets which is gonna bring you some money but you'll constantly be a target of the police officers across the city. But again, being exposed like that on the streets 10 hours a day, you really think that you'll be able to escape from the cops whose one and only job is to catch street sellers like you? Plus, other street sellers with permissions to sell stuff and stores who pay taxes around the place you work are gonna tell you to the cops. And when the cops catch you, guess what happens?

So, with all the above said by me and these people you still think that moving to Europe is a good idea for a teenager who doesn't even have a high school diploma?

[Grace]

I don't think you have thought this out enough, but I'm still willing to give you advice. When you arrive your destination make sure to get out of that country as soon as possible, preferably by bus or train. Keep in mind that if you're planning to leave anytime soon, there is a chance you might freeze to death is some countries.
However, if you're not planning on sleeping in the streets you should really get that ''abandoned house'' idea out of your head. Well, if you are willing to live with druggies and gypsies then fine, but you'll probably end up dead. A tent will bring too much attention, therefore at some point the police will notice your strange way of living.


Honestly, this is a stupid thing to do at any age. You will be lucky if those $3,000 last you two months. At least save up some more money or try getting some kind of black market job that offers a living space before you head off to Europe.

You need a better plan!
The fact that you wrote ''my beautiful iphone 5'' makes me think that this is something that just isn't meant for you.

[luddite]

You need more than a passport and a ticket. You'll need a visa to live and work in a European country and these are impossible for an uneducated, inexperienced 18 year old to obtain.