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Amongst the Benelux countries, the Lux part is not a standard place.
Thanks to the financial sector,
here in the EU the GDP per capita is the biggest.
Roads are in perfect shape
Germans are jelous because of the high number of premium cars
Once pitied by wealthy neighbors,
now the Grand Duchy is the gold rush destination of the cyber era.
The tiny capital draws 130,000 foreign commuters per day
with the number of immigrants climbing massively too.
As if the social safety net was as strong as steel
a product of a local industry that once went down and then rose again.
Luxembourg is unbeatable in terms of green areas,
so wealth is coupled with a great quality of life.
This perfect image is disturbed only by a sunshine-proof climate
and scary suicide rates.
The bridge to the EU district was furnished with plastic planks
as falling bodies damaged roof tops too often.
In this money-cushioned, yet depressive environment
have some EU institutions been placed by the bigwigs.
The European Court of Justice cracks down here if needed.
The Court of Auditors operates also in Luxembourg,
just like certain departments of the EU Commission.
The EU Parliament is represented by its Secretariat
and its legions of translators sitting around in the twin towers.
But anyway, what is it like to live and work as an EU official in Luxembourg?
Three questions were posed. Here’s question No. 1.
All that glitters is gold?
I must say it is rather deceptive from the financial aspect.
No doubt salaries look great from outside
and before coming here you think you can’t even spend that much.
Oh yes, you can!
In the private sector I made a lot more money.
When working for the EU you have more time
for the family, yourself and your friends.
I definitely want an own apartment, rent costs 600-1,200 EUR.
We managed to achieve a financial prosperity
that would not have been possible at home even in 15-20 years.
“what place to live at?”
I have a great time anywhere with mountains nearby.
First everybody comes here thinking
‘I stay for a couple of years, gather a lot of money and
professional experience, then I go home and I’ll be the king’
We plan to stay till we save enough
that would allow us to have an easier life when we go home.
Your life gets going for real after being here for three years.
But afterwards you can’t leave anymore.
Like they keep saying in the theatre play called “Waiting for Godot”:
‘Let’s leave. Let’s leave.’ And they stay after all…
“oh this depression, not again…”
Luxembourg is a very multicultural place
with communities that are barely accessible for outsiders.
The social life and the cultural aspects are very, very limited.
To be honest, I feel great here!
It is not true everybody in Luxembourg is depressed.
They may have a high rate of suicides, but that’s just one piece of statistics.
People should think about what they have done before,
they should look around in the world and notice how great they’re doing here.
True enough a cemetery in the middle of nowhere
is more lively on a Saturday night than the main square in Luxembourg.
Whether or not in a constant graveyard mood,
once a year even in Luxembourg it is time to rock ‘n roll.
June 22 is the feast of music
which coincides with the birthday of the Grand Duke.
And that is the time when there is no room for depression.